Lyrean Elves

Lyrean Elves are a species of anthropoid plant hybrids that are native to the floating province region of Crumble and bordering floating islands. The lyrean elves are notable for their quasi symbiosis with heart flowers, their perpetual rivalry with the demon scion and relationships with select animals. 
Lyre Elves have an interesting relationship with the heart flower and its variants to the point that it borders on symbiosis, this is for several reasons. Firstly, for the importance of supplementary hearts to the Lyrean’s lifestyle. Secondly on how the symbiosis manifests in the level of technological commitment the Lyreans devote to finding hearts, specifically when compared to the rest of their technological development which is comparatively quite medieval.Thirdly, the Lyreans relationship to the heart flower has an impact on the Lyreans relationships to other races. Finally, the heart flower has had an impact on Lyrean history throughout time.
==Physiology==
The heart flower is close to indispensable to the Lyrean lifestyle. Lyreans gain extra hearts from consuming quarterhearts and fullhearts, on top of the ones they are born with naturally. Lyreans use these extra hearts in order to accomplish the physical feats their lifestyle requires.
===Polycardism===
Lyreans, unlike other elves, do not possess one but six hearts at birth and this number rises as they collect quarterheart and fullhearts. Most observed specimens have as many as 20 supplementary hearts, but more recent examples from differing studies have been observed to find as many as 30 hearts in a single Lyrean. This ability to generate and regenerate supplementary hearts using quarterheart and heart flowers is unheard of in other creatures of Welt pending further academic research. This could prove that the Lyreans have a symbiotic relation with the plant; only they get to enjoy the benefits the plant brings, and in return the Lyreans ensure the flower proliferates in the wild.
===Superior endurance===
When a Lyrean injures itself, one of its hearts will empty itself of its contents, presumably this keeps the Lyrean alive for longer and negates any ill effects of the damage proportionally to the number of hearts needed. This is perhaps an alternative method of using HP by these creatures (it is unknown in Lyrean Elves produce HP). These emptied fullhearts can be restored, a process called “refilling” a heart by consuming a recovery heart, heart potions, or contact with fairy dust.
===Defense against cardiac arrest===
If all of the Lyreans hearts are emptied, it dies, supposedly from cardiac arrest. The purpose of having so many hearts is supposedly to enhance physical ability and reduce the risk of death by cardiac arrest for Lyreans from overexertion. Given the extreme nature of the lifestyles of the Lyreans who seek out fullhearts, (not unlike those of classical adventurers) it is not unreasonable to suppose they increase their fullhearts for these reasons.
===Physical aptitude enhancer===
Individuals with supplementary hearts are capable of remarkable feats of endurance and strength. It seems that Lyreans are hopelessly addicted to the heart flower as without it, they would lose the enormous advantage that are their supplementary hearts, and would seemingly lose their physical advantage should they lose this symbiosis with the plant. This reliance on the plant translates in the Lyreans technological developments.
==Technology==
Main Article: Lyrean Technology
The symbiosis Lyreans share with the heart flower is suggested by the technological commitment they devote to finding hearts.
==History==
The history of the Lyrean elves is little known prior to their conflicts with the Demon scion which led to their near extinction and relocation to the weightless islands of the floating province. It is rumored that they are originally a forest dwelling species of elf, short in stature and youthful in appearance. Their lifestyle was primitive and dependent on foraging through the trees while evading the skeletons of the dead that periodically rose within their forest homes. 
At some point, they gained a reputation as harp players and traveling musicians, hence the modern appelation of Lyre Elf, suggesting greater contact with other races. Their religion was based around a god of treasure, whose chests they would seek and bring back to their communities.
Once the species developed its symbiosis with the flower the Lyrean Elves, they became important players in regional power dynamics, challenging the fractured status of the other scions until they became the strongest faction in the area. 
The incredible resilience that supplementary hearts grant Lyrean warriors and the ease of access to hearts that their technology gave them made Lyrean warriors incredibly hard to kill. This level of power led to tensions with other races. The symbiosis of the heart flower with the Lyreans caused trouble with the other powers at play in the area given the flowers' effects. This eventually led to the local scions allying against the Lyrean Elves and creating the modern day Demon scion, and have been enemies ever since. 
Recently, the Lyrean Elves were beset by a race of plant beings residing in the forests all over the kingdom who had a kingdom of their own. These creatures resemble plants and can burrow underground, launch themselves into the air and glide down, bite, spit seeds at deadly speeds, and be cut down just to rise once again unless the head is destroyed. 
They are not all violent, some trade woodland products with the other races, while others simply want to expand the forests in marshlands and swamps that are otherwise unused by the other races. When conflict came with the Lyrean Elves however the plant race was an excellent guerilla force against the other races unwieldy army, and their swamp magic came in handy when dealing with enemy armored troops. 
== Relationships ==
=== The Demon scion ===
Main article: The role of the Heart Flower on the history of the demon scion
The demon scion is the historic enemy of the Lyrean Elves because of their divergent views on the heart flower. Despite the animosity, it is notable that the Lyrean Elves did not go to war with the demon scions, but their greatest warriors would go into the world and fight them whenever they crossed paths. any attempt at commerce or trade between the two is unheard of. 
=== Plant Society ===
A civilization of plant beings that are sentient and oppose the lyrean elves, and are seemingly unaffected by the heart flower. 
=== Faeries ===
Main Article: Heart Flower Faeries
Heart Flower Faeries have always been allied with the Lyrean elves, as they are part of the plants reproductive system in some capacity.
=== Lyrean Whalehead Storks ===
Main Article: Lyrean Whalehead Stork
The gigantic Lyrean storks are gigantic birds native to the floating province and the favored mounts of Lyrean elves, which they use to travel to and from the surface. 
 Category:Other Races
Category:Lyrean Elves
Category:Heart Flower
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Category:Other race culture
Category:Other race technology
Category:Elves