Praeliorian

**Praeliorians** were a sentient species native to the planet Praelior, located within the Praeliorian Remnants. They were recognized for their ghastly white skin, white hair, and white eyes that lacked irises and pupils. The Praeliorians had a long, complicated history with the Dremirians.

## Biology and Appearance

Humanoid in terms of their general physiology and biology, the Praeliorians were primarily distinguishable by their ghastly white skin, white hair, and completely white eyes. In antiquity, the Praeliorians were often compared or even believed to be spirits or ghosts because of their lack of irises and pupils. These qualities made them appear similarly to the Aetherians, who shared a root ancestor with the Praeliorians.

One particularly clear distinction between the Aetherians and Praeliorians was the unique quality of Praeliorian blood, which could be found in a variety of different colors dependent on hereditary factors. A wide range of Praeliorian blood colors existed, as seen with the Praeliorian High Elite Kyalonis Amillís who had intensely-colored blue blood while her fellow High Elite Pyrana Nirrót had vivid red blood.

Due to their homeworld of Praelior's relatively thin atmosphere, at least in comparison to the homeworlds of other sentients like Humans, the Praeliorians were able to live without oxygen for longer periods of time compared to other sentients such as humans and Aetherians.

The Praeliorians had the capability to reproduce with humans and most other sentient humanoid species. Those with mixed Praeliorian ancestry often had eyes that appeared foggy or cloudy, although this was merely a visual effect and not indicative of an individual's actual eyesight quality.

## Society and Culture

The Praeliorians, throughout almost the entirety of their history, had a strong connection to their traditions. There was a strong sense of community on the planet Praelior, which meant it was easier for the majority of the Praeliorian populace to agree on different matters. There was a social hierarchy that consisted of the royal clans and families at the top with common citizens and their families below the royals. Different royal clans ruled the Praeliorian Empire throughout history, although Clan Aznaré reigned for arguably the longest.

The leader of the Praeliorians was the Praeliorian Sovereign, who was well respected by the main Praeliorian populace. The title of Sovereign was a right of primogeniture, meaning the first born child of the current Sovereign and their consort was the first in line to inherit the throne. The existence of poverty was looked down upon strongly by most Praeliorian royals, and so many common citizens lived quite comfortable while the royals lived in luxury in only a handful of ways.

Dark magic was always present in Praeliorian culture, although its prevalence with the general public depended on the era. During the Artifice Wars, the Praeliorians fought on the side of the Deliverance, which fought for freedom to use magic in any shape or form, including the darker arts. One rare form of such darker arts waws the transfer of life energy from one person to another, as well as the manipulation of one's body through blood. Many of these darker arts were shunned upon after the war once Sasna Aznaré was crowned Emperor. However, during the reign of Ranza Aznaré, some darker arts were secretly taught to a team of elites who would eventually become the Praeliorian Elites who thrived during the Era of Diamond Dust. This included the ability to absorb one's life force to restore their own, although elites were warned to use these dark arts intermittently. Eventually, secret teachings of the darker arts were phased out from elite training, although the mere existence of darker Praeliorian magic itself was still taught and known by elites.

As the color of their blood varied between person to person, Praeliorians always had a special view on their own blood and by extension the concept of color. Art was also an important aspect in Praeliorian life, much like the Dremirians. Imagery of blood was common in early Praeliorian art history, and remnants of this same imagery could be found in later eras.

However, the War of the Crystals denoted an astronomical cultural shift among Praeliorians, mostly in regards to their view on Dremirians.

### Allies to the Dremirians

Before the Era of Diamond Dust, the Praeliorians.were great allies to the Dremirians. While rough patches did occur throughout their history, during the Artifice Wars to name one instance, the two groups shared a strong connection to one another. They often traded between worlds and even shared worlds together within the Dreamer Worlds and within the Praeliorian Remnants, one such world being the colony of Speculior. The two groups' strong bond was indicated through several traditions. For example, when a Praeliorian's Dremirian ally passed away, the Dremirian's dust would be worn as face paint by the Praeliorian as a firm sign of alliance.
The Praeliorians used color in all sorts of places to contrast their lack of pigment in all areas other than blood. Buildings, statues, and other such structures were created with colors in mind. Stained glass was commonly used in most Praeliorian architecture, encompassing colors that could be found on the rainbow. The royal insignia of Clan Aznaré incorporated the use of many colors to represent the importance of color itself.

Royal Praeliorian clans, like Clan Aznaré, had access to magic that prolonged their youth. This magic was mostly used sparingly in the event that a family was unable to produce heirs early on, or because of some other complications. This youthful magic often came in the form of a tea set, in which those who drank from the tea set would be able to extend their youthful years.

### Enemies of the Dremirians

The beginning of the Era of Diamond Dust marked a drastic new age for Praeliorians. The Dremirians were demonized by the Praeliorians and made into their greatest enemies. Dremirian dust became a prize earned from hunting down Praeliorians, and was used in a plethora of traditions. Starting with Empress Esper Aznaré, the Praeliorian Sovereign often adorned themselves in Dremirian dust all throughout their hair, outfit, and makeup as a show of power among the Praeliorians. Dremirian dust face paint was instead given to servants of the empire during funerals, while imperial elites were adorned with entire outfits decorated with Dremirian dust during their funerals.

Color was much less prevalent in Praeliorian culture during the Era of Diamond Dust. Praeliorian architecture took on a more brutalist, geometric form in contrast to the colorful, Art Nouveau form taken by the architecture of old. Black and white became a Praeliorian standard, no longer to compliment the array of other colors of the rainbow. The only presence of color was on certain deceased during funerals, on Praeliorian elites, and the Praeliorian Sovereign themself. For Praeliorian elites, only one color (and very rarely two colors) besides black and white were permitted to be adorned as face paint. Praeliorian High Elites were given the option to dye their hair black, or at least parts of their hair as seen with former High Elite Cirioma Thystamel.

Dremirians were seen as lesser beings to be hunted both for sport and for the glory of the Praeliorian Empire. Praeliorians even made careers out of spreading Dremirian dust across the surface of their homeworld. Some Praeliorian elites kept Dremirian as servants if said Dremirians were given the option to live the rest of their lives in servitude instead of the alternative, which was execution.