Aldi

The first **Zogardians** to be mutated and visited by a **Celestial** was that of Aldi, a race evolved from the **dragons** who walked the land. The Aldi can be found all over Eprea, with most of them making their settlements high upon mountain tops. The Aldi feel the most comfortable in these locations, due to them being closest to the sky and able to commune easier with their father.

Aldi specialize primarily in using daggers and transformative magic, even the more humanoid Aldi having the ability to take on a fully draconic form at will.

Due to their history as dragons, the Aldi appear to be immortal. The oldest known Aldi tribes have been around since the beginning of Eprea’s creation, with the oldest Aldi being around nine thousand years old. They are children for 10 years, adolescents from ages 11 to 18, and adults past 19.

## Settlements

**Xuedale** is the main settlement created by the Aldi, and is located at the top of **Mount Heiress** on **Kropari**. The group of Aldi settled here due to the belief that it is closest to **Ter’ot**. A variety of crystals and minerals grow out the grounds, with waters running a crystal clear blue and the trees themselves being formed of pure crystal. The settlement is built into the landscape, with natural vines and vegetation covering the entrances.

**Griffon’s Reach** is a settlement within **Eulazus** that is shared with a tribe of **Ceardian’s**, spanning over the **Ter’otian Range**. The village is highly decorated with depictions of **Kurro** and **Ter’ot**, with it being a common practice for the two races to participate in flight races with each other in Kurro’s name.

**Forest’s Heart** is a settlement within the **Kuran Rainforest** that is built into the tallest tree of the forest. Using wooden planks, ladders, and bridges, the settlement circles around the large tree, making a treehouse-like appearance from afar.

**Erstonia** is a settlement within **Southern Aurulora**, where the evolved ice dragons survive and live. The Aldi within this settlement are very ferocious and quick to defend themselves, with their appearance being sharp and jagged like icicles. Within it, the Aldi harvest the ice and create ice sculptures. They don’t trade them away, simply using the sculptures as a way to decorate their settlement.

## History

In Ancient 8,512, **Ter’ot** visited the planet to put a stop to the attacks upon **Manna** villages done by the **dragons** who roamed the lands. It hurt the ancient **Celestial** to see his children being hunted down and used as decor, and he wished to bring peace between the beings.

Ter’ot had varying degrees of success with the dragons. Some refused to make peace, choosing to continue their rampages upon the lands and hiding within the mountains. Others agreed to make peace, but wished to keep their freedom without the command of a higher being. These dragons made their way to the plains and oceans, hiding away from sight and keeping themselves out of trouble. However, a large portion of the dragons looked towards Ter’ot, agreeing to follow him and learn about the Manna and their way of living.

The children of Ter’ot, also known as the Aldi, were created at this moment. As the Aldi began to interact and trade more with the Manna of the lands, their bodies began to slowly mutate and change over time to match that of those they lived alongside. Due to Ter’ot being a direct father to the Aldi and the leading cause of their mutations, almost all Aldi that Epreans come across revere him as their true father. The Aldi who revered Ter’ot the most was an Aldi by the name of **Ethys**, who still rules the Aldi to this day.

## Physical Appearance

Aldi have a large range of mutations, with some appearing much more human-like while others appear just like regular **dragons**.

Their heights can range anywhere from 3' (91.44 cm) to 15' (457.2 cm) because of this. Some Aldi have become extremely similar to the **Manna** in appearance, with scales, clawed hands, fangs, and slit pupils being the only distinction from their counterparts. Other Aldi only partially mutated, learning how to walk upright and tower over their fellow **Zogardian**.

Aldi typically wear silk robes with a slit along the legs, horns and tails left bare unless they are courted. The robes come in a large variety of designs and colors. Aldi will also wrap their arms and legs with a silken cloth to protect the magic in their scales from the wrong hands. Aldi with more manna-like legs typically wear open-toed shoes like sandals or clogs.

The claws on their hands and feet allow the Aldi to excel in climbing, able to scale even the steepest of cliffs.

## Culture

Aldi stay close to their draconic origins, taking on the beliefs of their previous life even into their new life. They contain the magic that they had before mutating, with some even having venom within their fangs or claws. In modern Eprea, the Aldi have a close relationship with most of the other races of Eprea, being friendly with almost all of them. Despite their friendliness and eagerness to mingle, the Aldi are wary of the **Manna**, due to the history of dragon hunters and the belief that Manna are naturally greedy.

Many Aldi believe that the stars are able to predict the future, with many of them taking up **astronomy** to learn more about the cosmos and the constellations inside of it. The Aldi were the first to document the star patterns and how they move, with many books published with theories and ideas on what each constellation means and how it may affect Epreans.

### Food

Aldi diet consists of gemstones, minerals, meats, local vegetation, and roots. They enjoy playing with their food, creating a variety of dishes with a large range of tastes and textures. Their most popular creation is the **Gemstone Cake**, a baked good that is seen as delicious and flavorful to the Aldi and dragons, but merely just beautiful to other races. The Gemstones typically have the same colors to decorate the cake, rather than mixing and matching, due to the Aldi swearing by gemstones having different tastes depending on their type and color.

The Aldi within **Griffon's Reach** often enjoy ter’otian rice with Taroni carp, a dish that they refer to as the **Celestial's Lunch**.

### Trade

The form of trade that the Aldi partake in depends on the settlement that they live within.

The **Xuedalian’s** make most of their riches through the crystals that grow within their lands, trading them to other tribes and races with the belief that they contain natural healing properties. Some of the Xuedalian’s will crush the crystals into a fine powder for baths, while others carve them into jewelry.

The villagers of **Griffon’s Reach** often make their living off of the river fish within the deep river that cuts the settlement in half.

Within **Forest's Heart**, the Aldi craft gadgets that allow flight for those that lack wings, and often trade the cocoa beans and vines that grow within their tree.

The Aldi of **Erstonia** typically keep to themselves, but they will sometimes trade through offering their services as **ice sculptors** to the surrounding tribes.

### Worship

The Aldi have a high respect and worship for the **dragons** of the land, and for the Celestial **Ter'ot**. When coming of age, some Aldi who are born with wings may choose to get them removed. Not all Aldi do this, with many being seen with their wings, but some choose to do it due to the belief that only full-blooded dragons deserve the flight. Once these Aldi have reached adulthood, they will get tattoos over their back to cover the scars. The design of the tattoos vary from Aldi to Aldi, but most get geometric and highly decorative tattoos in the general shape of wings. Sometimes their tattoos represent a part of the dragon's body, something that Aldi regards as sacred.

Each part of the dragon’s body has been given a meaning by the race: the head for knowledge, the heart for emotion, the horns for fury, the front legs for strength, the back legs for stamina, the wings for agility, and the tail for guidance.

### Romance

Being a loyal type, Aldi typically mate for life. They take their time interacting with their fellow Aldi, finding the perfect suitor who fits their expectations and requirements. Once an Aldi has decided on the person they’d like to have as their mate, they tediously carve jewelry to give to the other. The jewelry is typically made with **gemstones** that match their suitors scales, and is placed on the horn or tail. If an Aldi accepts another’s advance, they will wear the jewelry as a sign to another that they have been taken, never removing it. If an Aldi’s person of interest is not of the same **race**, they will still do the same tradition, even if the other lacks horns or a tail. The Aldi simply expects the suitor to find a way to make it work.

When getting married, the Aldi wear silk wedding attire with crystalline decorations and ornamentation in their hair. Aldi are able to have children with **Manna**, other **Zogardian**, **Oril**, **Ceardian**, and **Vlennite**.

### Childcare

Aldi can have upwards of 20 children at a time, with the average being seven to 15. Due to the large clutch that Aldi typically have, they allow for their children to be raised in a pack-like environment. The entire tribe or settlement helps to care for the children, but the mothers are the ones expected to teach the children what they need to know to survive.

### Death

Due to the immortality of the Aldi, death is not something that they are prepared for. Therefore, when an Aldi is suddenly murdered or dies from an accident, the Aldi are stricken with grief for their lost friend. In their honor, the Aldi bury them within the roots of a tree, and hold a candlelight vigil overnight.

### Language

Aldi means “Children Above '' in the Eprean language, referencing the origins of the Aldi being through the influence of the Celestial **Ter’ot**.  Aldi can also speak draconic and have the easiest time out of all the races bonding with full **dragons**.