Vai

The Vai are a **race** of **Ceardian** that were created directly through **Celestial** intervention. There are four total types of Vai, with each type reflecting the Celestial or Celestials that had a hand in their revival.

* The flame Vai had been revived through the fires of **Ania**.
* The glacier Vai had been revived through the frost of **Alene**.
* The aquatic Vai had been revived through the collision of Ania and Alene's magic.
* The floral Vai had been revived through the care of **Pafella**.

## Settlements

Vai live in a variety of climates.

The flame Vai typically live in hot climates, such as the desert or near volcanoes. It is said that the flame Vai have a settlement hidden deep within a volcano that only they are able to reach.

The aquatic Vai live near the coasts or lakes and have their settlements within tall waterfalls and lakes, with them typically flying in and out of the waters with ease.

Floral Vai live in large plains or thick forests, with many of them blending into trees and bushes with ease.

Finally, the glacier Vai live within frigid climates, with settlements situated high in the air upon thick snow clouds.

**Flame's Peak** - The main flame Vai settlement is said to be deep within the heart of a volcano. To reach the settlement, an Eprean either must be of the fire element themselves, or they must get the blessing of the Celestial **Ania** to get through the sheets of lava blocking the entrance. Once inside of the settlement, there is a large castle and a bonfire in the center where the Vai will often gather and speak. It is said that the settlement is within **Mount Odium.**

**Moon's Crossing** - The main glacier Vai settlement, located deep within **Southern Aurulora**. The settlement is situated upon a magically imbued cloud, with marble buildings and glowing corals decorating it. Waterfalls can be found falling off of the edges of the settlement, and are often used as a spot for the Vai to jump off and play.

**Goldrose** - The main floral Vai settlement, located within the **Rosewood Plains**. The settlement is often filled with the smaller types of Vai. The settlement is the only area of the plains that is filled with willow trees and golden flowers, giving it it’s name. The Vai will build their homes against the willow trees, and are often inviting to outsiders.

**Steam** - The main aquatic Vai settlement, located at the base of a large waterfall within the **Kuran Rainforest**. The Vai can be seen swimming within the rivers and entering underwater tunnels, the tunnels having a magical air pocket allowing for the Vai to breach through and into a dry environment. The homes are often dug into the sides of the river and the cliff, with their main eating area and bonding area being within a cave hidden behind the waterfall.

## History

During the Ancient years of **Eprea's** creation, the **races** of Eprea were thriving. The biggest population of them all was that of the **Ceardians**, but as fast as they grew, they appeared to die even faster.

**Ania** watched as his siblings began to fall one by one, and wished to do them an honor for his father. In **Ancient 3,456**, Ania visited a graveyard where a group of Ceardians were preparing to bury their loved ones. Stopping them, Ania brought a hot fire over the bodies to cremate them. From the ashes, one of the Ceardian's bodies burst into a brighter flame than the rest, and her body rose once again into life.

The Ceardian who rose was a **Lioane** by the name of **Vairani Sunwing**. Previously a muted, earthy tone, she now sported fiery feathers and glowing eyes. Vairani's appearance now mimicked Ania's, concluding to those present that the **Celestial** had the ability to bring back the dead with his flames. In Vairani's honor, Ania had named the new race after her - the Vai.

Once that Vai is reborn, they will often find that they have had a huge change to their body. The blessings allow for them to fly at high speeds, with many of them having magical abilities associated with the element that revived them. It is said that if a Vai was ever to fall in battle, their bodies would quickly wither away into the ashes that had first brought them back. From those ashes, a new reincarnation will spring forth from them in a new body.

## Physical Appearance

Adult Vai range anywhere from 5 feet (152.4 cm) to 10 feet (304.8 cm) tall.

Vai come in a large variety of appearances and colors, with the most common being that of the flame variety. All Vai don horns that circle backwards and create the shape of a halo, with jewelry and carvings within them that are unique to each Vai. The ends of their tail feathers and wings typically have a glow to them, setting them apart from other **Ceardian**, as well as their irises having an otherworldly glow to them as well.

Although the Vai are most commonly associated with **Ania** and the flames that he uses to bring them back to life, the Vai are not only in a tribe of flames. There are four total types of Vai - the aquatic Vai, the flame Vai, the glacier Vai, and the floral Vai.

The rarest of the types is the aquatic Vai, due to **Juena** often having a distaste for the children of the sky. Therefore, when an aquatic Vai is born, it’s typically raised through the mixture of the flames of Ania and frost of **Alene** at the same time.

It’s not always easy to tell what type of element a Vai harnesses, but if you watch closely when they move, you may see a trail of the element following after them. As well as this, a Vai’s abilities and the glow of their feathers are often enhanced if the weather or climate matches their reborn element.

The Vai take good care of their feathers, often obsessively cleaning them to keep the magical properties within them at their best. Those who are searching for a profit often will seek out Vai feathers to enhance potions or to decorate their homes. Vai typically wear clothes that contrast their plumage, with their style of clothing ranging in large varieties, from robes to simple vests. Despite this being the norm, Vai can still be seen in clothing that matches their feathers, although these Vai are typically the ones who choose to hunt or do assassinations in order to blend in.

### Life Span

Vai appear to be immortal. They stay the physical age that they had been at the time of their revival.

## Culture

Vai are small in population, due to the requirements of their creation. Many other species of **Ceardian** view them similar to royalty, due to them being gifted a second chance at life by a **Celestial**. This is further affirmed by the Ceardians by the fact that it is impossible for a Vai to be born, they can only be created through a revival. All Vai had been Ceardian who had been killed or died via disease. The blessing from the Celestials do not affect Ceardian who had died from old age, due to the intervention of **Eiryot** insisting to allow those who’s times have come to have a peaceful afterlife.

When a Vai is reborn, they typically have hazy memories. Most of them are unable to remember anything for upwards of 24 hours, including their own names and where they are. It can sometimes take a Vai up to a full year to get all of their memories back. A downside of the Vai having their memories return is when the vivid memories of their own deaths finally hit them, with many still being able to feel the pain from the wounds or illness that ended their life.

Following a Vai's revival, they create a clay egg for their ashes to be put into if they were to ever permanently die. The egg is placed delicately in small nests within their settlements, with each Vai's egg being unique in design. It is said that if a Vai never springs from the ashes within the egg that their soul has joined Eiryot's realm in the afterlife.

The Vai have an extreme respect for life. To them, life is sacred and fragile, and deserves to be protected. Despite the Vai being an immortal race, they have all died before, and those memories fuel them to take on the arms of protectors to prevent others from meeting a similar fate. Due to the mindset from the Vai, they do not have any natural enemies upon Eprea, treating all of the races the same and many of those races looking towards them for protection.

### Food

The Vai diet typically consists of all kinds of meats, herbs, fruits, and mushrooms. Depending on what the Vai had been in their previous life, they’ll lean towards being more herbivorous or more carnivorous. One thing they do often agree on with each other is that **mushroom tossed pastas** are delicious.

### Romance

When a Vai gains interest in another person, they showcase their feathers as a way to show off the blessings they received and impress a potential mate. Sometimes, the Vai will pluck out their nicest feathers, creating accessories or works of art to present to their lovers. A secondary sign of affection from a Vai is when they rub their wings against the source of their affection.

When getting married, male Vai will keep their torso bare and decorate their lower bodies in a way to emphasize their tail feathers. Female Vai will wear flowing veils and long dresses that match their feathers and sit lightly along their wings and tail feathers.

### Childcare

If a Vai were to have children, they would take on the role as the protector and guardian of the child, no matter the sex of the Vai. If they marry another Vai, the two will take turns going out and being the hunter while the other stays home to take care of their child.