Sunborn

Profiles of a Sunborn man and woman

**Sunborn** (Kivasæl: **Sjurkala**) are a unique subrace of Angels originally native to Pyke, believed to have appeared in that Realm three-thousand years ago. While many Sunborn perished in the Second Collapse, the survivors have reestablished themselves in Agaroth as a people of resilience and strength.

## Appearance

Sunborn are distinctly humanoid in most aspects, taking after their Steluvim cousins within the Angelic hierarchy. The time spent on Pyke had adapted their bodies to suit the realm's environment, and many traits typical of Steluvim have become lost with time.

On average, Sunborn stand a few inches taller than humans, and maintain a similar variety in physique. Their skin color is a notably red hue, with darker skin tones prevalent in the south, which pales to a near white complexion in the north. A notable trait which the Sunborn have maintained from their Angelic heritage is the presence of luminescent markings, called Sun Flares, which trace along their skin when they are directly exposed to sunlight. Distinctly, these Sun Flares are concentrated around a Sunborn's solar plexus, where dense, intricate patterns form a circular design from which the Sun Flares across the rest of their body radiate.

Though their faces share many features as humans, such as rounded ears, key distinctions set them apart. The most notable difference is in the appearance of Sunborn eyes: the irises are incredibly large, covering the whole surface of the eye so that no sclera appear present, and they also apparently lack a pupil, with the iris coloration simply darkening where a pupil would be. Eye colors range from bright blue to deep green, and hazel coloration is exceptionally rare, considered a trait of purity within Sunborn society.

Sunborn hair appears in white, blond, red, or brown, always light in color. It is typical for Sunborn to wear their hair long, rarely ever cutting it. Sunborn will often tie their hair with colorful ribbons or beads in intricate patterns, eager to display them as symbols of wealth and status.

Traditional Sunborn garb consists of brightly dyed woven wool tunics and dresses, with shorter sleeves in the south and long in the north, unshaped and held in place by pins or belts. Sunborn men wear simple breeches, which often stop at the mid-shin, and are dyed dark brown or black. Both Sunborn men and women wear fur-lined boots. For accessories, besides the ribbons and beads which are often tied in their hair, Sunborn will also pierce their ears, and it is common for married couples to wear thin golden bracelets around their left wrists.

It is often stated in Sunborn mythology that the first of their kind still possessed a third eye upon their foreheads, which was burned away after constant fixation to gaze upon Sjuryni's beauty. This myth may hold some merit, as only the rarest among the Sunborn are gifted with the capacity to open their third eye upon their ascension to the position of Shomyr, whereupon this gaze upon the sun's surface can once again be maintained, often for days at a time.

## Culture

### Sædyl

> *Main Article: Sædyl*
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Stemming back to the beginning of Sjurkala society, Sædyl has been a mainstay in Sunborn spirituality, serving as both a means of venerating their origin and in orienting them toward leading a good, productive life. Distinctly, Sædyl engages in solar worship, specifically in regards to the sun of the Realm of Pyke, Sjuryni. This religion is led by the Shomyr (Kivasæl for 'Seer') who acts as a prophetic figure within the faith and interprets visions cast unto them by Sjuryni.

### Kivasæl

'Kivasæl' roughly translates to 'Bright-Tongue' in common speech, and is the primary language used within Sunborn society, having evolved gradually over the millennia since their first arrival upon Pyke. Once thought to mimic qualities found in other angelic tongues, Kivasæl has become a clear cultural artifact of the Sunborn's isolation and cultural development, and is an item of pride in their daily life. While common speech has rapidly been adopted by the Sunborn since their emergence as a united nation, it is typically only used when in conversation with foreign races, and rarely amongst themselves.

### Hair customs

A unique trait exhibited by Sunborn is their desire to retain long locks of hair throughout their lives, and this simplicity has evolved into a much deeper touchstone of Sunborn philosophy. In many respects, the Sunborn see hair, when it is long and well-groomed, as a symbol of peace and prosperity, while short hair is seen as a symbol of hardship and struggle. When a Sunborn has been severely slighted, it is customary for them to cut their hair to display their anger. As such, it has become customary for kings to cut their hair in relation to the stability and security of their nation, with kings who wear long, flowing braids marking an era of great wealth, while kings with short cuts standing as a figure against the difficulties his nation faces. Such displays have evolved over time to remarkable ends, with whole armies sending crates of their cut hair to their enemies as a declaration of war.

## History

### The First Sunborn

The earliest archaeological evidence for the Sunborn seems to date back nearly 3000 years in central Pyke, on the continent of Krayt, with petroglyphs and other ancient artifacts being dug up throughout Old Sjurvælyr. Many of these artifacts appear to have religious symbolism akin to modern Sædyl symbology, and these artifacts were discovered in greater number the further northwest one traveled, close to the yellowstone biome that is known for its hot springs and thermal caves. This coincides with the presence of the Sunstruck Temple, a holy site in Sjurvadhur that was theorized to have been used for rites and ceremonies for millennia. Indeed, it is believed that the Temple was first constructed not long after the Sunborn's appearance on Pyke, and had been in constant use since then. As for much of early Sunborn society, while little is known of how they organized themselves, it is believed that religious, shamanic heads served as important figures in dictating how these ancient tribes lived and interacted with one another.

### The Sunborn Tribes

Long before the creation of Old Sjurvælyr, much of southeastern Krayt was occupied by a great number of disparate Sunborn tribes. Sjurukydh (lit. "Sun's Strength") served as a home for one such tribe, who settled along the stone coast north of Safalkolys (lit. "Light Stone") approximately 1000 years ago. This settlement quickly grew to become a great power in the region, suddenly serving as host to tens of thousands of Sunborn within only a century. While many of the other tribes continued to live semi-nomadic lives, the first settlers of Sjurukydh had amassed a grand influence over the east, and began pushing for control of adjacent territories. One known battle occurred to the southwest against the tribes of Dithkavoth, who quickly capitulated under the might of this remarkable force. Before long, much of the east was under the control of the Sjurukydhyr, but such power was accompanied by instability. As their conquest continued west, the Sjurukydhyr were met by a remarkable force in present-day Kivosæmyr, who seemed stronger and better organized. They successfully repelled the Sjurukydhyr, which may have been a catalyst in the turmoil to come.

It is thought that a great revolt occurred in the town against the leader of the Sjurukydhyr, an event which modern historians call the Battle of Sjursafal. This conflict resulted in a bloodbath, with thousands of Sunborn butchered in the streets of ancient Sjurukydh, and much of the city was abandoned, and the Sunborn divided. The revolutionaries maintained control of the town, while many of the survivors fled to the northwest, where they created another settlement, known today as Sjurir (lit. "Sun's Hope").

### Foundation of Old Sjurvælyr

There are notable gaps in the historic record of what hardships the Sunborn endured for several hundred years after this period. However, one thing is certain: approximately 400 years ago, the first records of the Kingdom of Sjurvælyr are documented, which seemed to have been formed from the ruins of numerous Sunborn petty kingdoms, creating for the first time in known history, a unified Sunborn nation. This union saw great advances made in Sunborn art, architecture, and culture, catapulting them into an era of unprecedented prosperity. However, golden eras do not last forever. One hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Sjurvælyr fell into a civil war, resulting in much of the nation being embroiled in the largest Sunborn conflict in history. Only ten years passed, yet nearly one third of all Sunborn men perished in the conflict. As a result of this massive loss, the Helvig family assumed the throne with a focus on rebuilding their nation.

### The Collapse of Pyke

As a hundred years passed, the Sunborn gradually recovered from the civil war and saw a new hint of prosperity rising in their nation. However, a great catastrophe was imminent. On an otherwise calm, uneventful day, the sky across the world of Pyke began to darken. All at once, it began to crack and heave; the ground split and shattered. Hundreds of thousands of Sunborn were crushed and mangled as the world itself sundered. Many flocked to the Sunstruck Temple, praying to Sjuryni, their Mother Sun, for salvation from this destruction. The ground shook and quaked; entire cities fell into the earth, as though a void had opened beneath them and swallowed them whole. A low, echoing cry rang against the splitting sky, pulsing in the core of every being. And then, there was darkness.