Satyr

## **Biology**

**Purity:** 50-85%

Satyr are bipedal humanoid creatures that are inherently Magic by nature. Originally, Satyr were created by Elves who were cursed by the God Dirus, and this magical blight has persisted throughout the species' genetic lineage ever since. They’re commonly between 5 and 7 feet tall, although some individuals have been known to get up to 8 or 9 feet due to their innate wild magic. How strongly one’s Magic is tied to Dirus will alter their form. Those with less fur and plantigrade legs have less magic than those who appear more beastly. Like Kodin, they have several different variants including Feline, Canine, and Vulpine.

## **Personality**

Intelligence and personality are heavily based on what a Satyr looks like and how much of Dirus’ magic they’re tied to. Those who appear more human generally act more human, whereas those who look more Kodin-like are known to act feral or more beastly. Overall, though, Satyr all have a few distinct behaviours that can act as a cue when trying to identify one. Because they have many Kodin traits and behaviours they've developed far more nonverbal communications that are more animal centric. They rarely smile, as bearing teeth is seen as an aggressive behaviour. This causes other races to view them as stoic or cold, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Satyr are generally very loyal and trusting people. On occasion their feral instincts get the best of them, sometimes making them seem unpredictable or excitable. The magical influence accentuates their pack loyalty as well. Many Satyr are possessive or overprotective over people they care about; acting cold or standoffish towards strangers. Satyr are also known to share personality traits with their Kodin variants. Canines, Felines, and Vulpines all sharing similar personalities.

## **Civilization/Culture**

   Much of Satyr society is rooted in Kodin society. Both species have lived in close proximity to each other for centuries, so naturally they’d share and exchange beliefs and ideals. Generally speaking, Satyr society is entirely centered around their impure instincts and dealing with them in a human centric world. While the need to act Pure is still prominent, Satyr are still instinctual and beastly creatures.

Navigation is often difficult to find in a Satyr settlement as the people living there know how to traverse the area via scent. Outsiders find these settlements confusing and difficult to navigate, and it’s common for them to get lost while visiting. They view signs or other text based indicators as unnecessary. To combat this issue, it’s common for Satyr settlements to employ guides which can help non-natives find their way around the place.

   Because of their heavy magical ties the use of sometimes “unnecessary” spells or trinkets are commonplace. Their settlements are often described as “whimsical” with remnant fog and sparkling lights being a near guaranteed sight. Magical research is prominent as well, as many people have above average Mana pools. It’s a highly valued skill, and many schools will have basic magic and spellcasting as required courses. Their physical form is so dependent on magic that not understanding it can be dangerous.

   Of course, family is a highly valued ideal as well. Satyr do pack bond, as much as they don’t want to admit it, and they’ll center their lives around those they care about. It’s not uncommon for generations to all live under the same roof. Many Satyr never move out of their home, with adults and young adults taking care of both children and elders. Families are known to pass on jobs, traditions, and beliefs to the newer generations to the point where their family name is usually associated with said jobs or ideals.

## **Relations**

Historically, Satyr and Kodin are very close and have an overall positive relationship. In the past Satyr would hide among Kodin settlements, as the midway point between beast and human form closely resembled them. That, and the species as a whole was an offshoot of Kodin, so them continuing to live in close proximity was only natural. They’ve become more distinct over the years, but the relationship is still being maintained to this day. Both Kodin and Satyr share very similar body language and instinctual traits which give them a deeper understanding of each other. Overall both species are able to integrate between each other seamlessly.

## **History**

Satyr first came into existence around the year 4072 during the Arkan Renaissance. The Renaissance caused the ascension of many False Gods, including the god Dirus. Dirus had started as a normal wolf who, due to magical influence, gained sapiance and became a highly intelligent being.

Of course, the pure races of Mirror Domain did not take too kindly to this development. Many of the more humanoid species turned her away, believing she was some sort of monster or demon. Magic was just beginning to boom in popularity during this time, and something like this was extremely new and not very well understood. Duris was chased off from human and Elf settlements, causing many resentments to begin to brew. Eventually this prejudice became too much for Dirus to handle. She was alone. Intelligent races didn’t want her, and feral wolves weren’t stimulating enough to live with. So, with anger and loneliness beginning to boil over, she decided to exact her revenge on those who cast her out.

Dirus created a curse using her god-like abilities, which she used to take away ones humanity in the hope it’d turn them into animal-like creatures like herself. That way she’d have a people to rule over and humanity would learn its lesson. Those bitten by Dirus became werewolves, and the magic of her bite quite literally changed the essence of her victim’s being. Soon, these new Werewolves had children of their own, and a new race of Satyr was born.

After the discovery of Demon summoning the view on Satyr abruptly shifted. Dirus, and by extension her creations, all appeared very demonic in nature. Not only that, but the type of magic used to create/summon both was very similar. Because of this people began labeling the species as demons, and a miniature war broke out. People tried to overthrow Dirus, which only angered her more. But Duris was outnumbered, so instead of continuing on with a losing battle she instead took her most loyal followers away to a far off land in order to have a territory of their own to settle and live without prejudice. This territory would later become Wolvern Valley, which still exists to this day.

Those who did not follow Dirus went into hiding; living amongst Kodin settlements where they were able to blend in and stay in the shadows. Eventually, as the Renaissance continued on and more information about Demons was discovered, the stigma surrounding Satyr faded, and the race was able to live far more openly. Those still living in pure settlements began to band together and form their own settlements and societies.

## **Religion**

   Seeing as they were quite literally created by a god, many Satyr hold strong religious beliefs. Whether their opinon on the matter is positive or negative is an entirely different matter. Those who still reside in Wolvern Valley are generally positive when it comes to religion. They still follow Dirus’ teachings and hold her worldviews, for better or for worse. Those who live outside the Valley are overall negative towards religion and it’s not uncommon for them to belittle those who hold these beliefs.

## **Languages**

Commonly Satyr speak Standard, Chitt, Lupin, or Yip. Those who live in Wolvern Valley may still speak Snarrel, as it’s a tradition in the region.

## **Names**

Last names in Satyr families are an indication of their lineage. Many of them have family names which have existed almost since the beginning of the race as a whole. Last names are chosen based on the job or beliefs a family shares. Sometimes personality based names exist, such as the name “Brave”.

When it comes to first names, it’s common for parents to pass down their first name to the firstborn of the same gender. It’s almost weirder for a Satyr to not have “The second” or “the fifth” tacked on to the end of their name seeing how family centric their society is.

## **Adventures**

Generally speaking Satyr are not a very adventurous race. They prefer to remain with their family, and it’s hard to move large amounts of people without issue. Territory and generational homes are so heavily valued that many Satyr won’t even leave their homes during times of war or natural disaster. The only time they ever moved in mass was during the Arkan Renaissance where a large number of them split off to settle Wolvern Valley.

That being said, while they don’t explore the world they do explore their homes. Satyr are extremely knowledgeable of the natural areas surrounding their settlements to the point where many of them make a living guiding foreigners around the area. No stone is left unturned, so long as its relatively close to home. If you ever see a Satyr away from their “home”, you may be closer to a Satyr settlement than you think. They don’t appear places randomly.

## **Abilities**

Satyr are naturally tied to magic due to their upbringing. Almost all of them have extremely large mana pools and a higher magical tolerance. That being said, their magic is still loosely tied to their god. Wild magic is common among Satyr mages, as Dirus still actively uses her own magic which sometimes has unintended side effects on the population.

The upbringing of Satyr has caused several misconceptions about what they can and cannot do. While it is true that being bitten by Dirus will give someone Lycanthropy, turning them into a werewolf, Satyr do not have this trait. Many people fear being bitten or scratched by a Satyr for fear of being cursed with Lycanthropy, but none of them have the ability to curse anyone with this trait.