House Arahael

The majority of the Arahael clan travel as nomads throughout northwestern Lloraelia the whole year, settling in the eternal spring of Za'Arvandor every three years during heat season. They are renowned for their tight ties with the fae, Elysium, and their goddess Desna.

## Culture

The Arahael place a premium on communing with nature and respecting the fae. Those that aren't devoted entirely to Desna pray to Gozreh and other nature-related deities.

Being nomads, they limit non-essential personal possessions to things that can easily be carried on their person and value multifunctional clothing and gear. Staples such as food, tents, and medicine are kept in communal collections stored and moved within *lunes*, elvish covered carts made of greenwood and pulled by stags or bears.

Children are the most prized possession of the Arahael. For the first ten years of their lives, Arahael children aren't to have their feet touch the ground. They are instead carried by family and friends, allowed to ride in lunes with the elderly. or kept in special, pod-shaped *ered* slings made of greenwood reeds. Upon sensing danger, the reeds of an ered sling will close the openings of the basket in which the baby is kept, hardening like ironwood; this protects the child from being crushed or pulled out of the sling and prevents damage from short falls. These are especially favored in smaller Arahael bands were attacks become harder to fend off, as most ered slings are enchanted to seek out a living humanoid if they aren't touched for twenty four hours, ensuring that there is someone to care for the precious cargo within.

### Za'Arvandor

Unlike the other city-states held by the High Houses of Lloraelia, Za'Arvandor holds no static place on the map. Said to be an anomalous rift into a corner of Elysium itself, Za'Arvandor can be opened by the head of Clan Arahael when the planets align properly on the summer solstice. This occurs every three years, coinciding with the triennial heat season quessir enter. This opening has never been made in the same place twice, though it is very deliberately chosen and traveled to depending on the stars; past locations have included Lake Solude, Starbridge, Fae'tel, and, scandalously, the Rivenmarsh town of Scriptus.

The opening of Za'Arvandor is met with festivals and revelry by those even outside of House Arahael. Because of its coinciding with heat season, it has become a destination for many quessir over the centuries as a good place to indulge their natural urges. Sprawling markets, buffets, and hostels are set up and festivals and performances occur near-daily for the duration of the month.

## Relationships

The Arahael are well-liked by their fellow sy'quessir clans, the Syrus and Agarwaen. When the stars take an Arahael south, they can rest assured they will be met happily by these clans. Marriage with these clans is common and celebrated.

Starcharts and heavenly observations from the Arahael are well respected by House Llorelin. Like all of the other High Houses, the Arahael have several Llorelin Fateseers in the service of their elders and leading members.

The selu'quessir clans of Lloraelia maintain the general condescension toward the Arahael they hold for their other countrymen. There is a notable lack of respect for the clan's young leader and infant heir; the lack of a husband has led to rumors that Asteria Arahael lay with a satyr to beget her son.

## Appearance

Arahael have thick, curly hair that they frequently dress with flowers and found objects. Most dress sparsely and forego shoes as many clansmen form a weak empathetic bond with the nearby natural formations just through skin contact; this allows the clan to travel more safely through the forest, avoiding any alarming dangers.

The most striking thing about the Arahaels' appearances is the way that they shift with the passing seasons and even minute to minute with changing emotions. Hair color is known to brighten throughout the spring and summer before dulling to greys and blacks and mousy browns come winter.

Arahaels have bright but hard to pin down eye colors. The hue changes with the elf's mood; the value of these colors does not change.

The highest ranking of the Arahaels are some brand of redhead.

## Character creation tips

* The Arahael are most often druids, fey-influence sorcerers, and magic-heavy hunter types that keep more fragile clan members guarded.
* Arahael are known for their shapeshifting and transmutation magics.
* While Arahael adventurers are quite common, they usually have a broad goal in mind. This could be a cryptic quest given to them by a fey creature, them following a fate they think they see painted in the stars, or some other pursuit that they think will make them a more valuable addition to their clan. The Arahaels are overwhelmingly supportive of their ranks traveling away, believing that they will always come back a more colorful person.