Handmaiden
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To provide a native sentient species for the planet Ayvara that supports the mystical and cultural elements of the Five Veils Conspiracy plotline. The Ayvarans bring a unique spiritual and aesthetic tradition to the galaxy through their Force-based rites and deep connection to their natural environment.
- Image Credit: Original AI creations using CHATGPT
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Ayvara (planet submission), Five Veils Conspiracy
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Name: Ayvaran
- Designation: Sentient
- Origins: Ayvara
- Average Lifespan: 300 standard years
- Estimated Population: Planetary
- Description: The Ayvarans are a humanoid species native to the mesa forests of Ayvara. Known for their pale coloration and harmonic speech, they are deeply attuned to the Force and to the resonant qualities of their world. Though appearing ethereal and ageless, they are shaped by a strict rite of passage and tribal traditions. All Ayvarans receive glowing, bioluminescent tattoos upon surviving their planet's sacred vision quest, a sign of adulthood.
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
- Breathes: Type I
- Average Height of Adults: 1.7 - 2.0 meters
- Average Length of Adults: N/A
- Skin color: Ranges from pearl-white to muted silvers, soft greys, light blues, and pale lilacs
- Hair color: Predominantly white, silver, ash-blonde, or soft pastel tones
- Distinctions: Ayvarans are tall, slender, and light-boned with elongated limbs and pointed ears. Their eyes are highly reflective and come in pale hues, often without pupils. All Ayvarans possess a subdermal sensitivity to vibration and harmonic frequencies, making them exceptional singers and Force-adepts in sound-based disciplines. Age shows slowly; they are considered adolescents until roughly 30 years of age. Upon completing their vision quest, their skin develops naturally glowing, bioluminescent tattoos unique to each individual. Failure to return from this rite with the marks of approval means remaining spiritually and legally a child, regardless of age.
- Races:
— Vaelari: Pale white skin, white hair, white eyes; seen as seers or "soul-marked"
— Rhessari: Bluish-grey skin, silver-blue hair, fog-colored eyes; often cave dwellers or mesa-top scouts
— Thalenari: Soft lavender or rose-toned skin, light plum or ash-pink hair; skilled in storytelling and ceremonial duties
— Elonni: Pale jade or misty green undertones in skin, with silver-green hair; strong ties to the forest and animal whispering - Force Sensitivity: High
Strengths:
- Natural harmonic resonance and sensory attunement makes them excellent Force users in areas of empathy, sensing, and sonic manipulation.
- Extremely long-lived with extended developmental stages; cultural memory spans centuries.
Weaknesses:
- Physically fragile compared to other humanoid species; not well-suited to high-gravity or combat-heavy environments.
- Highly susceptible to psychic dissonance or mental trauma when exposed to chaotic, war-torn, or overly industrialized settings.
CULTURE
- Diet: Omnivore; primary diet consists of mesa-root fungi, gliderfish, aerial fruits, and bioluminescent nectar. Processed offworld foods can cause malnutrition, illness or hallucinations.
- Communication: Spoken Ayvaran dialects — tonal and harmonic; often accompanied by body movement or subtle vibrations
- Technology level: Pre-industrial; reliant on Force-guided crafting, acoustic engineering, and natural materials. Tools are bone, stone, or crystal-based.
- Religion/Beliefs: The Ayvarans revere "The Song of the World" — a living Force tradition wherein all things exist in vibration and resonance. Vision quests are central: at age 20, every child journeys into the wilds to receive the planet's permission to join adulthood. These quests see them live in solitude for years before the planet accepts them. Those who return carry sacred glowing tattoos and are henceforth honored as adults. The few who do not return are mourned but seen as chosen for another path.
- General behavior: Ayvaran society is tribal, respectful, and introspective. Children are raised communally and educated through story-song and mimicry. Courtship is long and expressive, often involving shared dreams or harmonized chants. Families span multiple generations, with elders serving as oral historians. Conflict between tribes is ritualized but escalating in some regions. Ayvarans do not leave Ayvara, but those who desire to are considered "displaced tones" and watched with suspicion or pity. Despite their apparent calm, internal political rivalries and philosophical rifts threaten their future in the face of galactic discovery.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Ayvaran people have lived atop the mesas and within the whispering forests of Ayvara for as long as their songs remember. Long before galactic starships found the stars, Ayvarans tuned their ears to the planet's voice and walked its paths in peace and ritual. For centuries, they believed themselves alone, and their culture developed without war, currency, or conquest.
Protected by the one of the Five Veils nebula, Ayvara was hidden until the Planeshift event brought their world into clear galactic view. Now the Ayvarans must face a galaxy they never imagined, one filled with star empires and technologies far beyond their crafting. Some tribes wish to reach outward, others to hide or fight. Yet all feel the deep dissonance that now rings through their sacred harmonies. Their world has changed — and whether their soul-marks will remain bright in the times ahead is a question that only the Force may answer.
