2025 May 31: Peoples Pt 6: Ei-Lanteans

 Ei-Lanteans are a people rarely seen. Their homeland is to the West, but not on the islands, rather under the sea. For the Ei-Lanteans are a curious breed indeed, as they can breath water just as easily as air. They, however prefer to stay close to water, as their skin can dry out very fast, which is not only very uncomfortable, but can even lead to their death, if serious enough. Thankfully about one long bath a day is sufficient to stave off the worst.

Ei-Lanteans are quite tall, almost all of them taller than 2 meters, but they are usually quite thin. Their skin colors range from deep blues to vibrant greens, with different colored markings that evoke the light glistening on the ocean waves. They have sharp, needle-like teeth, small noses and piercing eyes. They have gills on the sides of their torso, which are left open to the air (or water, as the case may be) in traditional Ei-lantean clothing. They have large, pointed ears, which they often decorate with piercings.

They come from the underwater realm of Ei-Lantis, which is said to be a place of powerful sorcery, and unparalleled knowledge, overflowing with natural resources, some familiar, and some utterly alien to the surface world. In the past their mighty warfleets swept through the seas, and was barely stopped by the Orcs. Nowadays however, they mostly keep to themselves, except for attacking and sinking any vessel which sails too far out onto the western ocean. Still, some can be found almost everywhere along the seashore, either children of those who left Ei-Lantis long ago, exiles, or simply those who desire adventure.

Ei-Lanteans value knowledge and beauty. They have a long tradition of poetry, and their ability to navigate based on the stars is unmatched. Their underwater architecture is breathtaking, though they tend to struggle building anything out of the ordinary outside of the water. They also have powerful singing voices, though once again, their songs and ballads are beautiful when performed underwater, but much less so in open air.

The Ei-Lanteans never quite forgot their warlike past either, and no-one is foolish enough to challenge them on the open water, for not only is one of their water-witches capable of sinking an entire fleet, even the mightiest Sorcerer-Kings have trouble overpowering Ei-Lantean sorcerers when it comes to manipulating water. 

 Image by SeiruhDP