A female and male Dware

The Dware De'Lani Glyph

De’Lani: D’ware
Lani: Sandstone
Influence: The Influence of Time
Abilities: Speed/Slow Time, Influence Perspective, Know Age

Dware are smaller, nimble humanoids, with a darker, often ruddy skin tone, dark eyes and hair.  They have love for scholarly pursuits and have great memories.  While large societies of them do exist, organized under a strange autocratic society that forms under central figure head they call a “Master”, they will often leave their larger societies and live amongst the other De’Lani, working as scholars, teachers, doctors and other functions.

While not having the silver tongues of the Maior, they are fascinating and engaging storytellers, utilizing their knowledge and memories to very creative use if they choose.  They consider time to be a resource similar to food or air…something necessary, required, and limited. Very punctual and detail oriented, it is considered a horrific breach of etiquette to keep anyone waiting, but it is also oddly a sign of tremendous respect and honor for one of the Dware to wait for anyone or anything in “real time”.  The Dware have a unique and intimate relationship with time and how they perceive it, and it permeates every area of their culture and lifestyle.

Marriages and important rites are terribly long, complex affairs that can last days, a symbolic display of the importance of the event to all who attend.  Any important decision to be made is not made once the course has been chosen, but when the proper amount of time has passed to show the value of the request or the decision.  This makes them to be very difficult negotiators and large decisions could take months to announce, sometimes making the choice elementary or unnecessary.

Despite all of this, they choose to live very simply, even minimalistic, preferring open architecture and minimal clothing, even the females.  Those that live in other societies where rules of propriety or environment require more covering, both men and women tend to wear long, loose fitting robes of a light colored material which can be easily removed.  They tend to prefer knee or thigh high boots or short, tight fitting slippers, often chosen based upon the terrain through which they are traveling or living in.

Hair: Light Brown, Dark Brown, Black and Reddish (Auburn)

Eyes: Light Brown or Black

Skin: light to dark brown often with a reddish cast to it

A Male and Female Maior

The Maior De'Lani Glyph

De’Lani: Maior
Lani: Sapphire
Influence: The Influence of Beings
Abilities:  Charm, Influence, Negotiate, Empath, Inspire, Enrage, Emote, Dream

The Maior are average sized humanoids with (generally) light colored hair and eyes.  They considering themselves the “aristocrats” (much to the disdain of the other De’Lani) of the Natura De’Lani, and tend to meddle in the affairs of all the De’Lani and have even, on occasion, tried to influence the Seraph in their dealings with the other De’Lani and the other Realms.  Many Maior openly believe that of all the De’Lani, their race is the closest and most similar to that of the Seraph, which has caused significant friction with the other De’Lani over the years.

While neither physically imposing they do have very melodic voices and smooth, clear features.  Their most striking characteristic, however, are their eyes, which shift in color from lighter to darker in reflection their mood.  This trait has made it so that the Maior have a difficult time lying or being blatantly false when communicating directly with others.  The trait is believed to be the Balance at work in the Maior so that their powers of persuasion and charm are not magnified.   Still, rumors persist suggesting that a few powerful Maior have learned to “mute” or even control this ability, giving them a tremendous advantage and a subtle weapon.

The Maior have a presence, a charisma about them that can often beguile and charm other beings.   Those that choose not to work within diplomacy or business often become gifted singers and performers.  They tend to be ambitious and can be very intelligent, but most Maior are know less for invention and true creation, and more for their ability to innovate the ideas that others have already created.

They organize their societies in tight, communal groups with elected councils governing cities and regions, but with one overall figurehead who is elected by the councils. Those that choose to live independent of their societies are highly prized as advisers, negotiators, merchants and diplomats.

Hair: Hair tends to be yellow or light blue although some will have light brown.

Eyes: Light blue, grey or green, and lighten or darken according to their emotion: lighter for joy or happiness, darker  for sadness or anger

Skin: Light tan to pink