History
Empyreans have existed alongside humans for many ages. Although no one is quite sure where they came from, it is believed that the empyrean progenitor must have lived close to the end of the Age of Wonders. Some speculate that this progenitor was none other than Kreilos Vesdrekim, the first wizard and avatar of Drakerim, though there is no evidence of this other than the timing.
Whoever the empyrean progenitor was, his or her traits have been passed down through hundreds of generations since. It is clear that this follows in family lines, though the lines have been faded and diluted to the point where an empyrean may be born to nearly any human family. Despite this, when startouched traits appear, they always appear completely, which strongly suggests their magical nature.
Throughout history, empyreans have been treated with a mix of awe and fear due to their strange appearance and otherworldly aura. This was particularly prevalent during the Shunning of the Magicks, when superstitions abounded that empyreans could see into the future, use magic to control the minds of public officials, or bewitch unborn infants to claim as their own. The followers of Ressik were particularly avid in spreading such slander, which led to the widespread persecution of empyreans.
Though not unfounded, such claims have since been dismissed as exaggerations of more benign truths. Seers are known to be much more prevalent among empyreans, so much so that all empyreans are believed to have some degree of prophetic ability. Due to their scholarly inclinations and objectivity, they are often appointed as advisors and judges. And though no magic can influence the birth of empyrean children, monasteries commonly send envoys to parents of atavistic empyreans offering a home for the child among its own kind. In some cases, these envoys may even appear on the night of the child's birth, led there by a prophecy from one of the monastery's seers.
Among common folk, empyreans still bear the stigma of these lies, but they are rarely ostracized by those with a modicum of education or upbringing. In such circles, empyreans have reclaimed a reputation for being even-tempered, intelligent, and just, if a bit peculiar.
Organization & Government
Empyreans are not numerous enough to form cities or kingdoms of their own. Instead, they congregate in small, secluded monasteries within the territories of other races, particularly humans. As such, they obey the laws of whatever local government rules over them, most often serving as model citizens. At the same time, they keep to their own and obey the internal rules of their monastery.
Monastic life for empyreans features a structured mix of shared chores, instruction, study, and meditation. The monastery functions as a harmonious whole, with each member performing one or more mundane duties, such as preparing food, mending garments, or maintaining buildings, as well as a specialized role, such as instructor, archivist, or envoy. In smaller monasteries, members are often charged to take on multiple roles, while larger monasteries form hierarchies to allow for the management of the larger group.
Empyrean monasteries are largely free of interpersonal conflicts and power struggles that plague similar human organizations. Particularly when they are among their own kind, empyreans are content to cooperate and function as part of a greater whole. On the rare occasion that friction does occur, it is almost always resolved with calm diplomacy.
Except for visitors from the outside world, the only things that interrupt life at an empyrean monastery are celestial events. Because they can have a profound influence on every member of the monastery, normal activities are normally halted in favor of rest or meditation. Occasionally, they may be cause for celebrations or competitions, depending on the nature of the celestial event and the effect it has.
Lifecycle
Empyreans are born to human families. Empyrean parents or families with empyrean members are more likely to produce empyrean children, though such a child may be born to nearly any human family through atavism from a distant ancestor.
Empyrean children are evident from birth. In addition to their characteristic white hair, empyrean babies rarely cry, and are born able to understand their mother's language. It still takes them several months to learn to speak, however.
Empyreans born into families with other empyrean members are often fostered by their startouched kin. Atavistic empyreans, on the other hand, face greater adversity, and may even be harmed by their parents out of superstition. Empyrean monasteries maintain a constant vigil for such youths, sending envoys to ensure the child's safety and offer a home where it can live among its own kind. Because empyrean monasteries often include one or more seers, such envoys may even appear as early as the night the child is born. It is thus rare that an empyrean child is left to fend for itself as an outcast.
Empyrean children mature to adulthood at the same pace as normal humans. After that, however, their aging slows to a crawl. Short of being claimed by injury or illness, it is thought that empyreans can live for an many centuries. In fact, there is no known incidence of an empyrean perishing of old age, though those who live for more than a few centuries have been known to disappear mysteriously.
Upon reaching adulthood, monastic empyreans are given the freedom to come and go as they please. Some choose to set out into the world to find a place for themselves, though just as many choose to remain and take up permanent residence within the monastery.
Physical Description
Empyreans appear completely human, with one notable exception. All empyreans have stark white hair. Whether this is the result of their celestial nature or merely an unrelated trait of the bloodline is uncertain.
Costuming Requirements
Empyrean characters must wear white wigs or hair paint.
Customs & Traditions
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Animals. It is thought that animals can sense that empyreans are not wholly of this world, which causes them to react with aversion. Though rarely agitated, domesticated animals will shy away from them, while wild animals will actively seek to flee from them. Because of this, empyreans rarely keep pets, livestock, or mounts, and empyrean druids are especially rare.
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Astrology. The study of heavenly bodies is of special interest to empyreans because of their acute sensitivity to celestial events. Conjunctions, eclipses, lunar phases, meteor showers, passing comets, and the like have a direct and immutable influence over empyreans. They may gain surges of power or emotion, become dormant, or be stricken ill in response to such occurrences. As such, they are known to pay close attention to celestial phenomena. Larger monasteries often include a dedicated Stargazer, whose sole duty is to predict and inform the monastery of upcoming celestial events.
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Foresight. The Sight is more prevalent among empyreans than any other race, so much so that all empyreans are believed to have some degree of prophetic ability. Dreams and visions are given special consideration, and the predictions of seers are treated as vital truths.
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Meditation. Empyreans are fond of seeking quiet and solitude in which to focus their minds. For obvious reasons, they prefer to do this by starlight when possible. Many monasteries feature special stone gardens for this express purpose.
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Objectivity. From an early age, monastic empyreans are taught to release themselves from preconceptions in the pursuit of true understanding. They learn to judge each thing on its own merits, divorcing their assessments from their own feelings. It is for this reason that they are renowned as judges, advisors, and sages.
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Temperance. - Empyreans rarely overindulge, particularly when it comes to intoxicants such as alcohol. Many abstain from consuming such substances entirely, believing that they rob the user of precious mental clarity.
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Writing. Empyreans are particularly fond of books and other written works. Many spend their lives in study, pouring over tomes and scrolls as well as writing new ones themselves. Empyrean libraries are among the most esteemed in the world, and often contain unique works that cannot be found anywhere else.
Immortals
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Atrazius & Drakerim - Many empyrean monasteries feature small shrines dedicated to the Keeper of the Flame, particularly in the library or scriptorium. Newer monasteries built since the Shattering may dedicate these shrines to Drakerim's steward Atrazius instead. Most empyreans, especially those who study wizardry, are brought up to believe deeply in the philosophy of these two immortals, that knowledge should be sought out, protected, and passed on freely.
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Banekeril - Alongside Atazius and Drakerim, Banekeril is much esteemed among empyreans, particularly espers, who share a keen interest in chronicling the past as well as predicting the future. Many monasteries feature fountains or sundials within their cloisters dedicated to Banekeril, as well as large bells which are chimed to mark the steady progression of the day.
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Githal - Empyrean monks in particular are fond of Githal, whose doctrine teaches discipline and strategy as the means to achieve victory. This philosophy is taken somewhat differently than others who revere Githal, such as dwarves, as it is applied to inner peace as well as military conquest.
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Muralakrum & Secronus - Some empyreans prefer to revere the Forsynteril as a whole, and may thus delve into the philosophies of Muralakrum or Secronus. It is rare, however, for an empyrean to revere either of these immortals to the exclusion of the others.
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Ressik - Empyreans share a special aversion to Ressik and his ilk, who enforce order through ignorance and fear, a philosophy that is antithetical to the empyrean way of life. Many times in the past, empyrean monasteries have been sacked, their libraries burned and their members jailed as heretics against the Supreme Lawgiver.
Parlance
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Baam's Shadow. A sign of misfortune, often used as a form of expletive. The comet known as Baam is said to cast misfortune on the world as it passes once every 72 years.
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Music of the Spheres. Empyreans use this expression to describe their state of being in terms that terrene can understand. It describes the ever-shifting rhythm of cosmic energies that results from the movement of stars and planets. Some equate it to a song of subtle harmonies, others to a slow dance of heavenly bodies, though it quite naturally transcends any earthly equivalent.
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Taking the stair on the right. Doing a good deed or taking the moral high road. This refers to the Stairway of Paradise, one of the three Gates of Judgement said to stand right of the others and offer virtuous souls entry into an afterlife of eternal bliss.
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Terrene. This term describes the whole of the earthly races, and is used exclusively by empyreans. As empyreans are rarely arrogant with regard to their race, it is never used pejoratively.