Lanyan Sea Elf
Size/Catagory: Humanoid (Elven)
Stats:
Mind: Skilled 14
Body: Expert 11
Magic: Novice 17
These statistics represent a typical Lanyan Elf Warrior.
Number of Attacks: Variable.
Damage/Attack: By weapon
Special Attacks: Variable.
Special Defenses: Exceptional stealth.
Special Abilites: Infravision, limited truesight
Magic Resistance: Immune to sleep enchantments.
Stats:
Mind: Skilled 14
Body: Expert 11
Magic: Novice 17
These statistics represent a typical Lanyan Elf Warrior.
Number of Attacks: Variable.
Damage/Attack: By weapon
Special Attacks: Variable.
Special Defenses: Exceptional stealth.
Special Abilites: Infravision, limited truesight
Magic Resistance: Immune to sleep enchantments.
Climate/Terrain: The Lanyans are confined to the far northern isle of Iskay. However, their skills as scouts and mariners makes them in demand as hirelings, and they can be found scattered in ones and twos throughout the Realms as a result.
Frequency: Rare
Organization: The Lanyans live in close-knit, intensely loyal clans, often at feud, but ready to unite against common enemies.
Activity Cycle: The Lanyans rarely sleep, but are more alert at night.
Intelligence: High.
Language: High Lanyan is the mother tongue of nobles, Clan Lanyan that of vassals, while a dialect of Elvish is shared between them. Bardic Lanyan is the language of their poetry and song. Circumstances force them to pick up Common away from Iskay, though they consider it an inferior tongue.
Alignment: The Lanyans are fiercely independent; they serve themselves, their clan and their goddess, putting morality at naught.
Description:
Lanyans are far taller than is typical for Elves or humans, usually standing a little above six foot. Their hair is usually dark as night, but some tend more towards blue; redheads and white-blondes have also been known. Their eyes are almost invariably the colour of the sea, and their complexion is pale as alabaster.
While they can be loyal friends, they remember grudges as well as debts, and their love of scheming and politicking makes them essentially a fickle kind.
Frequency: Rare
Organization: The Lanyans live in close-knit, intensely loyal clans, often at feud, but ready to unite against common enemies.
Activity Cycle: The Lanyans rarely sleep, but are more alert at night.
Intelligence: High.
Language: High Lanyan is the mother tongue of nobles, Clan Lanyan that of vassals, while a dialect of Elvish is shared between them. Bardic Lanyan is the language of their poetry and song. Circumstances force them to pick up Common away from Iskay, though they consider it an inferior tongue.
Alignment: The Lanyans are fiercely independent; they serve themselves, their clan and their goddess, putting morality at naught.
Description:
Lanyans are far taller than is typical for Elves or humans, usually standing a little above six foot. Their hair is usually dark as night, but some tend more towards blue; redheads and white-blondes have also been known. Their eyes are almost invariably the colour of the sea, and their complexion is pale as alabaster.
While they can be loyal friends, they remember grudges as well as debts, and their love of scheming and politicking makes them essentially a fickle kind.
Combat:
The determination and courage of these Sea Elves make them, in some ways, ideal warriors; they perform well in task forces, missions, forays and scouting parties. Making up in cunning what they lack in power, this is one sphere where Lanyans may be relied upon.
However, while as single fighters they are deadly and as captains inspired, they have little grasp of overall strategy compared with other Elves; their self-confidence can also be a trap. They therefore are most sucessful under foreign generals and employers.
The determination and courage of these Sea Elves make them, in some ways, ideal warriors; they perform well in task forces, missions, forays and scouting parties. Making up in cunning what they lack in power, this is one sphere where Lanyans may be relied upon.
However, while as single fighters they are deadly and as captains inspired, they have little grasp of overall strategy compared with other Elves; their self-confidence can also be a trap. They therefore are most sucessful under foreign generals and employers.
Habitat/Society:
The eleven Clans of Iskay, the isle where Lanyans dwell, are ruled by families of nobles, descent passing through mothers; one example of the equality females are afforded in Lanyan society. Before they bear children, Lanyan females fight alongside their lovers and brothers; by necessity as the Sea Elves are so few in number.
The noblewomen also act as the supreme priestesses of the goddess Lanya, Lady of Twilight, Night, and Passion; they perform her rites and sacrifices. It is acknowledged that males have two uses; as leaders in war, and as bards. The chieftainess of a clan will nominate a male relation as "tanist", her captain in war and co-ruler in times of emergency. The bond of "tanistry" is confirmed at the new year, when the chieftainess incestuously mates with her tanist; potions are employed to ensure that no children are born of these unions.
The most powerful tanist on Iskay is currently Telikessar Teram, tanist to three clans; this distinction ensures that the other eight tanists obey him, for the present.
The eleven Clans of Iskay, the isle where Lanyans dwell, are ruled by families of nobles, descent passing through mothers; one example of the equality females are afforded in Lanyan society. Before they bear children, Lanyan females fight alongside their lovers and brothers; by necessity as the Sea Elves are so few in number.
The noblewomen also act as the supreme priestesses of the goddess Lanya, Lady of Twilight, Night, and Passion; they perform her rites and sacrifices. It is acknowledged that males have two uses; as leaders in war, and as bards. The chieftainess of a clan will nominate a male relation as "tanist", her captain in war and co-ruler in times of emergency. The bond of "tanistry" is confirmed at the new year, when the chieftainess incestuously mates with her tanist; potions are employed to ensure that no children are born of these unions.
The most powerful tanist on Iskay is currently Telikessar Teram, tanist to three clans; this distinction ensures that the other eight tanists obey him, for the present.
Ecology:
Lanyans can live for thousands of years if fate wills it, but the incessant feuding, division, raiding and battle in their culture ensure that this is rarely the case. The barrenness of Iskay leads parties of Sea Elves to journey afield, raiding the north of Incourt and the tidal island of Morgana, where their hated ancestral enemies, the more lawful Quenyan Sea Elves, rule.
Lanyans with real ambition will travel south to Amusa and find passage to Auvrynon, the gate to all the Planes of Zatrikion. Many of these adventurers and mercenary sailors meet bad ends; others return in triumph, and often become tanists of Iskay. Recently the war with Incourt has made the passage south far more dangerous, but it is a challenge the Lanyans eagerly respond to.
Lanyans can live for thousands of years if fate wills it, but the incessant feuding, division, raiding and battle in their culture ensure that this is rarely the case. The barrenness of Iskay leads parties of Sea Elves to journey afield, raiding the north of Incourt and the tidal island of Morgana, where their hated ancestral enemies, the more lawful Quenyan Sea Elves, rule.
Lanyans with real ambition will travel south to Amusa and find passage to Auvrynon, the gate to all the Planes of Zatrikion. Many of these adventurers and mercenary sailors meet bad ends; others return in triumph, and often become tanists of Iskay. Recently the war with Incourt has made the passage south far more dangerous, but it is a challenge the Lanyans eagerly respond to.
