Dragaeran
From the Lyorn Records of the Dragaeran Empire
Dragaerans are members of one of the primary sentient species inhabiting Dragaera. They are a humanoid race, with lifespans averaging three thousand years.
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[edit] History
According to Sethra Lavode, Dragaerans are descended from normal human beings (Easterners). After the Jenoine arrived on Dragaera, they began to experiment with some humans, modifying them genetically, and splicing genes from native animal species into the human genome. This eventually resulted in a number of different strains of Dragaerans, which led to the formation of a number of tribes. These tribes later became the foundation for most of the Dragaeran Houses.
It should be noted that many Dragaerans (especially Aliera e'Kieron) appear to be unwilling to admit to this original ancestry.
[edit] Physical characteristics
Most Dragaerans are close to seven feet tall, although some are as short as six feet or as tall as eight. They have no facial hair, and tend to be thin. Visible musclular development is a rarity. Most have black or brown hair; gold or blond hair is extremely rare, known to occur only in Phoenixes and the e'Kieron line of the House of the Dragon.
It is believed that unplanned pregancies are impossible among Dragaerans, which gives rise to many cultural differences between them and the other races of Dragaera. Another issue that this overlooks is the difficult question of crossbreeds which may or may not be planned pregnancies.
[edit] Population
Dragaerans are known to live in the Dragaeran Empire, and on Greenaere and Elde Island.
Citizens of the Empire are divided into seventeen Houses, of which the Teckla are in the majority, with more than 90% of the population. Houses are determined, except in rare cases, by genetics. For a long period of Imperial History, Intermarriage between houses has been illegal, and crossbreeds are despised. New edicts from the Empress Norathar, however, have modified this to a certain degree. The exact status of crossbreeds under her rule is unclear. Ususally, a person's house can be identified by their physical characterstics and dress. Each house, except the Yendi, has its own heraldic House Colors, which its members normally wear. A person's House is also believed to determine their temperament.
Greenaere and Elde Island are not divided into houses.
It is possible that the citizens of Landsight and Holcomb are of the Dragaeran species, but insufficient evidence exists to determine this.
[edit] Terminology
In the East, Dragaerans are referred to as elfs.
The term Dragaeran is used mostly by Easterners resident in the Dragaeran Empire to distinguish the species; Easterners refer to themselves as "human". However, Dragaerans reserve the term "human" to refer to their own species, and always use "Easterner" for both residents of the East and members of that species living in the Dragaeran Empire. It should be noted that in order to avoid confusion, Dragaerans may sometimes refer to their own race as "Dragaeran" as well, in order to specifically exclude Easterners while in the presence of one.
Outside the empire on the island of Greenaere, Easterners are referred to as dwarfs (Phoenix, Lesson 3).
