Appearance

Vanitians are, generally speaking, an amorphous species. Their bodies are made up of a transparent jelly-like substance that they can mold and shift to their will. Often they take on the form of other oceanic species, like sea dragons, mermaids, or whales, but it’s not uncommon for them to customize their form to their liking. Some have long flowing hair and six arms, some have serpentine bodies with human faces--it all depends on what each Vanitian desires. Many Vanitians adapt their form to take on the appearance of their partner, to become more pleasing to their eyes.

All Vanitians have beautiful bioluminescent patterns on their bodies. These patterns are like a fingerprint, and no Vanitian has the same pattern as another. Their glow comes in all colors, much like their eyes, and they use this glow to communicate over vast distances.

Abilities

Physically, Vanitians are very soft. They rely heavily on the ocean’s pressure to keep their bodies held together, and surfacing is difficult, if not fatal. Out of water, their bodies cannot hold their shape, and they simply become a gelatinous blob capable of glowing and speech. Some Vanitians have adapted to shallow water life, and live side by side with merpeople.

They’re capable of natural shapeshifting, though only in the form of modifying their appearance. Their bodies still remain transparent, with their glowing pattern present. Vanitians are capable of learning about another individual through touch, and contact is openly encouraged.

In terms of magical abilities, Vanitians have an excellent grasp of water magic. They’re capable of creating whirlpools, massive waves, and even change the flow of currents. Mostly they use their abilities to make their lives easier, to move rocks and wreckage for their extensive kelp and sea grape farms.

Some are able to master other forms of magic, like light, dark, or arcane.

Culture

Vanitians are a peaceful race, run by the oldest of their kind. The Matriarchs of each population live in the capital city, Prorius, the first city of their people. When one Matriarch of a population dies, the next oldest takes her place. As a female only race, Vanitians are incredibly social, and work closely with other races. Better relations means better opinions of them, which means they’re more likely to take a mate of another race.

They, as a species, have very vast standards of beauty. They can appreciate what many cannot, and love to adorn themselves with accessories. They also enjoy fine arts, theatre, dance, and song. Curious by nature, they often collect things from shipwrecks. Many Vanitians living in shallow water help create artificial reefs, and enjoy helping to preserve the local wildlife.

Many Vanitians are simple farmers, though they find this work highly satisfying. Others find employment as entertainers and dancers.

History

Feaya, Goddess of rivers and oceans, had a girls day with Haliea, Goddess of the sun and moon. The two goddesses had spent the day looking over the world as they had slowly shaped it. Feaya began creating more rivers in areas where she had seen species struggling to find water. As the two goddesses moved through the continents, they came across the ocean where Sleibte and Xira meet. Feaya held her hand up with her palm facing the sun as she tried to gain control of the ocean who moved with the force of the wind. She slowly turned her hand over and began to lower it. As her hand fell a bit, the ocean began to recede back as the water level fell. Feaya and Haliea smiled as they watched the ocean as small shells, rocks, and plantlife were left behind from the receding water.

Feaya went out to go pick up a shell, but upon stepping into some of the wet sand, a jelly-like substance squished between her toes. Surprised by the sensation, the goddess shrieked in dismay and cursed out the substance that caused her to react in such a manner. Haliea was more amused by the ordeal. She looked to the substance with amusement by its amorphous form. Haliea with little regard to Feaya, picked up the jelly-like substance and returned it to the sea with a blessing. As it floated in the water, the substance began to show signs of life. It moved at its own pace apart from the water’s currents before taking the form of a dolphin. Feaya, still bitter about having stepped in it, didn’t take to Haliea giving the stuff life. Instead, Feaya ‘blessed’ the new creature to no longer be able to take shape out of the water. It may only keep its form if it stayed in the oceans. Should it leave, then it would return to the blob-like jelly state they had found it in before Haliea intervened.

Word had reached Vaerath, God of light and dark, about Haliea creating a new species. He feared that she had created it in spite of him to have more species worship her than him. In an effort to combat this claim, Vaerath set forth to find this new species that had arisen. Upon seeing the odd jelly creatures, he was confused as to why she would create such an odd species. Still, he wouldn’t let her have one more that worshipped her over him. So, he granted a select few to adapt to the depths of the ocean no other Vanitians were able to travel. The water pressure did not affect them the same way it had with the others and instead, allowed them to adapt to the new environment. He gave them new skills and abilities to be able to survive in the new space that their counterparts did not need. Soon enough, the Vanitians had come to worship both Feaya, Haliea, and Vaerath, respectfully.