Sorradi

The Sorradi are a species of human hybrid, deriving from a distant homeland. Their history before arriving on Rathnir is quite spotty as the race was driven from their home from alien invaders. The invaders would eventually be named, "Shadows" as they tended to attack during the night and torch villages, usually slaughtering without remorse.

The Great Journey
The race's numbers were in the hundreds as they emigrated from the East using sail boats. Their persecutors would still be following them, even across the sea, so the race would try it's best to hide or escape the grasp of their hunters. The Sorradi would meet many of Rathnir's early locals, being turned away or chased away when hearing their story. The refuges would happen up the Escharian people, begging for shelter within their villages. Eventually the Escharian people would come to a compromise with the Sorradi. The foreigners must convert to Soleannen, in return the Sorradi would be allowed to settle villages and trade with established Escharian towns. This plan would work for the most part, as the "Shadows" would never be seen by the Sorradi again.

However, the Escharians only 'tolerated' the Sorradi, most were often left living in the slums of Escharian cities and towns or settled their own villages on the outskirts of Escharian noble systems. As time grew on, the Escharians would feel the Sorradi were a burden on resources and provided little in return. For many generations, the Sorradi were treated as less than equal to Escharians. The Escharians never enslaved the Sorradi, they were always able to trade and do business as well as own land and attend religious services, however their social standing was never equal. This would go on until they were given started to be treated as equals during the reign of Saint Arminius, due to his fascination with the species. This would go on through the collapse of the Escharian Empire until the start of the Imperial Era of Aesperium Niedea.

During this stage of the Aesperium Niedean history. A few popular Sorradi would rise to promote cooperation with the Niedenes. As such many Sorradi would assist the local governments as well as the Imperial Diet. Many would become assistants or quarter masters for the Niedenes, as the race would slowly move from aimless nomads to cooperative tradesman and merchants.

The Collapse of Ornemere
The port town of Ornemere was founded by a Sorradi, as such it had the highest population of Sorradi per capita. Ornemere was well known by the Sorradi people as a safe place for the race to grow and thrive. Due to the race's genetics, Sorradi who settled in other towns and cities slowly became more and more human. The town of Ornemere had been growing for almost a decade when on a cool summer evening, a forest fire ravaged the town, leaving the town in ruin, the town covered in ash and the still standing stone and brick blackened by the flame. The townspeople would return to being nomadic for a time, which wasn't difficult, but still disheartening none-the-less. Most of the Sorradi population would stick together, traveling the lands of Rathnir once more.

Sanctuary
Following the evacuation and eventual abandonment of Ornemere, many Sorradi reported seeing visions or having surreal dreams. Although not all visions were one in the same, they all seemed to have the same central cast of six animals. Each one delivering a message of a sanctuary, promising peace, safety, and prosperity. These visions would all culminate at midnight exactly a week after the town of Ornemere had left for good. Erissia Ekoradi would awaken suddenly, moving to leave her pitched tent. The midnight breeze would ruffle the trees a bit as the leader caught a glimpse of a illuminated form. Slowly, the curios raccoon would venture through the oak woods, coming to a small pond in the middle of a secluded valley. There, sat upon a lily pad stood a Sorradi, but not like any she'd seen before, it had a unearthly glow of blue emanating from it's form. The form would turn to look at Erissia, motioning for her to come closer. Doing so Erissia would stop before the pond, her gaze never faltering from the glowing form. The ethereal Sorradi would introduce themselves as Serti, the goddess of oak forests and rolling fields. She'd explain the visions that had been occurring for the past week, claiming they were driven to the current territory they camped in now. Serti continued to reassure Erissia the currently land they slept in was the promised sanctuary, one that could be easily hidden and protected from danger. Serti eventually finished by standing and walking across the surface of the pond to Erissia, placing a hand on the leader's shoulder. "Protect them Erissia" she said before turning to glowing dust and flowing into the wind.

The Six Azure Animals
In the weeks following Serti's conversation with Erissia, the once roaming Sorradi would begin making the so called "sanctuary", now called  Shizumori , into their new living space.  Shizumori  sits in the Serafini Province of the Frosterium. What was not yet known however were the sub-species that were about to be born and also adopted. As time passed, newborns would adopt the characteristics of five more animals. Originally just raccoon, the new appearance of fox, feline, otter, red panda, and rabbit was surely an act of this so called "Goddess Serti". Many of the peculiar happenings would finally receive and answer as a young lumberjack would be returning home from his daily labor. Entering his small home, he'd be met with a blue, glowing red panda. The lumberjack, hearing Erissia's encounter, would immediately show the goddess respect offering her something to eat or drink. The red panda happily accepted the offer, and as thanks, they left a small silver scroll to the lumberjack. Unbeknownst to him at the time, this scroll would be the "Holy Text of the Six Azure Animals." [ Six Azure Animals]

Language
The name, "Sorradi" originates from the Akere words for fur (Adi) and small (Sorri). This is what the Escharians first called the race and eventually the name stuck. However the Sorradi native language is difficult and weird to translate into English. The language goes as follows, a string of characters horizontally is one word, however the sentence is written vertically.

Now that the Sorradi people have mostly moved from Escharia to the Frosterium, now Tash'Nayil. They have taken on a new name, similarly to the last as it means small (Mas) animals (Kalta) to form Mas'Kalta. The current name for Sorradi in Tash'Nayil is Mas'Kalta, but those who have not visited the holy land of Shizumori will not know of this change and will still Identify as Sorradi.

Traditions and Culture
Although many of the races celebrations and holidays were lost during emigration, one celebration still remains. The celebration of the "Golden Day" happens during Summer when the nights are shortest. As tradition goes, the town will light a bonfire as the sun sets, this bonfire will stay lit until sunrise the next day. Legend also dictates if the fire goes out before sunrise, the town will receive a bad omen like sickness or bad harvest for example.

In addition to holidays, the Sorradi have many traditions and cultural beliefs that are still present today.


 * Most Sorradi have a high standard for meals, as such it is common for recipes to be carried through bloodlines.
 * It is common for parents to use the "Shadows" as a threat to their children. For example, "Finish your meal, or else the Shadows might visit you tonight."
 * Due to the persecutions by the "Shadows" even through generations, the Sorradi have an instinctual fear for the night, often keeping a lantern lit in their homes or always having their villages and towns lit by lamps or torches.
 * It is common for lost ones to be cremated and spread across the sea, as many believe this allows ones spirit to return to the homeland.
 * Sorradi hold sailing and shipbuilding highly in their culture, this stemming from when their ancestors traveled months on boats. As such most Sorradi settle on coasts or are sailing merchants / craftsmen.

Sub-Species
The sub-species of the Sorradi began to form after the goddesses of the Six Azure Animals blessed the Sorradi people with their strength and protection through the spirits of the forest. All past Raccoon sub-species either retained their forms, or slowly changed into one of the other five sub-species. In addition, most Sorradi noted feeling much calmer, and overall happier. The lifespan for Sorradi also increased from 80-110 to 110-200, afterall, a healthy life with forest spirits is sure to increase ones lifespan for sure. It should also be noted a select few Sorradi also gained the ability to speak with spirits, these Sorradi are called the "Translators" as sometimes other Sorradi wanted advise from the spirits, and they request the "translators" to ask the spirits.

Another thing to note, only those who visit Shizumori and become blessed with the spirits will begin to change into the other sub-species and gain a long lifespan.

Reproduction
The Sorradi race has very an almost identical reproduction procedures as humans, but has a few differences. These differences will be highlighted below in a quick list.


 * The genetics for the Sorradi race will slowly become more and more recessive, the more they breed with other races. As such the only way to keep the race alive, is by two Sorradi having children.
 * Pregnancy last 28 months as opposed to the 9 for humans, however this is the cause for the increased lifespan and decrease average height of most Sorradi.
 * Most Sorradi prefer Monogamous relationships, having an instinctual clinginess to a single partner. However polyamorous relationships do exist, they are just rare.
 * For Sorradi, 0-14 is considered a child, 15-18 is considered a teen, 19-22 is considered young adult, 22-70/80 is considered an adult, and finally 80-110 is considered elderly.