The Vey'Lora

Type	Civilized Corporeal
Origin	Consciousness of the Grass
Region	Vaelthar
Capital	Nomadic
Known For	Wind Manipulation, Nomadic Tradition, Spiritual Attunement

The Vey'Lora, also known as The Windborne, are a nomadic people native to the vast grasslands of Vaelthar. They are deeply attuned to Vaelora, the Spirit of Endless Grass, and believe themselves to be her voice and breath. The Vey'Lora reject permanent settlements, choosing instead to follow the wind’s path, never lingering in one place for long. Unlike the Torinok, who construct great stone fortresses to resist the elements, the Vey'Lora embrace movement as a way of life.

Physical Characteristics

The Vey'Lora are distinguished by their tall, willowy frames, ethereal movements, and natural connection to the wind.

Height and Build

• Typically standing between 6'2" and 7'0", with long limbs that grant agility and an elongated stride.
• Light-boned and sinewy, designed for speed and endurance over brute strength.
• Move with fluidity, their steps barely disturbing the ground.

Skin and Markings

• Semi-translucent in certain light, appearing to blend into the surrounding grasslands.
• Their skin shifts subtly, like the rippling of wind through the meadows.
• Tones range from pale gold to deep bronze, often dusted with pollen from the Skyveil Flats.
• Some possess intricate wind-marks, faint spiraling patterns believed to be a blessing from Vaelora.

Eyes and Vision

Vey’Lora eyes change with the light:

• Bright gold in direct sunlight.
• Dusky blue at twilight.
• Soft green-gray during storms.
• Faint silver glow beneath the night sky.

Hair and Windflow

• Their hair never fully settles, always shifting as if caught in an unseen breeze.
• Colors reflect the land, ranging from straw-gold to ashen silver, with rare storm-gray shades.
• Elders believe the wind chooses a Vey’Lora’s hair color, marking their path in life:
  • Gold – Blessed travelers, skilled in navigation.
  • Silver – Storm-callers, harbingers of change.
  • Dark – Marked souls, out of favor with the wind.

Culture and Way of Life

Vey'Lora in a white garment.

The Vey'Lora believe that to stand still is to die, and only through movement can one exist in harmony with Vaelora.

Nomadic Traditions

• Do not build permanent homes, instead crafting woven grass shelters that dissolve in the wind.
• Never follow the same path twice, believing that Vaelora’s breath always leads them forward.
• Ride Skyveil Striders, massive antelope-like creatures that glide with the wind, allowing them to cross great distances.

Society and Leadership

• Zephyr Council – A group of elders chosen not by age, but by attunement to the wind’s wisdom.
• Wind-Speakers – Spiritual guides who interpret Vaelora’s whispers and determine the tribe’s next path.
• Dance of Paths – A sacred ceremony where young Vey’Lora prove their connection to the wind by navigating a storm without losing their way.

Spiritual Beliefs

The Vey'Lora’s faith is deeply rooted in the movement of wind and the eternal cycle of life.

• Vaelora’s Breath – The belief that the wind carries Vaelora’s guidance.
• The Eternal Current – Life is a flowing path; stagnation leads to decay.
• Skyveil Nights – Rituals performed under glowing pollen storms, where the Vey’Lora commune with echoes of the past.

Mythology and Legends

• The First Windborne – The tale of the first Vey’Lora, a lost traveler guided by Vaelora to eternal freedom.
• The Vanishing Paths – Those who betray the wind fade from existence, their footprints erased.
• The Wind’s Last Warning – A prophecy stating that if the Vey’Lora ever stop moving, Vaelthar will fall silent, and the land itself will die.

Conflict with the Torinok

The Vey’Lora reject the Torinok’s efforts to control the land, believing their massive stone structures are an affront to Vaelora.

• The Torinok see the Vey’Lora as lawless wanderers with no claim to the land.
• The Vey’Lora view the Torinok’s stone walls as barriers against the wind, unnatural scars upon Vaelthar.
• Skirmishes occur where the Torinok expand into the grasslands, disrupting the Vey’Lora’s sacred paths.
• Vey’Lora Wind-Warriors use speed and deception to sabotage Torinok supply lines.

Weapons and Warfare

Despite their peaceful nature, the Vey'Lora are formidable in battle, wielding weapons shaped by the wind.

• Windwoven Spears – Lightweight but unbreakable, striking with unnatural speed.
• Breathwalkers – Scouts capable of moving faster than the eye can track, appearing like mirages.
• Stormcallers – Mystics who manipulate the wind to disrupt enemy formations, redirect arrows, or summon powerful gusts.

Physiology and Unique Traits

Diet and Metabolism

• Sustain themselves on sky-fruits, wild grains, and honey-sap.
• Cannot digest heavy meats, instead drawing energy from the land itself.
• Burn energy efficiently, allowing them to run for days without exhaustion.
• Heal remarkably fast as long as they remain in motion.
• A wounded Vey’Lora who stops moving may succumb to their injuries faster.

Movement and Reflexes

• Move with effortless grace, their steps barely pressing into the ground.
• At full speed, their forms blur, making them difficult to track.
• Can dodge an arrow after it has been fired.

Breathing and Speech

• Slow, deliberate breathing, as if drawing air from the world itself.
• Voices carry like whispers on the wind, soft yet ever-present.
• Some Wind-Speakers can project words on the breeze without moving their lips.

Influence on Vaelthar

The presence of the Vey'Lora ensures that Vaelthar remains untamed and free.

• The grasslands remain unclaimed, ever-changing under Vaelora’s breath.
• Vey'Lora traditions influence travelers and traders, who learn to respect the wind’s path.
• Some isolated settlements adopt their nomadic ways, forsaking permanence for a freer existence.

"To Stand Still is to Die"

A Vey'Lora proverb, reflecting their belief that life is meant to be in motion, always following the wind’s call.