Races of Adel: The Droemedae

One of the more mysterious of the inhabitants of Adel are the Droemedae. This the race with the most distinct culture and customs in the world, and who seem alien even as they join the society they were once secluded from. The origin of the Droemedae is mysterious, but their intentions seem fairly benign, and their contributions to Adelian development have been crucial. They are truly unique among the races of Adel, and both studied and treasured for this. The Dromedae make up more or less a fifth of Adel’s population, and while more and more are joining Adelian society, they have their own somewhat autonomous communities called “Hives,” each of which is its own nation in a sense, existing in a pact with one of the larger Adelian nations.

The following is a more thorough look at this race to help you portray them.

Physical Features: Droemedae look like slim, pale humans with long antennae and pink or pale head hair. They have little to no body hair and aside from their antennae and an odd palette of eye colors, can be challenging to tell apart. Racently, more Droemedae have been born with darker skin and hair, and a little bit plumper than before, as if to adapt to the average physiology witnessed among the Adelians. Droemedae skin is both soft and yet has an odd hint of rubbery texture, as though they were covered in an impermeable coat of some kind. Touching a Droemedae is a somewhat new sensation to most Adelians, so much so that the Droemedae have used it as a greeting – a Droemedae holds the Adelian’s hand to his or her cheek as if to begin examining their differences.

Droemedae have very little gender dimorphism. Both male and female Dromedae look physically female with their clothes on, sharing the same facial structure, hair texture and build. All Droemedae are about the same stature and none grow imposing or muscled. Their secondary sex characteristics are very muted. Their integration in society all but cemented the Iomadi’s cultural norms regarding sexuality and gender, given that together Droemedae and Iomadi make up most of the population.

Life And Growth: Droemedae give mammalian birth, but they keep the child within their bodies for less time than Iomadi do. When a Droemedae is born it is very small and frail, but grows fairly quickly. At about 1 year of age a Droemedae child, while still small and physically helpless, has the distinctly expressionless and deadpan demeanor of an adult Droemedae and can already talk, albeit it can’t say anything coherent – but it does treat its words with an odd seriousness nonetheless.

Droemedae reach sexual maturity at 10, but curiously their sex drive is extremely muted, unlike Iomadi who learn about their natures at around the same age. Contact with the Adelian populous has thrown their normal biological clocks into disarray, however, so this doesn’t apply to all of them. Droemedae don’t exhibit much signs of physical change as they grow. When they’re children it’s almost like they’re small adults, and as they grow they just seem to get taller. They can live into their 90s and suffer only hair loss and turning even more pale and brittle, before they pass away.

All Droemedae are seemingly emotionless, expressionless and just deadpan in a bizarre fashion. They hardly seem to blink, and they hardly ever smile. Droemedae do have emotional range, but they don’t tend to show it often. It typically is triggered by interactions with Adelians – which is perhaps why they are so intrigued by them. Some Droemedae will pretend to be more emotional if they think it will facilitate interaction, but this can lead to very awkward situations.

Droemedae are religious, and worship Spirits of magic and life. They consider themselves to worship life, and particularly venerate expectant mothers, as well as their own Queen. Droemedae Hives have no real hierarchy, but a series of Labors, which are distributed among the population. Some Droemedae grow fungus and vegetables, others do magic, others are warriors, others educators, and so on. To the Droemedae, every labor is equivalent and must be performed to sustain life.

Place In History: Droemedae and Adelians began their contact in the later days of the Aptoan Empire. During the Age of Discovery where the Adelians began to explore, dissect and begin to understand their world, they came upon the communities of Droemedae. Droemedae live in Hives, structures carved into high landforms like tall hills and mountainsides.

Hives stretch underground and their walls are made of a strange fleshy substance, which the Droemedae claim to be a symbiotic fungus. This fungus sometimes overreaches its boundaries, and so at times one might see a Droemedae with the Droemedae equivalent of a cold, with toadstools growing out of its head. Regardless, the entirety of a hive is not only semi-organic but a cultivation of different materials used and eaten by the Droemedae. Within this hive exists their society, which serves a biologically ordained ruler, the Queen-type Droemedae born every so often among the “civilians” or Drone-type Droemedae.

After the first contact, the Droemedae and the Adelians began a mutual exchange. The Droemedae began to exist as autonomous miniature states within the Empire. During the Intolerable War, the rebel governments approached the Droemedae with their intentions, and the Droemedae sided with them after seeing evidence of the Aptoan tyranny. Droemedae fought not for country or freedom, but because they felt the rebellion had an objective grievance and only one way to air it. The Droemedae helped improve or develop various weapons for the Adelians, and some Droemedae priestesses were part of the team that deciphered the Freyja ritual for the Sargassan church. Droemedae developed the Vedarian Antlion and Andalian Kasowari golems.

After the Intolerable War, the Droemedae amended their oaths to the Aptoan Empire, and instead pledged cooperation with the Nations that housed their Hives, in return for protection, cultural exchange and continued autonomy. Droemedae families migrate to Andalian villages, towns and cities to examine first-hand the curious lifestyles of the Adelians, and many take part in institutions both private and governmental helping to advance various studies and expand Adelian knowledge.

Particular Abilities: Droemedae are very magically inclined, to the point that every Droemedae can do minor magic tricks without requiring components or language to do so – mere thought can let them snuff small flames, or cause sparks, or shed light, or lift small objects. Droemedae are more emotionally detached than Adelians, but at the same time can be ponderous and indecisive. Droemedae are mild germaphobes and tend to wear bodygloves under their clothes. Their faces and hair, however, are always exposed. It is part of their culture that eye contact and seeing another’s head is important.

Droemedae tend to be less fit, and in the climate outside their hives tend to be targets for infections, susceptible to insect venoms and other health-related problems. They make up for this with their excellent memory and mental skills.

Antennae: Droemedae have ribbon-like antennae extending from their heads. The point where the antennae and head connect is a tiny slit beneath their head hair. A Droemedae’s antennae is sensitive, picking up touch and smell. They can be ripped out (a very painful and cruel act) but they will regrow. Droemedae make limited gestures with their antennae, but these gestures tend to be longer-lasting than the Adelian’s quicker body language. For example, a Droemedae who is perplexed may have his or her antennae twisted into little spirals until he or she acquires the necessary information. A sad Droemedae may fold his or her antennae into little rolls and keep them that way until completely sure that the mood has passed. This is different from a Iomadi raising his or her ears for a moment to denote surprise, and says something about the Droemedae’s emotions.