Fauns

Occupying every known part of terrestrial Ariath, Faun are a frequently encountered race. In general, these Folk are known for passionate personalities and characteristic wit. However, the personality of a Faun is almost entirely dependent on the individual-- just like all other races, Faun are unique Folk with their own quirks, ideals, and troubles. There are, however, some themes that seem to resonate with the vast majority of Faun. Faun are often given to artistic pursuits of some stripe: they frequently indulge in musical instruments, singing, poetry, storytelling, crafts, and other types of artistry. While not all Faun are gifted artists and performers, many of them are, and most of them enjoy it. It is not unusual for a Faun, as a gift of sincerity and welcome, to offer a small handmade token to a new friend.

Faun also tend to share a universal propensity towards acting as guides. While not all Faun are particularly helpful nor beneficent individuals, most have a certain world-savvy that makes them particularly good guides for many varieties of people. Some Faun actually serve as geographical guides, leading people through the many spaces of Ariath; others act as teachers, bringing their interests and passions to students. Still others serve as emotional and spiritual guides, making their life’s work assisting those in need of counsel. Those Faun who do not make guiding others their chief pursuit-- and this includes the majority of Faun-- are often considered by friends and colleagues to be particularly good sources of advice.

Faun are often creative, free-spirited, and energetic Folk. Many non-Native of Ariath, upon meeting the creatures for the first time mistake them as a universally carefree people. This could not be further from the truth. Faun tend to feel things deeply-- their emotions are complicated, passionate and difficult to untangle for those unfamiliar with an individual. For this reason, some Faun are given to bouts of melancholy-- this melancholy can range from highly dramatic to taciturn and quiet. Many, including Faun themselves, theorize that this temperament lends itself to Faun artistic pursuits.

It is important to note that not all Faun are goodly-- indeed there are many Faun that are less-than-amicable, and even some that are Wicked. About some of the deepest woods and atop the tallest mountains of Ariath, there are told fables of dark, twisted Fauns who wait patiently for unwary travelers.

Common Racial Characteristics

A diverse and complicated group, Faun are defined most easily by their physical appearance. They are generally half-human and, in most cases, half-goat (though this varies across Ariath). The combination of goat and human characteristics varies depending on the individual, but almost all Faun have pairs of horns, and many have fur on at least part of their bodies. Faun occupy any number of positions and occupations across Ariath-- they sometimes conglomerate in groups, or, much more frequently, live independently of one another. While some Faun live in cities and towns, they are most often drawn to wild areas. Many Faun are perfectly happy living in relative isolation in the middle of a forest, or at the borders of a remote swamp.

While many of the non-Native of Ariath think of Faun as half-goat and half-human, their appearance is actually far more diverse. All Faun appear as a combination of human and other animal: the vast majority of Fauns appear as half-goat and half-human, though other faun sub-types include different varieties of sheep and deer. The appearance of a Faun is largely contingent on the geographical area in which the individual lives. In the Savannah Lands, for instance, gazelle-type Faun are common, while in the Northern Territories, Faun take on the characteristics of Mountain Goats.

Faun are skilled in any number of pursuits. Many enjoy magic and training that makes use of the natural world. It is not, therefore, at all uncommon to meet Faun who specialize in the use of wild plants, or are highly skilled in the use of weapons made of natural materials.