Special Race: Undari

Undari are a sentient aquatic race of humanoids. They share many similarities in features to both humans and Eldari. They are generally lean with compact muscles, and it's uncommon but possible for Undari to be bulky brutes. They have sleek skin similar to dolphins, as opposed to being scaled like a fish, and long fingers and toes, with webbing between their toes. They're skin is often a mix of vibrant colors, usually blues, greens or bright red. They tend to have a base color, with a more vibrant color highlighting certain areas of their bodies, such as outer arms, shoulders and legs. It’s uncommon but possible for them to have a pale white skin tone.

On top of their vibrant colorings its possible for undari to have addition markings markings, generally these marking are dark blue or green , or a mix, and come in stripes and swirls. They sometimes have fins or spines along their forearms or lower legs. Some have markings all over their bodies others have barely any.  Undari do not have ears, but instead a small ridge running along the back side of their ear hole. This sets them apart from Eldari and humans, and unless they're hiding it with hair or a helmet, you can usually tell when your talking to and Undari.

Their hair is sleek and finer than a humans, rarely curls and comes in a range of vibrant colors, purples and reds being very common. Undari only grow hair on their heads. Many undari shave all or part of their hair off, especially soldiers and fighters. undari lungs are capable of processing oxygen in water and they technically never need to leave the water in their lives if they do not want to, however they can just as easily live on land. The only drawbacks to an undari living on land is they tend to need more water than humans. Deserts are a very dangerous place for Undari, as is anywhere overly hot and dry. They also heal slower on land, and most undari feel a natural pull towards water, so it's very uncommon for an undari to spend its entire life on dry land. Though some make their homes in humid areas like jungles and rainforests. Undari have a single row of sharp teeth, and primarily live on fish, but have a more varied diet than heanta. They do not normally eat humans or other sentient species however.

They are known for their deadly speed and grace underwater, and their natural weakness to fire and resistance to cold. While they are naturally talented at water manipulation and using water magic, they need a special weapon made of Adasma, a tough, sturdy material produced in Medin Taji, to use other kinds of magical powers. Undari have two sets of eyelids, the second set is a protective clear shell that protects the eyes under water. They're eyes are usually bright colors, the Iris and sclera are the same color, and the pupil is a cross shape. Undari age slowly, reaching full adulthood at the age of 25, and live quite long lives, up to 700 years old or more.

Water Born: Undari can breath underwater. Undari do not do well in extremely hot dry environments, however are less susceptible to cold environments. Because of this they have have a 25% weakness to fire and heat abilities, 25% resistance to cold abilities. They are natural swimmers and have a +1 speed advantage under water. While other races can, using various means, take a fight with an Undari underwater, it's not advised. Especially if that Undari is already as fast or faster than you on land.

Dark Vision: The Undari have exceptional Vision in the dark, allowing them to navigate the deep caves of Medin Taji, and explore deep in the oceans. This also comes in handy on land as they can see almost as clearly as if it were day during the night. They are however, vulnerable to sudden bright lights.

Water Manipulation: Gifted Undari are able to manipulate and control water with more finesse and skill than that of any other magical being. While it can be used to attack in the same way as any standard liquid manipulation, the undari can use it to travel across land granting them the +1 to speed bonus they get in water temporarily. This only applies during the abilities duration. The ability cannot be used in deserts as there is not enough water. Unless the undari also happen to have ice abilities frozen environments are unsuitable too.

Power limits: The Undari have access to powers based on their current rank. They are not restricted to just water as an element, but are required to have one water based ability in each set of powers. They require a Celestial Shell weapon to use their other powers, even if they’re water abilities.

Adasma weapon: Undari are naturally gifted with the control and manipulation of water, but to access greater levels of magic, they require an Adasma Weapon to act as a focus for their custom powers. Adasma was once created by undari shaman rituals but is hard to come by nowadays. However a resourceful or brave undari can acquire some from medin Taji to create their weapon, or simply find an old one. They're not bound to an Undari the way a heanta's Demon Matrix is bound to them, and can be interchanged.

Still, given their rarity Undari are unlikely to have two unless its a set such as twin daggers, hatchets or short swords, and their secondary weapon cannot be made of Adasma. Adasma is not metal, but matches divinium in toughness. it is grown only in medin Taji, and a skilled enchanter is required to shape and meld it. It is often serrated rathar than sharp, and most undari craft spears, tridents or axes with it.

Personal History

The once undeniable rulers of the sea, the Undari, as they are called by all other sentient races, are one of the last races to emerge into the world. The name Undari was coined by the Eldari who seen them as brethren when they first emerged from under the sea, but soon regretted their attempts to befriend them. The undari were once a race of supremacists, who hate all other sentient beings. However they also believe in isolating themselves and while they are happy to claim the lands above their city and the ocean, they have no need to fight for more.

However soon after laying claim to the lands above and around Sengio city, they came into contact with a now extinct race known as the orken. The Orken seen the new arrivals as easy pray and pushed for their land and tried to ransack Sengio city. However each time the brutish humanoids attacked they were driven back. Until one attack succeeded, and they set foot in the city. This was beyond a declaration of war. The Undari, who were secretive did not look kindly on the actions of the Orken. And so they marched against the brutes, fighting them all the way back to their home in the mountain. The Undari used the rivers that flowed from those mountains to outmaneuver the Orken counter forces time and again until finally they stood on the orken doorstep.

The two armies sized up to face off, when the Heanta arrived from the north west, in aid of their orken comrades. However the Heanta have always been at odds with the orken, and the deceptive beings switched sides, aiding the Undari in the fight instead. The Orken were easily overrun and the army smashed. When there was no one left to fight, the undari returned to their rivers and went home. However the heanta marched into the mountains and slaughtered the Orken wholesale.

The news of this Genocide reached the ears of the other races. The Eldari were outraged by the undari's flippant disregard for life, but when confronted the Undari turned it around on them. The Eldari, the eldross, humans, and asentari, they did nothing to help the Orken against the Heanta hordes. No one else tried to stop the war. As far as the undari cared, they were all responsible for what had happened, the Orken more so than any other race because they had pestered and prodded a mighty beast until it turned and bit their hands off.

Needless to say, the Eldari and Eldross were at odds with the Undari, but they backed off knowing the Heanta would be on their backs if they did engage in war. And so, the lands and seas of Medin Taji returned to a peaceful state, for the time being. But the Undari were not so content to sit back and watch anymore. The undari set to war again along side the heanta, and were defeated soundly. They retreated to their city, where most were content to hide. However some sought revenge, and in an act of insanity, a great spell caster tried to curse the eldari with a powerful magical ritual. The spell was interrupted, and backfired, resulting many of the undari present in the city being mutated into horrific monsters, or killed. Only a few lucky individuals survived, along with those who were out in the world.

The undari now are drifters, lost souls whose race is on the verge of extinction, and with no way to save themselves. They are far from the original race who caused a genocide, and though while some exist, those who believe the undari were supposed to rule asmir a very few and far between. Most Undari are just trying to survive, with little to no help from anyone else.