Gelgelans (See also the Gelgelan Eminence)

The other group of furred folk are the rabbit-like Gelgelan race. In most important respects they are as ‘human’ as Wyldkin. They can and do interbreed with virtually any Wyldkin or Humanoid race on their home world, and that stands true here on Dragondeep as well. Notably, their ‘species’ name is not what they called themselves before this point, and stems from their cultural center and city, rather than their prior title. Gelgela is their city, hard-won in the past.

Their features are similar to Wyldkin in that they can be quite bare of fur or features, and have adopted the ‘Skin’ moniker for that trait, as well as having a full rabbit-like pelt and features, though they just refer to those as Gelgelan. They do always have hair in addition to fur, though they don’t always sport it long enough to be seen, or it may fall out with age, or blend in with their pelt. They can have both facial and body hair as well, and nearly all of them have the distinctive rabbit-like poof tail, long ears, and large feet on strong legs. They tend to wear very skimpy clothing for those reasons, though now that they’re on Dragondeep, they’ve discovered tailors can do some impressive work with their big-old feet and poof tails.

Since they can all trace their lineage back to breeding between a smallish number of pure blooded Gelgelan females, and a wide variety of Human, Elfin, Dwarf, and even Demonic males, their population is varied in terms of colors, sizes (though they all tend toward a human-centric 5’ to 6’ range), and levels of fur. It’s known that their species in its pure form nearly died out approximately seven generations before their impromptu arrival on Dragondeep, so there are still a lot of variables in their appearance and abilities. In this regard they are very similar to the Lumin, and ... yes, they have bred with those too here!

Their coloration is what usually distinguishes them from a rabbit-kin, in that their fur comes in literally all colors imaginable, and with bright contrasting patterns on their faces and ears, as well as hair that usually has two shades - being tipped in the same color as their markings. Their colors don’t have any specific correlation to their powers, unlike Griffs and some Wyldkin.

Their biology is similar to Wyldkin or Human, though they tend to live quite a bit longer than both due to their overtly magical background. They can live from 150 to 400 years, depending on their individual lineage, though some are outright immortal, particularly those among the royal line. Otherwise they are fairly typical mammals: they have only two breasts but the women do tend toward having twins or even triplets rather than single births. They have a year-long gestation period, and their children are born rather helpless, with eyes closed and ears sealed for at least two months before they begin to act more like a human infant. They often do start walking and talking within one year, but overall they tend toward a slightly slower maturation than Wyldkin, and just a bit quicker than humanity. Females become fertile around age 15 to 20, males just a little later. Also of note, they frequently have multiple genders, or none, so it’s possible to have a family that has sisters, brothers, and ‘those others’ depending on how they like to be called. They all tend to look fairly sleek and feminine, as a species.

Since they are magically imbued with fertility, and don’t just ‘act’ like rabbits, they are able to interbreed with darn near any compatible species. They usually adopt the coloration and powers of their partner, but almost always pass on the distinct furry traits of their own kind, and they do tend to dominate that partnership genetically speaking. Having a Gelgelan that lacks fur, ears, or their tail feature, you’re still going to see them being brightly colored, with markings, and usually with strong powers.

Males tend to be less magically apt than the females, but all of them can learn spell magic, in addition to being extremely strong innate Psionics with a very narrow range of abilities. Their typical Psionic magic includes necromancy, healing, power boosting and negation, and scrying or ‘visionary’ powers, as well as a decent smattering of elemental powers here and there. Particularly they may be able to ‘adopt’ animal powers, totemic magic which is hardly seen outside their breed.

Their specific type of necromancy, being Psionic and not ritual magic, has piqued the interest of the Necromancers to the south. While they do have very similar spells, Gelgelan necromancy actually focuses on reviving the dead bodies, rather than merely animating them until they go cold again. Some are considerably better at this than others, the royal line in particular including their Queen, Sean, are known for it.

Though their cities have made the move from one world to another more or less whole (those that did sink or get covered are in the process of being dug up or exposed), the people of this unusual island have had to change their habits in order to exploit the land and magic around them.

Important Gelgelan of the Era

Queen Sean Akegata of Gelgela - boldly snow-white with blood-red tips to her long ears and hair, Sean (that’s SAY-ahn, not ‘shawn’) has had a remarkable and somewhat turbulent life. Her people were dying, and she set about attempting to rid her village of the demonic invaders that were sent by the local king. In the process of researching ways to counteract or dissuade them, she discovered an archaic book - with spells for magic rather than the psionics that her people normally used. She taught herself protective spells, and on digging a little more, how to revive a much older king: Sapadt, her soon to be husband. There were dreams and visions, possessions, and a revolt by the village that led to the now-forgotten ruler’s end, and the start of a long and highly prosperous time for the Gelgelan people. She saved her village: they were the last remaining of their breed in the world. She’s doing her part even now, and will never be seen as a queen that snubbed her people.

That’s how she likes the story to be told, anyway. How much of it is true, only she and Sapadt know. Her reanimated human husband and she have had at least two dozen children, and she typically takes care of the public relations and day to day needs of their country while he is actually out facing down demons and enemies once more. Yes, they are both still around. And yes, that was over 600 years before their nation and its land impacted Dragondeep. Though Sean is quite queenly, she’s also rather down to earth and truth be told a bit of a prankster now and then. Plus, she, like Wynnah, has had offworld descendants aplenty... Some of them with the same guys...

Features of Gelgelans

• Are also furries, but exclusively rabbit-based
• Colorful! See chart, their fur as well as hair have markings in almost all colors
• Can and do breed with any humanoid, adopting some features and magic in next generations, bunny features breed true
• Ruled by the same noble family for the last 600+ years
• Magic is ubiquitous, centered around necromancy, healing, and some elemental, with ritual magic and spells rounding it out

Only arrived around 35* years ago, are still adjusting but blending with surrounding cultures

*flexible, time passes...