Earthlings: Yaeli
The island of Yael is home to the yaeli earthlings, a surprisingly odd race of earthlings that have evolved over time to suit their surrounding. Yael was once the destination of those cast off in exile from the mainland of Tendaji. The outcasts, the hybrids, the criminals, and the mentally unwell were shipped off to the coast of Yael, left to either figure out a way to survive, or die off. After hundreds of years, the island was forgotten, and the mix of races on Yael merged and melded into one: the Yaeli. This group shares genetic material from seemingly all races of earthlings of Tendaji. Though the island has long since flourished and the genetic blend has taken on its own set of racial markers.
The skin of the Yaeli takes on dull olive tones, often tanning or freckling from the harsh sun and hot weather. The chemicals and pollution permanently rooted in the soil and ground underfoot has turned their crystals and sclera a dark, deep black. The Yaeli's hair is purple tones of all shades, and their crystals tend to form on their stomachs predominantly, but can be found anywhere on their bodies.
Their eyes are a light gray color, and oddly enough, the chemicals in the soil has caused the Yaeli's irises to glow. The same chemicals also tend to leave the Yaeli with bad eyesight, sometimes from birth. Those that leave the island - and consequently change their diet - lose their glow, though it does seem to return with some time back on the island.
Their access to dyes and coloring for their clothes leave them with a dull color palette, containing many different hues, but no vibrancy in their clothing. The people of Yael wrap themselves in loose airy clothing, as an attempt to keep the heat and humidity away.
Once cast off from the mainland, the Yaeli over time have developed a phobia of the mainlanders, fearing their evils, and effectually creating a boogeyman vibe concerning the rest of Tendaji.
Religion: The yaeli believe in only two dieties: the Goddess and the God. Lurin is the God of the Land of the Remembered, a place where those who have died have living relatives to carry on their names and celebrate their life. Dafiel is the Goddess of the Land of the Forgotten, where souls come under the watch of their Mother when there is no longer anyone to mourn for them.
Lurin The male God, God of the Land of the Remembered, often depicted as the light side of the deities
Dafiel The female Goddess, Goddess of the Land of the Forgotten often depicted as the darker side of the deities
The Yaeli are also incredibly superstitious in nature. They believe that if bad things are happening to them that the gods are displeased, and if something bad is happening to an individual that they have been hexed or there is someone out there sending them bad juju out of jealousy or anger. They believe in cleansing their houses of bad spirits and getting their children blessed at the Sanctum to protect them from the dead. Their list of superstitions can get pretty lengthy.
Government: The Yaeli have developed a government ruled by their religious leaders. The Sanctum (their official estate) holds a hierarchy of priests and priestesses, with a male High Priest and female High Priestess as their leaders. The High Priest and Priestess are the mortal voice of the two deities and are only replaced when they age and retire. Young children are often chosen from the villages for showing some sign of being "touched" by the two gods and are pulled into the Sanctum for the beginning of their training as priests and priestesses, though only one boy and one girl are chosen to replace the High Priest/Priestess when the time comes. Some of the children do not make it to the end of their training and assume positions of small religious governing under the lesser priests/priestesses creating something resembling a council.
