Zuìgāo Elf

Zuigao Elf, High Elf

Others will tell you that we are no different from them, in that we should demand no more respect and they should expect no less.

This, however, is not the way of the Zuìgāo. We know that if your ancestors were not the best they could be, you would be Zuìxiǎo. However, look upon yourself — clearly, you are not! You are of better blood, superior in every way to them. You are one of us, one of the Zuìgāo. Take pride in this if you were not to do so in any other thing.

Remember, what the Zuìgāo seeks is in himself; what everyone else seeks is in found in others. We are the providence of the inferior, we are the eyes for the blind, strength for the weak and a shield for the defenseless. We will force them to remember this. For every commonality we may have, we will be the one thing they cannot: we will be Zuìgāo.

Qingmen the Greater's Speech to Gōngjiān Emissaries

The Zuìgāo Elves have always considered themselves as the pinnacle of life on their world so the realization that they were not alone in the universe came as an unpleasant shock. They were one of the founding members of the Planar Council, though their reasons for doing so were not entirely pleasant — they felt that their presence was required for it to actually succeed.

At one point in their evolutionary history, their ancestors split into two different lineages. The Zuìgāo are lithe, more fragile but intellectually capable whereas the Zuìxiǎo are more muscular and durable but still possess only a rudimentary level of intelligence. Through the years, the Zuìgāo have selectively bred their Zuìxiǎo cousins to be a labor force in addition to sweetening their blood. Zuìxiǎo blood is treated as a Gōngjiān delicacy but on other planes, it is viewed in a more depraved manner.

Physiology

Anatomy

Despite being synapsidal, Zuìgāo physiology is nearly identical to most other bipedal mammalian species. Their body consists of the legs, the torso, the arms, the neck, and the head.

Development of muscle mass is diminished when compared to other sophonts causing the Zuìgāo to have more sinewy builds than bulky ones. Visual muscle definition is decreased as well, causing Zuìgāo that exhibit more physical traits to still appear puny in stature. The Zuìgāo instead are built to focus more on agility, reflexes, and mental development.

The cerebral cortex of the Zuìgāo is larger than typically found with other sophonts, leading to increased mental capabilities. Their frontal lobe specifically seems further developed, giving them enhanced functionality in areas such as problem-solving, judgment, organization, attention, concentration, planning and emotional expression. This can be reflected in many of the cultures the Zuìgāo developed on Gōngjiā and the desirability some have for Zuìgāo in certain careers and positions.

The common ancestor of the Zuìgāo and Zuìxiǎo was an ape-like synapsid that existed in both plains and dense forests. Those that continued to evolve in the plains developed bodies more designed for running and mental faculties for communicating in social groups and outsmarting competing predators and prey. It is thought that this was also when they started developing habits and physiology of opportunistic hematophagy, or the ability to digest blood as a foodstuff. While the Zuìgāo started to take on more mammalian traits, Zuìxiǎo development leaned more towards reptilian ones.

A Zuìgāo's skin tends to be very pale which sometimes leads to it being confused for albinism. Though some variation exists based primarily on geographical location, it is a much narrower gamut of colors than some other sophonts. The eyes of Zuìgāo are unique as the sclera and iris are the same, solid color which gives their eyes a unified look.

Averaging 6 feet 3 inches in height, even the shortest Zuìgāo at around 6 feet can stand over most, with the tallest of them being measured at 6 feet 6 inches. Both male and female Zuìgāo average 195 lbs. in weight.

Life Cycle

Reproduction starts with internal fertilization and the formation of a single embryo, though in rare occurrences up to three may develop simultaneously. Zuìgāo pregnancy lasts typically for a period of ten months, after which the female will give birth to her young.

The newborn will be completely reliant on their parents for one year before being able to start to walk on their own. During the toddler phase, the Zuìgāo will become more mobile and independent, as well as learning to express their emotions and communication skills.

Zuìgāo children develop slower than some other sophonts and exhibit more childlike tendencies for up to ten years after their toddler phase. During this time their unique personalities develop and they become more familiar with their physical selves, developing their sense of balance and knowledge of their physical limitations. Over the period of adolescence, the Zuìgāo physical development will finalize ending with sexual maturation. Adulthood can last for up to 75 years before the body starts exhibiting signs of aging into elderhood.

Diet

The Zuìgāo evolved with an omnivorous diet, allowing them to take full advantage of their surroundings. Though they had a large variety of things available the Zuìgāo prefer simplicity when it comes to their diets.

Like other sophonts, diets vary on a regional and cultural basis. Zuìgāo stomachs are very efficient and so have no problems adapting to foods found on the other planes.

Gōngjiān Zuìgāo will imbibe the blood of Zuìxiǎo on a regular basis and is a regular part of their diet. While many enjoy it fresh, it is often fermented and made into a type of alcoholic beverage. It is also used regularly in cooking. While digesting their blood is acceptable, even the Zuìgāo will not eat their flesh in any way.

Biological Variation

The Zuìgāo exhibit many biological differences from individual to individual, some being based on climate. Skin color, blood type, eye and hair colors are the most obvious though variation in facial shape, hair length and height typically vary as well.

Many of these features have a genetic basis and members of family units will often have similar appearances to their relatives. Another trait that does seem to vary that isn't genetic however is hematophagic tendencies — some Zuìgāo are more willing to engage in the practice than others with Zuìgāo raised off-world sometimes completely lacking the need or urge to engage in it.

History

Evolutionary History

Evolutionary progression on Gōngjiā leads to a fundamental understanding of a lot of Zuìgāo culture. One can easily see where a lot of the culturally inherited arrogance comes from.

The Zuìgāo refer to their ancestors in all their forms as Chángnǚ. Synapsid life blossomed and spread on Gōngjiā without much competition, allowing it to develop into a lot of niche roles. At their earliest, the Chángnǚ were an omnivorous quadruped that also engaged in opportunistic scavenging, roaming plains in great numbers.

The Chángnǚ existed in this way until the world became hotter and drier. This led to the growth of deserts and drier climates and the decline of the primary areas they resided. During this time, the Chángnǚ form began to change into a bipedal one which allowed them to be able to climb in search of food, heightened their endurance and increased their survival rate. The change was gradual but ultimately what allowed them to survive this time of change on Gōngjiā.

Larger beasts would often take to the remaining forested areas the Chángnǚ were found in and sleep during the day, waiting for the cooler nights to hunt for prey or find food. At some point the opportunistic nature of the Chángnǚ must have allowed them to develop hematophagic tendencies, possibly to supplement their diets as food would become more scarce.

The few remaining forested areas served as their home until the plane once again began to cool; the deserts began to recede and plant life again spread beyond the wooded areas. It was at this time the Chángnǚ split into several different lineages of which two remain, the Zuìgāo and Zuìxiǎo.

Pre-History

The proto-Zuìgāo would leave the forests once again and form large social groups that relied on each other to survive. In this environment they would hunt larger creatures which increased their caloric intake, promoting the growth of their mental faculties. These early nomadic groups would discover tool usage, securing their place towards the top of the food chain.

Simultaneously, the proto-Zuìxiǎo would remain in the older forests that survived the warm period in Gōngjiān history. This provided them security and ample food, but the lack of any challenge in their domination of this environment stunted their mental development. Though they would become smarter with time, even the current Zuìxiǎo are far more simple and animalistic than the Zuìgāo.

Finality of Form

The proto-Zuìgāo ultimately would discover the benefits of agriculture and slowly shift away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They would eventually come back into contact with the proto-Zuìxiǎo that hid in the forests and thinking of them as novel things, barely pay them any heed. At some point however it was discovered that proto-Zuìxiǎo blood was sweet tasting and that they could be taught simple tool usage and labor.

Large numbers of proto-Zuìxiǎo were rounded up from the forests and from that point on, found at any proto-Zuìgāo settlement, whether the remains of a single family home or in larger, abandoned living areas. As the proto-Zuìgāo continued to develop mentally and rely on the proto-Zuìxiǎo for physical labor and activities, their evolutionary forms would begin to reach their present-day equivalent.

Society

Pre-Civilization

Zuìgāo groups would wander as hunter-gatherers for an extended period of time when compared to the developmental history of other planar sophonts. With the Zuìxiǎo being used to hunt and gather for them, the Zuìgāo were able to start specializing before the advent of agriculture and livestock.

The Zuìgāo developed animal husbandry earlier than agriculture due to their experience with the selectively breeding the Zuìxiǎo and maintaining their population. As various grains, fruits, vegetables, lichens, and vines entered their diets however it did not take long for agriculture to develop and become a mainstay.

As tools continued to be developed, even more specialization would occur. Small tribal bands would increase in number, claiming land for themselves. The Zuìgāo would continue to live better lives than the Zuìxiǎo.

Transition to Civilization

With their numerous forms of livestock, growing numbers of Zuìxiǎo and more and more Zuìgāo being able to dedicate themselves to specialized roles, they found themselves starting to live more sedentary lifestyles. The Zuìgāo's path to tribal-grounds giving way to the first permanent settlements developing came about rather naturally.

As Zuìgāo settlements increased in number, the Zuìxiǎo form would find itself being reshaped. Writing systems, husbandry science and growing needs would allow the Zuìgāo to continue increasing the capabilities of their evolutionary cousins. However, this also came at a cost of causing the Zuìgāo to question the state of their own existence. With their eyes turned inwards, an explosion of Zuìgāo philosophical thoughts and practices arose which started a surge of self-realization and self-improvement. Meditation and martial arts were seen as ways a Zuìgāo could reach the pinnacle of their physical and spiritual forms as well as securing their place above the Zuìxiǎo. This desire to separate themselves as much as possible from the Zuìxiǎo was one of the reasons for the Zuìgāo embracing mental activities more so than physical ones.

Almost arising as a counterpoint to self-improvement came the dualistic philosophical tenet that a Zuìgāo owes it upon himself to improve society. Developments lead to early forms of bureaucratic institutions being established. To reward diligence, loyalty, and hard work these systems developed a merit system. This ensured that members could increase their standing based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. The effectiveness of the system would enter every part of Zuìgāo society causing comprehensive increases in areas such as education, law, the military, magic, and government.

The Zuìgāo strive to be the best amongst the best. Though many of their nations would have rigid and extensive legal and social requirements, by enforcing these upon themselves the Zuìgāo have found themselves more capable of recovering from every instance of war, famine, plague, and pestilence in their history.

Ethnicities

Though there are a variety of other ethnic groups that originated on other worlds, there are a few that are known to have developed originally on Gōngjiā and thus hold a special, historical status to the Zuìgāo as a people.

<xh3> Dàimǎ De Fěnsī </xh3>

Those Zuìgāo Elves who either don't belong to a cultural group or wish to not be associated with one are known as Dàimǎ De Fěnsī. This is the assumed cultural group a Zuìgāo Elf belongs to unless otherwise stated.

<xh3> Cōr Zún </xh3>

Originating from the land around Cōr and it's river delta region, also known as the "Thousand River Land", the Cōr Zún are a prolific people, hearty and resolute. Originally sailors of the Cōr river, they became astute traders and masters of mercantile.

Moving beyond simple riverboats, they took to the sea in attempts to further the reach of their merchant guilds and trademasters.

The Cōr Zún are typically shorter but wider set than other Zuìgāo, with a darker complexion being common. Darker hair colors are typically found and their bodies having lighter amounts of body hair. They tend to be more adept at absorbing nutrients from food, with their opportunistic hematophagy coming into play with fish.

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Culture

Refer to Cultural Details

Amongst the Planes

General Acceptance

Racism

Summary