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Annfyn
Species Annfyn
Designation Sentient
Classification Mammalian humanoid
Diet Omnivorous
Lifespan 450 Galactic Standard Years
Height 1.5 to 2 meters
Worlds Annwfyn
Contents
The Annfyn, who were known for their natural grace and beauty, were strikingly similar to the Sephi and thus Humans in almost every way. The Annfynes long ears were the most noticeable physical difference between them and humans. They were tall, with an average height of 195 cm for men and 175 cm for women, and were known to have longer and slimmer limbs than the average Human. Despite the average, the Annfynes, like the Human, came in a variety of shapes and sizes. As a result, it was not uncommon to see Annfyn who was shorter or taller. The same could be said for hair and eye color, which came in a variety of hues despite the fact that the majority of them were autumn-like hues, with brown eyes and red hair being the most common colors.
The Annfynes were known to have better hearing than the average humanoid species due to their long ears. While this improved their ability to hear smaller sounds, which helped them in many aspects of their lives, it also made them more sensitive to loud noises. Extremely loud noises frequently caused a great deal of pain and discomfort. While the Annfynes ears were flexible enough to flatten against their skulls, it wasn't always enough to protect them from said loud noises.
The Annfyn, like the Sephi, were long-lived creatures who could easily live to be 400 years old, with many of the elderly living to be 500.
Breeding
The reproductive system of the Annfyn was similar to that of almost every other near-human species. A male and female Annfyn were needed to create an infant, with the female member carrying the child for 40 to 44 weeks on average. The Annfyn could breed with almost any other near-human species, but half-Annfyn offspring were often frowned upon due to cultural status.
Diet
Despite their close connection with nature, the Annfynes didn't shy away from eating meat much like the Sephi and Humans. The main difference laid in how they honored their animals before taking their lives; An animal was to be grown in nature, and when slaughtered, it's to be done by slicing through the throat of said animal in a single slice, severing as many veins and nerves as possible and ensuring there'd be no suffering. Every single bit of the animal would be used, be it the fur coat for clothing or furniture, or the bones for broths.
Agriculture was their specialty, and with the rich souls of their land they had an endless supply of greens and grains, something they often ate with joy. With pastries filled with different types of jams being their crown jewel.
Behavior & Temperament
When it came to their behavior and emotions, the Annfyn were considered a species of many extremes, ranging from zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds. While their zero was considered aloof and detached, similar to the Sephi, if something managed to trigger their emotions, it came out in an explosive and almost obsessive manner. This meant that the Annfyn's happiness was brighter than the sun, their anger was rougher than the raging lava streams of Mustafar, and their love was fueled by extreme affection.
This larger-than-life love resulted in the Annfyn having an obsessive relationship with nature; while they weren't afraid to use whatever nature had to offer, they'd go to any length to avoid taking too much and harming their beloved planet in return, making them strong environmentalists. It also fueled their dislike to outsiders and their fear of letting anyone ruin their paradise.
People had a difficult time reading the Annfyn because of their zero to hundred emotions, with some seeing them as cold and disinterested and others seeing them as the life of the galaxy.
Communication & Language
The Annfyn communicated in Sídhe, a language that was a hybrid of Old Galactic Basic and Thustra's native tongue. Many outsiders thought it was a soft-sounding, grammatically gendered language that was elegant and romantic. As a result of their overly-passionate nature, the language placed a strong emphasis on both politeness and love. The language had several ways of politely addressing someone based on their age and status, as well as dozens of words that described various aspects of love, romance, and passion.
When speaking in Galactic Basic, Annfyn had a soft-sounding accent and frequently struggled with harsh sounding sounds like 'Ch' and 'Th'.
The Annfynes body language played an important role in their communication, with their ears being the most important detail of all. Because of the expressive nature of the ear, the Annfyn frequently relied on their movements to determine how someone was feeling or the mood of a situation, and could sometimes hold entire conversations based on that.
Another important aspect of both their communication (and culture in general) was physical connection; the Annfyn craved close contact with their loved ones, whether they were friends, family, or lovers, and always looked for a way to do so. Holding hands, pressing their foreheads against each other, or more intimate connections are all ways for them to connect.
Culture
Fueled by their almost obsessive love, family and friendship were important aspects of their society and reflected in their daily lives. It was frowned upon for couples to divorce and for friendships to fall apart. As a result, families and friends were incredibly close and spent a great deal of time together, whether at work or during other activities.
This overwhelming love and protectiveness for their friends and family was mirrored in their extreme distrust of strangers. It was uncommon for a non-Annfyn to enter the protected circles, and those who did were frequently referred to as Children of Nature, a title bestowed through a ritual. Those who were not considered Children of Nature were exiled from not only Mag Mell but Annwfyn as well. As a result, Annfynes people had few import and export partners and were considered a rarity in the galaxy. Those who earned the community's trust were showered with food from their agriculture, making them beneficial allies.
Another taboo was the Sephi, who they had previously fled from. While their exile from Thustra was many moons ago, children from a young age are taught about the Sephi and the pain they caused the original Mag Mell founders. This ultimately resulted in a hatred for the species, which has remained strong over the years.
Nature, as previously stated, played a significant role for the Annfyn. Their structures, tools, and clothing all incorporated nature: houses were built within trees with large bridges connecting them, fabrics were finely woven by hand with delicate patterns using natural fibers found on their planet, and tools were designed to cause as little harm to nature as possible. People developed sustainable agriculture as a result of the preservation of nature, both on the planet and on several small space stations that were used solely as farms.
Rituals and Festivals -
Festival of Wind -Every year, the Annfyn gathered to celebrate the completion of yet another cycle, just as the chilling winter gave way to the breezy spring.
The Annfyn began the day with a freshly baked loaf of bread, kicking off a three-day fast in which only water was permitted. During these three days, the Annfyn would frequently sing hymns, dance, spoil their animal companions, and, most importantly, honor nature and their planet through stories and prayers. Work was prohibited, as was contact with outsiders.
At the end of the third night, the Annfyn made their way to open fields, preferably fields with stronger winds than usual, and released lanterns into the sky. Each lantern was made from natural fibers and materials and contained small seeds of various flora. The seeds would be carried far into the night sky by the wind, and once the candle burned out, they would fall into the earth, planting new life. The Annfyn returned to their most beloved ones after the lanterns were released, where they ate a dish called blodeuyn, which was a large sweetened pastry shaped like a flower.
Festival of Freedom -
Every year on the same date, the Annfyn set aside two days to commemorate their liberation from Thustra. It was sometimes referred to as the lynching festival because of its previous celebration; instead of the more peaceful celebration that modern Annfyn had developed, the Annfyn of the past created dolls in the shape of Sephi nobility. To the great joy of those watching, these dolls would be lynched.
The lynching, however, became a point of controversy among the younger Annfyn, with many calling it tasteless. Within a few generations, the tradition was outlawed and replaced with a more loving tradition of braiding flowers together into countless shapes and patterns. On the second day, these flower bundles decorated the kingdom and served as the backdrop for many joyful drinks, dinners, and dances, all while dressed in traditional white gowns and robes.
Ritual of the Children of Nature -
When an outsider proved themselves worthy of the Annfyn, whether through an act of honor or becoming widely accepted by the people, they qualified for the Ritual of the Children of Nature and were referred to as the Chosen until the end of the ceremony.
The ritual Priestess, who was often a nobility, would start by washing the Chosen's body to remove any impurity. After the skin was cleansed, the Chosen person was given a traditional white outfit to wear to the ceremony. After they had been dressed, they were led to the central halls of Mag Mell, where many members of the community were waiting with various types of flowers. The Chosen knelt in the center, directly in front of the Priestess, head bowed to the ground.
The Priestess would start singing a hymn and bless the Chosen. Following the completion of the hymn, the Chosen was required to vow his allegiance to the Annfyn. During the vow, a thorn cut their index finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall on the petals of a white flower, symbolizing the vow and promise itself. The Priestess declared them a Plentyn Natur (Child of Nature) once the vow was completed. Members of the community would throw flowers at the newly named Plentyn Natur as they began to raise onto their feet.
After the ceremony, a large feast was served in honor of their new member, followed by more personal celebrations and congratulations. These commonly included even more hymns, drinks, and a plethora of upbeat dances.
History
Timeline -
14.000 BBY: The ancestors of the Annfyn leave Thustra and find Annwfyn.
13.560 BBY: Mag Mell becomes the capital of the planet
785 BBY: The Annfyn make contact with the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, but refuses to join it.
4 BBY: The Galactic Empire subjugate the planet
5 ABY: The Annfyn overthrow the Imperial presence, but do not join the New Republic.
40 ABY: The Free Worlds Alliance offer an alliance, which they reluctantly accept.
Early History -
After yet another exile, a group of Sephi—often treated as dirt or outcasts due to their expressiveness and emotions—banded together and fled from Thustra. The men and women traveled for months, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the Sephi as possible before arriving on the planet Annwfyn. They fell in love with the planet and its lush nature, naming it their own paradise and establishing it as their new home. They began to call themselves the Annfyn, after the planet's name, and built a new culture from the ground up.
Modern day -
Despite remaining a peculiarity in the galaxy because the species rarely leave their planet, the Annfyn have established a name for themselves in the agricultural sector. After observing the effects of the many wars between Jedi and Sith, the Free Worlds Alliance offered an alliance; the Annfyn would open their trades for the FWA, allowing outsiders to buy their sought after crops of high quality, in exchange for the FWA protecting the planet should another war break out. The Annfyn reluctantly agreed, ultimately deciding that the FWA was better compared to the other ruling bodies. They had only one exception: all trade would transpire off-planet.
The acceptance of the FWA left the world somewhat tense, with a radical faction of Annfynes rising from the ashes to fight against the queen's rule. Their motto? Annwfyn was a free planet that should have remained that way, free of outside interference.
Intent
To create an elvish species that aren't the Sephi, and thus allow for elven-like characters who are more emotional without breaking any existing canon.
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