RACE
Starstriders are very far from human. They stand taller than most, with a minimum height of 5'11" all the way up to 7'5" at their tallest. They are sexually monomorphic, meaning that every elf possesses both reproductive organs, and like many other Panzhong natives, do not possess mammary glands. This has similarly affected other 'standard' secondary sex characteristics, as no matter the gender of the individual, all Starstriders possess feminine voices that range from an alto to a high soprano. Their increased height has also necessitated alternate internal organs, and each elf has two hearts and increased lung size and capacity, which allows them to move swiftly for long periods of time.
All Starstriders possess sharpened, elongated canines, with sharpened premolars in lieu of standard human molars. This is due to them possessing an almost exclusively carnivorous diet, with a strong preference for venison and fish. Their lack of standard molars means they have a terrible time chewing processed grains like bread or vegetable matter that requires considerable mastication.
Another facet of Starstriders is two pairs of openings in the roof of their mouth. These secondary vocals produce a sound reminiscent of glass harps but dependent entirely on the individual. These sounds are involuntary and very faint, and are only noticeably audible to human hearing when the elf is experiencing particularly intense emotions. Considerable grief or anger, for instance, would be a catalyst for someone other than a Starstrider being able to hear the secondary voice.
Functionally immortal, Starstriders can be killed and get sick, but they will never die of old age. As a Starstrider ages, in fact, their physical aging process slows down: as infants, they age one year to a human's six until they reach adulthood at 120, wherein they slow down even further to one year to a human's twelve. This pattern carries on each century, until it takes entire human lifetimes for them to age one year.
However, their emotions do run several shades deeper than most other species, and as such they are susceptible to health concerns if particularly strong emotions are present for too long. Excessive stress, depression, anxiety, anger and heartbreak can result in physical ailments like organ damage and muscular deterioration.
Elven genetics are severely strong - Starstrider genes are dominant and it takes several generations of dilution to obtain visible non-elven characteristics such as eye color, skin color, or ear shapes.
HOUSES
At birth, Starstriders are born semi-transluscent with the exception of House Horizon. As they age over the months, the baby elves slowly solidify into their House coloration, and are identified by the color of their blood. In rare cases, pigmentation disorders may occur. Albino adult elves never gain their full House coloration, and remain partially see-through in patches. Melanistic elves maintain a darker shade of their House hue, though their eyes remain the same as non-melanistic members of the same House.
Procyon Born under a white-dwarf star's influence, Procyons average at about six feet in height. They tend towards very pale, iridescent types of colors, with baby-blues, pale pinks and seafoams making up their skin coloration. Their hair is white, they don't tan and typically do not have freckles. Their mouths are pearlescent, with bright white teeth, and their eyes have a lilac sclera and green-blue irises. Their pupils are nearly white.
Percent chance of psionics: 7%
Percent chance of magic: 12%
Archernar Born under a blue star's influence, Archernars average at about 6'4". They are always varying shades of blue, with lighter, grey-blue skin. Their hair holds the most hue variance, and can range from dark navies to deep purpling blues or teals. Their teeth and mouths tend to be silver-blue in hue. Their eyes have an off-white sclera and pale irises pupils, like moonlight.
Percent chance of psionics: 11%
Percent chance of magic: 11%
Phaeton Born under a yellow star's influence, Phaetons average in height at about 6'10". The most 'human' looking, Phaetons have golden-tanned skin and bright blonde hair. They are never pale, and their hair can be a deep gold all the way up to platinum blonde. Their mouths are golden and bright, much like their eyes, which gives them the illusion of glowing like the sun.
Percent chance of psionics: 7%
Percent chance of magic: 8%
Antares Born under a red giant star's influence, Antares are huge, standing up to 7'5" and broad shouldered. Their skin is always dark, never going lighter than a deep tan with red undertones. Their hair color is almost always a crimson-red hue, though some individuals may have more orange in their hair. Their mouths and eyes tend towards a fiery-orange-red, like a glowing furnace.
Percent chance of psionics: 3%
Percent chance of magic: 17%
Horizon Horizon elves are born whenever a Starstrider mates outside of their Resonance in any fashion. If the person an elf mates with is not their true soulmate, any resulting children will always be House Horizon.
Said to be harbingers of a time when there will be no more stars in the sky, Horizons are a dark grey, with pitch-black hair that absorbs all light without reflecting it. Their eyes are a bright, glowing blue, and their mouths resemble that of black mambas. Their height varies depending on what House they might have been if their parentage had been Resonances.
Percent chance of psionics: 65%
Percent chance of magic: 1%
