Illari

The Illari (الإلّاري), which roughly translates to "the dependent ones" in the Ashkari tongue, are a people defined not by a common ethnicity or origin, but by their tendency to dwell in cities, integrate into mixed demographic environments, and abandon their traditional ways in favor of those of city-dwellers. Ethnically, they are descended from the Ashkari, and save those who have interbred with other races, they remain genetically indistinct, even if their genes express differently given their environment.

Specifically, certain relatively recent mutations to the Ashkari genome do not express fully (or sometimes at all) among the Illari, as they are largely adaptations to sunlight and exposure which city-dwellers do not require. The most obvious of these are the darkening of skin, lengthening and broadening of ears, and longer, lankier limbs. Lacking these features, Illari are much closer in stature to humans, sometimes even smaller. Then, of course, there are behavioral differences--those who enjoy a sedentary, indoor lifestyle rarely build the kind of muscle and dexterity required to thrive in the desert.

Conversely, the Illari have much more time for--and interest in--the arts, sciences, and arcane magic, the latter of which is taboo among the Ashkari. Still blessed with long lives, Illari make excellent scholars, and many of the greatest minds in Athasian city-states are of Illari descent. Of course, humans have often envied elven longevity, and when combined with an affinity for magic, their qualities put them squarely in the crosshairs of Sorcerer-Kings. Illari mages who do not serve, must find ways to hide their talents, lest they be conscripted or executed. Others avoid high politics by sticking to mundane pursuits, such as alchemy, engineering, or medicine, or even mercantile and skilled trades.

According to Illari oral tradition, their ancestors were once part of a larger elven population whose ways are very similar to their current ones. Per said tales, they maintained their ancient ways during the Green Age, albeit in more lush world, and their natural asceticism and reverence for nature helped them endure the cataclysmic changes that transformed Athas into a desert world. Over generations, they adapted to the new environment, developing unique cultural practices and physical traits that allowed them to survive and thrive in the harsh desert conditions.

Historians, particularly among the Illari, question this assumption, preferring a history where their kind were more similar to the Illari, using magic to tame their environment, until said environment was ravaged by the defiling practices of sorcerer-kings. This is considered heretical by the Illari, whose taboo against arcane magic is deeply ingrained in their culture.

Name and Etymology

Buckle up.

Insofar as scholarly consensus exists on the etymology of the term "Illari", it is generally agreed that it derives from the Ashkari root word "illar", meaning "dependent" or "subordinate". The suffix "-i" is a common linguistic marker in Ashkari, denoting a collective or group identity. Thus, "Illari" can be interpreted to mean "the dependent ones" or "those who are subordinate". This seems to be the original intent of the term, dating back to the early days after the Cleansing Wars, when many Ashkari who had lost their nomadic way of life settled in cities and became reliant on the protection and resources provided by urban centers.

However, in the subsequent millennia, subtle pronunciation and spelling shifts have led to relatively profound changes in the term's connotation. Most of the Illari today insist the correct pronunciation is closer to "Ilyari", distinctly three syllables, with the middle syllable stressed. This pronunciation is said to better reflect the Illari's cultural identity as a people who have adapted to urban life while maintaining a connection to their Ashkari heritage. Spelled الإلّياري while typically transliterated as either Illiari or Ilyari (depending on the local dialect), the term has come to embody a sense of resilience and adaptability, rather than mere dependence.

Depending on whether one is referring to ancient (pre-Cleansing Wars) or modern Ashkari language, the spelling invokes either the concept of "high" or "shimmering", the latter being a more poetic term. Either it is meant to imply a higher purpose, bearing, and nobility, or it implies an enlightened state (no doubt thanks to written learning and scholarly pursuits), sharply contrasted with the nomadic, survivalist lifestyle of their Ashkari kin.

Some translate this as "High Elves" vs the on-the-nose but not inaccurate "Dark Elves" of the Ashkari. In all but the least diplomatic circles, the terms Ashkari and Illari are used, but most non-elves never quite nail the exact pronunciation of Illari. It is perhaps a nod to this linguistic reality that, outside of the minority of Illari written works in their older language, the term is most often spelled simply as "Illari" and pronunciation drift is tolerated with mild correction.