Phrin

The phrinu are one of the three main intelligent races on Halse, AKA the Starborn.

History
Phrinu are, technically, alien in origin. They came to Halse after fleeing their home world. The first Starborn settlers were far more technologically advanced than the rest of Halse at the time despite their refugee status, having accomplished mass space travel, among other achievements.

The oldest drake records date the first acknowledgement of phrini existence to sometime around the Cataclysm. Whether this was before or after is unknown. Why they left their original home is also a mystery, although Karsene phrini myths and legends tell similar stories about a mass exodus from somewhere inhospitable. The times and locations involved are unfortunately, highly variable.

In-universe, a true understanding of the origins of the phrinu is questionable even among other races. Because of the chaos of the Cataclysmic Era, there is scant concrete proof of their arrival from another planet. The "soft reset" of the Fae and drakes following the Unity's war also contributed to their confusion regarding this time period.

As for phrinu themselves, their knowledge of their past is clouded to the point that almost all Karsene cultures have their own creation myths placing them on Halse from the beginning of their existence. This is in part because of the discovery of the Flare, an ancient divine magic that prior to their arrival, had lay sealed away since the Dormancy of the Cataclysm. Once phrinu broke the seal, however, releasing the Flare into the world, the entire race was fundamentally altered by the omnipotent magic and molded as the charism saw fit.

Habitat and Population
Phrinu are the dominant race on Halse, comprising about 60% of the population. They make up most of Karsen's population as well, and phrinu have laid claim to the highest ruling positions in almost every country on the continent

Life cycle
One of the major differences between phrinu and humans is their lifespan. Thanks to the strange effects of mana on their bodies, their life expectancy has risen to about 120, and physically, they age somewhat slower than normal once adulthood is reached. Over their time on the planet, phrinu have been recorded as living longer and longer, due to mana.

Biological and structural variation
While relatively uncommon, magical "mutations" are not out of the ordinary among the Starborn. Those who live in mana-dense regions are slightly more likely to have small, usually benign features such as strange hair, skin, and eye colors. Rarer magically-induced mutations include altered bone structure, extra or fewer organs and extremities, and a range of mental quirks such as mild telepathy or enhanced synesthesia (although these are harder to detect thanks to their less noticeable nature).