Inanimae

The Inanimae are immortal faerie spirits that bind themselves to inanimate things rather than human bodies. Most Inanimae are linked to a certain element: air, earth, fire, water, and plant life. The newest breed of Inanimae link themselves to non-living representations of humanity, like dolls, puppets and mannequins. All Inanimae are divided into different phyla, like kiths, and specialize in a particular "Sliver", the Inanimae version of Arts. All Inanimae have an "Anchor", like a rock or a tree, and they are protected from Banality while they remain within it. Those who still have natural Anchors are called "Gladelings", those whose Anchors have been altered by mortal (or other) hands are called "Krofted". The Gladelings and the Krofted have differing views, much as the Seelie and Unseelie of the Kithain. In order to leave their Anchors (the inanimate thing to which they are tied) an Inanimae must cloak their dreamform in a semblance of a mortal body, called a "Husk", or else succumb to Banality. Some Inanimae become quite skilled at crafting these Husks, and some have only barely recognizeable human features in their Husks.

Many of them are still sleeping and their Seeming (named Jeu) indicate how long an Inanimae has been awake in the mundane world. Some of the Grumps would probably remember the Courts of the Dark Ages, when they were divided between the four seasons. During the Dark Ages, they were more varied, but they are now divided between 5 Phyla:

Phyla

===Glomes=== (GLOAMS)

These are the "Heavy People", the giants made of rock and stone. Glomes are slow, never in a hurry to do anything, and able to spend years making up their minds about things. Though they are slow and shy about dealing with outsiders, the glomes make up the bulk of the Inanimae military, and their entire society is based on a hierarchical military model. The Heavy Folk are strong and durable, and are immune to toxins and diseases in their Husks. They are also very heavy, sometimes known to exceed half a ton. Their Sliver is Petros, which deals with the earth, strength, and durability.

===Kuberas=== (KOO-beh-rahs)

These are the dryads, linked to trees, plants, or things made of wood. The kuberas are, perhaps, the most passionate of the Sessile fae, and known to pursue and indulge in a variety of mortal pleasures. Kuberas have powers linked to fertility, they are able to increase the productivity of any enterprise or activity so long as they are not the primary benefactors of it. They also have an invisible aura about them, or "glow" which makes social interaction easier for them. They are compulsive counters though, and having nothing better to do, will spend their time counting whatever is at hand. Their Sliver is Verdage, which deals with the nurture and control of the natural environment, plant life in particular.

===Ondines=== (ohn-DEENS)

These nereids of the waters are among the most peaceful and non-aggressive Inanimae. They are the peacemakers and the healers, though those connected to tainted waters are known to shun the more pacific ideals of their brethren and become violent. They can turn to a liquid form at will, and are able to influence others with their singing. Their Husks are not well made for land travel though, and suffer some sort of physical disability. The ondine's Sliver is Aquis, which deals with time, healing, and water.

===Parosemes=== (PAIR-oh-SEEMS)

Also called the "silfar", these are the sprites of the air. Ever changing, verbose and flighty, these spirits wander often and rarely stay in one place for very long. They are able to become a vapor for short periods of time, and are able to fly even when not in vaporous form. They talk endlessly, about anything that comes to mind, and even if they are physically forced to be quiet they will do whatever possible to fill up the silence with constant noise. The parosemes have the Sliver of Stratus, which deals with movement, illusions and the air.

===Solimonds=== (SO-lih-moands)

The spirits of fire are much as they might be expected to be. Hot tempered, but possessed of a strange nobility, the solimonds are the exiles of the Inanimae. The current solimond empire is ruled by a puppet emperor who is supported by the glome military, the solimonds that do not follow this ruler (the vast majority of them) are considered traitors. It was the solimonds that first gave man the power to Kroft Anchors, and they bear the guilt of the Making War between the Krofted and the Gladeling Inanimae. Solimonds are able to pursue goals with a single minded devotion that aids them in their determination. They are also able to summon up gouts of flame to burn their enemies. All solimonds have great difficulty lying though, it is a great act of will for a solimond to speak anything but the truth. Their Sliver is Pyros, which deals with emotions, combat and fire.

===Mannikins=== (MAN-ih-kins)

Enigmas of the Inanimae, who are enigmatic to even the strange Kithain, mannikins inhabit things that resemble the form of man. Among the most outgoing Inanimae, the mannikins are the ones most to be found trying to fit in among the meat changelings and mortals, but never quite being able to. Mannikins are almost entirely Krofted, except for some rare ones that inhabit natural formations in human shape. Alone among the Inanimae, mannikins may learn the Arts of the Kithain in addition to the Slivers of the Inanimae. They also understand all of the elemental tongues of the other Inanimae, though they speak none. Mannikins have no Sliver of their own though, and may never completely master any Art or Sliver.