Felanas

Felanas are a fictional humanoid race commonly depicted in fantasy literature and worldbuilding projects. They are typically portrayed as long-lived beings with slender builds, pale or silver-hued skin, and eyes that reflect starlight. Felanas are often associated with coastal and island regions and are noted for scholarly pursuits, navigation, and a tradition of memory and ritual that shapes social life.

Etymology and identity. The name Felana appears in many works with no single canonical origin. In some settings it derives from a Felan language word for light or compass, in others it is an exonym applied by neighboring peoples. Because the species is a construct of various authors, its traits vary across texts.

History and society. In most stories, Felanas form city-states along archipelago coasts. They emphasize education and recordkeeping, maintaining extensive libraries and star-maps. Social organization often centers on guilds of navigators, scribes, healers, and traders, with elder councils guiding policy. Lifespan is typically longer than humans, influencing attitudes toward time, lineage, and tradition.

Culture and technology. Felanas are described as proficient mariners and cartographers, with early use of glass lenses and water-driven mechanisms for measurement. Their navigation relies on astronomy, ocean currents, and communal memory of sea routes. Materials such as timber, copper, and glass feature prominently in their crafts, including shipbuilding, navigation devices, and ritual objects.

In fiction and games. The Felanas appear across multiple worlds and rule systems as a flexible template for exploration of themes such as memory, migration, and intercultural exchange. Depending on the author, their portrayal ranges from enigmatic sages to adventurous mariners.