In
the minds of most cutters, the Quasi-Elemental Plane of
Dust conjures up images of decay, decomposition, and
disintegration. The Plane is inimical to both life and to
created items, and both will quickly turn to dust without
the proper magical protection. Amid all this waste and
desolation are the Loreseekers of the Eroding Sands --
the Dust Genasi.
Dust
Genasi are fascinated by the history of things:
Buildings, magical weapons, famous (or infamous) bloods,
regions, towns, you name it. Most sages and scholars
claim this is due to the fact that Dust Genasi are raised
on a plane where they routinely see the ultimate embrace
which awaits all things, and have therefore developed a
curiosity about the life before the decay. On the other
hand, some claim that it's the symbolism of accumulated
dust (or sands through an hourglass) representing the
passage of time. And a few berks say it's because
researching the history of dead people and ruined towns
is the only thing that matches the dry, somber
personality possessed by most Dust Genasi. (Note that
this last is woefully inaccurate. While Dust Genasi are
indeed more subdued than most other Planar races, only
their Magma Genasi cousins match their enthusiasm for
research.)
Whatever
the reason, most Dust Genasi explore the planes in much
the same manner as their Magma Genasi cousins. Some
Loreseekers of the Eroding Sands focus their research on
one particular location, person, or item, and spend the
rest of their lives unearthing its history. Other Dust
Genasi prefer to dabble, rather than delve. These are the
Planewalking Loreseekers, and they accumulate a broad
base of knowledge by travelling around the Multiverse.
And finally, some Dust Genasi exist somewhere between the
two, wandering the planes for the most part, but
occasionally settling down for a year or more to more
thoroughly investigate a particular item, region or
person.
All
Dust Genasi feature a colored pattern to their skin
reminiscent of sand. Additionally, they will have one or
more of the following:
- A thin, perpetual coating of
sand on their bodies and/or in their hair
- A dusty haze surrounding them,
extending about 1 foot out from their body
- The faint howling of a
sandstorm in their voice
- A somewhat flimsy consistency
to their body, as though their flesh was filled with
sand instead of bones and muscle