Quick rundown: The difference between "Py'rai" and "Pyrian"

ArchivedUser

I've seen a lot of people, wikis included, not seeming to understand the context of Py'rai vs. Pyrian.  It's entirely understandable, they're one letter and one apostrophe different.  I've seen ancient Elven ruins on Verra described as "Py'rai", and things that are of the modern ethnic groups described as "Pyrian" (technically correct, but also technically not).

The Pyrians were an ancient group of Verran Elves, now having split into multiple subcultures after fleeing to Sanctus.  They are the culture the Py'rai and Empyreans diverged from.  To complicate things a bit, both Py'rai and Empyreans can be described as Pyrian, as that's their ethnic group name as well—but it can also be used to specify the ancient group, and not the modern ones.

The Py'rai are an elven ethnic group that are descended from the Ancient Pyrians.  At some point in Sanctus the Pyrians split into the Empyreans and Py'rai.  The Py'rai, as far as we know, have never set foot in Verra before as "Py'rai".  Only their ancestors did, when they were called Pyrians.

"Why is the name so similar?"

It likely shows a language shift, meaning the Empyreans probably diverged in their culture one way, while the Py'rai diverged in another way.  Both include elements of the name "Pyrian" in their name in different ways.  Fittingly, perhaps, the Empyreans embellished it while the Py'rai stayed with something less grandiose.  This actually goes for all of the races, with perhaps the exception of the Nikua:

• Aela Humans — Kaelar/Vaelune
• Kai'vek Orcs — Ren'kai / Vek
• Dünzenkell Dwarves — Dünir / Niküa (potentially the "nk")

To show what I mean, though, here's an example:



I've seen this labeled "Py'rai".  But there's an "n" there, and no apostrophe.  It's "Pyrian", the ancient elves of Verra—not the modern descendants we play as.

I can see this being something people confuse very often in Ashes's future.

ArchivedUser

Maevynn said:

"Why is the name so similar?"

It likely shows a language shift, meaning the Empyreans probably diverged in their culture one way, while the Py'rai diverged in another way.  Both include elements of the name "Pyrian" in their name in different ways.  Fittingly, perhaps, the Empyreans embellished it while the Py'rai stayed with something less grandiose.  This actually goes for all of the races, with perhaps the exception of the Nikua:

Depends on how Verra presently in time relates to this culture and if its culturally a religious-agnostic viewpoint or simply a language shift.

ArchivedUser

If the Pyrian Elves had lets say a schism after they departed from Verra in the past then it's possible that the 2 groups wanted to retain their 'pride' and kept some link to the original name of their race, it's only a guess but Elves are usually shown to have quite a big amount of pride in their lineage and so on

ArchivedUser

AutumnLeaf said:

If the Pyrian Elves had lets say a schism after they departed from Verra in the past then it's possible that the 2 groups wanted to retain their 'pride' and kept some link to the original name of their race, it's only a guess but Elves are usually shown to have quite a big amount of pride in their lineage and so on

sounds like the Aeldari and drukhari 

ArchivedUser

nagash said:

AutumnLeaf said:

If the Pyrian Elves had lets say a schism after they departed from Verra in the past then it's possible that the 2 groups wanted to retain their 'pride' and kept some link to the original name of their race, it's only a guess but Elves are usually shown to have quite a big amount of pride in their lineage and so on

sounds like the Aeldari and drukhari 

Yeah pretty much that

ArchivedUser

Perseus01 said:

Maevynn said:

"Why is the name so similar?"

It likely shows a language shift, meaning the Empyreans probably diverged in their culture one way, while the Py'rai diverged in another way.  Both include elements of the name "Pyrian" in their name in different ways.  Fittingly, perhaps, the Empyreans embellished it while the Py'rai stayed with something less grandiose.  This actually goes for all of the races, with perhaps the exception of the Nikua:

Depends on how Verra presently in time relates to this culture and if its culturally a religious-agnostic viewpoint or simply a language shift.

It's been "many thousands of years" since their ancestors fled Verra, to the point that tales of Verra became "legend" over in Sanctus (this timeframe also included a lengthy dark age), so it's definitely a good question as to the root of it all.

AutumnLeaf said:

If the Pyrian Elves had lets say a schism after they departed from Verra in the past then it's possible that the 2 groups wanted to retain their 'pride' and kept some link to the original name of their race, it's only a guess but Elves are usually shown to have quite a big amount of pride in their lineage and so on

Yep, definitely could be!  It should be interesting to see what lore we get on them in that regard.