O.k. let's try this again. I guessing when I posted this earlier the title wasn't interesting enough. When I went back to change it it was after the time edits were allowed. Welcoming any thoughts or suggestions from people.
Arlthato (Working name) maybe change it to Arlthano?
General: They are a race of many where all are part of the one. The Arlthato is an incarnation race. Essentially each member is an incarnation of a larger being. While each is an individual they are aware that each of them is a facet, mask, or part of this larger entity. In their language there is no you and me there is this-self and other-self.
As a whole they tend to be a diverse race when it comes to life paths and chosen areas of learning. No one member of the people is really indicative of the race all together. Like humans they can be described as very individualistic.
However, if there are traits shared by the majority it would be a sense of inquisitiveness, because to them learning or problem solving is a virtue, and second is an impression that they are working towards some sort of plan even if the individual is not consciously aware or suspecting of it.
Language: Arthat. A slightly lyrical language with a stream of consciousness quality through out. That is sometimes treicky for outsiders to learn due to the rapidness with which the language changes between subjects. The matter of pronouns between members of the people and between the people and outsiders is also a subject of frustration at first.
Relations: As an individualistic people each member views other races by their own standards and each individual of that race by their own merits.
Their population is is small compared to the other races of the world and remains relatively constant. When one member of the people dies a new member is born or rather incarnated sometime shortly after the death remains persistent. On a social and intimate level though it is worth noting that while the Arlthato are just as inclined towards physical relations as other peoples they are not a fertile race. Additionally they only liaise with members of other races. Arlthato do not join with one another. While there are outliers within the people who would they are considered deviants as joining with another Arlthato is considered incestuous.
Death and Spirituality: To an outsider the Arlthato might seem dually spiritual and abundantly secular. Each Arlthato knows instinctually that upon this incarnation's death they will rejoin the whole and thus treat the matter with a certain casualness.
This is not to say they don't give the matter any thought. The nature of the rejoining is not exactly clear. For instance some think that when they rejoin the being they will exist in a persistent dreamlike state while other believe they will be assimilated back into the whole. Their memories there but this-self truly made one again with the entity.
Really divisive is the discussion of what happens when the being they all Arlthato are part of is done with whatever agenda it is working towards. A common belief is that they will persist in the existence that they entered upon death. Still other believe that upon completion of the being's plan each incarnation will be given over to Pharasma to judge and do with as determined by a previously made agreement. Another belief that is often considered is that once the entity finds what it seeks each incarnation shall be incarnated one last time, cut off from the being, and made a true species.
Nothing? Nothing at all? I thought the idea was worth some merit but not even a "Hmm, eh"? Alright.
I do like that they don't , for the most part, get into what they consider an incestuous relationship. That train of thought does make sense considering they believe they are all one and the same... Perhaps those that deviate are considered... narcissistic?
I do like the idea of there being a pact with Pharasma, though considering she doesn't like it when souls escape their "judgment day" and instead get reincarnated... it would seem there would have to be something really big for her to not consider them the same as those simply resurrected.
For the idea of the being finding what it is looking for in the incarnation and then cutting it off by a final reincarnation of one of the main species draws the question, "Eve though it's probably a slow process... wouldn't that mean that being is slowly getting smaller and smaller?" Are there any theories on what might happen once it is at it's last incarnation- which may or may not be a single being with the memories of it's entire race?
Good job on it so far.
I don't criticize someone's creativity/fluff for their races, unless it is to point out some blatant contradiction or error they likely didn't notice - of which I haven't noticed any.
I can give you a "they're neat," because they are, but there's no crunch that I can compare to fluff.
Give me racial traits & game mechanics and I'm there with bells on.
Edit: Just noticed this thread was raised from the dead.
I had put this one hold but you guys bring up some interesting points. The being now called Arl would very well be getting smaller.
I'll put some mechanics together. I expect shiny silvery bells :)
I did change the name to Arlthano. It flowed and just sounded better. The race name instead of meaning the People like the majority of cultural and racial names translates to The Faces of Arl.