Aegir (race)

Race

Trivia

This article is about the race. For the Terran nation-state, see Aegir.

The Aegir (both singular and plural), also rendered Ægir, are an Ancient race in the world of Arknights.

Description

Aegir have the traits of various aquatic animals such as fishes, cetaceans, cephalopods, echinoderms, cnidarians (Medusozoans and Anthozoans), crustaceans, and pinnipeds. However, most Aegir are entirely humanoid (although Andreana, Kirara, and Weedy have tails/tentacles), making their bestial traits barely noticeable.

The Aegir race possesses many different subraces with similar characteristics, but they all have distinct physiques and aquatic adaptability. Ironically, despite being an oceanic race, most Aegir branches are unable to breathe underwater with certain exceptions (prominently the Abyssal Hunters).

All Aegir come from the oceans beyond the known world of Terra. On land, the Aegirs face the issues of dehydration due to their respiratory tracts depending on the air's moisture, and how their skin can easily become dry when in contact with wind and sunlight. If left untreated, they will face symptoms ranging from allergic reactions, chafing, and seizures. In more severe cases, it could become life-threatening. Because of this, they always make sure that their skin is moist whenever possible, such as carrying special moisturizing creams a small bottle of water. In some extreme cases, when an Aegir must travel through arid regions such as the Sargonian deserts, they can carry special distillation equipment to provide themselves with water at any time. This sort of equipment has also been adopted by some desert residents.

Because of their shared place of origin, Aegir can easily be corrupted into Seaborn either through scientific experiments, by succumbing to the monsters' alluring influence on the mind, or by being forcefully implanted with Seaborn cells.

Currently, only Iberia and Higashi among all land nations are known to have a significant Aegir population. While they have been facing hostility and discrimination following the Silence in Iberia, they seems to be treated as equals in Higashi, with some like Akafuyu's family even obtaining noble status. Columbia and Yan are also known to have Aegir citizens.

Subraces

• An unnnamed, rare subrace which Whisperain belongs to. They possess the traits of the Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as Immortal Jellyfish, and have exceptionally frail bodies compared to other Aegirs. Their most distinguishable feature is their ability of reverting themselves to a younger state whenever their bodies suffered severe damage or are unable to endure the environment. This, however, comes at the expense of losing their prior memories.

Notable

Addendum
Gladiia, Skadi (the Corrupting Heart), Specter (the Unchained), and Ulpianus are not "true" Aegir, but Aegir-Seaborn hybrids created as part of the Abyssal Hunters project. Deepcolor, Mizuki, and Highmore are Aegir-Seaborn hybrids created by the Church of the Deep. As bishops of the Church, Aulus, Cicero and Quintus are Aegir-Seaborn hybrids as well, but Quintus had transformed into a giant Sea Terror after failing to assimilate with its cells. Maritimus, the Church's founder, is known for being the first Aegir-Seaborn hybrid

• Breogan

Etymology

The name derives from Ægir, a jötunn who is associated with the ocean in Norse mythology. The word itself means "sea" in Old Norse.