Art modified from Leonardo DaVinci
Art modified from Leonardo DaVinci |
Aeros
by Aerin and Shadowleaf
Physiology
At first glance, one of the most prominent features of the Aeros race is their impressive wingspan, which can measure up to twenty feet in a full-grown male, the female ranging at about a maximum of eighteen feet. Plumage color often differs between families, but is not an issue socially or politically. These powerful wings can sustain an Aeros's unburdened body weight for an hour of active flight and a period of two to three hours when gliding. In level active flight they can travel up to about twice the speed of a horse. In a dive, called a "stoop," they reach speeds over five times this amount at a proportionate loss of control due to the wings essentially being closed to reduce wind resistance. An Aeros can carry half his body weight for about half of the aforementioned times and speeds, but fully laden (e.g., carrying another body) for only a fraction of that, usually only a few minutes, just long enough to cover a short distance. Cooperative lifts for distances greater than a few feet are rarely performed, as the act is both difficult and dangerous. The wings are extremely flexible and multi-functional, as they may be folded tightly against the back for storage or for hiding under a cloak, spread wide during conflict to project a larger physical appearance, drawn around partially in front for protection against the elements, or used in a manner unknown by most outsiders to send messages silently through various movements and angles.
Their bodies, in comparison to other Umanoid races, are weaker in both muscle and bone mass, as these two elements affect their flight as well. Aeros muscles are well-toned due to the particular exercise that the act of flight thrusts upon them, and their bones are light and partially hollow, making the Aeros more vulnerable to physical blows.
Aeros skin tones range from a light golden tan to a dark coppery tone. Their hair is often lightly shaded with colors ranging from blonde to bright red, dark hair being very rare and unusual. Many Aeros males elect to shave their heads with a specially-designed knife to enhance flight effectiveness. Their eyes are often lighter as well, with keen eyesight that gives them sharp clarity over a mile away. In addition, the Aeros have reed-like bones in the backs of their ears and throats, which aids them in speaking their native tongue.
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Habitat
The Aeros are highly intelligent, and deeply religious, making their homes and community near the peaks of Mount Etheral on the Isle of Aerie. Caves house several of their sacred locations; and small nesting-caves, called weyrs, often dot the surface of cliff faces, making many of their locations hard or impossible to reach on foot. These homes are also interconnected with tunnels that usually lead to larger gathering places for both convenience and refuge. They have also devised an elaborate system to terrace the peaks; fearing encroachment by outsiders, Aeros rely on both natural and manufactured hazards on both the mountainsides and paths to make travel on foot dangerous in these craggy areas. Among the natural hazards of the mountains are the large beasts that live in the valleys below, which the Aeros use as a source of food.
Despite living in weyrs and caves, many Aeros tend to exhibit mild to severe claustrophobia as a natural response to a desire to be airborne and unconfined.
Sociology
The Aeros are currently ruled by Prince Straasha, who assumed the throne after the sudden disappearance of his father. Prince Straasha refuses, however, to take the title of king until either his father is discovered and returned to the throne or the mystery surrounding the king's absence can be explained.
Their high priest of Aka-Aar, Thaar Stello, seeks to return the Aeros race to their isolationist and religious roots, while small segments of the population have spoken in favor of polytheism and cultural segregation. On rare occasions, select Aeros have been sent to learning centers in other lands to stay informed about matters in the Worlde and to study the differnt races and cultures for both strengths and weaknesses. Although not magickally-inclined, many Aeros find both power and comfort in the role of cleric, and the truly devout are often favored by Aka-Aar in this trade.
Stories have been told of slavers breaking wings or clipping flight feathers as a means of selling Aeros slaves as unique sentient pets or as unwilling "assistants" (as their physical flaws make them unsuitable for most slave labor). As a result, many Aeros might seem nervous or untrusting when in mixed company, and their natural flight-instead-of-fight reflex may make them appear cowardly ... or 'feather-brained' as many non-Aeros have put it.
 Art by Turtle |
Their intelligence seems to be closely tied with a Jade Oracle rumored to be hidden in one of the caves in Mount Etheral, and many see the Aeros as ad hoc guardians of the Oracle. Some ancient Aeros legends often imply that they are even a part of the Oracle itself and that, in death, they pass their lifetimes of knowledge and experience back to the Oracle as a natural balance to the answers that it gives, enhancing future answers in the process. Many Aeros hold jade to be sacred for this reason and do not trade it for goods and services, but rather as tokens to other Aeros (and few outsiders) to observe occasions such as births, deaths, marriages, or safe travel away from Aerie.
Beginning in the early part of the Moneth of Miste Moon, the available Aeros males will gather near the highest peak of Mount Etheral and put on aerial displays of ritualized movements showing prospective mates their readiness. If receptive, the females will join them in flight. This activity is then followed by more ritual movements and gestures before returning to the weyrs, where actual mating occurs. As outstanding as this display is, the Aeros believe that the activity during the actual "nest building" (where the couple will begin sharing one weyr together) is the most important element in cementing the bond-pair. This is the traditional mating ritual performed when the average Aeros female is most fertile and likely to desire to breed; however, the Aeros are also sentient and can opt to decline the tradition or pursue a mate outside of the traditional time-frame.
Their group sociology when dealing with outsiders is one of quiet disdain tipped with a mild superiority complex. The murder of one Aeros by another, when not in a time of war, is rarely heard of, as they choose to 'count coup' instead, dishonoring their opponents instead of killing. The same technique has been tried against encroaching races, but the Aeros have found that most 'barbarians' only understand death as proof of victory, not simply dishonor, and so the Aeros have been forced to 'lower' themselves often to stave off attackers. It is this clashing of cultures that spawns the bulk of their xenophobia.
Communications
They have a spoken language, which sounds avian in nature, much like the calls of birds throughout the Worlde. While this does not give them the ability to speak with birds, it does allow them a small bit of vocal camoflage when hidden from view as, to non-Aeros ears, their language is indistinguishable from that of mundane fowl. Due to the reed-like bones in the Aeros throat and ears, some of these calls can extend beyond the range of hearing for other races, often lending to the myth that they possess a form of telepathy. The Arcane Common tongue is often learned as a second language, with priority given to their native tongue.
The Aeros also possess a heiroglyphic/runic system of writing called "Toss the Feathers."
Combat
The Aeros, due to their physical weakness and tendency to maintain distance from trouble if at all able, rely mostly on ranged combat weapons such as slings, bows, and, in some cases, spears and the such. These tools are also used in hunting. Many tend to carry a blade no larger than a simple dagger for weight issues or a field knife for more practical purposes than self-defense, so their combat skills with a blade are often limited-skill random jabs at best.
In the matter of close-range combat, however, the Aeros are not completely defenseless. They practice a martial art called Haakah, which was invented by and for their people. It is a form of airborne combat consisting not of strength-dependant blows but rather dexterity-dependant strikes on pressure points and weak spots like soft tissue, aimed at disabling the opponent's body literally a piece at a time. The Aeros are quite bird-like in this aspect, especially when sparring or dueling with each other, as precision, speed, and showmanship all play equal roles and, in the case of a duel, the combatant who gives the best display of Haakah mastery is given the title of victor.
This ritualistic combat also includes the act of 'counting coup,' which either raises or lowers the victor's status based on the reasons behind the fight, often garnering the victor choice of the best weyrs, the most attractive mate(s), the best food, etc., while the loser might suffer from a loss of status and temporary appeal--at least until his plumage grows back as proof that he has learned from his mistake and increased his skill accordingly.
There are traditional weapons that accompany this art called Haakah-Baar. These weapons consist of metal plates strapped to the palms and soles of the feet. These plates contain four short curved spikes, set into the metal, which aid in slashing and tearing clothing, armor, or skin, as well as gripping surfaces such as rocks and trees.
Because the Aeros consider Haakah-Baar to be weapons of war, Aeros law requires that they are kept in a locked chest in each family's weyr.
Lifespan
While not as long-lived as the Elves, the Aeros race is a long-lived one, with their aging rate almost equal to Umans until maturity, whereupon aging begins to slow to what might seem to other races to be a complete halt.
Full molting often occurs more in youth than old age, with the molting of an elder often taken as forewarning of the end of life. Partial molting occurs in all ages bi-annually, with the old and worn feathers replaced with fresh new ones.
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