Aervans

Watchers in the Sky

History

Considered to be the most venerable beasts to thrive upon the mortal plain, this ancient bird like race was strewed across the main continents of Averisa, predicted to have been crafted by Venti himself so they may ride the gusts of wind in exploratory harmony. Having been nomadic throughout most of their longevity, they spent the majority of their lives learning from their experiences on and above the terrain they became adapted to.

The beginnings of their existence proved to be a gradual incline of knowledge, but it never came to them overnight. Even before the extensive dominance of the Hestarks, the Aervans lived in secluded peace due to their dispersed numbers, believed they had purely thrived off their worldly discoveries with the assistance of their specially keen eyes and naturally adapting intelligence. They easily developed into the world they had been surrounded by, having no need to alter the land in order to satisfy their wants, and from this grasped a better understanding of the lands in purest form. Believed that they had appeared with the sole purpose to pass down wisdom from one to the next, the Aervans ingrained their findings into clay and wood to keep their records known and relevant, yet soon matured to writing on parchment.

The quickly changing world, however, was not gracious to the astute Aervans. As other competing races began to integrate their way into these landscapes, the knowledgeable avians slipped into paranoia of becoming hedged in their own environments. These free form winged creatures with intelligence that ascended above all others were losing their once established grip on Aversia, and their rooted habits soon became disrupted. Assembling into coalitions of their own kind, maddened with both anger and sorrow their wholesome lands were becoming warped under the many hands of others, they ascended to the skies along with the majority of their written findings. Fathomed with the realization they could not traverse their homeland like they once could, they stowed away in extensive heights of mountain ranges, away from the imperious desires of others.

Relations with these ancient beasts have always proved to be complex due to their general limited exposure. Scholars of the now multitudinous cultures have derived from these creatures their odd solitary mannerisms, though some have become envious enough to try and locate their libraries which have been believed to be undisclosed to everyone besides their own kind.

Physical Description

Aervans are most simply described by a commoner as 'bird men', notably embellishing a beak on the fronts of their faces and having wings that connect at the shoulder blades. Said too to have swift maneuverability in the wind, the Aervans' abundance of feathers, which flow across their entire upright body to aid in flight, varies in many different shades and patterns such as stripes or spots. Their impressively large wings, which connect by the shoulder blades, are several feet longer than their own standing height. It is this size that gives them the capability of flight. Gloves and shoes are never needed for an Aervan, as their forearms and calves thin from feathers into rough-textured skin. Only four-fingered on both hands and feet, Aervan sport hooked claws that are prevalent on the end of each appendage. This allows them a firm grip on even the narrowest of surfaces.

Though capable of gliding with the help of these avian features, their overall body density is similar to that of elves Therefore they grow tired faster than a regular bird while flying. To somewhat circumvent this, clothing is often light; often only wearing thinner fabrics in order to keep their aerial flexibility intact. Adorning these lighter robes, Elders often bear clothing made from uncommon textiles that have been gifted. While Aervans are able to wear heavier plating, flying is proven impossible under their weight.

• Common Height:
  • Male: 5'8"- 6'2"
  • Female: 5'2" - 6'
• Common Wingspan:
  • Male: 7'8" - 9'2"
  • Female: 7'6" - 9'
• Common Build: Ectomorph, Mesomorph
• Common Eyes: Black, Browns, and Blues
• Common Feathers: Black, Browns, Grays, White, Russet, Golden

Culture

Aervans are often high believers of Venti, instinctively tentative to the direction of the winds. They cherish the prolonged gusts which are a constant force that stroke the mountain ranges, having faith that large blasts of air are a signal to assume travel and exploration, as they are able to move longer distances with the aid of these gales. During these times of ventures, Aervans are thought to be those who watch the skies and those down below, silently observing the clusters of civilization they rarely make contact with.

The libraries of Aervans are said to be preserved, kept within the vast heights of mountains- and therefore, monasteries are commonly crafted by architects of the race. The carefully chosen locations of these buildings are propped upon exceedingly difficult areas to reach while on foot, though certainly no trouble for the winged beasts. Built strategically to remain sturdy atop peaks, a monastery is usually constructed from stone, a resource easily found among their environment. These buildings are dated back many decades, as these ancient housings have been cleverly yet sluggishly made to last for years on end. While living within them, the Aervans also make more use of these establishments to store away their writings. Often placing their scholarly studies on scrolls and stored away on shelves, they properly organize them from the oldest to the newest, or the other way around.

Aervans can be excessively sociable around their own kind, crafting their own limited and loose hierarchy among each other. Elders, referred to as 'Lauger' among these people, are immensely appreciated and respected. The wise and knowing minds of these older people are deeply admired, and it is considered rude to regard them as a simple commoner, but should be acknowledged as someone of importance. Those younger than them often bestow them with gifts, such as the fabrics of Silk or Sagesilk which are deeply cherished not only because of the elegantly soft textures of the cloth, but because they are difficult to come in possession of.

Beneath the Lauger, and making up the majority of Aervan culture are the Litterateurs, known as varying ages of adults that have not yet ascended to the Elderly position. Being the sole purpose of exploring, the Litterateurs embellish themselves with vigorous studies, mainly learning from the teachings of their Elders and from their own experiences of performed expeditions. They are the most prominent age group that often fills their libraries with official writings, a much more excitable lifestyle to that than a youngster. The children of Aervans do not have large purposes, often the ones to sort and organize the libraries and strictly taught how to read and write at very young ages. While they do learn mainly under their parents as well as the Lauger, fledglings really begin the purpose of their lives once they have reached the Litterateur age of independence.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: 135-175 years old on average.
• The Aervan are capable of flight should they be light enough to do so. On top of such, it is difficult to the point of infeasible to fire ranged weaponry during flight, much less aiming it.
• Aervan are able to detect storms with their feathers, able to alert them to ground themselves bad storms or otherwise during flight.
• Aervan do well in colder climates due to their high ranging homes. Their feathers containing a large portion of this heat retention.
• Aervan have four fingers which end in talons. Whilst sharp, these are not as opposable as human fingers and thus lose a lot of their finesse.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier