Avians
Last updated
Last updated
Avians are humanoid birds characterized by their feathered bodies and keen, forward-facing eyes adapted for exceptional vision. They have lightweight, yet muscular builds, with strong, taloned feet capable of grasping prey or perches with ease. Their feathered plumage ranges widely in color and pattern, providing both insulation and camouflage suited to their native environments. Most possess powerful senses, with eyesight sharp enough to detect the smallest movements even in low light, and hearing sensitive enough to pick up the faintest rustle or distant call.
Avians are primarily carnivorous or omnivorous, feeding on small mammals, fish, insects, fruits, and nuts, depending on their habitat. They are typically agile and capable of swift, silent movement, whether gliding through the air, darting between trees, or stalking prey. Most are highly territorial, defending their nests and foraging grounds with fierce determination.
Avians organize themselves into tight-knit communities led by the wisest, strongest, or most cunning individuals. These societies value wisdom, cunning, and observational skill, with knowledge often passed down through storytelling, song, or ritual. Communication is complex, blending vocalizations, songs, and nonverbal cues such as feather displays or head movements. Though they are naturally quiet and observant, avians can be surprisingly fierce when threatened, with many capable of using their sharp beaks and talons to defend themselves.
The races of avians are:
Harpies are a race of humanoid birds with an innumerable array of types scattered across the Splinterlands. Sizes vary dramatically: the smallest harpies stand about 30.5 centimeters (1’) tall, weigh 94 grams (3.3 oz), and have a wingspan of 61 centimeters (2’), while the largest grow to about 1.4 meters (4.5’) and weigh 9.1 kg (20 lbs) with a wingspan of 3.7 meters (12’). Lifespans vary significantly as well, with smaller types having a lifespan of about 7 years and larger types nearly 100 years. Instead of conventional hair, harpies have feathers that grow on their heads and other body parts, including their shoulders, breasts, hands, forearms, and legs, with the distribution, density, and color varying by type. Their skin and eye colors also differ widely.
Feathered wings sprout from their backs, enabling them to fly with agility and speed. Harpies have human-like heads and excellent eyesight, even in low light. Their bodies are lean and muscular, with powerful, taloned feet that can seize and securely hold prey or a perch. Their hands, which are partially covered in feathers, have elongated fingers tipped with sharp claws.
Harpies typically live in flocks resembling tribal communities and exhibit complex social behaviors that blend cooperation and competition, particularly during the mating season. They communicate through a series of calls and songs, from haunting melodies to fierce, warbling cries. They are highly territorial and fiercely protective of their nesting sites and young, which are usually born in clutches of two to three.
Harpies thrive in a variety of environments, from dense forests and rugged mountains to cliff sides and isolated islands, adapting their hunting and nesting techniques to suit their habitat. Most harpies are omnivorous, with diets ranging from fruits and nuts to small- and medium-size beasts, although flocks have been known to take down creatures of much larger size.
Ravenfolk are flightless humanoid ravens that average 1.8 meters (5.9’) in height and weigh 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lbs). They reach adulthood at around 20 years and can live to about 100 years old. Their bodies are covered in sleek, black feathers that shimmer with hints of blue or purple, providing insulation and camouflage. Their heads are birdlike, with sharp, angular features and a prominent, curved beak. Their eyes are usually shades of dark brown or black.
Ravenfolk possess a lean, muscular build, with broad chests and strong, sturdy frames. Their legs end in sharp, taloned feet, adapted for grasping and climbing while also well suited for walking, running, and other quick, agile movements.
Known for their quiet demeanor, Ravenfolk are often found in tight-knit groups—or unkindnesses—that value secrecy and strategy. Unkindnesses have a complex social hierarchy based on wisdom and cunning, with leadership often falling to the most astute and strategic-minded.
Are flightless humanoids that are typically 1.5 to 1.8 meters (4.9 to 5.9 feet) tall and weigh between 45 and 100 kg (99 to 220 lbs). They reach adulthood around the age of 20 and live up to 95 years. They are characterized by their upright posture, rotund bodies, large, forward-facing eyes that reflect light back through the retina—granting them superior night vision and causing their eyes to shine in the dark—and a distinctive facial disk, an arrangement of feathers around their head that directs sound to their ears, providing them with equally impressive hearing. They are covered in a soft, dense plumage of feathers and possess powerful, taloned feet and arms with hands rather than wings. Their necks are extraordinarily flexible, allowing for nearly complete rotation of their heads.
Owlkin societies—also known as parliaments—are usually structured around extended family units or clans. They are, by nature, a quiet race, with silent observation and careful consideration taking precedence over immediate response in words or action. However, they can be surprisingly fierce and agile when necessary. When threatened, they will puff up their feathers to appear larger and more intimidating.
Owlkin are primarily nocturnal, remaining active from dusk to dawn. Their keen senses make them excellent hunters, and they are able to remain motionless for extended periods, blending into their surroundings while waiting for their prey. They are primarily carnivorous, preferring mammals and other beasts, though some may supplement their diets with fruits and nuts.
The types of owlkin are:
Ravenfolk are omnivores but usually prefer meat. They are adept hunters, often using their intelligence and cunning to trap or outsmart prey. While adapted to a variety of climates, they are predominantly found in the , where their dark plumage blends into the surrounding landscape, as well as the cities and towns of the .
The horned owlkin of the forests of the and possess plumage in an array of mottled dark browns and shades of gray, allowing them to blend seamlessly into woodland environments. Their heads are adorned with conspicuous tufted plumes that resemble horns. Their large, round eyes are typically yellow with black pupils, and their faces are framed by a prominent circular ruff of feathers. Their parliaments value both combat prowess and wisdom, with leadership often comprised of the wisest sages, warriors, and practitioners of magic. Knowledge and techniques related to combat, hunting, and magic are taught at a young age, and education is considered a communal responsibility.
The snowy owlkin of the mountains and tundra of the are covered in thick, luxurious white feathers, with flecks of black or gray that fade as they mature, allowing them to blend into the wintery landscape. Their eyes are bright yellow, and their heads are round with a slight flattening at the top. Their facial feathers are fluffed and dense, providing insulation against biting winds and arctic climates. Their parliaments are highly organized, with a hierarchy based on age and wisdom. They are carnivorous, relying primarily on local fauna, including lemmings, arctic hares, and fish.
The tytoni owlkin of the forests of the are covered in golden-brown plumage, with soft, white feathers on their underbellies and a distinctive, heart-shaped facial disk. This stark white facial disk contrasts sharply with their eyes, which are typically black or dark brown. Their bodies are slender and elongated, with narrow chests and a less robust frame. Their parliaments are primarily agrarian, maintaining farms and fields hidden within the woodlands. They are omnivorous, feeding on livestock—such as cattle, yaks, goats, and hogs—along with vegetables and fruits.
The wood owlkin of the forests of the and are covered in thick, variegated plumage that ranges from deep browns to muted greens. Their heads are broad and somewhat rounded, with large, dark eyes. They have a well-defined facial disk framed by ruffled feather tufts, and their beaks are short but sharply hooked. Their stocky, muscular torsos do not hinder their agility; they can maneuver swiftly and silently through trees and underbrush. Their social hierarchies are traditionally based on age and wisdom, although prowess in battle is also highly regarded. Distrustful of other races, they rarely interact with outsiders. Fiercely territorial, they have a deep respect for the woodland ecosystems they inhabit, protecting them fiercely against intruders. Skilled hunters known for their stealth, they are primarily carnivorous, though they supplement their diets with fruits and nuts.