Avians
Avians are humanoid birds.
The races of avians are:
Harpies
Harpies are a race of humanoid birds with an innumerable array of subraces 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 subraces having a lifespan of about 7 years and larger subraces 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 subspecies. 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
Ravenfolk are 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.
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 Fenmoor Basin, where their dark plumage blends into the surrounding landscape, as well as the cities and towns of the Belurocian Empire.
Owlkin
Owlkin are humanoid owls characterized by their upright posture; rotund bodies; large, forward-facing eyes that reflect light back through the retina, giving 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, giving them equally impressive hearing. They are covered in a soft, dense plumage of feathers and have powerful, taloned feet, with arms and hands rather than wings. Their necks are extraordinarily flexible, allowing for significant 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 an 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, preferring mammals and other beasts.
The subraces of owlkin are:
Horned Owlkin
Horned owlkin stand about 1.8 meters (5.9’) tall and weigh 80 to 100 kg (176 to 220 lbs). They reach adulthood around the age of 20 and live up to 95 years. Their plumage consists of an array of mottled dark browns and shades of gray, allowing them to easily blend into the woodland environments they inhabit. 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, which are found mostly in the forests of the Broken Lands’ Northwest Highlands and Central Fire’s Southern Highlands, place a high value on both combat prowess and wisdom, with leadership often comprised of the wisest of their 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.
Pixie Owlkin
Pixie Owlkin are the only owlkin with wings and the capability of flight. They are also the smallest of the owlkin, averaging 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall and weighing approximately 1 to 2 kg (2.2 to 4.4 lbs). They reach maturity after about 10 years and live for over 40 years. Pixie owlkin have delicate features and soft, fine feathers that range in color from pale gray to a light brown. They are slender and lithe, with small, nimble bodies and delicate legs that end in very tiny, but very sharp, talons. Their eyes, which are shades of yellow or amber, are disproportionately large for their size. Their facial disk is less pronounced than other owlkin, but they nevertheless have exceptional hearing.
Despite their small size, pixie owlkin are hardy survivors and inhabit some of Praetoria’s most inhospitable environments; they are mostly found in the Aria Badlands, Oni Desert, and Ardentioch Wastes. Primarily Insectivores, they supplement their diets with the occasional fruits and small vertebrates found in their desert and scrubland homes.
Their parliaments often nest in cavities of rock formations, cacti, and trees. Close-knit, highly cooperative, and often egalitarian, their communal nature is a defense against the arid conditions, scarce food and resources, and many predators that share their habitat. Their coloring provides ample camouflage and, when captured, they are known to play dead until a means of escape presents itself, and fly off in a burst of speed.
Shoco Owlkin
Shoco owlkin are about 0.9 meters (3’) tall and weigh 5 to 7 kg (11 to 15.4 lbs). They reach maturity after about 12 years and live for over 65 years. They have a compact, sturdy build, and their plumage is primarily a mottled mix of sandy browns and soft whites. Their heads are rounded with a slightly flattened facial profile, and they lack a prominent facial disk and ear tufts, which gives them a more streamlined appearance. Their eyes are typically a hue of yellow. Their legs and arms are particularly muscular, with strong talons and claws adapted for excavation.
Shoco owlkin live in underground burrows and are found primarily in the Great Lowlands’ Wastes of the East. Their parliaments emphasize collective well-being, with each shoco expected to contribute from a young age—whether in defense or maintenance of the burrows or hunting and gathering food. Shoco owlkin are dietary generalists, consuming a variety of insects, mammals, plants, and seeds. As hunters, they are capable of quick bursts of speed. When their burrows are threatened, they will make hissing, rattling, and other noises that mimic those of more dangerous creatures to frighten off the threat.
Snowy Owlkin
Snowy owlkin stand about 1.5 meters (4.9’) tall and weigh 50 to 65 kg (110 to 143 lbs). They reach adulthood around the age of 22 and live up to 90 years. They are covered in thick, luxurious white feathers, with flecks of black or gray that fade as they mature. Their eyes are bright yellow. Snowy owlkin have round heads, with a slight flattening at the top. Their eyes are a striking shade of yellow, stark against their pale feathers. Their facial feathers are fluffed and dense; this, along with their dense plumage, helps to insulate them against biting winds and arctic climates.
Most snowy owlkin parliaments are found in the mountains and tundra area of the Pristine Northwest’s Frigid Coasts, where their white plumage blends into the wintery landscape. Their societies tend to be highly organized, with a hierarchy based on age and wisdom. They are carnivorous, relying heavily on local fauna such as lemmings, arctic hares, and fish.
Tytoni Owlkin
Tytoni Owlkin stand about 1.6 meters (5.25 feet) tall and range in weight from 45 to 60 kg (99 to 132 lbs). They reach adulthood around the age of 21 and live up to 85 years. Their plumage is golden-brown, with soft, white feathers on their underbellies and a distinctive, heart-shape facial disk, which is a stark white, contrasting with their eyes, which are typically black or dark brown. Their bodies are slender and elongated, with a narrow chest and less robust frame compared to other subraces.
Their parliaments, found primarily in the forests of the Central Fire’s Northern Highlands, tend to be agrarian, with farms and fields hidden within the woodlands. Tytoni owlkin are omnivorous, feeding on livestock—such as cattle, yaks, goats, and hogs—vegetables, and fruits.
Wood Owlkin
Wood Owlkin average 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in height and weigh 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lbs). They reach adulthood around the age of 20 and live up to 80 years. They 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 torsos are stocky with a muscular build, yet they are extremely agile, able to maneuver swiftly and silently through trees and underbrush.
Their parliaments are found primarily in the forests of the Broken Lands’ Western Lowlands and Blackmoor Basin. Social hierarchies are traditionally based on age and wisdom, although prowess in battle is also highly regarded. Wood owlkin tend to be distrustful of other races and rarely interact with outsiders. They are highly territorial and have a deep respect for the woodland ecosystems in which they dwell, protecting it fiercely against intruders.
Skilled hunters known for their stealth, wood owlkin are primarily carnivorous, although they supplement their diets with fruits and nuts as well.
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