Skyguard

Skyguard are a specialty position within the planewardens, an organization of plane-touched tieflings of the isolated island of Molthuth. Most planewardens operate from the ground, defending Aerune from interplanar incursions and defending the rift-riddled sky from overambitious mortals; the skyguard are the few who remain aloft, closest to the heavens and their ever-present tempest.
To become skyguard, a tiefling must be an experienced planewarden in good standing--but most importantly, they must be able to survive a fall from a lethal height. Whether this is accomplished by featherfall enchantments, temporary wings, teleportation, flying magic, or shapeshifting is a moot point. A potential skyguard must be able to plummet in freefall and save themselves, else their new title will be as short-lived as they are.
The skyguard operate as a semi-autonomous sect of planewardens, creating their own patrols and electing their own local leadership positions. While non-skyguard can also hold leadership roles within the planewardens, skyguard are usually on the front lines of any active contention between the rifts and the world, and they are the primary defense of even the rest of Molthuth and their fellow planewardens. Skyguard also partner with ground-bound tieflings to help care for their mounts. After all, one cannot be skyguard without a unique, empathic bond with a rift-kite.
Rift-kites in the skies above Molthuth are the only reason the skyguard can exist. Skyguard aeries dot the island and provide havens for rift-kites awaiting tiefling partners (for the first time or if their original rider has been disabled or killed). In the wild--in the sky--rift-kites reproduce and carry their young with them, but aeries also provide a nest for brooding rift-kites and newborn pupae. Young rift-kites are left alone (by tieflings) as much as possible to preserve their delicate constitution while they're not aloft.
The process of bonding with a rift-kite is a year-long one. Rift-kites are intensely social creatures that suffer when isolated, but they are naturally gentle and curious when not threatened, making them easy to approach and begin to tame. Rift-kites are only trained and partnered with a tiefling after reaching their full adult sizes, which can range from a wingspan of 18-27'. Larger rift-kites can carry two tieflings, while smaller ones can only bear one while retaining their maneuverability and speed.

Rift-Kites

Rift-kites are extraplanar creatures that originate in the Astral Sea. They migrate in large flocks (herds, packs, pods, schools, etc) across different planes. In rare places where multiple planes intersect, such as Molthuth's sky, rift-kites are particularly common.
They are large creatures whose wingspan and silhouette, from below, resemble a child's kite floating on the wind; they have incredibly long tails, two pairs of short but broad wings whose membrane stretches from limb to flank, and a triangular head atop a short neck.
Rift-kites can live their entire lives without landing on any ground, though landing does not damage them. Their four wings, when folded, allow them an awkward, bat-like shuffling walk on the ground. They can use their narrow, whip-like tails as an extra limb, prehensile enough to manage basic manipulation of objects but lacking fine motor control.
Stat Block: Rift-Kite

Type

Military