Alkari

Alkari are a feathered avian species who are capable of flight. They superficially resemble certain species of pterodactyl from Earth's ancient past, in that their faces have long bills and are usually topped by some kind of crest, and that their wings are membranous (though covered with feathers) rather than being formed exclusively of feathers. These wings extend from their hands, but they are able to use and manipulate tools when they fold up their wings, essentially as adroitly as humans.
Being capable of flight, Alkari prefer dwelling in high places that would be generally inaccessible to terrestrially-bound creatures, especially high cliffs and mountaintops. Just as they remain aloof in their choice of dwelling-place, Alkari also tend to be aloof from the affairs of men, at least in the current age. There are several tribes in the vicinity of Cothon-Gadeed, and many more in the territory of the Ten Cities, but only rarely to they involve themselves in the goings-on of the League, other than in the person of an opportunistic trader here or there.
Though because of their light bones and build, which are necessary for flight, Alkari can make fine warriors. They prefer to fight at a range, with javelins, plumbata, and bolas cast from above by their highly adroit feet, Alkari can also make fine duelists. They will never be shock- or heavy-infantry like Bulrathi or Lyrans or heavily armored humans, however; indeed, Alkari prefer to wear little to no armor, perhaps a corselet of linen and greaves of bronze at most. There is in fact a warrior of renown, the Warrior of the Red Sash, who features prominently in some tales as an extraordinary duelist and swords-Alkari dedicated to justice.
Alkari are also known for their mysticism, or some might say excessive superstition. But as a people, they do tend to have a high number of individuals psychically sensitive, at least as many if not more than humans on average. Alkari often trade in special amulets and talismans, believing in the protections they provide against spiritual forces and demons; they are also known to place great stock in dreams, and so will weave dreamcatcher-amulets with the hope that such will keep their slumbers and their dreams safe from evil influences. Alkari soothsayers and dreamspeakers feature in many a romance or epic tale.
There was a time, even before the rise of Tsur al Qadeem, when certain Alkari tribes had a close relationship with the island kingdoms of the Denyans, and especially the Sro-Kings that ruled there. There are remembrances of this, both among the human Denyans and the Alkari tribes that live along the coast and through the isles, but the men of Cothon-Gadeed and of the League generally have little to do with their Alkari neighbors.
Several tribes live in the area around Cothon-Gadeed:

The Gao
This tribe maintains the ancient cliffside monastery Kheir al Sabal northeast of Cothon and facing out toward the Sea of Dirac and the Denyan Islands away further north. They maintain an ancient religious order that has been mostly forgotten--in fact, if one asked around the streets of Cothon, "What confraternity maintains the monastery on the sea cliffs yonder?" one would receive a blank stare, or an answer that Alkari dwell there by someone better informed. Which is to say, just what religious order the Gao maintain is unknown to the public.
They are a secretive bunch who do little trade with anyone but seem to take care of themselves and their own needs. They have been known to save survivors of shipwrecks on the coast, and occasionally to trade with ships passing through their territory, but one normally sees them only at a distance, hovering over the sea to fish with their javelins. Legends suggest that perhaps they are related to the ancient Sro-Kings of Denwa, but they are so secretive that little shrift is given to such talk other than by writers of epics and romance. It is probable that some of the Alkari visitors received by the Confraternity of 'Issa in Cothon are Gao Alkari, though it is certain that most of them are Hla-Gao come from the Attine Spire.
The Gao have recently skirmishing with Sakkras in the caves that riddle the cliffs into which the monastery was built/carved, but there is, at least for the moment, a truce between them and their ancient enemies. The skirmishing was only the latest in a long enmity between the Gao and Hsia-Hsia Sakkra, but thanks to the intervention of certain barbarians of Cothon, a peace was negotiated ... for now.

The Hla-Gao
These Alkari dwell in the upper parts of the Attine Spire. They are related to the Gao, but whereas the Gao remained in the sea-caves despite constant conflict with the Hsia-Hsia Sakkra tribe, the Hla-Gao elected to move to a more secure locale. By agreement with the Attine Klackons, the Hla-Gao were granted the top of Spire as their demesne. It is a common sight when looking out east from the city walls of Cothon to see the dark shapes of Alkari circling the Spire and its terraced fields.
The Hla-Gao take part in the life of the Spire by offering their wares in the Klackon's central market square, inside the Spire, and otherwise by acting as lookouts for the Attines in case any threat should come marching of which the Klackons were unaware. The Hla-Gao are also known to carry on communications and trade with the Confraternity of 'Issa in Cothon, though that Confraternity is as secretive about its business as the Alkari tend to be. Other than their contact with the 'Issites, the Hla-Gao have little business in Cothon.
Like some other tribes, the Hla-Gao are known to train the great shanu'u gryphons, and to use them as guard animals for their home in the Spire. These shanu'u must either be captured when very young, or as eggs, if they are to be trained from the wild, and the Hla-Gao are known to have paid a good price for such captured creatures before. But they also maintain their own breeding stock.

The Tsengri-Tenwa (or just Tsengri)
A widespread tribe of Alkari who range through the Denyan Islands. They have little contact with the men of Cothon-Gadeed, but theoretically maintain relations with the human Denyans. These claim to be the descendants of the Alkari who aided the Sro-Kings of old, and helped to establish their empire. As such--and because they have the numbers--they maintain a warrior tradition, as well as a long-pedigreed soothsaying tradition.
Legends also often place Kir-Reis who journeyed with Hamdi the Voyager as a member of this group, or their ancestors--though this identification is uncertain, given the nature of the tales to exaggeration, elision, and distortion of details.

The Zutai
Up in the cliffs above the cataracts of the Turma River, south-south-west of Gadeed, dwells a tribe of Alkari called the Zutai. They are reclusive, as most Alkari are, but like the Hla-Gao they are known as great masters and keepers of the shanu'u gryphons that also dwell among those cliffs and mountainous hills. They were also known to come down en masse for certain fairs in the Al Zaytun district south of Gadeed, to exchange bundles of furs and dried meats and such things for the fruits, olives, and ornaments available in Al Zaytun.
After the razing of Al Zaytun by the Kzin warchief the Red Cloud, it is uncertain if the Zutai will be seen in the next few years, while Al Zaytun rebuilds and recovers; for that recovery will be a yearslong project, to regrow vineyards and orchards that take so long to establish and have since been cut and burned away by Kzinti raiders.