The Owlin Race

Traits

Common features

Owlins are quite unique among the other sentient races. In the Founding Year, a halfling named Tito disappeared into the fey jungle. When he returned, he had taken on an owl-like appearance. He remained very secretive about why and how he had transformed. Over the following thirty years, he would select others that were willing and able to follow him. Anyone that did, returned with owl-like traits, and a similar air of mystery and wisdom. These chosen disciples were dubbed the Owlketeers by the rest of the community. After Tito passed away, the ritual he used to make others transform was lost. The ones he changed and their descendants formed a new race, the owlins.
They have bodies covered in feathers, round faces, sharp beaks, and claw-like feet and hands. Like owls, they can turn their head incredibly far; up to 220 degrees in either direction. From their arms extend long downy feathers that allow them to fly quietly. Their height is dependent on their heritage, as well as their feather coloration. They lay eggs in clutches of 1 to 6. They are still uncommon, with only a few thousand of them existing on Zurica. They have branched out to live in different countries with different lifestyles.

Subtypes

While not recognized as distinct subraces, owlins can be grouped in four types with very distinct appearances. These are not considered subraces because their traits might not be strictly genetic or hereditary. The most widely accepted theory is that type is determined by a magical influence, correlated to personality traits. These are the four types:
Surniinae
These are the smallest owlins, also called pygmy owlins. They are about 1.20 meters tall with primarily brown feathers. Their horizontally oval-shaped head has plumes of beige feathers. They have a small grey beak and large yellow eyes. Their wings, with beige brown-striped flight feathers, can span up to 1.50 meters.
Albanae
These graceful owlins have a white heart-shaped face with a clear orange rim, hence the nickname masked owlins. Beyond that their feathers are blond on their back and the tops of the wings, and white on the bottom and on their torso. They are slightly taller than pygmy owlins, on average 1.50 meters, with a wingspan up to 2.00 meters. Their dark coloured eyes framed by light feathers immediately draw attention.
Striginae
Often mistaken for being eldery, these owlins have speckled grey feathers all their lives, so they are very obviously dubbed grey owlins. They generally have the broadest and most muscular build among owlins, and their facial disc is the largest. They have yellow eyes and a bright orange beak, framed by two white frills that might look like a moustache. Being on average 1.70 meters tall, their wingspan can reach 2.50 meters.
Bubonae
These largest of owlins have two tufts of longer feathers on their head, appearing like tiny horns. Hences they are commonly called horned owlins. Their facial disc is clearly separated for each eye by a low 'brow' of feathers. They have deep brown eyes and a grey beak, which get lost among their dark brown and black plumage. If they stand up straight, they can reach up to 2.20 meters height, their wings extending to a total length 3.50 meters.

IAMI-periods

To equalize the life stages of all the races including very diverging lifespans, and ensure that they can be categorized correctly when it comes to rights, taxes, and healthcare, all ID cards also share their racial Infancy-Adolescence-Maturity-Index, or IAMI. For owlins, the life stage periods are:
Infancy: 0-15 years
Adolescence: 15-25 years
Maturity: 25+ years
Lifespan: 200 years

Culture

New race

Owlins came into existence much more recently than other sentients. They do not have a distinct language of their own, although most of them are capable of speaking and understanding Sylvan, the language of fey creatures. They tend to adapt to whatever customs and naming conventions are used by other sentients around them. There are a few owlin families in Concordia that use Sylvan names, while others uphold more Common names like humans.

Nocturnal living

While owlins are perfectly capable of maintaining a diurnal lifestyle, they thrive much better at night. Owlins have exceptional eyesight in the dark, which is lost in the daylight, and are usually more energized at lower temperatures. Furthermore, most countries have no traffic systems that are inclusive for flying individuals. During the night, roads are less crowded, allowing owlins to make full use of their mobility. Some owlins choose to take a little bit of both. They can be active in the morning and the first half of the night, while sleeping in the afternoon and the second half of the night, or the other way around.

Mystery

While owlins are integrated fully in sentient societies, there is always an air of mystery around them. They are not such a common sight, and some families prefer to be reclusive. Owlins also have a unique connection to the feywild, or at the very least to a source of magic. They might see or hear things that other sentients can not perceive, including visions of the past, present, and future. Some might feel a pull towards a certain location, activity, or event, unable to explain it or even understand it themselves. They have a strong instinct that most of them trust without hesitation.