Winged Ones
Their existence is only legendary. They appear on stone carvings, feature in ancient stories, and are rumoured across the globe. There's no proof they ever existed, of course, and most people chock them up to the subject of children's stories. Humans flying? That's even more ridiculous than suggesting flying birds.
But the legends persist. They say that long ago, the noblest and most powerful of humans were those that had wings on their backs, with wingspans up to 10 feet and covered in feathers from dull browns and greys to vibrant greens and reds. These humans made up about 20% of the global population, and frequently held positions of great power. It is said that during this time, birds also filled the air.
What exactly happened to the winged humans and flying birds is a mystery, but they vanished after the First Reckoning. Those that believe they are more than just children's stories believe they were cursed by the Spirits, or various gods, and destroyed during the Reckoning. Others think the opposite, and that during the disaster, they ascended to Spiritrest to escape. Either way, nothing has flown since the First Reckoning other then bats and bugs.
But the legends persist. They say that long ago, the noblest and most powerful of humans were those that had wings on their backs, with wingspans up to 10 feet and covered in feathers from dull browns and greys to vibrant greens and reds. These humans made up about 20% of the global population, and frequently held positions of great power. It is said that during this time, birds also filled the air.
What exactly happened to the winged humans and flying birds is a mystery, but they vanished after the First Reckoning. Those that believe they are more than just children's stories believe they were cursed by the Spirits, or various gods, and destroyed during the Reckoning. Others think the opposite, and that during the disaster, they ascended to Spiritrest to escape. Either way, nothing has flown since the First Reckoning other then bats and bugs.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Winged Ones are basically human other than the wings. The wings attach at the back, around the shoulder blades. The size of wings varies, as they are patterned after various bird species endemic to the area, but are generally large enough that when folded comfortable at the back, the tips just about reach the ground.
Growth Rate & Stages
Winged babies are born (always from a winged parent; it is a dominant trait that not randomly pop up from mutation) with small, featherless stumps. As the child grows, soft, fluffy feathers come in. These downy feathers are lost during childhood, around the time their baby teeth fall out.
Once their adult feathers come in, the wings grow and develop until the child is able to take their first flight in early adolescence. The onset of puberty is typically in line with the wings becoming strong enough for flight. Adolescent Winged Ones are known for the awkward, ungainly flying, frequent trouble taking off, clumsy landings, and generally being prone to injure themselves. Most have settled into being proper flyers once they reach the age of 20.
Once their adult feathers come in, the wings grow and develop until the child is able to take their first flight in early adolescence. The onset of puberty is typically in line with the wings becoming strong enough for flight. Adolescent Winged Ones are known for the awkward, ungainly flying, frequent trouble taking off, clumsy landings, and generally being prone to injure themselves. Most have settled into being proper flyers once they reach the age of 20.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
At the time of the First Reckoning, there were a three major nation states that held most of the political and economic power at the end of the First Age. They were:
- MekDaku - a kingdom centred on the Kaabaran savanna, built among towering baobab trees.
- Parano - a confederacy in the desert of northern Cuyania, where cities were carved into the sides of mesas or cliffs
- Khanty - an empire that controlled all of the Khanty Sea, where the winged rulers freely flew from island to island and turned their noses up at the primitive boats their subjects toiled on.
Average Technological Level
At the end of the First Age, the most advanced civilizations worked mainly with clockwork, and the primary metal was bronze. They could do extraordinary things with gears and winding mechanisms, helped along by groundfolk slavery to keep their devices wound. This could be as simple as servants constantly winding up personal devices to huge gear houses where slaves cranked room-sized gears at all hours of the day to keep city infrastructure running.
Their most prized technological discovery was Black Dust, a curious powder that has the effect of cancelling out any supernatural ability as well as killing Spirits.
Their most prized technological discovery was Black Dust, a curious powder that has the effect of cancelling out any supernatural ability as well as killing Spirits.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Winged Ones and "groundfolk" are technically the same species - human. They can interbreed with no problems or complications. Having wings is a dominant trait; a child of a Winged One will always have wings as well, but if they also have children with a groundfolk, the wings are more variable.
Relations between the winged and the grounded, however, were rare in most parts of the world. Winged Ones typically made up noble classes and oppressed groundfolk. They looked down on them and saw them as second-class citizens of their civilizations.
Relations between the winged and the grounded, however, were rare in most parts of the world. Winged Ones typically made up noble classes and oppressed groundfolk. They looked down on them and saw them as second-class citizens of their civilizations.
EXTINCT
Lifespan
75 years
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Wings come in many colours, from pure black or white, patterns of brown and beige, or - especially in tropical areas - vibrant greens and reds. They usually share patterns with birds that live in the same area.
Related Ethnicities
Related Materials
