Aerboelis
Aerboelis are a race of demonic and haggard looking species that has inspired much fear in the other races of Nielea. They were the first race to cultivate and use magic and to create spells from it. In spite of this, they did not settle large settlements and were rather unenthusiastic in expansion and building, preferring a more natural lifestyle close to magic. As other races cropped up, Aerboelis quickly became the subjects of bogeymen and scary stories for outsiders- and they became a symbol for evil and bad luck for a long time.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A race of tall humanoids with thin, skeletal bodies with one pair of arms and one pair of legs. Their dry skin drapes over what little visible body fat and musculature they have, leaving their bodies to look grotesquely underweight. Their legs are unguligrade with cloven hooves and seem to have the most noticeable muscle in their bodies. Aerboelis also have bat-like wings covered in skin while still maintaining a skeletal appearance. They may also have a trail of spikes along their spines, though it will often depend on the individual.
Aerboelis heads are extremely variable and often resemble the skull of many species of animals in appearance- or as something in between. This also means they frequently have some form of horns. One curious trait about their skulls is that their skin does not cover all of their skull, leaving much of it exposed. The parts of their skin that do touch the skull stop at where the lower jaw and neck meet, along the cheekbones with muscle, and at the top of their cranium. This skin seems to seamlessly transition into the bone's surface.
Aerboelis have long ears that may or may not be pointed, come in a variety of shapes, and are usually coated in skin and sometimes a thin layer of hair. They also lack eyes, with glowing orbs inside their skull sockets instead taking their place and role. While their tongue is easily visible through their skulls. This tongue is deceptively long and can extent to 3 feet out of their skull, and it is coated in a thick, sticky saliva suited for catching prey.
While their bodies are mostly hairless, Aerboelis can have hair covering some of their legs, and they may also have hair growing on what little scalp they have. They also may sometimes have manes going down the sides of their necks and a quarter of the way down their neck and back. This hair is often ragged and disheveled looking, and will always look somewhat greasy or dry.
Biological Traits
Well known for their almost skeletal and starving appearances, Aerboelis can tower over medium and small races with a decent amount of height and appear absolutely terrifying to them in the proccess. Their wingspan can reach out to 5 feet per wing. And they can grow horns that reach 4 feet in length, depending on the individual.
Growth Rate & Stages
Aerboelis grow very slowly and do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 18 years of age. When they reach around 21 years old, Aerboelis consider the individuals to be fully grown adults. Not much occurs in their growth other than going from the gangly proportions of a child to the proportions of an adult.
Age is difficult to notice on an Aerboelis because of their already haggard and decrepit looking bodies- and their hair usually does not gray until they are well beyond 500 years old of age. The oldest known Aerboelis have been around 1,000 years old, and many reach this age if they do not fall to disease or death from outside forces.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Their main diet is all and any magical energies. Their bodies have become heavily adapted and even reliant on consumption of magic, as they wither away and die if denied access to this food source.
They occasionally eat insects and small creatures such as frogs, newts, geckos, salamanders, lizards, snakes, birds, and rodents, to provide a small amount of sustenance. But this is a trait left over from earlier in their evolution, and can never replace their magic consumption.
Their tongues have adapted to be similar to frogs and chameleons, with Aerboelis being able to extend their tongues out quickly in the length of 3 feet out. Their saliva is adapted to be extremely adhesive and it is even capable of taking magical energies from their sources.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Some underground syndicates and other illegal operations will hunt Aerboelis to use their heads, tongues, and wings as trophies.
Facial characteristics
Their faces are purely bone with traits found in many animal skulls existing across individuals in a wide range of variety.
Average Intelligence
They are very intelligent, beating humans easily.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Aerboelis are capable of both seeing and smelling magical energies even in its most basic, invisible form. They are also capable of casting magic spells from toddler-hood.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Rather than being named by their parents, individual Aerboelis go nameless through their life. They are encouraged to pick a name that they feel is fitting for them, and it is often seen as normal for individuals to change their names if they feel another name is more fitting for them. This results in a wide range of names, some of which may come as borrowed names from other races. Others may pick the name from an object, element, or creature that inspires them.
Example Adult Names: Bolt, Brimstone, Crystal, Ellisar, Eve, Grey, Granite, Joelle, Lilly, Sunset, Water, Yuusuf, Zircon
History
In spite of the associations other races have of them, the Aerboelis have always been a timid race that kept to themselves and avoided others. The myths and tales that spread of them being pure evil, monsters, or otherwise bade luck did drive a wedge between them and the other Races. But this did not stop the fact that many Aerboelis had gentle and kind hearts- often leading them to do good deeds to other races ranging from teaching magic to saving those in dangers. However, they were often forced to use magic to disguise or hide their appearances to avoid frightening others.
The Aerboelis race soon ran into trouble when Faerie and Demon kind were introduced to the world of Nielea. The Faeries tricked many civilizations into warring and slaughtering the Demons that the Faeries hated. And the Aerboelis were very frequently mistaken for the Demons, greatly causing many casualties to their kind and driving them into hiding. This went on for many years, causing many generations of Aerboelis to be taught invisibility magic from a young age to keep themselves hidden and safe. Even after the warring against the demons stopped, the Aerboelis kept themselves hidden from the world. While they continued their good acts despite their mistreatment, their trust had been damaged and they soon became even more myth-like to the outside world. Aerboelis then became a rare sight, and it took many years for them to trust the world once again.
Scientific Name
Morphotenuis therium
Lifespan
800 years
Average Height
5 1/2 feet tall to 6 1/5 feet tall
Average Weight
90 - 120 lbs.
Average Physique
Gaunt and thin, with much bone and musculature visible through their skin.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Their skin ranges from browns to pale tans, to faded reds, greens, and purples. Their skin is often leathery or dry, and may be covered in tattoos or paint.
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