Owlkin

Anatomy

Owlkin can range in size from taller than elves to a bit smaller than gnomes. They stand on two legs that are scaly or feathered, ending in a fearsome set of talons. They have two arms ending in lightly scaled hands and a magnificent set of wings on their back. Their bones are hollow making them susceptible to breaking from impact, but this is made up for in muscle and feather density.

Perception and Sensory

Owlkin are known for their extraordinary sight and hearing. Owlkin hunters have been known to hit a mark 1640ft/500m away with stellar accuracy. It's also difficult to keep secrets around them due to their extraordinary hearing. Being polite folk, they'll typically pretend they didn't hear you. Owlkin homes are insulated sound wards to help keep things private. Taverns and inns located near owlkin and other adept beastfolk will offer warded rooms or booths to sit at for privacy.

Genetics and Reproduction

Owlkin are hatched from eggs that are up to 8.8% the length of the mother. They are incubated for about 6 months in clutches of 1-3. Parents will not typically have more eggs until the last clutch have reached the fledgling or adult stage.

Growth Rate and Stages

Owlkin start as eggs. Once they hatch they become owlets, rather than feathers they are covered in down and spend most of their time at home as they struggle to maintain their own body heat without outside help. Around 6 years owlets begin developing their adult plumage and at 8 or 9 years of age flight feathers have begun coming in. By the time they're about 10 years they should have their thicker adult plumage and some sturdy primaries, secondaries, and flight feathers. At this stage they begin learning to fly under the watchful eye of their community. Once they are able to fly alone they are considered to be adults, and while how long this takes varies from person to person, most have it figured out by the time they're 16 years of age. The average owlkin lives to be about 60 years old with the oldest ever known being 83 at the time of passing.

Ecology and Habitat

Owlkin are found almost everywhere, with a preference to temperate climates on the colder side. Their plumage serves them well to keep them warm but also acts as a barrier to stop the sun's heat from reaching their skin in hotter climates. After the Undoing there are three main populations of Owlkin, those that reside in and around Strigitree on Malquos. Those that fled to Flamering in the Dragonscale Islands. As well as those that reside on the continent of Librutreshcaen.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Owlkin are primarily carnivores, eating rabbits, fish, squirrels, small birds, and even the occasional reptile. They have been known to enjoy berries as a treat but find things like baked sweets to be too sweet for their liking. Owlkin get most of their water from the food they eat and as such rarely eat soup, however stews are rather popular as the process of cooking the meat and other things helps them absorb more water, not to mention the increased flavor.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Owlkin family groups are typically led by a matriarch and when living in smaller groups outside cities and towns are led by a head priesten. Elders are well-respected. While not as long-lived as elves, owlkin are immaculate recordkeepers and Wise Ones, the experts of their respective areas, are sought out for their wisdom and expertise. They spend much of their time reading old texts and with the help of their apprentices, keeping them updated. Antiquarians are also well-respected in owlkin society. While the job began with them it is now found across many cultures as many seek to uncover history lost to the Undoing.

Since only a few owlets are hatched very couple decades, children are highly prized. While disrespect is not tolerated, many owlkin have a soft-spot for younglings and will give them more grace than they would an adult. Owlets are encouraged to ask questions and to explore the world around them. They're also taught from an early age that while they shouldn't interrupt adults at work, if there is an appropriate moment they should ask and learn from them.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Like many species, owlkin can trace their roots back to Oxaren before the Undoing. Before the land was sundered they lived in central western part of Oxaren and many lived in the central hub. The largest populations of owlkin are now found in the west hemisphere. With the foremost being those that live in and around Strigitree followed closely by those that live in Flamering. Smaller populations of owlkin are dotted throughout the Dragonscale Islands and Malquos but most prefer to stay close to these two cities as they have their sensitive hearing in mind in their buildings. Travelling owlkin often wear dampening charms when within city limits to reduce the overwhelming noise.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Strigitree is largely considered to be the owlkin state though they themselves do not consider it as such. It is home to the Lakaenum however, a massive building that houses copies of many important documents, records, books, and history. The Lakaenum is rivaled only by Flamering for the knowledge it houses and smaller versions of the Lakaenum are sometimes found in other cities serving as record halls or libraries. Additionally, the Lakaenum is where Lakionma is worshipped by her flock.

Gender Ideals

Unlike other humanoids, owlkin do not have a particularly rigid binary. While most owlkin align with their assigned sex, some feel more at home with one, the other, or neither. The primary distinction between genders for non-owlkin is jewelry. All owlkin wear rather drapey tops to account for their large wings and slim pants to prevent billowing fabric from interfering with their wings. Female owlkin, particularly matriarchs, will have brooches adorning their cowl shirt. More decorated brooches will dictate that they are a matriarch or other high ranking woman. Male owlkin will wear elegant draping pinchains that secure their cowl shirt. Genderless owlkin will wear both a brooch and a pinchain, neither, or fashion their own fastener. Outsiders will be confused that this is not set in stone and many owlkin simply refer to each other by name or vaguely.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The major languages of owlkin are Common, Hoothar, and Squarll. Most dialects originate from regional accents and variances.

Historical Figures

Lakionma of Verity who ascended to divinity and became Lakionma the Goddess of Scholars and History.

Scientific Name

Strigidae strixxus

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

Tall: 6ft 6in/198cm-8ft/244cm
Average: 5ft 4in/163cm
Small: 3ft/91cm-4ft/122cm

Average Weight

Tall: 82lbs/37kg-101lbs/46kg
Average: 67lbs/30kg
Small: 38lbs/17kg-50.5lbs/23kg

Average Length

Wingspan is too variable for average