Anemoi
"Nobody is quite sure where the history of hatred between Anemoi and Kobolds began. Certainly it is true there are more Anemoi in the homeland of Kobolds than the other way around, but the Anemoi steadfastly claim the Kobolds started it all, a claim that seems more than likely when one considers the actions of the average Kobold." - Excerpt from A Beginner's Guide to Anemoi, History and Traditions
The Anemoi are a bird-like people in the eighth realm. Though usually considered a blessing, the physiology of an Anemoi being geared towards flight does cause them to have several issues. Most notably, the bones of Anemoi are much more brittle and light than normal beings, which leads to a higher rate of injury or death. Additionally, wings are very unwieldy when not in flight. Nonetheless, the Anemoi take extreme pride in their ability to fly, which comes with many benefits. An Anemoi which loses one or both wings is typically regarded as lesser and barred from higher society. This same view is pervasive towards half-Anemoi, which typically have smaller wings, which, due to different bone structure are unsuited for much more than gliding (at best). Thus, the Anemoi typically do not breed with other races, which is compounded by their mountainous environments being less populated by other races anyways. Anemoi hold a longstanding feud with Kobolds due to Kobold grave-robbing. This leads Anemoi to exterminate any kobolds in their nearby region using the concept of Scalefall (throwing kobolds off cliffs), a concept which is considered the earliest example of racial genocide in the realms.
Anemoi are interesting for their unique blend of avian and humanoid anatomy. Much of their torsos and arms are very similar to races such as humans and elves aside from their brittle bones and slightly smaller stature. Upper legs are similarly mostly humanoid, though their lower legs are more avian, ending in clawed talons. These talons are shaped similar to birds which spend time running, which underscore that Anemoi are not totally helpless on land. Most of their legs and lower torso, beginning around the waist, are covered in feathers. Their back is also feathered, though the front of their upper body isn't notably feathered beyond down. Anemoi's heads are shaped similarly to a human, but there are a few notable differences. They have a more angular face which is beaked, their ears are rather small and shielded by tough plumage. In place of hair, and similarly to the Yneratl, Anemoi have feather-tails. Since they don't have hair, the rest of their head, aside from the face itself, is covered in feathers, and Anemoi are totally incapable of growing beards or mustaches.
Anemoi society is usually structured into clans, with different clans having more or less standing among the Anemoi. However, clans are highly fluid and can change rapidly based on marriage, swearing of fealty, and other treaties. Anemoi can be very loyal to their clans, but may still leave to join new ones, depending on circumstances. Most often, the higher ranking Anemoi in each clan are static, while lower-class members are more fluid. Despite the traditional clan structure, Anemoi are still very individualistic, jealously guarding their possessions. Anemoi clans are typically concentrated into one geographical area and not dispersed into the wider population, and any number of clans may make up a kingdom. War between these kingdoms may consist of territorial losses as well as transfer of clans, so the outer ring of an Anemoi nation is usually made up of the clans which are least valuable to the crown.
Anemoi, being able to fly, tend to make their homes in places that are less accessible to other races. This may be at the top of a tree, a floating island, or an isolated plateau surrounded by steep cliffs. Anemoi tend to avoid living at the peak of mountains due to the lack of sustenance and colder weather present on mountaintops. However, they do often settle among the lower peaks of a mountainside. It is precisely these tendencies which led the original Anemoi population of Ærellion to disperse somewhat. A lack of space for their growing population prompted many Anemoi to resettle in both Archelin and Halyren, where space was more plentiful and their services would be employed by Gnomes to stamp out Kobolds, as task they highly enjoyed.
When constructing cities or fortifications, Anemoi usually carve them into the rock and use the excavated rock to build up even higher. These are typically constructed in five stages, depending on the size of the settlement. Usually, such constructions are built to frontload at least some of the costs, making future expansion far easier, since minimizing costs at the start makes the whole project cost more in the end. The classifications are Anelós (People's Home), Aeoteoú (Air Tower), Kuranoúta (Sky Town), Kuranoúlen (Sky City), and Epiólenas (Floating Metropolis). An Anelós is essentially a single dwelling or small collection of dwellings built on an excavated, flat, foundation. An Aeoteoú reaches much higher and begins to connect all the structures into a cohesive whole, usually a ring, which makes them common as an outpost/fortification. Kuranoútas are the first level in which the distinctive excavation of lower levels begins, as space is cleared beneath to gain material for building higher upon the previous construction. This is kicked up another gear when the construction reaches the Kuranoúlen level, as the structure begins to finalize and branch of into multi-story interconnected rings inside rings. The final stage, an Epiólenas, finalizes the tops of the buildings and essentially eliminates the lowest levels as housing, bringing all citizens well above the ground for housing, while the grounds are cleared for gardens, fountains, training grounds, storehouses, and transportation. Epiólenas are always reinforced with magic in order to prevent collapse if balance is lost, giving time to correct such issues, and are considered some of the most impenetrable structure in all of the eighth realm.
The Anemoi are a bird-like people in the eighth realm. Though usually considered a blessing, the physiology of an Anemoi being geared towards flight does cause them to have several issues. Most notably, the bones of Anemoi are much more brittle and light than normal beings, which leads to a higher rate of injury or death. Additionally, wings are very unwieldy when not in flight. Nonetheless, the Anemoi take extreme pride in their ability to fly, which comes with many benefits. An Anemoi which loses one or both wings is typically regarded as lesser and barred from higher society. This same view is pervasive towards half-Anemoi, which typically have smaller wings, which, due to different bone structure are unsuited for much more than gliding (at best). Thus, the Anemoi typically do not breed with other races, which is compounded by their mountainous environments being less populated by other races anyways. Anemoi hold a longstanding feud with Kobolds due to Kobold grave-robbing. This leads Anemoi to exterminate any kobolds in their nearby region using the concept of Scalefall (throwing kobolds off cliffs), a concept which is considered the earliest example of racial genocide in the realms.
Anemoi are interesting for their unique blend of avian and humanoid anatomy. Much of their torsos and arms are very similar to races such as humans and elves aside from their brittle bones and slightly smaller stature. Upper legs are similarly mostly humanoid, though their lower legs are more avian, ending in clawed talons. These talons are shaped similar to birds which spend time running, which underscore that Anemoi are not totally helpless on land. Most of their legs and lower torso, beginning around the waist, are covered in feathers. Their back is also feathered, though the front of their upper body isn't notably feathered beyond down. Anemoi's heads are shaped similarly to a human, but there are a few notable differences. They have a more angular face which is beaked, their ears are rather small and shielded by tough plumage. In place of hair, and similarly to the Yneratl, Anemoi have feather-tails. Since they don't have hair, the rest of their head, aside from the face itself, is covered in feathers, and Anemoi are totally incapable of growing beards or mustaches.
Anemoi society is usually structured into clans, with different clans having more or less standing among the Anemoi. However, clans are highly fluid and can change rapidly based on marriage, swearing of fealty, and other treaties. Anemoi can be very loyal to their clans, but may still leave to join new ones, depending on circumstances. Most often, the higher ranking Anemoi in each clan are static, while lower-class members are more fluid. Despite the traditional clan structure, Anemoi are still very individualistic, jealously guarding their possessions. Anemoi clans are typically concentrated into one geographical area and not dispersed into the wider population, and any number of clans may make up a kingdom. War between these kingdoms may consist of territorial losses as well as transfer of clans, so the outer ring of an Anemoi nation is usually made up of the clans which are least valuable to the crown.
Anemoi, being able to fly, tend to make their homes in places that are less accessible to other races. This may be at the top of a tree, a floating island, or an isolated plateau surrounded by steep cliffs. Anemoi tend to avoid living at the peak of mountains due to the lack of sustenance and colder weather present on mountaintops. However, they do often settle among the lower peaks of a mountainside. It is precisely these tendencies which led the original Anemoi population of Ærellion to disperse somewhat. A lack of space for their growing population prompted many Anemoi to resettle in both Archelin and Halyren, where space was more plentiful and their services would be employed by Gnomes to stamp out Kobolds, as task they highly enjoyed.
When constructing cities or fortifications, Anemoi usually carve them into the rock and use the excavated rock to build up even higher. These are typically constructed in five stages, depending on the size of the settlement. Usually, such constructions are built to frontload at least some of the costs, making future expansion far easier, since minimizing costs at the start makes the whole project cost more in the end. The classifications are Anelós (People's Home), Aeoteoú (Air Tower), Kuranoúta (Sky Town), Kuranoúlen (Sky City), and Epiólenas (Floating Metropolis). An Anelós is essentially a single dwelling or small collection of dwellings built on an excavated, flat, foundation. An Aeoteoú reaches much higher and begins to connect all the structures into a cohesive whole, usually a ring, which makes them common as an outpost/fortification. Kuranoútas are the first level in which the distinctive excavation of lower levels begins, as space is cleared beneath to gain material for building higher upon the previous construction. This is kicked up another gear when the construction reaches the Kuranoúlen level, as the structure begins to finalize and branch of into multi-story interconnected rings inside rings. The final stage, an Epiólenas, finalizes the tops of the buildings and essentially eliminates the lowest levels as housing, bringing all citizens well above the ground for housing, while the grounds are cleared for gardens, fountains, training grounds, storehouses, and transportation. Epiólenas are always reinforced with magic in order to prevent collapse if balance is lost, giving time to correct such issues, and are considered some of the most impenetrable structure in all of the eighth realm.
Lifespan
70 years
Average Height
5'
Average
Physical Strength
Average
Societal Organization
Average
Birth Rate
High
Lifespan Classification
Average
Technological Progress
Average
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