Owlfolk
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”Known as Owlfolk to many, Uvari are the avian Beastfolk race of Anoma. They closely resemble owls in many ways, having large, soft, specialized wings; ferocious talons; facial disks; huge eyes; and a small but sharp beak for a mouth and nose. Owlfolk are known for being quiet, reserved, and most importantly, smart. They tend to be more apathetic than the rest of beastfolk kind.
Appearance
Uvari are avian humanoids that resemble different species of owls. Common amongst all Owlkind is their signature wingspan. An Uvari’s arms are replaced with wings, with hidden digits at the tip of their arms, hidden beneath feathers. These hands are not as dextrous as, say, a human’s, but they’re able to hold items with relative grip. An Uvari’s wingspan is usually retracted, like a bird’s, with their feathers collapsed to their side- but when the feathers are fully extended for flight, they usually reach to the ground. An Uvari’s feathers reach all across their body, ranging from a grey tone to an earthy, brown tone, usually fit to blend into one’s environment. An owl has several layers of feathers, with their tattered fringe and soft downy feathers breaking up wind and making their flight far quieter than a hawk’s. These traits carry over to their humanoid Uvari cousins, allowing their gliding to be exceptionally quiet. Their large size, however, makes their wingbeats not as quiet, but still relatively stealthy. Their bones are somewhat hollow and more prone to fracturing than other races. Uvari divide into a number of different subspecies, yet all of them share the base traits explained above. Most of the Uvari resemble a current-existing species of owl, from Strix to Scops to Saw-whet. Some have feather-tufts on the tops of their heads, yet some do not- it all depends on individual. Family members will usually share similar traits.Racial Abilities
Most of the Uvari’s special abilities descend from their owlish nature. Every Uvari has a pair of wings for arms that allows them to glide with ease. These large arms can be used for flight, but each wing flap greatly decreases their remaining stamina. Most Uvari opt to rarely flap, and use a variety of techniques to glide for longer between each beat. Uvari take no fall damage, even from extreme heights. Uvari senses tend to be more increased than most. They can see in near-complete darkness with their large, cone-shaped eyes. Their ears are located behind their feathers on the front of their head, slightly asymmetrical to allow them to pinpoint the location of a sound. Their facial disk collects sound similar to a giant radar dish. Uvari take a +1 to ranged attacks during the night or under the cover of darkness. An Uvari’s keen senses greatly increase their observation and deduction skills. Their ability to remember certain sights and sounds in clear detail are what gives them their signature ‘wise’ reputation. This ability to remember applies to what an Uvari has read, allowing them to recall knowledge from a book far easier than most races. See Cold Resistance.Redlines
Uvari are nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning that their sensitive eyes are used to darkness. While the owlfolk usually rest during the day, they occasionally have to rise from their slumber for menial tasks. During this time period, their vision is limited, as the harsh light of the sun causes them to squint, look away, or seek some sort of shade. The brightness usually won’t cause permanent damage, and goggles aren’t needed, but it does cause a fair amount of discomfort. Uvari’s hollow bones allow them to glide with relative ease, but it also means that these bones are very fragile. An Uvari’s bones are less resistant to blunt trauma than their mammalian brethren, although they do heal slightly faster if fractured. They fracture 25 percent easier than a human’s bone, and heal over the course of 3 weeks as opposed to 6. Additionally, they are unable to wield a weapon while in the air as their arms are required to be completely free so that they can glide and fly short distances; Owlfolk can not hover. An Owlfolk can only fly their move speed with modifiers before having to touch a surface as they have more of a launching method of flight, rather than flapping. They can flap their wings to reach vertical heights as high as their movement speed as well, but cannot glide in the same turn if they do so.Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Uvari Names: Tri Ratu, Dian Laya, Adi Fai, Budi Dwi, Keal, Holl.
Family names
Uvari names are typically very short, with a one or two syllable first name and occasionally a one or two syllable last name.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
The Uvari are a solitary and thinly-spread people, preferring quietness to large, bustling communities. Uvari families rarely exceed four members, and families even more rarely meet. They tend to create houses up high in the trees or the mountains, away from the ground, although there is usually a ladder leading up to their abode. Similar to their feral brethren, the owlfolk believe that stealth and quietness is one of the greatest virtues. They dress in clothing similar to the nature around them, and rarely wear a fully sleeved shirt in fear of their mobility being hampered, and the rustling of their clothes being heard. To be seen by one you’re stalking is not ideal, but with the advent of more civilizations and commerce the social ostracization around being spotted has died down.
Uvari make their coin through a few trades, but most commonly through selling furs and working wood. Having no use for armor, as it limits their mobility, an Uvari Blacksmith is exceedingly rare. Since Uvari live in near total-isolation for years on end, collecting knowledge has become a much-beloved pastime of many Uvari families. An Uvari family usually has a collection of 40-100 different books in one nest at a time- usually bound and written by the family themselves- chronicling every piece of information they can question out of the rare passerby. As Uvari moved closer and closer to the plains, the pastime of gaining knowledge hasn’t slowed down in the slightest, and the less physically able frequently gather all information they can from their neighbors.
Rumors of a different Owlfolk culture and civilization have spread throughout the Talidurian Shores for centuries, but there’s been no proof of one, yet.
Almost all Owlfolk speak -- and Common.
Religion
The primary god worshipped in Uvari families is Purwo, god of the hunt. While each nest worships Purwo in their own way, the custom is usually to respect the dead prey and use all parts of the body, refusing to waste. Some Uvari opt to give a short prayer over their prey, thanking the hunted for the materials, and thanking Purwo for the stealthiness he or she has been granted. Purwo is usually depicted as a large man with hooves and antlers, carrying a bow in one hand and a cloak in the other. Some say that Purwo was once a Talidurian Titan from an age forgotten, the husband to 'The Lady'. The idea of him has been warped to emphasize the domains of nature and knowledge, and diminish his other mythos.Family
Uvari are one of few known sentient species to lay eggs, usually in a clutch of one. Females who are due to lay twins usually have both of the twins hatch from one shell, however, this is exceedingly rare, and survival rates amongst twins are low. Uvari families are usually fairly small, only ranging from about 2-4 individuals. Laying and incubating an egg is a strenuous process for a female, and complications can result in bodily injury or a cracked shell, so few children are conceived throughout a lifetime. An uvari youth usually becomes more independent and collects their own living supplies around the age of 10, before moving into another home around the time they reach adulthood. Uvari who live in villages may live in larger family groups, with up to 6 family members in a nest.Food
Uvari food consists mostly of lightly cooked meats. An Uvari’s diet is heavily dependent on their meat intake, which is vital for good health. Leafy greens and fruits may occasionally garnish a dish, but it is never the main course. Uvari cuisine tends to consist of whatever meats an individual can acquire, but ‘special’ meals are usually lightly-seared choice cuts of meat. A gourmet Uvari meal would be seared rabbit with wild onion, sage, chopped olives and marjoram cooked in for flavor. Uvari, thankfully, do not pellet up undigested material like their feral cousins, and although they can stomach leafy greens, they have to eat some sort of raw or cooked meat to survive.Common Dress code
Uvari clothing is usually light and minimalistic, their clothes containing more earthy tones than others. Browns, tans, and faded greens- colors that are usually seen as ‘lowly’ or ugly in other cultures- are highly valued in Uvari society as they greatly compliment their natural hues. Even the scholars or merchants tend to wear these sorts of clothing during daily life. The sheer number of feathers on an owlfolk make human clothing stuffy, or even painful, to wear.
During ceremonial events, the Vrivre Council of Scholars and other ‘noble’ members of society may wear robes. The robes are usually silken, made of a lighter hue, with extremely long and wide sleeves, allowing wings to fit in them.
Accessories
Uvari do not usually wear flashy accessories, although they prefer anklets to bracelets when they do. Loose necklaces can be worn, but chokers cannot due to their neck’s anatomy.Art & Architecture
Uvari care little for drawn or written art. They’re not keen for flashy paintings of the night sky, or a book detailing a romantic affair. Collecting knowledge for most Uvari is not seen as a form of art, but rather, a fun, personal pastime- like playing a card game, or tossing a ball around. The type of ‘art’ an Uvari truly appreciates are song and craft. Uvari, having an intense lung capacity and hollow bones attached to their lung system, are capable of both simple hoots and elaborate, soft-spoken songs about the forest sung in one breath. They are fond of carvings on heirlooms, like an intricate engraving on an osage bow, a quilt made from various stitched furs in an interesting pattern, or a ceremonial arrow made from violet rosewood and red eagle feathers.
Common Myths and Legends
Creation Story
Uvari believe that The Master was their creator, making them from Javali. He was aptly named, their master. They also agree that the urges were also his creation.Major organizations
No solely Uvari settlements have been discovered by the Anoman colonists. Perhaps you can discover one, or make your own...
Encompassed species
Related Locations
Height: Male: 4'6" - 6’6" Female: 4’8" - 6’8"
Eye Color: Red, orange, or yellow iris, with a black or white sclera.
Feather Color: Uvari feather colors usually match the pattern of a species of owl, or are similarly patterned in a blend of brown, black, grey, or white.
Age Range: Adulthood at 18, Middle-age at 40, Elderhood at 65
Block Speed: 6
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