Yneratl

The Yneratl are a New World Race which stand slightly shorter than a human. Nonetheless, Yneratl can seem to tower above races taller than them because of their distinctive feather-tails. Instead of hair, Yneratl have a headdress-like protrusion of feathers that sweeps up from their head which have a myriad of uses. When frightened, a Yneratl's feather-tails tend to flatten down, and when they are excited they tend to puff up. The Yneratl's feather-tails are vibrant, usually blue, green, or red, and can frighten those who are not expecting them. When hunting, Yneratls often use the feathers to lure in unwary animals before catching them in traps, and have also made use of this in warfare. Male Yneratls also use their feather-tails to perform a complex mating ritual where they show off their skills at manipulating them.

The other notable characteristic of Yneratls is that their skin is pale but spotted, giving them the ability to blend into the background in several different types of terrain, which can be very advantageous. Their feather-tails usually need to be bound when performing covert operations, so they do not reveal the Yneratl's position. Due to this, the Yneratl have developed an interesting array of headwear, in tandem with the complicated helmets needed to accommodate their feather-tails.

Socially, Yneratl are organized into city states and nascent empires, and are rather centralized. Due to their homeland being mostly dense jungles and grassy savannas, this gives them a reasonable, though not extensive, agricultural base and they do not need to hunt or gather, except on the fringes. They do sometimes still hunt for sport, but Ynertal typically only hunt for ceremonial purposes or in times of great need, preferring to raise livestock or fish, if coastal. Most of their diet's base is in extensively cultivated grains, beans, and spices. The dense jungles in the south are maintained for their defensive purpose and because they are rich in resources that can be extracted at low cost.

The Northern and Southern Yneratl have several distinctions. Because the northern region is a more arid climate and has much more flatlands which are ideal for migratory practices and pastoralism, the Northern Yneratl boast a much lower and spread out population as well as generally having larger but less centralized nations. Their urban populations are less concentrated and it is common for farming to be dispersed across the country, rather than concentrated near the core. The urban population of Northern Ynerartl is also complemented by conscripted troops in addition to a well-established clergy. Northern Yneratl are usually established by a ruling group of cities subjugating others, later assimilating them into the state structure in a position similarly to the estates of nobility in the old world. However because these nations are built on military subjugation these estates are not allowed more than a small levy, and are compelled to send men to the capital for conscription. The tributes and manpower from these vassals ensure the ruling cities stay on top of the hierarchy. These civic levies are usually supplemented by tribesmen as well as mercenaries in order to establish a strong wartime force. In contrast, the southern Yneratl are far more concentrated in cities, which are usually composed of a self-sufficient area of cleared jungle surrounded by a more defensible belt. The most powerful of these cities have established smaller, but more centralized empires than the Northern Yneratl to their north. As cities grow their empire, well-maintained roads connect their urban centers to one another while maintaining defensible positions. The southern Yneratl are also much more disparate than their northern cousins, having populations in several different areas- the southeast and southwest of western Yehv, as well as the northern parts of Waif Island. The south is more focused on trade and development than warfare, but they are no stranger to fierce conflict, so they are not at a significant disadvantage to the north. Still despite their advantage in population, the south is less powerful as the north, though this was not always the case.

In the past, the Yneratl had a much greater foothold on the Waif Island and even controlled some of the coastal deserts under Cengvïen dominance. However, some sort of societal collapse, most likely in tandem with extreme drought, occurred throughout the entire Yneratl civilization, decimating the south especially hard. The weakened governments could no longer hold onto their inland territories or those on the fringes of deserts, and had to fall back to the coastline and jungle. Many of the Yneratl on Waif island fell into tribalism as urban centers declined, and the Yneratl trade networks frayed before finally disintegrating. The ruins of these lost cities can still be seen, mostly in Cengvïen regions, as the jungles have swallowed much of their holdings on the Waif island. New settlements from the former colonies on western Yehv have slowly appeared over the years, but remain stunted conpared to their ancient roots. Despite the slow rebirth of the Yneratl civilization, much was lost and their civilization is not much more populated or advanced than it was before their fall. It should also be noted that despite the lesser impact on the north, most of their population also became tribal and remain on the edges of civilization, though some would later return and establish powerful states.