Versiril

Versirils are bipedal and typically have plantigrade legs, though in rare cases of mixed heritage they might have digitigrade legs and even tails to go with them. They have two arms, five-fingered hands. Two eyes, and rather flat faces with protruding noses.

Most versirils have hair of varying colour and length, though some have feathers mixed in or their hair is entirely made up of feathers.

Versirils have the highest population of any non-elven race, though most of them are condensed to the two major areas surrounding the Polaris Strait. The further from this weather-mark you get, the rarer Versirils become. Clear-Sky Versirils are often surprised when they leave their kingdoms' reach and find themselves to be a minority.

Versirils' senses are rather average compared to other races, though some mutations may grant them stronger senses. Examples include:

• Hawksight
• Atmospheric Senses

Versiril names vary from Peak to Peak, though more common themes include naming after birds, flowers and heroic figures from history.

Fun fact: In the Talonik Empire it is considered bad luck to name a person 'Atlas', as it is seen as dooming the individual to a life of heavy burdens equivalent to holding up the sky.

Common Feminine Names: Piper, Starling, Dove, Lark

Common Masculine Names: Sparrow, Finch, Stork, Thorn, Jay, Gambell

Common Neutral Names: Hawke, Ash, Laria, Nyx

The two major geopolitical factions lead by versirils are the Clear-Sky Alliance and the Talonik Empire. Both factions are at war with each other, occasionally dragging in other territories as they go.

In Clear-Skies Territories

Most peaks in the Clear-Sky area value some form of 'perfection' when it comes to beauty standards, rejecting 'animalistic' traits or signs of mixed heritage. Feathering in hair is often looked down on as a sign of wildness, as are tails, claws and digitigrade legs. Their beauty standards often match those of earth humans.

Scars, especially ones on the face, are looked down upon by many of the central kingdoms, seen as signs of imperfection and failure to protect yourself from harm regardless of the circumstances of the scar.

In the Talonik Empire

Attractiveness is often judged based on physical prowess and evidence of your accomplishments. People who've grown up in the Empire are taught to value physical strength, and that scars are something to be proud of as they are proof that you've survived challenging odds and that you have grown as a person from those experiences.

Animalistic traits such as tails, claws and feathering are regarded with neutrality, and like with anyone else it is expected that you take good care of your body in order to be the best you can be.

Origin Myth

It's believed that the reason why Versirils are as varied in appearance as they are is because of intermixing between Champion/Conduit bloodlines. Outlandish features such as feathers and scales that would not usually occur in mammals may have begun when the descendents of conduits started having children of their own with mortals. These features are so old and deeply ingrained in Versiril biology that they're considered normal.