o most common folk, an Ave is a rare creature indeed. Seldom seen up close, they are often confused for incredibly large birds or other winged monstrosities. The Aves are a wondrous creature all their own however – capable, intelligent, and handsome beasts who are said to rule the skies. Many scholars of other races continue to ponder their mysterious origin, their purpose on the world of Terrin, and how they relate to their purported patron deity, the goddess Narah. There are very few answers to these questions, as the mysteries which surround Terrin’s other beast races also encompass the mighty Aves.

Speculation tells of Narah’s desire to improve upon the design of the Eynamen, who were crafted in the likeness of Eylin himself. After receiving permission to create her own race in the Third Era, Narah fashioned what became known as the Aves. In them, she combined man with the favorite of all her creatures, the avian, to produce a truly awesome result. With respect to Eylin and his own children, however, Narah ensured that only a small population of Aves would ever exist. In doing this, they became even rarer and more treasured by Narah, and this persists until today.

Physical Description
The body of an Ave resembles a human male or female with a nearly identical skeletal structure and musculature. Their similarities end there. Instead of bare flesh, Aves are covered in a coat of tiny feathers, most often colored in earth tones such as brown, black, and deep red. Aves balance themselves on digitigrade feet not unlike the talons of a bird of prey, with three talons and a heel-claw. Thicker, featherless skin covers their feet and much of their lower leg. Their hands and forearms are similar in construction. Despite all this, the truly defining point of an Ave is his or her head, which is modeled after various raptors and similar birds of prey. A pair of large wings and tail feathers fully complete the Ave’s impressive design. There is little difference between a male and a female Ave save for their given body type and build, with males being somewhat more muscular than the more curvaceous females.

Society
Aves are highly aloof and do not make themselves known to other creatures. They prefer to remain quietly tucked away on cliff sides or buried within deep forests, living comfortably with or without a mate. The rare few travel into the populated lands to mingle with other races, commonly the most abundant race of Eynamen, and work to live in peace with them. Aves this bold will incorporate aspects of their foster society into their own life, such as clothing styles, language, customs, and other local flavor. An Ave may also accept a nearby town or similar settlement as their protectorate and will serve as a guardian for its inhabitants if it wishes involvement on a more minimal scale.

Any truly organized Ave societies are small and closely knit, with their tribes often numbering fewer than twenty. In times of great peril, it has been recorded that separate tribes have allied under one or more leaders to fight their enemies or protect the whole of their lands. Aves will also ruthlessly defend their offspring or mate, fighting to the death of either their foe or themselves.

Prejudices
The majority of Aves prefer to live away from other races and have no real prejudices towards them. If their territory is encroached upon, the Ave will likely view the offending group as invaders and may over time develop a negative prejudice towards their entire race. Consequently, if an Ave or their associates are positively influenced by another race, their outlook will be friendlier. Aves have no natural enemies and will only develop foes (or friends for that matter) through their individual life experiences.

Religion
It is unknown if the Aves possess any religious beliefs, though some have been rumored to worship the more obscure deities like the Four Winds or other spirits believed to be found in nature. Scholars who believe Aves to be the children of Narah largely agree that their relationship to the goddess may be one-sided; Narah may have created the Aves, but they do not know of or do not necessarily worship her.

Some Aves have been witnessed as calling upon their ancestral spirits in times of need, though the accuracy of the translation of their summoning is largely debated. Undeniably, nearly every Ave encountered to this point possesses at least one totem – a trinket that they feel brings mystical fortune and prosperity.

Armor & Weaponry
Aves are often unarmed and wear little in the way of armor. Clothing is limited to loincloths and half-shirts for simplicities sake and their non-restrictive nature. If necessary, Aves will wear hard-leather vests and leg guards for protection, but nothing heavier. Aves prefer to combat from the air if possible, and will arm themselves with throwing knives, shuriken, javelins or hooked polearms. Aves also employ surprise tactics and will attempt to position themselves above their foes and in a shadowy, hidden spot from which they can spring.

Reproduction
Aves procreate sexually, and remain with one mate until their partner has died. After being impregnated, the female will carry her young for a period of 7 to 9 months until its birth. Unlike birds, Ave children are born live. Both Ave parents will care equally for the child, instilling honor and respect for nature and, if applicable, loyalty to the tribe they belong to. Aves directly involved in other societies seldom mate with one of their own kind, though they may select a member of another race to be their partner.

Marriage
It is believed that Aves choose their mates first by appearance, and then by similar qualities such as ideals and personalities. Due to the majority of Aves being solitary creatures, many do not take mates. Nothing is known of Ave ceremonies for marriage or other such rituals, as these are kept extremely private - if they occur at all.

Funeral Rites
If existing alone, an Ave will receive no rites to pass onto the next world. Granted, this is assuming their beliefs provide for an afterlife of any sort. They will die quietly and unknown in their solitude as they were in life. Certain Ave tribes have been observed burying their deceased in caves along sheer cliffs or below rolling hillsides. The performance seemed to only involve the transportation of the body – no priests or dignitaries of any kind offered eulogy and no widows grieved. All in all, it was very much to the point, brief, and “disturbingly without emotion” in the words of one researcher.

Potential
Aves accustomed to the outside world will be more knowledgeable than those who have remained away from civilization. It is believed that Aves who do not expose themselves to the elements of other societies possess a sort of lore, with acute knowledge of Terrin’s past and more obscure details. They also speak and write their own primitive language. Their almost scholarly ways may hint at why they remain away from the supposedly impure world currently around them. Aves that are familiar with societies however, especially Eynamen cultures, can be heavily influenced by them. These Aves acquire more current knowledge, primarily in terms of a required profession, and may lose touch with their ancient wisdom.

Influential Aves
The two most prominent Aves were Actar and Jacinta, king and queen respectively of the largest Ave tribe to date. The alliance began strong but the detached nature of the Aves led many to break away, and ultimately the tribe dissolved. The few who remained loyal to Jacinta warred against Actar’s reduced tribe, and both king and queen ultimately perished in the battle. The Aves remember them for their vision of unity, but others speak of Jacinta’s golden gauntlet and Actar’s dagger – two magical devices of considerable power.

Overall Advantages
Aves are capable of flight, and possess a natural strength and cunning matching that of Eynamen and other similar races. Aves may live in seclusion and study ancient ways from Terrin’s past eras, gaining significant knowledge, or may inject themselves into active societies to play major or minor roles to help or hinder. Aves have keen senses and natural weaponry in the form of their sharp beaks and talons. Although they commonly prefer to live alone, Aves share a deep-rooted bond with one another and will not hesitate to assist or avenge their brethren.

Overall Disadvantages
Aves are rather rare creatures, and the majority of them do not step outside their territory - areas which exist far from the reaches of man or beast. Hidden away in a cliffside cave, the life of an Ave would be considered dull and without grandeur by most. Few Aves are intrepid enough to venture out into populated lands, and their knowledge of the world is limited to its history and their own shared stories. Aves can only survive in temperate areas - a climate too cold or too hot will be very uncomfortable. Due to their predatory nature, Aves are required to hunt, forcing them to remain predictably close to game trails. Aves seldom operate at night, preferring daylight, providing for further vulnerabilities. As with many other bestial races, Aves are often regarded as monsters by men, elves, and dwarves and may be hunted or driven away from populated areas out of fear and misunderstanding.