Post by nsj on Oct 3, 2011 23:56:40 GMT -5
Note: I am not the original artist for any of the images used below to illustrate this post, and as such I make no claims to them and receive no money for their use. They are used here solely to help illustrate a character concept. If you hold the copyright to these images and object to their use, please contact me or the general manager of this forum to have them immediately removed.
Location Name: The Azurian Skygrounds (or “Azure” for short)
Universe: parallel timeline Earth
Inhabitants: The Skygrounds are home to the Aayans, or "featherfolk" as they are sometimes called. Aayans resemble humanity in nearly every way, with the most notable exception being the addition of large, functioning avian wings growing from their backs. These wings are natural extensions of their physical form, and becoming proficient in their use is part of every Aayan's life experience. By their nature, featherfolk tend to be quite athletic and resilient due to the rigorous physical demands of flight, and usually possess a calm and nature-oriented countenance (though there are certainly some Aayans who are less "at ease" than others). They have a natural life expectancy of approximately 250 years.
Typical Aayans:
Once a blooming society filled with some of the greatest artists and warriors of this parallel world's population, selective extermination of male featherfolk in the early days of the Scourge – a catastrophic and vicious reckoning between the inhabitants of the Upperworld and Underworld – dramatically reduced the Aayans’ population. There is now approximately one male to every three hundred females, making the selection of mates for breeding an ever-friendly, but undeniably competitive enterprise. Marriage is not uncommon, but it usually entails an open relationship: all Aayans tend to feel strong kinship with one another, and the rarity of males suggests to most featherfolk that a wife who forbids or hides her husband away from the "attention" of other admirers is a very selfish woman indeed.
The Azurian Skygrounds are primarily a pastoral land. A visitor with a mind for adventure may walk several days through the countryside without seeing another soul, as Aayan numbers are not great enough to support the dynamic civilization of their past. The grand cities of the Skygrounds' halcyon days have long since been abandoned and returned to the earth, and a preference for smaller and more intimate living arrangements has risen in their stead. There are villages large and small scattered throughout the continent, some connected by networks of ancient earthen roads and others accessible only from the air. The land itself is divided into shires containing several ridings; village populations are referred to as flights, while the villages and associated buildings themselves are known as perches. As a general trend, Aayans do not typically involve themselves in the affairs of the "Wingless", the term they use for the inhabitants of the Upperworld who are confined to Earth's surface. This has lent to some a view of the Aayans as xenophobic, isolationist and uncaring for the plight of others, but in truth there is far more to the matter. Wingless are always welcomed to Aayan lands, and the Temple of the Aether - the goddess' all-female band of talented scribes, artists, messengers and musicians - even maintains a small airship company that offers regular service to and from many locations on the surface.
A typical perch (in this case, constructed over water):
Geography & Environment: Azure is located high above the surface of an alternate Earth, a "floating continent" of several islands held permanently in place over the Westerling (Pacific) Ocean by the divine anchor of the goddess Aaya's will. Here, the weather is always temperate; desirable for agriculture and rarely unpleasant, it is punctuated by eternally blue skies and white clouds. Indeed, the skies of Azure are darkened only at night and when the goddess so finds it necessary to tend to her creation with a life-giving rain. Because the continent is bordered only by the formless aether and not by magical barriers, visitors are advised against treading too close to its edges to look over – they can very well fall off. This, of course, would be most regrettable to the Aayans, especially if one of their numbers were not on-hand to provide a timely rescue.
Azure is a sight unlike any other from the air...
...and its many shires are dotted with the diverse religious symbolism of its inhabitants, joyous celebrations of the freedom their wings provide.
The landscape itself is as aged and varied as the earth itself, and possesses a plethora of great cataracts...
...a multitude of rivers...
...and, occasionally, sylvan reminders of its past glory.
History: In the ancient days prior to the Scourge that decimated much the parallel Earth's surface, the Skygrounds were little more than a single island – a patch of land situated off the western coast of the Valorin continent. The culture of the Aayans, however, stretched far from this tiny epicenter, spreading across the continent in a vast and peaceable kingdom. Avian was the tongue spoken by much of the world then, and – although the featherfolk’s reaching influence had the makings of empire – the winged denizens of the land had little interest in controlling others. Nearly the whole of the civilized world sought comfort and protection in the wings of Aaya, queen of the featherfolk and goddess of the aether, and it was a good time for all the creatures of the earth.
Aaya, Mistress of the Aether and Queen of the Featherfolk
With the coming of the Scourge, however, these fortunes ended in a dramatic and violent bloodletting that threatened the balance of the universe itself. Creatures of the dark beneath, vicious and deprived of all good things, grew jealous of the Upperworld for its decadence. While the mysterious Underworld strived and warred with itself for what scarce resources it could muster and steal, even the poorest of the Upperworld lived a life of luxury and blissful ignorance of their darkling neighbors. Rooted in spiritual poverty, avarice and the all-consuming need for more, the Underworld broke its worldly bonds, roiling over the landscape as a mighty river breaks its banks. Thus was the beginning of the Midnight Horde in what became known as the First Scourge, and fearful tyranny reigned over the land for a full Age thereafter.
Her children ravaged and their lands raped, the few remaining warriors of Aaya exhausted themselves protecting what they could against an enemy whose faithlessness nullified their magic and overwhelmed them in numbers. Thus, Aaya herself descended from the heavens and wrenched from the earth itself those lands untouched by the wretched finger of the Horde. Placing the scraps of earth among the skies, she bade them remain there forever, a gift to her children that they should never again know the sorrows and hardships of the earth below.
Language(s): The official language of the Skygrounds is Avian. It is an airy, legato language that is as pleasing to the ear as it is to the tongue who speaks it. When chanted in lyric form by an Aayan chantreuse (a musically trained aether maiden), it is capable of producing sensations of immense euphoria and well-being within a featherfolk audience, and this practice is often utilized in religious ceremony.
Economy: As a primarily pastoral, undeveloped land, Azure has little use for most common currency. Where necessary, weighed gold and silver coinage will usually suffice, but many Aayans prefer to simply barter among themselves and other perches for the things they cannot procure themselves. Aayans are closely situated with nature, and sustain themselves through farming, gathering, trade of labor and hunting of the assorted bestiary that occupies the expansive Aurien Forest. There is a steady, but quite modest monetary income from other races, mostly for gifts of Aayan salves, crafts, magical goods and the occasional donation from a Wingless visitor who makes use of the Aayan airship line. Most of this, however, is channeled back to those same races in the form of charity or melted down for use in wing/body jewelry. "Rich" and "poor" is usually viewed in terms of familial relations: a married couple with many children is viewed as the pinnacle of happiness for an Aayan adult. While there is a separation of labor, it is generally according to each Aayan's unique aptitude, with the understanding that Azure requires the efforts of every Aayan in order for life to flourish in all its splendor.
Government & Politics: Most Aayan politics are conducted at the perch (village) level, with each flight tending to its own affairs and advised by a committee of their elders. When an incident requiring action occurs outside of a perch, it is considered the domain of that riding, or under the jurisdiction of the two perches nearest the incident location as measured in Aayan cubits. When the rare dispute does arise between two perches, or when an issue involves the well-being of several perches at once, it is considered by the entire shire, a collection of elders representing every perch within the shire's bounds. When a civilized consensus cannot be reached, or in the extremely singular case that a dispute spills over into several shires, the divine assistance of the goddess is requested in order to resolve the matter in a manner convenient to all the aggreived. Aaya's residence, the Ivory Tower (pictured below), is located at the absolute center of Azure’s landmass so that it cannot be said that the goddess displays favoritism towards some shires over others.
Cultural Overview: An Aayan spends the first ten years of her life as a youngling, developing her physical characteristics and learning the use of her wings. At about twelve years of age, she begins to mature physically and become a novice, an adolescent period in which her immature plumage molts and is replaced by brilliant white feathers that she will keep throughout her life. As a novice, she is taught the skills that every Aayan requires to function nominally in Azure, including air and light magics, the preparation of salves, archery and weaponcraft, historiography, gardening, advanced flight, incantations, homebuilding and civility. By the age of 35, most Aayans are considered adepts or devouts (spiritual healers), a phase in which they are held as fully developed and prepared for the tasks their long lives will require of them. This stage is the prime of her life, when an Aayan may decorate her wings with ornaments, wear paint over her skin or don the armor of the Holy Order of the Azure Sky. Most Aayans remain as youthful and energetic adepts for upwards of 130 years, then pass into adulthood. As an adult, an Aayan first begins to feel her age, and shifts her focus away from the thrills of adventure and towards more domestic concerns. Their life experience and immediate connection to younger generations makes them valuable mentors for younglings and novices, and they may at times provide help for maiden adepts on their pilgrimage. When an Aayan celebrates her 220th year, she is accorded the great honor of becoming an elder. These wise and seasoned featherfolk are granted special privileges in village life, and hold considerable influence in the decisionmaking process. As an eldar, it is at last time for an Aayan to reflect upon her life and offer her learned counsel to others, assisting the adults in their transfer of knowledge to younger generations and mentoring the adepts in the study of powerful, specialized magics.
Among potential members of the Temple of the Aether, it is customary for aspiring aether maidens to undertake a multi-year pilgrimage to one of the many Upperworld races. During this period, the maiden typically functions as an "ambassador" of sorts, maintaining the relationships her predecessor cultivated and seeking out new ones with the belief that - as all life is interconnected - these contacts will enrich both the Skygrounds and the host nation. Political arrangements and favors are not within the domain of the aether maiden during these pilgrimages (though if requested, she is free to offer any advice from historical record that she feels may aid in decisionmaking). Rather, her primary concerns are the ministry of medicine, tending to sick and wounded, and instructing physicians in Aayan salvemaking. As one of the oldest, longest-lived and politically disinterested races on this alternate Earth, the Aayans are especially faithful recordkeepers, a duty also closely associated with the Temple of the Aether. Within Aaya's residence, aether maidens can be found constantly flittering about the archives at all hours of the day and night, charging from bookstack to bookstack to deposit, update or offer assistance to Wingless visitors who come to research anything from ancient battles to family heraldry.
Because of the close personal involvement Aaya assumes with her followers, she can at times become quite scatterbrained and - in her words - "goofy." To give herself time to relax, to reward her followers, to celebrate good harvests with them, or simply just because, she holds regular festivals in which every perch in Azure is invited to participate. These massive celebrations are epic in every sense of the word, with some even achieving the status of local legend. Flights have been known to spend entire months decorating their perch in vibrant colors with the hope of a personal visit from the goddess. There is dancing, music, crafting, abundant feasting and, of course, there are games of every diverse manner. One favorite pastime during festival is a nation-wide activity referred to as "The Dash". Particularly beloved among the females (and viewed with mixed anticipation by the males), the Dash has no set beginning. Rather, the Dash simply starts...and when it does, the skies around Azure literally teem with featherfolk as amorously inclined females chase the males through field and forest for their feathers. The prize for retrieving the largest and most colorful feather, of course, is the leave of its holder to marry any prudent male of her choosing, unless the male in question is already married or otherwise vehemently objects. If an objection is the result, Aaya usually awards the female a consolation prize instead, which can include grain, ether, livestock, or in some cases knowledge and blessings.
Aayans devote considerable amounts of time each day to their work, learning or daily chores. Farming, while typically yielding abundant harvests, remains a labor-intensive process requiring many hours of work to ensure the highest quality of produce. Artists and musicians perpetually practice their respective crafts (occasionally to the seething "joy" of their neighbors), and laborers spend their days dutifully running errands or any other task that their master or mistress sets them to. But though Aayans work hard, it is also understood that one must also play hard to achieve a happy balance. Gardening, dancing, singing/chanting, exploring, or simply gliding high upon thermal updrafts are all considered legitimate forms of entertainment. Nothing holds an Aayan's attention more than sunshine and blue skies. Pets can also be a welcome distraction. By nature, featherfolk have a particular kinship with birds, and often keep them as free-roaming, uncaged companions.
When an Aayan dies, their worldly form is laid to rest upon a burning pyre in a symbolic return to the aether from which they came. It is said that their spirit, the vehicle for their experience and earthly presence, thereupon makes its last flight unto Aaya herself, where it becomes a white feather upon her wings that is cast off and returned to creation as she flies overhead. For those who die in battle or without this rite, however, it is said that their spirit is given up unto the Army of Light, a herald back to the gallant warriors who died in the defense of Azure against the Midnight Horde of the First Scourge. There, the Aayan's restless soul is comforted and loved by their goddess, ever ardent beneath her wings until the day she once again calls for their gallantry in her service.
Military & Defense: Aayans are naturally spiritual adepts, and make use of powerful wind- and light-based battle magics in addition to restorative magics purposed to support themselves and allies. They do, however, utilize some essential technologies, but these are rarely the kind to be used for martial purposes. Azure is foremost a nation of peace, and as such their martial capabilities are focused primarily upon the defense of their homeland from outside attack rather than prosecuting offensive campaigns. Most often, warriors will make use of the Aayan longbow, the sword, or the spear as their primary weapons. Some featherfolk, however, may choose more uncommon weapons such as axes, hammers or even scythes. Many female adepts rarely venture further than a handcrafted magical staff, which amplifies their spiritual attunement and can not only be used as a striking weapon, but also as a travel aid. As for organization, there is no standardized system of equipment: each warrior's armor and weapons are as unique as the individual...and her are also own responsibility. If they are not crafted by their owner's hands, they are the products of a trained blacksmith, who is very likely a trusted craftsman known to the warrior. The only organization devoted purely to matters of military import is Aaya's own Sacred Order of the Azure Sky, a small but influential clan of armored seraphs - both male and female - skilled in the arts of war. Smaller groups may certainly be formed at the local level to drive off the occasional rampaging beast, visiting dragon or Hellion raider squad, but there exists a common understanding among the populace that enemies from without are best met by the Order, with its highly trained warriors and weapons designed exclusively for combat.
Two examples of how an Aayan warrior may dress:
Location Name: The Azurian Skygrounds (or “Azure” for short)
Universe: parallel timeline Earth
Inhabitants: The Skygrounds are home to the Aayans, or "featherfolk" as they are sometimes called. Aayans resemble humanity in nearly every way, with the most notable exception being the addition of large, functioning avian wings growing from their backs. These wings are natural extensions of their physical form, and becoming proficient in their use is part of every Aayan's life experience. By their nature, featherfolk tend to be quite athletic and resilient due to the rigorous physical demands of flight, and usually possess a calm and nature-oriented countenance (though there are certainly some Aayans who are less "at ease" than others). They have a natural life expectancy of approximately 250 years.
Typical Aayans:
Once a blooming society filled with some of the greatest artists and warriors of this parallel world's population, selective extermination of male featherfolk in the early days of the Scourge – a catastrophic and vicious reckoning between the inhabitants of the Upperworld and Underworld – dramatically reduced the Aayans’ population. There is now approximately one male to every three hundred females, making the selection of mates for breeding an ever-friendly, but undeniably competitive enterprise. Marriage is not uncommon, but it usually entails an open relationship: all Aayans tend to feel strong kinship with one another, and the rarity of males suggests to most featherfolk that a wife who forbids or hides her husband away from the "attention" of other admirers is a very selfish woman indeed.
The Azurian Skygrounds are primarily a pastoral land. A visitor with a mind for adventure may walk several days through the countryside without seeing another soul, as Aayan numbers are not great enough to support the dynamic civilization of their past. The grand cities of the Skygrounds' halcyon days have long since been abandoned and returned to the earth, and a preference for smaller and more intimate living arrangements has risen in their stead. There are villages large and small scattered throughout the continent, some connected by networks of ancient earthen roads and others accessible only from the air. The land itself is divided into shires containing several ridings; village populations are referred to as flights, while the villages and associated buildings themselves are known as perches. As a general trend, Aayans do not typically involve themselves in the affairs of the "Wingless", the term they use for the inhabitants of the Upperworld who are confined to Earth's surface. This has lent to some a view of the Aayans as xenophobic, isolationist and uncaring for the plight of others, but in truth there is far more to the matter. Wingless are always welcomed to Aayan lands, and the Temple of the Aether - the goddess' all-female band of talented scribes, artists, messengers and musicians - even maintains a small airship company that offers regular service to and from many locations on the surface.
A typical perch (in this case, constructed over water):
Geography & Environment: Azure is located high above the surface of an alternate Earth, a "floating continent" of several islands held permanently in place over the Westerling (Pacific) Ocean by the divine anchor of the goddess Aaya's will. Here, the weather is always temperate; desirable for agriculture and rarely unpleasant, it is punctuated by eternally blue skies and white clouds. Indeed, the skies of Azure are darkened only at night and when the goddess so finds it necessary to tend to her creation with a life-giving rain. Because the continent is bordered only by the formless aether and not by magical barriers, visitors are advised against treading too close to its edges to look over – they can very well fall off. This, of course, would be most regrettable to the Aayans, especially if one of their numbers were not on-hand to provide a timely rescue.
Azure is a sight unlike any other from the air...
...and its many shires are dotted with the diverse religious symbolism of its inhabitants, joyous celebrations of the freedom their wings provide.
The landscape itself is as aged and varied as the earth itself, and possesses a plethora of great cataracts...
...a multitude of rivers...
...and, occasionally, sylvan reminders of its past glory.
History: In the ancient days prior to the Scourge that decimated much the parallel Earth's surface, the Skygrounds were little more than a single island – a patch of land situated off the western coast of the Valorin continent. The culture of the Aayans, however, stretched far from this tiny epicenter, spreading across the continent in a vast and peaceable kingdom. Avian was the tongue spoken by much of the world then, and – although the featherfolk’s reaching influence had the makings of empire – the winged denizens of the land had little interest in controlling others. Nearly the whole of the civilized world sought comfort and protection in the wings of Aaya, queen of the featherfolk and goddess of the aether, and it was a good time for all the creatures of the earth.
Aaya, Mistress of the Aether and Queen of the Featherfolk
With the coming of the Scourge, however, these fortunes ended in a dramatic and violent bloodletting that threatened the balance of the universe itself. Creatures of the dark beneath, vicious and deprived of all good things, grew jealous of the Upperworld for its decadence. While the mysterious Underworld strived and warred with itself for what scarce resources it could muster and steal, even the poorest of the Upperworld lived a life of luxury and blissful ignorance of their darkling neighbors. Rooted in spiritual poverty, avarice and the all-consuming need for more, the Underworld broke its worldly bonds, roiling over the landscape as a mighty river breaks its banks. Thus was the beginning of the Midnight Horde in what became known as the First Scourge, and fearful tyranny reigned over the land for a full Age thereafter.
Her children ravaged and their lands raped, the few remaining warriors of Aaya exhausted themselves protecting what they could against an enemy whose faithlessness nullified their magic and overwhelmed them in numbers. Thus, Aaya herself descended from the heavens and wrenched from the earth itself those lands untouched by the wretched finger of the Horde. Placing the scraps of earth among the skies, she bade them remain there forever, a gift to her children that they should never again know the sorrows and hardships of the earth below.
Language(s): The official language of the Skygrounds is Avian. It is an airy, legato language that is as pleasing to the ear as it is to the tongue who speaks it. When chanted in lyric form by an Aayan chantreuse (a musically trained aether maiden), it is capable of producing sensations of immense euphoria and well-being within a featherfolk audience, and this practice is often utilized in religious ceremony.
Economy: As a primarily pastoral, undeveloped land, Azure has little use for most common currency. Where necessary, weighed gold and silver coinage will usually suffice, but many Aayans prefer to simply barter among themselves and other perches for the things they cannot procure themselves. Aayans are closely situated with nature, and sustain themselves through farming, gathering, trade of labor and hunting of the assorted bestiary that occupies the expansive Aurien Forest. There is a steady, but quite modest monetary income from other races, mostly for gifts of Aayan salves, crafts, magical goods and the occasional donation from a Wingless visitor who makes use of the Aayan airship line. Most of this, however, is channeled back to those same races in the form of charity or melted down for use in wing/body jewelry. "Rich" and "poor" is usually viewed in terms of familial relations: a married couple with many children is viewed as the pinnacle of happiness for an Aayan adult. While there is a separation of labor, it is generally according to each Aayan's unique aptitude, with the understanding that Azure requires the efforts of every Aayan in order for life to flourish in all its splendor.
Government & Politics: Most Aayan politics are conducted at the perch (village) level, with each flight tending to its own affairs and advised by a committee of their elders. When an incident requiring action occurs outside of a perch, it is considered the domain of that riding, or under the jurisdiction of the two perches nearest the incident location as measured in Aayan cubits. When the rare dispute does arise between two perches, or when an issue involves the well-being of several perches at once, it is considered by the entire shire, a collection of elders representing every perch within the shire's bounds. When a civilized consensus cannot be reached, or in the extremely singular case that a dispute spills over into several shires, the divine assistance of the goddess is requested in order to resolve the matter in a manner convenient to all the aggreived. Aaya's residence, the Ivory Tower (pictured below), is located at the absolute center of Azure’s landmass so that it cannot be said that the goddess displays favoritism towards some shires over others.
Cultural Overview: An Aayan spends the first ten years of her life as a youngling, developing her physical characteristics and learning the use of her wings. At about twelve years of age, she begins to mature physically and become a novice, an adolescent period in which her immature plumage molts and is replaced by brilliant white feathers that she will keep throughout her life. As a novice, she is taught the skills that every Aayan requires to function nominally in Azure, including air and light magics, the preparation of salves, archery and weaponcraft, historiography, gardening, advanced flight, incantations, homebuilding and civility. By the age of 35, most Aayans are considered adepts or devouts (spiritual healers), a phase in which they are held as fully developed and prepared for the tasks their long lives will require of them. This stage is the prime of her life, when an Aayan may decorate her wings with ornaments, wear paint over her skin or don the armor of the Holy Order of the Azure Sky. Most Aayans remain as youthful and energetic adepts for upwards of 130 years, then pass into adulthood. As an adult, an Aayan first begins to feel her age, and shifts her focus away from the thrills of adventure and towards more domestic concerns. Their life experience and immediate connection to younger generations makes them valuable mentors for younglings and novices, and they may at times provide help for maiden adepts on their pilgrimage. When an Aayan celebrates her 220th year, she is accorded the great honor of becoming an elder. These wise and seasoned featherfolk are granted special privileges in village life, and hold considerable influence in the decisionmaking process. As an eldar, it is at last time for an Aayan to reflect upon her life and offer her learned counsel to others, assisting the adults in their transfer of knowledge to younger generations and mentoring the adepts in the study of powerful, specialized magics.
Among potential members of the Temple of the Aether, it is customary for aspiring aether maidens to undertake a multi-year pilgrimage to one of the many Upperworld races. During this period, the maiden typically functions as an "ambassador" of sorts, maintaining the relationships her predecessor cultivated and seeking out new ones with the belief that - as all life is interconnected - these contacts will enrich both the Skygrounds and the host nation. Political arrangements and favors are not within the domain of the aether maiden during these pilgrimages (though if requested, she is free to offer any advice from historical record that she feels may aid in decisionmaking). Rather, her primary concerns are the ministry of medicine, tending to sick and wounded, and instructing physicians in Aayan salvemaking. As one of the oldest, longest-lived and politically disinterested races on this alternate Earth, the Aayans are especially faithful recordkeepers, a duty also closely associated with the Temple of the Aether. Within Aaya's residence, aether maidens can be found constantly flittering about the archives at all hours of the day and night, charging from bookstack to bookstack to deposit, update or offer assistance to Wingless visitors who come to research anything from ancient battles to family heraldry.
Because of the close personal involvement Aaya assumes with her followers, she can at times become quite scatterbrained and - in her words - "goofy." To give herself time to relax, to reward her followers, to celebrate good harvests with them, or simply just because, she holds regular festivals in which every perch in Azure is invited to participate. These massive celebrations are epic in every sense of the word, with some even achieving the status of local legend. Flights have been known to spend entire months decorating their perch in vibrant colors with the hope of a personal visit from the goddess. There is dancing, music, crafting, abundant feasting and, of course, there are games of every diverse manner. One favorite pastime during festival is a nation-wide activity referred to as "The Dash". Particularly beloved among the females (and viewed with mixed anticipation by the males), the Dash has no set beginning. Rather, the Dash simply starts...and when it does, the skies around Azure literally teem with featherfolk as amorously inclined females chase the males through field and forest for their feathers. The prize for retrieving the largest and most colorful feather, of course, is the leave of its holder to marry any prudent male of her choosing, unless the male in question is already married or otherwise vehemently objects. If an objection is the result, Aaya usually awards the female a consolation prize instead, which can include grain, ether, livestock, or in some cases knowledge and blessings.
Aayans devote considerable amounts of time each day to their work, learning or daily chores. Farming, while typically yielding abundant harvests, remains a labor-intensive process requiring many hours of work to ensure the highest quality of produce. Artists and musicians perpetually practice their respective crafts (occasionally to the seething "joy" of their neighbors), and laborers spend their days dutifully running errands or any other task that their master or mistress sets them to. But though Aayans work hard, it is also understood that one must also play hard to achieve a happy balance. Gardening, dancing, singing/chanting, exploring, or simply gliding high upon thermal updrafts are all considered legitimate forms of entertainment. Nothing holds an Aayan's attention more than sunshine and blue skies. Pets can also be a welcome distraction. By nature, featherfolk have a particular kinship with birds, and often keep them as free-roaming, uncaged companions.
When an Aayan dies, their worldly form is laid to rest upon a burning pyre in a symbolic return to the aether from which they came. It is said that their spirit, the vehicle for their experience and earthly presence, thereupon makes its last flight unto Aaya herself, where it becomes a white feather upon her wings that is cast off and returned to creation as she flies overhead. For those who die in battle or without this rite, however, it is said that their spirit is given up unto the Army of Light, a herald back to the gallant warriors who died in the defense of Azure against the Midnight Horde of the First Scourge. There, the Aayan's restless soul is comforted and loved by their goddess, ever ardent beneath her wings until the day she once again calls for their gallantry in her service.
Military & Defense: Aayans are naturally spiritual adepts, and make use of powerful wind- and light-based battle magics in addition to restorative magics purposed to support themselves and allies. They do, however, utilize some essential technologies, but these are rarely the kind to be used for martial purposes. Azure is foremost a nation of peace, and as such their martial capabilities are focused primarily upon the defense of their homeland from outside attack rather than prosecuting offensive campaigns. Most often, warriors will make use of the Aayan longbow, the sword, or the spear as their primary weapons. Some featherfolk, however, may choose more uncommon weapons such as axes, hammers or even scythes. Many female adepts rarely venture further than a handcrafted magical staff, which amplifies their spiritual attunement and can not only be used as a striking weapon, but also as a travel aid. As for organization, there is no standardized system of equipment: each warrior's armor and weapons are as unique as the individual...and her are also own responsibility. If they are not crafted by their owner's hands, they are the products of a trained blacksmith, who is very likely a trusted craftsman known to the warrior. The only organization devoted purely to matters of military import is Aaya's own Sacred Order of the Azure Sky, a small but influential clan of armored seraphs - both male and female - skilled in the arts of war. Smaller groups may certainly be formed at the local level to drive off the occasional rampaging beast, visiting dragon or Hellion raider squad, but there exists a common understanding among the populace that enemies from without are best met by the Order, with its highly trained warriors and weapons designed exclusively for combat.
Two examples of how an Aayan warrior may dress: