Belaul

Belaul
Leader	Unknown
System	Razor's Rift
Homeworld	Paperweight
Capital	Unknown
Allies	Jin, Grensuhlians
Enemies	Unknown

Morphology and Physiology

Bipedal, with a humanoid stature, these people are otherwise highly reminiscent of the well known aul species. Two wide-spanning wings adorn their shoulder blades, the feathers longer and thicker than those that cover the rest of their bodies. A top layer of glossy, waterproof feathers cover downy, soft feathers underneath, all of which vary in color from subrace to subrace, black through to white, gingery colors, blonde and bown and even a pale blue coloring that tends to only be found in entirely tundra dwelling individuals, who tend to live in underground burrows or caves rather than the trees favored by inlanders. The skin on their thickly muscled arms and calves is generally pure black, each tipped with three sharp talons. They have large eyes adapted to a world of almost-permanent twilight, which are usually golden or yellow. On average their height range is similar to humans, but they have a wide range of sub-races, some of which are smaller than an Elgan and some of which are as large as a Tukkav or W'hoorn.

They are built to live in a tundra, so have strong wings and legs, with thick plumage, and deep downy underfeathers. They are generally long-lived, living up to around 250 years old. They can eat anything, but are naturally carnivores, and are excellent at fishing, which they often do by diving through holes in the ice, beneath which they can swim very well, insulated by their waterproof feathers. They compliment the meat and fish they consume with fruit and foliage

Height ranges: 75cm - 200cm

Age ranges: 16-250

History

TBA

Reproduction and Development

Like birds, physiologically. More to be added soon.

Culture

Belaul are a thoughtful, calm and perceptive race, of very intelligent and highly intuitive people. They tend to mate for life, though changing partners is not looked down upon in any way, but it's in their nature to bond irretrievably. Their society is matriarchal and tribal, habitating in tree colonies that make up their version of cities. They are incredibly protective of the weaker or more marginalised members of their community, which is like a large family of sorts.

In one way, they are a very social race, in another they can seem quite introverted. They live communalistically but value time spent alone, lone hunting and individual soul searching. They also believe that all things have a soul, and that communing with non-sentient souls is very important for their development.

They are generally naturally in posession of a little starkith, as are many of the creatures of Paperweight, but it has been known for Belaul to abandon starkith and train in voidkith instead. They are equally interested in and wary of both. They are surprisingly technologically advanced, which is often overlooked because of their seemingly organic way of life. They just believe in respecting nature and only doing what is necessary.

They enjoy music, and have a traditional form of singing. They also very much enjoy stories.

They have no overall racial leader, but each colony tends to have a council of colony leaders who oversee the protection and guardianship of the area.

They don't really enjoy or desire wealth, and are a very self-sufficient race who live in the cavernous ice-protected embrace of immense belfir trees.

They have an assortment of spiritual gods that take the form of animals and objects, each one tending to those of its kind and offering specific protections for those who honor them.