Lillits are avian humanoids who live all over Mezia, primarily as members of migratory tribes. They are the chosen species of Jamaral, tasked with maintaining the winds of Mezia. Their adaptability, sharp eyes, and ability to fly have been key to their survival.
Lillits love to fly, and have been known to fly even when it is unsafe to do so. Under ideal conditions lillits can fly nonstop for many hours, and delight in the opportunity. On a beautiful day most lillits will spend very little time on the ground.
Lillits have a reputation for being restless and a bit foolish. They are not comfortable staying still for long, and if required to do so will often pace, preen themselves, or tinker with something. Few lillits like to spend more time indoors than they have to. As previously mentioned, lillits may choose to fly even if it would be safer to stay on the ground. However, if flying would put their close friends or family in danger, they will often put safety first. Lillits like to bathe frequently to keep their feathers in pristine condition.
Lillits hate the cold. When the outside temperature is below freezing lillits' internal temperature drops rapidly, bathing becomes very difficult, and their feathers can freeze up in flight. For this reason lillits are rarely found in cold places, unless they were injured before they had a chance to leave. Injuring a wing and being bound to the ground is another thing lillits hate. Their hollow bones make them susceptible to breaking a wing, so they will almost always protect their wing over any other part of their body.
Most lillits' greatest fear is being confined or trapped, especially underground. Lillit homes are known for having exterior doorways in every room and no doors. Many are hesitant to enter deep caves, enclosed buildings, and other places they can't easily reach the sky from. Those that do usually experience mild to severe stress symptoms such as: stiffness, excessive preening, changes in personality (more withdrawn or more aggressive), or panic.
History
Lillits were among the first of the chosen species, chosen by Jamaral. During the Alatua Era lillits would travel all across Mezia with Jamaral to keep the skies safe and direct the winds. Their flights created streams high in the sky and established weather patterns. With Jamaral, a tribe of lillits could bring rain over a wildfire or divert a hurricane from hitting a settlement. Lillits were masters of the sky, and legend says that when flying with Jamaral you could stay airborne for weeks without getting tired.
Habitat & Population
The first lillit settlements were formed on the Ibrian Peninsula in southern Xersia, and many lillits still call this region their home. Lillits quickly expanded their habitat to cover almost all of Mezia, only excluding Dracodryn.
Lillits are very adaptable and can thrive in a variety of biomes, but they are best suited to hunting in open areas where they can see prey from afar. Mountains are particularly attractive to lillits, allowing them to stay at higher altitudes even when resting. However, they are not solely tied to high elevations and can settle in lowlands if the local habitats are suitable. They typically avoid cities and other large settlements, as well as dense forests, because these are not suitable places to fly and hunt.
Almost all lillits migrate regularly, but their range can vary quite a bit. Some lillits will spend their lifetime in a relatively small area, while others will explore almost the entire globe. Migration patterns fall mostly along seasonal lines with lillits sticking to warmer climates, but temperature alone is not enough to explain the whole pattern. Some tribes fly away from storms, others chase storms. Some lillits keep close to the equator, others travel pole to pole. There are tribes that stay within a particular mountain range, or spend almost all their time over water, or frequently split up and reunite.
There are a few "permanent" lillit settlements, like Zansa Village, where lillits will stay for a prolonged time before moving on. The residents of such settlements change regularly as their migratory patterns take them elsewhere. The homes in these permanent settlements are open to new residents as soon as one moves out, and are often decorated with trinkets from previous residents.
The current global population of lillits is approximately 22 million. Only a small percentage (<1%) are permanently settled, and these are usually elderly or injured lillits who aren't able to continue migrating. The largest majority lillit permanent settlement is Canticaelum in southern Xersia, which over 22,000 lillits call home.
Biology
Lillits have a humanoid build with long wings protruding from their backs. Their whole body is covered in feathers except for the palms of their hands, which have only rough skin. They have three or four fingers and a thumb on each hand and their legs end in sharp talons. They have beaks instead of mouths, and sharp eyes and ears. From afar, one might confuse a lillit for a large bird.
Lillits have many different broods, which can vary considerably in size and plumage. Some lillits can grow to over 200 cm78.74 in
6.56 ft tall with a similar wingspan, while others reach less than half that size. Female lillits tend to have a slightly longer wingspan relative to their height, while males tend to have brighter, more colorful plumage.
Lillit bones are hollow, and thus much less dense than the other chosen species, which makes them more susceptible to crushing damage and broken limbs.
Lillits have the ability to fly as long as they are not wearing or carrying anything heavy or constraining.
Life Cycle
Lillits usually mate for life. Meeting a mate can take on many forms, but many lillits put on a courtship display when trying to woo a partner. This display may include acrobatic flying, singing, or elaborate displays of plumage. An interested lillit will show their approval by joining in with displays of their own. If the couple is pleased with their courtship, the partner who initiated the courtship will leave their tribe and become part of their partner's tribe. Courtships between members of the same tribe are discouraged, and sometimes lead to exile of one or both lillits. A newly courted couple will travel together to form a strong bond, and after some time may decide to have children.
Lillit reproduction takes place by internal fertilization via sexual intercourse. The gestation period can last between 14 and 20 weeks, and the egg(s) must be incubated for a similar amount of time before hatching. A mother lillit typically lays between 1 and 3 eggs in a clutch, though 2 is most common. During the incubation period, the mother spends almost all her time tending to the eggs, with only brief breaks when the father performs incubation duties. It takes 24-48 hours from the time of first shell breaking for the chick to fully hatch. The timing of egg laying is crucial to the family's survival. It is preferred to lay just after the last freeze around the beginning of Birdsong, so the chick(s) will hatch in Midsummer and be able to glide during their first migration in Harvest before colder weather sets in.
Infant lillits are helpless for the first few months of their lives, relying entirely on the parents to feed them. They grow rapidly from around 1 kg2.2 lb to over 5 kg11.02 lb in the first 3 months, and their wings develop enough to glide for short distances. The parents begin the migration to warmer climates as soon as the chicks can glide, carrying them for much of the time and making them glide as much as possible to get used to flying. At around 6 months a chick can reliably catch updrafts and glide for up to an hour, and by 12 months they are proficient gliders and somewhat competent at gaining altitude on their own. Most lillits can fly completely on their own by around 18 months, though it takes several years before they become truly skilled at flying.
Occasionally, and especially if a family has three chicks, the parents may abandon a chick that has not begun to glide in time for migration. Some leave the chick in the nest, but more often they will drop the chick off in a nearby settlement and hope someone cares for it. These lillits grow up indoors, without a tribe, and without anyone to teach them how to fly. They are sometimes said to belong to the "lost", "abandoned", or "flightless" tribe.
For many more years, young lillits will continue to grow and learn to sing, speak, hunt, cook, craft, use mana, and more from their tribe. They reach sexual maturity at around 18 years of age, but usually are mostly independent from their parents several years earlier. Most of adulthood is spent in service to their tribe and on migrations, as well as raising chicks for those who choose to become parents. Lillits have an expected lifespan of around 65 years, and old age haunts them like any other species. As their wings get weaker they become unable to complete the long migrations and must settle down somewhere. Most choose to live in lillit settlements, but some retire among other species and indulge in things which are only available on the ground. Either way, a lillit only lives a few more years at most after they stop migrating.
When a lillit dies and their body is recovered, they are treated with a traditional sky funeral. The body is cleaned and all decorative colors and trinkets are removed. The deceased's closest family and friends carry their body to the highest place nearby, followed by a procession of more relatives and friends. The body is set on the peak and all attendees fly in circles around the area while singing songs recounting their life. After the ceremonial songs are concluded, the atendees will depart and leave the body to decompose or be eaten by scavangers. When multiple deaths occur simultaneously, the deceased will typically share a funeral.
Diet
Lillits are omnivorous, but their diet is primarily meat-based. Lillits will hunt and eat fish, small mammals, livestock, and birds. When hunting in groups they may capture large prey including deer, coyotes, boars, and seals. When particularly hungry a lillit will eat raw meat, but usually they will cook it to a rare or medium-rare doneness. Fruit, vegetables, and grains are present in lillit cuisine, but only as a side or spread to enhance the flavor of the meat. Dairy, eggs, and spices are not found in lillit dishes because most lillits can't tolerate them.
Variation
Lillits have a considerable amount of variation within the species. Different broods can have drastically different sizes, colors, flight speeds and patterns, and abilities. Some lillits are even able to resist fire, electricity, or frost. The variety of lillits is tied to Jamaral's relations with the other Alatua, and His desire to have lillits that could live all across Mezia.
Culture
Lillit culture is heavily influenced by their tribal community and constant travel. Tribal life creates a strong familial bond with a relatively large group of individuals, resulting in more altruistic behavior. Constant travel means that unlike many species, for whom culture is on display across generations through art and architecture, lillit culture is predominantly shared through stories and songs and has a more rapidly evolving nature, often taking inspiration from the many different places a tribe visits.
Language
Since lillits spend so much of their lives traveling, they tend to encounter and learn many new languages. Most lillits are conversational in 3-5 languages by the time they reach adulthood, and lillit speech often blends languages together by picking words that produce a pleasant flow in the sentence, which can be very confusing to outsiders. They also express emotion primarily though tone and chirps inserted into speech rather than through facial expressions.
Lillits have a native language, liltian, but it is typically only used in songs, not conversationally. Lillit children learn to sing these songs at a very young age, but only those who study liltian learn the meaning of each word. Liltian is full of long, beautiful words that flow seamlessly together. When used in song, it is easy to get lost in the melody and not realize there are any words at all.
Spirituality
Lillits are children of Jamaral, and during the Alatua Era would patrol the skies with Him. Any lillit in Jamaral's flight path would join the Flock and stay for as long as they could, eventually departing to rest. Lillits felt immensely blessed to be a part of the Flock, but all knew it must come to an end and they would join at the next opportunity.
The fleeting yet secure presense of Jamaral is reflected in lillit spirituality. They have no rituals of worship, no prayers for deliverance, and no holidays or celebrations in Jamaral's honor. To a lillit, taking flight each day is an honor to Jamaral. Lillits were tasked with patrolling the skies and maintaining the winds, and they continue to serve in this manner.
Although not explicitly prayers, lillits have many songs that could be interpreted as such. They sing songs of praise for beautiful weather, bountiful food, and safe shelter. Many songs include gratitude for the "Blessings of the Wind", which could be a metaphor for Jamaral.
Art
Unlike most other species, lillits produce almost no lasting physical art such as paintings, objects, or structures. Their airborne nomadic lifestyle makes it difficult to carry anything non-essential, so art pieces would only weigh them down. However, this does not mean that lillits don't produce art, only that it is transient in nature.
The most visible art lillits make is decorations worn on their bodies. Most lillits love to decorate themselves with colorful strips of cloth, shiny pieces of metal or glass, fine jewelry, and various dyes, paints, and powders. A lillit's appearance is very important to them, as it is both a symbol of their tribe and a reflection of their own personality. Lillit plumage is somewhat similar to a human hairstyle, if each human had a unique hairstyle that covered their entire body and was deeply scrutinized by everyone they met. Decorating plumage is especially critical in a courtship display, where the first step is to dress in a way that honors the tribe of the desired partner.
Some lillits (especially younger ones) also like to create little pieces of art to leave somewhere they are roosting. They may decorate a roof by covering it in flowers, or arrange stones to create an image visible from the sky. Depending on where they create such art, it may be considered more of a nuisance, and for some lillits that is half the fun.
Aside from visual art, lillits are well known for their songs. Singing is an important part of lillit culture, and songs are passed down through the generations, preserving bits of history and retelling recent events. Songs about the Alatua and the origins of Mezia are some of the best remaining recollections of the Alatua Era. Lillits also have songs that describe flight patterns and safe versus dangerous zones, and some that take inspiration from the many different places a tribe visits. Songs are sung in a variety of languages, though most of the oldest ones still use liltian.
Technology
Lillits may not keep many items, but they do make frequent use of them.
Lillits are skilled in crafting tools and shelters quickly. Their airborne nomadic lifestyle limits how much they can carry, so lillits make what they need on the spot and discard it when they leave. Their ability to improvise various materials into makeshift tools is impressive, and their discarded items can be quite useful. However, lillit creations are designed to be practical, not long lasting.
Lillit equipment, like their tools, is made to serve a practical and often temporary purpose. Most lillits only wear a short skirt and a pouch around their waist to carry small items such as potions, tools, and trinkets. Lillits almost never wear anything above their waist except for accessories. Shirts and armor are too cumbersome to get over or around their wings and could interfere with flying.
Lillits use weapons to hunt and fight, primarily javelins, bows, and slings. All of these are lightweight and can be easily crafted, and a sling is small enough to keep in their pouch. When flying together, about half of the group will carry a weapon. When one gets tired, they'll pass their weapon off to someone else. Lillits seldom have much attachment to their weapon, and are not afraid to discard it if they need a distraction or extra speed.
Lillits do not use vehicles of any sort, including riding animals. The closest thing to a lillit vehicle is when an injured lillit gets carried to safety in a large cloth.
Magic
Lillits have a natural affinity for using air mana, so air boosts and spells are easier to learn for them. Air manastones are a valuable commodity and one of the few resources most lillits keep to themselves.
Lillit mages are trained in a variety of air spells, electric and frost spells are also quite commonly taught.
Society
Lillits are highly communal and spend most of their lives as part of a nomadic tribe led by a barakchan. Within a tribe lillits are typically treated as equals, including children. Intertribal relations are complex, but generally tribes are not agressive towards each other except for in cases of extreme scarcity.
Gender
Gender roles are not particularly rigid in lillit society. Both men and women share responsibilities for child rearing from the time the egg is laid until their fledgling sets off on their own. Any lillit can hunt or fight to defend their home, just as any lillit can gather plants, cook, or craft. Traits such as bravery, compassion, grit, or humbleness do not carry a strong gender association in lillit culture, and lillits don't use terms like "motherly" or "boys will be boys". A newly hatched chick's sex is not immediately obvious, so parents may not know whether they've had a son or daughter for days or even weeks.
The only role that is predominantly female is the barakchan, but some tribes have a male barakchan and they are regarded as equals when meeting with other barakchan.
Names
Lillits usually have two or three names: a given name, a tribal name, and some have an earned name.
A given name is the name their parents gave them as hatchlings. Lillits love to use names they've heard from all over, so lillits in the same tribe can have given names that come from a blend of different cultures.
All lillits of the same tribe share a tribal name. Tribal names usually reflect a defining feature of the tribe, such as Icefeather, Grimhook, or Coppercrest.
An earned name is granted to a lillit that has achieved something exceptional. Earned names reflect the honored deed, such as Dragonslayer, Stormbold, or Peacekeeper. In order to become a barakchan, one must have an earned name.
Lillits prefer that both names are used when addressed, but close friends and members of their own tribe can use just their given name without offense. If a lillit has an earned name, it is a sign of respect to call them by just their earned name.
For example, Wisam Kinshield Giltwing is a famous lillit. His given name is Wisam, his tribal name is Giltwing, and his earned name is Kinshield. Most people, including those in his tribe, would call him Kinshield, but a close friend might call him Wisam or even a nickname like Whiskey.
Governance
Lillits spend most of their lives as part of a nomadic tribe. Tribes typically consist of between 60-300 members led by a barakchan (high elder). They travel together, settling where the climate and food suits them without regard to local inhabitants or dangers. If the area proves to be unsatisfactory, they leave and find another home. Within the tribe, property is typically shared communally, with each lillit having only a few personal possessions of mostly sentimental value. Food, housing, and family care are shared among the tribe, so everyone is together in abundance or scarcity.
A barakchan is the leader of their tribe, and is tasked with keeping the tribe safe. They direct the tribe's flight path, decide when and where to settle down, and for how long. The barakchan will also negotiate with other tribes and other species when necessary. A barakchan serves their tribe for life, or until they are no longer able to continue traveling. Retired barakchan sometimes become the barakchan of a permanent settlement. Different tribes have different methods of selecting a new barakchan, but all require a lillit with an earned name, and most tribes prefer a female barakchan.
Though antisocial behavior within a tribe is rare, it does happen occasionally. Depending on the severity of the crime and the accused's standing within the tribe, punishment can range from a stern warning to exile. An exiled lillit is branded across the back with the exile's mark, a distinct pattern that would be recognized by any tribe, and cast out of the tribe. An exile will find it near impossible to join another tribe, and is forced into a life of solitude.
Tribal relations with each other can be quite complex. Some tribes meet and intermingle frequently, with many partners pairing up between the tribes. In other cases, tribes may behave quite cold with each other, even adversarial at times. Violence between tribes is rare, but not unheard of, especially when the tribes are experiencing severe scarcity. Most tribes will set aside their differences during their stay at permanent lillit settlements, with most members simply ignoring each other. Tribes that start a fight at such a settlement will be expelled and can be restricted from returning.
Interspecies Relations
The lillits' nomadic and communal lifestyle can lead to conflict with members of other species, especially when they harvest or hunt on someone's land. Fortunately, lillits tend to be quite good negotiators, and most people can think of something they need that is benefitted by flight. Lillits are not averse to hard work and will often end up patching holes in roofs, carrying something to the top of a tower, or scouting an area from the sky in exchange for food, resources, or a place to sleep.
Leaders of some settlements openly welcome lillits and provide suitable places for them to stay, often in exchange for detailed information about the surrounding area. The knowledge gained from these exchanges has saved more than one settlement from disaster, which would generally be considered quite a good deal for both parties. Trade of physical goods between lillits and others is far less common, unless someone specifically requests something only obtainable through flight. Lillits may occasionally agree to delivering letters or small packages to another settlement, if it is in the direction they were already intending to fly.
Not all species are friendly towards lillits. The kumimanu are particularly brutal in encounters with lillits, but fortunately the two don't cross paths often due to kumimanu living in the coldest regions of Mezia. Some people call lillits "feather heads" or "bird brains", which most lillits do not take very kindly to if they hear it.
Tribes often know where they will be welcome and where they won't. Relationships between a tribe and a settlement can become very close over time, with both groups considering the other to be part of their in-group.
Attributions