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PROMPT: In a society defined by the shape, color, and lineage of wings, how will your characters cope?
GOALS/VIBES: Found family, fluff, angst, lots of comfort, group preening, sibling dynamics, roughhousing, light-hearted activities.
RULES:
- andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer)'s rules apply.
- LGBT+ Friendly!
- Cussing is fine unless otherwise stated.
- References to sex are fine, but nothing explicit. If you want to write it, please do so elsewhere.
- There's no word limit for responses, but I do expect you to be able to keep a good flow and be conscientious of others' replies.
- I retain the right to add more rules or change them as I see fit. If at any point you feel like I'm being unreasonable, please let me know and we can work something out.
BASIC INFORMATION:
- Set in an alternate universe in which bird-like people, known more commonly as ‘avians’, are at the top of the food chain.
- The setting is a seaside city affectionately referred to as ‘Cradle’, or more officially, Daydol. It’s a blend of rural and urban, with sweeping skyscrapers and imposing trees alike. Rooftops are covered in greenery of all kinds, while a large percentage of buildings are constructed with bridges and ledges for landing or taking off. In addition to the bridges, aerial roots and sturdy clotheslines offer perches for smaller avian species. Shops, nests, and workplaces are built dangling in the air just as often as they are in grounded buildings, although nearly all have access via bridges for those unable to fly. [[Standard Building]] [[Standard Nest]] [[Bird’s Eye View of Cradle]] ( ← visuals to be added)
- Rather than a democratic government or monarchy, Cradle and the surrounding cities are ruled by an oligarchy of white-winged avians.
- The technology in this world is nowhere near the technology of ours. They have basic electricity and plumbing in a few places, but cellular devices and the like don't exist. The same goes for weapons; the most popular are lightweight spears that can be carried while flying, but other archaic weapons are available in the right places. Bow and arrows are highly illegal and it's considered taboo to wield them, not to mention a huge offense to the oligarchy.
- There is no set currency in this word. Instead, shops and pay depend on trade. Prices vary on what individuals find valuable or useful or what they can use to purchase something else they find valuable or useful. This is, however, flawed, as prejudice can make it difficult for some avians to afford what they need.
- Generally, the city of Cradle is a tight-knit community, albeit one with a blatant social hierarchy (which is detailed in the section called ‘THE HONORED AND THE STIGMATIZED’). Neighbors tend to readily trade what they have, leading to a very slim population of lower class and a high sense of inclusiveness among the respected.
AVIAN INFORMATION:
- Homo avian; generally human in appearance with birdlike traits or features.
- Appearance depends upon species, but all avians are born with wings, talons in place of feet, and feather fluff in place of most body hair, excluding head and facial hair, which remains a similar structure to humans. It’s important to note that wings are separate from arms, translating to six limbs instead of four.
- The type of flight best suited to an avian depends entirely on wing type.
—> Broad soaring wings (i.e. vultures, hawks, eagles, etc.) are good for catching wind and traveling long distances without the need for constantly flapping and exerting energy. [[Example]]
—> Long soaring wings (i.e. seagulls, albatrosses, etc.) are sleeker and act almost like parachutes, able to carry an individual farther than broad soaring wings at the price of maneuverability. [[Example]]
—> High-speed wings (i.e. falcons, ducks, swifts, etc.) allow the individual to move at exceptionally high speeds but expend energy far more quickly and rely on heavy flapping to stay airborne when they’re moving slower. [[Example]]
—> Elliptical wings (i.e. sparrows, blackbirds, crows, etc.) are more of a compromise type, with the ability to gather the individual speed incredibly quickly. This, of course, costs energy and lots of flapping, but it combines the speed of high-speed wings with the maneuverability of broad sparking wings. [[Example]]
—> Hovering wings (i.e.hummingbirds, kestrels) are the only wing type that allows an avian to stay in place while airborne. The wings beat extremely fast to do this, leading to incredible maneuverability and speed, but terrible energy conservation. These wing types struggle to fly long distances and are very rare in Cradle. [[Example]] - Avian bones are hollow and far more fragile than their human counterparts. They’re generally much smaller, too, with the average avian standing at about 5’5". It's incredibly rare for avians to be over 5'8". The average wingspan is roughly twice the size of said individual, but once again varies based on species.
- Avians have enhanced hearing and sight, although the extent also depends upon species. On average, they can hear and see things about two to three times better than average humans.
- Instincts are an important factor of this society. Avians have all kinds of instincts, the most notable being territorial, although it’s rare for actual fights to break out.
THE HONORED AND THE STIGMATIZED:
- Pure white wings are regarded as godly and treated as such. It’s impossible to convincingly dye feathers white, and anyone that tries may be cast out (forced to live on the ground level of Cradle or leave entirely). White-winged individuals get the best trades available and they’re nearly always a part of the oligarchy by birth. Commonly referred to as “Honored Ones'' or plainly “Honored”. Public disrespect towards them is not tolerated.
- Birds of prey are also highly respected. They tend to make up the guard and other protective roles, as well as the heavy lifters in general. Society pegs them as the most physically capable, and they get the best trades after the Honored.
- Corvids and black-winged species are generally seen as the lowest of the low. They’re considered thieves due to their natural affinity for collecting shiny things, as well as bad luck associated with death or illness. None of this is founded on actual evidence, but most corvids and black-winged individuals are made to live on the ground level or in more secluded areas of Cradle, regardless. Some shops outwardly ban these individuals, while others offer only unfair trade deals. There are a few select businesses that are friendly towards their kind, however, typically set up near the ground. Commonly referred to as “Cursed Ones” or “Cursed”.
OTHER:
- While Cradle idolizes the Honored and preaches good community, crime runs rampant beneath the decorated nests and colorful shops. The Cursed are the most common victims and instigators of these crimes, but it’s not uncommon for other species to fall victim or join in. Those with flashy, rare, or beautiful wings are especially at risk, as naturally colored feathers are always in high demand for decoration, jewelry, or bedding.
- To go with the above point, dyed feathers lose their natural luster. Individuals who dye their wings heavily rely on wax products to keep their wings in good health.
- There are safe shelters on ground level, carved out by sympathetic avians who believe society is wrongly prejudiced, but these are few and far between, and Cradle is a massive city.
- The population of Cradle is roughly two million!
THE ABOVE AREA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FEEL FREE TO PROPOSE IDEAS!!
CHARACTER TEMPLATE
Name:
Aliases/Preferred Name/Nicknames: (optional, but be sure to differentiate)
Type of Bird:
Age:
Gender & Pronouns:
Sexuality:
Backstory: (optional, but recommended)
Appearance: (please be descriptive. images are fine) (also include a section on what their wings look like)
Personality:
Role: (soldier, poet, or king; make sure to check the other characters to see if a role has already been taken!)
Other: (can be anything. feel free to add more fields beneath this if you want, or link a page here if you have it!)
ROLES:
- Solider; adventurous, protective, a prankster/troublemaker, impulsive. Middle child vibes. TAKEN
- Poet; clever, quick-witted, earnest, calculating. Youngest child vibes. TAKEN
- King; intelligent, patient, determined, kind. Oldest child vibes. TAKEN
—> Please note that these are loose guidelines and won't define your character. Feel free to deviate.
—> Just because the role is called 'King' doesn't mean the character has to be male.
—> Also, these aren't literal roles, but rather rough personality traits.
Please include if you have any relevant triggers so we can avoid them!!
