Birbbers’ faces come in many shapes and sizes. They have moderately large eyes, a feathery coating that covers most of the face and a beak. The beak can be of any variety based on birds, but also snout-like like the ancient raptors. Birbbers don‘t have teeth but serrated beaks are found. Some Birbbers have whiskers and can have styled fur on their cheeks and head. All Birbbers have an eye colour that is connected to their “luminescence” (which will be explained later!)
Use beaks found in nature, really want to make a toucan birbber? Go ahead!
Use more fantasy, uniquely designed beaks.
Serrations are on the outside of the beak. Lower Beak Serrations may be nested inside the mouth.
Add or remove fluff on cheeks of head or neck and style it, put it in a band, twirl it up!
Ears must be mammalian in design, inner ear can be colored or their luminescence.
Eyes should be medium sized, any eye type is okay.
Add Teeth within the beak. Serrations on the outside of the beak are fine!
Have a muzzle, soft mouths.
Mammal Noses. Beaks usually just have holes and made out of keratine.
Birbbers bodies adapt to the environment they are in, some more extensively than others. They will spend most of their life on land but have no problems swimming, though long-feathered/furred birbbers may have problems with staying afloat. Most birbbers will have a coat that is either fur-like, feathery or a mixture of both. Birbbers have long bodies (similar to otters) with long tails for balance. Birbbers range in size from adult from 70cm to 1.90 cms and have several body shapes and postures.
Birbbers may wear simple tribal clothing. All Birbbers have the ability to use and fashion tools, so bipedal movement is often seen with them holding items in their hands and moving with no problem. They use their tail for balance while walking, they do not drag their tails from behind.
Exchange positions and make them switch between forms.
Show them with tools in their front hands.
Have different heights, bodyshapes, etc.
Stand them entirely upright all the time.
Have their tail dragging while walking.
Birbbers are semi-bipedal, meaning they can walk on their four legs or walk on two. Generally they will remain on four legs when stalking, hiding or anxiously scouting. Birbbers can run on their back legs, but they find the quickest and efficient way around is to hop around like a kangaroo and use the environment as launching pads. Birbbers have scaled taloned feet, but some may also be covered from the base to the bottom with feathers or fur covering the legs.
They can have any variation of bird-like 'fingers' and it's recommended that they have at least 3 to grip tools easily. The maximum is five, however an occasional polydactyl Birbber might be found!
Add longer feathers on the limbs for balance or display.
Up to five fingers, limited to two.
Change the anatomy of the hand to be like other birds, dinosaurs or lizards.
Add entire wings to them
Give them mammal-like paws.
Birbbers come in an array of colours and shades, there is no limits to what a Birbber may look like, many resemble real life birds and animals. Be creative and original! You have all control over every aspect of colour. There are a few limitations however and Birbbers shouldn't appear unnatural in appearance
Choose complementary colours, shapes and designs.
Have as many colors as you would like or as Little
Have Gradients in the fur
Have the Birbber be a mixture of feathers and fur.
Have them a solid colour or with simple markings.
Design your Birbber after brands/companies, flags, fictional or non-fictional characters. Slight nods to references are okay if it doesn't interfere with their entire design.
Use Flags, Corporate Logos, etc. as the premise of the designs. Flag colours (such as national and pride flags) used as are fine.
Duplicate or copy other Birbber designs! Please read "Ending Notes" for more information.
Over-design or over-complicate your Birbber with an overload of colours and details. There needs to be readability in your design.
Give your birbber geometric designs or perfectly-designed symbols.
Too much choice? Looking for a restricted palette to help guide you? These palettes are replaced occasionally.
See if any spark your imagination!
All Birbbers have one trait in common; they all glow under certain circumstances. Their eye colour usually is a sure sign of what luminescence the birbber will be. If their eyes are blue, their luminescence will be blue and also means blue blood, you get the picture. If the Birbber has heterochromia, often one eye dictates their Luminescence, generally their based on their handedness (left hand, or right.) Luminescence plays apart in threat displays and showing excitement, as a Birbber gets emotionally excited (or stressed) their blood shines through their skin. Most Birbbers will have their ear tips, beaks and pawpads light up. Birbbers also display their colours when they are stressed out or overheated!
Have Luminescence show when your Birbber is emotionally charged.
Darken your birbbers skin if their luminescence is darker.
Have the Gradient Luminescence (if you have the trait) appear at each spot.
Show Luminescence on the ears, eyes, tail and even hands.
With Heterochromia, one eye dictates their Luminescence
Have two types of Luminescence that are not a gradient on each part.
Have Darker Luminescences glow or produce light. Black cannot be projected.
Nearly all birbbers at minimum they cover their eyes up with a mask, be it made from skulls, skins, fabrics or any other scrapped materials. Masks have holes veils, or thin enough to show the birbbers own personal luminescence. The most popular masks have a v-shaped opening at the front to allow the birbber’s beak to show. Most masks have some sort of personal connection to the birbber and they will carry them around constantly.
They wear masks at different times, depending on their tribe, however it's universal that they have them in vicinity at all times.
Most birbbers will carry them either on their backs using a light string or in their hands. While it is okay to have string to attach the mask to your birbber's neck or appendage,
It’s considered universally taboo for a birbber to use any lashings to firmly place their mask over their head or to cover their eyes but you may use them in your design, just take that into consideration!
Use designs that are significant and unique to the Birbber.
Have the mask hide or obscure direct line of sight to their eyes.
Have the Luminescence shine through the Darkness.
Paint the masks in vivid colourations/etc.
Use scrap metal from derelict refuse.
Have real life, fiction-based or pop-culture imagery masks or "human art"
Make them too complex or delicate, similar to facade party masks
Have any technologically advanced masks. Broken technology is fine, if it gives no enhancement.
Ritual Names are unique names that are used to specify SINGULAR Birbbers. They are explorative, extremely long and often make little to no sense and are poetically charged. They are usually based on their appearance, history, personality, etc. They have no limit on what they reference.
You do not need to call them by these names as "Nicknames" are available.
The Last Days Flickering Flame
Horned Owls Watching Gravestones - References to real life animals and objects are allowed.
Third Wave on the Seventh Sky
Small Brain, Little Say - Somewhat mean-spirited, but names like these are acceptable.
Nine Wraiths - Subtle References to Media are always allowed!
Jimmy - This is just a regular, shortened named.
Tel'kora - This is a fictional name which means little to them.
13 Spacers Awaiting Orders - Arabic Numerals (eg: 1, 2, 3, 4) should not be used. Please use number words (One, Two, etc.)
Emojis, Symbols (🎱,🔮 ,✨, @,$, ♥, ♫) etc.
Names less than two words or over 15 words (Maximum is 150 characters)
Duplicate Names. Check to see if your name has possibly been already taken (It's rare but happens!)
Unique Tribe Cultures: Your Birbbers culture can be completely designed from the ground up in what you see fit. If you want to make a society of Cannibalistic Birbbers, go ahead. If you want to make a peaceful society that venerates a god or goddess that could snuff them out in a single show of violence, you can as well!
Post-Apocalyptic Survival: As such, tribal societies in the wasteland can be vicious, just remember that! Using human technology is beyond their comprehension but can still be referenced.
Real-Life References: Misuse of sacred, religious or important symbols, clothing, items should be avoided. While being inspired with real-life examples as inspiration, please be rational. If there is a Birbber with such elements, politely ask someone to change it (disrespectful behaviour and callout posting will not be allowed, ever) When people copy an artwork without permission or attribution, it can profoundly harm artists and denigrate the meaning of their imagery and its cultural significance.