Furae

Impetuous and volatile, the Furae are the favoured children of Karathon. Shaped according to his will, the Furae were once humans who were reforged by the god of weather into beings who can soar the skies and rule the winds, the storm made flesh.

Furae are a strange mingling of human and bird physiology. Their upper bodies and heads are human, though where they would have hair they are crowned by cloaks of feathers that run down their backs. Their legs are taloned, the long talons flexible enough to act as hands for when furae are in flight, able to wield weapons and even invoke the somatic components of spells. The most dramatic aspect of furae physiognomy are their wings, in place of where a human has arms. These wings span seven to eight feet, with a 'winghand' in the centre replete with three fingers and a thumb; their little finger has been repurposed to act as an extension to their wing.

Furae are known to be a passionate and volatile people, guided by impulse first and reason second. This is a reflection of their heritage, their nature as the chosen successors of Karathon, and they are perfect mirrors to their creator's own unpredictable temperament. Other Atrians tend to regard them with caution, and they have a reputation for being wild and hedonistic.

This reputation is somewhat deserved. Furae psychology tends to reflect the brutality of their coastal homes, where food can be scarce and hurricanes and typhoons can blow in at a moment’s notice. Furae lives are short and brutal, so they throw themselves into new experiences and embrace any joy they can find with a voracious fury. Like the duren, furae expect to live short lives, not due to their biology but because their world is one that is inclined to kill them with little warning. Those furae who live in more stable regions tend to be somewhat more reserved, but they are still intense when compared to other peoples.

Furae prefer to nest on cliffs and on coastal islands, out of the reach of Atrius’ groundbound people and away from the threat of most machines and monsters. They build eyries of scavenged driftwood and woven seaweed in caves and clifftops, creating weatherproof fortresses that are decorated with elaborate paintings, warmed with feather down and defended by air patrols. Approaching these eyries can be difficult, not only because of their geography but because furae are often slow to trust outsiders. These clans will move with the seasons, trying to dodge the worst of the weather as they migrate to more favourable climates. Those who cannot travel are left behind in the eyries to survive on their own.