The fog was far too thick for Felosial to see the ship they were approaching, but sight was not needed when the creaking of wood could be heard quite loudly over their own muffled wingbeats. As their fingers met wood they pulled themselves toward the deck, as silent as a shadow. It seemed the Captain wasn’t experienced enough to be wary of sudden fog banks, the lookouts, instead of alerting the crew simply squinted trying to make out anything. Situating themself just below him they waited...there a soft whistle. They lunged grabbing their target and yanking him over the side with thwm, they fell, the Avariel briefly as their wings snapped open, him for what they assumed was far longer, now to business.
A People Apart
Little is known about the Avariel, or Sky Elves as they are sometimes referred. These elves are, if you ask them, the most beautiful and refined of the elven subspecies. Far more delicate than the other elves, with large eyes, pale skin, and hollow bones, they tend to be taller many reaching above 6ft, but heights vary greatly. Their wings are often a clue as to what part of the world they most call their home. Ranging in color from more drab grays and browns, for those who live in the frigid cold to more vibrant colors found on tropical birds and are often dyed for decoration or disguise. The type of bird the Avariel resemble can also denote small differences in culture. From the smaller family groups of those that take after falcons, to the large flocks of those that resemble starlings. Most Avariel are born with the gift of song, with voices that rival that of the birds they share wings with. Avariel live longer than many elves, living exactly 1000 years and dying on the day of their birth, unless taken early by an unnatural death.
Isolationists and Pirates
Avariel can definitely be described as isolationist, living exclusively in small enclaves which are unfriendly if not outright hostile to others. Any outsider fortunate enough to be allowed entrance will find cities made of floating ships and small chunks of floating earth, completely inhospitable to those without wings, as they lack established bridges between them. A dexterous visitor may be able to use the ropes to navigate, but one wrong slip will have them plummeting.
Prior to the changes of the world they were a culture of war, now with the decline of their biggest enemy they have turned their talents for violence elsewhere. They believe that the skies around their homes should belong exclusively to them, and any vessel that enters one of their sky lanes is fair prey to their ships. Very few of these unlucky souls are ever seen afterward, though whether they are killed, enslaved or some unknown third option no one really knows. An exception is often made for their Elven brothers and sisters, Avariel are often willing to negotiate with them requiring a reduced fee for use of their skies.
Relations with all other races are notably strained. Avariel are innately dismissive of grounded species, seeing them as incomplete. Humans are viewed with distrust if not outright hatred, and are often targeted specifically by their ships, if Dragonborn were more numerous they would likely be as well. Half Elves are viewed with pity, a sad condescension that they were robbed of their time. Other half-breeds are viewed with similar pity, save for Half Orcs which are viewed with disgust. Dwarves are unimportant to them, as are Halfings, Gnomes, Goliath and Felidae, rarely having more than occasional contact with those races. Of the plane-touched only the Air Genasi, and the rare Winged Tiefling are of any interest, though interactions are uncommon, they are generally more pleasant. Finally their relationship with the Aracockra is almost friendly as the two share common love for flight and the sky. They are one of the few non-elven species that might be invited to visit one of their dwellings.
Blood is Thicker Than Water
Avariel live in large family groups, with a chosen matriarch in charge, which all Avariel have to obey. Children are raised together and taught the ways of combat, both physical or magical. The Avariel tend to have higher rates of magic, as to them it is a gift rather than a danger and encouraged. The power is often harnessed to fuel the Crystalcraft that are integral to their way of life. Children learn to fly almost before anything else, their feathers coming in a few weeks after they are born. Each child is treasured and all Avariel will take turns watching them, to prevent accidents and harming a child is serious enough to have any perpetrator exiled. Almost all Avariel mate with other Avariel, usually from different ‘families,’ as there are matches arranged by the matriarchs when they are born. They are not expected to settle down until their third century at least, and indiscretions are expected as they spend their second century out in the world. Children of those unions are only accepted into the family if they are born with wings, otherwise they are left with the other parent or abandoned. Unfortunately any children that are accepted are often spirited away by the winged parent to be raised by the family and that has led to some distasteful rumors about child kidnapping.
Gender and Identity
As Avariel like all Fey related creatures are not confined to either the male or female form gender means little to them. Children names are invariably gender neutral, as are the pronouns in the language of the Avariel. Even the matriarch is a gender neutral title, and only badly translated. Do to common’s tendency to prefer gendered pronouns most will choose what they prefer when talking to outsiders. Many Avariel tend to settle on their preferred for eventually, but some never do. Neither option is considered better.
A Planned Life
Once a child nears adulthood they are sent out into the world to make their fortune, depending on the clan they may be sent alone, or given an entire ship to captain. They are expected to use this time away to find something for the family, what they bring back influences their standing. Once they return they are allowed to choose their adult name and are considered full adults and have a say in the governing of the family. They are then free to do as they please, within reason, and enjoy themselves, until they are called back to wed their chosen mate if they have both survived to this age. They are expected to have at least three children in a concerted effort to increase their numbers before they are once more free to leave. Their marriage may continue or be dissolved at this time depending on the feelings between the pair. If a pairing is truly abhorrent to one partner they can petition to the Matriarch to dissolve the contract, if this or death prevent pairing the Avariel are still expected to add to their numbers.
Magic
Unlike many other races Avariel are much more comfortable with magic of all forms, though special reverence is paid to sorcery, though draconic sorcerers are unheard of, and druidic magic as it is seen as more based in natural abilities. Bards are less common, and wizards are almost unheard of as Avariel aren't known for their studious nature. Warlocks are uncommon, as many Avariel regard this as cheating, and fear that it splits their loyalties. Generally the Matriarch of each clan has high level magic of some kind, usually druidic, but never warlock abilities, due to the fear of splitting loyalties.
Punishment
Avariel society is strict, but generally lacks internal conflicts. A Matriarch is the final voice in all decisions, and all obey her word. For those rare few conflicts punishment is swift and severe. Execution is not used but for Avariel the terms of exile are a fate worse death. Exile involves stripping away that which makes them Avariel, their wings and their name. Both are cut away one literally and the exile is abandoned at the nearest city. Often the loss of their flight has them ending things themselves long before their natural death. This punishment is only for the most grave of criminal acts, the unsanctioned intentional harm of another allied Avariel. For less serious offenses the punishment can vary, from ‘grounding,’ where the offender is confined to one of their settlements for a time, to a monetary fine to be payed to the wronged party.