HuntWings[]
Rules[]
Permission is required only for royal HuntWings, High Priests, and ambassadors. Animus, hybrid, and regular HuntWings are free to make!
Description[]
General Description[]
HuntWings are a smaller tribe- they are close in size to RainWings. They vary in muscularity depending on the subtype, but are generally stockier.
They also vary in color, but are almost always countershaded- darker scales on their backs, and lighter underscales, though this can come in a variety of patterns. Similarly, patterning can also break up this countershading, such as stripes, spots, or patches. The only exceptions to this countershading can be dragons with hybrid ancestry (or just hybrids), albinism, or melanism. Wing membranes are usually the same color as their underscales, though if not, it matches the rest of their scale colors. Patterning colors match other scale colors and can be any shade. The eyes can be any color, regardless of subtype, but some colors are more common between subtypes.
All HuntWings have a set of at least two horns that can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have slightly smaller wings than average, but can still fly. HuntWings also have a sail similar to a SandWing’s. One of their most unique features is their “paw pads” they possess. These are durable, though nowhere near as tough as scales, and allow for silent travel across the ground. Their claws are semi-retractable to keep them from extensive damage and excess noise when hunting.
All HuntWing subtypes are reproductively compatible, but offspring will inherit traits of one parent. For example, the offspring of a forest and plains HuntWing could have half the dragonets inheriting the forest traits, and the other half with plains traits. No subtype is noticeably dominant, and inheritance seems random.
Forest HuntWings[]
Forest HuntWings are the muscle of the tribe. They do not vary much from the standard tribe build, though are generally smaller and stockier than average.
They usually have the darkest colors, ranging from black and shades of dark green to deep brown on their backs, and shades of tan and lighter greens as their underscales. Spot, speckle, and patch markings are most common in this subtype. Their eyes are most commonly orange, yellow, or bright blue, but can be any color.
Plains HuntWings[]
Plains HuntWings are made of lean muscle. They are thinner than other subtypes, with long legs built for running.
They are lighter colored to blend in with the tall grasses of their home. They usually have desaturated and pale shades of green, brown, tan, and white, with some yellow mixed in. Stripe markings are more common in this subtype. Their eyes are commonly green, blue, and yellow, but can be any color.
Shoreline HuntWings[]
Shoreline HuntWings are almost an in-between point of the other two subtypes. They have slightly less muscle than a Forest HuntWing, but are a bit longer. Their hands are typically larger and their tails stronger for swimming and fishing in lakes and streams. They are also able to hold their breath slightly longer.
They have shades of medium gray, teal, tan, and brown, generally. Patch and spot markings are most common in this subtype. They usually have purple, blue, or green eyes, but can have any color.
Abilities[]
Night Vision[]
HuntWings can see exceptionally well in the dark. Their eyes, much like a cat’s, reflect in the dark.
Second Eyelids[]
HuntWings have a second, transparent eyelid that protects their actual eyes. This helps them in extreme weather, underwater, and has saved a HuntWing’s actual eye in a stroke of luck.
Rapid Healing[]
HuntWings have a healing factor noticeably greater than other tribes. Injuries are less likely to scar, they recover from sickness quicker, and are slightly more resistant to toxins. This does not mean they are immune, though.
Location[]
The HuntWings are located on the southeast of Pyrrhia’s “wing,” near the MudWing and SkyWing kingdoms and the ocean. The territory has a variety of biomes, including oceanside cliffs, rivers, lakes, hilly grasslands, and rocky forests.
The weather is temperate, not fluctuating much throughout the year. Fog is common in the autumn (along with stunning changing leaves) and in the spring as temperatures cool or heat. Snow is rare, and happens only during the coldest winters.
The following locations are not a complete list, just some of the larger or more notable locations in the territory.
Seabreak Cliffs[]
The Seabreak Cliffs separate the HuntWings from the sea. The rock is carved into sheer sides, gravity-defying arches, talon-sharp spires, and multicolored beaches. The cliffs are topped with lush greenery perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views of the sea.
Shoreline HuntWings are most common here, followed closely by the Plains HuntWing population.
Talonpoint[]
The HuntWing royal family’s home is built on the talonlike extension to the Seabreak Cliffs. This location was chosen due to the stunning scenery and relative separation from territory borders.
Around this castle, there are beautifully constructed settlements for the High Priest, ambassadors, royal guards, and the rest of the royal family or any esteemed guests. It effectively creates a miniature city. The buildings are varying shades of terracotta and tan, with bright colorful murals decorating both the interior and exterior of the buildings. These are updated semi-regularly with new talent from all over the HuntWing land.
Nearby this “miniature city” is the rest of Talonpoint. Here, the rest of HuntWing society coexists with their leaders. The buildings are similar terracotta shades, and packed tightly together. They are also decorated similarly, each house personalized by the dragon or family living in it.
Stone Forest[]
The Stone Forest makes up approximately half of the HuntWing territory. It consists of both deciduous and coniferous trees, and hosts a variety of predator and prey animals. Due to its proximity to the mountainous SkyWing territory, the terrain is quite hilly, and the forest has large boulders, rocky patches, and small rivers through it. It takes a skilled dragon to navigate safely through these woods without ending up with scrapes, twisted ankles, or bruises.
Forest HuntWings are the most common subspecies to find here.
Direwolf[]
Direwolf is the largest of the forest villages. It is built to blend into the darkness, wood, and rocks of the Stone Forest. The buildings rarely exceed two or three levels, and often extend a level or two below the ground. The buildings here are often old, with moss and lichen growing on the outside walls and roofs. The interiors of these buildings are beautifully and warmly decorated, personalized to each dragon’s individual taste.
Breezebreak Grasslands[]
The Breezebreak Grasslands are another large portion of the territory. The grass can almost completely cover a crouching dragon, given the right growth conditions. There are very few trees in this biome, but there is great variety of shrublike plants, flowers, and fast-moving wildlife. The land is fairly flat, with gentle rolling hills breaking up the scenery.
Plains HuntWings make up the majority of dragons living here.
Swiftly[]
Swiftly is a large town, spread out over nearly the entirety of the Breezebreak Grasslands. There are more permanent huts and homes near Thornvalley Lake, and many semi-permanent camps scattered around the plains. Hunters primarily reside in these camps, with children, their caretakers, and the elderly living mainly near the lake.
The lakeside homes are made of mud brick and waterproof woven grass roofs. The camp homes are lightweight but sturdy, woven from sturdy grasses and reinforced with branches and large bones. These can withstand harsh weather, but easily packed up and moved if necessary.
Brightriver Thicket[]
Brightriver Thicket is like a great deity took samples of each other HuntWing biome and mixed them together. There is some forest, albeit a far less dense one, and stunning rocky hills cut through with lush valleys. There are plenty of rivers, deep and wide enough for several dragons to swim through.
Shoreline HuntWings are most common here, followed by Forest HuntWings.
Shadecrest[]
Shadecrest is a beautiful town, cut through by a large river. The homes are constructed of wood, stone, and sturdy mud brick. Houses here can reach up to four stories tall. Elaborately built bridges of stone and wood connect both halves of the village. Fishers make up a large portion of this town’s population, and the river is not short on prey. Carefully constructed barriers and trenches protect the town from flooding during rainy season.
Thornvalley Lake[]
Thornvalley Lake resides in almost the exact center of the HuntWing territory. It is a beautiful freshwater lake with plenty of prey, calm waters for swimming, and excellent camping spots by the shore. Several small towns and individual settlements are near this lake.
Society[]
Government[]
The HuntWing government is run with a somewhat standard monarchy. Typically, the eldest daughter takes the throne, though another heir could take charge if there is no daughter or if the daughter is very young. This is an uncommon occurrence, but not necessarily frowned upon. Royalty are the final say in laws and policies, but take the advice of their ambassadors into consideration beforehand.
Royalty[]
The royal family, currently, come from the plains and forest territories. They have ruled for several generations, but are relatively new compared to other royal families. The transitions between generations in power have been quite peaceful, with only one death necessary to secure their place.
Ambassadors[]
Ambassadors are HuntWings with years of experience in diplomacy. They often start training for the position immediately after they complete their basic education. Their job is to keep on top of intertribal relationships and the kingdom's status as a whole. They use this information to advise the current ruler of the HuntWings, to ideally maintain a positive relationship with as many tribes as possible while allowing their own to prosper.
Priests[]
The priests are the religious leaders of the HuntWings. They maintain the tribe's places of worship, interpret signs from the gods, and lead dragons in worship. Any dragon can become a priest, with enough study and dedication. It takes years, sometimes decades of practice to become a high priest. High priests are essentially the government of the priests- they establish regulations and rules for themselves and priests, build new worship sites, maintain historical artifacts, help train new initiates, as well as assisting with standard priest duties.
Beliefs and Mythology[]
Religion[]
HuntWings have their own religion, which is called the Way of the Three Gods. While not every HuntWing follows this religion, most do, and it has heavily influenced their culture and traditions. There are three gods in the HuntWing pantheon- technically four, as the current three were born from the death of one elder god.
Firstly, there is Edione, the god of the land. They appear as a wingless dragon of indeterminate tribe, with rocky green scales decorated with moss, vines, and flowers. They are stunningly beautiful, but also terrifying. Dragons usually offer them bundles of flowers, perfumes, and give thanks to them for prey.
Secondly, there Xeion, is the god of the seas. They, again, do not fit into any specific tribe, and have smooth scales in thousands of shades of blue. They adorn their scales with coral, shells, sea plants, and bone. They command the waters, from the smallest puddle to the great seas. They have a reputation for being reckless, raging, but majestic and merciful. They offer this god beautiful shells, bones, and dance in the rain they provide.
Finally, there is Ilien, the god of the skies. They as well do not look like any tribe, and appear to be made of clouds, sky, and stars. They are ethereal and distant, but all-encompassing. Common offerings to this god are feathers, music, and beautiful poetry or literature read aloud.
These gods are not all-powerful, or omnipresent, but have significant influence over the natural world. They communicate through signs, such as storms, clouds, animals, and natural disasters. Rarely, they will communicate through dreams or visions, though those are usually very personal to the receiver.
There are many devoted followers of these gods, building beautiful cathedrals, churches, and altars around the HuntWing kingdom. Among these devoted parishioners are a few High Priests, who organize scheduled worship, temple/altar construction and maintenance, and keeping of religious texts and artifacts. It is a difficult process to become a High Priest, but once earned, the title is held for the rest of the dragon’s life.
Traditions[]
HuntWings have very few “scheduled” holidays. Their festivities surround natural events, personal accomplishments, and major changes to HuntWing society. They are rarely a huge event or organized, but a celebration of the experience in the moment. They are also heavily group-focused, whether that group be the entire tribe, friends, or family.
HuntWings will celebrate the year’s first snow. Dragons of all ages will break from work or other duties, if they are able, and play in the snow as it accumulates. Young dragons love to make snow-dragons, and it becomes something of a competition between them. Snow forts and snowball fights are very common among all ages.
HuntWings will also celebrate exceptionally successful hunts. Every dragon needs to eat, so it’s always a blessing to have plenty of food to share. For dragons who do not hunt, for whatever reason, they will celebrate alongside their friends- they may also celebrate mastery of a cooking skill, preparing the prey, or simply being fortunate enough to share meals with friends.
Whenever a dragon becomes the next ruler of the HuntWings, there is an organized tribe-wide celebration. Song, dance, and art fill the towns to show appreciation for the new ruler and to usher in a reign of peace.
On a more somber note, when a tribe member dies, funerals are a very quiet event. The body is wrapped in colorful ribbons and cloth, symbolizing the dragon’s accomplishments and personality in life. Dragons who were close to the deceased will assist with burial, or cremation, depending on the preference of the family. They will then silently sit through the night in honor of the deceased- either at a favorite location of the deceased, near the grave, or at another meaningful location.
Weddings do exist in HuntWing culture, but are more of a formality than a necessity. Religious HuntWings usually have a priest officiate a union, but any HuntWings can officiate their own wedding. Dragons of any gender identity are allowed to marry each other, and polyamorous relationships are not uncommon.
Naming[]
HuntWing names are heavily influenced by nature and its forces.