Name: Sylavel Prefixine
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Role: Pollen
Name of race: Al-Taer
General information about Al-Taer: It’s widely known that the Al-Taer are a particularly private sort. They come off as aloof, with a sort of snobbish nature to those creatures who cannot fly. They pity those who cannot fly, even as they acknowledge that not all hold the same love and awe of the sky as they do. The Clans are incredibly territorial, reacting violently to travelers who remain too long within their territory, or hunt on their lands without their consent. They are, however, known to be tolerant of traders, and those who come to visit temporarily.
The Al-Taer are generally thought to be a singular race, though to ask any of their kind would solicit a much different explanation. Each of the five clans of Al-Taer consider themselves distinctly different from one another, and are much more likely to identify themselves by clan name than by species. They still view each other as part of a whole, however, when it comes to war and conflict with the outside. They may fight among the different clans over patches of territory, but they are some of the most violent when faced with a common foe.
Clan life is rarely ever talked about with outsiders. Only a very trusted few know more than what could be picked up from a trader who happened to pass through. And, even that is very sparse. Their lives are deeply rooted in tradition, which is more precious to them than all the wealth of the world. It is easy for those who have the knowledge to identify from which Clan a single Al-Taer hails from, for each clan has their own distinctive markings and appearance. Al-Taer from the same Clan who may have been born generations apart will greet each other as family, for each views their Clan as their kin.
Appearance:
ImageHeight – 6’2” in his standard form, Sylavel is of a fairly average height for an Al-Taer of his age. His fully animal form, a rare, leucistic red-tailed hawk, is just over two feet from beak to tail-tip. In his standard form, he bears a wingspan of 11 ft at full length, while his hawk form a comparable length of 47 inches.
Facial features – Sylavel has a sharp, angular face with an almost hooked nose. His eyes are narrowed, giving his overall features a very avian look. His eyes are a deep crimson color, and he has tribal markings of the same color painted around his eyes trailing back towards his hairline just above his ears.
Hairstyle – Al-Taer grow a tougher, coarse hair that gives a more feather-like appearance up close. Sylavel keeps his hair fairly short, enough to fit it easily beneath his helm. He rarely takes his helm off, so most don’t have a clue what his hair actually looks like. His hair is pure white, with his Clan’s warpaint streaking it with a deep crimson.
Body type – Lanky and lithe, Sylavel is built for speed, though not without the strength of a bird of prey. His skin is unusually light for an Al-Taer, causing somewhat of a spectacle even among others of the race. As with all of his kind, his height can be greatly attributed to his legs, which are reminiscent of their birdlike heritage, more talon than human. Their toe-talons aren’t sharp, but hold incredible strength, enough to carry a full-grown man through the air with ease. His hands are similar to a human’s in appearance and functionality, though his fingers end in much longer, talon-like nails.
Weapon/special items or magic – Sylavel carries a standard shortsword, though his prowess is far from the physical aspects of battle. His is a race of magically-inclined folk, though he has always shown a higher than average proficiency. Since his fledgling days, he was called a prodigy of the Goddess, a true Child of the Sky. Not only does he hold special proficiency with air-based spells and magic, he has shown an unusual skill in enchanting. Restricted only by his mind, his aerial magic can be utilized in just about any situation, both within combat and outside.
Clothing – Sylavel dresses slightly more outrageous than the average Al-Taer, partially as a sign that the no longer flies under his Clan’s lead. Even so, he shows his Clan affiliation through both through the deep maroon leggings he wears, as well as the gem of the same color at his waist. Over the tight leggings, he wears a white sash, kept around his waist with a tight utility belt. He travels mostly bare-chested, though wears a small breastpiece covering his heart. His gauntlets are as much a fashion piece as practical, made of leather weaved with some of his shed feathers. His helm is of the standard Prefixine design, a stylized helm that, when pulled over the face, gives the illusion of a hawk’s head.
Animal – Al-Taer is basically an overarching name for those of the sky, of the Raptor Clans. Sylavel is of the Prefixine Clan, of hawk blood. As stated previously, he is a Leucistic Red-Tailed Hawk, meaning that the majority of his feathers are a pure white color. His wings are always present, as are his talons and claws. His hawk form is of the same white color, though he resembles the others of his Clan in in every other way. He has no dye covering his wing feathers, as most of his Clan would have, declaring that he would dye his wings only when he returned an adult.
Gesturing and personality traits- Sylavel is, in a word, cautious. He thinks each option through before coming to a decision, and is always open to a fair, calm discussion on any topic. He loves a good debate, even going so far as to take the opposing side just to argue for the sake of arguing. He is calm of heart, and calm of hand, though not always for the best. While not necessarily trusting, Sylavel is incredibly slow to judge, preferring not to make an opinion on someone without enough evidence to support the decision. His general demeanor is fairly blank, giving him an aire of mystery wherever he goes. It is only around his Clan, his family, that he loosens up enough to let his individuality truly shine.
Beneath the sort of mask of nothing that he portrays, Sylavel is a hot-headed, stubborn Al-Taer with a habit of speaking out of place. He never quite learned the art of holding his tongue among his Elders, a habit that got him in a lot of trouble. When not around strangers, he jokes freely, and could even be considered a fun person to be around. If only he learned to be that way in public. He’s incredibly proud, and has issues with stepping back and letting others do what he feels he should be able to. Working with others has begun to teach him to respect his own limitations, though he struggles often with it.
Background history/past experience: Sylavel grew up the same as all hatchlings of the Prefixine Clan. He was the only one of his egg clutch to survive, and as such, was viewed as a combination of a miracle and a cursed child. Being born as a leucistic only served to further that cautious stigma. He grew up held in equal parts a demon and a demi-god. Being the only hatchling of the Clan’s Head Priestess certainly didn’t help. His evident prowess with the arcane arts only served to live up to that expectation. Unfortunately for him, he was herded into a position to take over his mother’s role from the time he was barely able to unfurl his own wings. His prowess in physical combat, however, left something to be desired. He could barely figure out how to hold a footbow effectively, and his aim was far from true. Though he showed little more prowess with the straightsword, it was nothing of note. In a startling breach of tradition, rumors began spreading that the Elders were considering abandoning his Walk, leaving him without the Ceremony of Passage – forever seen as a child in the eyes of the Goddess. Unable to accept that fate, Sylavel rebelled, leaving a simple note to his mother before setting out in the dead of night, determined not to return until the year was up. He would not return until he was seen as an adult in the traditions.
Other info: Sylavel is only moderately skilled in flight, having left his Clan before his adult feathers had fully grown in.
