The Beradai

The Beradai are a race of humanoid birds. Their tie to the element of Air is so strong that even though they no longer have true wings, they are still able to fly for lengthy periods by channeling the Air to lift them. Many generals and army commanders have capitalized on this ability over the history of the world (OUT OF PLAY NOTE: This flight mechanic is still under testing and will probably undergo severe modification). Beradai are never more comfortable than when they are high above the rest of the world. As a consequence of this attitude the Beradai place a premium on personal space.

Society

The Beradai tend to cluster in extended family groups called flocks. Each flock will govern over a region of several miles square. The borders of these regions are very flexible and often the subject of heated debates at the Golden Roost. Each family flock usually specializes in one particular craft or skill and their territory is dedicated to producing the goods they need for that skill, or that they can trade for other necessities. The leader of each flock is voted on by the entire flock, with each member having a number of votes determined by their age.
For the most part, Beradai are very peaceful and would prefer to talk out any problems before resorting to violence. They eschew the use of currency and amongst themselves tend to rely more on barter than money. Those flocks who regularly deal with other races, or whose territories borders the lands outside of the Great Aerie typically will keep a family stockpile of money to be used with the more particular races.
Beradai are well known for using almost any excuse to have a party. Most elections and the bi-weekly holidays are known the world over for the raucous parties that encompass the proceedings. It is during these periods that Beradai artists demonstrate their newest works. Most Beradai art takes the form of dances and oration, though they are also famous for their works in crystal and glass. The physical art created by the Beradai tends to focus on creating beautiful, nearly ephemeral sculptures and abstracts out of near transparent glass or crystals. A well-done artwork will be almost unnoticeable except for how it sounds and glitters in the light of a windy mountain peak.

Government

The Beradai have one of the most confusing governmental systems of any of the races. Each flock of Beradai will hold an election once a year for a new leader of the flock. Then the flock leaders, known as Praetors, whose borders overlap will meet once every other year to elect a representative from amongst themselves for their regions, known as an Elegan. Once every three years the Elegans whose regions share borders will gather to elect a High Elegan to represent their area at the Golden Roost. The Golden Roost then elects one of its members every five years to serve as the Wind Lord, or leader, of the assembly. The Wind Lord, while being a position of great prestige, really has no more power than any other High Elegan except that he has the final tie-breaking vote on any issue that comes before the Golden Roost.
Elections for Praetors and High Elegans take place on the longest day of the year, and elections for Elegans and the Wind Lord take place on the shortest day of the year. The total number of Praetors, Elegans, and High Elegans varies from year to year as flocks are absorbed or separate from each other. Non-Beradai are barred from participating in the government in any significant form.

Race Relations

While very fair and balanced towards other Beradai, the other races who make their homes among the wooded valleys of the Great Aerie are treated very much as second-class citizens. Most of the other races that make their home in the Great Aerie make their living by sharecropping for the Beradai that live at the top of the peaks. Crossbreeds - Having or being a crossbreed is considered socially inappropriate, and there have been cases of such a scandalous affair costing an elected official his or her position. Dependant on the flock and the surrouding flocks attitudes at the time, some crossbreeds have actually been able to make some advances in politics, though most of them tend to seek quiet endevours or positions that allow them to travel out of the Great Aerie frequently.

Geography

A visit to the office of the Praetor or Elegan of the region is required before starting a business in any of the valleys, and the Beradai flocks almost always have their nests at the peaks of the mountains that break the canopy of the Great Aerie’s forests. The trails up these mountains are poorly maintained by the Beradai and often treacherous to travel. The only peak that no non-Beradai can reach without magical assistance is the Peak of the Golden Roost. This 4 mile high mountain has been artificially smoothed down the majority of its length, so that over the years it has become as smooth and slick as glass from the base of the mountain up to almost the 3-mile mark. From that point on it is covered by the gleaming, glass like buildings of the city of Roost. From the Peak it is said that you can see the glittering of the Tower of Dawn in the Great Bazaar on a clear morning.

Racial Makeup

Beradai are the only race besides the humans that do not require actual makeup. To show that one is a Beradai you must apply feathers to your head, eyebrows, and the backs of the hands. The feathers must be plentiful enough to be noticeable. If you desire you can also add yellow makeup to compensate for a lack of feathers or to come up to the 50% coverage requirement.