Owlin

### History

The Owlin can trace their ancestry back to the Giant Owls in the Feywild tens of thousands of years ago. These large beasts were tamed, brought back to Materia, and trained by human mages for use as messengers. Over time their capacity for moving more specialized cargo, such as books and magical artifacts grew. They slowly were made more and more intelligent through magical experimentation in order to increase their value to the mages, until they were even able to run the humans' archives, libraries, and workshops on their own. The arcanal exposure they were subjected to in the wake of Marko's mistake—which decimated the humans of Gharmid—caused sapience to emerge in these already intelligent owls, resulting in the species known today as the Owlin. The progenitors of the species fled from Gharmid, settling in an unknown location. Over the years individual Owlin have appeared around Gharmid, creating smaller but well guarded settlements. Many Owlin have also integrated with the society that rose up in the wake of the extinction of the humans, with some finding their ways to the highest positions of power in Avia, such as the Avugler noble family in Raptora City.

### Physical

Despite tracing their heritage to the giant owls from the Feywild, Owlin range in size all the way from petite and fluffy to wide-winged and majestic. Owlin have arms and legs like other Humanoids, as well as wings that extend from their back and shoulders. An owlin can be Small or Medium size, typically standing between 3 and 6 feet tall and weigh between 30 and 60 pounds.

Like owls, Owlin are graced with feathers that make no sound when they move or fly, making it easy for them to sneak up on you in the library.

As humanoids altered by the arcane, Owlin have slightly longer lifespans. An Owlin reaches adulthood around 20, and the oldest of them can live for 125 years.

### Societal

In Gharmid, Owlin primarily make their home in woods or other boreal and mountainous regions. Their towns tend to be built atop the canopy of these tall trees as a natural defense mechanism, and most work is typically performed at night. It's entirely possible to travel through a forest containing an Owlin settlement completely oblivious to the bustling society hundreds of feet above your head. Those that live in forests like these generally prefer to stay out of most worldly affairs, keeping to themselves.

Like other owls, Owlin find flight difficult when their wings are excessively wet. Owlin society is host to much superstition and fear regarding water. Something as simple as a leaky roof may be seen as disfavor from the Gods and a blessing from a priest of Akadi may be sought in addition to repairs. Owlin frequently worship Deneir, Oghma, and Msytra.

Owlin feet are where their feathers are the thinnest, making it the most practical place to decorate with jewelry. Elaborate and often impractical rings and anklets are a marker of high status. Seeing an Owlin without any jewelry or other decoration on their feet is uncommon.

It is customary for an Owlin interested in courting another to bring the them gifts of food. They may be observed with open fluttering wings while presenting the gift held in their beak. Such behavior often occurs before courtship and if successful signifies the formation of a new monagamous Owlin pair.

In contrast to mundane owls, Owlin are a social people, with several generations often living together in the same home in tight knit family groups called Parliaments.

Owlin integrating with society at large find themselves overrepresented in archieval and librarian work, enjoying the ability to nest in dusty library rafters and abandoned towers. Those who's lives fall outside of academia opt for work in nightly vocations such as the night watch, lamp lighting, chimney sweeps, or even in the undercity as roguish thieves and thugish bar patrons.

In rare occasions some Owlin have been known to rent unused shop attics to pay for the rent, sleeping during the day, but offering security for the shop as they work during the night. Their keen senses are an asset to their shop keeper landlords, as added security against night time burglary.

A strange sight to those outside of Avia, most are content staying out of sight during the day to avoid unwanted attention.

Owlin wood crafting is a niche hobby that has some interest for the nobility.

### Behavioral

Most Owlin like their ancestors are nocturnal, embodying the common nickname of night owl. Though not unheard of, those Owlin who are diurnal by nature or nurture are considered odd by other Owlin.

The Owlin are by in large a wise people, unlike the more mundane owls. Those that have joined and assimilated civilization often find themselves within roles pertaining to the spread, application and preservation of wisdom and knowledge. Such as priests, doctors, teachers, researchers, archivists and librarians, and politicians.

While their trade caravans and other Owlin visitors to settlements are known to be exceptionally sociable, easy-going and often form friendships with locals, they are fiercely protective of their home villages. Owlin will immediately clam up and seek the company of others if asked anything that could lead to their homes being found, and Owlin town guards are known to shoot first and ask questions later.

Owlin that have grown up and around in or moved to more metropolitan towns are often just as sociable, but seem to have to transfer this isolationism into something else. Some Owlin have been known to declare some aspect of their life "too private", be it their occupation, their apartment, or even more abstract topics like their childhood. They are easy to befriend as long as you know the topic to avoid. Owlin cannot see well close up and prefer ample 'personal space' in all but the most intimate settings.

### Owlin Names

Owlin family names, or roost names, are generally constructed with an adjective attached to a noun. These nouns are generally related to avian physiology, such as claw or tail, or their social structure, such as flock. Owlin first names find their origin in human names, though they have been slightly altered by time.

**Male:** Vendeep Dimclaw, Niamhen Silverflock, Caed Brasstalon, Harri Goldplume, Abham Ebonflock

**Female:** Ankitta Silvertail, Chetanesh Ashclaw, Silecas Ironhorn, Drenna Slipwing, Levanya Glimmeroost

https://www.dndnames.com/races/races-l-q/owlin-names.php

### Owlin Isolationism

d8 I refuse to talk about ... with all but those closest to me

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

1 | my favorite food

2 | my occupation

3 | my dwelling

4 | my childhood

5 | my dreams

6 | my religious beliefs

7 | my ancestry

8 | where I come from

### Owlin Quirks

d10 Quirk

- - - - - -

1 | You twitter when you are happy.

2 | You like water and do not mind getting wet.

3 | You are territorial which may for example manifest in you moving to an empty table should someone sit at yours.

4 | You are a font of random trivia from the lore and stories you have discovered.

5 | You are afraid of heights and rarely fly, preferring to instead walk on the ground.

6 | You lack a true sense of fear and often take reckless risks.

7 | You never wear the same anklet jewelry twice, unless you absolutely must.

8 | You enjoy freaking people out by using all 270 degrees of your neck's mobility.

9 | You find comfort when stressed by 'incubating' rocks.

10 | You are diurnal.