Kelea

The tundra **Parli’an** of the Kelea are the second largest of the Parli’an tribes, thriving in the cold tundra of **Northern Aurulora**. They are known to be reclusive in nature, but not nearly as much as their sister tribe of the **Sorean**. During the winters, the Kelea will hibernate and stay underneath the ice to stay warm, waking up and immediately beginning to hunt and forage once more.

## Settlement

The Kelea live within their city of **Fu’ret**, which is a large dome-shaped city buried deep underground. Several tunnels lead to different sections of the city, with the middle section being where the communal homes are. The beds within the homes are lined with mosses and furs to keep them all warm, with the Kelea typically sleeping together in a bundle. The leaders of the city stay near the front of the homes, with their guards and protectors staying near the tunnel entrances. During the hibernation months, the Kelea will pack the entrances of the city with heavy layers of tight snow.

## History

**Shaefur**, the white rabbit who stood slightly smaller than his sister **Mek’no**, is the forefather of the Kelea. He had claimed that while his two siblings were collecting food and supplies, a large white bird had come to him, saying that they would thrive in the northern reaches of the planet. Within them, they would find an abundance of berries and roots to feed on. Mek’no had been furious by her brother’s suggestion, claiming him a liar and that he was trying to lead them to their demise.

Shaefur ended up splitting away to be on his own, following the white bird across the oceans to the northern tundra. As he followed, he soon discovered that the bird was the Celestial **Alene**. Considering himself blessed to have a **Celestial** visit him, he pushed onwards to serve and heed her commands. The further Shaefur got into the tundra, the more his fur began to thicken to help survive the colder climates. Once he arrived to where Alene had wanted him to be, Alene began to teach him everything he needed to know about the berries and roots in the surrounding area. At first, Shaefur was alone in the icy wasteland of **Northern Aurulora**, but soon more like him had arrived through Alene's guidance. Shaefur, being the first there and the most knowledgeable on the regions resources, became the leader of the newly found tribe: The Kelea.

Remembering the treatment given to him by his sister, Shaefur led the tribe under the belief that they would all remain equal and will be listened to, and to this day, it is a saying they continue to thrive under.

## Physical Appearance

Kelea are typically 5'3 (160.02 cm) to 5'9" (179.832 cm) in height, being on the shorter and smaller side compared to their sister-tribes. Their fur is typically light in color during the colder months, with it taking on a brown or grey tint during warmer months. The fur around their paws or feet is typically heavily padded and thick to allow easy snow navigation. The Kelea also have the smallest noses of the tribes, allowing for them to retain more heat.

Despite their fur changing color, their humanoid hair stays the same color through it all. Kelea have short ears and limbs, with their fur being extra fluffy around their vitals. Since their fur is thick and is generally enough to keep them warm, the Kelea mostly only wear loose robes with capes in earthy tones or pure white.

## Culture

When they’re out foraging, Kelea typically prefer to travel alone. This is because of their ability to run extremely fast across the snow, giving them more of an advantage to escape predators when alone rather than together. Rarely, the Kelea will gather into groups of up to 12 in order to collect more supplies quicker. They primarily like to collect woody plants such as willows, twigs, and roots, as well as berries, flowers, mosses, and lichens.

Once out of their hibernation months, the Kelea are easily the most friendly of the Parli'an tribes. They enjoy making visits to the other races and tribes that live on **Northern Aurulora** with them, trading and interacting with those who will have them. Even when they’re out of hibernation, it’s not often for an outsider to see a Kelea, due to their tendency to sleep for longer than they are awake.

The Kelea have a shifting leadership system, with their leaders getting re-appointed every five years. If a leader turns out to be corrupt or abusive of their power, the Kelea will band together to throw the former leader into a prison, or they will kill them.

Despite their outward friendliness, the Kelea are fearsome and brutal enemies when attacked. Natural enemies living in Northern Aurulora with the Kelea are the **Woriq** and **Ceardian** that live in the surrounding areas.

### Food

The Kelea enjoy digging for and harvesting **snowberries** within the city, which are also highly sought after for their rich color and sweet taste. Their favorite dish to create is a **snowberry tart**, created with the snowberries and decorated with saxifrage. Despite this being their primary diet, they’re not vegetarian, and can be seen hunting caribou and mammoth for meat and hide. Kelea will also gather sacks of snow for them to keep in freezers under the earth, using it as a primary source of water.

### Trade

The Kelea will typically trade away foraged goods, hides, meats, and crafted items to the tribes that live within the region with them.

### Worship

The Kelea worship both the **Celestial** of time **Mel’yde** and the Celestial of life **Pafella**, though the majority of the people don’t actively worship. They believe that they don’t need a higher being to be able to live, and most live freely knowing that they don’t have to abide by this. There is no place of worship for the Celestials within **Fu’ret**, with any worship being done in very small groups within a home.

### Romance

Kelea romance conventions involve most just asking others for their hand in a relationship through a gift of **carved bones** and **jewelry**.

Both women and men wear red scarves around their head and ears to signify if they’ve been courted already. If a man or woman has already been courted, and another asks for a hand in courtship, the couples will generally talk and decide to take in the new mate as another one in their relationship, allowing for polygamous relationships to be common in their society.

Kelea do not have weddings. When breeding, Kelea typically have 5 to 8 children at a time, and are able to breed with other **Parli'an**, **Manna**, **Vlennite**, **Woriq**, and **Faenei**.

### Death

When death occurs in the Kelea society, the Kelea carry the body of the deceased out to the snowy wasteland. Working together, the community digs a grave for the lost one, making sure they are deep in the ground to avoid enemies finding their graves. Once finished, they bury the body and leave the grave unmarked, allowing for nature to take over.

### Language

Kelea means “Tundra Walkers” in the common Eprea language, given to them due to them choosing a harsh climate to live in.

## Leadership

**Faia Menth** is the current leader of the Kelea.