Floating Isles of Holnora

*Mystical floating islands made of stone and earth located off of the northeast coast of Thaija Island*

## Summary

The Floating Isles of Holnora are inhabited by a race of small, humanoid people resembling bantam chickens , named the pulchen. These bird-like people live short, but fulfilling lives, on Holnora. The isles are lush with alien plant-life, giving them a reputation of being mysterious and magical.

## The Pulchen of The Floating Isles of Holnora - A History

The isles of Holnora once resided within the Whispering Ocean. They were inhabited by many flora and fauna, chickens being the main population. Human colonizers attempted to found the islands, but as they set up camp a terrible storm formed above. Their tents and supplies began to defy gravity, slowly floating into the sky, as the clouds swirled above. Panic ensued and the humans that remained grounded attempted to board their ships to flee. As they reached the shore, the islands themselves began to raise from the water. As the masses of earth and stone floated higher and higher, mysterious glowing particles enveloped the islands and human colonizers. The storm began thundering and lightening, and the strikes of electricity targeted the glowing particles. The land and colonizers began to shift and morph, creating the pulchen people and alien plant-life. The islands, now suspended in the air by an invisible force, became a place of magic and energy. The pulchen people had no recollection of their prior lives other than a few journals that were spared and found on the islands from their previous human forms. Energy work and spirituality are the focus of the pulchen, leaving only a few to tend to their crops of food. The pulchen are self sufficient, but have created an airship to travel down to Thaija Island for special needs.

## Lifestyle of the Pulchen

Pulchen people have short lifespans, the oldest ever recorded being 17 years old. They are a modest and clean people, preferring isolation to companionship. Because of their chicken ancestors, the pulchen routinely lay eggs that are sold for materials and precious stone not found on the isles. Their society is led by generation after generation of shamans who can speak to the land and protect their community with magic beyond comprehension. Day to day activities of the pulchen may include meditating, practicing their energy manipulation techniques, studying and bonding with the land, and communing with the shaman for advice and guidance.

## The Pulchen Shaman

The shamans of the pulchen are selected each generation by appearance of their fertilized egg. While a normal egg of a pulchen is bland in color, often browns and grays, the gifted pulchen are hatched from vibrant patterned, colorful eggs, often yellows and greens. These pulchen are hatched only once per generation and are believed to be reincarnations of the previous shaman. The gifted pulchen are typically covered in more colorful, more voluminous feathers. They are isolated within the shaman's tent only moments after hatching and are left there alone for one night, representing death, and one day, representing life. This ritual is said to jump-start the shaman's memory from their previous reincarnation, allowing them to continue the cycle. From then on they are expected to lead the community.

## Description of Holnora

The Floating Isles of Holnora consist of three main floating islands in a triangle formation. The southernmost island contains housing and a dining hall, all of which are built from hardened clay and have thatched roofs. The northernmost island is a sanctuary-type garden; All plant life has been left alone to grow and the pulchen see this as a sacred, pure place meant for meditation. The island in the center houses the shaman's tent.