Sinvian

## **Biology**

**Purity:** 25-45%

Sinvian are bipedal avian creatures. They can resemble just about any bird, although many of them look more like a generic avian and not like a specific species. They’re commonly between 2 and 4 feet tall and they come in two variants: Winged and Wingless. A Winged variant will have large, feathery wings in place of arms. The Wingless variant will have clawed hands, similar to their legs in terms of looks. Neither variant is capable of flight without the use of Magic, but Winged Sinvian are able to glide a short distance.

A Sinvian’s intelligence is all over the place. Some are comparable with Humans, while others are nothing but an instinctual animal. Regardless of intellect, Sinvian all share a common trait, and that’s their playful nature. Seemingly all Sinvian have at least one item that they can’t help but go nuts for. It’s more or less an obsession. Even the most calm, collected, and rational Sinvian may drop their facade when presented with a beloved item. This causes many high purity beings to think less of them, and oftentimes they’re taunted for entertainment.

## **Personality**

Sinvian are very simple beings. They aren’t intelligent, and they know it. Most of them can only learn the basics of a language, making it extremely difficult for them to speak more than one. Bilingual Sinvain commonly mix up words or speak in a weird hybrid of all the languages they’ve been trying to learn. That being said, Sinvian are fairly curious. They want to learn, even if they’re unable to retain the information given to them.

Like many smaller species, Sinvian are commonly used as workers or slaves. But, because of their low intellect, they aren’t trusted with any highly important or technical tasks. Working farms or repairing infrastructure are common tasks assigned to them. Most of them would be doing this anyway, as their instincts often drive them to build or “nest”, so higher species don’t find this to be cruel even if it is under the guise of slavery.

Generally speaking, Sinvian are a peaceful race, but this is mainly due to the fact they’re constantly walking on eggshells. They’ve only recently and reluctantly been accepted onto the purity scale after years and years of pushing the matter and fighting for their rights, so they generally avoid any and all acts of aggression if they can help it. Best not to poke the bear, so to speak.

## **Civilization/Culture**

Sinvian as a species evolved separately from the majority of other pure races. When they came to be is unclear, but the first recorded sighting of the species dates back to 571BDI, although it’s speculated they existed much earlier than this. They originate from the deserts of Rusty Covert. Avians had always been intelligent in terms of the animal kingdom, and people speculate that it was a natural leap in logic for them to evolve in the way they did. Once Sinvian learned they could flock together and use the skills of the group to their advantage, language and customs began to form. Eventually their little societies expanded and Sinvian became far more pure than regular birds ever were.

Most Sinvian have a pretty concrete role in their village or town. Many of their obsessions turn into full blown jobs or careers. One who obsesses over shiny or glittery items may become a blacksmith or a jewelr, for example. They also become somewhat well known for these traits which can heavily sway the public’s opinion on them. Even the purest of Sinvian might have that slight instinctual twinge upon seeing their favoured item which can cause them to break composure. It’s not uncommon for higher beings to torment them because of this.

That being said, the culture of Sinvian heavily relies on what region they grew up in. Generally speaking there’s four different points of origin for a Sinvian. Those from Tuf/Fairn tend to have a higher population of winged Sinvian, and many of their cultures and customs are centered around their animalistic ancestry. Sinvian from Andris and Peoda are more rugged and tough. They’re sharing a living space with dragons, after all, and because Dragons had always been a natural predator they’re constantly at war with them. Those in Esteign and Cawlu are more civil, trying to push aside their instinctual traits in order to blend in better with society. Then there’s the Sinvian of Barrowford who are by far the most removed from the bunch. The ones who live there are more or less equal with the other species. Not an instinctual bone in their bodies. Just looking at how a Sinvian acts can be enough to determine their point of origin.

## **Relations**

It’s no secret that Sinvian have been considered prey animals to many higher races. In the past their ancestors were hunted and eaten by both Kodin and Dragons, which has caused resentment to both species even to this day. It’s hard not to, given their instinctual drive for survival often makes both species terrifying. Sinvian and Dragons are in an unofficial state of war because of this. Given dragons place on the purity scale no one really cares if the two species are at each other's throats. They might as well be. Both are “lowly animals” as far as the rest of the world is concerned.

Sinvian and Kodin are a much different story, however. Kodin have always been considered pure, so when Sinvian put up a fight against them it becomes a losing battle. They detest Kodin, but can’t do anything against them for fear of retribution. This has resulted in Sinvian removing themselves from Kodin society. Many of them will keep to themselves or ignore Kodin if possible.

## **History**

In the past, Sinvian were not considered pure beings. As such, they were hunted for their meat and feathers. Nowadays most places have laws against this, but it hasn’t stopped the problem etirley. Sinvian heavily value their feathers, often using them as a religious symbol. Because of this, it’s also commonly illegal to own a Sinvian’s feathers, as there’s no way to prove you got one legitimately. It’s hard to curb years of deep rooted culture, but Sinvian are slowly being accepted as the pure beings they are and not just lowly animals.

As stated above it’s unclear when the species firtst came about. Early records of their kind have seemingly been lost to time, even though their origins were fairly recent compared to other races. Some people speculate their records were intentionally destroyed as some means of covering up their “true nature”. They believe by erasing their animalistic origins other pure beings will be “forced” to accept them. This hasn’t been confirmed, however.

Sinvian started out in the deserts of Rusty Covert and from the very beginning their kind fell prey to the larger creatures of the area. The constant threat of a dragon swooping in and devouring the lot of them always hung over their head. Eventually members of the species migrated west in hopes of finding a safer territory to call their own, but even that was met with disaster. Early Sinvian had to cross Wolvern Valley which brought on yet another natural predator: Kodin.

While the deaths of their own to higher beings was horrible it did eventually lead Sinvian to their place on the purity scale. The longer they lived around these higher beings the more they began to learn from them. Eventually Sinvian caught wind of the purity scale and how it worked, and they collectively decided they were done being food for these savages and wanted to be considered pure. That was the start of their journey, and in the year 547ADI they finally won the war and got themselves added to the scale.

## **Religion**

Sinvian are a very highly religious group. They have two gods, both of which fall under the same religious group known as Star-Gazers. Sinvian believe that these gods are their ancestors. The god Aurora being the missing link between regular birds and their species and the god Dreamer being the very first of their kind. As far as Sinvian are concerned they owe everything they have to these gods, so they often make at least a little bit of effort to pay homage to them in some way shape or form.

## **Languages**

Most Sinvian speak the language Sish, as it's their native tongue and the easiest language to speak with their beaks. Bilingualism is very rare, but the few sinvian that are usually opt to learn Standard as a means of fitting in with the rest of the pure world.

## **Names**

Many Sinvian are named after their parents' obsessions, which often leads to confusion when a Sinvian named “Seaglass” is obsessed with woodworking or something along those lines. Many of them end up with pretty odd or bizarre names, many of them not being traditional “names” at all. You could pick an item at random and chances are there’s a Sinvian dawning that title. It makes higher beings think less of them, but it’s become such a staple in their society it’s not going to change any time soon. If a parent derives such joy from their seemingly mundane obsession why not name their children after it? It only makes sense to them.

It’s not common for a Sinvian to have a last name. Generally speaking those that do either had a nickname that stuck and was then added to their full name or they were adopted and raised by a species where last names are commonplace.

## **Adventures**

Sinvian are only adventurous out of survival. If it weren’t for the threat of being eaten they most likely never would have left Rusty Covert. After all, the desert out there is brutal. It’d take the near guarantee of being killed for anyone to brave the harsh landscape out there. That being said, they are slowly expanding their range. Ever since being added to the purity scale Sinvian have been testing the waters and moving further and further away from their original homeland. The Sinvian of Barrowford are a great example of this.

The invention of Airships has helped with this greatly. Many of them are more inclined to leave home so long as they’re in the safety of an airship with a trusted crew. Sure, most of them are mere workers and not adventurers or explorers, but it’s still allowing the species to explore areas of Mirror Domain they normally wouldn’t.

## **Abilities**

Most Sinvian abilities are directly tied to their natural biology. Many of them are natural born climbers. Even without the gift of flight a Sinvian is able to find its way up even the steepest of places. It’s just about impossible to “sinvian proof” a building. If it exists they can climb it. As well as that some winged Sinvian are able to glide short distances due to their feathery arms. Both skills combined act quite well together.

In terms of Magic Sinvian are very limited. They’re able to cast simple spells but it’s by no means a common occurrence. It’s far more common for Sinvian to use artifacts or trinkets to supplement their own magic