Avoluch

The **Volucrine** (***Volucri gallus***), more commonly known as the the **Avoluch** in Poultongue and inaccurately known as the **Poultrian**, is the only extant species of family Gallidae. They are chicken-like upright men in the class Aves, order Rectaveformes, who originate from lands far past the borders of Rathnir. A notable member of this species is Pesto Poultrix (who is a member of a subspecies, *V. g. novoculis*).

## Statistics

### Estimated Population

Unknown, at least 3 (Rathnir)Unknown (Eldham)~395 million (Avika)~16 million (Inaer)

## Phenotypes

### Eye Colour

Usually dark, coloured eyes common among subspecies

## Culture

### Language

Poultongue, Traveller's tongue

*Volucri gallus* emerged in the recent years of the Regolithic Period, between 58 thousand to 22 thousand years ago. It is unknown how they evolved into upright beings so quickly, but they are shown to have developed much quicker than the human race. Although the genus Homo developed for 2 million years, the order of Rectaveformes developed in a mere ~35 thousand years, and they are ahead in technologies by an estimated 200 years. Their origins, along with other Rectaveformes, are unknown, and their initial appearance in the world and their rise to power is unexplainable.

## Avoluch

### Temporal range:

Regolithic – present, 0.04 ± 0.018 – 0 Ma

## Information

### Size

6'7" (average male height), 6'1" (average female height)

## Characteristics

Avoluch usually have white or brown feathers, but other colours such as black and yellow have been observed. It has also been noted that there can be slight differences in colouration near the top of the head or in males' cases, the chin, and that feathers grow at an increased rate and grow thicker around these areas, corresponding with hair growth in the species of the genus *Homo*. Avoluch also have dark irises, but a subspecies which emerged rather recently, *V. g. novoculis*, has been shown to have coloured irises, such as blue, green, and red, albeit rarely. Not all instances of *V. g. novoculis* have these coloured eyes, however. Some retain the dark irises of the pureblood Avoluch. They have large orange or yellow beaks with a red comb hanging over it, similar to that of a common chicken (however, the red comb is not present among *V. g. novoculis*). They are bipedal, and have orange or yellow featherless legs from the hock down. They likely never possessed the means to fly, and their modern wings, which resemble arms and are used as such, aren't even enough to slow their fall like that of a chicken.

## Myths & History

### Prehistoric

Avoluch have various ancient legends and stories. One of the most well known in Poultria mention of an ancient species named the Avikols (singular: Avikol) who were black-feathered, could fly and were the ancestors of all Rectaveformes. These stories are shared with the other kingdoms surrounding itself (with minor differences). The stories are debated between scholars, scientists and paleontologists. Most still follow the ancient traditions, but some argue that they are only legends, as bones of such species have never been found. This is a dilemma, as not only have bones never bones never been found, possibly ruling out the only sensible origins of the Rectaveformes. Other stories speak of modern Rectaveformes and Avikols being the original intelligent lifeforms, and that humans and non-intelligent birds were split apart from the various Rectaveformes by supernatural means.

### Ancient

Avoluch formed their first civilizations only a few thousand years after their speciation, along with other Rectaveformes, who speciated around the same time. One of the first cities was named Chik'n (settled c. 20 kya, officially founded c. 3.25 kya), which is for obvious reasons hypothesized to be the origin for the word 'Chicken' in Rathnir Standard language. Chik'n was a brilliant, shining city, whose inhabitants were typically very wealthy. All living Avoluch, and even most other Rectaveformes, have been confirmed to have at least 1 relative living in Chik'n in the past 5 centuries. There is a debate regarding if the river Chik'n running through it was the namesake of the city, or vice versa. However, all scholars agree that the word 'Chik'n' somehow travelled from Poultria to Rathnir and was given to the chicken for its similar appearance to the Avoluch. Various petty wars and conflicts occurred in this period, and the first distinguishable form of the Avoluch language developed.

### Modern

During this time, many new smaller cultures developed. Followers joined a fallen princess, who formed a clan known as Clan Poult. This clan would eventually turn into the modern House Poultrix. At one point, the current kingdom in Poultria, known as the Prirakt, was thrown into civil war. This was because the ruling king was a Avoluch-Laren hybrid with mostly Laren blood, known as Giorene Poult-Laridd. People of the Prirakt saw him as unfit to rule, as a war with the Larens had recently occurred. The people therefore saw him as a Laren; one of the enemies. A civil war began between Giorene and a relative, named Soiezas the Pureblooded. He was given this name as he was an Avoluch, with little Laren blood. Following Giorene's defeat, Soiezas was declared king in the capital city of Henruskt. The descendants of the Great Soiezan Monarchy still sit upon the throne today.

## *V. g. novoculis*

*V. g. novoculis* is the only extant subspecies of *V. gallus*. It possesses minor differences from a regular Avoluch. They have the same feather colour variations as that of an Avoluch, but they have the possibility to be born with unique eye colours observed in humans, such as blue and green. *V. g. novoculis* lacks the red comb over the beak of an Avoluch. They are bipedal, just like *V. gallus*.

## Relation with other intelligent species

### Humans

Avoluch typically viewed humans neutrally, not thinking much about them. There were numerous kingdoms of humans in the east continent of Inaer. They regarded humans as primitive, below the Rectaveformes, until the 11th century IS. When Pesto Poultrix, the Avoluch who 'discovered' Rathnir and made the Avoluch aware of its existence, arrived in Rathnir and met other humans, he was intrigued by the creations of the humans there, among other intelligent species. He quickly made friends with some humans, and disliked others. Avoluch can breed with humans, and hybrids usually resemble humans with their hair being featherlike, sharing the same hair pigment with their Avoluch parent (usually). In some rare cases, hybrids can be afflicted by a disease known as 'Hybridal growth alternation disease'. As it is very rare, it is unknown if it may also occur in other hybrids, however it is unlikely, as the disease is speculated to be caused by the Avoluch race's mythical appearance. This disease means that the way the hybrid grows is affected, and causes side effects such as heterochromia and transchromia (the eye colour varying and changing over time). HGAD may also cause vitiligo in the skin below the hair, resulting in white stripes running through the hair.

### Other Rectaveformes

Avoluch are largely at peace with other Rectaveformes, and are allied to Sphenar and the Gulland, two other avian kingdoms. Some Avoluch live with Sphenites and Larens, and vice versa. Some even are lovers and breed, creating hybrids who function without defect (in most cases). In years prior to even the existence of Duxa Orpult, it was believed that this would cause major problems with the hybrid, if it was even possible. Interestingly, the hybrids have entirely functional reproductive systems, leading some to propose them to be different species or subspecies, however nothing has been officially ratified.