Winged World Building

Lands

#1. Divodurium ["touching the heavens"]
Geography: Mountainous, open-cavernous. North-North-West. A large wall is hand-built to the far West, separating the land from that of the hostile and alien Meginngen.
Climate: Cold, snowy winters-- a period of continuous white out in the middle of the cold season. Temperate, stormy summers.
Ruling Body: Monarchy, Council.
Infrastructure: Open, into the mountains, civilisation built mostly into the mountains.

#2. Alzenau ["meeting water"]
Geography: Coastal, temperate, South-South-East.
Climate: Humid summers, wet winters.
Ruling Body: Monarchy, Nobility.
Infrastructure: Civilisation lives mostly on the coast, free-standing structures.

#3. Meginnga ["stark plains"]
Geography: Tundra, plains.
Climate: Cold, snowy winters, dry summers.
Ruling Body: Unknown, appears to have a queen/hive mind set up.
Infrastructure: Unknown, potentially nomadic. Separated by the Divodurum Wall.

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Races/Factions

#1. Divodurii.
Appearance: Humanoid-winged. Rarely exceed 6'1 in height, built for agility and to survive the harshness of the mountains. Wings are fully developed and used near constantly, making up for physical frailty. Are horned and more in touch with "bloodlust? Berserker? Bestial?" side, which may also make up for physical frailty, with the acquired "vampiric/cat-like" teeth and nail growth when roused. Ironically, this attunement has dulled the edge of this aspect some, making it less dangerous (and a vulnerability to those among the Alzenau, who's attitude is significantly more expansionist and ambitious), so to speak.

Wings: May be based off any known bird species, which may also influence size and strength/deftness as well as colour. Brighter colours as seen on parrots is rare though, with more than 2-3 "rainbow" colours even rarer. Pure white is also rarely seen.

#2. Alzenau.
Appearance: Humanoid-winged. Frequently over 6'0. Physically strong, but societal culture and the building of coastal infrastructure/transpor has significantly lessened the use of and development of wings; they frequently look like particularly interesting humans as most hide or bind their wings from a young age. Brighter colours are more frequent, as is white.

#3. Meginngan.
Appearance: Warped and orc-like, stunted but serviceable wings. Appear to be of a cunning intelligence and a rapacious nature.

Similarities Between #1 & #2.

Long-lived (TBD).
Humanoid-winged.
Strengths: Above average strength and sensory sensitivity (varies between individuals, also affected by culture if the Alvenau isn't military). Immune to poison and hardy to most known illness.
Weaknesses: Can be killed in all the ways most flesh and blood creatures can be, however can also be severely weakened by permanently crippled wings even if rest of the body is healthy-- could be a spiritual weakness. While all species have a bestial/berserker side to them, the "stronger" ones suffer later from deep exhaustion and a higher wound percentage.
Healing ability: Above average, but closer to mortal/human like than supernatural. Extra care and time is needed for injured wings.
Both use medieval-Iron Age type weaponry.

Differences Between #1 & #2.

While essentially the same species, time and racial seclusion due to territorial and blood wars has led what may have been one race originally in the lost records to have branched off into two species with marked, and mostly climate-selective, differences (though by far not as different as the bulk of both races would like to believe).
Interestingly, despite their somewhat more expansionist outlook compared to the Divodurii and disparagement of the "commonality" baring one's wings is percieved as by the coastal Alzenau (indeed, when part of or mixing with the higher classes especially, even military is expected to cover, if not bind, their wings), the coastal race is for the most part made up of taller, more obviously strong physically specimens, with larger, wider wings should they be given the opportunity to strengthen them and not be otherwise stunted during the most formative stages of their lives by social expectation (a particular problem for the royalty/higher classes, think something like the foot-binding of Ancient China).
The Divodurii by contrast are smaller, however boast horns and more obvious "fangz" even in a relaxed state. They do not share the Alzenau opinion towards their wings, and disparage the mindset of restricting wings and flight as unnatural vice versa to how the latter races percieves it, despite some of it's more sound reasoning (e.g. broken wings are crippling, wings are deeply sensitive and intimate after a fashion as well as emotive, coastal winds are occasionally as wild, and more unpredictable, than mountain air). This is likely also borne due to confusion/misunderstanding/hypocrisy, as while there is an instinctual recognition of body language and larger wings as more virile, the constant hostility/skirmishes between the species makes for all of the aforementioned given the Alzenau military is revered by its people and allowed unrestrained wings for combat, yet appear to be patronised at best by the higher classes of their people-- a further mind boggle to the "wilder" Divodurii, as while there is a monarchy and a set heirarchy, it is governed more by survival and community based on that than complex culture.
(Note. It is highly likely that the Divodurii have maintained both their wings and the aforementioned due to the constant threat of the Meginngan to the West, which the Alzenau have lacked, as well as having greater cultural complexity due to their coastal location.)
Species Interbreeding? Yes. Children are exceedingly rare however and despite war casualties, all species are long-lived (how long, TBD, though maturity into young adulthood follows a similar time frame to humans/primates). It is also discouraged as there is an element (to varying degrees) of isolation for those of mixed blood, even those born to royal/noble blood. There is only one mixed caste currently living (that is known of openly, anyway). Also because despite the Alzenau trying to suppress most of their natural instinct, both of these sets of fuckers are almost as picky as Tolkien Elves about mates. But still want to fight each other, you dense motherfuckers.

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Wing Body Language (because Sam is a nerd) for Divodurii/unbound&uncloaked Alzenau.

Feathers flat, wings lowered or tucked loosely against back: Calm, relaxed, pensive.
Feathers flat, wings tucked tightly against back or around self, or raised: Alert and/or defensive, protective.
Feathers (wing tips, primary and secondary long feathers) spread, wings arched or spread: Intimidation, warning, high alert.
Feathers (wing tips, primary and secondary long feathers) spread, pinions arched, wing spread or arch can be any length: similar to above, more threatening or challenging, seen as an alpha gesture.
Feathers flat, but quivering (open or closed): happiness, amusement, affection.
Feathers mostly flat, but slightly ruffled and quivering: excitement, arousal.
Feathers puffy as all hell but wings are closed or semi-open: annoyed, irritated, petulant etc.
Feathers puffed up, wings opened: definitely an angry birb, if the likely peek of "fangz" wasn't a clue.
Note. If the Alzenau's closeted finickness over them wasn't a clue, wings are considered highly attractive and sensual to both species. Pick a bird of paradise/lizard with frills to get the idea, I guess? xD

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Draft Cast Line Up (feel free to take roles/offer roles etc at leisure)
Divodurii
Royalty.
- Heir Apparent/future King: Chris/Rillion. [full-blooded, about 18 years of age]
- General (primary wing, Blue Company): Riza/Eli [mixed blood, mid-20's-late 20's, bastard daughter of the former King > a captured Alzenau woman he fell in love with, she got no horns unlike the rest of the Divodurii but managed to get the size of the Alzenau, poor kid].
Nobility/Other Military.
- Retired military/currently respected Haruspex/Spiritual Advisor: E'rik.
- Captain/Marshal of Green: Duo.
Captain/Marshal of Red: Open.
- Lieutenant/Marshal of Blue, Green or Red Company: Open. Blue would also play the role of secondary high command in the absence of the General.
Soldiers: Open AF.
Teachers (spiritual and flight primarily): Open AF.
Other roles [healers, commerce etc]: Open AF.

Alzenau
[society is more rigid of females in masculine roles...yes, Folara is definitely going to go Dances With Wolves on this one if she goes to the mountains with this sort of maybe marriage for peace plot].
Royalty
- Ruling King & Queen: Open.
- Heir apparent: Open.
- Other royal siblings [including one to be potentially married to the future King of the Divodurii]: Open.
- Bodyguard: Open.
Nobility
- Soon to be former General of the Military, advisor in council and war matters: Ned/N'tien.
- Lieutenant, former lowest class and orphaned]: Folara/Nel.
- All other military roles open.
- All commerce/merchant roles open. Merchant/Commerce is unique to the Alvenau.