Aaratica

In the western section of the continent lies a region that is not a region; a packet of islands sprinkled above the sea, just a few nautical miles from each other. Its residents flew to its shores long ago and named it The Crossing, as it was the lane through which yearly trade migrations travelled, from The Pale to Old Shell. Some of these people found paradise amongst the isles, and built a civilization amongst its lush landscapes. These people are known as the Aaratica.   The Aaratica look like swallows, pelicans, penguins, and other kinds of birds, claiming to be descendants of a long-lost breed of Eagle peoples that were borne of Orkan herself eons ago. As such, there are three subraces: The Gullica, The Norica, and the Chantica. Historically, the Gullica and the Chantica have lived side-by-side, the Chantica leading lives with a lot of migration and primarily inhabiting the islands proper. The Gullica, meanwhile, live closer to the mainland, enjoying the more temperate winds of its forests. Centuries ago a couple of these Aaratica living in the more northern isles were assailed by two migrations; that of the Tabaxi, followed by that of the Elves. Cornered by two warring groups of people, the Aaratica of the north travelled further into the frozen seas than any thinking creature had. Somehow they found a way to survive in the cold and became the Norica.   Some centuries ago, around the time of The Settlement Wars, the mainland where the Gullica lived in earnest was conquered by the Halflings, who founded the country of Hance at the site. Rather than forcing the Gullica into exile or attempting to enslave them, the Halflings sought to integrate the Gullica into their society. Though the process hasn't always been smooth, the Gullica of today resemble City Races more than they do Wild Races. They live in urban locales, wear full-body clothing always, and find value in technology to be more fascinating than that seen in the arcane. Gullica are generally distrusted amongst the wild races who see them as indoctrinated servants of the Halflings. City Races on the other hand, often place the Gullica on a pedestal as the prime example of what Wild Races could become if they worked towards being civilized. The Gullica themselves live in a precarious tightrope, struggling between their 'wild' nature and the 'civility' they've been raised with.   The most populous of Aaratica are the Chantica, living primarily in the many islands that dot the Crossing, just west of Adhera (or The Great Nest). These Aaratica are primarily animists and tend to emphasize the joy of life in their every day. They view strife as temporary, like the hurricanes that sometimes smash against their shores, and so have a view of sorrow that resembles a reaction towards a storm; all shall pass with time. This ideal has made their on-and-off war with the Halflings, who continue to encroach on their territory, difficult to undertake. Added to this difficulty is their migratory lifestyle, as Chantica live cyclical, migratory lives, living in one place for a job or task for a couple of weeks or months, to then uproot their lives and move on to another place. Nonetheless, the Aaratica are avid flyers which has helped to balance out the Halfling's rule over the seas.

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