Races of Wild

CHAPTER 3RAPTORANS70Illus. by S. BelledinThey stake out potential sites for new cliff dwellings formonths before deciding whether to build their spiralingtowers there.Although raptorans do not share the halflings’ tendencyto play deliberate pranks, they do have an odd sense ofhumor—particularly when it comes to nonflying creatures.Raptorans do not deliberately play pranksjust to injure or embarrass others, but they oftenfind wingless ones quite funny. Such creaturesrarely think in three dimensions, and raptoranhunters can follow them for milesbefore they catch on. Raptoranshave witnessedcountless trysts in thewoods, accompaniedby honeyed wordspledging eternaldevotion, onlyto hear the samepar ties makethe same vowsto others only afew weeks later.Raptorans cancontrol their expressionswell toavoid revealingthe mirth they feelat the antics of otherraces, but amongthemselves they enjoy tellingstories of how winglessones think and act.A raptoran is never as happy as whenshe is in the air, even if she’s only gliding.She revels in the feel of the wind under her wings and thelimitless sky above, and the night sky is full of wonder forher. She listens for the furtive rustle of creatures belowand watches the clouds race across the sky, alternatelyblocking and revealing stars in an endlessly fascinatingpattern. She never tires of the subtle world of twilight anddawn—so different from the harsh light of the daytimeor the inky black of a moonless night. From high in thesky, everything is softer, more muted, and more subtle.Laughter sounds somehow more delicate, and songs morehaunting. The sky is a place of endless joy; in it, a raptoranis truly at home.Roleplaying Application: If you’re playing a raptorancharacter, take every opportunity you can find to think inthree dimensions. Fly or glide rather than walk wheneverpossible. Look before leaping and think before acting whendanger is not imminent. Always question the ways of othersto see whether they are sound. Consider whether yourcharacter agrees with the sentiment of raptoran isolation,or whether you would rather live with creatures of moreambitious races.Raptorans play a game of thintaRAPTORAN LIFERaptoran flocks are small, and their communities are by necessityclose-knit. Breeding and environment ensure that no twoflocks are alike, but raptoran flocks share enough commoncharacteristics to constitute a racespanningculture. RaptoranPCs can embrace thatculture, stand apartfrom it, or questionit from within.LEISUREBecause they live in small, selfsufficientcommunities, raptoransdo not have a lot of leisure time.They tend to spend the majority oftheir waking hours hunting, gathering,or remodeling the spiralingcliff towers that house their community.Scouts and guardians areresponsible for the safety of thecommunity, artisans make toolsand finished goods for the restof the flock, and parents care fortheir young. However, raptoransdo find time for a variety of leisureactivities as well.They enjoy an aerial teamsport known as thinta, whichinvolves knocking lightweightballs through raised hoops andcatching them in baskets. Therules are complex and the game fast-paced,often taking less than thirty minutes to play.Each player wields a clublike bat in one hand (to hit the ball,hoping to propel it through the hoops) and a small, framednet in the other hand (to intercept the ball or catch a passfrom a teammate). Touching the ball with one’s hands duringthe game is strictly forbidden.Raptorans have a fascination with the stars, and many ofthem enjoy studying their celestial movements. Few otherraces have developed astronomy to as high a degree; theraptorans know the positions and movements of the starsas well as they know the lay of the land around their cliffdwellings—sometimes even better. Each star has a name intheir language, and many constellations also have names andmyths attached to them. Their night-sensitive eyes can seethe stars in more detail than those of humans, and the speciallenses they grind from the glass they create can magnify thestars to reveal fine details and color.Debate is also a popular pastime among raptorans. Theirhabit of pondering and discussing any issues that come upbefore making decisions has led them to develop a finelyhoned talent for genteel argument. Arguing is encouragedamong children, and they begin early to hone their talent