Races of Wild

CHAPTER 3RAPTORANS82Na twa dima menti sintis, mil onit hista. “When two mindsthink alike, only one is necessary.” This axiom reflectsthe raptorans’ zest for debate and emphasizes the value ofthe individual. After all, two people who share the samethoughts can’t provide each other with any new ideas orfresh perspectives.Fristi milta orisa nifint. “Anger is the one thing that growsin confinement.” This phrase serves as a warning not tokeep hostile feelings bottled up too long. It also remindsthe listener that freedom is necessary for growth. Eitherway, it’s good advice in the freewheeling atmosphere of araptoran flock.Nilsi hentil kilta anno. “It takes four seasons to make ayear.” This saying is a reminder that there’s a proper time foreverything. Winter is for dreams and slumber; spring isfor awakening and birth; summer is for life and love; autumnis for gathering and for reflection. Furthermore, you mustprepare ahead of time for what’s coming next, be it a day ora season. If you don’t sleep, you won’t be fresh for the nextday. If you don’t get up, you can’t hunt or work, and if youdon’t hunt or work, you have nothing to get you through thenext day.Menti lintu onlita venla op avel donlita venila. “A mind openedby wonder is clearer than one closed by belief.” Another affirmationof the raptorans’ reliance on debate, this saying asksthe listener to seek a fresh outlook. To believe too stronglyin one viewpoint is to close yourself off to new and perhapsbetter ideas.Viilit nesla odelmin e van rensii, sil ti gar, odelmin vimil ginrinit.“The mouse fears the rising of the moon. But for the owl,moonrise means it’s time to hunt.” This thought also has adouble meaning. Most obviously, it’s better to be the hunterthan the hunted. The deeper meaning is that the timid fearchange (because things could get worse), but the courageousembrace change (because things can get better).Seniil limna! “From the sky!” This is the most common battlecry of raptorans, who deliver it even if they aren’t flying atthe time.Wylintasec mendilsi mentisinecta, sil viltima rentis da silliit altina.“Stupidity is a wound that bleeds forever.” This is anothervariation on the raptorans’ disdain for inflexible thinking.Vastikkimensa hileka belinnit e hastal min resinatadol, silfostil nasila fenes e mastinnit. “The careful hunter chooseswell and finishes with a full belly, but the fool wastes arrowsand goes hungry.” This saying, similar to the Commonphrase “Haste makes waste,” speaks to the raptorans’desire to mull things over carefully before committing toa decision.Niffimat orisa vilrad, sil nolim tramankit. “A bad seed putsforth a green shoot, but seldom a strong tree.” Like manyother raptoran sayings, this one has a double meaning. Onone hand, even a plan that works well initially can still gowrong. (The first time may even have been a fluke.) Thisstatement is also a variant on the Common aphorism “Bewareof strangers bearing gifts.” Something good that is given toyou by someone bad probably won’t work out well.Benisiim iltem rantoli rah silet nasilit. Wisilti maneti silti rahsilet veniin. “The generous give more than they can. The proudtake less than they need.” Essentially, this saying sums up theraptorans’ view of a good life. Support your flock membersas much as possible, but try to demand as little of others asyou can.RAPTORAN NAMESEach raptoran has four names: a birth name received fromher parents, a nickname received from the flock, an adultname that she chooses herself, and a family name. Adultraptorans are often called by their nicknames within theflock, but they use their adult names with those outsidethe flock. The family name is used with either the nicknameor the adult name as an affirmation of heritage.Because Tuilvilanuue and Elven descend from the sameroot, the random name generator given for elves (see pages30–31) may also be used for raptorans.EXAMPLE FLOCK:THE RIFINTIThe Rifinti are a typical raptoran flock. Their cliff dwellinglies in a snug valley located in the foothills of shelteringmountains with vast mountain lakes and alpine forestsnearby and the vast rolling plains of the lowlands fartheron. They don’t always claim the same territory for their campfrom one year to the next—if hunting is better or worsein a particular area, they’ll pay it more or less attention. Ingeneral, the Rifinti’s territory spans almost 2,000 squaremiles of varied terrain. A nearby lake—fed by runoff fromthe mountains—offers a good source of fresh water. A forestaround the lake has plenty of fruit trees, a few of which theraptorans fell for lumber each year.The Rifinti flock consists of forty-one raptorans of adultage or older (those with at least 1 HD), plus another twentyyoung and noncombatants. The adults spend their timehunting, foraging, and crafting a variety of gear for the flock.The average age of the flock is 155, and its oldest member,Inkili the glassblower, is 267 years old.IMPORTANT RIFINTI MEMBERSThe following NPCs are important members of the Rifintiflock. They also have statistics appropriate for their station,so you can use them even if you aren’t using the flockin encounters.Jenlisa Iltinger, Flock ChiefJenlisa is the third cousin of the high chieftain’s children.She inherited the leadership of the Rifinti from her father,who was the high chieftain’s second cousin, only three yearsago. Now approaching middle age, she has run the Rifintiflock with wisdom, fairness, and foresight.When she became leader, she married Henesku Finlist,the flock’s medicine chief, who is a member of the flock’slargest family. Jenlisa and Henesku have remarried every