Swiftly Rising

Constantly beaten by the breakers of the powerful Ochine Ocean are the cliffs of the Raelign mountains. Rugged and with many jutting stones of sharp edges, it is a harsh place. However, within its heights the land suddenly gives way into a massive cauldron and drops for hundreds of feet to the dark, sweltering heat below. The upper reaches and nearby mountainsides however are home to a thriving community.

Great masses of tough, woven seaplants stick to the sheer sides of the cauldron, held together and waterproofed with the sticky oils distilled from local marine life. Porches of bone and rope hang around the masses, some of which are so large they nearly ring the cauldron.

Swiftly Rising is also, oddly enough, known for its weather prediction. For there are many small vents worn through the rock on the cliffs far below the town borders, leading to the blazing depths. When storms or seaquakes are forming the waves increase in power and reach higher up the cliffs, to the level of the vents. When the water rushes down it meets with the heat below and is instantly converted into steam. This steam fills the entire village and rises into the air for those from miles around to see. In this fashion passing ships can tell if they need worry about the conditions of their future sailing. It is said that this billowing fog is what gained the interest of the Swiftly Rising raptorans to begin with.

Population: 3,800; 100% Raptoran

Primary Language: Tuilvilanuue

Year of Establishment: 2,200 YoF

Government
Government: Raptorans are only very loosely governed by a Chief, traditionally known as Wind's Favored, who is usually a skilled and wizened warrior, or the direct relative of one.

Government popularity: The chief of the Raptorans is generally well respected, especially as he may fly, thus proving his favor of the winds.

Army: Tuuli'gaata Merlitorn, or Those Who Swiftly Rise, are the guardians of the clans of the Raelign mountains. The city itself was named after its warriors, all of who live within the cauldron. For there is a continuous updraft from the rising warm air below, that allows them to rise quickly with minimal effort and shoot upwards into sudden view of potential aggressors.

Defenses: The steep cliffs required to even get to the outlying homes of Raelign are enough to deter most, though if sufficiently threatened all may flee into Swiftly Rising where only those with flying abilities can hope to reach.

Primary Enemy: The raptorans of swiftly rising have few enemies, though the occasional raid by pirates or snow goblins happen from time to time. Rocs are the most dangerous threat, watching from the nearby mountain peaks to swoop down on emerging raptorans.

Fighting Style: With their natural advantages Those Who Swiftly Rise tend to use ranged weapons, bone footbows in particular.

Society
Constabulary: Raptorans tend to settle their differences without outside aid, though disputes and grudges that threaten to escalate to the point it would affect others becomes a matter for the Chief to come into.

Method of execution: Those found worthy of death are dealt with rather simply. Their wings are publicly clipped and then they are tossed out into the abyss of the cauldron to plummet.

Common skills of inhabitants: Though fishers and hunters foremost, those of swiftly rising are respected for their weavings and coral carvings. Amongst those in the nearby slopes mining is not uncommon, though the caves dug are wide and spacious and the miners 'lesser' raptorans whom have been sent from the cauldron to live in the cold sea winds.