Hard-working owlfolk, the Viarlings are also known as the “Okhar” [oh-kar].
While they can be found throughout Obscuria, they are the most commonly found lurking in the Hoon Province in the Viar District.
Appearance
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The Viarlings have 2 humanoid arms, 2 wings, and a pair of clawed feet with powerful talons. They are covered in mottled grey-brown feathers, though their coloring varies quite a bit by family and region that they’re from. White, black, and even golden Viarlings have been seen.
They usually stand about 5 feet tall, with huge eyes, and they often dress in brownish cloaks, leather aprons, and dark brown pants, though this varies greatly by individual.[/pms-restrict]
They tend to settle in townships or even individual familial farmsteads. They are known to run most of the Rust Mills of Hoon, grinding up both iron and millet.
They are considered to be excellent bakers and craftsmen.
Befriend an Okhar, and you will have a friend for life.
Intellect
While they have no formal schools, the Viarlings are educated by their extended families in their particular trade, and most consider them to be shrewd business-folk.
They of course are very perceptive, with their huge, night vision eyes.
Culture
The Okhar are hard-working, loyal, and generally distrustful of strangers. This isn’t to say that they will not extend a hand to those in need. However, cross one, and you will never enlist their goodwill ever again.
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Male and female Okhar are similar at first glance, though they of course are different to the discerning eye. They identical in build and size and ability.
Owlings grow and mature over 14 to 16 years, before they leave the nest and begin a life of their own. They do tend to stay close to their families, drawing from their experience and resources.
Viarlings are not considered hard-core warriors, though they most certainly can fight. They prefer crossbows and slings over close melee weapons. Some townships such as Weeve, have an owling city guard.[/pms-restrict]
Derogatory term: “Fowl!”
Holidays
The biggest day of the Viarling year is “Hetchday.” Old Owl Hetch is said to fly to each and every Viarling home and leave gifts of small tools or tea to those he deems “good” for the past year (in their boots). Those that are “bad” receive a single black feather in their boot, a reminder to better in the following year. A fresh loaf of the finest bread is left for ole Hetch, which he takes as payment for the gifts.
Hetch is rarely seen, but reports of his plainly wrapped gifts are heard all across Hoon. Poor, down on their luck Okhar often find a loaf of fresh bread along with their other gift.
Diet: Millet, bread, and vole meat
Lifespan: 70-85 years
Size: 5 feet tall
Racial Skills: Sneak
Free Skill: Speak Monston (Fair)
Racial Gift: Nightvision
Racial Fault:
All Viarlings:
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- Distrust strangers
- Have little respect for the lazy
- Can fly short distances
- Can see as well at night as in the day[/pms-restrict]
Most Viarlings:
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- Value a good day’s work
- Dislike/hate the Vaesil
- Work hard to master a craft, such as baking, metalworking, or farming
- Have little interest in seeing the world or leaving home
- Seem a little serious to others[/pms-restrict]
Some Viarlings:
- Leave home and go out to see the world
- Worship the sky gods
- Are lazy and take the easiest way out
Famous Viarlings:
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Tilgid – A famous gambler, Tilgid is a master of card games, having won and lost many fortunes. He has no known permanent home, and is usually depicted as smart, handsome, with a sharp sense of humor. Everyone knows that Tilgid’s best friend is an old Trolla named “Orlund” who always seems too have his back. Tales of “Tilgid and Orlund” adventures circulate in Penny Dreadfuls and in the bars of Hoon. Most believe that he is in Hoon at least half of the year.[/pms-restrict]
Old Owl Hetch – He appears as big Viarling elder, wearing black boots and a spice-orange jacket and large black warlock hat. He carries a huge burlap bag containing small gifts (usually tools or tea) as gifts to “good” Okhar. While few have ever seen him, he is revered throughout Hoon as a demigod of the owlings.