Birds of Sky

Terminology and Information

                                 GENDERS

Tiercel - male birds
Formel - female birds

                                     PLACES

Shaded Trees/Southern Territory - Short term for Flock of Shaded Trees and their territory.

Frosted Mountains/Northern Territory - Short term for Flock of Frosted Mountains and their territory.

Mother Tree - Large oak tree standing in front of a lake. Where the flocks gather every full-moon.

Glistening Stones - Large rocks sitting in a river that separates the two territories. Where the healers gather every half-moon.

Flockless Lands - Large stretch of land West of the territories. Where flockless birds are free to roam. Usually less prey-rich than the territories.

Emberlands - Burnt, dead, and leafless trees that spread across many acres. Also called the 'leafless forest'.

Trappers' Nests - Large cabins spread across both territories. Where villagers and trappers live.

                                    THINGS

Flockless - Term for birds who aren't in a flock.

Feather-toys - Term for birds who are cared for by villagers. Birds with clipped wings are sometimes called 'flightless-toys'.

No-wings - Term for villagers.

Prey-hollow - Secured tree hollows within the flocks' camps where prey is stored.

Freedom-less nest - Term for cages.

GODS

Aries - Goddess of the sun and fire. Guides birds through the day. Takes the shape of a phoenix.

Itrix - Goddess of the moon and storms. Walks through the healers' and leaders' dreams. Takes the shape of a thunderbird.

Lutris - God of healing and medicine. Guides the healers and the ill. Takes the shape of a caladrius.

RANKS

Leader - Leads and cares for the flock. Promotes flock members. Always in the frontlines in battles unless injured, ill, or elderly.

Commander - Second in command. Discusses battle plans with the leader and sends out daily patrols. Takes the leader's place once they are gone.

Healer - Cares for the sick and injured within the flock. Receives blessings, dreams, and warnings from the gods.

Elder - Former hunters who are now retired. Held in high respect and are often sought after for advice.

Messenger - Sends and receives messages from other flocks. Skilled in secrecy and stealth. Often has sharp memory.

Hunter - Hunt and fight for the flock. Responsible for defending the flock and their territory and training upcoming hunters.

Smallwing - Hatchlings who are capable of flying and are training to become a hunter. Smallwings of healers are sometimes referred to as 'healerwings'.

Nursing - Formels who are nursing eggs or hatchlings. Once the eggs have hatched, the nursing will watch her hatchlings while the hatchlings' father brings prey to them.

Hatchling - Baby birds incapable of flying. Stays in the nest with their mother while listening to the stories of the elders.

                              CEREMONIES

Social - A meeting held between both flocks at the Mother Tree on the night of a full-moon. The flocks spend the day resting and socializing under Aries's gaze, and spend the night discussing the situations with each flock under Itrix's gaze.

Quarter-moon Meeting - A meeting held between the healers of both flocks at Glistening Stones on the nights of a first-quarter-moon and third-quarter-moon (every half-moon). The healers will spend the night trading herbs, discussing new or most effective remedies, new illnesses, and/or discussing outbreaks within their flocks. They will sleep in the trees at Glistening Stones and receive dreams from Lutris. Once the sun begins to rise, they will fly back to their respective flocks.

Smallwing Ceremony - When a hatchling is able to fly, they are ready to become a smallwing. They will be given a preceptor, a hunter who trains them until they are ready to become a hunter. While the birds in the Flock of Shaded Trees have ordinary names, the Flock of Frosted Mountains follow the tradition of their ancestors and use the 'ancient' naming system.

Hunter Ceremony - Once a smallwing has finished their training, they will be able to become a hunter. The leader will watch the small wing perform certain tasks along side the smallwing's preceptor. If the leader is satisfied, the smallwing will be made into a hunter.

Commander Ceremony - The flock leader calls a meeting to name the new commander, or secondary leader, of the flock. This happens when either the previous commander dies, retires, is banished from the flock, or becomes the leader.

Leadership Ceremony - A leadership ceremony takes place when a commander receives five years of immortality from the gods, allowing them time to serve their flock as well as gain strength to be able to continue to serve their flock once the five years are over. During the five years of immortality, if a leader has proven to be problematic or uncaring towards the flock, the members of that flock may request the gods to strip the leader of their immortality and remove their title as leader. The clan may also vote to banish the leader from the flock if they have committed a large crime.

Healer Ceremony - Once a healer is satisfied with their smallwing's work, they will present them to Lutris during a Quarter-moon Meeting, where they will be promoted to secondary healer. If the primary healer dies or retires, then the secondary healer will be promoted to primary healer, and will be able to take on a smallwing.

Death of a Flock Member - If a flock member has passed, the leader will call a meeting to announce their death and honor their service to the flock. The flock will sit in silence that night while their spirit rises with the gods.

Hatching of Eggs - The hatching of eggs is only attended by the nursing (mother), the father, and the healer. Once the healer has declared that the hatchlings are healthy, the leader will announce their arrival to the flock.

Banishment - If a flock member has committed a large crime, they may be banished from the flock. They will be frowned upon by the gods, and if they don't change their ways, they will not be able to ascend with the gods once they have passed.