Discussions on Avian Culture and Society: Part 2

(This discussion took place late 2002 between Nekomi, the concept artist, and Gandalf, the game creator/director. This is a continuation of a previous discussion. Character names have been substituted to protect privacy.)

Nekomi: But for instance, I plan to draw Avians differently if they live outside of their own city…like travelers. Being influenced by other cultures, they’d dress differently.

Gandalf: You mean, if there’s ones in part of the story, like say, Bern. Yeah, yeah!

I could see a regal Avian walking around Bern or something. Or really using the common costume of Bernians rather than even touching upon their eyrie-based cousins.

Nekomi: That’s what I mean. Dressing like they are native to Bern.

Gandalf: But I was also thinking just now…would Avians have a need for metalwork? Maybe their helmets are all leather materials.

Nekomi: I think it would be good for them because they have weak structures with really no natural defense. They have very light, thin bones. Birds are very vulnerable.

Gandalf: (laughs) Actually, they would still have metals, they would have gold trinkets and treasures.

Nekomi: Yeah, I would think the upper-class would have them.

Gandalf: I see them as the kind of people that stick together but also hunt for treasures, shiny things, et cetera, that they find in the wilderness. Perhaps that’s a job they could do.

Nekomi: The common people, though, are very simple. We’ve had that discussion.

Gandalf: Perhaps the common people, maybe once a year, have a thing they do where they scavenge the land looking for trinkets…but it’s not safe, so they come back before the sun sets, until the next year. I’m just tossing up ideas.

Nekomi: Oh, sounds fun! (grins)

Though, would the common people be able to participate? The hierarchy is corrupt, and wouldn’t they want that wealth for themselves?

Gandalf: Right! See, this kind of thing happens once we start adding details to the race intros.

Nekomi: Especially if the avian hierarchy is conspiring with the enemy like we said. Maybe that’s their incentive?

Gandalf: I was thinking, the common folk would be forced to find trinkets and give them to the elders in return for land, peace, et cetera. And nobody would really think to question it because that’s the culture they’ve known for years.

Nekomi: So it’s, "We'll work with you, for a price."

Gandalf: To throw fantasy in there: land, peace, protection against hawks, harpies, et cetera. Harpies could be dangerous.

Nekomi: It's all about the player finding out what's wrong with the culture, and that it's not always supposed to be that way. Actually, I drew a harpy once. I think I have it somewhere. They’re like the uncivilized avian brethren.

Gandalf: (nods)

Nekomi: Kind of a scorned group, but rightfully so. They’re not victims.

Gandalf: Right. A harpy attack could hurt homes, victimize families…so the avians need weapons and things to survive.

Nekomi: Yeah! Harpies are just plain vicious, and the Avians look down on them. I’ll draw some harpies sometime.

Gandalf: (nods) Anyway, I was thinking that I'm still looking for something more sinister for the elders to protect inside the shrine.

Nekomi: (nods) Well, remember what we said before about the shrine?

(At this point in the conversation, Nekomi and Gandalf began to refer to topics mentioned in the first Avian discussion, namely, the corruption of the Avian hierarchy and their hidden evil motives.)

Gandalf: But the thing is, we need to tie it into their culture such that nobody would ever suspect anything…but over generations, even the hierarchy views it as traditionally normal too. So they, too, have no idea what they’re doing, just that they do it. Life is normal.

Nekomi: (nods) But the ones who are really high up know exactly what’s going on.

Gandalf: Correct.

Nekomi: The temple guards, though, would still exhibit that same dictator attitude because of pride in their bloodline.

Gandalf: Yeah. It’s almost like the distinction between wizards and muggles [A reference to Harry Potter]. But I still don't know what they’d be doing, though. It might help us to decide what sometime later when we compose more details of the midpart of the game.

Nekomi: (nods) Avians put a lot of emphasis on family and brotherhood. Harpies are regarded as extremely low, although they still consider themselves somewhat tied to the harpies. Common people are average, and the hierarchy bloodline is the supreme Avian example, in their thinking.

Gandalf: I think Harpies should actually be a demonic creature like Orc. Like how Orcs were once like humans or elves, a Harpy could be the same to Avian.

Nekomi: (nods) But they could still speak and have human qualities. They would form crude colonies and have primitive weaponry. How about this?

You know how they never mingle outside of their own city. They discourage everyone from questioning authority. What if they make up a story that…ah, nevermind.

Gandalf: (laughs) Actually, I don’t know if the harpies should relate to the Avians or not…I just thought of unrelated airborne attackers.

Nekomi: Strength in swarming numbers.

Gandalf: I asked myself, “What would pose a threat to the eyrie?”

Nekomi: I think they should be distant, distant relatives.

Gandalf: Such as another tribe?

Nekomi: (nods) But the Avians feel scorn for them because of their relation. They’re ashamed because of them. Perhaps a sect of Avians gave into some evil long ago and became harpies.

Gandalf: They’re wretched creatures. I don’t think they should be able to talk or anything…I guess I just view them as monsters. Extremely uncivilized. What do you think?

Nekomi: But they form crude colonies, don’t they? And they communicate with squeals and primitive squawks and the like.

Gandalf: (nods) Yep.

Nekomi: They need to be able to organize themselves somehow.

Gandalf: Right.

Nekomi: But they are completely uncivilized and wretched when compared to the Avians.

Gandalf: I see harpies more as scavengers and Avians as tenders.

Nekomi: Yes, scavengers.

Gandalf: Harpies would attack birds, or anything they could get their beaks into. Avians are the opposite. They’re a civilized race. Avians would cook their meals and things.

Nekomi: (grins) So now we need a story seperating harpies and avians.

Gandalf: Well, do we? Culture…could just be that that's how things are presently. Well, wait. Maybe to the Avians that's how it is. But inside the temple, the hierarchy knows differently. So that’s where the legend could come into play.

Nekomi: (nods) Well, I’m going to deal with harpy some in my head tonight. Maybe I’ll get a drawing to you soon.