Hrafnir

The Hrafnir are a cursed race who make their dwellings in the far north. They were once the immortal servants of Tyrgar, blessed by the Lord of The Forge with wings of flame. When Tyrgar was imprisoned in the sky, the Hrafnir were cast down to the earth to live as mortals. Although some wish to find their way back to what they once were through serving Lys, most harbor much resentment for the Lady of Night, and choose instead to carve their own path out of the frozen tundra of The North.

Appearance
Hrafnir are scrawny, bird-like humanoids. They are tall and lean, and grow more avian with age. First their eyes turn black, then their fingers turn to claws and great black wings spring forth from their backs. This is a slow and painful process that continues for a Hrafnir's whole life. At the end of a Hrafnir's natural lifespan, he will find himself crumbling into dust, leaving nothing behind but ashes in the wind.

Culture
Over the years, Hrafnir have come to rule the far north, and build great fortresses from obsidian stone. Large and imposing, these bulwarks serve as protection from the roaming beasts of the north, and allow the Hrafnir to lead their lives in relative peace. In spite of this, life for them is harsh, and the bird that doesn't fly plummets to the ground, so to speak.

The Hrafnir do not work the land, as others do. Their society functions because of ancient sorceries and underhanded dealings with spirits and Wild Things. What they lack in physical stature is made up for with slavers, who capture and force others to do their bidding. Hrafnir society is highly individualistic, and everyone is expected to fend for themselves first and foremost. Many acts that would be looked down on by other races are often accepted, or even embraced, by the Hrafnir. Such acts include the aforementioned slavery, so well as sorcery, murder and ritualistic sacrifice. That is not to say the Hrafnir are completely lawless - their Knights keep the peace, and woe to him who threatens it. That said, a Hrafnir has no right to protection, so if he wants the relative safety of a fortress, he better make himself useful.

Naming Conventions
Hrafnir names tend to sound odd and whispery, due to how older Hrafnir speak. As their vocal chords change, certain sounds become harder to pronounce, and their naming conventions reflect this. Example names are Hafar, Fafne, Fehu, Ihsir and Haufa.