Belsedori (Aurora)

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Belsedori
Belasedori
Biological Classification
DesignationSapient
ClassificationHumanoid
Physical characteristics
Average height~183cm (female)
~140cm (male)
Skin colourWhite, peach
Eye colourWhite, purple, lavender, green, blue, yellow
Hair colourWhite; red; pale tints of green, blue, and lavender
LifespanUnclear
Maturity18 years
Sexes2
DistinctionsFeathered wings on lower back; feather tail; bird feet; luminescent irises
Notable abilitiesFlight; innate magical aptitude
Sociocultural characteristics
Place of originBelsegallia
Total population~2.0 million
LanguagesBelsedori
ReligionBelsedori ditheism
Marital customsMonogamous

The Belsedori (singular: Belsedori; plural: Belsedori; adjective: Belsedori) are a race of harpy-like humanoids originating from Belsegallia in Terra Aurora, distinguished from humans by their large wings and other avian features as well as their high aptitude for magic. Due to the remote location of Belsegallia and the Belsedori’s preference for extremely cold, high-altitude environments, their society and culture remain relatively obscure and unknown amongst most of the terrestrial inhabitants of Terra Aurora. Magical arts are a highly prominent feature of Belsedori society, and virtually all Belsedori are adept in at least one form of it.

Belsedori are a relatively new race in Aurora, having only existed for approximately three to four hundred years. The only nation known to possess a permanent population of them is Belsegallia, in southeastern Terra Aurora.

Biology & appearance

Sexual dimorphism

Male and female Belsedori can be distinguished from each other by several means. Male Belsedori are, on average, significantly shorter and moderately lighter than female Belsedori, and have higher-pitched voices. Feather patterns for women are brighter and more saturated, whereas male hair and feather colorations are paler and softer.

Excluding the aforementioned differences, male and female Belsedori both strongly resemble female humans in most aspects and are virtually impossible for non-Belsedori to tell apart. This close similarity in physiology and appearance is responsible for the common misconception that all Belsedori are female.

Culture & society

Clothing & attire

Belsedori clothing styles are heavily divided by sex and exhibit significant differences between men’s and women’s attire. The most common material used in the manufacture of Belsedori clothing is silk, followed by wool, cotton, and then by alchemically derived fabrics.

Female

Male

Relative to the normal attire of a female Belsedori, male Belsedori clothing is generally less practical in nature and is more subject to the influences of aesthetics; broadly consistent features of clothing for male Belsedori include the heavy usage of frills and ruffles, ribbons, and bows. The basic article of clothing worn by male Belsedori is a dress, normally accompanied by shorts, gloves, and long socks or stockings. Jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings can also be worn.

Gender roles

Relative to the average of cultures in Terra Aurora at large, Belsedori culture is matriarchal to the extreme; most of its social structures, customs, and norms being constructed around ensuring that only female Belsedori are afforded the opportunity to do anything of importance and that males are relegated to being barely more than pets. The prevailing societal view of Belsedori women at large is that they are the only rightful holders of every position of leadership, power, and/or importance in society and believe that male Belsedori are helpless, delicate, fragile dolls that need to be sheltered, stuffed into flouncy dresses, and confined into being stay-at-home parents for their own good. Belsedori men, for their part, are raised to reflect Belsedori society’s conceptions of them and can often be just as if not even more sexist than Belsedori women normally are.

Appearance

Employment

Leadership

Leadership in Belsedori social groups is structured in a matriarchal fashion; positions of importance or authority and ones that involve any elevated personal risk are always restricted to being held by women only, and necessarily male title-holders like Belsedori nobles’ consorts are afforded the status of purely decorative ornaments with no decision-making power.

Magic

Mannerisms

Language

The Belsedori language is largely syllable-based, with most characters corresponding to either a combination of a consonant and a following vowel or just a vowel; some lone consonants also exist, but most are not often used. Belsedori script appears generally wavy, and most characters can be written with one to three pen strokes.

Naming conventions

Belsedori given names vary, but are always gendered by the letter that they end in: female Belsedori names end in -a or a consonant, whereas male names end in -e, -i, -u, or -o; the ending -ia can be used by either. The same rule is applied to family names, which vary in ending accordingly; the combination of a given name and a family name that both end in -ia is also avoided.

Terms of endearment

The Belsedori language possesses a distinctively wide variety of pet names, terms of endearment, and diminution mechanisms, especially ones intended to be used in reference to male subjects.

Marriage customs

Engagements & weddings

Family life

Religion