Creature:Aviri

General Information
The Aviri (uh-VEE-rii) Empire is a welcoming, shamanistic empire of furred bird-like creatures, rooted happily on their lush, forested homeworld of Kalina (kuh-LEEN-ah). On Kalina, their shamanistic ways are the norm, with clean air and water ordinances in effect and enforced at all times, with high fines and consequences for any damage to the planet's ecology; Kalina has a very low crime rate. Because of the pristine condition of Kalina's air and resources, the Aviri enjoy long lifespans of 150 to 200 years, with some esteemed elders growing even older. Colonization of the Aviri Empire is slow, yet efficient, as colonies are founded in an outward fan away from the homeworld, with special care given to terraforming and city construction before the next planet is claimed. While not a battle-worthy race in their physical form, the Aviri are very resourceful, with innate skills in flight, jumping, stealth, speed, and intelligence. Their fascination with the natural order of the world, as well as their tribal customs makes them highly neutral in the universe, preferring to isolate themselves from other races and things that do not directly involve them; they will, however, be angered by wanton destruction of planets or ecosystems, or attacks on their territory, and may choose to take action against the offender.

Height, Weight and Lifespan
Aviri typically range from 4-5 standard feet in height, though the occasional variant is possible. Their low-profile stature, however, makes them wider than taller, on the order of 6-8 feet from beak to tail.

Weight for an Aviri varies on an incredible range from anywhere between 45 to 90 standard kilograms or more (100-200+ pounds), depending on the individuals diet, physical fitness, and if the individual wishes to retain flight capabilities.

Because of their spiritual nature, tight community, desire for pristine living conditions, hygiene, and other beneficial factors, Aviri commonly live from 150 to 200 standard galactic years, with some growing even older; the oldest being 261 years.

Sexual Differentiation
Male and Female Aviri remain very much alike in physical structure, however a few differences are noticeable on closer examination. Females have slightly longer tails than males do, on the order of 1-3 standard inches, and also have smoother beaks and feet than males do. Males have drastically sharper talons and beaks, and have shown to be genetically stronger than their female counterparts. The masculine male and the delicate female most likely evolved from generations of tribal lifestyle, with males as hunters and females as caretakers. In modern Aviri society, however, gender does not determine role, though innate skills may depend on gender.

Reproductive Organs, Breeding and Nursing
A scientific curiosity by some, Aviri have the reproductive organs of mammals, yet do, in fact, lay eggs. The Aviri display no set breeding cycle; females do not go 'into heat', nor is there a particular 'mating season'. Aviri may couple for recreation rather than procreation. Polygamous relationships are not generally frowned upon, though this depends highly on the individuals in question. Female gestation period is twelve standard galactic weeks, and females lay anywhere from 1-4 eggs, two being average. Eggs are wrapped in cloth for warmth, though some follow a tradition of using warm sand or primitive nests. Incubation takes about nine standard galactic months, after which an Aviri hatchling emerges from the egg as a fully-functional, yet uneducated, miniature version of an Aviri adult. This early development allows the hatchling to immediately eat small solid foods.

Avian

 * Flight-capable wings
 * Beaks
 * Lays eggs
 * Talons
 * No mammary glands

Mammalian

 * Bipedal
 * Two arms, two legs
 * Fur instead of feathers (a small cluster of feathers crown their tails, however)

Alignment
"Neutral Good" - The Aviri promote natural growth and order, and play very little part in politics not concerning them. They tend to keep to themselves, secluding themselves from other races and avoiding conflict whenever possible. Gaining their trust is difficult, though are not exactly 'paranoid' of other races; they just prefer to "live and let live".

Government and Economics
The Aviri govern themselves by a system they've called a "Modernized Tribal Chiefdom Federation" where each city on each Aviri planet has it's own Chieftain, and all Chieftains are able to communicate with one another by modern communication technology. The center of the federation is situated on Kalina, the homeworld. Being a beakful to say, most Aviri will refer to the entirety of their race as a "Tribe". Other races may refer to them as a "Federation" or "Chiefdom". The Aviri do not use Sporebucks within their own economy; they trade amongst their own kind for the betterment of their race. They will, however, export manufactured goods to other races for the Galactic Sporebuck, which in-turn will be used to trade with other races for goods.