Sweeper and background art by raptorslut
Writing by raptorslut and missmab
ARCTIC
“Mind your manners son while we're guests. If you insult our hosts you are likely to find yourself looking down the blade of a sword. But on that note, best not make yourself too pleasant unless you want to be stuffed so full of food you'll hibernate till spring.”
When most think of the StarSweeper race, they imagine bright colors, extravagant plumage, sleek warriors in the jungle, and fire-lit festivals along warm sandy beaches. However, in the far north of Jo’Arca, the arctic Sweeper tribes have not only settled but became the masters of the cold tundras they call home as they span across the pines and plains. The current capital of the arctic Sweepers is located in Gelidis along the great north glacier extending out to sea on the moraine island, though it feels more akin to a military outpost than a metropolis.
Living in an environment where resources are less plentiful than the homeland of their tropical cousins, most arctic sweepers are more geared for migratory hunting and fishing in small settlements versus larger towns and cities. Though closer to the shoreline where trade is more common you are more likely to see more established villages and towns that raise munfs and whatever creature is able to subsist on the local flora. It is also very common for arctic Sweepers to settle down with other friendly races such as Eaters and Crafters, often falling into the role of militia for such communities. Due to the constant Shooter raids targeting east Canes (due to its proximity to Blackwatch, the largest StarShooter slave trading hub), the majority of Sweepers now live closer to the western parts of Gelidis, though many still stick to Canes in an attempt to defend their homelands, or what’s left of it that hasn’t been abandoned to the Gravewastes. This constant struggle between environment and raiders have given the arctic Sweepers a more military-oriented culture, with most Sweepers knowing how to hold a weapon and defend themselves from both man and wild. Between that and their size compared to the other races, arctic Sweepers are considered some of the best warriors in Jo’Arca and their services as bodyguards or mercenaries are highly sought after. They value defense over offense and favor the use of shields and strong armors.
Despite the hardness of life, the arctic Sweepers still hold true to the concept of Sweeper hospitality and one will be hard pressed to find a race more welcoming to travelers. Many a tale consists of a lost wanderer finding themselves saved in the frozen wilderness by an arctic Sweeper hunting party and then fed by numerous doting grandmothers when brought to their tribe.
Physically, the arctic Sweeper at a glance could best be described as...fluffy. Very, very fluffy. Thick downy feathers, often with poofy neck collars and heavily feathered feet to help insulate them from the bitter cold. Many of the males even gain a ring of fluff similar to their collars around their stinger. It is said that an arctic Sweeper is the best companion on a winter night because they are unnaturally warm. But this also tends to mean they are the worst on summer ones, especially since it takes them weeks to slowly molt the excess feathers off. (Very funny to watch, not fun for the Sweeper in question.) What feathers are not fluffy tend to grow compact or close to the body, though plumage grows everywhere between soft and downy and stiff and oiled. Many arctic Sweepers will have patches of speckled down feathers framing the face, most often following the cheek bone up to the line of the ear. Arctic Sweeper ladies may have short fat tails reminiscent of penguins to reduce the body heat lost to an exposed long thin tail.
The horns of an arctic sweeper often are larger than those of their tropical cousins and feature a slight spiral like antelope or mountain goats, and because of the more dependence on meat for their diet the northern sweepers tend to have more pronounced fangs. Due to the long spans of night the arctic Sweeper’s eyes have adapted to allow them to see well in dim locations. While bright colors and plumage certainly exist in the arctic tribes, you are also likely to find far more subdued and muted colors than you would among the tropic Sweepers.
Many arctic Sweepers engage in trade with the other races, offering furs and meats and weapons in exchange for exotic luxuries (coffee is a particular popular one). And it isn’t uncommon for arctic Sweepers to offer their services as guards in exchange for a chance to explore the world.
Flowerwise, as many Sweepers take from their environment, you would be likely to find Sweeper ladies with holly, poinsettias, branches of pine, and other local flowers of the northern climates. Though a recent trend with young Sweepers is to import an exotic flower and preserve it with magic (Funny enough the same trend has been happening with the Sweepers in the tropics when it comes to the northern tribe flowers).
To save some money on importing and to stay fashionable, many young Sweepers will set up flower trades with cousins and other extended friends and family during the great spring migration. Since the northern and the tropic Sweeper tribes are the largest, both representing the StarSweepers on the international council, the northern and southern capital are host to a yearly pilgrimage of sweepers that acts as an enormous family reunion. Each capital trades off hosting every other year, and while the tropic years are generally more popular, the arctic tribes welcome their tropic brethren with festivals, feasts, vendors, dances, and competitions.
While the tropic migration hosts the Raziel’s cup, the north holds competitions like ice sculpture, snow fort building, subsequent snow fort testing via snowball onslaught, skating and fishing, cold water dives, ambitious or dangerous hunts, sledding, artisan hot chocolate competitions, and fireside camaraderie dancing and drinking under the northern lights. “Are you going to migration this year?” would be a common question among Sweepers.
Though militaristic and practical, birbs will always be birbs, and the arctic tribes share the love of dance and raucous festivals that Sweepers are infamous for, placing an emphasis on family and protecting one another. Arctic Sweepers tend to be good caretakers, though they do mother hen a little.
Sweeper and background art by raptorslut
Writing by raptorslut and cloneclone
TROPICAL
“Beware the lights in the bogs...nothing good comes from the lights in the bogs...”
“It was a lot. A lot of everything. Just a swarm of people, the most Sweepers I've ever seen in one place! I couldn't keep up with the party every night, but the colors were amazing. If you can handle the crowds I definitely suggest going for at least the crazy performances, and I haven't even started talking about the food! Those birds know how to party I gotta say.”
While their cousins in the north have faced brutal hardship for the past several generations, the tropical sweepers of the capitol islands of Kabuki have thrived as a cultural pariah of fashion, dance, art, and music. This dichotomy in the flock has caused some animosity between the two sweeper leaders that represent each tribe on the international council of Ivoryhelm, but squabbles aside, family reunions between north and south still play a big part in Sweeper culture. The patriotism of the Sweeper nation is exemplified no better than the extravagance of the bi-yearly southern migration to the Kabuki islands and the world-renowned Raziel's Cup.
But focusing on the islands and the Tropical Sweepers themselves... The land that these Sweepers live in is bountiful, as such many have taken to simply living amongst the bounty than trying to forge large structures. Elaborate treehouses and cliffside dwellings are quite popular. It is not uncommon for tropical sweepers near the rocky coastline to have underwater entrances and large caves (old volcanic caverns or mined out thanks to Crafters) in which they make their homes, leaving trade among Crafters and Sweepers a familiar sight. The alliances between Kabuki Sweepers, Dragonsback Crafters, and Dragonskeep Fishers allow these Stardragons to live and go about business without the fear of Shooter raids.
Deeper into the jungles far past the easy raids of shooters, larger cities exist with grand temples and stone structures, flourished often with festivals and feasts, where dancing and strutting ones stuff is a frequent occurrence. Singing and dance-offs are considered legitimate forms of competition, argument settling, and courtship. These birds of paradise value romance and showmanship, making them excellent performers, but may be considered gaudy and pushy by other species. Festival plummage takes over the top to a new level as Tropic Sweepers adorn themselves with sparkling jewels, plentiful golden jewelry, feathers, flowers, fans, shakers, grass skirts and other fanciful costumes. Parades of birds celebrate with drink and dance deep into the night.
Given the Sweeper's proximity to the ocean, fish and shellfish are staple in the Tropical Sweeper diet and exports alike. Tropical Sweepers have been known to be able to hold their breaths for extended periods of time to hunt for fish and other aquatic delicacies, along with oyster collecting for the pearls they keep within. Both the colorful shells and pearls catch them a pretty penny. Always flashy and over the top, traditional free diving for fishing and collecting from the ocean often involves a head start from a very high cliff.
The flowers both the male and female Sweepers decorate their hair with to exchange with loved ones are often as flamboyant and bright as their plumage… and Tropical Sweepers also abide by the bigger displays the better.
VULTURE
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SEAFARER
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DEEP JUNGLE
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GILDED
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(StarDragons are an Open Species, created by DeleteTheStars, RaptorSlut and CloneClone. bellumi was given moderation of the community by the creators.)