“I don’t understand why you have to go,” Nicola said plaintively. Luca’s little brother sat on the seaweed mattress, watching him sort through what would come with him, and what would stay.

“It’s a big opportunity, Nico,” Luca said, not turning. They’d had this conversation a dozen times already.

Ten years. Luca avoided thinking how much of Nicola’s life he would miss. How much of Tulu’s, and of little Mikalo, who was five now and would be fifteen when he returned. He wondered what it would be like to come back and see his brother and little sisters all grown up. His tail twitched in agitation, stirring the water. 

There was a  weight limit, and a lot of his wetfolk stuff wouldn’t have survived the dry upper altitudes of Sojourn anyways. Luca’s clothes were already in the net hamper. He’d be keeping an abalone pendant of his family’s pod, and a bag of seven pearls. “We’ll dream together every night,” Luca promised again.

“I know,” Nicola said, voice small. “I miss you already.”

Luca stopped packing to briefly give Nico a hug. “I know, big guy,” he said guiltily.

Nicola was only quiet for a minute before asking again, “Do you know what you’re going to be?” 

Luca grinned. “It’s a surprise. You know that.”

Luca knew exactly what he was going to be. 

“Awe,” Nico wailed in mock outrage, slapping wall with his tail. Then, more quietly, he asked, “Are you scared of the Change?”

“No,” Luca answered lightly. But his chest tightened. He wasn't scared of the change, but Luca was scared of what his family would say when he never changed back.

He remembered how strange it had been when his uncle Antonna had returned last year. He’d looked so much like their mom, but human. No scales or tail or gills. His feet were blocky, his fingers long, and his skin was pink and windburnt. Antonna had brought his human lifepartner Gariqe with him, and Luca’s mom had been so afraid that Antonna would stay human. She’d been almost rude to the poor man, until Antonna finally mentioned that Gariqe was making the Change with him.

Luca had asked each of them, at different times, the question that had pulled his mind like a riptide since he was young. 

“Do you want to stay human?” he'd asked his uncle Antonna.

Antonna still had the crinkly black hair then, and had carded a hand through it as they sat on the dock. He spoke slowly, working through his own answer. “It’s been a good experience, a good adventure. I’ll always be grateful. I’ve always loved exploring, it’s what made me volunteer for a Sojourn in the first place. It’s part of what drew me to Garic.” He shoved his stubby dryfolk feet into the water. “But I miss home. I always knew I was going to come back some day. I’m just lucky, I guess, that Garic would make this sacrifice to be with me.”

Antonna and Gariqe had stayed in the dryfolk village for two months, Sojourn slowly eclipsing the southern sky, before their time came, and they traveled up to Cuibo together. A week later Antonna was back to the fishy boy Luca’s mother remembered from ten years ago, and Gariqe had brand new coppery scales and a thick tail. 

Months passed. Gariqe was like a baby in some ways, learning how to move now his body was different, how to transition smoothly from air to water, how to navigate the reefs. But he was also very curious and open to new experiences. He was a little greedy and selfish, but that was normal of outsiders, and he tried his best to accustom himself to pesci ways.

One night, Luca heard Gariqe and Antonna shouting. In the morning, Antonna wouldn’t leave his room, and Gariqe was in the dryfolk village.

Luca found him, sitting at a dryfolk bar with an open glass of batora. He’d looked at Luca in consternation. “Your mother would kill me if she knew you were here.” 

“Then don’t tell her,” Luca had said, taking the stool next to him. He looked around at the other patrons, all humans. Some looked back, but most ignored them politely. “Uncle Antonna is worried.” 

“He knows where to find me,” Gariqe groused, looking at the batora between his now-webbed fingers. “He always finds me like this, you know. It’s how we first met. Me a mess, and him pulling me out of it.” He sipped the batora. Impressively, he only coughed a little. He must have been practicing. “Why are my gills on fire?”

“Gills are part of the insides,” Luca explained. “It’s like pouring alcohol on an open wound. My aunties usually eat fermented fish when they want to get drunk.”

“Fermented fish?” Gariqe said with some interest.

“Yeah,” Luca said. He pointed. “Why are you trying to drink that stuff anyways?” 

“I miss it,” Gariqe sighed. “That’s what we were fighting about, actually. I didn’t realize how hard this transition would be. Anton tried to warn me, but I thought I knew what I was going into.”

“Do you sometimes want to change back?” Luca's own casual tone rang like a stranger's voice in his ears.

“Go back to human?” Gariqe repeated.

He held one webbed hand to the lantern, watching the faint translucent glow between his fingers. “I haven't told you much about Aelbaion. It's a miserable place. I was miserable. Cold and grim and hungry. My whole family was... well, it's peaceful now, but it wasn't always. I didn’t have anyone and didn't need anyone, I thought. I’d thought, sneaking onto Sojourn, I’d tricked my way into the easy life.” He gave a short laugh. “The Sphinx disabused me of that notion pretty quickly. But then I made friends on Sojourn. I met Anton, someone I could rely on completely. And you, your siblings, Anton’s mom, all of you have treated me like family. How could I give that up?” Gariqe lowered his hand. “So, do I miss being human? Yeah, sometimes. But I’m not going to change back, if that means losing Anton.”

That had left Luca feeling both relieved and a little sad.

Now it was Luca’s turn to make the change. Luca would be representing their people, the pesci, for only the second cycle on Sojourn. This was a right they had fought for, still fought for in the Council of the Twelve on the skylands. Even now, pesci were only allowed to Sojourn if they took a different form for the journey. A precaution, some said, as the intense dryness, cold, and altitude would otherwise kill one of the fishfolk. Others said it was just to keep the pesci grounded. 

This was Luca’s chance to repay the mita. It was also a change he desperately wanted. Luca himself wasn’t quite sure what compelled him, but he knew that he needed a chance to be someone different for a while.

It didn’t take long before Luca joined his parents and sisters in the living room, Nicola sulkily slithering out of their shared room behind him. Nicola had been excited, months ago, to find out he’d be getting his own room, but he wasn’t excited now, when the hour to leave had arrived.

They made a quick supplication to Zepo, the local goddess of frogs and fishing, and then had a family hug before leaving. Everyone pretended not to notice the tears. Luca wasn’t sure if the tightness in his chest was homesickness or excitement.

Antonna and Gariqe and grandma and aunts and uncles and cousins all gave them presents and hugs and kisses at the village docks. Finally, they left their home in swampy Gionu, poling the reed gondola between the house stilts and mangrove trees of the village and towards the shadowed bulk of the island in the quiet darkness before dawn.

They made the shore just as the sun shimmered over the horizon. Luca was soon short-breathed as they trudged up the long road that zigzagged into the highlands of Ombreje. After listening to Tulu complain about her feet and picking up Mikalo to carry for a couple miles, Luca figured out pretty quickly why they hadn’t ever gone to Cuibo before, even though they lived practically beneath it. Altitude made distances deceptive.

It took a hot three hour walk to the harpy village and the hot air balloons, forty minutes waiting in line, and another forty minutes catching their breath and adjusting to the altitude before they landed on the harpy skyland Arpellona, in the square of Cuibo.

The capital was as crowded and loud, but not chaotic. Music soared up with the harpies at every stall and street corner. It was dry and cool, of course, but not unpleasant. Overhead, harpies flew along the skyroutes marked with windsock flags posted throughout the city. Despite the sheer volume of flyers, they flew in harmonized rhythm, like an elaborate dance. Luca had a hard time tearing his eyes away.

They passed through the crowded city and beyond, to the perfectly scooped-out Egg Valley, finally coming into sight of the Vale of the Sphinx. Luca couldn’t stop smiling.

This was it.

At last, they passed through the great double doors and into the inner sanctum, waiting their turn as the Sphinx sat, dwarfing the line of petitioners. Luca tried not to stare too openly at the oldest being in all creation. Although he reclined couchant, feet and wings tucked and tail idly swishing, the Eldest was still eye-level with his human and harpy visitors. His mane and fur were almost totally white and his wrinkled skin was a dark nut brown. His face was leathery like a dried prune, but his pale blue eyes still shone with lively intelligence. Shimmering blue robes pooled around him.

His face brightened when it was the pesci family to be ushured forward. They all bowed low, and the Sphinx nodded in turn.

“Ah, gentle pesci, welcome. It is not often that we see our finned siblings in the capital. How may I help?” His voice was gravely, and though it was nearly a whisper it echoed through the dark chambers.

Taking a deep breath, Luca stepped forward, ahead of his mother. "I seek the Change, Honored One. I will be joining Sojourn this cycle."

“Ah, you come seeking the Change," the old sphinx mused. "It has been a few centuries since last the pesci wished for the Change.”

Luca wondered if he should mention his uncle, but thought it would be rude to interrupt.

“You are to Sojourn in twelve weeks? You will join my youngest.” The Eldest looked far away for a moment, old pain on his face. “I do hold faith with her. In some ways she is the best of us. But we are only three, and I do worry.” He shook his head and returned to the present. “Be that as it may. What is your name, little pesca?”

“Luca Sireno, Honored One,” Luca answered.

“Very well, Luca Sireno. You may approach.”

Luca came forward and dropped to one knee, taking one offered finger of the clawed hand.
What the Eldest said next had the heavy familiarity of ceremony. “The Change is both a blessing and a burden of the People. It allows us to walk on four limbs, to swim with three, to fly or run with two. It opens our eyes to the lives of others. It grants us the ability to choose what we are. Take this gift.” 

The sphinx breathed in Luca’s face, warm and moist and smelling faintly of garlic and bacon. Where the breath touched Luca’s skin tingled with magic. “Be a bridge of understanding among the People. Be brave, little one.”

With that, the sphinx laboriously got to his feet, leathery wings flapping with the effort. “Now is the time to say goodbye,” The Eldest said, nodding to Luca’s waiting, silent family. “When next they see you, you will be reborn.”

Luca got up shakily as well and was engulfed by his family in a steady wave of teary-eyed hugs and admonitions. “We love you,” he heard over and over. “Come back to us,” they begged.

“I love you,” Luca said to each one. He hugged Nicola, and Tulu, and Mikalo, and his mom, and finally his dad.

"The Change doesn't change who your heart," His dad had whispered. "No matter what you become, you will always be ours."

Luca wondered if his father knew what was in his mind.

But then he was being led away by a human attendant through one door, while a harpy ushered his mother and father and sisters and brother back through another.

The hallway was dark and sloped downwards, lit only by the human attendant’s torch. It grew almost chilly underground in the stone heart of the Arpelonna. Soon they reached a softly illuminated cave where a glowing chrysalis the size of a tree pulsed amber and blood red light through the darkness. It reminded Luca of a heartbeat. With a start, he realized the light shimmered in time with his own heartbeat.

Or perhaps Luca’s heartbeat matched the rhythm of the chrysalis.

The Eldest was waiting at the base, even his great bulk dwarfed by the structure. “This is the Relic,” he said, gesturing one wing upwards. It looked to be smooth stone, but the Sphinx stuck a claw into it and cut a hole down to the ground as easily as a spear through fish. Bright light spilled out. The Eldest pulled one corner away like a tent flap.

“What do you wish to become, little one?” He rumbled.

-seven years ago-

They saw the first Demon Nest after five weeks of floating west by northwest,  following the Iblesca Archipelago and crossing over Sirentera before turning due north towards the interior highlands Eyninyao had once called home. The land here was rugged, with deep valleys and steep mountainsides covered in dense rainforests. Occasionally a sinkhole, rock outcropping, or yawning cave mouth provided a terrestrial guidepost to match with the stars at night.

Oriol had begged the Foreign Trade Council to consider her trip for months, had managed to scrap together a small crew, and had been granted an array of first-time trade goods and barges. This was all riding on her shoulders, and as much as she believed in the risk, she still breathed a sigh of relief at the first sight of winged shapes appearing over the distant hills. She ignored the twinge of anxiety that they were larger than she’d expected. Much larger.

It hadn’t been easy to get the Council to approve this trip. Sirenteri told bogeyman stories of the fierce Demani of the highlands, but there hadn’t been much else known. Not until an enterprising little Demon had flown up to Sojourn and stayed with them for three enlightening years, during which Oriol learned his language and was fascinated by the little that Eyninyao shared about his people. 

The three balloon barges crested a rise, and suddenly the Nest was in view. The Nest was larger than Oriol expected. Much larger. The roads and structures weren’t as obvious as those in human cities, but the land was sculpted in definite geometric shapes, terraces and low walls, trees planted in honeycomb patterns divided by shorter rows of shrubs and herbs, and stepped stone structures with massive doorways and shaded landing zones.

Eyninyao had been shorter than she, and while many of the Demons below seemed of similar size to humans, some were much larger.

“Holy Azhe!” Lora swore next to her. “That one’s as large as a dragon!”

“You’ve never seen a dragon,” Fanna told his son. 

“I have,” Lor retorted. “A few came to trade from Gold and Green Fields last year. While you were still on Sojourn. Just because you missed half of my life doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

“Gentlewings, please,” Oriol interrupted. “First impressions are important. You can argue on your own time.” 

The nest had hundreds of workers flying in and out of the large entrances, resting on ledges, walking in well-beaten paths, and tending to the orchards. In distant fields, Oriol could see herdsmen with animals she didn’t recognize. The visible entrances and windows were decorated with extensive artwork and carvings. Further from such openings the artwork continued, but with less frequency. 

“Time to make a first impression,” Oriol said, baring her teeth in what she hoped would be taken for a smile. “Fanna, signal the other barges to wait on my command before landing.”

She plunged off her perch and used her talons to spread the white and silver train, making a wide circle around the largest structure and displaying her banner like a peacock’s tail. She headed for the largest structure on a diagonal, making a full circle with a little loop. “Come on,” she urged, watching Demani below nervously. Some stared back up at her, but only two of the largest Demons flew up to investigate. 

Oriol hadn’t realized just how big they would be. Two soldiers flew up to meet her, large wings thrumming like a hummingbird’s, powerful tails lashing. She felt like a sparrow surrounded by ravens, but tried not to let the obsidian-pointed spears get to her. Taking a deep breath, she called out in her best Demani.

“I come bearing gifts. I would like to establish an economic arrangement beneficial to all sides that would increase the resources of the Nest.” The phrasing was a bit ostentatious to her ears, but Eyninyao had assured her it was the proper address. “Who should I speak to about landing?” 

The two horned soldiers looked at each other without speaking, faces within inches, before one flew back to the ground. The one that stayed pointed her spear to one side. “Do not approach any nearer to the Nest. We wait for the Nonyaon merchant.”

Oriol did her best to glide in a slow, nonthreatening circle, the massive soldier watching her closely. A few more soldiers joined the first, though they didn’t make any threatening motions otherwise. They just formed an obvious line between her, her sky barges, and the rest of the Nest.

Finally a smaller Nonyaon flew up, flanked by a pair of the larger soldiers. This one smiled in greeting, though the gesture seemed practiced, like something learned from others. Nevertheless, Oriol was reassured. She assumed this was the *Nonyaon*, which Eyninyao had tried to explain as a specialized working class, but with considerable respect and great variation.

Then the Demon flew up right into her face, requiring a bit of fancy near-hovering. Eyninyao had also had the habit of getting within inches of her face to speak; but she hadn’t thought the practice extended to in-flight conversations. The Nonyaon’s face was more mobile and brighter than the dark-visaged warriors surrounding them.

“I come bearing gifts. I would like to establish an economic arrangement beneficial to all sides that would increase the resources of the Nest,” she said again. She then indicated the sky barges about a hundred wings behind her. “My companions would like to join me. Is there a place with sufficient room to land and speak?” Again,  she spoke in the Demani language. Hopefully speaking the local language would establish her desires for trust and reciprocity. 

The smaller Demon considered the request a moment. "Landing in the clearing to the left may be acceptable," she said.

Oriol nodded in gratitude and turned her head back over her shoulder to look up at the balloons. She whistled a few sharp notes, and received an answer. Moments later the sky barges drifted north towards a large clearing.

Oriol turned back to the Nonyaon, still doing her best to hover. "I am Oriol Madenno, and I have heard lovely things about the Nests of the Ayetho. I come from the Nest of Harpies to see if we might trade with one another. My people believe that trade is best accomplished through gifts."

"I am Nonemnyes," the Nonyaon, Nonemnyes, introduced herself, before continuing, "Many do not care for our customs." She blinked her nictitating membranes slowly, something harpies would associate with sarcasm. Oriol wondered if it meant the same to the Demani. "To keep trade civil, we will look at your wares, then present ours." Nonemnyes explained.

Oriol nodded quickly. "That is agreed. 'To keep trade civil, you will look at our wares, and then present your own.’" Oriol sang the sentence back to Nonemnyes, and then explained. "My people account our agreements through song.”

It took about a half hour for the trade barges to land and balloons to deflate enough to anchor them. In that time, Oriol took over directing her crew–twelve humans and five other harpies–to unload their wares. Fanna himself, together with Lora, carried the wide grass-woven mat on their shoulders and unrolled it in a long line before the waiting Demons, Lora glancing up at the larger soldiers nervously the entire time. Oriol’s daughter Lirio carried over a few perches, and Oriol settled onto one, grateful for the extra height which allowed her to look most humans straight in the eye. It put her at the same altitude as Nonemnyes as well.

From there, Oriol directed her companions to roll out large woven baskets. One by one the soft man-high baskets disgorged their contents from the multiple pockets each filled with different items. They started with the largest canvas bags, filled with fine woolen fabric dyed with feathered patterns using batik waxing. Then they arranged bags of feathers from tropical birds, and other bags of unprocessed wool. 

Next to these were placed smaller bags of sugar and bananas, and jars of molasses, tobacco, and tea leaves. On another mat they set up figurines of jade and abalone, clam shells filled with tiny pearls, a pair of volcanic mortar and pestles, and black clay pottery. Finally, they set out smaller amounts of musky verdegris, bottled perfume, and of course chelimbar amber charms.

When they were done, Oriol selected a shark tooth the size of one of the massive soldier’s palms. It was carved to resemble two human men in a fishing boat, with the triangle of the tooth as a sail. Eyninyao had been enchanted by it. "We traded with the people of the South Ocean for this. Please accept it as a gift. Examine our wares, and let us know what would be pleasing to you."

The Demon merchant accepted the carving with apparent indifference, setting it aside as she looked over the rest of the goods. Oriol’s heart sank. She knew such things had more or less value in different cultures, but she’d thought–but Eyninyao had confessed that, even among his own people, he was an eccentric. She hadn’t realized his love of trinkets was part of that.

Despite no words being spoken, a soldier–Oriol vaguely remembered the term “Oaf” or “Aof”–departed, returning shortly after with a gradual trail of other Demons both large and small, each inspecting the items alongside Nonemnyes, as if the examination was a collective endeavor. Despite the obvious interest, they were distressingly quiet about it, not seeming to speak much among themselves if at all, and leaving with the same silence.

“This is not going well,” the human woman Tosco worried next to her. 

Oriol hooded her wings in irritation. “Give it time,” she said, keeping her voice light. “Eyninyao was just as quiet. He expressed interest in other ways.” Oriol believed in this mission.

“They didn’t accept your gift.” Tosco said, pointing to the shark’s tooth lying on the soft carpet next to the merchant Demon’s feet.

After about a half hour, Nonemnyes seemed to finish her inspection of things. She turned back to Oriol, again face within inches, and said, "We may be interested in some of these wares."

Oriol couldn’t help a small sigh of relief, “That is good to hear.”

Nonemnyes continued. “The weavers seek the fabric, feathers, and thick fur.” Oriol thought that by that, she meant the wool. “The cooks seek the sugars and fruit. The Tsatsiu seek the dye and gems."

Around them, the Demani still walked along the rugs set out with goods. They still didn’t speak out loud, but now Oriol noticed how often they would bring their heads together briefly before moving on. 

"What do you use the small stick and bowl for?” Nonemnyes asked. “Are the pungent leaves edible or medicinal?” She said, pointing at the jars of tobacco and tea leaves. “What is the pot of liquid flowers for?" She pointed at the tiny glass bottles of fragrance.

“The stick and bowl are called a mortar and pestle. They are used to grind spices and herbs to flavor food.” Oriol explained. “It can also be used to crush grains and make a small bread, or to make powders for potions.” She whistled to the human Mafe Biancu-Mara, who saw where she pointed with her lips and brought her the mortar and pestle along with a small bag of leaves.

“These leaves are called tobacco. It is a type of herb." She demonstrated with the dried tobacco leaves, crushing them to a fine powder before adding water to make paste in a bowl of pottery. "After it is boiled, use this paste to clean teeth or numb pain. Tobacco can also be burnt in a tent to create a pleasant feeling in those present."

Oriol had Lirio fly back to the barges for her small teapot and tripod, as well as a large metal dish on which to start a small fire. While she was gone, Oriol pointed to the next jar of leaves. "The tea leaves are boiled in water to make a bitter drink. I prefer it with some sugar. It leaves one feeling refreshed." She could really use some tea right now. 

Oriol pauses, remembering how many of the Demani looked at the goods communally. "I can make enough so that 1,012 who wish may try a cup,” she added reluctantly. “But I would need a large pot to boil the water, and they would have to share cups." She reflected wryly that the trip back would be dry without the tea, but if it went over well, it would be worth it. 

"The pot of liquid flowers,” she continued, “Is used to give the body the scent of flowers. It is very desired among the human nobles."

Nonemnyes seemed to consider each of these statements curiously. "We may seek smaller samples of such items," she said at last. “They are more novel, so naturally cause for skepticism, but not to such an extent as to be refused.”

Oriol blinked. “Of course,” she said. She wasn’t sure if that was good, or bad.

"If it is desired, we shall begin to present goods,” the Demon added expectantly.

"It is desired, but there is one last thing I wish to demonstrate," Oriol said. She smiled a bit to herself as Lirio arrived with her tea set. Taking a chelimbar charms in the shape of a flame from her ankle, she held it to the tinder under the teapot. With a word, it burst into flame. 

Oriol held out the charm for Nonemnyes to inspect. "This is a specialty of my people. These charms can be used by anyone, even if they have no talent for magic themselves." The chelimbar charms were often the most valued items in many ports across Ashagon, though of course some peoples had their own magical culture, or even disliked magic. But Eyninyao had not been one of those. 

She wondered suddenly about how much she had presupposed from knowing one individual of an entire race.

Nonemnyes looked at the flame with interest, holding the charm close for inspection. "This is an interesting gem. Does it only make fire? How many times can it do this?"

"This one can be used to make fire five times in a day, and can be used 510 times." Oriol said. "Some can be used more, and some less. This one only makes fire, but there are many charms. Each charm does something different." 

Oriol gestured to four others out for display. "That one makes wood softer, so that it might be woven like cloth. That one creates a gust of wind for a few moments, aiding in flight.” 

“That one can be buried in a field or hung in a tree to ward away pests; Although,” she added warily, “It should only be used when the plants are fruiting.” She did not want these new trading partners to blame them for failing crops because the bees would not come to the flowers. 

“This one can be placed in a bag to cool what else is placed inside. The charms will last longer or shorter depending on the skill of the charmcrafter and how much it is used, but most can last a year or two."

The Demon seemed to lose interest again. "We will consider the charms for a future visit."

Oriol’s heart sinks. That was her ace, but she nodded her assent anyways. "If it pleases, we would like to see what goods you might wish to trade."

Nonemnyes once again seemed to speak to the Demani without more than a few words, and then she and more Demons brought out an extensive variety of foodstuffs.

On their own straw mats, Oriol saw arrayed a dizzying assortment of nuts and seeds, ranging in size from that of a pea to the size of her head. There were various large fruits spanning nearly every color of the rainbow, and smaller fruits and berries as well. A collection of bean pods, gourds, roots, and tubers accompanied them. Some flowers, leaves, and bark were also brought forward, more so in the form of powders and spices.

The Demons also brought out woven goods, such as baskets, hats, shoes, mats, and even body clothes and bedding, all made of plant fibers. The textiles and woven goods in particular were very ornately decorated in woven patterns, embroidery, and dyes, showing colorful characters resembling Demons performing various tasks.

Some particularly notable woods and stones were brought forward as well. The woods showcased included a range from dark ebony to vibrant purples, all the way to a stark white. The stones brought were a seemingly random collection of nonprecious, semiprecious, and precious gemstones, as well as surprisingly clear glass fragments and some natural glasses such as obsidian.

Oriol and the harpies and humans who went with her looked on in amazement at the great variety of seeds and nuts and fruits and beans, gourds, and tubers. Some were familiar, like the purple melons and the razeli nuts, but many were unknown. 

Oriol thought how similar to the Demani they all looked together, talking excitedly to each other about different items that caught their attention. Their two peoples were very different, but in this they were the same, sharing the decision-making as a group.

Oriol asked questions about how long each item would last; even with good wind, the trip back to Trezera would take three or four weeks.
 
Nonemnyes told her how long each of the different foodstuffs lasted. Most of the seeds and nuts could keep for months to years with proper storage, but many of the fruits and berries would not last as long unless preserved or dried. When dried, they could last nearly as long as the nuts and seeds. The beans, gourds, and tubers all lasted decently long in storage, though the Demon merchant also advised drying for better shelf life.

“Is it permitted to try the unfamiliar items?” Oriol asked.

“Tasting what is here is permitted,” Nonemnyes said, gesturing to the spread. “It is only a display.” 

Anselmo and Desidera were both interested in the bright dyes and Demon-illustrated textiles. Oriol was also interested in some of the tasks the Demani were shown performing, and asked questions about life in the Nest. Here, information was less forthcoming than Oriol would have liked. Questions about the inside of the nest were only answered in general terms. Nonemnyes would say what a specific scene was showing without elaborating where or when, and Oriol soon dropped the topic, as it seemed impolite. 

Oriol smiled to hear Fanna and Lora exclaim over the different samples of wood. Fanna kept admiring the fine grain of the purple wood, while Lora compared the ebony and the pale wood, almost like fine ivory, hand in hand.

Oriol herself moved on to the stones. She knew harpies viewed mined materials differently than many human cultures, placing more emphasis on beauty than rarity or ‘worth’. She wondered how the Demons valued such things. 

There were a great variety of sedimentary minerals separated into their own baskets. She recognized opals, turquoise, malachite, azurite, chrysoprase, chrysocolla, sapphire, ruby, and many varieties of quartz, chalcedony, rhodochrosite, amber, beryl, and agate. 

Oriol also noticed several varieties of metal ore being treated as gemstones, particularly ores of silver and copper, but to a lesser extent iron, and nickel, and other ores as well. There were even some geodes and a few fossils. Notably, there were no processed metals. That disappointed Oriol, as metals were vital for continued Trezera independence, but she thought the rest on offer would make up for the lack.

None of the precious stones were faceted like human gems. They were either polished or carved, or left in their raw state. Stone was difficult to trade in sky barges, as the weight was often too much to justify the expense. But they were pretty nonetheless. She particularly admired a bracelet of tiger’s eye beads, and a pendant of lapis lazuli carved in a design she did not recognize. Perhaps she might persuade some Pesci traders to make a journey upriver.

Loud laughter brought Oriol’s attention behind her, to where a few of her younger tradesfolk, including her daughter, were trying on the samples of Demani clothing with mixed success. Though many of the Demons were near human in size, their powerful tails and wings meant they left large openings at the back and buttocks. Tosco tried one garment on, leaving her behind bare, and was slapped by Luca. Her shriek of outrage and subsequent chasing of the laughing Luca, all while showing her backside, and Lirio egging it on, had apparently caught the interest of several Demani. The Demons did not seem offended, however, so for the moment, Oriol let them be. The hats looked somewhat silly, but they might make for some interesting curiosities to the younger folk of Trezera.

Nearby, Oriol heard Fanna using his own stuttering Demani to ask a nearby Demon about the types of trees used to produce the wood, face inches away and gesturing animatedly as Lora looked on uncomfortably from the side. 

Elefio did not seem nearly as comfortable with Demani closeness, though her mastery of the language was better. She was practicing with one of the smallest Demons, a friendly and helpful child spattered with paint. 

Lora and a few of the others kept glancing nervously at the largest, Aofi, though the Demons did nothing more than one would expect from any other guard entourage, simply standing on watch. Oriol wasn’t sure, but she thought they even appeared somewhat relaxed. 

Dejaberto and her husband sang records of each item, while the human man Ansovina Macca made a similar inventory in writing. Once they were done, Oriole and the other merchants took time to confer with each other before returning to the trading carpets. "Truly, the Demani are blessed with many useful and beautiful things," Oriol said.

She gestured to the wool, feathers, and fabric. "I offer these to your weavers. There are more in my homeland, but here we have twenty pelts of wool, ten bags of feathers, and fifty yards of fabric. If it is pleasing, we may return in two or three month's time."

"We will prepare an appropriate landing place for your next visit," Nonemnyes replied; a positive response. "Take what samples interest you, if you so choose."

"We are grateful for the gift," Oriol replied, relieved. "Likewise, take the sugars and fruit, the dye and the pearls. Do you also wish for the tobacco or tea? Or the mortar and pestle?"

"We will accept your gifts," Nonemnyes answered, “Tobacco, tea, mortar and all else which is offered.” She paused. “Maybe not all the tea though, unless you insist on parting with it.”

Oriol almost laughed. “We can work together to make sure neither side is overburdened with gifts.” 

As the day wore on, they hammered out the finer details of the trade, which items were considered most valued to the Nest and which were most likely to be valued by the markets of Trezera. Precise amounts were negotiated tactfully. 

When all seemed settled, Oriol said again, "Among my people, such an exchange is remembered with a song. The song is sung by both peoples to maintain harmony. I can sing the list of items, and then we sing the chorus together. If you do not agree with the list of items, or believe I have left something out, we change the song. Is this acceptable to you?" Oriol asked.

"This is alright." Nonemnyes raised her hands, palms up. "If you do not need to leave immediately, we may provide a written account as well." 

"That is agreeable." Oriol doubted she could read it, but it'd be helpful to have regardless, for learning the Demani script.

Oriol then sang the song of the trade, the contare, listing each item in Demani and Trennu, as well as the quantity. Despite the length of the lists for both sides, it went faster than might be expected. The speed, scale, and tones of the notes provided greater context for the trade, but Oriol did not expect that to be understood as yet. As she sang, she activated a charm to record the song in two copies. One would be given to the Demons before they left. 

And so, the pair made the contract verbally through song, and made some smalltalk while the physical contract was prepared. 

Oriol looked over her tired entourage, and had one last request to make. “Would your Nest mind hosting us for an evening meal and a night of rest? It is a good time to get to know one another.” 

She cocked her head to the side, brooding at the setting sun. The Demons might not like letting them into the nest, considering how evasive they were with questions of the inner Demani life. It was a calculated risk. 

"It is important to know what a new trading partner finds offensive, and what is acceptable or even well-regarded. It is also an opportunity to rejoice and show pride in our respective peoples."

"Very well," Nonemnyes said, after a moment. “You are not a large group. 

Oriol and her party were led to the Nest proper, able to see more and more clearly the immensity of the structure. It was built on and into a mountainside, with freshwater access cascading through channels and into pools. 

The ground entrance was quite large, the opening upward of several meters, more than even the Aofi guardians would ever need. It was ornately decorated with carvings and bright painted and encrusted with jewels into various characters and patterns.

Oriol and the other harpies landed and hopped along gamely, conscious of how humans often perceived flying indoors, though Lirio grumbled about having to walk. “We’re not children, after all.”

“You think only children walk?” Fanna chuckled. “What must you think of us poor humans?”

Oriol herself was interested in the carvings and paintings. "Your structure is very colorful," she says to Nonemnyes. "Are these stories? Writing?"

"Some are. Others are simple well wishes or just art." Nonemnyes didn’t explain in much detail, and Oriol dropped the subject again.

Inside, the artistic renditions continued through every hall in sight. Countless Demani moved back and forth, both walking on the floor and flying overhead. Some Demani, noticeably smaller than even Oriol, were actively working on new artworks too. Maybe, she thought, it is nothing more than indulging in the artistic endeavors of children.

Oriol interrupted her conversation with Nonemnyes to whistle down one of the younger harpies, Arrona, when he stretched his wings to start flying. “I don’t want you flying off where you might not be welcome.” She scolded.

Nonemnyes didn't comment on the fluttering younglings, only waiting long enough to make sure they followed along.

The group didn't go far from the entrance before entering a suitably sized dining hall. Once again, nearly every surface was decorated in some manner, even including the furniture. 

The furniture consisted of a low table. Seating was cushions only slightly raised off the floor. Though the room was large enough to fit over a hundred, no more than a dozen Demons either sat or reclined at the low tables. One or another would pause briefly to look at the newcomers before returning to their own meals. 

The low tables and cushions looked similar to what the harpies and humans had at home, and they sat with grateful sighs after a long day on their feet. Oriol instructed her cohort to watch how the Demani conducted themselves and imitate them. She still remembered vividly the northern court where she and other harpes had been called barbaric and disgusting for eating with their feet.

Nonemnyes sat with them, and they followed her motions. The Demon sat with her legs to one side and her tail balancing her against the floor. For eating, there was limited dishware, but each guest had a personal plate and spatula-like utensils in front of them. Serving plates held the foodstuffs, with smaller bowls for sauces and containers for spices.

Nonemnyes ate the solid foods by hand, and used her spatula to take whichever sauce she preferred to her food, scraping it clean with the lip of her plate when changing between sauces. Dry seasonings were done by hand as well, by taking the small container and gently tapping out a preferred amount.

Oriol asked for bowls of water to wash their feet and hands, and was readily accommodated. The humans washed more out of custom, but for harpies it was a need to keep their foodstuffs clean of dirt or other things touched on the walk here. Removing their foot gloves and sitting gratefully on the cushions provided, they washed their foot-hands before carefully using the provided utensils to handle food.

They sampled the different dishes, with Oriol asking about the method of preparation. Fanna also offered a bottle of wine and some carefully selected cheeses to add to the meal. Nonemnyes accepted both with grace, though the Demons seemed to have no other alcohol available. Oriol made a mental note about that as well.

When asked about the scarcity of Demons in the meal hall, Nonemnyes explained that it wasn't a standard mealtime,“So there is little activity outside yourselves.” Some Demani would tip their heads inside at the visitors, their sizes ranging wildly from shorter than the harpies to taller than the tallest human in the merchant's crew. 

There were strange looks, but also curious ones, and ones that were indifferent. Each individual had their own reaction, even though all seemed to move about work together with that eerie, silent communication. 

Most dishes were bland, inoffensive bases for the sauces and seasonings to then bring to life. The majority had a variety of nutty and fruity flavors, in no small part due to the available foodstuffs to the Demani. Oriol found one spicy sauce very enjoyable, and asked how it was prepared. There was no meat, however, which Oriol found both curious and somewhat reassuring, considering the fearsome reputation of the Demani. Not all in their party felt that way about the lack of meat, but they luckily had enough sense to keep their opinions to themselves.

While they ate, Oriol did her best to entertain her hosts with stories of Trezera and the lands she had visited, though she could tell the stories were not always well received. It was not so much that she sensed hostility as she sensed a polite indifference, or perhaps a lack of shared experience. 

She asked what kinds of things were offensive to the Demani, and there got a more definite response. “Do not ignore the territorial boundaries,” Nonemnyes told her, explaining how to recognize them. “And do not disrespect any of the superiors,” seemed to be the two primary concerns. Oriole hastened to assure Nonemnyes that they would do their best to avoid either.

After the dinner, Nonemnyes showed them to a room for rest. Rather than separate quarters for men and women, it was a single large bedroom with prepared sleeping mats and crevices, enough for everyone. Having spent over a month in close quarters on the sky barges, the relative privacy of the crevices felt like a luxury. 

After asking for where to relieve themselves at night, Oriol and her companions settled in, discussing the day's activities once they were sure they were alone.

 "I'm not sure about this trade deal," Lora said, shifting uncomfortably on his mat. "They're not very friendly, are they? Not warm at all." 

"They were very polite," Dejaberto retorted. "Didn't say a word about us eating with our feet. You know how rare that is?"

"We've traded with plenty of more hostile neighbors in the past," Oriol reminded them. "The real question is if these goods are worth two months of travel." 

They listen to the unfamiliar sounds of the Nest around them. 

Then Fanna speaks. "They are a very harmonious people. I saw no discord between the small and the large. And they did not attempt to use coins or cheat us with poor goods, though we are strangers. They treated us with great hospitality."

One by one the rest gave their opinions. Most were positive. A few expressed curiosity to see more of the material culture that had created such impressive underground structures. Even those wary of the Demons could see some benefit.

Finally Oriol nodded. "I knew an exchange between our peoples would be mutually beneficial. As we develop this relationship, we can learn better how to communicate, and what each side most wants. And of course, everyone will have a chance to report to the Council when we return with these gifts. If it is agreed, I will recommend that we return again."

-edited for formatting

Spelling and Sound Inventory

A = a as in “bat”
E = ɛ as in “bet”
Ë = e as in “bit”
I = i as in “beat”
O = o as in “boat”
Ö = ɔ as in “jaw”
U = u as in ”boot”
B = b as in “bat”
D = d as in “dig”
F = f as in “fan”
G = g as in “goat”
X = x as in “hat”
Y = j, ʎ or ʒ; “y” sound in “young” or “yellow”, and the “s” sound in “fusion” (local variations)
C = k sound; c as in “cat”
Q = k sound, used in front of I and E or after S; c as in “cat”
L = l as in “let”
M = m as in “mat”
N = n as in “no”
P = p as in “papa”
R = rolled r; the “dd” sound in “riddle”  
S = s as in “sing”
T = t as in “ten”
V = v as in “vista”
W = w as in “water”
Z = z as in “zebra”
NN = ɲ or ñ; the middle “n” sound in “opinion” and “onion”
SC = ʃ  or “sh” as in “shade”
DZ = ʣ as in “adds”
J = ʤ as the “j” sound in “just”
TS = ʦ as the “zz” sound in “pizza”
CC = ʧ or ‘ch’ as in “chalk”

GRAMMAR

SVO (Subject-Verb-Object)

Articles

DI = plural definite article “the”
DO = singular feminine definite article “the”
DA = singular masculine definite article “the”

NU = indefinite article “a” (used for things that can be counted)
NE = indeterminate article “a” (used for things that can’t be counted, like rain or rice)

Nouns

Neutral nouns end in “-U” (singular) or “-ËS” (plural)
Masculine nouns end in “-A” (singular) and “-E” (plural)
Feminine nouns end in “-O” (singular) and “-I” (plural)

Pronouns

Trennu has a sizeable number of pronouns, inflected for person, number, case, & gender. Gender in trennu has more to do with presentation; harpy women use the masculine pronouns but are still women; the sky is feminine but the sea is masculine; shadows are feminine and fire in masculine, the sun is feminine and the moon is masculine.

Nominative

Nominative pronouns are the “common” pronouns, the subject of the sentence. 

MI 1st person singular, “I”
NOS 1st person plural, “We”
DI 2nd person singular, “you”
DAU 2nd person plural, “y’all”
CÖC 3rd person masculine, “he”
RON 3rd person feminine, “she”
CUN 3rd person plural, “they”

Genetive

Genitive pronouns are used to indicate pertaining to or belonging, and corresponds to the word “of” or “from”; Love from the Gods, of Sojourn, etc. Genitive does not indicate ownership in Trennu, but they do generally indicate a hierarchical as opposed to equal interaction. The house of my mom, He is from Mare, Love of Asche, Her father, etc. 

SCOI 1st person singular, “I’m of / from”
NOSI 1st person plural, “We’re of / from”
DEI 2nd person singular, “you’re of / from”
DÖSI 2nd person plural, “y’all are of / from”
CÖQI 3rd person masculine, “his / he’s from”
RONI 3rd person feminine, “her / she’s from”
COSI 3rd person plural, “they’re of / from”

Dative (Recipient)

The recipient pronouns are used to indicate the recipient of an object or action, and is typically associated with the dative case or the direct object of a sentence. Recipient pronouns can also be used to imply obligation or debt. Similar to the use of the word “for”; Gift for Todd, threw the ball at Sam. Very important in Contrati

SCI 1st person singular, “for / to me”
NOI 1st person plural, “for / to us”
DIA 2nd person singular, “for / to you”
DÖI 2nd person plural, “for / to y’all”
COI 3rd person masculine, “for / to him”
RI 3rd person feminine, “for / to her”
CUI 3rd person plural, “for / to them”

Dative (Originator)

The originator pronouns are used to indicate the donor or giver of an object or action, and is often associated with the dative case, but is somewhat different. Originator pronouns can be used to imply service and honor. Used to indicate the giver of an object or action. Used only when there is a receiver or implied receiver, i.e. indirect object, otherwise the nominative case is used. Similar to “from” ie The gift is from Sama.

SCU 1st person singular, “from me”
NU 1st person plural, “from us”
DEI 2nd person singular, “from you”
DU 2nd person plural, “from y’all”
CO 3rd person masculine, “from him”
RÖ 3rd person feminine, “from her”
CU 3rd person plural, “from them”

Vocative

Vocative pronouns are used to indicate you are speaking directly to someone or something, or invoking them. It can be used to order someone to do something, to indicate speech to a god or force of nature, or to mark exclusive pronouns (inclusive we vs exclusive we).

SCOA 1st person singular, “O me!”
NOSA 1st person plural, “O we”
DUA 2nd person singular, “You!”
DZA 2nd person plural, “Y’all!”
COCA 3rd person masculine, “He”
RÖNA 3rd person feminine, “SHE”
CUNA 3rd person plural, “THEY”

Locative

Locative pronouns are used to indicate “the place where”: The island where Blue Village is, The street where Bird statue is, the sea where Siren island is, and so forth. It can also be used to indicate a unique feature or importance; for example, Sojourn. is not the only migrating skyland, but it is the most important to the people of Trezera.

ESCO 1st person singular, “by me”
ENOS 1st person plural, “by us”
EDI 2nd person singular, “by you”
EDAS 2nd person plural, “place of y’all”
ESCO 3rd person masculine, “place of him”
ELE 3rd person feminine, “place of her”
ECU 3rd person plural, “their place”

Instrumental

Instrumental pronouns show that a person or object was an instrument or tool used by another. It can also be used to indicate that something was done on behalf of or on the part of another, or that someone was following orders.

SCON 1st person singular, “I a tool for”
NOSEN 1st person plural, “We a tool for”
DIN 2nd person singular, “You a tool for”
DASEN 2nd person plural, “Y’all a tool for”
COSU 3rd person masculine, “He a tool”
RONU 3rd person feminine, “She a tool”
CUNEN 3rd person plural, “They a tool”

Possession

Trennu marks the possessed item, rather than the possessor, ie dog's man instead of man’s dog. The possession word is placed after the object possessed.

VU & VE particles, ex. LUCA HAVE TURMA VU “Luca has his flock”, LUCA BRUCCA FAINA VE “Luca burns his meal”

VE is countable, VU is uncountable.

Verbs

Trennu has two verb patterns: verbs ending in “A” and verbs ending in “E”. Verbs conjugate for tense and mood. They do not conjugate for person

Infinitive SA particle, 
ie SA VOAJA “to travel”, SA HAVE “to have”

Present tense is uninflected; 
ie MI VOAJA “I travel”, MI HAVE EL CCIA “I have a (female) cousin”

Preterite -O conjugate ending, 
ie MI VOAJO “I traveled”, MI HAVO NNORA “I had supper”

Imperfect -OVE or -OBI suffix ending, 
ie MI VOAJOVE “I was traveling”, MI HAVOBI NNORA “I was having supper”

Future -ZA or -TSE suffix ending
ie MI VOAJAZA “I will travel”, MI HAVETSE NNORA “I will have supper”

Conditional -DA or -DE suffix ending
ie MI VOAJADA “I would travel”, MI HAVEDE NNORA “I would have supper”

Subjunctive -EI or -AI conjugate ending
ie MI VOAJEI “I could travel”, MI HAVAI NNORA “I could have supper”

Reflexive -RA or -AR at the end of a verb shows that the verb is internal or reflexive (depending) 
SA FERE "to hurt"

SA FERIRA “to be hurt”
MI FERIRA “I am hurt”
MI FERIRO “I was hurt”
MI FERIROVE “I was hurting”
MI FERIRAZA “I will be hurt”
MI FERIRADA “I would be hurt”
MI FERIREI “I could be hurt”

Faded wonders

Trezera is in (contested) control of three powerful artifacts of an ancient era. They are the Relic of the Harpy on traveling Sojourn, the Relic of the Sphinx on Arpelon, and the Relic of the Peshi on Ombreje. These Relics are in the shape of massive stone statues extremely difficult to move.

Relicar el Pesce

The Relic of the Peshi is a green lozenge-shaped stone 20 meters tall, carved to resemble a fish with the head and front legs of a bull. It lies partially submerged in the “sacred hotspring” of Ombreje. The Relic of the Peshi allows anyone who sleeps in the sacred hot spring to recover from any injury or illness, including blindness and amputation, though it does not fix congenital conditions or reverse aging. The peshi and harpies of Ombreji watch over those sleeping in the hot spring to make sure they do not drown, ever since a Greater Dragon made use of the spring (according to myth), and are rewarded with gifts and offerings in return. While once part of the Empire of Six Cities, the Relic of the Peshi has once again fallen under the domain of the Sphinxes. Imperial ships and visitors are welcome to visit the hot spring and take advantage of its benefits, but by treaty they cannot attempt to keep the water to themselves, and including they must offer safe passage to those seeking it.

Relicar el Sfinje

The Relic of the Sphinx is a translucent lozenge-shaped red statue with lines like a butterfly chrysalis. At the bottom is a 5 meter cavity inside the open-mouthed face of a frog. Dozen of eyes and wings decorate the relic as well. It is held inside a temple complex in the shape of a sphinx. Those who climb inside the chrysalis and sleep there for a five days will be transformed by its power into a new form. The power does not increase or decrease mass; it only molds it, as a potter molds clay. The secret instructions to use the Relic of the Sphinx have been held by the Greater Sphinxes of Trezera for over ten thousand years, and is the primary reason the Sage of the Relic was not killed during the genocide of the Greater Sphinxes. Like the Relic of the Peshi, any who wish to use the Relic and change their form may do so, though they must wait their turn.

Relicar el Arpfe

The final Relic of the Harpies is a blue stone statue like a lozenge carved into a coiled serpent or dragon, swirling like a windstorm. Like the Relic of the Sphinx, this artifact requires secret instructions to use properly. It has two main properties: first, it changes the effects of gravity within a ten mile radius around the skyland of Sojourn where it rests. This gravity change allows heavy cargos to be lifted up onto the skyland, and can be used to increase the weight of attackers, plunging them to the ground. The gravity can only be increased or decreased by a factor of 30%. The second property of the Relic of the Harpies keeps the skyland of Sojourn breathable and within liveable standards of temperature and weather.

NAME: TREZERA

FLAG/SYMBOL: Harpies and arelians use long streamers with multiple colors in geometric patterns that trail behind the banner-bearer like the tail of a peacock. The Sojourn's streamers are white with silver diamonds with the Ocean King's Emblem (Zelda: Phantom Hourglass) inside, so that they look somewhat like eyes. This banner is only flown when trade is desired; in conflict, the banner is flown red with the same silver diamonds pattern. Other harpy and arelian realms have their own symbols.

LOCATION: 

Sirene

Meridian

Sojourn

GEOGRAPHY: Trezera is a vertical realm in three parts. The first and most accessible is Sirene, a small trio of tropicals islands in the warm southern seas. They are covered in dense rainforest, and most of the settlements are built on stilts just offshore, both above and below the waves.

Over two kilometers above the sea are the sky islands of Meridian. They have idyllic weather with moderate temperatures 4:00 rain storms year round, and grow enough food for a dense population and a unique ecosystem. The sky islands are tabular and would seem paper-thin if viewed from a distance, being only 1,300 meters at the thickest point. The topside is cooler and dryer, while the underside is very wet and warmer, as it traps the rising warm air below it, creating a layer of semi-permanent cloud cover beneath. The coasts of the sky islands have warm updrafts. The largest island is Arpelon; I'll get around to naming the others later.

Approaching every 10 years is the sky island of Sojourn. Its ecology is completely unique and much harsher, as the small island goes through wild climate swings during its ten year cycle, visiting colder and dryer climates and all four corners of the continent. On the approach to Meridian, Sojourn slows down, and after it passes it speeds up again, so that they spend almost a full year of every 10 near each other. Sojourn is both treasured ally and long-time enemy, and the peoples of Sojourn and Meridian have fought off and on for centuries.

Sojourn is not the only sky island to visit Meridian on a ten-year cycle, but I wanted to wait and see before claiming the second one as well.

BIOLOGY/ETHNICITY: Harpies are bat-winged and oviparous, with females significantly larger and heavier (95 lbs / 43 kilos, 15 ft / 4.57 m wingspan) than males (75 lbs / 34 kilos, 12 ft / 3.66 m wingspan). They have hollow bones and flexible, furry necks, a long furry tail with a rudder, and feet somewhere between monkey-foot hands and claws. They vocalize with a syrinx and birdlike respiration. They come in a variety of skin and hair colors similar to cats (calico, gray, tabby, etc) with feline slit-pupils and pointy teeth, and have pointy ears like a hobbit, and the hair around the face and head makes them look somewhat owl-like. Harpy women are also more muscular and do not have placental mammalian breasts, though they do still produce milk in abdominal grooves for the young to lap up.

There is also a humanoid people group called the Arelians, who have delicately pointy ears like a hobbit and may occasionally sport faint cat-like markings (rosettes, spots, tabby, etc) on their olive to deep tan skin and have cat colors of hair, but are otherwise mostly indistinguishable from other humans on the outside. However, they share the syrinx and hollow bones of the harpies, the unusually flexible neck allowing them to look behind them, and they lay eggs while still suckling newborns for several months after birth.

On the surface islands and in the sea live the Peshi, looking much like Arelians but having scaled skin, a powerful tail for swimming, and axolotl-like gills for breathing air and water. Peshi share the hollow bones, syrinx, and egg-laying of the other underlying physiology of harpies and arelians, and believe they are a third tribe.

Arelians sometimes hatch harpy or peshi children, and harpies and peshi sometimes hatch arelians. Arelians can also have children with 'regular' humans; such children are usually fully human (solid bones, live birth) with only external or aesthetic arelian features, though occasionally they will have arelian children (usually girls).

Very rarely, harpies will give birth to a fourth people: sphinxes. Sphinxes have the hind limbs of a big cat and the forelimbs of a humanoid, with powerful dragon-like wings and an overall leonine appearance. They grow to around 500 kgs on average and can live much longer than their parents or siblings, often over a thousand years, and they are always very magical. Sphinxes used to be much more common, but now there are only three.

HISTORY: Long ago in the fabled Age of Legends, a group of winged people settled Meridian. So the story goes, the Harpies, Arelians, and Peshi were a single people in form not unlike the Paroma, or perhaps the Sphinxes; but due to the First Sin (which changes by storyteller and culture, and ranges from kin-slaying to mating with rocks and trees) they were divided into 4 by the Great Sphinx; one people with the freedom of wings, and the other with the easy utility of arms and hands. These stories generally emphasize the importance of cooperation, and consequently cooperation is a strong ideal in Trezera.

The history of Sojourn involves many conflicts and trade agreements, often seen as cyclic in nature. Recorded history is only about 1,000 years, and is tied to gaining writing from the Person civilization. There are heiroglyphs and wondrous monuments from an older age, but none except perhaps the Sphinxes can read them. Within the span of that 1,000 years are recorded the rise and fall of three dynasties, followed by the current sortition system.

Currently, the peoples of Sojourn are under the protectorate of Meridian, and may only live on the island for two cycles; after that, they must move back to Meridian and others are chosen by lot to take their place. This keeps the ties between Meridian and Sojourn strong, while allowing experienced merchants to teach the younger ones.

SOCIETY: Harpies and Arelians on Sojourn have a strong centralized authority with one of the living Sphinxes. They are merchants and hunters, trading or fighting all the people they come into contact with and leaving behind trade-songs and Charters.

Meridians practice commons-based agriculture and villages and regions are ruled by sortition for a term of 8 years, and all are invited to participate in regular monthly forums to decide laws. The High Seats are held by the Council of 12, including at least one male and one female Arelian and one male and one female Harpy (Peshi are often forgotten, while the two Sphinxes on Meridian are always on it). In practice, government is mostly controlled by the elders who have enough wealth and free time to be active participants, but field hands and servants can still engage in the forums. There are large villages and colonies, mostly along the edges of the island. (I'm looking into Athenian democracy and Incan centralized networks for how I want to structure the society).

CULTURE: Harpies are not interested in metal coins as currency because they're too heavy, and metal is rare on the sky islands. Instead, their currency is big terra-cotta towers, statues, or wheels carved with histories and trade-song. These objects, called Charters, are given ceremonially but they're impractical to move.

Meridiani operate in a kind of gift economy most of the time. Here the Charters act as markers of the borders for where people nest.

Charters are often broken in times of war.

Charters are sometimes considered to be more than currency, and are a type of 'god' or idol. Transferring ownership of a Charter transfers both the responsibility and the blessings of that god to the new owner. General care of a Charter is like caring for a shrine; cleaning, veneration, and small offerings.

Foreign and internal trade is handled through "music", i.e. highly formalized oral contracts or trade agreements. Songs in written form can be passed between non-harpies as a form of bank note, but Harpies don't recognize the agreement unless it is formally sung, perhaps with accompaniment for those without a syrinx. They record highly detailed information about the history of the goods or services through the notes, timing, and tones used in the song; and can alter the contract through altering the song, though the contact is not agreed upon until both parties sing in harmony. These songs are not necessarily pleasant to listen to, as their primary purpose is the recording of large amounts of boring data in a precise and easily-memorized manner.

With outsiders, they set up trading houses that understand Trezera economics and are willing to go through some hoops for an exclusive trading market.

OCCURRENCE OF MAGIC: Magic can be learned by most anyone, harpy or arelian, but like any craft it requires good technique, practice, and time to learn. In the Age of Wonders, magic could be sung as simple as whistling to call the wind or cause stones to weep, but such easy magic is gone. Nowadays, most magic involves advanced preparation over several weeks or even months or years to affix a spell effect into a charm, chanting songs of power and bathing it in special alchemical mixtures. Once the charm is crafted, anyone who knows the activation word can use it. Charms are quite versatile, but they can only be used a few times a day at most, and have other drawbacks. Charm crafting is a respected profession.

FADED WONDER: The peoples of Trezera are in possession of three ancient magical statues, which they call Legendarium and on which they base their Charters and Charms. The first is of the great red stone Sphinx of Hagia, on Sojourn. The Sphinx contains a millenia of knowledge and can be asked simple questions and provide visions of distant times and places. The second is the Fish of Sirene, a green stone statue in the shape of a fish with the head and front legs of a bull, half-submerged under the water. Sleeping on the Fish of Sirene can heal almost anything. The third is the Goddess of Arpaia, on Arpelon. This large white stone statue is in the shape of an Arelian woman with feathered wings, and she can control the weather within a 3 mile radius. All three statues can be spoken to as with a person, though only the Sphinx retain memories longer than a few decades.

IMPORTS, EXPORTS, & MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Harpies and Arelians farm a variety of unique plants on the Meridian islands, including rice, beans, fruits, and vegetables, and hunt birds and other small game, as well as raising fluffy 40 lb sheep and chickens for their wool and meat. They are known for their baskets and pottery and a unique amber resin which hardens to almost the strength of steel, The amber resin is very good for charm work. But they are metal and gem-poor and confined to a limited ecology by there sky islands.

Sojourn harpies have their own unique resources, and despite the difficulty of regular crops are expert hunters and gatherers. In addition, they trade all over the world for a variety of unique and useful items, and are much more likely to wield weapons of steel.

Peshi harvest song pearls from beneath the waves. Pearls from the same clam can be used for long-range communication, even across continents, and are used to keep the peoples of Sojourn and Arpelon connected. Song pearls, along with charms, are among the most valued exports of Sojourn traders.