Shrikes

Introduction
Shrikes are a distinct, pillar-touched elven subspecies created as a result of an eldritch ritual conducted by the iron elf Evdokim Nusakan, later the Prince of Preservation.

Physical description
In appearance, shrikes reside in the uncanny valley for baseline elves, humans, and orcs. Their proportions are subtly different from elven standard and their coloration tends more toward UV and grayscale with occasional splashes of bright color on males. Their eyes have black sclera, with solid color irises devoid of pupils. They do not have visible talons, and their plumage is hair-like down found exclusively on their heads, leaving their overlarge ears bare. They have pronounced lower-jaw fangs that approach orcish tusks in length.

Shrikes are known to assume monstrous forms under great duress or when raised as undead; these "wilding" shapes are larger than a shrike's normal form, covered in feathers that seem to absorb light regardless of color, and sport a large number of insectile eyes on both their feathers and flesh. Viewing a shrike in this shape, especially if the viewer meets the shrike's eyes, can result in immediate madness. Shrikes are far more susceptible to this effect than other species, including other elves, leading to chain reactions of mass psychosis if one shrike in a group goes wilding.

Most non-shrikes are unaware that this transformation is not an alternate form, but the result of a shrike "flattening" her entire four-dimensional body into only three dimensions. Doing so disconnects her mentally from reality, rendering wilding effectively a tactic of last resort.

High-dimensional forms
In addition to being vehicles for low-grade eldritch corruption of the surrounding world, shrikes exist in a fourth dimension of space. They can see "inside" purely three-dimensional objects and maneuver freely in an additional spacial direction, appearing able to walk through walls or manipulate items in closed containers without damaging the containers, among other feats. A significant portion of their bodies actually exists within this space, invisible to species who can only see three dimensions. discussion of banners goes here

Reproduction
In addition to having radically altered appearances, shrikes are much shorter-lived and vastly more fertile than standard elves. They are also ovoviviparous, giving birth to altricial young. Unlike every other species on Nephele, shrikes are completely cross-fertile with any other sapient. The species of the child, as well as a couple's chances of conceiving, are dependent on the mother's species.

Inheritance, lines, and marriages
Inheritance among shrikes is matrilineal and bastardry doesn't exist as a concept. Children are born into their mothers' line and inherit her line-name, as well as her relative rank within the line and any duties inhering thereto. The only case where a child's line might not be recognized is if her mother dies prior to naming her or informing any other shrike of her existence.

Shrikes recognize two forms of marriage: Line-founding marriages and handfasting. Handfasting is a pledge of sexual and emotional exclusivity between (usually) two shrikes, though larger groups may handfast to each other. It is not restricted by the sex of the individuals involved, though opposite-sex pairs (or groups with at least one of each sex) are also expected to only have children with each other. Handfasted shrikes remain in their mothers' lines, and children born to handfasted shrikes are part of their mothers' lines.

Line-founding marriages take place between two or more shrikes intending to create a new line, and must contain at least one shrike of each sex.

Child-rearing
Marriage is not a pre-requisite to family formation among shrikes, though the widespread (and heavily socially encouraged) use of shrivethorn as a form of subcutaneous birth control among men means even unmarried couples rarely have children they aren't deliberately trying to have. Pairs with children are expected to stay together and parent their children until the age of sub-adult majority, between 16-18. Societal expectations of parents during child-rearing vary with the age of the children. During the first couple of years of life, parents are supported by the surrounding community and expected to devote themselves almost entirely to their children, though they may assume other duties during dire emergencies. As children age and become more independent, their parents gradually resume more of their previous duties.

Shrikes currently raising children adopt different styles of dress that they change progressively as their children grow. New parents go heavily veiled and wear clothing that conceals their out-selves, then gradually reduce the amount of clothing and wear lighter veils as their children age. This "anti-mourning" serves two purposes: First and most practically, it protects children from out-eye contact with their parents and vice versa while they're still learning how to control their gazes. (Shrike children do not develop out-eyes until they fledge; infants are born completely featherless, and don't begin growing feathers until their second week of life.) Second, it gives other members of the community an idea of where couples are in the child-rearing process, and therefore how much assistance they might need and how much work they can reasonably asked to do.

Shrikes elsewhere

 * Isle of Joy


 * Orclands

Princes

 * Evdokim Nusakan, the Prince of Preservation

Others

 * Esfir Daughter-of-the-Bier, Volkhv
 * Illarion Albireo, Knight-Captain of the Knights Pariah, former Warlord