Skelsía (tribe)

Overview
The Skelsía tribe is home to a large population of falcons, and is located in the Skelrí region of Skelsía. Of the seven tribes of the Rift, the Skelsía are the most skilled at war and have the most talented soldiers, making them a daunting tribe to engage in battle. The Skelsía rely heavily on their military strength and power to hold sway over their territory, as well as the expanse of river territory they won from the Rakarr in the Third War of the Rifmâlkin, but are a very supersticious and religious tribe, using a High Priest or Priestess to speak to the Skywatchers (falcon gods) before making serious military and tribal decisions. Because they live so closely to the Elmjir, a small tribe of battlehawks, they interbreed on "uncommon" occasions, producing half-falcon half-hawk breeds known jokingly as falhawks or hawkons.

The Skelsía were the first to create "sentinels", falcons of unusual girth and strength who kept watch over certain "watchpoints" on the Skelsían territory in order to keep tabs on who entered and exited their territory. Though the tactic was adopted by other tribes, only the Skelsía were able to operate under the intricate system of military code that was mandatory for the smooth execution of the sentinel posts.

The Skelsía were also the first tribe and only tribe whose noble bloodline has extended to the present, from the first king of the Skelsía, Skeldâr, to the current king, Skelör. Though the bloodline is severely muddled, each heir has noble blood running through their veins, keeping the legacy alive.

The Skelsía are known for their gifted and unique tribe members, including those directly from the royal blood line. Skelör, Albiön's father, was able to speak to land-beasts, a feat never seen or repeated in history. Kalraya, the High Priestess, was a mix of falcon and hawk, and was the first raptor to predict a momentous event without the aid of the falcon gods. Albiön was the first falcon born in the Skelsía tribe to have white feathers, making him the first gyrfalcon (or king falcon) ever seen in the Rift, and was also only the second Warrior Priest in Skelsían history.