Rishii

Rishii are small avians who live in tribal clusters atop the mountains of the planet Rishi. They have feathered wings that allow them to fly, and humanlike hands that have helped them develop into primitive tool users. Each tribal cluster, or nest, is composed of a number of family groups. These nests live in peace with the neighboring nests and even with the human colonists who live in the city-vales. The Rishii do not understand why anyone would want to live in the hot lowlands, but they do not object to the colonists' presence and even trade with them sometimes. The Rishii are especially interested in the "shiny rocks" that allow the wingless colonists to fly. They have a knack for languages, which they learn by mimicking the sounds made by newcomers. They use slings to hunt, and have very little interest in items of advanced technology.