MODERN GALEN SOCIETY

Nearly every Galen settlement has a flock of resident Natara whose domestication with the Gadarren has formed an almost symbiotic relationship over the almost two thousand years since their rediscovery on the far continent. These creatures serve many functions in society firstly as a pet to the settlement’s residents, secondarily for a number of specialized tasks that they have been trained to respond to.

The Natara are an avian race, though very dissimilar in morphology to Earth’s birds, and the Panatrak body plan, their predominant method of locomotion is flight, and are very clumsy in their other methods of movement. The domesticated Natara are very social animals and form very strictly bonded family groups, and have strong bonds to the Galen who most often interact with them.

The Natara live independently of the Galen citizens and often take homes in specially built roosts made for them, though they have no social obligation to interact with the Galen they chose to because of their social affection and curiosity.

Because of their independent existence, no Galen has ever ‘owned’ a Natara, rather a Natara will develop a special bond with those Galen it interacts with most, and both gain a meaningful relationship (as with humans and their pets). An infant Galen might become particularly attached to a Natara and they will remain lifelong friends and companions (these bonds also stretch across generations of family members on both sides), though they live separately they will recognize each other’s call, and the Natara will always greet them if they spy them while flying above. Because of their intelligent nature the Natara also serve as guardians overseeing their charges, alerting other Natara, and indirectly other Galen whenever they sense trouble. As one could imagine Natara and Galen have had a colourful mythology together, and is still a great source for modern adventure stories.

Aside from their social interactions they also provide invaluable services for the settlement. Their sense for the weather and the fact that they can see far from their aerial position mean that they can inform the Galen of the coming weather, or to alert to an arriving caravan, or herd of large herbivores. The dexterity which these animals are gifted with also allow them to pick fruit with extreme position, and so at fruiting times of the year are engaged in picking fruit for the community. Natara can be taught a wide range of skills, and will readily teach other Natara once they have mastered a task. They have been used for many unusual and infrequent tasks such as transporting bricks and tiles to Galen builders (though a rare event in terms of city wide occurrence, the Natara have good memories and rapid learning abilities), or to delivering errands (as they recognize and match a picture of person with their real selves).

Their symbiotic role in society has meant that they have become treated far better than just intelligent animals, they receive most of the same services afforded to any member of the settlement they are entitled to a constant food supply (offerings by citizens are placed on their altars), and also a source of fresh water. They are also provided with health care, and where necessary provided with roosts (many families will build their own roosts for their closest Natara). The Natara have become the second type of Galen citizen, granted more status and ennoblement than any sacred creature has ever received.