Granite Peaks

Summary
A massive, perilous mountain range, home to the Niamor. They are a reclusive, highly spiritual lot, who live exclusively in temples at the highest mountain peaks. Instead of a centralized government, they follow multiple religious leaders, who are all mentally linked and can communicate over vast distances to promote balance and synergy through all scattered temples.

Niamor
Niamor are, simply put, brutal pacifists. They shun violence and conflict and follow a peaceful ideology, but the way they treat those who don't fit in in their society is considered quite cruel. Their wings are symbols- of their closeness to Avida, their potential to attain a higher and more peaceful state of mind. Those Niamor who lose their wings are considered lower than low and are cast from the Granite Peaks(called Nissei'nai in Niamori) with little regard for their lives. They are governed by religious leaders instead of a centralized government, and live together in massive monastic temples. Family, religion, and society are incredibly important to Niamor. They are secluded from the rest of the world, and like it that way, but do not shun outsiders if they wish to enlighten themselves to the glory that is Avida. The way the dedicate themselves to Avida is akin to Buddhism- scripture study, meditation, cultivating wisdom, observance of pacifism, and compassion for the deserving. Temples are built in his honor, as well as smaller shrines decorated with incense, feathers, and the bones of avians that died of natural causes. They practice kiya, a henna-like system of decoration that is semi-permanent.

Physically, they are quite a slight, pale people. Women tend to be slender and short, while men are tall and lithe. White is Avida's color, and the color associated with purity- their hair colors range from snow white to blonde to light brown, and the lighter the better. The same can be said of wing colors, which are usually white, beige or mottled gray. Other colors exist, but are uncommon, and a sign of ill omen or bad luck. Due to their environment and not living on ranching land or near many wild animals, Niamor are almost exclusively vegetarian or vegan. Notable places in the Granite Peaks include Kyesai Temple, their 'capital'; Yun'ha Gai, the tallest mountain in the world; Riiok's Sky, a distant cluster of mountains and sky where Cloudblessed Riiok is said to roost; and Mohuka, or the Fall- the most popular and easily accessible place to toss disabled Niamor from the Peaks.