The Duckfolk of the Branwyld—known among themselves as the **Cairitha**—are a proud and enigmatic race living at the edges of the ancient forest. Their village, tucked away in the marshlands that stretch along the outskirts of the Branwyld, is a collection of reed-thatched huts and wooden platforms raised above the water, a testament to their mastery of the wetlands. The Cairitha are a people at home in both water and air, though their wings are smaller and more decorative than functional. Flightless, but not without grace, they are adept swimmers, their webbed feet propelling them silently through the mist-laden waters that surround their homes.
With feathers in shades of deep earth tones—ranging from soft browns to slate grays—the Cairitha blend easily into their surroundings. Their eyes, wide and expressive, glisten with a strange, intelligent light, betraying their sharp wit and deep connection to the natural world. They wear simple, woven garments adorned with charms of bone and shell, relics of the marshlands and talismans against the ever-present dangers of the Branwyld.
Unlike other denizens of the forest, the Cairitha do not fear the dark magic that coils through the trees. Rather, they walk the delicate line between the living world and the mysteries of the wild, offering sacrifices of fish and herbs to the ancient spirits of the Branwyld. They believe that the forest, though treacherous, is a living entity that must be treated with reverence. Their shaman, known as the **Mistkeepers**, serve as intermediaries between the Cairitha and the forest, performing rites that ensure the village’s protection from the darker forces that lurk within.
Visitors to the Cairitha’s village will find them cautious but not unfriendly, their beak-like voices offering words of greeting through the mist. Though they despise the idea of outsiders tampering with their sacred lands, they are not without mercy. They are traders, after all, dealing in the rare herbs, enchanted reeds, and unique water-borne minerals found only in the marshes at the edge of the Branwyld. But woe to the outsider who disrespects their ways, for beneath their soft-spoken demeanor lies a people fiercely protective of their home, and their long, curved beaks are as sharp as the blades they carry at their sides.
In the depths of the marsh, under the watchful eyes of the Mistkeepers, the Cairitha weave their lore in whispers, stories passed down of a time when their ancestors ruled not just the marshes but the rivers and lakes of the entire region. Now, they live in quiet harmony with the land, tending to their hidden village, always watching the tree line, for they know that the Branwyld is a place of old magic, where anything—especially betrayal—can emerge from the shadows.
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The closest existing Duckfolk race that would align with your vision of a marshland-dwelling, enigmatic race could be the **Ankharan Duckfolk** (or simply Duckfolk) from existing homebrew sources. This race often has traits associated with their avian nature, including keen eyesight, adaptability to marshy or watery environments, and flightlessness, which matches your description of the Cairitha.
You can easily adapt the lore, visual style, and behaviors to fit the Cairitha
