Vespers

"Today, the vespers are put under the banner of "beastfolk" with centaurs, minotaurs and gnolls. But not long ago, they were given the inaccurate epithet "birdfolk." People, for whatever reason thought that because they have wings, they must be related to birds. Despite the fact that they clearly resemble bats more than anything. They aren't even avian. They're mammals. I am so often astounded by the stupidity of people, but in this case I am simply baffled."

-Patricia Morello, "On Ioglith and it's Many Facets of Civilization"

Physical Traits
Vespers are evolutionary relatives of bats, and this is visible in their appearance. Although they are similar to halflings in their overall morphology and size, they are covered in fur ranging from brown to black, their heads resemble those of bats, and they have large leathery wings on their backs. They are one of few common races capable of flight, and they have prehensile toes that make their feet just as dextrous as their hands, allowing them to cling to outcroppings upside-down.

There are two major subspecies of vesper: tropical vespers and Kthonic vespers. Kthonic vespers, as their name suggests, hail from Kthonos. They tend to be shorter than tropical vespers, ranging from 2'9 to 3'7, and their faces are more like those of cave-dwelling bats, somewhat wrinkly and with smallish eyes. Tropical vespers are native to hot jungle or swamp environs, are taller (around 4'1 to 5'3), and they more resemble fruit bats than cave bats, having foxlike heads.

Diet
Diet varies between the two vesper subraces. Kthonic vespers are carnivorous and more specifically insectivorous, adapted to feed on the many arthropods native to Kthonos, though they can eat other meats as well (but must eat less of it, to avoid upsetting their stomachs). Tropical vespers are herbivorous and have evolved to eat fruit, but like the Kthonic vespers can eat vegetation that isn't fruit. There is also a somewhat rare type of tropical vesper that feeds not on fruit, but on blood.

Lifespan
Vespers, no matter their subspecies, tend to live no more than 85 years.

Reproduction
Vespers give live birth and have a gestation period of about 6 months. They typically give birth to 2-3 children. Their children show a remarkable amount of physical development extremely quickly, being capable of flight directly after being born.

Population
Vespers make up a majority of the populous of Magdalene. Many tropical vespers live in treetop forest tribes or along the coast, while Kthonic vesper tribes are a major force in Kthonos. Kthonic vespers tend to prefer cold climates, so some can be found in the mountains or even the Isle of Krampus.

Vesper Racial Move: Flight
You can fly. You cannot hover, though -- you must remain in motion to keep flying.