Gustides

Gustides are a fictional wind-associated people commonly described in fantasy literature, tabletop role-playing games, and related media. They are typically depicted as agile, air-connected beings with a strong affinity for weather, currents, and flight.

Etymology and origins within their lore suggest the name Gustide derives from the word gust, with the -ide suffix used for kin or descendants in many mythic traditions. In their earliest narratives, the Gustides are said to have emerged from a colossal storm that scattered wind-born offspring across a floating archipelago called Zephyra. Their creation myths center on weather as a living force and on kinship with the air itself.

Society and culture emphasize mastery of air flow, meteorology, and navigation. Gustide settlements often cling to high cliffs or hover on tethered platforms and wind-sculpted cities. They prize glider technology, kite-driven machinery, and wind-aware architecture that blends with local wind patterns. Social structure tends to revolve around weather guilds and wind-mage councils, with rites and festivals tied to solstices, equinoxes, and seasonal storms. Oral tradition features legends of storms teaching resilience and winds as ancestral guides.

Role in broader narratives: In fantasy worlds, Gustides are frequently portrayed as skilled pilots and negotiators who navigate political and military conflicts through control of weather and airspace. They can function as allies or adversaries, depending on how weather and wind balance power in the story.

References to Gustides often appear in in-universe texts such as the Zephyr Codex and the Lattice of Winds, which scholars within those fictional settings cite as foundational lore.