Sorra
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Sorra are a humanoid-fish people easily distinguished by the long fins growing from their wrists and ankles and the large dolphin shaped head tail. Their large, webbed feet have five toes with a large space between the first and second toe, giving them natural flippers. The Sorra signature head tail is not used for swimming after they have grown their humanoid appendages. It is a holdover from their childhood as strictly aquatic fish, but as adults it is of little use and is mostly made of residual bones, cartilage and fat. Adolescent and adult Sorra use their wrist and ankle fins to swim. The bones in their wrist fin are a sixth finger with skin stretched between the finger and their forearm. They are able to consciously open and close the fin against their arm so it is out of the way on land and can unfurl to its full extent in the water for swimming. The fins on their ankles are much smaller and made mostly of cartilage They can not fold against their legs like their wrist fins.
The Sorra are a very physically weak species as a result of their punishment by the gods after the Fifth Millennium War. They are vulnerable to mild cold and hot and deathly vulnerable to electricity. Even something as small as a phone can shock them. Though they grow to be larger than humans they are much weaker due to their lower muscle density. An average adult male Sorra can lift half his bodyweight on land and equal to his bodyweight in water.
Sorra can live far longer than any other species, reaching nearly three human lifetimes. This makes them extremely wise. Since they mature so slowly, the Sorra are relatively few in number and great care is taken to protect their offspring.
The Sorra have very large brains, making them extremely intelligent. They rely heavily on their technology to compensate for their physical weakness and are fiercely protective of their knowledge.
The Sorra live primarily underwater but can survive on land for about a day before becoming dehydrated and having to refresh themselves in a pool of water. Above water they speak audibly like humans, but underwater they created a language called Aquatic consisting of flashing bioluminescent patches on their bodies. This language is usually only used to communicate between Sorra as no other species is able to communicate in this way. They can also use echolocation, using high frequency clicks and whistles from their mouths that can be used to transmit messages over vast distances and navigate the water in the dark.
Growth Rate & Stages
Stage 1 - Egg (0 days - 2 months)
Every Sorra’s life begins as an egg held within the womb of the mother Zorra, much like a human pregnancy. A mother usually conceives a single baby, though she can have more than one. The egg develops within the mother for the first 3 months and hatches into a baby fish while still inside her. The baby continues to grow, developing into its aquatic form. After 6 months, the baby is born as a strictly aquatic fish ranging in length from 30 cm to 40 cm. separates from the mother and she will lay a single, soft, jelly-like egg, though clutches of two or more also occur. soft, jelly-like eggs in a spawning pod near the bottom of Lake Zorra. The mother tends to them as they continue to develop, visiting the underwater nursery daily. The eggs start off clear but eventually turn opaque as the babies develop. Since the eggs are so delicate it’s very likely that most of a clutch will not actually hatch, even with the best care possible. After another month the surviving eggs, usually one or two, will finally hatch.
Stage 2 - Hatchling/”Infant” (2 months - 1 ½ years)
A newborn Zorra is called a hatchling. Hatchling Zorra somewhat resemble tadpoles, with a proportionally large rounded head, a less-defined abdomen segment with the signature triple gill-slits on each side, two small head-fins and a long tail which they use to swim. They are nearly blind and are sensitive to bright light, staying close to the floor of the lake. The mother uses her bioluminescent patches to guide her babies.
Hatchlings also have yolk sacs which they feed off of for their first 3-4 weeks after hatching; this is thought to be a vestigial trait, but it is still a developmental benefit as the yolk contains antibodies from the parent, helping the newborn develop their immune system. By the second month the hatchlings’ yolk sacs are totally depleted, thus they will require regular feeding. At this point their eyes have developed and they can venture close to the water’s surface and simply grow larger for about a year and a half, staying in a limbless tadpole-like form but eventually growing to be 1 ½-2 feet long and undergoing marked proportional changes. Specifically, the head and abdominal segment become larger and more well-defined, also gaining body fat; meanwhile the tail does not grow as quickly, eventually leading to a rounded, chubby, somewhat ball-like shape. This is often called the “ball phase” or colloquially “second egg,” due to the similarity in shape. The onset of this proportional change is a sign that the hatchling is getting ready to undergo metamorphosis.
Stage 3 - Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis can be thought of as a young Zorra’s first growth spurt, and it is by far the most dramatic change. Taking place over the course of 24 to 48 hours, metamorphosis involves a hatchling in ball phase undergoing a drastic transformation. Prior to metamorphosis hatchlings will gorge themselves and gain body fat in preparation for the massive energy requirement of the process, and Zorra parents are encouraged to feed their children more often in the weeks leading up to the event. The changes, roughly in order of occurrence, are:
- -the tail separates from the lower body, freeing the abdomen and officially becoming the ‘head-tail’
- pigmentation and bioluminescent patches develop on the back and sides of the abdomen
- small fins form along the ‘shoulders,’ lower back, and ‘hips’
- as the baby Zorra uses energy from its body fat, the reduction of fat around the head reveals the shape of the jaw and neck
- similarly, the head-tail shortens and becomes smaller as body fat is repurposed for energy
- the arms and legs emerge - these structures began forming gradually during the “ball phase” but were partially fused within the abdominal segment at that time; the young Zorra undergoes a partial ‘shedding’ on their belly that removes an outer layer of flexible skin that held the limbs in place as they developed, and then their limbs gradually unfuse - generally the legs unfuse first and then the arms follow
- finally, the forearm and ankle fins unfurl
A hatchling is officially considered a toddler when the legs and arms have emerged completely. Most toddlers are 1 ½ to 2 feet tall from head to foot and resemble miniature, chubby versions of their parents.
Stage 4 - Child/”Toddler” (1 ½ - 40 years)
After undergoing metamorphosis the Zorra child’s growth refocuses towards mental/psychological development rather than body development. Mental development from 2 years old to 40 years old in a Zorra is equivalent to that in humans from age 2 to 12. The young Zorra will undergo very little change in their body aside from increased hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and the improvement of other senses. They learn how to walk and swim early on in this period and are highly active, though they have low stamina; just enough for a short burst of speed or effort, but not enough for extended bouts of running or swimming. Zorra children generally start primary school at the age of 20.
Stage 5 - Preadolescent/“Preteen” (40 - 45 years)
Hylians may have trouble telling child, preadolescent, and adolescent Zorras apart because they all have the same body shape and size; in Zorra culture, these differences are denoted more by a child’s mental maturity, their behavior, and their pheromone markers. A preadolescent Zorra is akin to an 11 or 12-year-old Hylian in terms of mental maturity and likely has more stamina than a child, but has not yet begun producing adolescent pheromone markers.
The “preteen” phase is actually rather short, more of a transitional period between prepubescence and puberty. As such, preteen Zorra often have voracious appetites; this is because they need to build up body fat again, since they’re preparing to go into puberty.
Stage 6 - Adolescent/“Teenager” (45 - 60 years)
Zorra puberty begins around age 45 and is made up of two parts: physical maturity and mental maturity; a Zorra is not considered an adult until they have completed both parts, however. Physical and mental maturity start at the same time with changes occurring in a young Zorra’s brain chemistry and hormones. The biggest indicator that puberty has begun is the change in a young Zorra’s pheromones, and the change in their behavior. Their brains grow more, which results in many of the same emotional and mental woes that human teenagers experience, and with that they develop their mental maturity further as well.
Meanwhile, their physical maturation goes slower; though the body is producing adolescent pheromone markers and hormones, most of the energy is spent on their growing brains rather than the rest of their body. As such this often leads to “teenage” Zorra having an awkward “short phase” where they still look fairly young. To the relief of many, they generally get their second growth spurt after about 10 years of mental development. The growth spurt lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 years, though it can take up to 10 years; and it’s this spurt that brings them to full maturity, ability to make babies and all.
Stage 7 - Young Adult (60 - 85 years)
Once a Zorra has completed both mental and physical maturation, they’ve completed puberty and are now officially an adult, averaging in height from 6 to 8 feet tall. Some Zorra, usually within the royal family, are able to reach 10 feet tall. At this point they’re ready to take on an apprenticeship, further education, or anything else they’d like to try their hand at. Also, they’re legally allowed to get married. 60 to 80 year old Zorras are about equivalent to human 18 to 22 year olds at this age.
Stage 8 - Adult (100+)
This age is about equivalent to a 24 year old human. Adult Zorra are generally more serious than young adults, and they start to hold themselves to the higher standards of speech and etiquette that the Zorra are so well-known for. This is also generally when a Zorra will settle down to have a family, though some get married and have children earlier.
Stage 9 - Senior Adult/Old Age (250+)
Once a Zorra hits 250 years they are officially considered “elderly;” 250 for Zorras is about equivalent to 65 for Hylians/humans, along with the expectation of retirement. The average Zorra lifespan is 310 years, but there have been recorded instances of Zorras reaching a natural lifespan of up to 375 years old. It is possible that a Zorra’s lifespan could be medically or magically extended, but at that point you’re getting into the sort of “toying with life and death” that more environmentally/socially conscious or pious individuals would object to.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Zorra live in small settlements in the wetlands and coastal region around Lake Zorra in the south east of the Amazon kingdom. Their territory, dubbed Zorra’s Domain, is the smallest of the five realms, a reflection of their relatively few numbers. Their capital city, Cascadia, is situated in the center of Lake Zorra between the arms of the twin peaks of Polymoss Mountain. This magnificent structure was crafted almost entirely of lumo stone, a type of rock that glows a pleasant blue hue in the dark. Much of the city is built above water to accommodate tourists and travelers, with large open platforms and spires extending out of the water and cliffs for their air-breathing visitors. Underwater lie the private areas of the Zorra, such as living spaces, nurseries, and research facilities.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The Zorra are refined crafts people. Their relative seclusion in Lake Zorra has allowed them to perfect the fine arts of painting, sculpting, music and architecture which their culture is abundant in. They are also great scientists and diplomats. For the Zorra, knowledge is one if not the greatest possessions to obtain.
The Zorra wear little to no clothing. The members of the Council are the only ones to consistently wear clothes which usually consists of a sash worn around their bodies like a toga, and it is only worn on formal occasions.
When a Zorra wishes to show extreme commitment or submission, they will throw down the largest piece of clothing they are wearing at the feet of the person they are submitting to. It symbolizes that they trust the person enough to become completely open and vulnerable to their will and is a sign of deepest commitment. It is done at Zorra weddings; the newly wed couple will remove their decorative clothing and place it at each other’s feet to establish the strength of their relationship.
The Zorra royal family traditionally name their children after musical chords and gems, sometimes both. The musical aspect of the name is supposed to bring good fortune and is a reflection of the Zorra’s love of music, while the gemstone shows the value of the individual to the family. King Doraphen Rubius (Do Re Fa, ruby) is an example of this naming system.
Historical Figures
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Zorra maintained a strict isolationist policy for centuries, using their technology to hide from the other nations and deter anyone that came too close to their borders. This policy was changed by King Doraphen and replaced by a limited trade policy. For the near hundred years of King Doraphen’s reign, the Zorra have expanded the surface platforms of Cascadia and conducted trade with the other nations. This brought great prosperity to the Zorra and catapulted Doraphen’s popularity.
The Zorra are extremely suspicious of the other nations and their trust is hard to earn. They guard their wealth of knowledge jealously, fearful that the other nations may try to steal their advanced technology.
In their quest for knowledge, the Zorra can not help sticking their noses in the other realms’ business. They enjoy having the element of surprise while being aware of their enemy’s condition, and overall just like to know everything about everyone. This occurs even between Zorra.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments