Tengu
Tengu are half-human, half-raven creatures that, much like storm gremlins, inhabit floating islands throughout Altairus.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Tengu are a kind of pseudogriffon; a creature that is part bird, part other animal, but is classified as a Faery rather than a Magical Beast. Their upper half resembles a corvid griffon, with large ears, feathers, and wings, but they possess humanlike faces with beaklike noses. Their arms and bottom half are that of a human being, albeit with sharp talons.
Biological Traits
Male tengu tend to be taller than the females. They have red skin and brownish feathers. The females have a more prominent keel than the males, and they have blue skin and grey feathers.
Being birdlike creatures, tengus tend to squawk, chirp, coo, and screech like Earth birds. They pepper their speech with these noises, vocalizing more frequently when they are excited.
Genetics and Reproduction
Although they resemble human beings, tengu are egg-layers. They will typically lay 4-6 eggs in a clutch at a time.
Growth Rate & Stages
Tengu reach maturity much faster than humans. By one year, they start flying, and by four years, they are ready to set out on their own.
Ecology and Habitats
Tengu are one of many sapient species to inhabit the various floating islands throughout Altairus.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Tengu are mainly vegetarian, subsisting off of berries, nuts, and other plants that they come across; however, they can be driven to eat meat if they are desperate. They also enjoy fish and will dive into rivers and streams to catch fish to eat.
Biological Cycle
Being that tengu are Seelie faeries, their powers are the strongest in the summer and the weakest in the winter. They will mate and lay their eggs in the springtime.
Behaviour
Tengu are known for two things; their vicious fighting style and their love of shiny things. If a tengu is threatened or someone gets in between a tengu and their hatchlings, the tengu will attack without mercy, using their claws to rend the offender limb from limb. Their sensitive eyes are stimulated by shiny things, and they will often decorate their nests with objects that they find interesting.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Tengu are usually solitary. In the event that they do form cohesive societies, those societies have a strict pecking order.
Facial characteristics
Tengu have startlingly humanlike faces with long, beaklike noses. The female's nose is smaller and shaped differently than the male's.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Tengu mainly reside on the floating islands of Altairus, though there are some that live on Altairian continents on top of tall mountains.
Average Intelligence
Tengu have about the same intelligence as a human adult.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Tengu have excellent eyesight and hearing.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Tengu at the bottom of the pecking order may not receive names at all. The tengu San was originally one of these nameless tengus, and even when he became a hero his name holds no significance except for the number in the order his clutch hatched.
Average Technological Level
Being that tengu are usually quite solitary, they have not achieved a substantial technological level. Most live in isolated nests that are decorated in precious stones and other shiny objects.
Historical Figures
The tengu San, once a despised tengu at the bottom of the pecking order with no name, was one of the six champions who banished the Heart of Darkness in the War of the Wendigoes. His name is well-known amongst tengus in particular, who elevated him for his heroism.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Not surprisingly, tengu tend to be viewed as selfish thieves by many Altairians, perhaps rather unfairly, due to their tendency to hoard shiny objects. The exception to this is San, who is recognized as an international hero for his role in defeating the Heart of Darkness.
Air
Tengu have a very lean build, which is crucial for their ability to fly.
Tengu have dark feathers and colorful skin. Male tengus have brown feathers and red skin, while female tengu have grey feathers and blue skin.
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