Quirrk

In chivalry, with honour. We vow that any and all who would slander the Lady of Acorns beauty and prosperity, that she has gifted unto us, shall stand trial before the wilds. Such is our oath and thus by her grace we swear by blade and life to protect nature's eternal kingdom against the shadows that may lurk within.
-Quirrk oath of fealty.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Quirrk have the appearance of large squirrels, but with stronger bones and denser muscular structure that allows them increased strength. Their tails are also by rule much more dexterous and powerful than normal squirrels, and can be used as a third arm.

Growth Rate & Stages

Newborn Quirrk completely lack fur and are generally very vulnerable beings, as they are blind and completely unprotected against the elements.
Thankfully, they grow up fast and receive their first fur only a couple months after birth. From there they remain blind and hardly ever conscious for two years, until their eyes develop sight.
A Quirrk is fully adult at the age of five, and hardly grows any older until the age of two hundred in which case they are seen as old. Even then some Quirrk are recorded to have lived up to the ancient ages of five to six hundred years, if they've not perished in honorable combat while in their prime years.

Ecology and Habitats

Quirrk are resourceful and can manage in most climates, yet they are drawn to large and old woods, preferably in the darker and more enchanted places. Their preferences and capability to adapt to any season comes from their fey heritage, which is also a reason why they work much better nocturnally than normal squirrels.
Their diet consisting mainly of nuts and seed also make large fruitful trees their most optimal habitat, as entire colonies of Quirrk can survive for months in the canopy of such a large vegetation.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Quirrk generally don't require much fodder to survive, and their diet mostly consists of nuts, fruits, fungi and vegetables. They are however capable of hunting insects and other animals for meat, but most prefer to go vegetarian.

Biological Cycle

As time passes, the fur and teeth of Quirrk grow longer and require measures taken to trim it down. Therefore Quirrk hone their teeth and cut their hair by springtime, while they spare the fur out in autumn to protect against the winter's cold.
It's also common for the younger and older Quirrk to hibernate through the winter times, especially during their training years where the winter times are an unnecessary danger to the unprepared individuals. Most years in a Quirrk life are however not spent hibernating during the winters.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

98% literacy - Far above average.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Quirrk have excellent senses, both in hearing, sight and smell, but also in almost supernatural reflexes and agility. Their ability to think and act swiftly in any situation allows them to move with such ability that they can seemingly soar through certain areas, even though most lack flying abilities.
As for magical abilities, they all have an edge when it comes to learning and using nature and elemental mysticism.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

As their culture of knights and noble ladies match the western human nobilities code of chivalry, the Quirrk has copied their naming traditions to make communication easier. Therefore it's common for males to have names like Seymoure, Reginald and Percival; while females go with names like Elisabeth, Pauline and Murielle.
As for their surnames, they consist of two parts. The first two letters being a regal code explaining which order a Quirrk comes from, while the second part consists of an item, season, or other mundane thing. An example of a full name is sir Hagen de Acorns, or Lady Isabella af Pinewoods.
Indeed, both the title and the s on the end of a surname is incredibly important to be addressed in Quirrk culture.

Average Technological Level

Quirrk are in the lead when it comes to vehicle technology and forest friendly archistructure. Their weapons very much rival human technology, with finely crafted pistols and rapiers. They are also capable of smithing high quality and fully protecting plates, and their society over all has an overabundance of zeppelins that do not require any of their powerful magic to stay afloat.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Quirrk are gifted linguists and tend to learn most languages with unnatural speed, and acute precision on accent and pitch. They also speak their own language known as nibble speech.

History

The origins of the Quirrk is a clouded phenomen, as they draw clear similarities with woodland spirits from different tales and cultures. These lore speak of ancient protectors sent from the Fay realm to pave way for nature's to exodus to the new world. These apex predators were thought to take shapes of mighty lions, gryphons and other mighty beasts to fend back the Shadow Fay.
While their cause to do good remains true to the Quirrk, they seem to have lost any contact with these ancient roots, and now only represents squirrels for reasons unkown.
Recent story find them to be knightly, and a friendly but quite chatty race that loves to boast about any and everything. They stand besides most other races as an ally who fight discord and unnatural threats to prove their worth before the Lady of Acorns.

Order of Evergreens:

These Quirrk are more diplomatic than the rest of their kin and tend to live side by side with the Perregeronians of the Evergreen glades. They also tend to colour their fur to represent the human knightly orders as allies, and are the most magically adept of their species.
Their allegiance can be seen in the surname spotting et as their two lettered code, and that their ears have tufts of fur on the tips.

Order of the Lakes:

These Quirrk are incredibly agile and can seemingly fly through any terrain no matter how tricky it is, and are renowned to their wood elven neighbours to be some of the fiercest duelists in all the Eternal-spring domains. Even for their pint size.

Their allegiance can be seen in the surname spotting de as their two lettered code, and on their extra long tails and extra skin that allows them to glide through the air.

Winterpine Accord:

These Quirrk have mastered the art of ranged warfare and seldom ever miss a shot. It doesn't matter if it's pistol, rifle, bow or crossbow as seemingly touch alone binds their keen senses to these tools of war, allowing them to hit even the hardest targets within the Scarnzan Myrkwirds.
Their allegiance can be seen in the surname spotting af as their two lettered code, and on their thicker and somewhat darker fur that enhances their subtlety efforts.

Mountainspring Accord:

These Quirrk are the strongest and toughest, and should by no means be considered small and adorable. They are fully capable of punching a grown man into the dirt, and have put the word legend into the Legendsprings mountain. Through this martial prowess all the south looks at them in awe.

Their allegiance can be seen in the surname spotting es as their two lettered code, and that they tend to stand around a meter tall in stance.

Scientific Name

Faychylesis Sapiens

Origin/Ancestry

Fey/Taurus

Lifespan

245 years.

Average Height

40cm - 1m

Average Weight

2-10kg