Manid Hyena
A persistsant hyena found in the harsh deserts and arid steppes across northern Emynea. Like other widespread species, they can inherit a variety of abilities depending on where they live. However, they are more likely to be remembered for their nauseating diet! While capable of hunting, manid hyena prefer to scavenge the carcasses of decaying ungulates (hooved beasts) and will gladly dig up human corpses. They are able to safely consume rotting meat, infected corpses, garbage and even dung. Manid hyena are particularly skilled in crushing up bones and gobbling up the pieces!
Despite their sickening taste in food, they are essential to the balance of their sparse desert biomes. In fact, the feces of hyena with Aasaru's Fertility actually amplifies the growth of desert and tundra plants and makes soil more fertile! In this way, they play an even more pivotal role, not only breaking down waste but converting this waste into highly fertile compost. Manid hyena are associated with fertility in desert cultures for this reason. Their second ability varies by region. Those with Rithaldis' Form live in the Shamsi Desert, those with Ilnid's Form live in the Arabiyyan Desert and those with Iska's Skin or Form live in the Frozen Wastes. All others usually inherit Gokrilvek's Step. There are folktales and rumors of more variants out there such as an aquatic hyena in Bharat!
Despite their sickening taste in food, they are essential to the balance of their sparse desert biomes. In fact, the feces of hyena with Aasaru's Fertility actually amplifies the growth of desert and tundra plants and makes soil more fertile! In this way, they play an even more pivotal role, not only breaking down waste but converting this waste into highly fertile compost. Manid hyena are associated with fertility in desert cultures for this reason. Their second ability varies by region. Those with Rithaldis' Form live in the Shamsi Desert, those with Ilnid's Form live in the Arabiyyan Desert and those with Iska's Skin or Form live in the Frozen Wastes. All others usually inherit Gokrilvek's Step. There are folktales and rumors of more variants out there such as an aquatic hyena in Bharat!
Racial Magic
First Ability
Aasaru's Fertility
Able to increase the fertility of all desert and tundra plants, this effect concentrated in the feces of this species. Their refuse can increase the success of seeds and help plants thrive in otherwise doslate locations, increasing their vivacity, resiliency and overall health.
Aasaru's Form
Can convert parts of their body into a specific kind of desert or tundra plant or generate parts of this plant from their body. The exact plant differs by region and individual but Nerium Cupidinis and cacti are a common in the Shamsi Desert
Second Ability
Rithaldis's Form
Can convert parts of their body into a kind of radiant energy (photons, plasma, sunlight, ionizing radiation) or has this aspect incorporated into their magic form. Converting their mane, claws and teeth is common. Also renders them immune to damage from this aspect.
Ilnid's Form
Can convert parts of their body into a kind of sand, glass or quartz or has this aspect incorporated into their magic form. Converting their mane, claws and teeth is common. Also renders them immune to damage from this aspect.
Iska's Skin
Can produce layers of ice from their skin or fur and expand this around themselves into various shapes including armor. They are also tolerant to extremely cold conditions and can cool their skin into extremes.
Gokrilvek's Step
Can enter and exit Gokrilvek's Plane while remaining totally still, slipping in and out of the physical plane at will. Can bring another with them while maintaining contact. They are essentially invulnerable so long as they don't move.
Anatomy
Original Ancestor
Striped Hyena
Lifespan
Size
average of 77lbs (35 kg)
Manid hyena have a large but short torso, long front legs and short hind legs, giving it a slanted back. Their legs aren't particularly strong, thin and not made for extended chases. Their necks are broad and long but aren't very mobile while their head is massive and heavy. Their faces are short with small eyes and broad, pointy ears. Its claws are blunt but strong but most impressive is their skull, well built to support their powerful jaw muscles. They can snap and splinter camel bones with their powerful bite, having a preference for bones and ligament when scavenging a carcass.
While they have an exceptional sense of smell for tracking down carrion, their vision and hearing are poor. They also have an anal gland they are able to exude from their body which sprays pungent fluid if they are attacked, the smell more than nauseating. Their coat is long and uniform, coarse and bristly but they are most known for their luxuriant black mane, for which they are named. This runs from the back of their skull to the base of their tail, consisting of tough long hairs which can be raised to make themselves appea larger. Many mani hyena possess an ability to infuse their mane with magic for an even more dramatic display, converting into solar plasma, glass, jagged thorns or even ice!
While they have an exceptional sense of smell for tracking down carrion, their vision and hearing are poor. They also have an anal gland they are able to exude from their body which sprays pungent fluid if they are attacked, the smell more than nauseating. Their coat is long and uniform, coarse and bristly but they are most known for their luxuriant black mane, for which they are named. This runs from the back of their skull to the base of their tail, consisting of tough long hairs which can be raised to make themselves appea larger. Many mani hyena possess an ability to infuse their mane with magic for an even more dramatic display, converting into solar plasma, glass, jagged thorns or even ice!
Habitat
Found throughout northern Alkelbulan (Shamsi Desert, Birit Narim, Parsa, Sesli Plato, Flumen Pontem, Kemet, Kna'an, Arabiyyan Desert, Balkurtiz), all of the Frozen Wastes and even in Bharat and Kunlun Shan. Some can still be found in smaller numbers in Gaarreen Ho'aa, Kasar Wuta, Xishi Shamo and Nyasi za Rangi too.
Life Cycle
They form monogamous pairs, not mating seasonally. Pregnancy lasts 90-91 days, cubs eyes not opening until 7-8 days after birth. Cubs first leave the den at a month old and are weaned at two months.
Diet
Manid hyena are avid scavengers but might hunt opportunistically. They seek out ungulate carcasses, fresh bones, cartilage, ligaments and bone marrow, unbothered by rotting flesh. They are able to crush bones into fine particles but will sometimes eat them whole. Usually they are not fussy but they have an aversion to vulture flesh. They may also eat fruit, grasshoppers, garbage, carrion and dung.
If they believe they can overcomes an animal, they will hunt them. These hyena run their prey down, grab its flank or groin and tear out it's viscera. They hunt wild boar, wild ass, porcupine and Garkuwa Tortoise. Horses, dogs, Tamadla Goat, sheep, Aa-hemet Donkey and poultry can also be targeted and these hyena might even feed on Khisbat Palm or Ramli al-Hanzal farms in the night. In open areas, they have been known to prey on sleeping humans, especially children, and special care must be taken to deter them from digging up bodies.
If they believe they can overcomes an animal, they will hunt them. These hyena run their prey down, grab its flank or groin and tear out it's viscera. They hunt wild boar, wild ass, porcupine and Garkuwa Tortoise. Horses, dogs, Tamadla Goat, sheep, Aa-hemet Donkey and poultry can also be targeted and these hyena might even feed on Khisbat Palm or Ramli al-Hanzal farms in the night. In open areas, they have been known to prey on sleeping humans, especially children, and special care must be taken to deter them from digging up bodies.
Behavior
Manid hyena will only emerge from their lair in total darkness and always return before sunrise. While they are shy, stubbornly feigning death when attacked, they might stand their ground over food even against larger predators. They aren't particularly territorial, sharing habitats with up to seven others of their kind and other carnivores. When fights do occur, they will raise the mane on their lower back as warning and activate their magic form. They bite at each others' throats and legs but never the mane. Manid hyena aren't as vocal as other species either, only giving chattering laughter, screeches and howls.
Manid hyena dig their own burrows or make use of caves, rock formations and burrows of other animals, marking the entrances to their lairs with bones.
While some might compete with wolves, others instead travel with wolf packs even sharing dens and prey in symbiosis! Those of central Shamsi usually develop a strong relationship with a Hadje Sabertooth but this relationship takes time to build, both the hyena and hadje solitary by nature. The Hyena's strength and superior sense of smell is valued by the wolves and sabertooths, able to tear open and break apart parts of the animal they are unable to access. Meanwhile, the wolves or sabertooth bring prey down and allow the hyena to scavenge what is left—the hyena making far more efficient use of the remains. Red fox also allow hyena to break open their kills but otherwise enjoy harassing hyena for their own entertainment, sometimes getting themselves killed despite their agility. Manid hybea will frequently scavenge the kills of big cats, mostly winning one-to-one conflicts with all but tigers and sabertooth. They also compete with Yaxiyan lions and sloth bears.
Manid hyena dig their own burrows or make use of caves, rock formations and burrows of other animals, marking the entrances to their lairs with bones.
Mythology
In Arabiyy lore, there exists a tribe of half-man half-hyena cannibals called Kaftar, likely a tribe of villainized Imaziɣen or Nilot. Others claim these beasts are vampiric, feeding on blood in the night but only attacking the very brave. These beasts are seen as a symbol of treachery and stupidity, believed to be physical incarnations of jinn.
In the Frozen Wastes and Bharat, they are feared as well but they are also respected as a symbol of love and fertility—much of their love magic falling back on this beleif. Puppeteer Witches in Bharat are rumored to keep them as their mounts or familiars.
In the Frozen Wastes and Bharat, they are feared as well but they are also respected as a symbol of love and fertility—much of their love magic falling back on this beleif. Puppeteer Witches in Bharat are rumored to keep them as their mounts or familiars.
Domestication
Despite their timidity with humans, they are easily tamed and trained from a young age. With a firm hand, they can even become affectionate. While wild hyena will kill dogs, tamed hyena can form amenable relationships with them. However, the smell of a manid hyena can be nauseating.
Talismans
There is a peculiar fascination in folk medicine and talismans involving the genitalia of these beasts, believed effective for protective, love and fertility magic despite possessing no such racial magic. Even those with Aasaru's Fertility are only able to affect desert and tundra plants. Regardless, their anuses especially are used for talismans for protection from evil and to assure fertility and attraction. Quiris make use of blood, excrement, genitalia, pelts, fat and even ash for these purposes, the genetalia in particular worn as an amulet to become irresistible or to keep a couple together. In Bharat, hyena bodies are used healing tumors and rheumatism. Fat is also applied to a man's genitals or taken orally for virility.
In the Frozen Wastes, remains of this hyena are vital for love magic as well as protective charms worn on the arm. The pelt is believed a particularly potent charm, forcing all to succumb to attraction. A common superstition is that if a man peeks through the vulva of a hyena at the woman he desires, he is assured to have her. So much is this beleived they have a saying, "it happens as smoothly as if you would look through the vulva of a hyena". Others will keep a vulva in a container of vermillion powder as a charm for attracting a lover. They even have another saying, "to possess the anus of a hyena" which denotes someone who is attractive and has many lovers.
In the Frozen Wastes, remains of this hyena are vital for love magic as well as protective charms worn on the arm. The pelt is believed a particularly potent charm, forcing all to succumb to attraction. A common superstition is that if a man peeks through the vulva of a hyena at the woman he desires, he is assured to have her. So much is this beleived they have a saying, "it happens as smoothly as if you would look through the vulva of a hyena". Others will keep a vulva in a container of vermillion powder as a charm for attracting a lover. They even have another saying, "to possess the anus of a hyena" which denotes someone who is attractive and has many lovers.
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