Narakka
Basic Information
Anatomy
Narakkas are medium sized creatures, and one of their greatest peculiarity is that they only have one gender. This is not common knowledge though and most of them just “go with the flow” so to speak, using genders that members of other species see them as. This is mostly female thanks to them having mammaries. Some Narakka have taken to binding their chests because they have noticed that being flat and thus more likely to get referred to as male gets them different treatment.
Other physical features include bird feet, feathered tail that continues as a long troll tail with feathery tuft at the end, clusters of feathers on arms, and feather-like hair. Faces are humanoid, with round pale eyes, though rare darker coloured exceptions happen too. Hands have 5 digits, and there are 2 small horns high on the forehead, that grow during Narakka’s lifetime, but rarely over palms length and never over hands length.
Genetics and Reproduction
Narakka have one period of fertility every year, around late summer. As there is no gender, everyone can conceive but also inseminate, with an organ that is specifically grown for this purpose during summer, along with a mating plumage, that withers away after the season is over. Narakka are not a plentiful species, so despite the fertilization being able to happen on all and their mating period being relatively long, up to a month, only a small handful of new life is born to each colony every year. This happens after a pregnancy of about 7 months, with new Narakka being born on spring.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Laventha is pretty much the only place where colonies exist.
Average Intelligence
Very intelligent species but their community and safety oriented habits tend to get them viewed as somewhat simple.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Slightly magical creatures in that they don't use magic so much as it just happens around them. Plants seem to grow fast around Narakkas and the wood under their carving knives is always just a bit more pliable and well-behaved. If it's a plant material, Narakka's can likely affect it.
Civilization and Culture
Relationship Ideals
Narakka are not strictly monogamous and mating season sees a lot of mixing up, but they can choose a primary partner for themselves. This is usually based on safety, so ideal partner would be someone who knows how to stay out of trouble, has the means to do so, and a clean past. Impulsive, brave, or foolhardy traits are not wanted and courageous hero is not a concept that is well liked among Narakka.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Narakkas have their own language, Kraski, that is related to languages of other Corvid Trolls. Kraski has been slowly dying out ever since they all relocated to Laventhan cities and adopted Laventhis as their primary language of trade. Nowadays most of them speak a sort of a hybrid of Kraski and Laventhis among themselves but properly learning two different languages is largely seen as a useless bother. It is mostly a loud and active few are stubbornly keeping the original language alive, hoping for a generation that learns to value it.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
All Narakka wear tail rings that represent the skills and status they have acquired in life. The more rings, the more respectable the individual. It is general attitude that everyone should have at least two. But while this is bare minimum, any Narakka with only two rings would be looked down upon with pity. And anyone with less is basically an outcast. There is a strong believe that tail rings are such a sacred and important thing that no one would dare cheat with them, so they trust anyone with numerous rings very easily.
History
Narakka used to be forest creatures, extremely skilled in woodworking but doing only limited trade with other species. Yet what items did trickle to wider markets caught attention and in time the demand grew so much that Narakka crafts were acquired, by any means necessary. That meant anything from friendly and not-so-friendly pressure to kidnappings, and raiding of Narakka villages. Going deeper into the woods didn’t help for long so when Laventhan mage queen Isalbas, third of her name, also called the Wise, made an offer for all the Narakka to come live in her kingdom, under her personal protection and guaranteed protection from her successors, most of the tribes took the offer and have lived in peace in various Laventhan cities and strongholds for around 200 years now.
Laventha is one of the largest kingdoms around and most stable of them all, thanks to strong military and powerful mages. Isalbas III also made Karakka absolutely protected under Laventhan law so it’s generally ideal and peaceful place for them to live. Of course there are some prejudices as Narakka are in fact so peaceful that they’re generally viewed as a cowardly species. Them not being required, or more like not allowed to enlist in the army and always disappearing at the first sign of danger or trouble doesn't help. This draws in mock but also animosity from some other species without such protection. The usual attitude of is that "as long the harm is not physical" which has lead to Narakka stick to their own colonies even tighter.
Isalbas III's decision made Laventha a hot trading hub for Narakka crafts and as they rarely venture abroad without heavy guarantees of safety it is set to remain so. A ruler of another country might be able to persuade a crafter to work for them for a project, but they will get the whole extended family for the duration of the job as well, as there is of course safety in numbers.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Procreating is so difficult and children so rare that the "waste" of interspecies relationships is not culturally accepted.
Scientific Name
Jackdaw Troll
Lifespan
140
Conservation Status
Protected under Laventhan law. Harming a Narakka will result in a hefty fine in addition to jail time. Karakka population has been stable for some centuries and even seen some minor growth.
Average Height
1,6 - 2 meters
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