Denonid

The Denonid are a humanoid species with feathers covering their bodies (except their hands and feet), scaly zygodactyl hands and feet, and beaks. They rarely reach more than 5 feet in height when fully grown.

Sexes

The Denonid have 4 sexes, indicated by a contrasting pattern of feathers on their backs:

• sire pattern - indicates "male" reproductive structures
• birth pattern - indicates "female" reproductive structures
• sire & birth pattern - indicates both "male" and "female" reproductive structures
• null pattern - indicates no functional reproductive structures

Leadership

The leader of the Denonid is called the Ataden. The role is hereditary with some modifications: the eldest child always inherits the role, but if there are no offspring from the current Ataden then the successor will be the closest relation within what would have been their child's generation.

• Example: Ataden Rotal has two children. The oldest, Hoden, has the null pattern. The youngest, Inua, has the birth pattern. Rotal will pass the role of Ataden to their oldest child, Hoden. Hoden is unable to reproduce; if Inua has children, her oldest child will be designated as Hoden's heir, as Inua's oldest child would be the closest relation within the appropriate generation.