Some people that arrived from Otherworld wanted to blend old with the new. A fresh start. But there are those that wanted to reshape the world in their image, no matter the cost…
- Professor Isolde Trelawny, Historian at the Royal Institute of Otherworld Studies
Crossing’s Fall brought many species to Earth from Otherworld against their will. Some, such as the thayans, were quick to offer an open hand to the Earth’s nations with mixed results. Others, like grimlings, kept to themselves as much as they could. But then there was the morasu, who met humanity with a sharp, naked blade.
The morasu are a formidable species known for their militaristic cultures and dogmatic social traditions. Originating from the Tir Yovat Empire on the continent of Zafra in Otherworld, they were legendary for their aggressive ethos and pursuit of order. Many historians and scholars suspect that these traits, and the morasu themselves, inspired the dark and complex myths among human cultures in the past.
But the Crossing’s Fall disaster spared nothing. The mountainous terrain of Zafra fell to Earth, split to pieces and became a shadow of its former glory. Now, the bulk of the continent lies in the Pacific Ocean to the east of Japan, while smaller fragments are scattered from Greenland to South America.
In most Otherworld cultures, morasu are called ‘nightclaws’, a derogatory nod to their raven-like features. Humans use a different insulting term. They call them ‘stormbirds’, partly because of their unpredictable temper.
After Crossing’s Fall, while many refugees looked to rebuild or find new opportunities, the morasu sought conquest. They looked to establish their own brand of order on what they saw as a primitive, chaotic world.
Dark Mirror of Humanity
They look frail, but so does a razor…
- Professor Isolde Trelawny, Historian at the Royal Institute of Otherworld Studies
Morasu are humanoid but are the least human-looking of all the Otherworld refugees. They stand as tall as an average human but are often thinner, with a unique blend of human and animal-like features.
A bipedal species, they share physical characteristics of both humans and ravens. Glossy black feathers cover their body, except for pearl-gray scaly skin on their legs and face. On their head, those features are entwined with long black or silver hair they often wear in a topknot or long braids.
Their black feathers aren’t just for looks. They serve as natural weather protection and grow the longest along their arms, like wing feathers. While they’re incapable of true flight, morasu can glide when leaping from high places. Buildings or the crow’s nest of a ship work best. They also posses a raven-like tail, complete with more midnight black feathers.
Last would be their face. Despite their raven characteristics, morasu have a human-shaped face. It’s thin, with no beak, but has the same pearly gray scaled skin. They have sharply pointed ears and solid black eyes that are particular to their ancestry.
Senses
The morasu share the same senses common to any species, but some of theirs are more acute. Especially in the realms of sight and smell.
While their eyesight doesn’t match the vision of a thayan, morasu vision is still very versatile. Their eyesight is crystal clear both day and night. This is particularly useful for them at night, where even a sliver of moonlight allows them to see clearly in the dark when hunting.
The morasu also have a heightened sense of smell that is fine-tuned to detect specific odors similar to the precision of a bloodhound. They are especially sensitive to sweet or acidic odors. The smell of blood is especially sharp to them. Much like a shark sensing blood in the water, a morasu can smell the scent of fresh blood up to 20 yards away on land.
Effects of these enhanced senses is woven throughout the fabric of their lifestyle. Most morasu homes often consider both color and scent as important as tactical defense and decor when they design a home. This has even translated to a unique silent language only the morasu cultures use, which involves flowers for the combination of colors and scent.
Dietary Habits
Like thayans and grimlings, morasu can eat almost anything a human can, but they have a strong preference for meat. Red meat, in particular, is their favorite. They also share the same food sensitivities as thayans to chocolate and coffee, both of which make them tipsy.
Culture
In the Tomia game, either you win, or find yourself bled out and forgotten.
- Lord Kaivos of Tomia Harogara
.I'm usually not very fond of Avian races But I absolutely love what you're done here. I love the story the history The disparity and direction. I love the naming and of course I love the openings and quotes because they are just your signature style of awesome.
Thank you! :D I really wanted a species with related cultures that could hint at some serious hidden depths.