Panda People

The panda people are a species of, as the name implies, panda-like people who are native to the enchanted Panda mountain. Surprisingly the panda people actually gave themselves that name as they are not usually very clever or intelligent by most standards. They came into existence when the god of plants and animals, Lenesel, accidentally make the entire population of pandas on the Panda mountain(which also was named by the panda people) become sentient out of nowhere, though not a ton smarter. They also are not very hard workers and will usually will only do work to help others or involving food. Though they were very surprised at first to suddenly be sentient, they ended up building an entire culture residing almost solely on the mountain. Of course now they have nearly been entirely wiped out by The shadow legion. Very few panda people are still alive on Laeriss and most likely they will soon entirely die out.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Panda people are tall, strongly built humanoids. They have paws on their arms and legs and their face has a short snout, which is less pronounced than a normal bear. Their fur is mostly white with black spots in it. Much like humans they can walk on two legs.

Biological Traits

Male panda people are usually 6'' taller than female panda people. Female panda people are also, on average, 65 lbs lighter than the males.

Genetics and Reproduction

Panda people reproduce just like any other mammal, they are quite similar to most other humanoids in most ways but for a one month period every year the females of the panda people get particularly exited.

Growth Rate & Stages

1. Infant stage: 1-2 years old, the infant stage only lasts for a few years
2. Young stage: 3-10 years old, the panda person is still developing, somewhere in this stage they will develop sexual maturity
3. Intermediate stage: 11-16 years old, the panda person is in its final phase of maturation
4. Adult stage: 17-40 years old, they do not change very much in this stage and stop growing
5. Elder stage: 41-89 years old, the panda person starts to become weaker and more frail very quickly, a panda person gets old and weak quite fast.
6. Ancient stage 90-100+ years old, the panda person is very weak and frail, they usually will spend their time meditating, praying, or creating art during this time.

Ecology and Habitats

Almost every panda person on Laeriss lived on the enchanted Panda mountain, which is quite hot and humid, though other similar environments are also preferable for the panda people. Though they rarely travel outside of the continent of Kaelia or even Panda mountain, as a sapient species they are capable of making do pretty much anywhere.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The favorite and preferred food of a person person is bamboo and the parts which are associated with it. Though they are still naturally carnivores and not omnivores, it could be said the reason for this dietary choice is laziness and the fact that they are naturally not particularly intelligent. Gatherer panda people who gather bamboo and then sell it to the rest will usually use sharp tools to cut down the bamboo, and then carry as much as they can back to the panda market or, to eat themselves. Though panda people also have a rich history of delicious cuisine not seen anywhere else on Laeriss.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Panda person society was very pleasant and nice. Everybody being friends with everybody else, panda people help each other out and are usually very kind to others. This may seem strange since pandas are normally solitary and territorial but the positive magic of Lenesel was powerful enough to override the more violent and solitary instinct of the panda people. In panda person society there is little prejudice, even though spot size is seen as an important factor in beauty, panda people with smaller spots or less spots are rarely bullied and it usually only affects their love life.

Facial characteristics

Panda people have a very short snout, it originates from when they were just simple pandas but over time has gotten less pronounced. They have a large black nose, usually quite round face shape, and often multiple chins. Their face is very full and rarely are features like cheekbones noticeable, in part to the fur covering their entire face, with black spots around the eyes and ears.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Every single panda person that ever lived was born on the Panda mountain of The Kaelian plains. Occasionally one will leave and venture to the capital of Kemler but it is very, very rare for a panda person to be found outside of Kaelia, as well as the fact that they are nearly extinct.

Average Intelligence

It is a fact that panda people are naturally not very smart, when they were imbued by the magic of Lenesel to become sentient they did not increase in intelligence by a substantial amount. Since pandas are not very intelligent for an animal, panda people are not very intelligent for a humanoid but they are still quite wise.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Panda people do not have good hearing, sight, taste, or somatosensation. (touch) Their sense of smell however, is very powerful, and when honed can replace any other sense of theirs.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The Panda people are technically under rule of The Kaeslaran Dominion but are mostly left alone and are allowed to make their own laws.

Beauty Ideals

Large spots are considered incredibly attractive. Many panda people will use black makeup to enlarge their spots especially around the eyes. Often panda people born with less spots will undergo permanent procedures to give themselves spots. Strong and chunky pandas are also considered very attractive, though actual muscle is not a requirement.

Gender Ideals

Both genders of panda people are held to similar standards of "The thicker the better", though male panda people will often use makeup to make their noses look blacker and shinier.

Courtship Ideals

Often when courting with another panda person, a stalk of bamboo will be offered as a gift and symbol of love. Both genders of panda person are encouraged to propose or ask each other out.

Relationship Ideals

Panda people in relationships will often be seen cooking for each other or gathering bamboo for a partner. One of the most common forms of showing affection for another panda person is rubbing noses with them.

Average Technological Level

The technological level of the panda people is quite behind the level of the rest of Laeriss. Though they do not have much advanced magic or tech on Panda mountain, they live a simple and peaceful life.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Since almost the entire panda person population live in such close proximity to each other there is very little variation in the speaking between panda people.

Common Etiquette Rules

Panda people follow very few rules of etiquette or manners as the culture of the panda peoples sees it as frivolous. For instance, a hungry panda person is encouraged to stuff as much food into their mouth as they can without restraint.
*Licking the plate is encouraged.

Common Dress Code

Panda people also promote wearing whatever feels most comfortable, though having an exposed crotch region is considered to not be acceptable attire for being in public showing your chest is allowed for both genders, as they consider their fur to be enough to make up for a lack of clothing.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The culture of the panda people is very communal and focused on forming bonds. Other important staples of panda person culture is the exotic food, the monks, the sharing of bamboo, and valuing wisdom over intelligence.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Often at dinnertime a panda person parent will bring the entire batch of food to the table, so their children can eat as much as they desire. Special dumplings are often given out to friends and acquaintances while gifting a whole bamboo stalk to somebody is a sign of love or proposing a relationship.

Common Taboos

Praying to any gods on the evil spectrum or any who are of the Infernal Devotion is strictly forbidden for any panda person and doing so will get one permanently banished from Panda mountain.

History

The original panda people were created by accident when somehow the god of life and animals, Lenesel, awakened the entire population of panda people on Panda mountain and made them sentient. This magic also slowly transformed them to be more like humanoids than before, making them bipedal. Since then they continued to live on the mountain and not spread out very much from their homeland. Yet after the shadow dragon Gargalabaga came to attack the leader of the panda people, Kwun Yin, it was not long before most of the rest of the people of panda mountain were killed by The shadow legion, making panda people nearly extinct.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

While most panda people rarely see other species of humanoid they view each one essentially the same. For the most part they will treat other humanoids and people as if they were family or friends and don't really treat other people differently than their friends.

Scientific Name

Saepas Besas Menadelak

Origin/Ancestry

Central Laeran

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

Panda people can be from 5' 2''-7' 2'' tall

Average Weight

An average panda person is nearly 300 lbs, though they are very heavy they are extremely strong and can have very powerful muscles.

Average Physique

Panda people are built very bulky and large. They store a lot of their energy in fat, often concealing the fact that underneath are powerful and dangerous muscles. When a panda person is trained they can as strong as even a giant. Panda people make the best wrestlers on Laeriss and amaze with their power when they venture to the outside world.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The entire body of a panda person except for the paws and nether region is covered in predominately white fur. Black spots and markings are located on the face, shoulders, and other areas. The areas of exposed skin are dark pink, not very pleasing to the eye.