Loruck

Lorucks are one of the four humanoid races of the world. They are the sister species of Humans, and have coexisted with them for centuries.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Unlike Humans, Lorucks are carnivores. This is where many of their differences originate, by way of improving the natural defenses and weapons of their ancestors, rather than losing them as Humans did. Such traits include sharp teeth and nails, a heavy build, abundant body hair, keen senses, and a venomous bite.

Build

Lorucks do not acquire muscle mass as Humans do, as their muscles continously grow, regardless of activity level, due to being in a constant state of hypertrophy. They do, however, need to tone the muscles they gain. All of the fat in their bodies is stored in the brain and around internal organs, rather than under the skin. Excessive food consumption will lead to fat buildup around the organs, increasing the pressure on them and hindering their ability to function.
As children, Lorucks have a bulky musculature, and much of their food intake goes into building muscle mass. This is so, as they age and become more active, they will have plenty of muscle to tone and strengthen. Adults and adolescents have more lean, but stocky builds. A well-fed, untrained adult is three times stronger than the average Human.
Their dense bones and muscles make Lorucks weigh heavier despite having very little body fat. Because of this, they cannot suspend themselves or swim as efficiently as Humans without proper training. However, they are much more efficient at weightbearing and high-impact activities.

Sexual Dimorphism

Like their ancestors, Lorucks display virtually no sexual dimorphism. Both sexes share a pool of masculine characteristics, such as a strong musculature, large larynx, facial and body hair, narrow hips, and small breasts.

Body Hair

Lorucks have a unique hair distribution pattern.

Thick, dense hair similar to fur on the nape, back, shoulders, collarbone, and limbs. Known as the fur mantle.

Fine but visible body hair on the chest, abdomen, cheeks, and forehead.

Both sexes can grow facial hair, though the growth is slightly different in females. Women grow hair on their jawlines and chins, but not around their mouths as men do. Hirsutism is uncommon.

Skin Patterns

Most Lorucks have dermal markings which serve as natural camoflague or mimicry. These patterns vary between regions. Lorucks in cold regions, for example, have pallid skin and a discolored mottled pattern. Lorucks in temperate regions have a brindled or striped pattern. Native Lorucks have none.

Nails

Lorucks have tough, sharp nails. The color of their nails change as they age; children have orange-tinted nails, adults have orange nails with black flecks, and seniors have black nails.

Acidic Saliva

Their saliva is highly acidic, however, it is diffcult to burn through the specialized mucus throughout the digestive tract; Lorucks are not harmed by their own corrosive saliva.

Venom

Lorucks have distinct purple vein-like markings underneath the tongue. At will, small glands located inside the root of the tongue secrete a yellowish venom through the salivary ducts. The venom itself is actually harmless until it makes contact with blood, which is required to activate its hemotoxic properties. When mixed with blood, the venom becomes viscious, purple, and smells sour.
The blood of every Loruck has a special property to ensure it does not activate his or her own venom, like a fingerprint - this safety mechanism is still under study.
When activiated, this venom is highly potent for humans, as well as many species of Nightbeast, when it enters the bloodstream. The venom causes blood vessels to burst as it thickens and forms clots in its wake.
Within mere minutes, the victim suffers swelling in limbs, breathlessness, chest pain. As the venom spreads, the victim's pain worsens, becomes imobile, and begins coughing up blood. Finally, the victim dies of a heart attack or organ failure. Lorucks themselves are suspectible to the effects when bitten by another.

Genetics and Reproduction

Puberty for both sexes begin around age 9, and reach sexual maturity by age 12. Women undergo menopause around age 35. Pregancies last for about 7^1/2 months.
Lorucks also have a much higher rate of concieving multiple births- 1 in 85 pregnancies results in twins, 1 in 6300 for triplets. Lorucks are born rather small, about 2 lbs. and 8 inches with a head circumfrence of 4 inches, in order to be able to pass through the mother's naturally narrow birth canal.
Though Loruck women have smaller breasts than Humans, they can produce nearly an equal amount of milk. Infants are weaned at about five weeks of age.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Lorucks are mesocarnivores, benefiting best from a diet high in meat and some plant and invertebrate material.
Because their bodies turn food into muscle mass rather than fat, Lorucks starve very quickly and are at constant risk of atrophy. Adults need to eat around 10 pounds of meat a day to maintain adequate energy, and 2 pounds to prevent tissue decay. They can only live without food for one week, and two days without water.
Lorucks have very strong stomach acid, and can safely digest fresh raw flesh, organs, and bone. They have no need to chew their food and prefer swallow chunks of meat whole. Starkland natives have especially potent acid and gut flora which allows them to safely digest carrion.

Teeth

Lorucks have only 30 teeth, all of which serve primarily as weapons. They possess carnassials in place of premolars, and have slightly sharp molars for grinding both plants and flesh. Most Lorucks have isolated 2^1/2inch canine teeth.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Vision

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Night Vision

Lorucks possess a tapetum lucidum and large eyes allowing them to see very well in dim light.

Visual Range

As a consequence of having excellent night vision, Lorucks lack some acuity and are nearsighted. Compared to Humans, they have 20/40 vision.

Color Vision

Lorucks are dichromatic and have substantially less color vision than Humans. They are red-green colorblind and perceive the world in shades of yellow, blue, and gray. The colors red and green appears as a mix of black and brown to them. Additionally, Lorucks are confused by the colors pink, purple, and orange. As such, these hard-to-see colors appear incongruously in Loruck creations, or not at all.

Additional Info

Lorucks have a functioning third eyelid. They are not capable of producing emotional tears.

Hearing

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With a maximum hearing range of 140 feet, the ears of Lorucks are only slightly more sensitive then Human ears. They also have more hair inside and outside the ear. Lorucks can detect frequencies much higher than Humans, but are roughly equal in detecting low frequencies.

Olfactory

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Lorucks have a sense of smell superior to that of Humans, about 15 times more. They can identify an animal species or familar individual from 80 feet away by scent alone. They are also more sensitive to the smell of sweat, meaning that they can sense a person's state of stress more accurately; in other words, they can indeed smell fear.

Lifespan:

50 - 55 yrs.

Average Height:

6' 4" - 6' 7"

Average Weight:

215 - 225 lbs.

Skin Tone:

Light to Dark Brown

Off-white Undertone

Hair Colors:

Brown / Dark Brown / Black

Eye Colors:

Yellow / Amber / Brown / Blue