Ljudoy
ljudoy (pl.) / ljudoy (sing.)
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ljudoy are one of the larger species in Núreht. Generally taking the form of a bipedal hominid, the mountainfolk are arcane creatures who originate from deep under the mountains of Qevrun.
Adapted for living underground, lujdoy have two pairs of arms which are disproprtionately long for their body size, and enable them to climb sheer rock faces and hang from rocky outcroppings and cave ceilings. They are able to regenerate lost limbs with mineral growths
Their bodies are studded with natural crystal outgrowths, which they can use to communicate via chemoluminescence. Their vocal range naturally tends towards infrasound, but - as with almost all of their anatomy - eventually adapts to their environment. They are able to speak with 'surface-dwellers' after as little as eight month's exposure.
Genetics and Reproduction
As inorganic creatures, ljudoy do not have genetics as organic creatures understand them, but offspring inherit memories from their parents.
A ljudoy is 'born' when one or more adults invest a specialised seed crystal with enough magic and memories that it begins to react to external stimuli. There is no upper limit on the number of parents a ljudoy can have. The child is considered to be born when it shapes itelf into an ambulatory form, and infant ljudoy are precocial - fully independent and posessing the memories of their community. The child's personality develops and matures over the next two decades, as they integrate the various personalities and memories they inherited.
There is no anatomical difference between adult and infant except for size, and ljudoy do not have different sexes. Because of this, most ljudoy use it/its as pronouns.
Growth Rate & Stages
Ljudoy grow slowly, reaching a growth plateau determined by their environment. Sub-surface ljudoy plateau at a size appropriate for the caves they live in, and may experience a growth spurt if they move to a more spacious region. There is no theoretical maximum on their height, and ljudoy were wary of moving to the surface because of this, fearing infinite growth. However, surface-dwelling ljudoy generally do not exceed 2m tall, slightly less than average for yutaaq.
Dietary Needs and Habits
In their natural environment, ljudoy are primarily lithophagic - eating rocks and minerals - but supplement this diet with bats, birds, fish, mosses, and lichens.
Surface-dwelling ljudoy eat a mixed diet which is heavy in bones, and actively prefer plants grown in soils rich in heavy metals. Becausee of this, they are often part of reclamation efforts, settling in areas which industrial work has rendered toxic to organic life.
Behaviour
Lujdoy lack any natural predators and rarely exhibit fear. They are inquisitive and highly sociable, with a stong predeliction towards the arts. They are not especially playful, but enjoy humour and wordgames as a pack bonding exercise.
Civilization and Culture
History
One of the oldest species in the world, they date their origins back to the second Age, though greatly changed since then. Due to they way that they inherit memories, ljudoy evolution is preserved in their cultural history, and the ability to cross-reference sufficiently historic events with the memories of any other ljudoy from that lineage makes it one of the most reliable records available to historians.
A lot of interesting details here! From the way ljudoy are born to the manner in which they grow. I think chemoluminescence and infrasound are really interesting concepts. I particularly like how they help reclamation efforts because they can contaminated plants.