Grhezhte
The Grhezhte are a young and artificial race, created by the Dream Giants of Ishtakar in ages long since past to serve as expendable soldiers. Since the extinction of their creators, they have continued in their traditions; as a race bred for war, their wandering tribes are some of the fiercest mercenaries that money can buy.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Grhezhte are humanoid, unlike their Linnorm ancestors; bipedal, and with two arms. They are tall and thickly built, standing 7 or 8 feet tall. Their bodies are covered in thick scales of all the colors of dragon-kind. Their arms are notably longer than their legs, owing to their linnorm ancestry, giving them greater reach in combat. Each hand is tipped with a five-fingered hand, although the thumb is apositioned against the other fingers rather than coming out at an angle. This gives them a superior grip, but hinders their manual dexterity. These fingers are tipped with razor-sharp claws that, while unable to harm their kin due to their thick scales, are more than able to pierce the skin of the softer races.
A grhezhte's scales grow thicker throughout their lives, so the oldest of their kind are able to shrug off sword-blows as if they were sheafs of wheat. Their legs are digitigrade, allowing them to cover great distances easily and with little energy expenditure. Their feet have four claws, and are capable of delivering a lethal kick to the chest or head. Their spines are elongated compared to regular humanoids, giving them the appearance of a short, stubby, and stiff tail. This aids with balance, counteracting the disadvantages of their digitigrade legs.
Biological Traits
Grhezte females are almost identical to their males in almost every way, besides the obvious reproductive ones.
Genetics and Reproduction
The Grhiezhte are egg-layers. A female can lay up to 12 eggs in a single clutch, but few will survive to adulthood or even to be born. The Grhiezhte are a nomadic warrior-race, and their women-folk fight alongside their men in the shield-wall. The eggs must constantly be kept warm, and so they are distributed into the pouches of related Grhiezhte who then go into battle with their unborn young attached. When possible, the tribe will return to their incubation grounds to drop off their eggs with the wardens, who will care for the born and unborn children until they are picked up by their parents.
Growth Rate & Stages
Grhiezhte age quickly, rapidly reaching adulthood in a matter of four years. However, they are equally short-lived, passing away at 35 at the oldest.
Behaviour
Grhiezhte are, for a warrior-race, remarkably placid at first glance. They are not characterized so much by a desire to kill as a desire to triumph, and to that end they are stubborn and disciplined creatures, advancing in lockstep and setting to their bloody work with a cold fury that is perhaps only matched by the war-throngs of the dwarves. While some might question the wisdom of the Ishtakaran sorcerer-kings who created them, it served the Grhiezhte well. They are not overtaken by madness like orcs, and therefore much less likely to have needed replacing.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Grhiezhte possess the keen vision inherited from their draconic ancestors. They can see in pitch blackness, and can detect an enemy's presence by smell alone. Only a rare few possess the draconic gift for seeing through illusions, however.
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