Grebel
The Grebel are an odd specimen. Native to Kybrerus, they likely evolved just behind ryclins, and potentially may have become the first serious society if not for the tampering ryclin received from mysterious old visitors in a time long passed. They are the only native OA species that is not considered to be on the board of the system, as they have been quite hostile or hard to communicate with. Yet, they're a protected race due to their curious nature, and even preservation or cultivation of rural forestry. They have long been the bane of ryclins, but also a controlling force that may have helped keep the ecosystem at balance for times where theoretical ryclins may have wrecked it.
Grebel often inhabit treetops along Kyberian forests. They built large communities across the middles of trees, assigning bridges, huts, and special walkways and ladders. Sometimes they dig into the tree, or have a network to the ground level where they burrow. Yet despite using the trees, they are always sure to also care for others, planting and redistributing seeds with care. Despite all conceptions and reputations of a primitive life, they actually show a great deal of intelligence in certain areas. They cook and boil for clean nutrients, have been capable of learning equipment like guns, understand certain anatomies of their adversaries like the ryclin and have used their hides as acidic shielding, and have domesticated some species like Florts in ways similar to humans and dogs. While far from the full advances of Vahamin, Ryclin, and even the Gearmen, they are still intelligent and adaptable, yet they refuse to communicate or reason much with the OA system, and pose a potential threat whenever they've decided something is an "intruder" on their numerous villages.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The grebel typically has golden fur, with odd variants having shades of gray-blue, muted brown, and charcoal colorations. They have small snouts, lengthy furless fingers, and even longer toes that curl well around tree branches for climbing. Their whiskers make them just as adaptable at small tunnels. Their ears can be sharp or rounded, though round is more common, with perhaps an active evolutionary period going on at the moment that selects those that capture the sound bouncing off trees better. A long and strong whip-like tail adds flexibility to their already impressive ability of movement, though male tails are often only 1/3rd the length as a female's and are mostly useless by comparison. They're often short at roughly 1-1.2 meter averages, with the taller few being roughly equal to human averages, yet they are quite strong and typically burly for their size. Females tend to be a little smaller, with longer whiskers and tails, and its thought these traits help them between raising the young, and doing more digging or crafting work in interirors. The grebel are often hastily summarized by Vahamins as "Tree Rats" for their rough appearance, but have also been deemed similar nicknames as 'possum-men', and 'jumper jibbies' (more of an odd ryclin slang).
Genetics and Reproduction
The grebel is thought to be a primitive mammal that has only recently evolved out of being a marsupial, where it was suspected their young were carried around on them. Now the young gestate for six years, and typically two at a time are had, and then develop their eye sight and other small senses through almost a year long period. Often they'll follow their mother around for much of this time, holding onto her long tail, while the father brings things from the outside. The young suckle more at around the mother's center, where its believed the older evolutionary line of the species once had a pouch. Yet once the infants are moving away from their parents, they grow and develop quite fast. When the young is no longer occupying the same den, the couple will often reproduce again, but never anytime sooner, always dedicated to the current offspring. Vahamins have decidedly given the name to the younger dependent form as a Kyter based on the word of kite, and how they hold to a mother's tail.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Grebel are true omnivores. They forage mostly for nuts, fruit, and insects primarily, but will also eat eggs, and small birds. They tend to cook most things they eat, and even foster a culture that favors fruit juice and teas as equally as basic clean water.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Their fur used to be collected, specifically the golden and gray-blue variations. However, this has since been dubbed illegal, and attempts to possess the fur is considered 'Grebel poaching". In some regions this is even strict enough to say that owning fur, even if from a time before law passage, is illegal. As such, the practice has gone down a bit, but still happens on occasions. Grebels can still be devoured however, but most ryclin only consume them incidentally rather than with intent, as they don't want to deal with a whole community when less social prey is around the corner. Still, occasionally dead grebel (often from a defensive encounter) get moved into the cryofood industry, and are a snack to ryclin that have lost the time or ability to hunt live prey.
Lifespan
50-70 Years
Conservation Status
Officially protected from serious conflicts. Can still be killed, devoured, etc, but a large organization cannot oppose them unless there is serious evidence exists that the Grebels themselves are initiating a full-stage war.
Average Height
1.2 Meters
Average Physique
Often Stout
Geographic Distribution
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