Sequa
[Also called Zequa by some] An equestrian-like mammal race of ungulates. They're a somewhat lesser known species, barely sorted by other intelligent forces, outside of Sycore that exploited many of them for decades. Most of the species is believed to have been whittled down to scarcity and endangered, many fattened into a meal dish, or burst open from medical issues while being prepared for the former fate. Despite their dire circumstances, they're capable of thriving, and have had some communities attached to lively and active hallows of magic and a wealth of usable mystic energy. They are a religous and matriarchal race, many believing in a motherly goddess figure called Junvri. As a very magic-gifted race though, some of their arguments and logic are seemingly more oddly sound, and its thought the goddess could have once been a very early and rare gifted user born with the rare wing mutation.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Tall and limber equine body form, with a slightly shorter snout than horse-like comparisons. May develop or yield heavy hair or long fibers, even giving males a more feminine look. Arm digits lead to firm and tough hands, and legs down into hooves. Tails are mid-length with a short actual tail-bone that is graced with a lot of similar hair as their mane. They have a lot of power and muscle in their thighs, calves, and hips, and are capable of hitting great running speeds.
Males are most distinct with a small horn and slightly fuller 'bridge' along the nose. The horn rarely ever grows beyond three inches, and may pose an issue if it does start outreaching worse. They've got a bit more torso and pectoral strength. Their hair/mane more often also grows in roots down and between the shoulder blades, though some keep this part trim. Females have more mammilian curveture, and a more dainty torso, but are still built quite powerful. They lack horns outside of the depiction of their great goddess, however they do inherit a small chance to have wings. Winged Sequa are rare but powerful people with more mana pull and radiance from them, and the ability to truly fly, as well as even 'ghosting' around. Its possible for females to have back-root hair, but very rare.
Genetics and Reproduction
Males are potentially always active, but somewhat relaxed and await the 'proper time' for females. Females aren't very sexually driven in a way, but undergo a stir-crazy activation they call "Jun's Spell", but have also called it going into heat for other races' practicality. During this phase they are incredibly fertile, similar to taur, able to take on multiple infants from different fathers, but some with magic talent are even gifted to 'weld' traits and infants, essentially able to mix two male colors over an infant. Its not so sure what causes heat in individuals, as they can activate without calculated timing between sessions (though most can't activate it while pregnant), but its thought there are exterior influences that can trigger it in their mood or what they eat. Intentionally within hallow communities, the matriarch will set a time and with a magic composure, induce the spell over a large area. In organized society, Sequas actually partake in orgies and 'get it out of their system' for a while - calling these more planned events, Destiny Dances. Combined with the fertility rate and mysticism, females tend to rack up between four to as much as even fifteen infants from these gatherings.
Severe pregnancies often need some supervision and magic assistance from peers, but are considered to be feats and moments of great honor. Mother's can shift and weave life forces of their young, but also offer other's to help, and in rare instances are even able to 'pass' a young into another, while in other cases ready children can even be 'teleported' out to relieve the mother of peasure without a lot of extra force applied on those less ready. Late and experienced mother's may even do this casually, even releasing smaller pregnancies this way, though some tribes and groups may be superstitious this is a risk to the offspring.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Technically omnivores, though their classical diet heavily leaned towards vegitarianism. They often ate bugs, shellfish, and baked small rodents, but rarely much else for meat. They adored nuts, fruit, wines, tea, cider, and simpler grains. Bakery formats and beer were late-stage pre-alien society developments coming up, and the species was never greatly used to these things, but it wasn't unheard of. Heavy binges of roughage or denser meats could upset their stomachs, and even cause fatal implosions from a strange cramping reflex of the organ. Often only nobility or very slow lifestyles among Nesters would find themselves over-eating and putting on weight, often from excessive fruits, wine, and the introduction of pies in their diet. Even before NQ and aliens, the number of overweight Sequa had a point of strong surging to include roughly 19-22% of the species, as more were coming into a more sedintary and spoiled lifestyle, but even then the increased weight wasn't as extreme per person just yet...
Once NQ and associated franchises settled in, their diet expanded with a heavy demand for fried chicken, but even burgers and pizza caught on. Burgers were the first time most societies tried red meat at all. Nearly anyone interacting with aliens, or with friends who had, often acquired an addictive taste to these meals. However with the fixed chemicals and affections for them, waistlines got bigger than ever before, and the afflicted eventually outnumber healthy Sequa. Those that had a higher tendancy and heavier load of 'darker' meats were even found to be sick and combust, pressing a younger and more careless Sycore industry to work even harder to procure the ones that would 'mature' their fat a lot more. Yet even after all the time and exploits, its estimated only 1 in every 5 Sequa even knows better, and even less are able to overcome their impulses and can be found easily swindled. While some hallows still hold very slim and toned Sequa, they're a minority and some still hold the fatter body type in high regard. However Sycore has "slowed" their production on the species, and raised the price of their associated meat.
Additional Information
Social Structure
In older history, the society was founded on two core types: Nesters & Nomads. Both worshipped Junvri by a certain point. Nesters happened to hunker into lifestyles close to or in Hallows found across the land. They would partake in thriving communities, Destiny Dances, hold councils, and work on more developed production facilities. Nomads often had some origin with them, but would be pressured or find passion in striking out and staying outside of the Hallow in trying smaller community experiments, or deliverying important things across other hallows and social networks. Niether side was really averse to the other, but used them. Great monuments were built honoring sportsy attitudes, musicians, and fine pottery arts, while art of their goddess was always close by any constructions.
Junvri was a shared concept of a god that mothered life for the planet and world. Every aspect of her was honored and revered. Her horn and wings were signs of strength. Nomads were considered a more masculine and strong role, and often symbolized with horn or hoof. Nesters saw symbolism in more in her silky hair, and large gravid belly. (To depict her without the horn or pregnant belly was heretical.) The wings, more an idea across the whole species, strong and soft. Leaders were made among the rare few born with wings, always to the Nester side. They were pampered, but expected to do great things and hold good guidance. Initially they worked frequently with Nomads and traveled out more often but had plans to return to their original homes. However over time, they distinguished a 'dependancy' and need for the nomads to lead the example of the working and enduring worker, and the winged matriarchs as entangled with the community. In the wake, art flourished, and some of the closer reagal sorts began to frequently be found putting on weight, but this was acclaimed as a symbol of living within Junvri's image with more of a mid-section. Some nomads detested an 'attitude shift', but tensions were limited, and considered awful in situations where they actually did rebel against a closer hallow set.
In modern day, the species has significantly diminished in number. Aliens moved in, and nomads spread the idea that they were bringers of peace and supplies. These aliens were close with Sycore, who kept their discovery a secret, and began fattening and manufacturing the species into a meat mixture. It took off in a feverish frenzy, successfully finding the species falling for it, and even celebrating their weight gain in line with the newer age outlook of it being an idea of divine promotion. However as time went on, the nomad cycle virtually disappeared between more out of shape runners, and most of them being processed first. With their end came the shrinking and even some demise of bigger communities depending on trade and social networks from them, not to mention nomads that brought the addictive substances and directions into such communities. Current survivors can have a culture best described as delusional decadence, often working towards art, feasts, orgies, and admonishing superstitious tales. However a subset has truly run off with higher tech, and can be found exploring new roles they may often consider Sky Nomads.
Lifespan
Huge variance. 50-200 Years
Average Height
1.67m-2m
Average Physique
Once quit a long-form cardio and fit race, Sycore has fattened-up an overwhelming majority.
Geographic Distribution
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