Zekani (Zeh-kan-ee)
The zekani (sometimes called Zebrakin) are a zebra-like sapien race native to Felyra. They cover the least territory across the planet, but still possess a great number, with arguably better success than the cheetani.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Akin to zebras, they are equestrian-like creatures with manes and tones usually of black and white. Akin to real zebras, they are black first, with white being able to alternate more in rare genetic shoots or dyes. Yet they are bipedal, standing firm are strong legs and tough hooves. Its believed like lionkin, testosterone is linked to mane growth, and is considered a more masculine trait to be 'hairier' than not.
Genetics and Reproduction
Contrary to their feline peers, each zekani mare can only have a single child at a time, however they still take a short time to develop and are raised even quicker. Zekani have only a short lifespan between 45-60 years, and their kids are likewise raised and seeing things fast by age 5, and are considered entirely mature at age 7 while lionkin may only be considering sending their lionesses to train at such an age.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Strictly herbivores, they will eat anything from grass, love cactus juice and teas, and can sometimes be heavy drinkers of 'cheaper' wine and ales, but rarely distill stuff like whiskey. Melons are considered a great delicacy. They love their sweets as well, and often consider baked goods payment from the likes of lionkin. They tend to eat lighter in their homes and territories, and are more partial towards drinking, but when in visits or services to lionkin they hope to feast heavy, with even a sense of honor in gorging a fatal amount.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
They have fairly standard ideas across most bipedal mammal standards. Males are remarkable for firm and big shoulders, muscle capacity, and showing a stoic and firm complexion. They do however have the longer 'hair' and mane standards, and are expected to keep them well-groomed. Females are well regarded with trim manes, and fuller curves. Often larger hips are a given from their equine traits, making a matching bust set all the more valued and a truly even hourglass figure is ideal but rare. In a broader scope, zekani find a wide variety of creatures 'attractive' in a rough sense if they have some form of well groomed pattern. They at the very least hold great reverence and trust in species that have well-groomed patterned styled furs or skins, and in some cases, very promiscuous and open to intimate exchanges with such groups. Lionkin are an exception, earning their loyalty despite their more basic blonde coats, but admired for their success and wealth close over a shared homeworld. However extra compliments or even female envy are given to lionesses that are adorned in special markings or pattern by jewels or dye.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Coats of Glory:
They take deep pride in their striped coats. This has extended onto multiple ideals. They believed patterned and colorful races are sacred of a sort. In a way, this is greatly associate with their spirits and well-being. A dirty coat is thought of poorly, and if someone dies, their pelt should be recovered or the spirit might be angry and distressed. One that is still bitter and resentful, is thought to need their pelt burned or was dead in such a mangled state that it was seen as the better option. For this reason, their armed forces and ideals of defense are strongly associated with bows and affinity for ranged tactics. Most of their knife and melee skills are only for skinning and utility, while they are desperate to use their hooves in closer contact.
Bursting With Joy:
Given their more meek and simpler communal lives, females and lone males actually celebrate the idea of living in short moments of high excess as a way of purifying the soul and joy, but only in moments that end in a self-sacrificial pop. If one lives greedy, corpulent, or too elevated, they feel like they are an abomination to the order and their peers, and worth shame. If however they are so elated or spoiled in a moment like eating at a heavy lionkin feast, they believe the pressure from bursting is a blessing and that almost no death is as honorable as being popped from over-gorging. An exception is had by parental and harem-leading males that feel they must live a fuller life to serve their community, and wouldn't consider their spirit at peace to end in with bursting. For the more loose or wandering zekani, bursting is seen as a sacred act of joy so pure, it overrides the privilege of the pelt and shatters it from the idea of their bliss literally being too much for a body to contain. In this way they share a mild quality with cheetan in believing the act to have a strong spiritual sacrifice, but they believe its more for themselves rather than to appease a god. By contrast they are perplexed by lionkin standards of considering it a punishment or symbol of material wealth, however they view the race itself as ran by such standards and simply dismiss it as a confused byproduct.
Gender Behaviors:
Males and Females operate mostly in harems, but unlike the lionkin there is no strict caste order. Males must earn their harem fairly and attract them justly, and females may resign from their place if a male has truly gathered their attention in a far stronger way. Females may still be trained to defend their places and territory, but male participate quite often as well, and each other may work in similar ways around each other, mutually doing chores, cooking, cleaning, art, music, and its even common for some same-sex intimacy as long as it doesn't stay distracting from more serious partners. However problems do crop up, where males may not achieve much and become loose wanderers or 'zekani fools' in which they are considered a more nomadic and silly sort that is mocked by society. Males usually try to raise their sons a bit closer, and steer them towards habits of attracting females so they don't become a fool. However successful males still may travel and make calls to send females or their whole family onto errands, and process deals such as sending females to serve a mane-lord, or if the family is to make a larger event or unusual activity group activity. Otherwise if its not mandated by a lead male, any zekani dealers are merely aloof or fools, sometimes given the female alternative name of trotters.
Females on the other hand, may behave more neurotic and flip between terrible rivalry and nurturing endearment within their own harem. Its not uncommon for them to push each other around, sling dirt, or kick legs or stomachs of each other, while in the next moment assisting in grooming or layering compliments in. They even have a confused term of 'perking', where they'll pull the tail or smack another's body (often the face, bust, or rear) to stir them up in any direction of emotion, seen to be a compliment or insult just based on their mutual mood together, but usually a gesture only done when they share the same harem. In rare instances, they'll do this with an outsider to 'invite' them. On the other hand, its considered rude to not engage or be a quiet wallflower amidst a harem. As such, children themselves often pick up more brash play habits and its believed this continues the cycle onto their adult behaviors.
Aging Out...
Usually age begins to show on some zekani as soon as their mid-twenties. Mane dims and doesn't grow back as easily, the colors get a little muted, and their bellies tend to swell a bit with a worse metabolism. Sick and older groups have less playful fighting and sparring actions between each other, and less offspring, though males tend to stay somewhat romantically active and even occasionally getting young females until his forties, often past the point of his own fertility. The younger last set of children tend to assist more. Once the lead male assumes a more vegetative state, he often selects a male heir for their land itself while generations of prior male were taught to seek their own. The females around him tend to become more reserved but quiet crafters.
Common Taboos
- Greed
- Bad fur care
- Males Without Purpose
- Close combat endangerment
- Being a 'wallflower'
Lifespan
48-55 Years
Average Height
1.7m
Average Physique
Often mildly athletic builds. Thicker hips, strong legs, usually a slim waist until mid-20s.
Related Ethnicities
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