Nyütlo

The Nyütlo are a sapient carnavious species, from the the Anacora continent. Although they originally travelled as hunter nomads, most Nyütlo people have settled into cities where they can spend their days philosophizing about the most trivial of details.

Physical Description

Nyütlo are bipedel digitigrade mammels who typically stand taller than humans with they pull themselves to their full height. Nyütlo’s ears are located near humans’ however they protrude out horizontally. The front of their ears are flesh but the back is covered with fur, each ending with a small tuff of hair, typically a darker color. Unlike the round pupils of humans, the Nyütlo’s pupils are vertical.
Notably, Nyütlo possess a long tail with hair that grows long if not cut regularly. Their tail helps provide balance and is prehensile. They will often braid their tails in complicated designs. Female Nyütlo prefer their hair long and males can grow hair on their face and neck. Nyütlo’s jaws push forward slightly more than a humans and they have the sharp teeth of a carnivore. Their noses are similar to humans, but point slightly upward. Their feet are padded and have retractable claws. However, it is in fashion to wear shoes. Nyütlo have fingers which are slightly shorter with retractable claws. It is a high offense to show them.
Their saffron blood type makes them resistant to most illnesses and diseases; as a result, they typically live between 25-50 years longer than humans. Although Nyütlo have a similar gestation period to humans, they have difficulty conceiving. Few females have more than one child. Many Nyütlo have interspecies relationship with female humans in order to produce more offspring, but settlements such as Kobgür, prefer to keep their bloodline pure.

Relationship with Bliss and Blissmark

The people of Bliss are the masters of empathy. That is, they are able to understand another person’s emotion through their blissmark. Those who are young or untrained may need to touch the person, but as they grow, they are able to distinguish and understand the emotions of individuals with whom they interact. This makes it nearly impossible to lie . . . in fact, lying was originally not part of their language.
Those who expand their powers are able to slightly influence people’s emotions. Typically this may be used to calm people who are upset. Those with particularly strong powers are able create illusions for those around them — making them see things that are not there. This can be used as a distraction or hide their identity by making them look like a different humanoid. It is possible to use these powers to influence a person’s decisions. The strongest of those can even take temporary control over a body. Although the entire time this happens, it is a battle of the minds. It is difficult for all but the most powerful to maintain over long periods of time.

Social Norms and Mores

Showing Claws
Nyütlu have retractable claws in their hands and feet. However, it is considered highly offensive to ever unsheathe these claws in public or while in conversation with another. To do so is perceived as a threat and in the rare cases that it does happen, witnesses see another side of the Nyütlu which they have successfully pushed down over the years. Expect a fight and don’t expect it to be pretty.
Conversation and Debate
Many communities, such as Retthar, enjoy learning new things and applying their philosophies into friendly debates. Unfortunately, it is rare that they actually want to apply anything that they’ve learned. Nyütlu can be reluctant to take action. Rather, they talk in circles for hours. Nyütlu tend to wait for others to make a decision.
Lying
It is rare to find a Nyütlu who knows how to speak a lie. Their empathetic skills, which many have honed from birth are able to spot untruths told, as if it is second nature. Perhaps it’s more apt to say that it’s very difficult to lie to a Nyütlu. I’m sure if they really wanted to, they would be excellent liars. But humans maintain that Nyütlu don’t seem predisposed to do so.

Notable Cultural Groups

Kobgür Kingdom
Kobgür, which translates into Tranquil Kingdom, is a meritocracy kingdom overseen by a Mediator who has been determined to be the most pure. Although their country villages are easy to travel through, the city center is walled-off from travelers and rarely allows citizens inside. Kobgür manages large herds of Kuvonee Cows, as well as other animals, which seasonal nomads will take around their kingdom before returning for the Sacrifice Rituals every four months. Additionally, administers assign every adult their careers based on skills and their family group based on genetics. They practice household polygamy in order to increase the chances of childbirth and families typically consist of 5-7 adults who will co-raise any children born.
Rethher
Rethher is a settlement located near the waterfalls in Anacora ruled by a philosopher king and queen. They are known for their love of debate, decadent parties, and their underground art of trading in secrets. Since the secrets come from the Nyütlo, people generally accept them to be true.
Bisde
The Bisde people are a group of nomadic hunter tribes who live in the desert of Anacora. They help guide travellers safely through the desert, typically preferring a trade, although sometimes they will accept money.
Inyshuch

Inyshuch is rebuilt town near Bliss Lake, a former pilgrimage site for many Nyütlu people. Once a thriving city, Bliss Lake was attacked by an unknown force, which caused the residents to flee. Years later, young Nyütlu people began to rebuild the settlement in honor of their religion. However, many Nyütlu people liken it to a cult. Those who do not belong to this religion are sill reluctant to return or travel to the lake.

Nyütlo Nomad

by Heroforge

Gender Roles
Gender roles and expectations vary widely between settlements. For example, in Kobgür, families are polygamous. However, each household is assigned by administrators based on genetic background and skills of each of the parents. Additionally, there is no set word for “parent”; rather they have three honorifics for male, female, or neutral which children apply to all adults. On the other hand, the Retthar tend to practice lifelong monogamy based on mutual attraction; over the years, they have adopted a marriage ritual similar to humans to seal their bond.
Views towards Outsider and Mixed Raced Children
Many Nyütlu enjoy travelling and striking up conversations with strangers. In fact, they have the ability to talk for hours but never make a single choice or tell you anything of import. Most Nyütlu have integrated into human settlements and are very open to trade. Many are involved in interspecies relationships or have interspecies offspring. The notable exception to this is the Kobgür Kingdom, which consists of the largest settlement of Nyütlu people as well as the most closed off.