Dæjha
Humanoid enough to not be startling in their appearance, the Dæjha are a species with ancient roots and a written history dating back thousands of years. In fact, their very name is taken from the title of their oldest preserved document, the Dæktrijhydra, a tome chronicling the beginning of the world. The word Dæjha translates as "the Writers" and attests to their belief that their ancestors literally wrote the world into being. Their language of Navan is one of the oldest documented languages known and is considered by the Dæjha to be a sacred script, a direct source of magic and miracles.
Basic Information
Anatomy
With an average height of around 5.8 feet, the Dæjha are similar to many humans in their size and shape.
Biological Traits
Most Dæjha have longer incisors than humans, growing slightly past their lips and giving them a very feline appearance. The length of the teeth depends on the ethnicity of individual, with the Yatdo and Amadhi having much more pronounced fangs than the Næpa, Mudræ, and Kormsa.
Genetics and Reproduction
The Dæjha have no "gender" as we understand it. All of them possess a combination of internal and external genitalia that allows them to both experience sexual pleasure and use parthenogenesis to reproduce. Therefore, an individual can be in a sexual relationship with any other individual, and any individual can choose to have children at any time, whether partnered or alone. This also means that the language of Navan has no gendered pronouns or other evidence of gender in its vocabulary or syntax.
Growth Rate & Stages
Gestation is an entire year. From birth until the age of 15, Dæjha are considered children and are treated as such. From ages 15 to 25 are the Norodh years - a developmental phase between childhood and adulthood during which the body and brain fully mature; sexually maturity is attained around age 25, and it is at that time that a Dæjha is considered an adult. Around the age of 85, Simska is entered, during which they lose the ability to reproduce and the body begins to age. Average lifespan is about 120 years.
Ecology and Habitats
Atavya is a very large region, thousands of miles long and containing numerous different biomes. The different ethnicities within the Dæjha thrive in different environments: the Næpa are mostly found in the coastal areas of Atavya, the Yatdo are forest dwellers, the Amadhi inhabit the mountain regions, and the Kormsa tend to live in the fertile valleys and the Mudræ dwell in the deserts.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Rather than a circulatory system centered around a heart pumping blood throughout the body, the Dæjha have a Hrimana, a locus of elemental energy located in their lower abdomen (their sacral chakra) that infuses their body with a life energy drawn from food, water, sunlight, and meditation. This energy glows with the force of its power, therefore Dæjha have a slight glow to them as this energy moves throughout their bodies, with the Hrimana glowing brightest of all.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
A symbiotic relationship exists between the Dæjha and the Prakta. Prakta are a plant species that grow throughout the temperate areas of Atavya. They have a wide base of broad leaves, generally a dark red in color, with tall stalks of green growing to about 3 feet in height. Each plant contains 3-5 stalks, and at the end of each stalk is a 6 inch long pod, reddish-brown and covered in a soft layer of minute hairs, creating a sort of furry look and feel. Only when the pods are pulled from the stalk does the end of the stalk become exposed, allowing the seeds inside to fall out and/or blow away. Inside the pods is a light green syrup that, when ingested by the Dæjha, energizes and nourishes the Hrimana at a much higher rate than other foods. This syrup has a sharp, sweet taste, almost like spearmint or peppermint, and is used in many ways by the Dæjha - as a seasoning in baking and cooking, as a syrup added to drinks and soups, hardened into candies, and dehydrated into chewy treats.
Lifespan
120 years
Average Height
5'6" to 5'9"
Average Weight
140 to 160 lbs
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dæjha skin shades vary by ethnicity, but are generally a smooth hue of green or blue. Their hair tends to be varying shades of green and brown, although occasionally will be as dark as black. Eye color varies extensively, from pale green, blue, or yellow, to dark violet, maroon, or brown. Because of the energy of the Hrimana, a Dæjha's eyes glow slightly in accordance with how healthy they are.
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