The Erowa

One of the species who live on the world Tresin, they are a unique blend of plant and animal who evolved long ago into a symbiotic entity where the lines between the two are hard to discern.
Militant ecologist, most Erowa define their entire lives around the defense of the natural state of their world and if they grew up on a world other than Tresin that ecosystem is easily taken under their protection.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Smaller than Drynn, the Erowa are a slightly built species rarely over 5 and a half feet tall. 
There is a wide degree of variance to their physiology, though rarely to the degree that it changes their capabilities largely from the baseline. Most Erowa have an animalistic feature, usually ears, horns or antlers and sometimes tails. Rarely do they have the lower form or legs of another creature. 
All Erowa have visible signs of their symbiosis with plant and fungal life, though this can change depending on the locale where they were born with 2nd and 3rd generation Erowa on different parts of Tresin or other worlds form symbiosis with wildly different plants and fungus. This can show itself as a fine coating of moss, parts of their skin being made of bark. 
In some cases the symbiotic entities can grow to replace missing limbs or overtake an Erowa's hair.

Genetics and Reproduction

Erowa reproduce sexually and have  gestation period of 36 months, the later portion of which is spent forming the symbiotic bonds with the various plant and fungal life that are introduced.

Growth Rate & Stages

Erowa live short lives full of energy, typically considered adults at the age of 15 and generally living until they are 50 years old.

Ecology and Habitats

They are well suited for any environment but have a strong preference for forests.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Erowa are omnivorous and eat all manner of plant and animal matter.

Biological Cycle

As they age, more and more of their body is overtaken by the symbiotic life within them. The eldest Erowa are more akin to barely moving trees or fungal growths and they eventually stop moving entirely, becoming ossified in that state.

Behaviour

Highly strung, these creatures tend to have strong ideals and believe in even stronger action. They are inquisitive but their strongly held views can often blind them where more level heads might see more clearly.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The Erowa have a strict hierarchy based on age with younger Erowa deferring to older in nearly every case. Family structure and their governments are all aligned to this. 
Cities are often built around a council of elders, Erowa who have begun to ossify and are Planted in the center of the city usually called a "Council Grove" where they manage the running of the city until they are unable to speak anymore without the help of "Sap Singers", Erowa who can commune with the new existence. In this way their wisdom is never far from their peoples needs. 
Families likewise form around their own groves with their own elders, though often far smaller as their elders are just as likely to choose to join the Council Grove. Most families have at least one Elder that they tend to in their own personal garden.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Erowa have been used for biological weapons testing and medical testing in the past by unscrupulous individuals and they have a contentious relationship with the Kamaki due to various high profile incidents of the involved Ka and Ke.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Erowa live on slow moving cities, floating just above the canopies of the forests of their beloved homeworld. Their cities are found across the world and few Erowa live on the surface anymore due to the prevailing ideal that as the caretakers of their world they should have as little impact as possible. 
This idea often clashes with the Golba, though it rarely if ever has come to violence between the species.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

In some cases, especially whenever an Erowa has some animalistic features replacing their original form, they can take on extra senses associated with them. This can be increased hearing, a blind sense or other such things.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

All Erowa have plant and fungal life that are entwined intrinsically with their body. That type depends on locale.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The Conclave of Reeds is the ruling government of the world of Tresin and is primarly Erowa lead.

Beauty Ideals

Largely up to the individual, beauty ideals can see relatively large differences and trends based on the city one lives in rather than encompassing the species as a whole.

Gender Ideals

The species is largely gender fluid as a concept, they see little need to differentiate aside from whim and due to their unique biological nature and their magical and magitechnical prowess, such things are rarely an issue for procreation.

Average Technological Level

The Erowa take to technology very easily and operate some of the most powerful corporations and development entities in the system. They do however look at it from a different perspective then most other species in the system and base their own technology largely around magical practice. 
They transitioned to offworld mining as soon as they reached space and fully removed their need for mineral extraction on the surface of their world.

Common Taboos

Unwarranted destruction of the natural world or the marring and desecration of their elders are both seen as ways to generate instant hostility.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Erowa get along with most species that want to get along with them, though they can often be frustrating to work with due to their intense ideals. With short lives leading to an equally intense focus on their goals, longer lived species can find them hard to work with.

Geographic Distribution

• Tresin