ɮudō

The humanoid race that lives as the secondary dominant species on the planet. They have their own distinct psychology, physical traits, and history. They are one of only two remaining species on the planet with the ability of sorcery.
Please note that most of this information is general and cannot go into detail about every region's traditions and customs. Particularly, omitted sections (Taboos, Myths and Legends, Customs and Traditions) are impossible to completely dictate here. Other articles will be created to go in-depth into those areas.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The ɮudō people are humanoid and largely resemble humans- skeletal structure, organ systems, muscles, skin, hair patterns, etc. There are several noted differences, however:

• Much taller than humans (see aside)
• Pointed ears, range from subtle points to almost fluted
• Eye colour can be almost any shade, varying intensities as well
• Ability to see in the dark (see below)
• Movable ear ligaments (see below)
• No underarm hair and minimal body odour
• Extra ligaments around elbows and knees protect joints, gives "knobby" appearance on thinner individuals
• Skin on palms and soles is same shade as the rest off the skin
• Extra blood component that gives sorcerous abilities, takes place of platelets. Blood often dark red/black, if person is practising sorcerer

Biological Traits

ɮudō bodies with differing genitalia are more hormonally balanced than humans. Androgens and estrogen are on a more equal level in all bodies, though there is still a noticeable difference. Physically all ɮudō are on a very similar level; much still depends on genetics and lifestyle.
ɮudō are crepuscular. They have two shorter sleep cycles of 3-5 hours in the day and are most active during the twilight hours. They sleep during the darkest hours of the night and the brightest hours of the day. In human terms, this would be from about 11-15, 23-03 (11-3 both in the AM and the PM). Their ability to see in the dark paired with their heightened sensitivity to sunlight (see below) makes these hours of partial darkness much preferred. They would use astronomical twilight, the darkest parameters, to describe their times of the day/night.

Genetics and Reproduction

Sexual reproduction. Those with ovaries/womb have an oestrous rather than menstrual cycle, and as a result have a somewhat lower reproductive rate than would humans. Having anywhere from three to six children is normal, as is having over half survive to adulthood.

Growth Rate & Stages

Growth is largely the same as humans. They have a tendency to begin and end puberty a few years later than humans, and those who produce sperm have a clear end of fertility, same as those who have ovaries.

Ecology and Habitats

Living temperatures are anywhere from -20C (-4F) to 40C (104F), though those are the extremes of temperatures people are willing/able to live in. Usually 5C (41F) to 35C (95F) is preferred. They live all over the continent, even in extreme temperatures. There are large groups living in the coldest, furthest south areas, as well as in the impossibly hot and dry northwestern deserts.
ɮudō will almost always try to coexist with their place of habitation. Trees are often cut down for structures, yes, but never simply for pleasure or for convenience, and they always look to plant new ones or help an area they cleared out regrow.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Omnivores, will eat mostly anything.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Elders are more venerated, considered wiser and more trustworthy. The innocence of childhood is praised from a distance. Children are given their space to interact with the world, and many try to imitate that sense of childlike wonder. It is neither patriarchal or matriarchal- a neutral gerontocracy.

Facial characteristics

Extremely similar to those of humans, though with much more "mixing" of traits than humans. There is much less racial distinction between ɮudō and thus less taboo about marrying and having children, so there is an incredible diversity of facial features, skin tones, and hair types.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They are slightly more sensitive to direct sunlight and will often wear kinds of hats or wrap cloth around their faces to block the sun. However, they can see in the dark very well, though in minimal light the world is in black and white. This partly comes from their physiology and partially from their inherent connection to the world, being able to know where things are.
Their ears have extra muscles around the bones that allow them to consciously separate. When hearing a loud noise, a ɮudō can "unhinge" their ears and keep the bones from vibrating, keeping them from hearing a sound. Sometimes a sound is so intense it forces the bones to vibrate together anyways. This can only be done consciously, as the bones' resting position is "hinged." IE, while asleep, ears are always able to hear.
Smell, taste, and touch are the same.

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Their sorcerous abilities make them extra sensitive to the elements and the world around them. They are better at sensing temperature and humidity changes. They have a sort of "gut instinct" that helps them find, usually water, whatever element they are looking for. They can subconsciously sense the elemental planes interacting with and overlapping their world. Many settlements were built in places in attunement with a certain element- particularly temples. This kind of energy sensing can become conscious, but it takes training.
Their extra sense and unconscious link to the world around them extends to each other. What we would call auras they would be able to sense. Emotions are more visible psychically and can greatly impact the world around them. A strong enough emotional release can leave an imprint on a place for weeks, months, even years. They can feel the bonds that tie together everything in the world.

Sorcery

Their sorcery is that of Sensitivity, or of the bond. They can feel deep within themselves all the ways things in the world are connected, how they influence each other. They can readily feel and understand the emotions of others and their impact on the world; they are also themselves the most emotional of the three races. They know all is bound to everything else and they can, in their way, touch it.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Children are often named after slightly modified natural things. There are some more common names with meanings that have mostly been forgotten and simply passed down. A certain region will, of course, have its own set of popular names. The names often reflect what a family wants for the child; a name like "Storm" would indicate a desire for strength, while a name like "Breeze" would indicate a desire for peace or calm. Names have no gender and are decided together by an extended family, while the parents have the final say.
Any name with a double consonant at the end (of which it will only be: l, v, ɱ, n, ɮ, or b̪) signifies a connection between an individual and a specific element. IE, a name ending in 'nn' will be given to a child the parents hope/believe will have a close connection to the element of Earth.

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Surnames are passed down through combat. The combat takes place between a wedding couple on their wedding day, but is not always physical. It depends on the region the couple are in, their own family's traditions, and the personal strengths of the couple. Whoever is victorious keeps their surname and the other partner takes the surname of the victor. Often the combat is instead artistic or intellectual- creation rather than destruction. Children receive the victorious family name.
Surnames come from a region. A family from the far western desert might have a name meaning "west sands" or "far desert" or "western heat" or the like. It is a way to trace back through all the travel and new places where your ancestors once called home. It is a way to always know that you have somewhere that you belong even when you feel lost.

Major Organizations

TBA

Beauty Ideals

Symmetrical faces, intense eye colour, angular eyes, strong jawline, more fluted ears; all beauty ideals are reminiscent of zerɮudō.

Gender Ideals

None! The ɮudō almost nonexistence idea of gender leads to almost no gender roles or stereotypes. Men, women, and neuter can do anything and be anything. No one is ever looked down upon for doing anything because of their gender, and indeed practically nothing is gender coded. IE, sewing is not for women, and fighting is not for men. It is for all.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship is very much personal and based around the idea of a connection. Emotions (at least to a larger general degree) are more important to the ɮudō people. It is about being able to come to care for a person more and more. Gifts are traditionally given, though are usually natural/handmade, and carry personal significance.
It is about building trust with a person, to trust them enough to make them a permanent part of your life. So much of a (traditional) ɮudō person's life is spent travelling that to want to take someone with you on all of that is a huge commitment. Why do you want to spend the rest of your life with them? Answer this, and you will have your reason to marry.
Only nobles in certain regions will marry for political power.

Relationship Ideals

Due to a lack of gender ideals, basically anyone is allowed to be with anyone. A relationship is for the betterment of the community through the betterment of the self, out of trusting others and welcoming them in.
As stated above, the ɮudō people spend much of their life on the road. It is their innate drive, to seek wonder. A relationship is built mostly on trust; that bond cannot be understated. This is about trusting someone to be with you for months at a time, to watch over you as you sleep, to promise to protect you. Trust is so fundamentally important, seconded by communication.
See ɮudō Weddings for wedding rituals.

Family Ideals

Family is anyone. On the road, out in the world, anyone you come across can become your family. Family begins biologically, with the parents and child(ren). It includes any grandparents, siblings of parents, cousins, etc. But then it extends out to those people that come under the wing of a family. Travellers, friends, the lost. People are made welcome.
As well, the road is hard. While beautiful things may be found, things may be lost, too. Children bereft of parents while wandering are often found and adopted by those they come across. Sometimes the adults can help return them to their families. But not always. Sometimes the child is too young to know where they came from, or all their family may be lost. Thus the child is wholly brought into the family. They are given the family name, introduced to the members, and taught their history. So many know the hardships and losses faced while travelling and they do not want someone so young to be wandering alone.
Found family is something they believe in very strongly. The bonds we make in life are so much stronger than the ones made before our birth.

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There is no idea of matriarchy or patriarchy in a family. The leader of a family is the eldest member. All defer to this person, regardless of gender. The roles are divided equally between all members of the family and are largely based on skill. Anyone may work at anything that benefits the family and the community, be it farming, sewing, cooking, etc. See Gender Ideals above.
Parenting is evenly divided. Both parents, in theory, put an equal amount of effort into raising their child(ren). In practice, the job becomes more uneven as one parent works more than the other, but both are still very responsible for parenting. Again, refer back to Gender Ideals.
Children should respect their parents and parents should love and strive to understand their children. A family is based off of love and shared experiences. Family is about the people you love, not necessarily the blood in your veins. Anyone can be family. This idea binds together the ɮudō people. Family is the people who came before you, who raised you; family is the people you meet on the road; and family is all the people you have yet to meet, those who you will know for days and those you will know for the rest of your life. For, if you are on the road without anyone you know to bring you home, then you are truly lost. All travel must come to an end. A travel that does not end at home has not really ended at all- and to travel without end for so long is exhausting. We all need a home.

Average Technological Level

High fantasy medieval. The ability of sorcery did not necessitate the advancement of much technology.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The largest language is the Maraɮe language (Marke). It is considered their 'common tongue' across the continent, with their being mild to strong regional dialects. There are two versions of the language, the formal and informal. Not everyone speaks both.

Common Etiquette Rules

Be polite, particularly to travellers. Everyone will always need help at some point, and if you refuse to help those around you now, they might refuse to help you later.
Respect your elders.

Common Dress Code

Regionally based. The most common idea is to cover everything from the bellybutton to the knee. This goes for those with and without breasts.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

One of the few common things across all of ɮudō culture is the idea of travel. This is something ingrained into their psyche, something innate they all feel. The people spread rapidly across the continent simply because they wanted to. They found beautiful places and they wanted to find more. The balance between comfort and wonder that so often tips towards comfort in humans tips the other way for ɮudō people. To be out in the world, following your own path, simply being a part of it... that desire lurks in the back of everyone's mind. The pull towards community is nothing compared to that of the world around them.

History

TBA

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Zerɮudō, the draconic species, are highly revered and their customs, habits, and even to a small degree their language are replicated in the ɮudō culture. Zerɮudō are seen as the pinnacle of intelligence and prowess. Though, this view is not shared by the Empire.
Other species are respected as their own. Some see them as equals in the world, some see them as lesser. It depends on the region and the individual.

Scientific Name

ɮudō

Lifespan

60-80 years

Average Height

2m (6ft 7in) - 2.5m (8ft 2in)

Average Weight

75kg (165lbs) - 140kg (308lbs)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Large range, from very pale peach/beige tone to very dark coffee/brown. The skin on the palms of hands and the soles of feet, while still thick, has the same melanin amount as that in the rest of the body, and is just is dark.

Related Myths

• How Stars Came to Be, or After Death
• The Creation of Clouds
• The Metamorphosis of a ɮudō
• The Story of the Three Lovers