Morknars OLD

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We are the wise, we are the front. We shall enlighten the path of those below us, and lead them to higher goals. We shall always be learning, questioning, searching. Since all this is what we were born to do.

Morknars are Crow-like people from Grishnak. Most of them live out of their homelands due to its corruption by a magic plague called The Dark Flood.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Feathers

All Morknars are covered with dark feathers. They protect them from cold and heat. Every Morknar molts approximately once every three years. They will slowly replace all their old feathers by growing new healthier ones during a few months.

Beak

Morknar beaks are approximately 10cms long. They have two little holes at its top border with the face. Morknars don't have a perfect sense of smell and tend to rely on sight and hearing instead. Beaks are the symbol of each individual's pride. Lots of High-Morknars have their one marked with curves and drawings that symbolize their intelligence and worth.

Arms and hands

While Morknars do have longer feathers on their arms, they have four-fingered hands covered with scales. On the top of each finger can be found sharp nails, that Morknars tend to maintain just in case they need to defend themselves.

Claws and legs

From the hips to the ankles, Morknar legs are also covered by feathers. Everything below this area doesn't have any plumage but scales just like they have on their hands. Morknars have Anisodactyl feet: Three toes in the front, one toe in the back, and small claws at the edge of each one.

Tail

Morknars have small tails in their back, but these are observed to grow smaller and smaller as generations go by. Their presence is the main argument for those who claim that Morknars used to fly since all bird species use them to balance and navigate while flying.

Genetics and Reproduction

There are very few things that could hint a Morknar's gender. Just like a lot of birds, their bodies do not have significant changes between genders, they don't have different voice pitches and clothing are totally unisex.
Morknars also do not have strong sexual needs. They live long, in a very individualist society with low values on family and legacy, while also having poor fertility. When both Morknars enjoy each other's company and intelligence, they might procreate if it's the right time for the female.
Both males and females have cloacas, and women are fertile two to three times a year. They will lay one egg per period, regardless of if they were fertilized or not. Eggs need to stay warm for 8 months before hatching.

Growth Rate & Stages

• 0 - 14 months : Newborn.

• 14 months - 2 years old : Baby.

• 2 - 9 yo : Kid

• 9 - 21 yo : Teenager

• 21 - 24 yo : Pre-Adult

• 24 - 50 yo : Adult

• 50 - 80 yo : Old Adult

• 80 - 100 yo : Elders

Dietary Needs and Habits

Morknars are omnivores. They can eat mostly anything other species can, but they have to cut each bite in small chunks since they don't have teeth.
Babies will often be fed with vegetable only purees that are easy to swallow and are slowly introduced to meat as they grow.

Additional Information

Social Structure

All the Morknar society lies in one thing: Intelligence. At the age of three, every child, regardless of its social origins, will be given to an instructor, that will teach it everything it needs to know and evaluate its capacities to learn and think.
After six extra years, the instructor will have to mark its pupil's beak. One circle at the edge is the symbol of High-Morknars, the leaders and scholars of society. Three rings are the symbol of Low-Morknars, that will be taught to do one of the many manual works needed by the rest of the people to thrive.
Surprisingly, Low-Morknars are not reluctant to fulfill their duty and never doubt their teacher's judgment. In fact, they are banned from most if not all intellectual spheres and functions, but outside of this, they live ordinary lives.
Aside from intelligence and social sphere, the main difference between the Highs and the Lows, and probably the key to this fragile balance, is their ability to wield magic. Morknar's affinity with arcane is very subtle and mainly consists of carving runes, which needs long hours of study, practice, and understanding.
Roughly 40% of the population are Highs, and 60% are Lows.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Morknars are found in small communities around the world. Grishnak, their homeland, is now nearly entirely corrupted by The Dark Flood, leaving only a few soldiers and magicians on the pieces of lands untouched trying to keep the corruption from spreading further.
Only a few 10% of the global Morknar population still lives in Grishnak.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Morknars have an extraordinary sight and a decent hearing. They can quickly spot anything moving in their eyesight, and are said to be excellent hunters.
In comparison, they have a poor sense of smell, that is even second to humans.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

Genders are nearly invisible in Morknar society. As they have few if any distinctive signs on their body, time also didn't bring differences in fashion.
It was always quite confusing for strangers seeing a Morknar for the first one, so they all decided to use the feminine pronouns, as they thought it sounded better than the masculines. Therefore, every Morknar will be referred to as a woman in every other language than their own.
In fact, the only case where a Morknar needs to know one's gender is for mating, which they do very rarely.

Relationship Ideals

The notion of the couple doesn't exist in the Morknar culture. Everyone there is an individualist, staying together and forming villages in cities for comfort and obvious practical reasons.
High-Morknars will procreate with someone they find intelligent, but as soon as they're done, they'll just go back to their regular lives. Children are raised by the mothers until the age of three when they are handed to their mentor.
Low-Morknars have to mate twice during their lives to ensure population growth. Lots of them do not, as nobody checks but most of the Lows do at least once.
Even if they don't have proper romances, Morknars still have deep valued friendships. From trustworthy research partners to drink buddies, people always appreciate some company, even if their culture and society push them to focus on their own growth.

History

TBADDED

Scientific Name

Corvus Morknar Sapiens Sapiens

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

1m67

Average Weight

50kg

Related Myths

• The Eye of the Storm

Related Materials

• Arcane Silk