Nebura
Basic Information
Anatomy
A variant of harpies, the nebura forego flight-capable wings for more normalized human-like arms, but are nonetheless caped in feathers across their bodies. As a consequence, they are bulkier and more muscular than their aerial equivalents.
Armed with raptor-like hands and feet, the nebura are well-adapted to a ground-centric lifestyle, proving able runners. They are still somewhat capable of flight, using their arms more like gliders than methods of propulsion. They're covered head-to-toe in feathers, with two distinct feather-types: a soft, downy-like skin covering, and then longer, distinct feathers. These distinct feathers chiefly make up their equivalent of hair on the head, as well as the arms and legs.
Their facial structure and feather-patterns liken them to be extremely aggressive looking, almost constantly frowning or scowling, even though they aren't. As they carry themselves like predators, this creates an intimidating aura from them even when they aren't actively trying.
They have tails jutting out from the buttocks, forming long, vividly detailed tails that can sweep across the ground. Not unlike peacocks in nature, the semi-flexible tail acts as a stabilizer as much as a method of communication.
Their color ranges are complimentary toward desert environments, favoring brown, gold, tan, and reds. White colors can also show up, though usually as a secondary feature. Their eyes are bright, featuring blues, greens, gold, and sometimes oranges. The skin color, if visible at all, is universally shades of brown, with some blacks.
They are sexually dimorphic, with the females possessing wilder looking feathers, wider hips, and enlarged breasts. Females are also more physically massive, often dwarfing their male counterparts and possessing physical strength far in excess of them.
Males are usually more visually complex, possessing numerous (complimentary or competing) colors, higher clarity dispositions, and other eye attractive qualities. As a whole, one could consider them a 'female-expressing' species, not dissimilar to the petrakin in nature.
Biological Traits
In addition to inheriting the attributes of harpies, nebura have the following differences:
Ground-centric Body – Nebura have adapted to running and jumping, and sometimes gliding, having lost their ability to truly fly.
Sand Magic – A combination of earth and wind magical types, they can command the sands and loose earth of Sa-kemet and other deserts.
Song Birds – Nebura have well-adapted vocal cords for song making, producing tones that can reach far and carry well.
Being audiophiles, certain sounds are quite pleasurable to them (namely that of their mate(s)). They're susceptible to touches upon their head, as it is a relatively sensitive region loaded given their sensory perceptions.
Genetics and Reproduction
Hybrids normally inherit their father's characteristics heavily, such as body weight, height, and non-invasive features like scales. They do adopt some color tendencies, but this is reflected on the tips of their feathers if it does appear.
Civilization and Culture
Relationship Ideals
By far and large, nebura like to pick up attractive and capable mates–if not ones equal to their prowess. As they do have a strong dominance streak in them, they enjoy the most being the top of the family pecking order. However, they're very attachable to people, and like to have their partners keep up with them, be it in fighting, dancing, recreation, or otherwise.
Well-spoken or those capable of singing earn bonus points, and it isn't uncommon for family duets to be a norm in such relationships. If their spouse doesn't prefer to, however, they can be fine with just singing to said spouse. Woe be to the one who does not give them a good time of day, however. They are quite particular about receiving attention, and do not like being put second (even if they understand the reasons for it).
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Primarily inheriting the harpy territorial instinct, nebura stake out large claims of land, and furiously protect it from invasion. They absolutely despise anything 'messing up their stuff', whether or not it is something servile or not. This can range from outright violence to a belligerent sort of pestering, as they heckle people for bothering their things.
Having naturally beautiful voices, many nebura tend to talk in a sing-song voice, even conversationally. This has overall made their mannerism of speech somewhat verbose and convoluted, even in cultures that are otherwise terse. Sound is intensely important to them, and so many make it a point to cultivate such skills carefully.
Being physically active ground birds, they enjoy running and jumping, as well as chasing down prey. It is in many ways a necessary amount of physical activity for them, and being sedentary quickly leaves them in poor health.
They enjoy sitting on people, as much an act of affection as it is dominance, depending entirely on who they're with and how they do it.
Dancing is universally one of their most recurring past times, and they vigorously pursue it. It is in fact such a regular activity for them that much of their conversations and dialogue can happen during said dances. This has the effect of increasing socialization, exhibiting their own good grooming, and giving them exercise when they otherwise couldn't.
History
Long ago, as the nebubis rose up within the Sa-kemet, the various harpy tribes living by them had a decision to flee or integrate. Those who integrated, interbred, and became integral to the nebusian way of life thus became known as the nebura. As such, their history is drawn more in relation to the achievements of the nebubis, as–still principally being harpies–the nebura are content to go along with such ambitions.
As a whole, the Atenkhet dwelling nebura are concerned with their social pecking order. As their hands are marginally more suitable for dexterous work, they have a fairly even divide between martial and artisan ways, offering a unique brand of services their nebubis allies wouldn't have envisioned otherwise.
Over time, clans of nebura have left their native deserts (for one reason or another), moving into others or similar, hot and dry locations. Deviating from the rigidity of Atenkhet, they're more pronounced in their harpy natures, acting like belligerent brigands and other raiders on the more wealthy civilizations around them. These nebura have a long standing conflict with the Nuhara, and the two are often seen at each other's throats.
Comments