Pëlöryk (people)

About

Othernames: Pëlöryk (Kythus), Jageryn (Sildara); The Pëlöryk are divided into several subspecies. Known populations of Pëlöryk exist in most mountain ranges, deep forests, and other less-explored regions of Entorais. Pëlöryk are obligate carnivores.

Origins

The Pëlöryk evolved from a slave-soldier stock deployed by the demon armies during the God Wars. Scattered remnants survived and thrived in the wild, refining their base instincts into a hunter gather cultural pattern.

General Appearance

Pëlöryk are squat brutish creatures in appearance. Their bodies are exceptionally hairy, with pallid yellowish skin tone. They possess square palmed hands with three fingers and a thumb. Walk with a digitigrade stance on feet with three equal toes and a dewclaw. Protruding brows over feral eyes, and a snout-like jaw add to their fearsome appearance. They lack external genitalia and other than body fat levels, display no secondary sex characteristics.
Complexion: pale, yellowed
Hair: varies with sub-group
Eyes: yellow, orange, brown, black, grey, violet (rare)

Male

Male Pëlöryk have muscular builds with very little body fat.
Height: 1.14-1.65 metres (45-65 inches)
Frame: heavy build, 43-70 kilograms (94-155 pounds)

Female

Female Pëlöryk have wider frames, and carry additional body fat to the point of obesity.
Height: 1.14-1.65 metres (45-65 inches)
Frame: massive build, obese, 69-115 kilograms (153-254 pounds)

Reproduction

The Pëlöryk are exclusively hatched as males, colonies generally only have a single breeding female at a time. Should the female be removed, through dying of old age or disease, males can change their sex through forced copulation, a fate which usually befalls one or more of the less dominate members.

Egg Laying

Pëlöryk are hatched from gelatinous eggs which are buried in compost for brooding. Clutches vary in size based on diet and population pressures within a colony, but 10-20 eggs per brood-cycle is typical.

Genetic Memory

During conception neural tissue containing living memories are shared by both parents, allowing the child to carry some of their parents' personalities, and experiences with them. These memories integrate with the child's own, such that they are hatched knowing their place in the group, capable of communication, and possess some basic skills to aid their early survival.

Lifespan

Pëlöryk live violent lives; competition for breeding, general dangers of hunting, disease, and accidents end most lives before the age of five years. Strong and healthy Pëlöryk, whom avoid a violent death, can live upwards of fifteen years. Females are somewhat protected from the internal violence, and external threats living on average two to five years longer than males.

Primary Culture

Given the dispersed nature of species they lack a definitive culture, but they have enough in common to form some Pëlöryk cultural norms.

Ethnic Sub-groups

Pëlöryk are dispersed enough to form distinct ethnic sub-groups. The three most prolific are the Great, Grey and White Pëlöryk.

Great Pëlöryk

Distinctive Features: The great pëlöryk have dark hair, ranging from black to deep browns. They tend to massive frames and are taller than the other sub-species.
Geographic Distribution: Generally found throughout the Darlom and Sildar Mountain ranges, foothills, and adjacent forested regions.

Male

Height: 1.37-1.88 metres (54-74 inches)
Frame: massive build, 58-98 kilograms (127-216 pounds)

Female

Height: 1.37-1.88 metres (54-74 inches)
Frame: massive build, obese, 86-147 kilograms (190-324 pounds)

Grey Pëlöryk

Distinctive Features: Grey pëlöryk have hair in shades of grey, blonde, and light brown.
Geographic Distribution: Generally found in arid regions throughout the Darlom and Sildar Mountain ranges, foothills and adjacent, desert, savanna and prairie regions.

Male

Height: 1.14-1.65 metres (45-65 inches)
Frame: heavy build, 43-70 kilograms (94-155 pounds)

Female

Height: 1.14-1.65 metres (45-65 inches)
Frame: massive build, obese, 69-115 kilograms (153-254 pounds)

White Pëlöryk

Distinctive Features: The white pëlöryk are quite diminutive, tending to be quick and nimble. Their hair ranges through pure white, grey, or silver in tone.
Geographic Distribution: Found primarily in northern climes, these Pëlöryk dwell in mountainous, hilly, tundra, and forests.