Southern Nahluen

Nahluen (Southern Species)

Size: 3.5 ft/1m at shoulder
Habitat: Tropical forest and mangrove swamp.
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Sentient, capable of mathematics and language based on sound and gesture, no known artistic culture.
Coloration: Varies immensely based on region. Coloration shown is a common northern variety, tropical forest races have more vivid coloration, and mangrove swamp specimens are darker-colored.

Other: The large fifth and fourth claws on the upper set of forelimbs are utilized as grappling hooks for climbing quickly up trees. These claws are also used when swimming to grab roots and rocks protruding from the bottom of the river or pond and pull the creature along. While they lack proper fins, many swamp-dwelling Nahluen navigate the water quite readily using their grappling claws. Nahluen typically mate and stay together as long as it takes to rear the brood of 8-10 pups, then the family group disbands and the parents go their separate ways. In the occasional case, a mated pair will stay together and raise several broods.
Southern Nahluen are not nearly as gregarious as their northern cousins, and this lack of interaction has led to a lack of “culture” developing amongst individuals. While they are as intelligent (learning-wise) as their northern cousins, they are not necessarily treated as intellectual equals. Individuals can learn languages other than their own and will communicate with other species in their domain; however they are all too often treated as dumb beasts and will often be hunted for food alongside non-sentient creatures. Older, wiser Nahluen who find themselves hunted can demonstrate immense cunning and problem solving skills, and often the hunter winds up dead or injured. Jungle towns often have a Nahluen near the town that has attained legendary status for either disappearing completely when hunters threaten or ensuring that the hunters never come back alive. These Nahluen can also hold grudges for a lifetime, and neighboring towns can be plagued for years by a vengeful Nahluen that will kill stray livestock and children as repayment for a lost mate or pup.
In regions where the two Nahluen species overlap, the Northerns also will hunt the Southern species for food and hide, and the same animosity exists from the hunted Southerns.


Northern and Southern Nahluen are copyright to me. Please don't use them.