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Flights of Fancy - A Field Guide

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The Straithconian Race:

A Field Guide


-General planet information
            Straithconia is slightly smaller than Earth and much more of it's surface is covered with water and dotted with thousands of large and small islands. A great majority of the creatures on the planet are either swimming or flying. Much of the planet's oceans are filled with plantlife so there is more oxygen in the atmosphere than Earth. The sun in Straithconia's solar system is smaller than ours, thus the light isn't quite as bright during the day, but it is still quite warm in most parts of the planet. The sky is a violet colour and instead of green, many of the plants are shades of red and orange.

-Evolution
            Several hundred million years in the past of the planet Straithconia, the ocean was much larger and the sea level was very high, reaching up to what would eventually become mountains. Straithconians at this time were mammalian water creatures with rudimentary arms and legs and large 'fins' sprouting  from their backs. Over millions of years the ocean receded and small islands became mountains. As the sea level dropped, large lakes of water were left behind inside the mountain ranges, trapping small populations of these creatures in the newly forming mountains. As the mountains changed over millions years the lakes shrank and with less water, the Straithconians started to take to the land and subsequently started to use their fins as a form of propulsion though air. Their vestigial limbs became fully formed hands and feet and the modern flying Straithconian race had established itself as the dominant species of the sky.

-Aquatic
            The modern aquatic Straithconian are considered “living fossils.” They migrated deeper into the ocean and are rarely encountered by their above-water cousins. They don't look like they did millions of years ago. Their vestigial limbs have all but receded into their bodies and their fins have become much broader and they vaguely resemble a cross between a humanoid eel and a manta ray. There are multiple varieties of Aquatic just as there are for non-aquatic, however the study of which is very limited.

-Mountain
             Generally considered to be the original non-aquatic race of Straithconians, Mountain Straiths have stocky bodies, large chests, long wingspans, and strong hands and feet ideal for climbing rock faces. Wing colours are usually light pastel or shades of grey, much like the colours of stone. They have larger lung capacities than most races to accommodate the lower oxygen concentration of the mountains.

-Plains and Savanna
             Straithconians who are native to flat lands and prairies spend more time on the ground, so running is often a favourable form of travel. They have slender bodies, long limbs and deep chests. Straiths native to the Northern Plains usually have lighter skin, while those from the Southern Savannahs are generally darker-skinned. Wing colours are earth tones such as sandy beige, deep gold, dark red and shades of green and blue. They are known for having incredibly powerful hearts.

-Tropical
            Straith residents of tropical climates and jungles tend to have smaller body size and shorter wings. They are extremely agile in order to hop from tree to tree and briefly glide over rivers and ravines. They have very strong immune systems to combat the many diseases and toxins present in such an environment. They have even developed poison glands within their claws that cause paralyses. Of all the races, they are considered be the most 'wild' and become very aggressive when threatened. Their wings are very brightly coloured of every shade of the rainbow.

-Arctic
            Despite the fact Straithconians usually dislike cold weather, a small migrant group ventured north and subsequently developed a suitable body type. They became bulky and grew a coat of thick white, grey or light brown fur, including on their wings, which are no longer used for flight. They use their wings as a built-in overcoat or a wind shield and can be used to slow their decent from a fall. Arctic Straiths are the largest and strongest of the species.


Anatomy

-Bones
            The skeleton of a Straithconian is built for strength and agility. Their bones are slender and porous for lightness, but strong enough to bear the strength of their own muscles (a diet high in calcium and iron facilitates this). The joints are generally about as flexible as a cat’s. This allows them to squeeze through very narrow spaces or to move very close to the ground when hunting in tall grass. Straithconians are capable of walking upright as well as quadrupedally, however they cannot stretch their arms straight out to the side like primates due to the positioning of the wings. Their shoulder-blades would otherwise press against the wing joints, thus it is difficult for one to reach their own back.

-Muscles
            A Straithconian's muscles are very strong, but very lean. The muscle fibres are very dense and thus a Straith who looks very slim may be in perfect health and be strong enough to lift an average adult male with one arm. However, large, bulky muscles are actually a detriment and can ground the individual until they lose some muscle weight. As opposed to the human muscle structure, in which the largest and strongest muscles are on the legs and buttocks, on a Straith, it is their chest, shoulders and ribs. An otherwise very slim individual, will have a relatively large torso due to the layers of muscle.

-Skin
            A Straithconian's skin is very tough and resilient. It needs to be to withstand play-fighting as children and other roughhousing as adults; including intimate encounters. A majority of their body has skin similar to a human's, but certain parts of the body have smooth scaly snakeskin-like texture on the hands, feet, neck, shoulders, tail, and most of the back. The scales are usually tinged the same colour as their wings.
            Despite their skin being tough, it is also very sensitive. Physical contact is very important in Straithconian social structure. Since Straiths cannot reach their own backs easily, getting one's back scratched by another produces a very calming effect. The most sensitive part of a Straith's body is their underbelly. They very rarely lie on their backs unless they are in the presence of someone they trust intimately, such as their mate.

-Wings
            The pride of the Straithconian race are their wings. A Straith's wings can be nearly any colour depending on their natural environment and genetics. Occasionally, a non-harmful mutation can result in dual colours in wings. The base of the wing bones where they connect to the back is heavily layered in dense muscles and tendons that extend and interconnect throughout the torso. The first bone of the wing sits in its own ball-and-socket joint similar to the shoulder just between the shoulder blade and the spine. The male wing usually has 3 digits (similar to a bat) while the female usually only has one (like a pterosaur).

-Tail
            The typical Straithconian tail is approximately 3'-4' long. Primarily, it is used for balance while flying or walking bipedially. However it is also used for communication and even as a weapon. The skin flange on the tip of the tail is usually the same colour as the wings, but may sometimes be a different shade. The flange membrane regenerates quickly and there are few nerve endings in the skin so young Straiths sometimes use stone blades to cut the skin into patterns as a form of personal expression. When a female is in season, the skin flange on her tail develops black stripes as a visual indication that she is ready to reproduce.


-Horns
            Attached to the sides of the Straith's head are two strong and smooth curved horns. Both males and females have horns, but those of males are usually larger. In more primitive times, they would have been used for very aggressive shoving matches. They still are, but mostly for playfighting. Periodically, a Straith will scrape its horns against a rough surface to shed the outer layer and expose the smooth, clean surface beneath it.

-Hands
            
A Straithconian's hands have five digits and resemble that of a human, however they are much more sinewy and covered in scales much like a bird's foot. Straiths regularly walk on all-fours and rather than carry their weight on their knuckles like many primates, their first knuckles can bend backwards allowing them to walk on the fleshy pad at the top of their palm.
            Their hands are extremely strong and have non-retractable claws, however due to the skin being much thicker, they have fewer nerve endings. They have difficulty handling small, delicate objects and would be clumsy compared to humans. The exceptions are among females who have learned to use bone needles to sew clothing.

-Feet
            The feet and legs of a Straith resemble that of a velociraptor. They have three toes and a large curved dewclaw used to eviscerate their prey. They are covered with smooth scales and are designed for running, jumping and climbing. When the Straith is sitting, the position resembles that of a cat or dog.

-Eyes
            A Straithconian's eyes could be described as a cross between an eagle's and a cat's. They have irises much like a human's, but the pupil is slitted like a gecko's. They can see just as well at night as during the day and can detect minute movements on the ground even when a hundred feed above it. They are also able see Ultraviolet light due to the nature of their Sun. Their eyes don't dry out from wind due to the clear fluid protecting them being much thicker than a human's. A Straith eye colour is independent of their wing/scale colour.
            Straithconians have tear ducts, however they do not shed emotional tears unless under extreme emotional stress such as grief, or if they are in intense pain.

-Blood
            A Straith's circulatory system must be very efficient in order to maintain the body of a strong, intelligent, flying creature. The heart is very large and strong. The red blood cells carry much more nutrients and oxygen to their bodies, so they are constantly ready to chase a prey animal or take flight in a heartbeat. They also have very strong and adaptable immune systems and can deal with most diseases and infections.

-Lungs
            Among other things, something Straithconians retain from their aquatic ancestry is their massive lung capacity. A constant supply of oxygen is crucial for an active body. The ribcage contains more cartilage than that of a human's so it can stretch when an individual is breathing heavily. Large lungs and a powerful diaphragm also allows for loud vocalizations which are used for intimidating each other and long-distance communication. Young males also like to inhale deeply and puff their chests and strut in front of females; much to their own embarrassment. Occasionally, if a Straith becomes enraged in the midst of combat, he'll puff his chest out as an instinctive reaction to try to intimidate his opponent.
            A Straith would not be able fly for very long in Earth's atmosphere due to it having less oxygen. They would become short of breath fairly quickly and would need to rest often.

-Flight Bladder
            When this pair of organs is in full use, they are filled with hydrogen, which significantly reduces the Straith's weight, allowing for normal flight. The sacs are attached to the stomach and sit just beneath the diaphragm. When the Straith exhales forcefully, the diaphragm pulls normal digestion gas into the flight bladder, where a unique chemical reaction produces the lighter-than-air gas. In order to quickly deflate the bladder, they unlock the valve, venting the spent hydrogen into the stomach, usually resulting in a burp; a flammable burp if they are not careful. The bladder is mostly deflated when the individual is resting on the ground.

-Pheromones
            Straiths use their scent(s) as a versatile form of communication. Ranging from marking territory, finding a suitable mate and conveying moods. The pheromones are complex enough that it can even betray a lie, thus lying is uncommon within the culture. The scent glands on both sexes are located on the sides of the throat. When two Straiths have chosen eachother as mates, they will nuzzle eachother's bodies, each covering the other with their scent.
            Prior to puberty, a young Straith's scent is virtually identical to it's mother's. As they mature they will develop their own unique scent. Interestingly enough, a mature male Straith is able to identify his father even if they had never met earlier in life (which is not necessarily a bad thing). Certain genetic markers are passed through males and can be detected by males related to eachother. Too many tribe members with similar scents is an indication that they are in need of new members from other tribes.

-Medicine and Regeneration
            Straithconians have a remarkable ability to quickly recover from injury. While they cannot regrow lost limbs, their bones and muscle tissue heal much faster than humans, however this depends heavily on Straith's metabolism. A malnourished Straith cannot heal properly and wounds are more likely to become infected before they heal.
            Straiths have an ingenious way of tending to torn wing membranes using natural materials. Tree sap and leaves hold the skin together while it heals. Initially, the tear will bond together with fibrous scar tissue within a few days, but proper skin will regenerate within a few weeks. Broken wing bones are splinted with sticks. If need be, the wing membrane is deliberately pierced in order to tie a splint to the broken bone.

-Diet
            While a Straithconian can have it's own personal tastes, they generally are omnivores. When they hunt and kill a prey animal, they will consume it in it's entirety. They'll also eat eggs along with wild fruits and vegetables. A diet high in Calcium, Iron, Carbs, and Protein is necessary for maintaining the skeleton and muscles and providing energy for flight. They don't get their calcium from dairy products, though. They get it from eggshells or straight from their prey animals' bones; they have extremely strong jaws.

-Threats and weaknesses
            Generally speaking, Straithconians are the dominant hunters of their world. However, in many regions of the planet there are large land-based predators that frequently compete with the Straiths for prey and territory. Given the opportunity, they will prey on grounded Straiths such as the wounded, the elderly and the very young if they are not aggressively defended.
            With exception of the Arctic variety, Straithconians have a strong aversion to cold weather. Most of their kind thrive in warm to hot regions and thus have very little body fat and hair to protect them. Snow and cold wind will also hinder their ability to fly and walk as it will cause the blood to recede from the skin and cause numbness. Enough cold and frostbite and hypothermia may set in.
            One of the biggest detriments to a Straith's mental health is social isolation. Their primal thoughts can still resurface and being alone with them can drive them mad. They can literally die of loneliness due to their instinctual need for companionship. They will stop eating and eventually experience a slow form of shock until they simply stop breathing.

            There is a rare hormonal disorder that causes unusual aggression, more often in males. The cause is unknown, but inbreeding is speculated. Symptoms include irritability, social avoidance, and sexual aggression. The latter often results in the individual being injured by a female. There is no known treatment for the disorder, because the sufferers usually succumb to other illnesses, they leave the tribe or are killed in self-defence by another tribe member.

-Social Structure
            Straithconian communities are generally peaceful and tribe-like. Each member performs a variety of tasks to contribute to the prosperity of the tribe, which is considered to be one big family. Straiths do not use a spoken language in the same sense as humans, but rather they communicate with a complex combination of body language, pheromones, and a variety of vocalizations. Friendships and families stay strong for life even across distances and the tribe members often sleep together in groups whether they are related or not while a few sentries take shifts watching for threats. Tribe leaders do not fight for their roles, but are elected by the tribe members based on their abilities to protect the tribe and direct tasks. These traits must earn them the respect and trust of the community if he/she is to hold their attention when making important decisions for the tribe.
            It is not uncommon for individuals of a large tribe to disperse and either form their own new tribe or join an existing one. In fact, this is highly welcomed among the species as it keeps the gene pool healthy. Inter-race breeding can take place as well if migrants travel far enough, although some of the more isolated tribes have prejudices towards other races. Mountain Straiths may been seen as haughty and Tropical Straiths are sometimes regarded as wild and savage, but generally, their differences are celebrated. Occasionally, a migrating tribe may challenge an established tribe in an attempt to take their territory. Combat does not usually escalate past shoving matches between tribe leaders, but sometimes it can get violent at which point fangs and claws come into use. The tribe that suffers the most injuries/casualties will abandon the area.
            Due to their high metabolism and there being more oxygen in the atmosphere, the average lifespan of a Straithconian is a bit shorter than that of humans. While they 'age gracefully', they'll be fortunate to live past age 65, after which it becomes difficult for them to fly for long periods and they become vulnerable to ground predators. They have been observed to mourn and bury their dead, but it is unknown if they have any sort of religious or spiritual beliefs. Burying the dead allows the body to decompose faster without exposing others to sickness, so it could simply be an indication of their understanding of natural order.

-Language
            Straithconians do not have a spoken language as humans would recognize it. What they do have is a very sophisticated vocal system. Sitting between the wishbone-shaped collarbone and the throat is a sort of extended larynx that contains multiple sets of interconnected vocal cords. With this they are able to produce vocalizations ranging from ear-piercing screeches to deep rumbles that cannot be heard, only felt. They can even produce multiple tones at once and by combining the tones into a series along with various chirps, hoots and snorts and barks, this is how they speak.
            While the base body language is shared by nearly all races, vocal dialects can be very different depending on the region a tribe lives in. For example; a Tropical Straith would find communicating with an Arctic Straith a challenge. Many of eachother's “words” do not translate between the two dialects.

-Clothing
            Despite their decidedly primitive level of technology, many Straithconians are content to wear various forms of clothing and other decorative items. Styles can vary from full-body jumpsuits to simple briefs. In most cases, the clothing is made of animal hide which has been dried out in the hot sun and then cut with sharp stones and sewn with sharpened bone needles and dried muscle sinew.

-Breeding
            Straiths do not have a set breeding season, however Autumn seems to be a favourite time for young males and females to seek companionship. Straiths normally mate for life and can be very particular when choosing a partner and some remain unmated well into adulthood if they feel they “haven't met the right one”. Males and females often make equal efforts to gain the attention of someone they are attracted to. Such efforts include gifts of food, performing aerobatics, and serenading with grasswhistles or percussion instruments.
            It is extremely rare for males to “fight over” a female. In fact, this is usually the result of a disorder which causes heightened aggression in individuals. The female is more likely to reject the aggressor and if the male attempts to force himself upon her, she will probably eviscerate him.
           Female Straiths generally become fertile a few times per year, but mated pairs will remain intimate year-round. During a female’s fertile period, she and her mate will spend several days away from the tribe to “enjoy each other’s company”; an activity that will leave both parties exhausted and they will later spend a few days apart from each other.
            Pregnancy (usually one child) lasts about 8 months and newborn Straithlings are carried on the mother's back for about three months. They learn to walk on all-fours by four months old and can fly with some parental assistance by two years old. The whole tribe takes part in raising Straithlings; teaching them to hunt, to fly, and to defend themselves. Straithlings age faster than human children. By one year old, they have the appearance of a five-year-old and are considered to be 'mature' by age 12 and have the appearance of a young adult.

-Sexual Orientation
            
Like the human race, Straithconians will sometimes have a preference for members of the same gender. Unlike to many humans, however this is not seen as a negative aspect. Like being left-handed, it isn't bad; just different. Straithconians believe that if an adult male Straith can teach a young Straith how to hunt, it does not matter if he chooses to snuggle with another adult male at the end of the day. What matters is that they love each other.


-Research
            The Space Corp has been sending teams of researchers to the planet to study their behaviour and anatomy whenever possible. They wore special camouflage suits that masked their appearance as well as their scent, but they still kept a considerable distance away as it isn't 100% effective. Professor Wyndstone was the pioneer of developing research methods while remaining undetected by the creatures he has come to greatly admire. He often laments his wish to directly interact with the Straiths, but was never allowed to. He was however granted the occasional opportunity to study a Straithconian cadaver. Once in a while the team would come across a lone Straith that had died by natural means and would likely never be found in their current location to be buried by tribe members. Wyndstone wrote very detailed reports on their internal anatomy before returning the remains to it original location and burying it.
        Wyndstone’s expeditions were halted shortly after a human trafficking operation moved on to capture Straithconians for the black market.

-Capture
            
On the other side of the spectrum, covert groups of poachers have been capturing Straithconians and smuggling them through hyperspace back to Earth to be used as slaves. They are taken to hidden underground prisons located in various parts of the world. A counter-strike operation has formed in an attempt to stop the poaching, but the poachers constantly change their methods in order to elude them.
            Prisoners are usually chained to the floor of their cell. They are not able to stand or even fully extend their limbs and are forced into a permanent, stationary, quadrupedal life. They often lose the use of their hands, which degrade into mere paws. Their muscles become cramped and weak, thus even if some did escape from the prison, they usually do not get very far before they are recaptured or shot.

-Torture
            
A device referred to as the 'chest brace' or the 'iron ribs' is bound around the victim's ribcage. The intent of this device is restrict the victim's ability to breathe. It can be tightened periodically depending on how 'disagreeable' the victim is; as it is very painful process. A Straithconian has a very large lung capacity and reducing it to less than half for prolonged periods has very adverse effects on the victim's physical and mental health. The victim's blood becomes hypoxic (oxygen deprived) and anaemia can set in. Hypoxia will also cause the victim's body organs to atrophy and the his brain becomes weakened and perpetually disoriented which can lead to hallucinations and insanity. Additionally, the constant frustration of never being able to take a full breath is maddening in itself.
            
The effects are not just on the inside of the body. The brace itself is meant to cause prolonged pain. The metal bands on the brace will cut into the victim's skin if they struggle against it. The metal will eventually rust and the cuts can become infected.
            
Because Straithconians, as a species, are extremely resilient, this form of torture alone does not usually result in death. It is mainly used to physically and mentally weaken (or 'break) the victim for the purpose of brainwashing the individual for a specific task, such as training them to be personal attack dogs or for labour.

This is a companion book to a short novel I wrote.  Wounded Wings Wounded Wings - Chapter 1
© 2014 - 2024 kareokelidescope
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