The Hri

The Hri Species (Lynx sapiens)

Hri Biology and Anatomy

The Hri are a sapient intelligent feline species. The resemble a cross between a hominid and a bobcat or lynx.

Gross Anatomy

Hri stand roughly 2/3 human-sized, averaging 1.2 metres in height for males and 1 meter for females, and weighing about 30kg for females and 40kg for males. They are descended from fourlimbed, upright, bipedal carnivore originally adapted to an arboreal existence. Hri have two legs, two arms, and a short tail They have short fur over most of their bodies, but not on the face or genitals. The head is large compared with the rest of the body. The nose and jaws are short, so the face seems flat when compared with the faces of humans. The ears are large and flaring at the base. They taper up to rounded or pointed tips and stand erect.

Hri teeth serve primarily as weapons, as well as for tearing food. They have 30 permanent teeth. The strongest and sharpest are the four large, curved, pointed fangs (canines). With these teeth the Hri grasps and tears its food or an enemy. Hri have fewer side teeth (premolars and molars) than do most other mammals. The Hri uses these teeth (carnesals) mainly for cutting. The tongue surface is covered with rasp like projections or barbs that face backward into the throat. Hri use their tongues as efficient tools to strip flesh off the bones of prey. Although a Hri's jaws are short, they are extremely strong. They clamp down upon prey with enough power to crush the bones.

Perhaps among the most striking things about the Hri is their litheness and grace of movement and the amazing flexibility of body. The legs appear short when compared with the length of the body, but they are powerful. Strong muscles produce instant power for leaping upon prey or for great bursts of speed to catch prey on the run. The sharp angles of the knee and "heel" of the hind legs also contribute to the power for sudden sprints, for climbing, and for jumping.

The arms are also powerful and extremely flexible Hri have four fingers, and a thumb, and four toes. Fingers are similar to humans, while toes are short and stubby, with two joints (as opposed to three in humans) Hri also have a highly specialised dewclaw on the outside of the fore-arms, which folds jackknife fashion into a horny covering at the base of the wrist. The retracted claw is held in its "sheath" by an elastic ligament. A muscle in the arm pulls on a tendon, which in turn pulls on the joint to which the claw is attached, and the claw comes out of its sheath.

Hri have a larynx similar to humans, but rather elongated in comparison.

Senses

Hri have a keen hearing and can detect many sounds that humans cannot hear. They usually turn their head in the direction of a sound. This aids both hearing and vision. In the Hri, as in humans, the inner ear a bony structure of fluid-filled semicircular canals contains a complicated mechanism for maintaining body balance. The Hri's large and prominent eyes are placed well forward on the head and, like the eyes of humans, they face forward, thus the Hri have binocular vision similar to that of humans. The size and position of the eyes permit as much light as possible to enter them and ensure an extensive field of vision important factors in hunting and nocturnal prowling. Hri cannot see in total darkness, but it can see better in dim light than can most other kinds of animals. In bright light the contract to narrow vertical slits or small round pupils. But in the dark these slits or small pupils enlarge to round openings that admit a maximum amount of light. The eyes seem to shine in the dark. This shininess results when even the smallest amount of light strikes a reflective area of iridescent green or yellow crystalline needles in the inner lining of the eye. The tip of the nose is a leather and usually black or reddish. It is usually cool and moist. Hri have an acute sense of smell, scenting prey or their favorite delicacies at surprising distances. Three rows of stiff whiskers grow on the upper lip on each side of the nose, serve as delicate sense organs of touch.

Gender

There are two sexes, male and female. The most notable difference is the increased size and mane of the former. Females outnumber males by 3 to 1. They have a gestation of six months. Children are born singularly, in pairs, or trios. They are weaned after about two years. Hri become sexually mature at between ten and twelve years.

The Sexes

Hri society tends to be outwardly dominated by males. However, Hri males, in mixed groups outside the home, tend to be rather protective of their females--which often annoys said females.

History

Politics

Organization

An individual Hri is usually a member of a family of from 2 to 12 individuals under a patriarchal leader. Several families will combine into a pride with one dominant family. Families dwell in round tents. Hri society is dominated by the clan system. A number of families form a band, and a number of bands form a clan. There are about 150 clans, which are at least theoretically equal. Many Hri clans are quite small.

Government

What government exists among the Hri as a whole is by the Council of Clan Elders . Each clan is represented by it's Cheif Elder. The Council holds meetings to decide policy for the .

Clan Elders

Each clan has it's own Council of Elders, who make decisions for the clan. The eldest of the Clan Elders is the Chief Elder.

Status as an elder is decided by the Council of Elders. Each male Hri who reaches age 60 automatically becomes an elder. Some are honored by this status as young as 40.

Clan Matriarchs

There is also a Council of Clan Matriarchs. Formally, they have no power. However, in practice, the decisions of clan elders must be tacitly approved by the clan matriarchs. Status as a Matriarch is the same as for Elders.

Defense

Defense functions are clan-maintained, and are in effect a militia composed of a very argumentative populace. The clans frequently hold competitions to determine which militia unit seldom larger than a company or battalion is the most impressive. Such competitions also serve as sporting events. Their revulsion hierarchy ensures that their participation in prolonged offensive campaigns is extremely sporadic, at best. However, while it would be extremely difficult for Hri to conduct a campaign of conquest, they are superb guerrilla warriors and are capable of extremely effective defensive campaigns. Their diminutive size facilitates covert warfare, and their independence makes them capable of continuing resistance long after conventional command and control structures break down.

Attitudes Towards Government

The extreme love of independence by Hri counters clan authority. Many Hri feel little sense of responsibility to the clan unless it is confronted by an external threat. Respect for any authority other than clan or family is even less. Hri tend to ignore orders unless they want to obey them.

Culture

Society

Life Events

An important life event is the Kha'i, a rite of passage which marks the entry of a male Hri into adulthood. Held biannually among the clans of a region, adolescent males compete against one another in ritual combat to prove their strength and suitability as mates. Males not selected often leave their clans for a time to further prove their suitability by questing in unknown territory. Females of age also have the right to leave the clan, but most females encountered in space are usually accompanying their mates.

Hri are extremely proud and will not tolerate overt insults to either themselves or their clan. They are capable of extreme violence if they feel that the situation warrants it. They are careful, however, not to bite off more than they can chew and will often defer their vengeance to the most inopportune time for their victims.

Notes of Interest

Springclaws

Springclaws are a weapon unique to Hri culture. Springclaws consist of a a set of three blades 12-15 cm long which fit in a harness which covers the wrist and the back of the hand. Normally recessed, the blades spring out beyond the hand with great force when triggered by the wearer. Thereafter, they are used like normal claws but with greater effect.

Independance

Hri independence has led to some unusual features in Hri society. Clan and personal pride dictates total resistance to insult/aggression. Though fairly loyal to clan or patron, a Hri is nonetheless an abrasive and outspoken individualist.

Hri are capable of great concentration when their curiosity is stimulated. However, they may nonetheless lose interest in a lengthy "routine" project. Though impulsive, they seldom consciously act against their own best interests, and always seem to land on all four "feet".

Economy

The Hri are nomadic herders. They measure wealth in cattle.

Structures: Families dwell in verger, round tents, usually one family to a tent. Erected on wooden poles and covered with skin, felt, or handwoven textiles in bright colours. The interior is simply furnished with brightly coloured rugs (red often predominating) decorated with geometric or stylized animal patterns. Knotted pile rugs or furs provide warmth and sleeping comfort in the verger. Other items found inside a typical verger include saddlebags, drinking gourds, and tools for spinning and weaving. The verger is pitched wherever the nomad finds good pasture for his herds and is carried from place to place on horseback or on a small wagon.

History

Geography

The Hri live in a territory in northern [Greenfields] directly to the east of [Daistallia 2104]. The territories are dominated by the Taen Shaen Mountains, a high mountain range, the Great Steppe, and the Kha'mik Desert.

Taen Shaen Mountains

The Taen Shaen Mountains are a massive 750-kilometer-long towering crystaline arc of glaciated mountain peaks, consisting largely of a granite base, dotted with snow-covered volcanoes. The climate is arctic at the highest elevations, and parts of the range are permanently glaciated. Some of the snowcapped peaks reach heights of over 7,500 meters above sea level. There are no plateaus in this range and no passes under 3,300 meters.

the Great Steppe

The Great Steppe is a region of broad tablelands alternating with flat plains, the latter ranging at altitudes of 1000-1100 m and the former at 1200-2000 m. The slopes of the plateaus are more or less steep, and are sometimes penetrated by "bays" of the lowlands.

Small lakes frequently fill the depressions, though the water in them is generally salt or brackish. Streams are frequent.

Clay and sand are the predominant soils. Watercourses are frequently excavated 2-3 m deep, and in many places in the flat, dry valleys or depressions farther south beds of locss, 5-6 m thick, are exposed.

The characteristic flora includes wild garlic, wormwood, saltwort and various hardy grasses. Grass grows more or less abundantly. There is an utter absence of trees and shrubs.

Kha'mik Desert

The Kha'mik measures over 1500 km from southwest to northeast and 750 km from north to south. It occupies an arc of land approximately 1,000,000 sq km in area. Much of the Kha'mik is covered with bare rock. There is a great dearth of water, no streams, no lakes, no wells, arid precipitation falls but seldom. The prevailing winds are from the west and northwest. A pall of dust overhangs the country, and dust or sand storms are frequent dangers.