Stervera
| Stervera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Creator | Blackscale the Wise |
| Information | |
| Average Height | 205-345cm |
| Average Lifespan | 185 years |
| Hair Colours | Black, White, Grey, Brown, Amber, Orange, Red |
| Eye Colours | Varied |
| Body Colour | Significantly Varying |
| Current Leader | Tista |
| Capital | Where Tista is located |
| Planet | Serena |
Stervera are half-taurs and half-humanoids that mainly live in Serena. However, many Stervera live outside of Tuurai Fields or even outside of Serena on different planets. Their unique adaptation trait allows them to visit many planets and raise a new tribe that will naturally be attuned to the place they were born at. With that Stervera are hard to classify under one word but for the sake of other races and history they were named as such by scholars to keep the information as accurate as they can. Currently Stervera are spread widely thorough Auria although even if they reside on many planets their main one is still Serena with Tuurai Fields being agreed upon as their source of origin.
Religion and Culture
Stervera are one of the least religious races across Auria as generally agreed upon, however internally that can significantly vary between each tribe and settlement or the place they were born at. Some tribes are hostile towards any idea of Gods that could rule over them, while other may seek comfort and peace in prayers. Due to their rather simple lifestyle they focus mainly towards Gods that are the closest to their lives, mainly Perisha, Fenros and Sol Peleges as other Gods seem to carry little value in their everyday life. Nonetheless Stervera do not fight over religion, believing that one's faith is their own, as long as they aren't being pulled into it without their consent.
Stervera culture has only one celebration respected and cherished by all of them. It is "The Tuurai Weeks" where for three weeks after start of spring Stervera meet up in Tuurai Fields for massive gathering and exchange of knowledge, culture and items. During these weeks all tribes are at peace between one another, and even when tensions rise none of the tribes is foolish enough to be scorned by every other one for disrupting their sacred holiday, that is a chance for many to meet with their families and friends, and interrupting that is treated as a terribly bad omen. During these three weeks there are many celebrations, friendly spars and sports, and even studies of one another as the unique adaptation trait they have leads to constant new discoveries and interest from younglings and elders.
Society and its Structure
Due to significant body differences between Stervera they have a hard time coming to agreement on mutual history and instead believe to form their own origin that they do not write in books. The reason for that being that if their roots are true and strong they will stand the test of time or perish forgotten in the history like so many others. With that each 'tribe' cares mostly for their own history and their way of living. The tribes used to constantly fight between one another but at some point they came to agreement to make "Tista" the leader of all tribes in times of war or economic conflict that will lead them to brighter future.
Tista itself is a title carried by a leader of winning tribe in Unkala Tournament. They stay as the leader for 10 years, giving them the final say in military and economic topics if they are of import to more than one settlement. After that Unkala Tournament begins anew where the current Tista will be challenged by various tribes in many different ways to prove that they are of strongest resolve, strength, agility and wisdom. Title of Tista can be regained unlimited amount of times by the same Stervera, allowing one to lead for even two centuries if their health allows for this. Although there was none in history that was even able to hold it steadily for quarter of their lives.
The structure itself depends on the tribe but most common agreement is that Stervera do not discriminate between genders as they all were gifted with proper traits to contribute towards betterment of one another. It is also commonly agreed that when a Stervera is sick or unable to contribute they aren't outright shunned by their fellows and instead support one another like a big family and even if they are permanently crippled they are given much more niche roles within their communities that aren't necessary but provide fulfillment for the handicapped one. With that a Stervera that is handicapped is still able to contribute in their own way and the tribe acknowledges them kindly, even if some feel like they are underperforming.
Physical Appearance and Behavior
Stervera vary significantly in their looks between each tribe, especially the ones that are now living on different planets. The humanoid upper half remains similar with usually humanoid upper body reminding of a human or an elf while the lower body is much more flexible in adaptation. The Stervera that live in Tuurai Fields are mainly equine, giving them immense strength, height and stamina but already ones born in more jungle-like climate of Hanayama Peaks differ significantly as their lower bodies adapt to Umbra's cousins - Tigers, providing them significant agility and cunning at price smaller height and below average stamina when compared to other Stervera. Even Stervera born in Himalya Reaches are different as their lower bodies adapt more to Umbra's, gaining additional fluff to provide exceptional warmth, but average strength and agility.
Stervera share one common trait - keeping distance from any settlements and other races as they have a bad history of being constantly hunted for food and leather while being mistaken for other feral animals, sometimes leading to them being demeaned by the hunters. Much more vile hunters look at Stervera as more elaborate prey to hunt that gives better results once butchered or even sold to slavery. Nonetheless Stervera's wanton to keep the distance rarely stops them for involving themselves into situations where they feel they have to step in. Many of Stervera have rather simple minds and personalities and due to that can fight with ferocious zeal for things and people they believe in and trust. People who have learned of that trait are sometimes abusing that to their advantage, pulling the kind-hearted Stervera onto bad paths with elaborate lies and schemes or to simply get a loyal and faithful mate for the rest of their lives. Obviously not everyone is interacting with Stervera to gain advantage but some people look down at their fellows as in their eyes Stervera as oversized children, even when that isn't always the case.
