Kocurin

[Ember]

Kocurin
Koh-core-in/Koh-cur(ve)-in (depending on region)

_{Also Known As:} Shadow mutt or ash mutt

_{Region of Origin:} Widely believed to be the ashes of Letha

Information:
In general, Kocurin people are instinctively protective. They create bonds within their minds with people, and then find it hard to forget about said people or to stop their worrying. Normally the Kocurin were kept among their own people, which led to the formation of 'tribes' similar to many other species, but with the introduction of the Addler Institute, they were introduced to and bonded with other species. Other than that sole common Kocurin personality trait, Kocurin people's personalities are as varied as any other species'.

Kocurin's dislike ash. Their lungs are weakened by it. If they inhale ash, breathing will become difficult and painful as if the ash had been reignited to burn them. They can asphyxiate and die if too much enters their lungs. The best way to soothe the pain is an inhaler or steady breathing, though the panic of the burning and struggle of ash in their lungs makes the task arduous. In general though, Kocurin are susceptible to respiratory ailments. Smoke, while not deadly, is occasionally nauseating. They do find smoke to be warmer than what it actually is, often unpleasantly warm. They may even say it feels like the smoke is burning, but it doesn't physically burn their skin.

Appearance:
Kocurin's appear as humans. Typically they have dark hair in varying shades of brown. Solid 'black' is the most common color of the species. However, white haired or blond Kocurin are not unheard of, simply improbable. It is most often explained away by interbreeding at some point in their genetic line and is often a sign of 'mixed blood' rather than the very real possibility of it being a naturally occurring genetic abnormality, making it shameful in their culture for those with lighter hair.

Due to the prevalence of interbreeding, many Kocurin do bear similar traits to the other species, both still existent and extinct. One fundamental characteristic is that Kocurin have a birthmark above their heart. The mark is part of an ancient curse that branded the Kocurin as a indicator to the rest of the world and a warning to the Kocurin. The mark itself is fairly insignificant in design- it symbolizes the dragons of Earth, fire, and water in a harmonizing circle. Those that placed the mark idolized the three dragons and felt that they would be protected by the godly dragons from the unnatural race. They felt that the curse and markings would serve as a reminder for eternity to the Kocurin species that they were under the rule of the dragons above and that their existent was dependent on not incurring their wrath.

_{Average Height:} 4'11" - 6'9" (in human form)

_{Average Weight:} 100 - 400 lbs (in human form)

_Lifespan: 150^YRS

Magic:
In the myths it's said they're creatures of the shadow, but in fact, Kocurin's can manipulate one of the four elements of water, Earth, wind, and darkness. The elements are fairly proportionately distributed among the species with no clear prevalent element. If they can manipulate fire or light, more often than not they're not considered to be Kocurin at all, no matter what similarities they bear. Fire manipulators who claim to be Kocurin, specifically who have the mark upon their chest, are considered to be an unnatural and impermissible creature. Not to kill them on sight goes against the culture and teachings of the Kocurin. Many light wielding Kocurin are murdered in the same fashion, making both types of magic very rare in the species.

Most Kocurin are capable of shifting into one animal each, but not all Kocurin possess this magic. Those who can shift do not appear as typical animals- they will appear like a shadow of the creature, or a 'shadow mutt'. Physiologically they'll be a regular creature, with the same stature as the animal, same physical structure in every respect, except their outer skin. Their outer skin is not the typical skin at all, not fur or scales or any other 'usual' layer, but a black skin similar to a bat's wing in texture. Some describe it as silky, others as more rubbery. Though it absorbs heat as any other black surface would, the heat is very quickly transferred from the surface to the body-- the outer skin is always ice cold. Because they possess the same physiological structure, they're capable of what the animal is capable of- leaping like a lion, burrowing like a mole, running like a leopard. Their eyes are typically the same as their human form, but this norm depends on bloodline-- it would not be unusual for the eyes of a Kocurin to vary between forms.

Whether or not they have an animal form, the vast majority (though there are rare exceptions) of the Kocurin have a shifted form where they become humans with the same pitch black, cold rubbery/silky skin as the species animal shifted form.

History:
In the ancient world, the word "kocurin" once transcended several languages to mean "guardian". Legends had it that the species were angels who welcomed in the night like a kind parent draping a blanket over the sun for protection. They were then thought to roam the Earth keeping peace until it was time again for the sun to rise from its slumber. They were a species of vigilantes, known for swift justice. While not the most powerful being by any means, they had the element of surprise and the reputation of the myths. Many were killed, in fact, but the legends do not speak of these deaths often. They do not detail the species involvement in wars, or the physical appearance of these night dwellers with any accuracy at all. The biggest mistake they made was labeling their intentions as good by drawing a comparison between the night dwelling Kocurin and angels. The strength of the Kocurin race wasn't their good nature, because there was no prevalent indication of good nature. Their strength was grounded in the loyalty of those they sought to protect. They weren't out to protect the whole of the ancient realms, but specific people deemed worthy of surviving the hellish conditions of the world as realms collapsed and new lands resisted change.

When the Earth settled to the present state, establishing the regions as they presently stand and letting the wars come to a natural end, the once mystical race of Kocurin became generally disinterested in the other races. The majority of the species retreated to the ashen land of Letha and, it would seem, all but disappeared. This is where they got the accepted story of their species 'origin'. From then on they were said to be a combination of the creatures who perished in the ash, making them shadows of the past and nothing more than a mutt as a species-- this gave rise to the names 'shadow mutt' and 'ash mutt'. It was said with scorn by others, but the Kocurin tolerated the name without too much contempt until it became normal for them to identify themselves with the term.

The story of their origin was completely fabricated-- Kocurin people frequented the Earth when Letha was a land of floods, still shaping the mountainous region. Disinterested as they were in the rest of the world when the stories began, the Kocurin let the perception shape their own memory in spite of the impossibility of it, replacing any inkling of remembrance they had about what their true origins were. Some of the few Kocurin who do not subscribe to the established theory of being born of Letha's ashes do know the truth that ashes of some civilization long ago were the building blocks of their soul.

Eventually the Addler Institute was formed. The Addler Institute took Kocurin people, widely known to be a reclusive subspecies, and manipulated their instinctual need to protect, forcing them into 'body guard' or 'servant' roles for upper class citizens to 'prevent an uprising' and 'give purpose to the capable species'.