Pemanu

[Dina Doo]

Pemanu
Peh mah-nu

_{Region of Origin:} Satskanna

Basic Biology:
Pemanu are a race of humanoids who have the power to transform into bird-like creatures. Their skin tone ranges from pale to dark brown while their hair color tends to be the same as the main color of their feathers in their second form. Pemanu eye colors can be any color, but typically are the same shade of color found in the feathers of their second form. In their second form, the members of the pemanu race take on the form of large birds. However, in said forms, these large birds have the same body type as a bat, meaning their wings also serve as their forelimbs when walking about.

The shape of their faces corresponds with that of an osprey or birds of that type though the back of their head and neck down are made up of fluffy feathers, resembling a mane. Their wings are large in this form and powerful enough to create gusts of wind when taking flight. Their legs are bare of any feathers but are made up of scales and their talons, black, are sharp and dangerous. The base color of birds in this form consist of dark shades, and other bright shades follow, which often are found on the tips of their feathers, or sometimes maybe streaking through their feathers. This bright color can be any color, but usually reflects their eye color. Though, those that are not in the royal family tend to only have one or two bright colors.

The height and wingspan of these creatures depend on the gender and person. The smallest of a full-grown pemanu (from the shoulder) was about three feet, and the largest was around (again, from the shoulder) six feet. In their bird form, the cries of this race range from soft musical sounds to fierce cries and hisses. In human form, all of the race tends to have soft, melodic voices. None are too gruff or mean.

The royal family of this race tend to have larger wings and a wide variety of colors in their pallet. Their tails are longer and in this form, they tend to wear more jewelry. Exclusive to the royal family, they wear extravagant armor in their bird form- only when they are old enough to be able to fly with extra weight-including helmets and battle claws.

Male Biology:
Male pemanu are often larger and, in bird form, their wingspan is longer than that of a female’s, along with their tails. Except, they often to have less colors in their pallet compared to a female. In human form, they don’t have too much muscle and are leaner, and yet they are fit enough to train and fight as warriors. If they had too much muscle, or were too fat, they wouldn’t be able to fly. Their bones, because they are part bird, do tend to be lighter. Male pemanu also have a deeper cry, and most of their bird sounds are used as battle cries but they are able to make melodic sounds to impress.

Males hit puberty around nineteen to twenty-seven years old. (In their human form, they would look to be in their teens.) They are able to transform with ease at a very young age but this does not mean that they are able to fly. It often takes males longer to fly compared to a female because their wings are longer. It isn’t till around when they mature that they are fully able to grasp flying, and even then they still have a bit of trouble. Because of this, there will often be a mentor that will assist the younger members of the race who are ready to learn how to fly.

Female Biology:
Pemanu females are smaller than males and have a shorter wingspan (the difference in wingspan is quite subtle as the race as a whole all tend to have large wings). They have more colors in their feathers than the males. Even if they are often shorter than males, they are known to be a bit faster and are more agile in the air. Females do not hit puberty until around seventeen years old to twenty nine. Females are often thinner and leaner compared to a male.

Much like males, they have lighter bones. And, because they have smaller wings, they often learn how to fly much faster than males. But they do not tend to learn how to fly until they are fully mature or close to it. Like males, they too have someone who teaches them how to fly to make sure that they don’t fall and hurt themselves.

_Lifespan: 300-400^YRS

General Behavior:
This race, while having the tendency to remain reclusive in their home and territory, are not totally against interacting with outsiders. If anything, they remain cautious. For example, if a ship were to crash near or on their island, they would be willing to offer assistance to those who were wrecked, but they would not be willing to bring them to their village or reveal the location. Towards members of their own race, they are more open-minded and willing to accept.

Usual Habitat:
The pemanu live on an island that is connected by two bridges, one made of land, and the other being a bridge. Their island is mostly composed of jagged mountains with their village and homes being built upon the face of the tallest mountain, a large flat cliff that juts out from the mountain. Further south, near the land-bridge, the mountains fall way to grass and hills, but end abruptly as a cliff.

Aliment:
Crops that are often the most successful are corn and potatoes, with plants grown for spices are easily grown in a garden. But because of the geography, it is quite hard to grow and harvest fruits. The setting of the island has caused the pemanu race to become rather adapt fishermen, catching fish from the rivers and streams that flow through their mountains or the seas. Also, every now and then they hunt mountain goats, some might even capture the goats and farm them for goat milk.

Basic Social Structure:
This island-bound race is run solely by a monarch or rather, monarchs as there is always more than one king or queen, usually siblings, that are running the race. Each ruler is tasked with overseeing certain operations. The siblings tend to be male, and they are the children of the oldest male son of the previous rulers. Males are believed to be better leaders than females, but the rulers of the race do have female advisors. Below the rulers are the other members of the royal family. Though they are royal, that does not mean they live full of luxury.

Family Life/Gender Roles:
Even if the female does have the child, this does not mean she feeds them. The first couple of days when the female is recovering, she might nurse her children, but there is no real need to. Right away the children are able to consume solid foods, as long as they are soft enough to chew. The father is the one who will often take care of the children and raise them, because females are the hunters.

Females and males are seen as equal. Females are valued for their their hunting abilities primarily because of their speed and agility whilst flying. Males are often tasked with building homes, tailoring, farming, taking care of children, and so on. The females may offer help, but it is mostly the males who perform these tasks. Along with the aforementioned list of tasks, males are valued for their skills and performance as warriors and fighters.

Procreation:
Every year on the summer solstice, the pemanu have a festival in order to “impress” potential mates, much like birds would. Both genders take part in this festival. The festival is to celebrate their god, Ekek. There are activities such as flying races, flying dances, wrestling matches, singing competitions (in both bird form and human form), and so on. Often, when someone is impressed, they vouch to get married.

Marriage is often granted by the (monarch? priest? shaman?), and usually only includes those that are close to the couple. Often, it takes place on a cliff side. To signify the union, the couple leaps off the cliff and flies together.

Procreation is as normal as any race. If any race tries to mix in with this race, the child will be pemanu or the other race. There is no hybrids of this race.

Childbirth and Childcare:
Pemanu woman are with child for 11 months, the last two months being spent on the child developing its’ second form. The birthing process is very important to the pemanu, the shaman and several midwives being present to help. Men, including the father of the child, are not allowed to be present and must wait outside the hut.

Children, after being brought into the world after the grueling eleven hour process, they are taken care of by their mother for a week. They live off of her nutrients and feeding and afterwards they are then raised by their birth father. When he can not care for them due to his job, there is a place called the ‘Nesting Hut’ where they may take the children so they can be cared for. It is very much like a modern day daycare, with male Nannies who will feed and take care of the children. There are many other children there for them to play with and they are all watched like a hawk so that every child is accounted for and completely safe. They do this so that no child is left unsupervised and it has proven to be handy for their society, keeping the children watched and out of the way and freeing up time for males and females.

Magic and Abilities:
From a very young age, the pemanu are able to transform. In this form, they are able to fly. In their human form, they do have better eyesight and smell, due to their bird counterpart. The pemanu often have very melodic voices which is also due to their bird counterpart. This often can be seen as soothing to other races, and especially to the young of this race.

Legends and Folklore:
This race believes in all the main gods, and one more. They believe in a god that is one with the birds. It has a dragon-like body, but has feathers instead of scales. This god has many names but is often referred to as Ekek. There is a statue of this bird-dragon can be found in many homes, especially in the homes of the monarchs. Ekek is believed to be a bit of a trickster god who enjoyed causing mischief, especially to those who are not graced by a bird. It is believed that he started putting bird souls into animals to cause mischief on the other gods. Finally, the other gods moved all the poor, mutated animals to a new island. It is there that the mutated animals started to separate into three different species--canines, felines, and mixed. In the end, there was a great war and Ekek saw his beautiful creations destroying one another, so he split the land and forced them to divide. He made sure that the canines and felines would never mix together by assigning each a gender. Ever since, there has been two species who have continued to hate each other.

It is a belief that the navajo are jealous because their bird mutations grew and they have the ability to fly. They believe that Ekek favors them more than the other race.

History:
How this race came to be is unknown. They have mutated and thrived on the island for many years. some believe that they and the navajo/naascha race were once one in the same, only to split off at some point in time and became two separate races.