Allendrith

░▒▓^▛ Other Species of Sothendra _▟▓▒░
 

░▒▓^▛ Introduction _▟▓▒░
 
The endri-nâi share their homeworld with several other intelligent species, races believed to be close kin to their own: the forest-dwelling træli-nâi, the ocean-dwelling neiri-nâi, and the aila-nâi, mysterious space-dwellers out of legend.

One origin myth among the Kin-elleth states that the Creator made four tribes of living creatures to inhabit Sothendra, and to each of them gave different domains to protect and govern: the endri-nâi, tall and hardy, were given the dry land, the mountains, and the lower airs; the træli-nâi, small and agile, were given the tall forests and swift-flowing rivers; the neiri-nâi, deep-diving and curious, were given the wide oceans to the lowest depths. To the aila-nâi were given the upper airs and the heavens, that they should ever watch over the planet itself, and all those below. Other cultures share similar stories about their cousins.

Whatever the truth, the similarities between the races are clear. All possess large ears, powerful tails, the ability (in some cases preference) to lay eggs instead of bearing live young, and at least some scales over their body. In addition, it has been noted - at least among the three planet-dwelling races - that all share at least some limited metamorphic ability. That of the endri-nâi is the most limited: when enraged, their fingernails become claw digits, their canine teeth sharpen into long fangs, and their body scales thicken and expand to cover additional areas of the body, such as the chest and groin. The neiri-nâi are able to change their feet into webbed paddle fins; to retract their tails into the body, making them able to pass among humans; or to merge their legs into their tails, making them appear much like the mer-people of Earth legend. While the træli-nâi have been little observed, they have shown the ability to hide their tails and to grow a second pair of arms. What other abilities each race may have - or indeed what they may share with the aila-nâi - is so far unknown.

░▒▓^▛ Aila-nâi _▟▓▒░
 
The Aila-nâi, also known as Ailim-nâi or Aruli-nâi, are creatures of legend. Tales of the strange sky-wanderers go back to the earliest Endri-nâi records. Even the Traeli-nâi have tales about the halli-lahau, angelic beings who descend from the sky and visit the young children of Sothendra. While none of this strange race have been seen or heard from in millennia (or at least, no confirmed sightings), there is far too much consistent evidence of their existence, spread across every culture on the planet, to assume them mythological figures. Rather, evidence points to them being a species native to Sothendra (or one of the neighboring planets) who are not only able to survive in space, but actually dwell and subsist there.

They are said to seem almost like ocean-dwelling creatures, with fins along their bodies, tails, and along their arms in place of wings. Their eyes are said to be black as the night, and their hair pale as moonlight. Their skin - or perhaps it is their clothing - is said to be highly reflective, making them seem to shine like stars. Both the men and women of this strange folk are said to have visited the children of Sothendra in ages long past, either to aid them or provide them with knowledge. As they have not been encountered even during the era of Endri-nâi spacefaring, it is possible they - if they still survive - have some means of remaining hidden. Perhaps they build no permanent dwellings or cities, merely drifting from place to place through the void. Some have theorized that they require only cosmic radiation for food, perhaps photosynthesizing within their bodies. Whatever the truth may be regarding these ancient enigmas, it remains mostly a mystery.

░▒▓^▛ Traeli-nâi _▟▓▒░
 
Traeli-nâi are native to the vast forests of Sothendra, both in the forests themselves and along (and in) the rivers. The Kin-Elleth word traeli-nâi, (singular traelith) is taken from their own term trælu, plural trælau, which seems - with minor variations - to be the common autonym for their kind across their various languages. Though they rarely incorporate stone into their buildings, their major cities are nonetheless extensive and grand to behold. When the endri-nâi began to colonize other worlds, several groups of traeli-nâi also accompanied them, finding niches in the new worlds discovered where they could live, thrive, and spread without the threat of encroaching endri-nâi civilization.

While it is clear that the traeli-nâi are related to the endri-nâi, they are considerably shorter, generally being between 5.5 and 5.75 feet in height. They usually have only one pair of arms, and they lack wings. Their tails - adapted for their arboreal lifestyle - are quite long, often longer than the rest of their bodies from head to toe. Some tribes of river-dwelling trælau are known to have slightly flatter tails, more easily used to aid in swimming. Trælau also typically have fewer large scales covering their body than the endri-nâi, and their foot claws - used for climbing - are retractable. They are not as long-lived as the endri-nâi - the average trælu lifespan is roughly one thousand years - but they share their resistance to poison and extreme temperatures.

There are regional variations of culture among traeli-nâi, but in general they appear to live in communal groups of less than 500 (more in dense forest, fewer near open territory). Each tribe seems to be governed by a council of elders, with all other members being equals. While most goods and possessions are held individually, food is always held in common. Children also seem to belong to the group, rather than to a particular family, though it is usually known who is the mother of a particular child.

While many endrith scholars have visited and even occasionally lived among the traeli-nâi to study their culture over the millennia, one mystery remains: their reproduction. All traeli-nâi are female, at least so far as observation has been able to tell. Whether their sexes are so alike that they can be mistaken for each other, or whether they reproduce by some means other than sexually, they appear not to have males among them. The explanation of this mystery is one kept closely guarded by the traeli-nâi, and none have thought it worth risking a war in order to learn the truth. It is known, however, that traeli-nâi lay eggs when possible; like the endri-nâi, they can give live birth; however, they only do so in cases such as mass migration, where a safe nesting spot may not be available.

Another trait shared by many traeli-nâi groups is migration. While some permanent cities have been established, most of the smaller tribal groups will migrate periodically. Forest tribes migrate from site to site every five to ten years, though they never take over a site previously occupied by another tribe without first seeking permission. River tribes who live near river mouths or junctions tend to remain in place, while others will migrate at intervals up and down the length of a given river. Generally, they will still dwell primarily in the forest, but in some cases they have built open settlements, predominantly of single-story buildings. They share the hospitality ethic of their larger endri-nâi cousins, though not quite to the same extent: hospitality begins only once one has been accepted as a guest. Outsiders are generally housed in the communal hall, rather than in individual homes. River tribes are generally more friendly to outsiders than those dwelling deeper within the forest, and it is generally unwise to approach an unfamiliar settlement without an open display of goodwill, along with a gift.

In general, traeli-nâi are peaceful, though internal conflicts are not entirely uncommon. Their only recorded war against the endri-nâi is written only in the earliest surviving texts from ancient history, though there may have been others in the more distant past. But as they have the same long lifespans and general hardiness as the endri-nâi) if not the same physical strength, they have in general learned to live peaceably with their neighbors. Apart from limited diplomatic functions and colonization parties, they very rarely interact with the taller kindred at all, preferring for the most part to keep to themselves.

░▒▓^▛ Neiri-nâi _▟▓▒░
 

Born from the deep oceans of Sothendra, the neiri-nâi (from their word for themselves, nirin, singular neiri) are known to be related somehow to the endri-nâi and traeli-nâi. They have notably been discovered living in the oceans on several worlds, despite not possessing interstellar travel technologies of their own (although theories and legends suggest aid from the aila-nâi).

Nirin, both males and females, are generally between five and six feet in height, with males slightly taller. They are adapted to life underwater even at the deepest depths, though they can also survive on land. While underwater, they breathe through gills located along their necks, but while on land they inflate their lungs to breath air. They have fan-like fins on their elbows, ankles, and tails, and their ears are likewise fin-shaped. However, whereas endri-nâi and trælau have scales all over their bodies, nirin typically only have scales on their tails (some communities are known for also having small scales on their faces and necks). Their skin tones range from light green to dark blue. Unlike their cousins, neiri-nâi also typically have plantigrade feet, as opposed to the digitigrade feet seen in endri-nâi and traeli-nâi. Like the other species of Sothendra, the neiri-nâi possess a limited metamorphic ability: they can cause their fins and/or tails to shrink and disappear, so that they appear like land-dwelling humanoids, and they can also absorb their legs into their tails, so that they appear much like mer-people of legend. Some have even been reported to be able to change their skin tones, in order to blend in with other species.

Like the traeli-nâi, neiri-nâi often lay eggs rather than giving live birth, though this preference usually depends on location: for those living in colder waters, live birth is preferred. Nirin are monogamous, raising their children as a family unit. A neiri is usually considered to reach adulthood at the age of sixteen years, though this can vary by group. It is not known for certain how long neiri-nâi live, though it is estimated that the average neiri will live five hundred years.

Nirin clothing is normally loose and waterproof, making use of natural materials such as woven sea plants. How they add water resistance to their textiles is as yet unknown.

While reports of neiri-nâi have come from several planets around the galaxy, they do not seem to have a central home planet, nor do they seem to have interstellar travel technology. However, as they were only recently discovered, much remains to be learned of these mysterious sea dwellers.