Svartali

Svartali are a humanoid bipedal species with broad, heavy skeletons and thick layers of muscle. They are dwarf-like in their stature, with a modal height of 4' 10" and a maximum of 5' 4". They are naturally inclined to graceful use of strong force, and they are resistant to environmental extremes.

Svartali reproduce sexually, but they are a protandrous species (intersex) with narrow parameters over sexual development during gestation. Wombs develop during puberty and adolescence, not gestation, and no all svartali develop them. A womb and its associated organs can grow either eggs or sperm, but not both. All svartali grow male genitalia with an associated gland for producing either eggs or sperm, but not both.   In order to reproduce, at least one of the pair must have a womb. If they produce eggs in the womb, then the partner must be able to deliver sperm, and vise-versa. Pregnancy takes a heavy toll on the body as hormones change significantly, and a pregnant svartal - now referred to as a svartala - can expect many physical changes in their body both internally and externally.   External: a svartala is likely to lose much or most of their facial and chest hair, but they are likely to develop more arm hair (a trait designed for cradling infants). Their skin softens and tends to get lighter on the anterior sides. Depending on how the hormones change, a svartala will see their fingernails and toenails change in tone and strength. This becomes a good indicator of the infant's likelihood to develop a womb.   Internal: A svartala's pelvis will separate and widen during pregnancy to accommodate the fetus, which will sit crosswise in their body. This is generally the most painful part of the pregnancy, and for the three to four weeks this occurs, a svartala must perform careful physical therapy to avoid being temporarily crippled. The leg bones will tend to rest farther outward from the pelvis as the body prepares to deliver the infant. A svartala's mammary glands will develop towards the end of pregnancy.   Partner: a pregnant svartala produces strong pheromones that affects their partner as well. The partner will lose facial and chest hair, develop mammary glands, and experience hormone changes that make them more aggressive to those not producing the same pheromone (a trait designed for protection of their partner).   Overall, gestation lasts approximately 55 weeks, and infants are born very heavy and soft-skinned compared to their adult bodies.

Svartali are born mostly developed. Infants cannot support their own weight initially but can grasp and clamp to drink their food. They are mostly blind for the first year of their lives and are hypersensitive to sound and touch. Body and facial hair is usually present at this stage, but in limited quantities.   Between the ages of 9 and 12, svartali finish toddler years and have a well-developed sense of language and reasoning. Gross motor skills are well-developed, but fine motor skills are less so. Their body hair grows some during this stage, but most of the body's energy goes into developing the musculature and strengthening the bones. They are nearsighted at this stage, but can begin to read and write; they are also still hypersensitive to touch and sound.   Between ages 18 and 24, svartali begin puberty. Their sensitivity to touch and sound begins to temper, but their eyesight develops slowly. Hair grows more quickly and develops attractive luster, and virility/fertility is generally associated with beard characteristics as well as hip size. At this point a womb develops, if any, and is fully developed by age 30. Svartali can become sexually active before the womb is complete without danger of abnormal pregnancy, as the vaginal canal will not open to the uterus until the final stages of development.   Svartali are fully mature by age 40 and usually have copious amounts of body hair, very powerful limbs and back, and hardy skin. Their mental development has caught up to their senses, and they can use their highly sensitive touch and hearing without being cognitively overwhelmed. Their eyesight is at its peak, though svartali remain generally nearsighted compared to other races.   Svartali can reproduce far later into their lives than their jinn or human counterparts, but because of the difficulty in finding a sexually compatible mate, they do not reproduce overmuch. All svartali reach a kind of menopause around age 800, in which they stop producing sperm or eggs and the womb slowly breaks down. All svartali, regardless of past pregnancies, begin growing more hair at this stage, but rather than diminishing in quality, their hair and beards tend to develop richer luster and sheen.   Svartali illness is limited similarly to jinn illness, but their bodies are more apt to deteriorate externally than internally at the final stages of life. Over a course of 40 to 60 years their skin will weaken and their hardy physiology will yield to external pathogens.

Svartali are sharp of ear and of touch, but do not possess any extraordinary senses.

Svartali are not a binary species and so develop very loose ideas on gender; these divides tend to be more around the circumstance of childbearing than around any other factors. Some of their language identifies these differences, but there is no "male" or "female" sex to separate gender ideals between.   Instead, svartali tend to revere whichever mate of a mating pair bears a child unto the community. Each of the pair is likely to change in different ways that will distinguish them from the other. The word "svartala" is applied to a svartal who bears the child, and she or they (the linguistics are sometimes disputed among translators) tends to be doted upon both by their partner and the community. The non-bearing mate, or svartal, will tend to become a protector of their household - though not a "husband" in the sense that humans apply to the custom.   As svartali age, those who have borne children and eventually regrown their beard will be dubbed "Matrarchen" and usually become elders of the community. Their spouses often become warriors or take other martial roles.

Young svartali tend to be very open and promiscuous with their sexuality, especially when they are young and are not prepared for pregnancy. Courting as a young svartal involves much drinking and group social activities, and svartali seeking companionship will do so by dressing in social attire, supplying entertainment or other furnishings for social groups, and by being rather forward with one another.   After reaching maturity, svartali will often seek more permanent companionship and engage in monogamous courtship. This will generally involve more one-on-one encounters, which will range from shared productive and domestic activities, plying a mutual trade, the exchange of gifts, sexual play, and wooing with poetry, song, or dance. When two svartali choose to mate, it carries powerful social significance across cultures, including religious practice. Mates in most cultures wear icons of their partnership, though the icon varies; rings, pendants, tattoos, and headwear are the most common. Unlike the jinn, who are naturally inclined to part ways with their mates once their offspring have matured, svartali will almost always spend the rest of their lives with whichever mate they choose.

Svartali are masters of artifice and devoted to the study of physical sciences and mechanics. They are highly advanced in the art of enchantment, known to them as "feysmithing." Their proficiency with fire, steam, and machinery is unparalleled, and they have a strong grasp of practical research and development. Their understanding of medicine, however, is limited until the advent of human interaction.