Saravan

The Saravan are tall, muscular, distant relatives of the Ice Giants. Separated from their larger cousins by continental drift. The Saravan have diverged in many ways. They are able to cope with reduced oxygen levels in the air at altitude. Their large size facilitates consumption of very large meals in one sitting allowing them to stock up on energy and water reserves when available and then go long period without eating or drinking.   They tend to have quite flat faces not completely dissimilar to an Earthling human face but with a flatter nose, larger mouth and pointier ears. Their eyes are most often yellow, orange or occasionally grey. They have small canines as well as incisors and large molars.   They have a naturally very muscular physique although they are shorter than the Ice Giants. Their bodies are generally hairy but less so than the ice giants. They have more hair on their heads, around their groins, and under their arms but may have bare skin on their stomachs, upper arms and lower backs. They hair is most often grey, sometimes even very slightly blue, and occasionally brown or beige. They skin is typically a similar colour to their hair although it may be lighter or darker. Their colour variations broadly define ethnic differences amongst the Saravan.   The Saravan have unguligrade legs with very large hooves rather than feet or paws. They are naturally adapted to rocky environments and have no problems walking or running for long periods of time on hard ground.    The Saravan have horns on their heads. These horns are sexually dimorphic; Saravan women have branching horns, Saravan men have unbranching, frequently curved horns. Very occasionally Saravan develop horns of the opposite kind associated with their sex. In some communities this is considered a defect and the horns are cut off, in others this is considered a sign of blessing and the particular Saravan is considered a spiritual leader.   An Earthling might compare the Saravan to the fauns of greek mythology. They could be described as caprine but they are considerably taller and more muscular that typical depictions of fauns and are naturally mountain dwelling not forest dwelling.

The Saravan are omnivorous. They have the most diverse diet of any of the sentient races of Alter. They are able to go without water regularly for 7 days and without food regularly for 14 although they can survive longer than this, albeit in starvation. Because they are so large naturally, they can gorge on large amounts of food and water in one sitting and store a lot of energy and water within specialised organs.

The Saravan are native to the continent south-west of M'dia. Over the last 2000 years a small number of Saravan exiles have travelled across the ocean to settle in M'dia finding a perfect niche for themselves in the western M'dian desert and in the high central mountains where their endurance gives them an edge over the other races.   A single Saravan lives in the city of Vekirai, Lord Bariat Vol Oster. Lord Bariat found great success in the social games of the upper echelons of the city. The local aristocracy consider him a curiosity and a number of native dignitaries have support him financially. It is rumoured that some of the cities influential ladies fine him pleasant in other ways too.

The Saravan are mostly very private, except for the renowned Lord Bariat Vol Oster. They infrequently interact with the other sentient races on M'dia. The Saravan tribes living in the great central mountains trade regularly with the Haravi to the east, the Espirion to the north (especially in Cyiros in the northern foothills) and with the Tamijhiin to the south.