Shyr

Prior to Nagis’Keb, shyr and Sefora coexisted in tightly knit communities. Eras since, shyr almost exclusively inhabit ancestral grounds and live off the land, while sefora largely lead urban lives. Their physiological need to remain in specific ecological niches, to which they’ve become adapted, limit their range. Thanks to exosuits and the Shyr Inclusion Initiative, great progress has been made to reincorporate shyr into city populations once again.  

Species

  Three distinct species make up the shyr race, all of which are hyper-adapted to and strictly dependent upon a specific ecological range and its environmental conditions. To stray from such without proper equipment would lead to rapid-onset illness and eventual death.   Er’kor are the most abundant and widespread of all the shyr. Their core orientation can be dark or light. Rather than being limited to one biome, er’kor have a different variant in almost every region across the substellar face. Each variant—faction—is visually distinct from the next.   Ly'kor call the substellar point of Serpentis their home. This region is the hottest and driest point on the planet. Ly’kor make the most of their hostile surroundings by dividing into castes, each built for a specific task. Through exposure to a combination of variables, ly’kor children literally grow into their chosen role in society. And every winter, all but the winter guards go into hibernation to escape the cool temperatures they cannot toleratate.   Ny'kor have an entire hemisphere to themselves. They inhabit the perpetually dark face of Serpentis and venture to the other half of the globe when winter grips the planet. Ny’kor have the lowest average lifespan of all Serpentians solely due to year-round proximity to the demons that plague the antistellar face. They are the only people known to consume demons which make up half their diet.  

Appearance & Physiology

  Shyr possess many similarities to sefora but several key aspects differentiate them. The following traits are exclusive to the shyr race:  

• Slender builds that make them appear lanky. With the exception of ny’kor and tundra dwelling er’kor, their feet in particular are more narrow than a sefora’s.
• A core with a single chamber. Shyr cannot bind to a partner like sefora can. Their core hosts their own energy only and cannot store any others.
• Four korekas. (kor-ĕ-ka) One in each shoulder and in each hip. These organs allow the individual to build up more energy in their body than sefora at any given moment. With practice and time, a shyr can learn to clear their own energy from a koreka and sequester a foreign one indefinitely.
• Koriattuus. (kor-ē-ô-t^hu) Er’kor lack arms and sport floating hands. The invisible connection between their wrist and their shoulder is called a koriattuu and can be observed when a shyr draws in or expels energy from their hands.

  Akin to their sefora cousins, shyr have:

• a deep breastbone
• a long torso to accommodate large lungs
• four digits on both hands
• two digitigrade legs
• three toes with talons and a thick sole on both feet
• dense muscle fibers
• hollow or semi-hollow bones (respiratory system extends into bones)
• “all-in-one” organ called a kor

  Shyr and sefora are equipped with all of the necessary tools needed to survive the dangers of their home world…even if most folks don’t need to employ them thanks to city life. For one, their legs are very powerful and, in combination with talons, a kick can cause serious damage or even be fatal. Living in the wilds, shyr regularly defend themselves in this way although it is not a preferred method of defense. They will also spar one another or a dummy for the purpose of training. To kick someone without warrant is heavily frowned upon.   Where other organisms have separate organ systems, shyr and sefora have something very different. Their abdomen, long as it may be, is largely taken up by their large lungs which offers comparatively little space for much else. The solution? An extremely efficient, compact organ that does the work of many. It operates as a heart, stomach, and core, and is part of the respiratory and reproductive systems, among other things. Because core energy flows through a Serpentian’s veins rather than through separate pathways as in other creatures, their core type influences the color of their blood.   With demanding metabolisms but no room for lengthy digestive tracts, the kor is able to fully breakdown and extract all that an individual consumes. Whatever is not put toward cellular function is converted into core energy. Should the kor be met with material that cannot be digested or is befallen with illness, regurgitation is the only means of evacuation. The kor is a powerful yet delicate piece of engineering. The health of the kor determines the health of whole individual. One’s kor can generally heal from minor injury, but anything beyond that puts one’s life at risk.   For a deeper dive on the subject, check out this comprehensive, clinical breakdown of shyr and sefora biology. …coming soon…    

Culture

  Shyr culture is as colorful and various as they are. While key elements are shared across the entire race—and many aspects with sefora as well—each faction has its own norms and traditions.   The Rite of Adulthood is a time when any young shyr must prove themselves a valuable member of their clan. This rite is generally a long period of time spent performing a ceremonial task or series of tasks that cement their place in society. Ny’kor finalize years of training by forging their own weapon and subsequently christen it with a demon hunt. Mountain er’kor spend a summer shepherding the family livestock, and grassland er’kor craft their own bow and take part in bringing down big game. Ly’kor go on their first unguided outing and fulfill the responsibility of whatever caste they’ve grown into.   [link separate article that will deep dive into Serpentian culture, customs, traditions, etc. because there is so much overlap between shyr and sefora.]  

Family & Clans

  Shyr form multigenerational familial groups and a single clan generally consists of multiple families. Each family is guided by a matriarch affectionately referred to as meha (mā-hŭ). She has the final say on important decisions. Clan leadership includes but is not limited to the meha of each family.   Every individual wears a talisman in some form, be it on its own or worked into one’s wardrobe. This mark distinguishes the person’s lineage. Some family talismans are more recognizable than others, and some lineages are highly esteemed. None more so than the revered Sheruui.   Ny’kor have a long established tradition of arranging partnerships between individuals at birth. When they come of age, they are ceremonially mated and perform a simple ritual. The majority of shyr populations are free to choose a partner whenever they see fit. When a person does find a partner, it is expected they seek the blessing of their meha. Once mated, the spouse from the family of lesser stature is absorbed into the family of their partner. If the families are on equal ground (most are), the pair can choose which to stay with. It isn’t very common that a meha forbids a partnership. One’s poor actions may be reflected onto the entire family and potentially become regarded as undesirables.  

Greater Quilan

coming soon… They filled the niche of “mail system” after shyr went from nomadic to stationary and separated. Greater Quilan deliver goods to shyr that they would otherwise not be able to acquire or have great difficulty acquiring. Deeply engrained in shyr life.  

Societal Absence

coming soon… Shyr Inclusion Initiative By and large, there aren’t that many shyr in the cities. Once upon a time there were way more. They populate the wilderness instead. Cities were erected strategically to overlap as many climate zones so shyr populations have urban areas nearby they can more safely visit.  

Influence

coming soon… medicine, technology, THRU rings, etc. Sefora Oxi Demons   This section will briefly skim the surface and each species and faction will go into greater detail