Rare and Uncommonly Met Sapient Species

Recall the story of the Moot. How many representatives of talking species were there that day? If you've read or studied the histories, you'll remember that there were thirty-six species present via their representatives that day.   Twenty-seven of these thirty-six species make up approximately 93% of the population of the World (according to recent census data). The remaining 7% of the population belongs to the other nine species. Many of the species still primarily reside in their historic homelands, often geographically isolated - or have had their populations reduced drastically from disease or other tragic factors. Still, travelers may encounter them on their journeys, albeit less frequently.   The nine rare species are listed below:  

• Ayanlo: Graceful people who superficially resemble the Cervid, the antelope-folk are known as nomads who stride across the plains of the World with ease. Once incredibly numerous and well adapted to a wide range of ecology, the antelope-folk were devastated by a deadly illness that affected only their species. The remaining populations of these once-mighty people are now scattered across the World.
• Firaafid: The tall and elegant giraffe-folk almost look like moving paintings. With their long necks and legs, spotted and striped coats in dramatic shades, and eyes that eternally look wistful, it's not hard to see why artistic depictions of these elusive people are common. The tallest tend to prefer life in the open plains, while the shorter of this species generally build their villages in the woods. Their culture is deeply spiritual, and is home to many religious beliefs other cultures consider esoteric or heretical.
• Giff: These semi-aquatic people have large, rotund bodies that give them a perfectly neutral buoyancy. Using their natural gift for swimming and their immense physical strength, the hippo-folk have become renowned explorers, merchants, pirates, and sailors. With a slow birthrate and often in dangerous lines of work, the population of giff remains low, but stable.
• Moshteri: Small but mighty, the limber-bodied mustelid-folk can thrive in a number of niches. Some are diggers nearly on par with the Lipoti, others excel in the water, some find urban life a perfect match, and others can go toe-to-toe with the strongest of other species.
• Nagpa: Large avian folk who have a reputation similar to that of the Gnolls and Iruxi, the vulture-folk are a very rare species who often find themselves scavenging to survive. The ancient vulture-folk were numerous, but diseases combined with low birthrates have shrunk their population over the centuries.
• Panuk: Preferring to live in only the coldest places, the penguin-folk build their towns seaside and make a living fishing and hunting in the open water. Remarkably adapted avians, the panuk can swim in the water the way an Aarakocra would fly, and they can hold their breath for almost half an hour.
• Pinippi: Large, blubbery, and loud, the seal-folk are perfectly happy to live right on the water. Incredibly capable swimmers, most people will meet pinippi when they take a ship for the first time. The largest occasionally grow imposing tusks.
• Raitela: Flightless birds also known as ostrich-folk, the raitela stride on powerful legs and are remarkably swift. They call plains and open grasslands their homes, and have a peculiar outlook on life that makes them seem odd to non-raitela.
• Tikbalang: The horse-folk come from a nomadic culture where hard work is valued above all else. There's a huge variety of fur colors and patterns within this species, making almost no two horse-folk look alike. The tikbalang are capable athletes and physical laborers, and are most commonly met in these fields.