Grathkin
By Scarheart
Singular: Grathkin
Plural: Grathkin
Group: Legion of Grathkin
Origins:
Hailing from a now-dead world, the Grathkin were once a mighty, vast, and powerful species that ruled over their home planet of Grathika. Each section of the world was divided and ruled over by a Matriarch; a Noble Grathkin female who ruled all of her people with absolute authority. This power had a cost, however, and the Matriarchs could never develop a spoken language, nor did they obtain the black, feathered wings for which their people are legendary. Regardless of these drawbacks, which made them quite vulnerable to the ravages of predators, they were blessed with the incredible gift to predict the future and share this information with their defenders, regardless of distance from the Seer.
Led by Matriarch Lakada, the Stoneheart Legion is the last remaining clan of Grathkin – the only ones to successfully flee their world before a great cataclysm fell upon their world. Even more tragic in this tale, is the fact that it could have been avoided.
Years before, Lakada had a vision of great calamity, unlike anything she could truly comprehend. She foresaw a foe with no name that came from a realm unknown. So foreign was the idea of other worlds that the other Matriarchs of the other clans thought the Stoneheart Matriarch was crazy and had to be dethroned.
A great war ensued in that the other Legions tried to conquer the Stoneheart when they refused to overthrow their leader. This war was to be for naught, however, as the Eater of Worlds drew near and only the Stoneheart believed it.
Lakada withdrew her warrior caste from the fields of battle and gathered them all around where she would call upon all the fierce power of the elements and prepare a magic never before seen by the Grathkin, in a desperate attempt to salvage her people from the ravages of the destroyer. Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse.
With the Grathkin as a whole having their numbers thinned by their own infighting, it was no small task for the Eater of Worlds to come through the Infinite Gates and strike against the people of Grathika. The cost of lives was terrible, and only getting worse by the hour, as Lakada's forces tried to defend her from the other Grathkin who were now blaming her for the creature's arrival. Eventually, as the planet cracked and the abomination was about to spell disaster for the world as a whole, Matriarch Lakada finished her magic and thrust her entire Legion into the astral sea, hurtling it through the magical matter that was, arriving on a strange and foreign world in which they would now have to call home, in hopes that the Eater of Worlds would not follow them.
Loyalty:
The Grathkin are very military-minded, obeying orders from the Matriarch and on down the line without hesitation with the very idea of insubordination being inconceivable. Amongst this particular Legion, however, rebellion is something of a touchy subject, for technically they rebelled against their race as a whole to obey Lakada. It was part instinct, part survival, but mostly loyalty to their own Matriarch that led them down this path. They often spend hours contemplating this sad fact of their past, but rarely let it affect how they feel now that they've been given a second chance at the survival of their species.
The other thing to note here, is that betrayal will never be forgiven by a Grathkin, but they are not so foolish as to lump mistakes into the category. Intentional betrayal will not only sever the bond between a Grathkin and their chosen, but also incur a great and masterful wrath from their people as a whole, for no matter where a Grathkin treads, so too treads the Legion, and the Legion is mighty.
Chases:
Each rank of the Grathkin is independently maintained, in that the ranks do not, and in many cases, can not breed with one another. It is with this simple staple of their evolutionary cycle that creates the caste in the perfect proportion – the higher the rank of the Grathkin, the less often they breed, and the fewer of them there are.
It is because of their tight breeding circles that each rank can be either gender, male or female, though their gender has very little bearing on their society. The leader is always female, being a Matriarch, but they can never be bound. What this means is that males and females of the ranks are rather similar in demeanor, and have no preset notions as to their roles in society.
Females give birth to live children, as do most mammals, and nurse them when they are young, but the fathers play very active and vivid roles in child rearing. In fact, more often than not, the father will carry the child around on his back while both adults go hunting together, making the experience a spiritual, familial encounter. They often express their undying love for one another through rigorous trials that they endure together, for the Grathkin always mate for life. With their given lifespans counting in the hundreds of years, this can often lead to dozens of children, depending on the rank in question.
Whereas the Nobles are concerned (described later), a Noble always breeds a Standard member of their species, for nobility is a template that must be bestowed by the Matriarch herself in reward for dedicated service and undying loyalty. In simple terms, no Grathkin is born with a silver spoon – Noble parentage does not mean noble children. The children must earn this honor all on their own.
Nobility:
Amongst the Grathkin, in addition to the ranks, there is a special template known as Noble that adds additional markings (which cannot be duplicated) to a Grathkin. Nobles are appointed only by the Matriarch, and thus can never be purchased – they must be obtained through an interaction with Lakada. Typically, this is rewarded for service to the Legion as a whole, special encounters or quests performed in the name of the Grathkin race, and similar stories yet to be told.
All Noble Grathkin have a special marking on their forehead that indicates a symbol related to their specific Matriarch. In the case of Lakada, the only matriarch known to our world, is a curled loop that resembles a child being embraced by its mother. The whole thing is encircled by a colored ring with the color dictating each rank. This color coding will be listed with each individual rank. The center loop is always in direct contrast to the fur of the Grathkin in question. A white Noble Grathkin, in example, would have a black marking with a circle around it based on the rank of the Grathkin.
Bonding Information:
The Grathkin are incredibly loyal to their Matriarch and are thus very slow to trust, with higher ranks being the most difficult with which to bond, and lower ranks being considerably easier by comparison. They prefer to bond with those they believe can help further the cause of their race, which is to preserve a balance in the world and ensure that all creatures are liberated from oppression and have the freedom to dictate their own future.
It is very important for potential bond-holders to understand that the Grathkin will always have loyalty to their Matriarch, no matter how strong the bond becomes. Anyone who can understand this deep, blood-rooted loyalty, will earn massive points right off the bat in the favor of the Grathkin. While all of them can communicate in one way or another, very few of them can speak any known language. More commonly, they will use crude forms of indication as to their preferences ore desires. Higher ranking members will be able to use sign language, and some even have a form of empathic telepathy, meaning they can relay emotions psychically, though not actual words or specific sentence structures.
Ranks
The Dalga (Paladin): ********** (Silverback Gorilla)
Behold, the powerful, gigantic creature that is the Dalga Grathkin. These towering creatures can easily reach 8 feet in total height, with thick, powerful, corded muscles covering their entire body, and wide, stern faces. Their wings are incredible, stretching over 15ft from side to side when they are stretched wide. Their fur is most often black, with grey trim, and bright silver streaks down their backs. They walk in a hunched-forward fashion and practically pummel the ground with their fists as they walk on all four. Despite this presence that could intimidate even dragons who are wise enough to understand how simian muscle structure works, they are soft, and kind, and so willing to lay down their lives for loyalty, honor, and courage.
In truth, the willingness to lay down their lives would have infinitely more meaning if their lives could so easily be lain down. Knives have been known to break against their muscles, while arrows snap with a wave of their arm – or so the rumours would have you believe. These tales, surprisingly, are told by the lower ranks who, rather than be envious of the clear physical superiority of the Dalga, love them with such passion as to make one curious if the Dalga are actually some sort of angelic soul in simian form - And one wouldn't be too far off to consider such a reality.
Calm, gentle, and contemplative, the Dalga are far from the most intelligent rank of the Grathkin, but they are the most compassionate toward others. Trust is difficult for the Dalga, because they have to be the most diligent of all their kind, and the most protective. In the past, their kind-hearted natures have led to great disaster. More than anything, they desire to love everyone agape – it is just an impossibility they learned the hard way. Sometimes, their logic just can't surpass their hearts, however, and they'll get themselves into trouble being the brave, wonderful souls they are.
The Dalga serve the Matriarch directly and would rip limb from limb to protect her. Luckily, however, they don't have to resort to such crude combat, for they are each crafted a special sword of monstrous size and proportions, which they wear upon their back. These blades are specially crafted to be incredibly heavy and awkward to all but the strongest souls, and thus they are devastating weapons in the hands of the Dalga.
Dalga communicate with a simple but intricate sign language, and can even speak simple sentences with rather good syntax.
Noble Dalga: Both the inner and outer marking of the Noble Dalga are bright gold, representing their rank and worth to the Matriarch, and the Legion as a whole. Noble Dalga can speak perfect syntax in many different languages, and have the incredible ability to make their words heard over great distance without shouting, but rather willing their voices be heard. This can even become magic-like, with the ability to command their foes to simply lay down arms and stop fighting.
Lagra (Paratroopers): ********* (Capuchin Monkey)
Predominantly black, the Lagra have white upper bodies with white feathered wings, that sets them apart from the other winged Grathkin, who typically sport black feathers. Their faces are incredibly human in nature and capable of a very wide array of emotions, from happiness to anger – the latter of which they are truly known for.
They have powerful tails with incredible articulation that allows them to swing from branches, hang upside down, and even wield a third weapon in their typical combat form – which involves three small, bladed weapons that they wield in perfect harmony. Despite their incredible physical prowess in such a small package, they are quite impatient and capable of taking insult where none truly is. I guess one could say that they demand the world walk on eggshells around them, though as they grow closer to an individual, they come to understand that being and stop taking offense (as often).
While they are slightly arrogant, they are intensely loyal and that is what creates their battle drive – the urge to protect those around them with absolute certainty. Do not let their small stature surprise you, for even though they only reach 2 – 3 feet in height, they can deliver just as much violence in a much smaller, harder-to-hit, deadly package, and they know it. With that in mind, once you befriend one, expect to never have to work again at defending yourself – they will do so with nigh impunity. Did I mention they enjoy violence, too? It's their work, play, hobby, and relaxation.
They communicate with a quick, guttural language that is hard to understand and difficult to adapt, though they can use gestures to get their point across unless they become frustrated. With enough time and education, a bonded companion can learn their spoken tongue.
Noble Lagra: The inner marking is always black, to contrast their incredibly pale faces and fur, as is the outer ring – making their symbol as different as their wings. Noble Lagra have the incredible gift of thermal sight, allowing them to see heat signatures instead of the standard night vision of most animals.
Sh'na'ka (Sage): ******** (Emperor Tamarin Monkey)
These brown Grathkin are only 3 feet in height at full adulthood and have white faces, with long curling whiskers that bend down toward their necks, giving them the appearance of a sagely mustache or beard. They have long, off-colored tails that are typically much lighter in coloration and are used mostly for balance or scratching that special itch. Their wings are also brown, blending quite well with the rest of their body, and are used to find the highest perches they can in order to do their quiet contemplation and meditation.
The Sh'na'ka are philosophers by trade and offer their wisdom and insights to any who would seek it, even if they aren't Grathkin. Despite their higher rank, they are often much more willing to at the very least communicate with outsiders, which they do through a very rough, broken spoken language. They can emulate other spoken languages with a high degree of success, as well as use complex sign languages. However, that doesn't let their bond-mates off easy, for despite their ability to articulate, they are incredibly cryptic at all times.
“Excuse me, Master Zem-pa? Could you tell me what this strange glowing green rock is?”
“I could, child, but then your journey would not be completed by the knowledge, and I fear the journey would be too dangerous for you to continue. Instead, seek the knowledge in the land where the wind howls by night and the wolves speak at day.”
Finally, they aren't specifically kind, as they are knowledgeable and wise, sharing their divined inspiration for the sake of sharing. The most important thing to remember is, they rarely mean offense with their information given, but they are highly analytical and can read the expressions and mentality of others flawlessly and easily. Often times, this will make them seem condescending, even though they are only trying to give helpful advice.
Noble Sh'na'ka: Their faces, ranging from greys, to browns and blacks, typically have a dull, aged grey center that grows darker as they age, becoming black as midnight with the Grathkin is old enough for his whiskers to turn grey. The outer ring of the Sh'na'ka is typically pale, frosty blue that blends beautifully with a distinguished grey in age.
Tansin (Research): ****** (Mangabey)
The Tansin, a small Grathkin that never rises more than 2 or 3 feet in height, has simple feathered wings that always rise above their shoulders, giving them the constant appearance of being tense or on edge. In truth, their wings are set so high to keep them from dipping into alchemical substances or fires going on around the Tansin. Almost all of them have white fur on the sides of their face, with a bright red crest on the top of their head. They have long, slender tails to give them a fifth appendage by which they can use items, though they are not strong enough to wield weapons like the Lagra.
They are the researchers, scientists, and inventors of the Grathkin, and always have a new mystery to solve. They are highly evolved and incredibly intelligent, though lack in social skills because of their tendency to study far too long. Like all Grathkin, they share no common spoken language, but they can pick up a few words in multiple languages to quickly express thought, if not crudely. They do have an incredible rich and complex sign language, however, and can even express a written format of communication, by having a set of matching symbols that lines up to their sign language.
Despite their vast brainpower, they are also very quick to temper. Preventing one from solving the mystery, or handing them a riddle that is unsolvable, or has a silly, nonsensical answer, can send them flying into a destructive rage… and trust me, you do not want a monkey that knows how to make explosives going into a destructive rage.
Noble Tansin: The noble ring of the Tansin is typically violet, which stands as a blend of calm and anger (blue and red). Their inner marking, due to their black faces, is always silver or white, depending on the exact shade of fur surrounding the face. Noble Tansin have been known to be able to read and write other languages, in addition to their complex sign. This gives them the rare ability to share their findings with others easily, and learn from others.
Nagakt (Ambassador):***** (Chimpanzee)
The Nagakt are always dark colored with a lot of human-like expression in their faces. They are typically as tall as a human child, though often reaching upwards of 5 feet in total height, and always walk with a calm demeanor as to belay trust in those who would make first impressions of them. As the ambassadors of the Grathkin, they try to avoid emotional responses at all costs, preferring to communicate with sign language. By spending mere moments around another creature, they can quickly understand any spoken or signed language, and use any number of gestures to return the communication.
While the Nagakt have wings, they tend to not fly when in mixed company, for they find it overbearing in peaceful negotiations, and tend to only take flight when in grave danger, or in the company of those they trust completely.
The primary function in the legion of the Nagakt is to create strong relationships with others in the vicinity of the Grathkin so as to form harmonic bonds with all the living creatures of the land, that all may live in peace and freedom. Of all the Grathkin, it is the Nagakt who most heavily preach their ways of life to others and will very rarely take another living creature's life, for they believe anyone can be redeemed and turned into an ally instead of a corpse. Don't take that to mean they are complete pacifists, however, for the Jungle is their native land and survival is very important. They will fight, and have the muscle to do so, anytime they, or their loved ones, are threatened and there is no other recourse.
Noble Nagakt: The noble rings of the Nagakt are white, with the inner rings being white also, to contrast their typically dark brown or black furred faces. The Noble Nagakt also have the incredible gift of education. It is said that whatever a Nagakt Noble knows, it can show to another in incredible time, accuracy, and efficiency.
Cyrgu (Recon) **** (Marmoset, or Finger Monkey)
The smallest of the Grathkin, the Cyrgu is about the height of a human's finger – no taller than 3 inches at full adulthood. They do not have wings like many in the species as a whole, but they make up for it with the ridiculous amount of ground they can cover despite their tiny bodies. They also have rather prehensile tails. Additionally, they are quick and agile, able to disappear from plain sight with little hindrance. They like to delve into pockets and 'discover' things that they didn't know about before. While they are not quite kleptomaniacs, they do have an incredibly high sense of curiosity and will often take things to study without hesitation or permission.
That being said, they are just as loyal as any other Grathkin, and typically take these findings back to the Legion to study as a whole and gain a greater education. The most interesting part of their habits would be their desire to share their findings with everyone. There is no sensation of hording with the possessions they 'discover' but rather, they want everyone to know what they've found, in part out of pride, but a vast majority of their decision-making in this aspect is to merely spread knowledge.
The Cyrgu can only communicate with chitters which can barely be understood by their bonded, and in truth, aren't even understood by their own kind. They can also use crude sign and gestures to indicate what they desire, with a high level of understanding for simple spoken instructions, such as 'wait here.'
Noble Cyrgu: The noble rings that grace their foreheads are bright red in coloration, and since their faces have a tendency to be brown, their Inner Marking is typically green or yellow, depending on the exact shade. There are also rumours that some Noble Cyrgu, lacking wings like the Matriarch, have developed a strong connection with their “Mother” and can communicate with a powerful form of Empathy that simple makes their exact thoughts known by those who are close to them, as though the brains of the 'listeners' simply know everything they need to know about a situation, as desired by the Cyrgu.
Plural: Grathkin
Group: Legion of Grathkin
Origins:
Hailing from a now-dead world, the Grathkin were once a mighty, vast, and powerful species that ruled over their home planet of Grathika. Each section of the world was divided and ruled over by a Matriarch; a Noble Grathkin female who ruled all of her people with absolute authority. This power had a cost, however, and the Matriarchs could never develop a spoken language, nor did they obtain the black, feathered wings for which their people are legendary. Regardless of these drawbacks, which made them quite vulnerable to the ravages of predators, they were blessed with the incredible gift to predict the future and share this information with their defenders, regardless of distance from the Seer.
Led by Matriarch Lakada, the Stoneheart Legion is the last remaining clan of Grathkin – the only ones to successfully flee their world before a great cataclysm fell upon their world. Even more tragic in this tale, is the fact that it could have been avoided.
Years before, Lakada had a vision of great calamity, unlike anything she could truly comprehend. She foresaw a foe with no name that came from a realm unknown. So foreign was the idea of other worlds that the other Matriarchs of the other clans thought the Stoneheart Matriarch was crazy and had to be dethroned.
A great war ensued in that the other Legions tried to conquer the Stoneheart when they refused to overthrow their leader. This war was to be for naught, however, as the Eater of Worlds drew near and only the Stoneheart believed it.
Lakada withdrew her warrior caste from the fields of battle and gathered them all around where she would call upon all the fierce power of the elements and prepare a magic never before seen by the Grathkin, in a desperate attempt to salvage her people from the ravages of the destroyer. Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse.
With the Grathkin as a whole having their numbers thinned by their own infighting, it was no small task for the Eater of Worlds to come through the Infinite Gates and strike against the people of Grathika. The cost of lives was terrible, and only getting worse by the hour, as Lakada's forces tried to defend her from the other Grathkin who were now blaming her for the creature's arrival. Eventually, as the planet cracked and the abomination was about to spell disaster for the world as a whole, Matriarch Lakada finished her magic and thrust her entire Legion into the astral sea, hurtling it through the magical matter that was, arriving on a strange and foreign world in which they would now have to call home, in hopes that the Eater of Worlds would not follow them.
Loyalty:
The Grathkin are very military-minded, obeying orders from the Matriarch and on down the line without hesitation with the very idea of insubordination being inconceivable. Amongst this particular Legion, however, rebellion is something of a touchy subject, for technically they rebelled against their race as a whole to obey Lakada. It was part instinct, part survival, but mostly loyalty to their own Matriarch that led them down this path. They often spend hours contemplating this sad fact of their past, but rarely let it affect how they feel now that they've been given a second chance at the survival of their species.
The other thing to note here, is that betrayal will never be forgiven by a Grathkin, but they are not so foolish as to lump mistakes into the category. Intentional betrayal will not only sever the bond between a Grathkin and their chosen, but also incur a great and masterful wrath from their people as a whole, for no matter where a Grathkin treads, so too treads the Legion, and the Legion is mighty.
Chases:
Each rank of the Grathkin is independently maintained, in that the ranks do not, and in many cases, can not breed with one another. It is with this simple staple of their evolutionary cycle that creates the caste in the perfect proportion – the higher the rank of the Grathkin, the less often they breed, and the fewer of them there are.
It is because of their tight breeding circles that each rank can be either gender, male or female, though their gender has very little bearing on their society. The leader is always female, being a Matriarch, but they can never be bound. What this means is that males and females of the ranks are rather similar in demeanor, and have no preset notions as to their roles in society.
Females give birth to live children, as do most mammals, and nurse them when they are young, but the fathers play very active and vivid roles in child rearing. In fact, more often than not, the father will carry the child around on his back while both adults go hunting together, making the experience a spiritual, familial encounter. They often express their undying love for one another through rigorous trials that they endure together, for the Grathkin always mate for life. With their given lifespans counting in the hundreds of years, this can often lead to dozens of children, depending on the rank in question.
Whereas the Nobles are concerned (described later), a Noble always breeds a Standard member of their species, for nobility is a template that must be bestowed by the Matriarch herself in reward for dedicated service and undying loyalty. In simple terms, no Grathkin is born with a silver spoon – Noble parentage does not mean noble children. The children must earn this honor all on their own.
Nobility:
Amongst the Grathkin, in addition to the ranks, there is a special template known as Noble that adds additional markings (which cannot be duplicated) to a Grathkin. Nobles are appointed only by the Matriarch, and thus can never be purchased – they must be obtained through an interaction with Lakada. Typically, this is rewarded for service to the Legion as a whole, special encounters or quests performed in the name of the Grathkin race, and similar stories yet to be told.
All Noble Grathkin have a special marking on their forehead that indicates a symbol related to their specific Matriarch. In the case of Lakada, the only matriarch known to our world, is a curled loop that resembles a child being embraced by its mother. The whole thing is encircled by a colored ring with the color dictating each rank. This color coding will be listed with each individual rank. The center loop is always in direct contrast to the fur of the Grathkin in question. A white Noble Grathkin, in example, would have a black marking with a circle around it based on the rank of the Grathkin.
Bonding Information:
The Grathkin are incredibly loyal to their Matriarch and are thus very slow to trust, with higher ranks being the most difficult with which to bond, and lower ranks being considerably easier by comparison. They prefer to bond with those they believe can help further the cause of their race, which is to preserve a balance in the world and ensure that all creatures are liberated from oppression and have the freedom to dictate their own future.
It is very important for potential bond-holders to understand that the Grathkin will always have loyalty to their Matriarch, no matter how strong the bond becomes. Anyone who can understand this deep, blood-rooted loyalty, will earn massive points right off the bat in the favor of the Grathkin. While all of them can communicate in one way or another, very few of them can speak any known language. More commonly, they will use crude forms of indication as to their preferences ore desires. Higher ranking members will be able to use sign language, and some even have a form of empathic telepathy, meaning they can relay emotions psychically, though not actual words or specific sentence structures.
Ranks
The Dalga (Paladin): ********** (Silverback Gorilla)
Behold, the powerful, gigantic creature that is the Dalga Grathkin. These towering creatures can easily reach 8 feet in total height, with thick, powerful, corded muscles covering their entire body, and wide, stern faces. Their wings are incredible, stretching over 15ft from side to side when they are stretched wide. Their fur is most often black, with grey trim, and bright silver streaks down their backs. They walk in a hunched-forward fashion and practically pummel the ground with their fists as they walk on all four. Despite this presence that could intimidate even dragons who are wise enough to understand how simian muscle structure works, they are soft, and kind, and so willing to lay down their lives for loyalty, honor, and courage.
In truth, the willingness to lay down their lives would have infinitely more meaning if their lives could so easily be lain down. Knives have been known to break against their muscles, while arrows snap with a wave of their arm – or so the rumours would have you believe. These tales, surprisingly, are told by the lower ranks who, rather than be envious of the clear physical superiority of the Dalga, love them with such passion as to make one curious if the Dalga are actually some sort of angelic soul in simian form - And one wouldn't be too far off to consider such a reality.
Calm, gentle, and contemplative, the Dalga are far from the most intelligent rank of the Grathkin, but they are the most compassionate toward others. Trust is difficult for the Dalga, because they have to be the most diligent of all their kind, and the most protective. In the past, their kind-hearted natures have led to great disaster. More than anything, they desire to love everyone agape – it is just an impossibility they learned the hard way. Sometimes, their logic just can't surpass their hearts, however, and they'll get themselves into trouble being the brave, wonderful souls they are.
The Dalga serve the Matriarch directly and would rip limb from limb to protect her. Luckily, however, they don't have to resort to such crude combat, for they are each crafted a special sword of monstrous size and proportions, which they wear upon their back. These blades are specially crafted to be incredibly heavy and awkward to all but the strongest souls, and thus they are devastating weapons in the hands of the Dalga.
Dalga communicate with a simple but intricate sign language, and can even speak simple sentences with rather good syntax.
Noble Dalga: Both the inner and outer marking of the Noble Dalga are bright gold, representing their rank and worth to the Matriarch, and the Legion as a whole. Noble Dalga can speak perfect syntax in many different languages, and have the incredible ability to make their words heard over great distance without shouting, but rather willing their voices be heard. This can even become magic-like, with the ability to command their foes to simply lay down arms and stop fighting.
Lagra (Paratroopers): ********* (Capuchin Monkey)
Predominantly black, the Lagra have white upper bodies with white feathered wings, that sets them apart from the other winged Grathkin, who typically sport black feathers. Their faces are incredibly human in nature and capable of a very wide array of emotions, from happiness to anger – the latter of which they are truly known for.
They have powerful tails with incredible articulation that allows them to swing from branches, hang upside down, and even wield a third weapon in their typical combat form – which involves three small, bladed weapons that they wield in perfect harmony. Despite their incredible physical prowess in such a small package, they are quite impatient and capable of taking insult where none truly is. I guess one could say that they demand the world walk on eggshells around them, though as they grow closer to an individual, they come to understand that being and stop taking offense (as often).
While they are slightly arrogant, they are intensely loyal and that is what creates their battle drive – the urge to protect those around them with absolute certainty. Do not let their small stature surprise you, for even though they only reach 2 – 3 feet in height, they can deliver just as much violence in a much smaller, harder-to-hit, deadly package, and they know it. With that in mind, once you befriend one, expect to never have to work again at defending yourself – they will do so with nigh impunity. Did I mention they enjoy violence, too? It's their work, play, hobby, and relaxation.
They communicate with a quick, guttural language that is hard to understand and difficult to adapt, though they can use gestures to get their point across unless they become frustrated. With enough time and education, a bonded companion can learn their spoken tongue.
Noble Lagra: The inner marking is always black, to contrast their incredibly pale faces and fur, as is the outer ring – making their symbol as different as their wings. Noble Lagra have the incredible gift of thermal sight, allowing them to see heat signatures instead of the standard night vision of most animals.
Sh'na'ka (Sage): ******** (Emperor Tamarin Monkey)
These brown Grathkin are only 3 feet in height at full adulthood and have white faces, with long curling whiskers that bend down toward their necks, giving them the appearance of a sagely mustache or beard. They have long, off-colored tails that are typically much lighter in coloration and are used mostly for balance or scratching that special itch. Their wings are also brown, blending quite well with the rest of their body, and are used to find the highest perches they can in order to do their quiet contemplation and meditation.
The Sh'na'ka are philosophers by trade and offer their wisdom and insights to any who would seek it, even if they aren't Grathkin. Despite their higher rank, they are often much more willing to at the very least communicate with outsiders, which they do through a very rough, broken spoken language. They can emulate other spoken languages with a high degree of success, as well as use complex sign languages. However, that doesn't let their bond-mates off easy, for despite their ability to articulate, they are incredibly cryptic at all times.
“Excuse me, Master Zem-pa? Could you tell me what this strange glowing green rock is?”
“I could, child, but then your journey would not be completed by the knowledge, and I fear the journey would be too dangerous for you to continue. Instead, seek the knowledge in the land where the wind howls by night and the wolves speak at day.”
Finally, they aren't specifically kind, as they are knowledgeable and wise, sharing their divined inspiration for the sake of sharing. The most important thing to remember is, they rarely mean offense with their information given, but they are highly analytical and can read the expressions and mentality of others flawlessly and easily. Often times, this will make them seem condescending, even though they are only trying to give helpful advice.
Noble Sh'na'ka: Their faces, ranging from greys, to browns and blacks, typically have a dull, aged grey center that grows darker as they age, becoming black as midnight with the Grathkin is old enough for his whiskers to turn grey. The outer ring of the Sh'na'ka is typically pale, frosty blue that blends beautifully with a distinguished grey in age.
Tansin (Research): ****** (Mangabey)
The Tansin, a small Grathkin that never rises more than 2 or 3 feet in height, has simple feathered wings that always rise above their shoulders, giving them the constant appearance of being tense or on edge. In truth, their wings are set so high to keep them from dipping into alchemical substances or fires going on around the Tansin. Almost all of them have white fur on the sides of their face, with a bright red crest on the top of their head. They have long, slender tails to give them a fifth appendage by which they can use items, though they are not strong enough to wield weapons like the Lagra.
They are the researchers, scientists, and inventors of the Grathkin, and always have a new mystery to solve. They are highly evolved and incredibly intelligent, though lack in social skills because of their tendency to study far too long. Like all Grathkin, they share no common spoken language, but they can pick up a few words in multiple languages to quickly express thought, if not crudely. They do have an incredible rich and complex sign language, however, and can even express a written format of communication, by having a set of matching symbols that lines up to their sign language.
Despite their vast brainpower, they are also very quick to temper. Preventing one from solving the mystery, or handing them a riddle that is unsolvable, or has a silly, nonsensical answer, can send them flying into a destructive rage… and trust me, you do not want a monkey that knows how to make explosives going into a destructive rage.
Noble Tansin: The noble ring of the Tansin is typically violet, which stands as a blend of calm and anger (blue and red). Their inner marking, due to their black faces, is always silver or white, depending on the exact shade of fur surrounding the face. Noble Tansin have been known to be able to read and write other languages, in addition to their complex sign. This gives them the rare ability to share their findings with others easily, and learn from others.
Nagakt (Ambassador):***** (Chimpanzee)
The Nagakt are always dark colored with a lot of human-like expression in their faces. They are typically as tall as a human child, though often reaching upwards of 5 feet in total height, and always walk with a calm demeanor as to belay trust in those who would make first impressions of them. As the ambassadors of the Grathkin, they try to avoid emotional responses at all costs, preferring to communicate with sign language. By spending mere moments around another creature, they can quickly understand any spoken or signed language, and use any number of gestures to return the communication.
While the Nagakt have wings, they tend to not fly when in mixed company, for they find it overbearing in peaceful negotiations, and tend to only take flight when in grave danger, or in the company of those they trust completely.
The primary function in the legion of the Nagakt is to create strong relationships with others in the vicinity of the Grathkin so as to form harmonic bonds with all the living creatures of the land, that all may live in peace and freedom. Of all the Grathkin, it is the Nagakt who most heavily preach their ways of life to others and will very rarely take another living creature's life, for they believe anyone can be redeemed and turned into an ally instead of a corpse. Don't take that to mean they are complete pacifists, however, for the Jungle is their native land and survival is very important. They will fight, and have the muscle to do so, anytime they, or their loved ones, are threatened and there is no other recourse.
Noble Nagakt: The noble rings of the Nagakt are white, with the inner rings being white also, to contrast their typically dark brown or black furred faces. The Noble Nagakt also have the incredible gift of education. It is said that whatever a Nagakt Noble knows, it can show to another in incredible time, accuracy, and efficiency.
Cyrgu (Recon) **** (Marmoset, or Finger Monkey)
The smallest of the Grathkin, the Cyrgu is about the height of a human's finger – no taller than 3 inches at full adulthood. They do not have wings like many in the species as a whole, but they make up for it with the ridiculous amount of ground they can cover despite their tiny bodies. They also have rather prehensile tails. Additionally, they are quick and agile, able to disappear from plain sight with little hindrance. They like to delve into pockets and 'discover' things that they didn't know about before. While they are not quite kleptomaniacs, they do have an incredibly high sense of curiosity and will often take things to study without hesitation or permission.
That being said, they are just as loyal as any other Grathkin, and typically take these findings back to the Legion to study as a whole and gain a greater education. The most interesting part of their habits would be their desire to share their findings with everyone. There is no sensation of hording with the possessions they 'discover' but rather, they want everyone to know what they've found, in part out of pride, but a vast majority of their decision-making in this aspect is to merely spread knowledge.
The Cyrgu can only communicate with chitters which can barely be understood by their bonded, and in truth, aren't even understood by their own kind. They can also use crude sign and gestures to indicate what they desire, with a high level of understanding for simple spoken instructions, such as 'wait here.'
Noble Cyrgu: The noble rings that grace their foreheads are bright red in coloration, and since their faces have a tendency to be brown, their Inner Marking is typically green or yellow, depending on the exact shade. There are also rumours that some Noble Cyrgu, lacking wings like the Matriarch, have developed a strong connection with their “Mother” and can communicate with a powerful form of Empathy that simple makes their exact thoughts known by those who are close to them, as though the brains of the 'listeners' simply know everything they need to know about a situation, as desired by the Cyrgu.