Vorwan (Species)

The Vorwan people are a marine based species, living in most of the oceans of Abexilas.

Biology
While it is not known when exactly the Vorwan species came into being, the best estimation is around 100,000 years ago. It is believed that they came out of the result of cross breeding between certain marine species and mammalian ones, but no definitive answer has ever been found. What we do know is that the Vorwanien race has been evolving and adapting faster than most other races. Vorwanien have some distinct features unique to them: - Cephalic Fins: These assortment of fins protrude from the head in a hair-like formation. They were originally engineered to ensure consistent hydrodynamic efficiency. As the species evolved, they are now used for communication, allowing for better representation of mood and emotion of the individual, used for aggression by flaring up to make the person seem larger, and also used to help identify and individualize each other.

- Sinciput Flaps: The sinciput flaps, are very similar to the cephalic fins, while being less moveable. They improve hydrodynamic efficiency while also being a slight protection to the more sensitive parts of the head, being the brain and receptor rods.

- Receptor Rods: The receptor rods are 4 rods that protrude from the head, connecting directly up to the brain. They are very sensitive and are used to detect slight changes in current, flow, electrical changes, and vibrations. They are often used as an early warning system to approaching threats and are also a big weakness that can be targeted by predators.

- Extremity Fins: There are 4 fins, one on each forearm, and one on each calf, that face out when swimming and help in directional moving and hydrodynamic efficiency. They are sometimes used to flare out to seem larger and to intimidate, though this comes at a disadvantage to movement.

- Dorsal Fin Ridge: A long line of connected fins that form a ridge from the cephalic fins to the tail. Used too keep upright and in hydrodynamic efficiency.

- Pelvic Fins: There are four thin, long pelvic fins that protrude from the waist, with two on either side. These fins are used for stabilizing and quick movements in the water. By using these fins alongside their powerful tail and webbed feet they can move around the water with more agility than almost any other marine animal in the same size.

- Caudal Fin: Also known as the tail, the caudal fin is strong and long, with two thin fin branches at the end that allow them to propel themselves through the water.

- Gills: The gills of the Vorwan are along the neck, stretching from just underneath the cephalic fins down all the way to the collar in ridges. Vorwans can come in many different colors, ranging from light pinks, blues, dark reds, deep purples, and grays. The color of the Vorwan is often determined by the environment in which they are born, matching their tone to their surroundings. The scale-tone of a Vorwan can change throughout its life as it adapts to new surroundings; this usually takes a few years to come fully into effect though.

Vorwans age up quickly compared to many other sentient races, with their young becoming mature in a matter of around 8-10 years. The lifespan is usually between 100-300 years, with no known limit to age aside from injury and disease. The oldest recorded Vorwan was 473 years old.

The diet of the Vorwan is mainly carnivorous, with some non-carnivorous options available. Most smaller fishes and marine life is fair game for Vorwans to eat. They have also adapted to eat certain forms of coral and sea pickles. Meat is still eaten raw by the Vorwanien.

Culture
The Vorwanien species is still fairly new to sentience as compared to other races, but they have adapted quicker than many other races. The Vorwans tend toward territorialism, marking territory as independently theirs. While they are territorial, this aggressiveness only applies to other Vorwanien and not to other species and races that may inhabit their area. As such, it isn't uncommon to find Vorwans within the coastal cities of other species and nations, but rarely do you find more than one in an area. Despite this territorial mindset, their widespread reach across the coasts, reefs, and oceans has allowed them to integrate technology, designs, and habits from most of the species they have interacted with. They willingly share this knowledge with each other as they cross paths. Their propensity for learning and curiosity is vast and extends to all forms all science, arts, and study.

They often try to replicate technology they see and observe in their own way, which has allowed them to create many ingenious inventions. An example of one of these is a form of portable land suit that allows them to venture onto land for short periods of time. Even without this suit though, the Vorwan can be on land for 5-10 minutes at a time before starting to suffocate. This time has drastically changed since even just 1000 years ago as their bodies adapt to new ways of living.

A unique part of Vorwanien culture that can't be found in any other civilization is their mastery of the art of kelp growing and weaving. The Vorwanien use the kelp they grow to produce most of their products. Not only is certain kinds edible to the Vorwan, but they've found ways to make a cloth supplement for garments, sheets for writing wrapped in scrolls, and firmer dried and pressed kelp into a stout leather substitute, making armor, weapons, and tools out of it. They also use dead and dried coral as a growable stone substitute, having coral farms where they sculpt the coral to a desired shape and design before harvesting and drying it. These they use for tools, weapons, and sometimes construction materials.

Due to the isolationist tendencies of the Vorwan, they aren't known to make romantic relationships with other Vorwanien. Rather, they will go into heat every other year on average and find a mate to enjoy for a short time before parting ways. The children are raised by the mother till mid adolescence, when they are sent off to fend for themselves and find their own territory.

Young or territory-less Vorwan do sometimes fight established Vorwan for their territory, where they have a non-lethal duel if accepted. The winner keeps the territory and the other ventures off to find a different place.

As of now, there aren't any Vorwanien nations or religions that have been established. All Vorwanien either live by themselves or integrate themselves into another society.