Quanaari
Quanaari
Reputation Athletes and scholars with deliberate, introspective natures
Features Contrasting coloration, physical skill, and innate timesense
Prevalence Most in Kothinar; small enclaves elsewhere
Height males 6'-7'; females 5'5"-6'8"
Weight males 200-300 lbs; females 140-240 lbs
Lifespan 170 years

Key Features

  • Dark, twilight skin and bright, fiery hair
  • Unique traceries of scales like stars
  • Aptitude for physical activities
  • Predilection for introspection and contemplation
  • Moderate night vision (near-infrared)
  • Innate awareness of cardinal hours

Aging Table

Stage Age Human Equiv.
Maturity 25 years 13 years
Prime 45 years 25 years
Middle Age 90 years 40 years
Senescence 135 years 60 years
Max Lifespan 170 years 75 years

Features and Abilities

appearance

Timesense

The most obviously unusual ability of a Quanaar is their timesense. Regardless of whether they can see the sky, all Quanaari have an innate awareness of the cardinal hours: sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight. Their awareness is not precise to the minute, but rather takes the form of a pressure that first grows as the cardinal hour approaches, then fades in its wake. Because this is an intrinsic ability possessed from birth, most Quanaari do not take any more notice of time's passing than they do of breath; only when they pay conscious attention does it really register.

Night Vision

When in a low-light environment, Quanaari vision relies on near-infrared rather than visible light. The transition between modes is gradual, much like adjusting after entering a dark room, and happens whenever ambient lighting is dimmer than twilight or its equivalent. The range and resolution of this mode are no different from normal vision, while light sensitivity is about 25% greater, i.e. Quanaari see as well under a gibbous moon as Humans do at the full moon. In complete darkness, or even just under starlight, Quanaari do not have any meaningful advantage over Humans in terms of vision.

Note that this is not heat vision; Quanaari do not perceive differences in temperature. Instead, in this mode, the sky and any bodies of water are black, as is the ground; clouds and vegetation are pale to white; animals and people appear pale except where patterned with melanin pigments; and the majority of inks and dyes are not discernible (invisible).

Reproduction

Quanaari fertility is largely consistent with that of Humans, save that females are fertile only once per season and their gestation is 12 to 13 months rather than nine. This gestation period is the same for both pure and mixed Quanaari mothers. Notably, halfblood children of a non-Quanaari mother tend to be born underdeveloped and may not survive; see the page on Mixed Bloods for further details.

Psychology

Quanaari tend to be even-tempered in disposition, slow to shift from equanimity whether it be in a positive or negative direction. When a Quanaar's passions are awakened, however, they run deep and are slow to cool; the race is known both for enduring loyalty towards those they come to love and implacable enmity towards those who provoke them to hate.

Similarly, Quanaari tend to think things through, to consider possibilities and alternatives, to make decisions only when they're good and ready. This thoughtfulness can be a good thing — at least once past adolescence, Quanaari are not known for impulsivity, and while their mental deliberations can take a while, they often notice things others overlooked as a result. It can also work to their detriment, as Quanaari can get themselves caught down mental rabbit holes, whether it be transfixed in an agony of indecision or continually seeking more and more information, never considering themselves "ready" to move forward.

Collectively, Quanaari tend to appreciate the liminal hours of twilight, both at dawn and at dusk; they prefer soft lights and shadows, subtlety and mystery, over vivid lighting and vibrant colors. Regardless of cultural upbringing, the vast majority of Quanaari retire during the brightest hours of the day, and often stay up well into the night.

Prevalence

The majority of Quanaari reside in their home polity of Kothinar; otherwise, they are most common in Okudan, where a number of the native Hearths have longstanding alliances with Kothinan houses. The race also boasts more than its fair share of travelers, explorers, and traders, and thus at least a handful of Quanaari can be found in virtually every polity.

Reputation

Collectively, Quanaari are known for both athletic tendencies and scholarly aptitudes.

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