These creatures are
the most intelligent species on the planet. Their bodies are roughly pear
shaped, with four limbs. The two hind limbs are a set of flippers that
can be used for swimming, walking with all fours, or waddling upright.
The front limbs are longer and more flexible, ending in six webbed fingers
with one opposable digit extending from the heel of the hand. Underwater,
these front limbs are used mostly for steering, while the hind flippers
provide power. The Orithan’s head is somewhat conical, and placed on top
of a very flexible neck. The neck allows the Orithan to look forward while
walking upright, and to align its head and spine to allow for greatest
hydrodynamic efficiency while under water. The Orithan has four eyes, two
on each side of the head. Each pair operates independently of the other,
allowing the Orithan to focus on two things at once. The Orithan also has
a long, flattened tail it uses for steering. This comes in particularly
useful when its front limbs are occupied. The Orithan is omnivorous, feeding
mostly on shellfish, seaweed and smaller sea creatures. Occasionally Orithans
will hunt larger animals, but the Orithans themselves are possible prey
for some of the creatures of the deep. Orithans use a number of tools,
ranging from sticks, rocks and shells to sharpened poles and primitive
stone blades. They also have a very intricate social system, displaying
the submission of younger Orithans to the elders of the tribe. This suggests
that the older ones have important value to the society, perhaps offering
wisdom or knowledge. The Orithans obviously communicate, but the extent
of their ability to symbolize, let alone feel emotions, cannot be determined.
They leave no written records or art of any sort, and they have nothing
that could be called religion, art or ritual. Their ability to create tools
proves they have at least some form of imagination.
An Orithan in Biped
Stance
An Orithan Underwater
