Mnemodi

-meg-

The mnemodi, or the listeners, are monsters with huge ears, and hearing so keen they are said to hear thoughts as well as the spoken word.

Physical Description

Small and delicate, the mnemodi are not made for physical prowess. They have smooth skin that comes in muted colors of blue, green, yellow, and orange. Their eyes and hair tend to reflect their skin color, though, there is room for a number of variations. Their hair is usually kept short and grows at a slow rate. The average height of the listeners is anywhere from 3' 6" to 4'. Their eyes are large and designed to handle low light situations. As such, they do not do well with bright lights.

Their ears are the most distinguishing characteristic and are highly mobile. They are instrumental in the mnemodi's primary use of magic: they funnel sound and mental waves and direct them to the eardrum where the listener is able to use their magic to unwrap the verbal and mental waves and make sense of them. They are the most emotive part of a mnemodi's body and are used to express their emotions and current mindset. If someone asks a mnemodi what they value more, their ears or their life, they'll say their their ears in almost any situation, for, a life without their ears is a life without a filter for their powers, leading to either overwhelming noise or the silence of being deaf.

Mnemodi have small, almost feathered tails which are used for additional expressiveness. They are said to be relics of ancient mnemodi, which were rumored to have multiple long, prehensile tails that they used for more refined tree movements before the species refined and developed ways to use their magic to accomplish the same goals. The claws on their feet and sharp nails are also thought to be left over from this past lifestyle.

Females of the species usually have a skin pouch used to carry and protect their young while they nurse, but the feature is missing for males.

Biology

Reproduction

The sexual organs for mnemodi are internal for both males and females until a male reaches a state of arousal. These monsters remain fertile throughout the year and do not experience any noticeable changes in mating activity based on the season. Females do have fertility cycles, but reabsorb the unused uterine lining if no egg is fertilized.

Mnemodi are a unique mammalian monster race that does not have live births. Females are only able to support one fertilized egg a year, so, outside of rare conditions and relationships with other species where multiple births are more common, mnemodi will lay only a single egg. After a male has fertilized a female, the egg develops for a month before the female lays it. after this point, the egg is kept warm until the young mnemodi hatches about a month later. These newborn monsters are still too small to survive on their own and are kept within their mother's pouch where they are kept safe and drink milk until they are fully developed. The process takes an additional three months.

Diet

Mnemodi are opportunistic eaters in most cases, relying on fruits as well as meat and insects. Their mouths contain sharp teeth in the front that allows them to tear into whatever prey they catch. Their common food sources within their natural habitat were squirrels, rats, mice, fruit, berries, and various birds. However, if a mnemodi is presented with a chance to take down larger prey, they will normally take that opportunity and put their hearing to good use.

Magic and Abilities

Mnemodi are one of the races of people that have magic tied in with their natural biological skills. Most listeners won't consider their superb hearing to be magic, but, there is little doubt that their natural talents in hearing are not purely biological. As an integrated magic system, it is difficult for mnemodi to increase their skills with hearing. Another standard magical ability the mnemodi have is dream magic, which is strengthened by them living in the Forest of Shadows.

Their central trained ability that most, if not all, listeners practice and work to improve on, is a form of telekinesis using their hands and feet as a medium. They are able to use their powers to climb smooth and vertical surfaces without leaving scratch marks or using as much physical strength.

Culture

The mnemodi are a very independent species, preferring small family groups to large, extended ones.

Kilnaush

The kilnaush are a subspecies of mnemodi that lives deep in caves. They are known for having glass-like skin that shows their internal organs and infrastructures. They do not have hair like the main breed of mnemodi do, but tend to have catfish-like whiskers that help them navigate their underground homes. Their hearing is even more powerful than that of the mnemodi. Their claws and teeth are also stronger than their forest based cousins. Because of their clear skin, they do even worse in sunlight than their kin and are much more delicate and vulnerable to being cut or stabbed. Their eyes tend to be rounder and wider.