Windwalkers

Windwalkers (Soro windus), are a race located in the Southern Mountains of Eldham. They need a combination of light and wind to live. Wind is inhaled through a normal nose hole, whilst light is absorbed through the two head flaps, which split at the eyes. They have evolved to develop claws that dig into the ground to anchor them. They also have long, thin limbs due to the decreased gravity, as on the mountains are so high up that the gravity is 15% lower in strength than on the ground. Their diet is mainly composed of herbs and grass, and they have no natural predators, so they have not evolved to defend themselves.
Their population has dropped rapidly in the past few years due to mass hunting, and the belief that their head flaps can bring good luck to anyone who holds it. Hunters typically use harpoon guns to kill the Windwalkers. Because the Windwalkers have not evolved to defend themselves, it is relatively easy to kill them. 
The Windwalker species has also been revered by several cultures over its history. The Qwe'tsni, a group of people who lived in Northwest Eldham about 3000 years ago, believed that Windwalkers were holy messengers from the Gods, who would bring believers of the Gods to Vanir, a holy place in the End. Enscriptions were found on tablets in the approximated location of the Qwe'tsn capital, in the Valaini language, describing Windwalkers as "messengers" from the Gods. 
== Subspecies ==
There are 2 species that have split from the Soro windus species. These 2 subspecies are the Yuvaen Windwalkers (Soro windus yuvaenii), and the Sapienic Windwalkers (Soro windus sapius). The Yuvaen Windwalkers was estimated to have split off from the main Soro windus species approximately 70000 years ago, while the Sapienic Windwalkers was estimated to have split off from the main Soro windus species roughly 57000 years ago.
=== Yuvaen Windwalkers ===
Yuvaen Windwalkers (Soro windus yuvaenii) are a subspecies of Windwalkers (Soro windus). Like the Soro-Windus, they have long, thin legs. However, due to their natural habitats being in the Savannah, instead of the high mountains where there are no predators, they have evolved to become more aware of their surroundings, and they are also evolved to run faster and have higher endurance. In return, their eyes are much further to the sides of their heads, and have the ability to turn their head 180 degrees. 
They are much more adapted to the ground, having no claws, while their long, thin legs are about 30% shorter than the legs of the original Soro windus species. They also hibernate in the winter, and sleep in trees that are high above the ground to stay away from predators. Their natural predators are lions and eagles.
=== Sapienic Windwalkers ===
Sapienic Windwalkers (Soro windus sapius) are a subspecies of Windwalkers (Soro windus). They are the most different and evolved from the Soro species, due to them actually being an intelligent species. They have the ability, like other sentient intelligent species, to communicate, think, and collaborate. They have bodies much like homo-sapiens and homo alfus. Their legs, body, and head are overall much smaller, and shorter. They do retain the general appearance of the Soro species, having its distinctive head flaps, thin eyes, and grey-brownish body. 
They are now commonly found in human, elf, and dwarven societies, and hold positions of power in governments. Sapienic Windwalkers are usually considered by Non-Windwalkers to be more philosophical, arrogant, slow, and calm than Non-Windwalkers while they also consider Non-Windwalkers to be less intelligent, less critical thinking, and much faster to anger than them. Sapienic Windwalkers still require sunlight and oxygen, however, they have adapted to not requiring at least one if the other is present. This gives them the unique ability to swim underwater for large periods of time, before surfacing. 
== Appearance ==
Windwalkers (Soro windus) have greyish brown skin, with scales that cover the length of their bodies up to their necks. The average adult Windwalker may vary in height, with an average of 2.3m. The tallest adult Windwalker on record was nearly a gigantic 5.12m tall, whilst the shortest adult Windwalker on record was 1.1m. Windwalkers have a triangular-shaped head, with it spliting into 2 head flaps at .12m above the eyes. They have boney bodies, and some of the thinner ones' bones can even be seen. Their eyes are thin, but are quite long horizontally. They do not have hair, and rather use their attunement to nature to pick up changes in the wind.
Their head flaps are likened to plant's leaves, which perform photosynthesis. A Windwalker's head flaps perform partial photosynthesis, as they also require oxygen to provide energy for them. Windwalkers, as stated before, are purely plant-eaters, and feed off the natural flora of the Southwest Eldham Snowy Mountains. They consume these plants with their mouths, which are located below their noses. 
Their hands have claws on them, closely resembling hooks, that can dig into the ground quickly, and anchor them. The strength of these have yet to be tested, but Eldhamite biologists estimate this to be 10 times the strength of normal human hands. Luckily, these claws are only used for anchoring the Windwalkers to the ground in the case of high winds, as is common in the Snowy Mountains.
Category:Races
Category:Qwe'tsn
Category:Traveler's Era