Vishap

Name:  Vishap
Notes:  A proud people, the Vishap are a unique hybrid of human and reptilian physiologies.  Though initially appearing human at first glance, a Vishap has several features that are clearly reptilian.  The most noticeable, and usually first noted, is the tail.  They also have rather distinctive ears.
A physically strong species, Vishap have been long time rivals with the Harpies.  While Harpies wear artificial gloves and boots to give them talons for use in combat, Vishap naturally combat grade clawed hands and feet, the reptilian like part extending partway up the forearms and lower legs.  Not having wings to allow for z-axis manipulation, they have developed a highly different form of martial arts.
Just as dangerous with their natural claws as Harpies are with their artificial talons, Vishap have to pay careful attention when dealing with members of other species so as to not cause bodily injury accidentally.  In fact, it is not unknown for a Vishap, especially when lashing out, for their claws to actually damage building materials around them.  One famous example is a mother Vishap defending her children from a feral Hell Hound accidentally destroying concrete support columns and collapsing the ceiling onto the beast.  Following examples have also shown Vishap claws as being able to carve marks into common metals used in such applications as starship construction.
Unlike the Harpies who had the Fenghuang and others to rely on, the Vishap's closet ties were to the Minotaurus species.  While the bovine-ish humanoids prefer their privacy, they see the Vishap as valued customers as they regularly make use of Minotaurus blacksmithing.  As such, when the Minotaurus became members of the Zodiac Empire, the Vishap were sent into the proverbial tailspin.
It took some time, but not wanting to fall behind their rivals, the Harpies, combined with getting massive ear fulls from their Minotaurus allies, the Vishap eventually relented and consented to membership as well.
Category:Species