Ueif

**Ueif** (*Ueifus Ueifus*) are a species of sentient mustelids in the sub family Lutrinae that live on the **Kanyar Islands Chain**, south of the **Hyperborean Mainland**.

## Physiology

The Ueif are bipedal semi-aquatic mammals that share many body features with otters, though with many notable differences. The most obvious dissimilarity is the two is their legs. They have much longer legs, and while they are planitgrade, they appear to always be standing on their toes - much like a digitigrade - which means they are able to maintain speed on land and in water. They have a larger head and wider body, with smaller finger segments to allow for better grasping of objects. They have loose skin flaps that are pulled back into the interdigital area of their hands and feet so that they don't interfere with gripping, which can be released and pulled taut by their fingers for swimming. Adults standing upright they can reach heights up to (3-3.85ft) ,though this differs between sub-species and sex.

They are covered in thick fur to remain warm in the cold water, and are required to maintain their underhairs like otters to maintain a layer of air - though produce more of a oily substance which means they do not have to spend as much time tending to it. They have a small tail (1.2-1.5ft) in comparison to their body in order to not restrict movement as much on lands, though it still has very powerful muscles in it that can knock a grown human over. This is so it is able to steer and propel itself in harsh waters and swim against the current easier.

### Lifespan

Ueif live for up to 35-40 years, though this also differs between sub-species and sex. They are much smaller and much more active and so tend to live a short life, though still have time to become extremely skilled at particular profession. They reach sexual maturity at around 7-9 years.

### Diet

Their diet consists of mostly sea food , such as fish and crabs and use much oil in their cooking, though do not need too much fat due to their dense hair that keeps them warm, allowing them to remain agile in the cold water- and not gain any weight. They are mostly carnivorous but will have their fish and crabs with warm sauces (occasionally spicy).. While they are mostly carnivorous they do eat berries and chew on certain sea grasses.

## Behaviour

Ueif are a communal species who share their children and take turns in looking after them. They are carnivorous and marine predators. They tend to have one or more leaders of the communities. The role of leader is generally hereditery, as long as all of the clan is happy with the heir-otherwise a new leader will be put in place who is believed to be the most able in leading the clan. This prevents infighting and means a figurehead is always present.

Their reliance on each other makes a tight knit bond between all of the village and also is why clans dominate Ueif society. Ueif are polygamous - though do bond with others for life, but only platonically. This polygamy means many members of a village are related to each other through blood and so strengthens the clan identity, though if a community is too small a group of males will leave for a separate small group and create a cycle of males leaving their small group and swapping with other males as to prevent much inbreeding.

As well as this too large communities may split in half or more into seperate sub-families as the clan can only be a certain size before groups inside of it create relations with each other greater than that of others in the Clan. To prevent a community "Bursting" the clan may send a group of males and females and one of the heirs of the clan leader off to create a new branch-clan. This means that a Clan can grow larger without bursting - however if mixing between all the branch-clan groups and the parent clan does not happen, the branch clans may become more autonomous and create an independent clan themselves. Sometimes this happens peacefully and the branch-clan becomes a vassal of the parent clan - though with greater autonomy than before, or it may happen through violence and bloodshed which is one of the worst things to happen in Ueif society as ueifs hold an everlasting grudge against those who betray them as the corruption will become part of the betrayers lineages' mana and means they will not be able to ever trust the breakaway clan again. It would also mean two extreme rivals would inhabit land in close proximity to one another and so war would be inevitable over the many centuries that would follow the clan split - unless one clan is able to eradicate the opposing clan. Wars between separate clans are much less violent as they can easily forgive them, and as long as they follow the unspoken moral code of the Ueif - not much extreme damage would come of them. Wars of honour are common, and only result in a few casualties even if large scale. If a smaller clan settles near a larger clan the smaller clan is either given a choice to pledge allegiance to the larger clan and give them "*Raduedhairn"* (which literally means "earth given" -basically tribute given for the earth they reside on) or to have their strength tested by the larger clan through a war. If the larger clan wins then the smaller clan will become a vassal of the larger clan but the smaller clans that win the war are respected by the larger clan and they will not hassle them again. The victory by the smaller clan ironically is usually a good gateway into better diplomatic relations with the larger clan, and at the closing ceremony of the war where the victor is celebrated, males and females from either side will swap and live in the others clan and mate with those of that clan.

## Habitat

Most Ueif live in taiga and wetland areas, though some live in tundra regions. They

### Distribution

Ueifs can be found concentrated in the east of **Garawgainubain** and on **Buraifeunn** in the inner **Kanyar Islands.**

## Subspecies

**Duirt Ueifs**

Taerbaun Ueifs

Baiweirt Ueifs

Caunh Ueifs

Rabeumn Ueif/Badwainnueir