Mazor

Mazor are herbivorous reptiloid sentients, one
of the two native races of the planet of Trycanta. They are
approximately human-sized and walk upright, resembling a cross between a
 raptor dinosaur and a pterodactyl. All mazor have two contrasting
colors of feather-edged scales covering their bodies, with their eyes
matching one of the two.

A
 male mazo, or maze (MAH-zeh), will have the same color of scales all
over his head; a female, or mazi (MAH-zee), will have one color on her
face, but a different color on the top and back of her head. Both
sexes wear a tightly wrapped garment which covers the torso, made of a
single long strip of cloth, brightly dyed or embroidered.

Most
 mazor choose to live within forests. Their cities are built in the tops
 of trees, which are carefully pruned and tended to allow for the
passage of large flyers while remaining healthy and whole. Human or
lyrro visitors are at a distinct disadvantage, as the cities were
designed to be navigated only by those with functioning wings.

Mazo
 society is matriarchal and group-centered, with the extended family as
the basic unit. A mazi who does not marry usually remains in her
mother's home and finds work to contribute to the household or helps to
tend the children of her married sisters. She will never be the
grandmother herself, but neither is she considered a burden.

Mazer
 seldom remain unmarried much past their age of majority, due to a
long-ago gender imbalance which has not yet perfectly equalized. They
are expected to marry exogamously, and mothers often arrange
marriages for their sons, though this practice is falling out of favor
in the more modern (and human-exposed) cities.

As
 a very general rule, mazor usually appear more dignified and thoughtful
 than humans. Logical thinking and the greatest good of the group, often
 at the expense of the individual, are emphasized in mazo culture.
Social pressures are seldom overtly visible to outsiders, but a society
run by mothers brings guilt into play with ease.

Passions,
 in mazor, are expected to be channeled mainly through the arts. They
place a high priority on grace of movement, equating it with clear
expression of thought, as seems only natural in a people whose most
common language is gestural rather than oral. Dancers, therefore, are
among their most treasured and well-regarded artists.

Visual
 art, too, is prized among mazor. One of the Tamazo words for "home"
combines the sign for "rest" with that for "beauty", and no home is
complete without a work of art somewhere: a painting or drawing, a
sculpture in clay, stone, or metal, or a piece of stained glass, whether
 a simple suncatcher or a full window.

Lastly,
 and sometimes surprising to outsiders, most mazor are passionate
lovers of music, especially music which mimics or is inspired by the
life of the forest. Mazi grandmothers will encourage as many members of
the household as possible to learn an instrument, so that their
practicing will fill the house with music all day long.

Relations
 between mazor and humans range from avoidance to friendliness to
outright intermarriage (with suitable shape-change magic involved).
However, for one invention, even those mazor who loathe humans in every
other facet will bend their rules slightly. Almost without exception,
mazor are very fond of chocolate.