Ipotanes

Overview

Ipotanes are mule-hooved humanoids with furred, unguligrade legs, long tails, small, pointed ears, and long manes that run the length of their spine. They are nomadic, occupying mostly the plains north of the Skyward Barrier mountains, but are, like other humanoids, found all across the world. They trend taller than other humanoids, but not by much, averaging around 6'1" with a normal buffer zone of ~5 inches. Herds usually keep small, anywhere from 20-80 individuals, and trend to the smaller side of this range post-cataclysm. Their native language is Paitarō.

A mare is a female ipotane; a steer is a male.

Physiology

Ipotanes are build for endurance and short bursts of speed: they are faster (on average) than any other humanoid in the event their path is clear- maneuverability has been traded for speed. Evolutionarily, they are pack hunters.

Ipotanes' vocal range, while variable by sex, is lower than most other humanoids. Even mares almost always have timbres in the range of a human man. Ipotanes have the least sexual dimorphism of any sunling.

Culture

Funerals

Ipotanes cremate their dead. They make elaborate urns out of clay in which they store the ashes and remaining bones. These urns are carried with them until their migrations take them to a burial site- of which they have many scattered across the lands they cycle through. When they next cross close to a burial site, the urns of any of those who have died since they last passed are left at the site and bade farewell until the herd next comes through. Even if there are no urns to place, herds always visit burial sites when their travels bring them there, in order to pay respects and check on the state of the site.

Urns are designed to be sturdy but not unbreakable- they must withstand travel until reaching the burial site, but once left there, are surrendered to the elements. It is believed that the soul of the deceased resides in the urn until it breaks. An urn must not be broken prematurely, that is, by intent of the living, but finding a broken urn upon return to the site is celebratory: it means the deceased has moved on to the afterlife and is no longer confined to the physical world. The urn breaks as the soul escapes from it. The urn is a necessary step, as an unconfined soul will simply float aimlessly, perhaps not even realizing it has died.