Najat Male
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Physiology:
Most male Najat are large with wide, muscular bodies, long, thick tails, and rough, scaly skin. The structure of their head varies slightly according to bloodline with the head commonly being triangular in shape. Males can be smaller but these rarely survive childhood and even then are never seen far from their clan's encampment. While intelligent the males prefer a show of force over discussion which makes them unsuitable for positions that require finesse.
Height:
Between 12 and 15 feet tall depending on environment and bloodline.(1)
Coloration/Markings:
Largely based on bloodline, however environment originally played a vital role in a males coloration but now color comes primarily from the father. Because of this males have very natural colors, usually a dark and light shade of the same color, that can occur in striped or speckled patterns. The underbelly can be a light brown, pale yellow, or a lighter shade of their primary skin color. Eye color is inherited from the mother.
Natural Defenses:
Males have a very thick, sturdy outer layer of skin comparable to hardened leather. Only exceptionally sharp blades or specially made arrows can cut or pierce the skin. In certain bloodlines the skin takes the shape of ridges or layered scales which can provide specialized protection. Another bloodline trait is the "caudina" or "tail weapon". The caudina is a set of boney spines or plates that can form anything from simple arrangements to an almost weapon-like shape, these exist solely in the oldest and purest of bloodlines(2). The tail itself is considerably powerful, capable of strikes that can shatter the bones of most other creatures. Another natural weapon of the Najat male are their incredibly powerful jaws, capable of a bite force that can crush armor.
Behavior/Role:
Males are generally very aggressive, settling even minor disputes with brute force. Throughout their existence the males have always been the hunters and defenders of their individual clans and with the unification of the desert clans into a formal country most males fill the role of soldiers but have also come to take up trades of skill. Najat weapons are amongst the most prized in the world for their incredible durability.
Najat Female
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Physiology:
Female Najat are smaller than the males having physical features not that different from any females of other species. However unlike the males they have a more serpentine appearance: slender bodies, smooth glistening scales, and in certain clans, hoods. The hoods on females are used more for cooling themselves than as a threat, if it is shaking rapidly then it is meant as a threat, and is often decorated with jewelry or bands. When furled the hood can look like a fatty lump on either side of the neck or like long clumps of hair. The latter being most common in clans that have small bones within their hoods.
Height:
Between 8 and 11 feet tall depending on environment and bloodline.(1)
Coloration/Markings:
Unlike males the female Najat usually have very exotic colors, believed to have once been used as a way of attracting a mate, that can range from black to even white and any color in between. The coloration and pattern of the father contributes to that of the female but this is often recessive to the mother's coloration and pattern. Females may also develop special markings as they grow into their adolescent years. These markings are often taken as signs of the female's place within the higharchy of their clan. Those with very specific marks become priestess or other professions of great status.
Natural Defenses:
Female Najat skin is not as thick or rough as that of the males, instead being very smooth to the touch. They also lack the males brute strength and caudina, however they are still remarkably strong in comparison to most other species. In place of the caudina females have retractable spines in their tails, sometimes just one large spine at the tip of the tail, which can deliver a numbing agent that can completely paralyze the victim for several hours. In some bloodlines the venom is housed within the fangs and is more concentrated. Also unlike males the females have a hinged jaw that allows them to open their mouths nearly 180 degrees and swallow large prey whole. However with the development of their civilization this act has become very rare.
Behavior/Role:
For the most part females birth and raise the young, however females of high status play crucial roles in politics and spiritual rituals. Females are much calmer than the males and generally keep the male temper in check to prevent severe internal conflict. All religious figures are female and the Najat Pantheon is filled with female deities. Females also fill many of the societal roles the males do not: creating fine jewelry, weaving, tailoring, medicine, farming, and even alchemy.
(1) Najat born in colder climates tend toward smaller heights beleived due largely to less abundant food sources. However it should be noted that those in desert regions face the same problem yet tend to be taller than average. So height may be affected more by the actual climate than available nutrition.
(2) Exotic caudina that have been noted are the Hammer: an arrangment of plates forming a club-like tip(two known variants exist one featuring large, spaced out spines and the other featuring smaller, closely packed spines), the Lance: a set of flat, elongated plates that form an exceptionally fine point, and the Axe: a set of curved or angular plates extending from a flattend tail-tip that have such a fine edge they can easily cut through wood.
