Siames

The Zezuyi

• Major WIP

• Overview

  The Zezuȳí are a secretive race of extraterrestrials that exist in a separate, but conjoined, realm. Historically a hunted race due to their prized skins and exotic appearance, the Zezuȳí mastered rifting - the art of traveling between realms or dimensions - in order to protect themselves. In their relative solitude they have developed a rich and vibrant culture though generally suffer from acute xenophobia stemming from their roots as trophies.
  
  They possess limited shapeshifting abilities, most notably allowing them to transition from fur to reptilian scales and back again at will. This change is immediate and typically presents as a wave or ripple from the nose to feet and tail.
  
  ᚜ Terminology ᚛
  Belonging to or related to Zezuȳí: Zezuȳíš / ENG: Zezuyian
  Homerealm: Šís Thuš Nekna
  Official Language: Šé Ȳúší
  Notable traits: Teleporters/rifters, moderate shapeshifters, marsupials

• Description & Anatomy

  Most adult Zezuȳí stand between 6 and 7'5" feet tall and weigh between ~200 to ~350 pounds. They have a very lean and slender physique best described as snake-like though they are still quite muscular. Their heads are triangular in shape with large luminous eyes and slit-like pupils. Their ears are typically relatively large and pointed but may be more oval in shape in some populations.
  
  Hands have three fingers and one thumb with a fifth digit, a dew claw located higher up on the wrist. Evolutionarily speaking Zezuȳí were an arboreal species and the dew claw functions similarly to a second thumb. Additionally, they have four toes and a fifth located higher up on the foot though this digit is much more developed and still very much used.
  
  Their tails are typically as long as their body, excluding the head and neck, and prehensile. The last quarter length of the tail have small spurs on the underside for gripping objects.
  
  As suggested by their snake-like appearance, Zezuȳí are remarkably flexible. Their skeletons are partially cartilaginous and most ligaments are extremely elastic. This allows them to fit through any space they can get their heads through which, considering the elasticity of their jaws, can be very small. Adult Zezuȳí have been known to fit through gaps as narrow as 6 inches.
  
  Given their very long and narrow bodies it can be difficult to believe that Zezuȳí are partially bipedal. A strong musculature supports their spine to allow them to stand upright, although it is known for them to switch to all-fours when it suits them. Children and the elderly in particular spend the most time on all fours as in children their supportive musculature is still developing and in the elderly it has begun to fail.
  
  ᚜ Colouration ᚛
  Zezuȳí colouration varies considerably though the most common colours seen in the species include black, indigo, red, blue, and brown. Despite this range of colours available all Zezuȳí have a 'stardust' like quality to their fur and scales. Most Zezuȳí also have patterning such as stripes and spots but these patterns aren't usually visible to non-Zezuȳí.
  
  Eye colours include orange, red, blue, yellow, green, and pink with violet and silver being less common.
  
  ᚜ Senses ᚛
  

  Taste/Smell

  Zezuȳí tongues are bifurcated and used in a similar manner to snakes, and there is no distinction between taste and smell. They are considered the same sense. Despite this they do have nostrils that serve as an accessory chemoreceptor, strengthening their sense of taste/smell.

  
  
  

  Sight

  While they do have high visual acuity and good night vision, the Zezuȳí's most notable trait in this category is tetrachromacy. While humans are trichromats with only three cone cells in the eye which detect red, blue, and green, Zezuȳí possess cone cells for all these and ultraviolet light. Thus, the aforementioned patterning can only be seen by other tetrachromats.

  
  
  

  Hearing

  Zezuȳí have an acute sense of hearing with a wider range than that of humans.

  
  
  

  Sixth Sense

  Though concentrated mostly around the snout, Zezuȳí have specialized receptors around their bodies that allow them to detect disturbances in air pressure and electro-magnetic fields around them.

  
  
  ᚜ Reproduction ᚛
  Zezuȳí are similar to marsupials and possess pouches. Women have one uterus but release multiple eggs at a time, resulting in multiple simultaneous pregnancies. The embryos develop for 6-8 weeks before being born into the mother's pouch where there are only two teats. In most cases only one embryo makes it to the pouch proper and the others die and are re-absorbed into the mother. Twins are rare. The 'joey' or jaaziz will continue its development in the pouch for the next 5-6 months before beginning to leave the pouch and will continue to make use of the pouch for up to ten years. In rare cases the jaaziz will leave the pouch permanently as early as eight, or as late as twelve. Women become fertile again 6-8 years after pregnancy and can actually nurse a newborn and older child simultaneously.
  
  As the mammary glands are located in the pouch, Zezuȳí women do not have breasts. Male genitalia are also internal, making determination of sex difficult for non-Zezuȳí.
  
  Children will walk mostly on all fours until about 4-5 years of age when their musculature is developed enough to facilitate bipedal movement. Zezuȳí are considered adolescent at 20 or so years of age, sub-adult in their mid to late twenties, and adults beginning in their thirties.

• Culture & Society

  Coming soon.

• Language

  The gibberish you see on this RPR is in fact a work-in-progress constructed language for Siames and his race. There will eventually be a public dictionary with syntax, lexicon, phonotactics etc but for the time being, enjoy these basic phrases.
  
  HINT: If you're interested in pronunciation, learning the International Phonetic Alphabet will help.
  
  

  Hello, my name is Siames. Zéš, Sí-maaš thaas Siameš iaš. /ʒɤɕː sːɪ mɔɕ ðːɔsː siˈæmɛɕː iˈæɕː/ Hello, my name Siames is. How old are you? Šo šéíx íší onda? /ɕːo ˈɕɤɪʃ ɪˈɕːɪ ˈondæ/ You are how old? I am 32. Sí šaz-zézéxí i ȳe-yé šéo. /sːɪ ɕːæʒ ʒɤˈʒːɤʃɪ i ɣɛ ʝɤ ˈɕɤo/ I five sixes and two ones am.

  I heard they're linking tails. Sí xuší Ith-maaš zízaš vuaas ikné. /sːɪ ˈʃʊɕːɪ iðː mɔɕ ʒɪʒˈæɕ ˈvʊɔsː ikˈnɤ/ I heard their tails are twisting. Don't tie yourself in a knot over it. Šo-maaš šetšéthíš ji zíz vuš tha šít síz šé. /ɕːo mɔɕ ɕːɛˈʨɤðɪɕ ʥi ʒɪʒ vʊɕː ðæ ɕɪt sɪʒ ɕːɤ/ Yourself not-twist into a knot over it. Humans have breasts all the time. That's so weird, what do they do with them!? Siȳaš šintšíite šeȳi. Ší šose jaašaaš, na Ith thú iš šoth!? /sːiɣˈæɕ ɕːinˈʨɪitɛ ɕːɛˈɣi ɕːɪ ɕoˈsːɛ ˈʥɔɕːɔɕː næ iðː ðːʌ iɕː ɕːoð/ Humans breasts have always. That so strange is, what they with them do!?