Anazcans
The Anaszcans are an ancient race spanning hundreds of thousands of years of civilization. While they are widely spread throughout Elyrion in small pockets or the sprawling territories of the former Anazcan Conclave and Kingdom of Oran, they retain many universal cultural elements, and tend to form regimes that are at first glance dysfunctional, yet surprisingly efficient at basic administrative functions. Anaszcans are a bipedal avian race with bright plumage and reptilian features, sturdily built and with many finding an affinity for magic and arcanomechanical engineering. While exceptions to the rule are present from time to time, Anaszcans are largely sticklers for tradition, whether or not it actually benefits their people as a whole.
Origins
Originally hailing from Tazk'etaia IX, the Anazcan's pre-FTL history is long and rich, but their evolutionary origins are difficult to discern. Millenia of development and countless high-tech wars (including devastating orbital bombardments during the Ley Wars) have made archaeological investigation difficult. Genetic analysis of what life currently resides on their ancient homeworld (and is certain not to have been introduced from off-world colonies) paints a partial picture of their evolution from savannah scavengers, with their closest living relatives being a species of brightly colored raptor-like creatures which have traditionally been kept as pets by the old Anazcan elite.
Biology and Appearance
Anazcans are bipedal tetrapods, typically standing between 6 and 7 feet from head to foot. Their scaly skin is covered by brightly colored feathers whose reflectivity can be altered by subtle changes in angle. The visual patterns created by rapid flashing of the more nimble feathers of the face is the basis for most ancient Anazcan languages. While capable of whistling in a range of tones and pitches, surgery of the tongue and neck is required for them to be able to pronounce most common interstellar languages, although the procedure is relatively straightforward, and most do not need to resort to cybernetics.
Culture and Language
Mainstream Anazcan culture in the current age is split between traditionalists and a newer mode referred to by adherants as "vesk". Traditionalist Anazcans follow many ancient practices which they trace back to their pre-Silence and in some cases pre-FTL heritage. These traditionalists tend to cluster in communities unfriendly to outsiders, and their isolationism has made some polities in Aenaz and Mal Pacifica among the most demographically homogeneous in modern Elyrion.
Vesk anazkans most obvious practice is the shaving of their feathers from their entire body. This gives them a notably lizard-like appearance, and many choose to accent their faces and limbs with surgically implanted bone ridges and horns. While derided by traditionalists for abandoning their heritage (the shaving of face feathers prevents them from using the ancient Anazcan languages), the view of Vesk is that Anazcan tradition doomed their ancient empires to decadence, and that their species must re-imagine itself for the post-Silence era. The name Vesk is loosely derived from a transliteration for an ancient Anazcan term for "rebel" or "traitor". Whether the term is complementary or pejorative is entirely dependent on the speaker.
Both traditional and vesk anazkans are known for their martial traditions; their species natural strength and fortitude leads many of their traditional martial arts to require more strength than many other species can readily muster.
