Althiar Drakonis
Althian are the oldest, most well documented species of drakoni on Lumyr. In olden times believed to closely resemble their Endless ancestors, such legends have long since died out. In modern days, they are nothing more than a common sight all over Lumyr. Their population greatly outnumbers that of their brethren, only losing in numbers to the yashoi within the territory of the Koushikan Dynasty. Elyssius is the land of their ancestors, and the one kingdom with the perfect climate for an althiar to thrive.
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Their build is very top-heavy, often muscular and much broader than that of the yashoi and miuvolke. That mass certainly isn't just for show, however! Despite their relatively short size, being the middle height among the trinity, they make up for it in raw physical strength. Although exact numbers vary between individuals, they can easily lift things two to three times their weight, the bare minimum being their own body weight. Many would assume that just like the yashoi, they would prefer walking on all fours, but that isn't quite true. Althiar are more commonly bipedal, even with their thick and heavy arms. More impressive is the fact that they generally don't possess very powerful legs to carry such weight - a miu or yashoi of such proportions would certainly topple over. While it is true that an althiar's kick can shatter bones, their leg structure remains fairly generic in terms of muscle mass and bone structure. It's believed that their bipedal tendency is just a result of their oft inexplainable strength.
Anatomy and Build
Mentality
Socially, they are the most outgoing of the three species. It's not uncommon to see an althiar greet everyone they meet or make a dozen of friends. They often do not understand the full extent of personal space and love expressing their affections through a smack on the back, an arm around one's shoulder, etc. Other species deem them clingy and attention dependent - traits most althiar drakoni do not see as bad, for they have so much love to give to everyone around them! This seems to greatly annoy their yashoi cousins.
Culture and Traditions
Althian culture is as varied as their homeland, the kingdom of Elyssius. Unlike Koushika and its distinct architecture, modern althiar have a smaller sense for unity when it comes to building their towns. Some appear simplistic and unified, focusing on practicality rather than looks while others remained unified, though built in ways where their local residents often complain of the flaws. Other towns focus on individuality, built up entirely from unique buildings, each more eccentric than the last.
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Where Koushika is split into districts where one can find only apartment buildings in one block and personal homes in another, Elyssius is the polar opposite. It is not an uncommon sight to see an aprtment building surrounded by little houses followed by another stretch of apartment buildings with one small hut in the midst of them. Their neighbors from other countries often find these quirks quite comical yet charming and very 'elyssian' in nature. Most althiar native to other countries do not showcase this chaotic trait.
As such, few traditions are unique to the country itself - you're more likely to run into brand new festivals and beliefs in every town or city you visit. A lot of them are similar at their core, but different in execution. Only one thing remains true among all of them, however - the Althian Drakoni would never push anyone away. They would love nothing more than to share their lifestyles, their stories and their joys with those around them. No one is truly a stranger within the homes of these drakoni.
Meeting an old althiar who has never had a family is practically unheard of - either biological or found, althiar always seek out to build their own families. Those unlucky in love still have siblings and other relatives, even friends. Similarly, this is why Elyssian leaders have always seen their people as their own, and why althiar communities are so welcoming.
Although it is not uncommon for heights to vary between individuals, some althiar have been known to grow notably larger than others. Some unfortunate althiar also stagnate at the bottom half of the spectrum even after reaching adulthood, only slightly taller than a tall adolescent.
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All althiar are capable of switching between a bipedal and a quadruped stance, especially in their younger years. Despite this many althiar typically start favoring one of the stances when they reach their adolescence.
