Name: “Mentid” (Elin'amen)

  Elin'amen — a.k.a. Mentids are one of the most engineered of the Ber'Duun — used for a variety of communications and transmission tasks. They are highly intelligent, capable diplomats and negotiators known to be quick on their feet, conversationally.

  Mentids are large, six-limbed Ber'Duun, entirely covered in short, one to three centimeter fur exhibiting a variety of colors and patterns.

  Their heads, torsos, and legs are broad, with only an indistinct neck. Their upper arms are muscular, though their forearms are long and relatively thin.

  A horned crown in a variety of shapes and sizes will usually cradle the skull and frame the face — this is often customized by the individual.

  They have stone-like sensory organs which are commonly mistaken for eyes in the middle of their broad face, prominent bulbous foreheads, and a fanged mouth similar in structure to a Human beneath their olfactory organs.

  Whether Mentids technically have two arms or four is a subject of debate — as they have only a singular shoulder socket on either side, at the mid-point of their torso. Each socket houses a pair of short, bifurcated upper arms, with great strength, but limited mobility. The forearms are long and have a complex elbow capable of a high degree of movement as well as rotation in multiple axes.

  They are capable of using their arms fluidly for hexapedal locomotion — in this stance, their hands flatten out — the frontal limbs with two ‘fingers’ forward, and one back. The converse being true for the rear ‘arms’, allowing for quick and stable motion in any direction at speeds in excess of thirty kilometers per hour, with speeds over double that observed in short sprints.

  Skull-wrapping horns are always present, but as a perpetually growing bone-like substance which contains no nerves they are commonly modified by Ber'Duun individuals.

  Mentid noses are fascinating — they resemble eyes, but are capable of unlimited rotation in any direction. As the stone-like orbs rotate, membranes surrounding the exposed area ‘smell’ or perhaps ‘taste’ the surface, allowing for a directional sense of smell that does not become acclimated over time as the surface is constantly cleaned by this action, avoiding becoming acclimated to a smell, or ‘nose-blind’.

  They possess fur capable of simple detection of light in the visible spectrum, thus they tend to avoid full coverage of clothing. This fur is also electrically insulative — it is hollow-cored and keeps the skin dry even fully submerged.

  Their foreheads may have one or two visible lobes — this is a matter of orientation, as if a second lobe is not visible, it is instead located dorsally. These are complex electromagnetic and theromagnetic sensory organs which also provide superior auditory reception.

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  Mentids are almost all the same height in adulthood, approaching three meters at full extension, though this is rarely seen as the most common posture is a standing with one set of arms acting as bracing legs.

  Full adult weight is just below three hundred kilograms, though any given specimen may be more or less massive based on diet and exercise.

  As a species, Mentids tend to prefer warmer, humid or wet climates, with a strong preference for large arboreal features. They're capable of tolerating cold temperatures due to the insulative properties of their fur, but are known to feel cold keenly.

  Their tolerance for heat is high, but if they exceed the limits of self-cooling, they will become lethargic. As a species they are proficient swimmers and will often be found in marshes or areas prone to intermittent flooding which other species might avoid.

  As with most Ber'Duun, Mentids may be found anywhere. However, as they have a more limited ecological tolerance they tend to aggregate towards the wetter, forested areas, or those with persistent bodies of water for cooling.

  Mentids are exceptionally social within their species, but tend to be somewhat isolationist — preferring to remain within tight circles of other Mentid. Those kept isolated from their familial pack and forced into longer-term extra-species interaction may attempt to aggressively form a surrogate adoptive group.

  Those who do take up the role are consummate negotiators and diplomats, known for being consistent and reliable in their interactions.

  Dietary needs tend towards simple, easily digestible, but high-energy and calorie-dense foods, as they have a smaller, less capable digestive tract than would be expected of an organism of their size.

  Elin'amen are one of the youngest species in the assemblage of Ber on Enkoet. Their species is thought to have been engineered less than a hundred million years ago. This is thought to be shown in both some of the most advanced techniques in Ber engineering, while also some components, such as their digestive system, are under-engineered and potentially still being tuned or adjusted.

  Mentid development is similar to apes — young are born capable of clinging to a parent, and which they do so until they are capable of ambulatory foraging, during which they will remain near a protective adult pair or group.

  Adolescents will remain close to the group for a number of years past maturation, and may only leave the group if an extra-social mate is located, at which point one or the other of the pair will join the pair's group.

  Mentid reproductive cycles are similar to mammals — sexual reproduction with a live birth after an extended gestative phase, though Mentids are not sexually dimorphic, and it is quite common for both parents to bear children simultaneously.

  Lifespans tend to be relatively short, with five decades being considered senior, though individuals can remain active at twice that age with medical treatment and dietary control.

  As with any species capable of sapience, individual behavior may vary widely. However, unawakened Mentid are quite similar to awakened individuals in that they remain social.

  Elin'amen are notably unique among known Ber'Duun in that they are often found in mixed Ber and Ber'Duun groups. Social groupings do not discourage inclusion of Ber at their periphery — with each member being treated as a potential person, even if unawakened.

  Mentids are exceptionally fast, and a social miscue may result in a lethal coordinated group attack. Once a group is angered, they will not disengage as long as the threat remains present.

  Mentid sensory cognition and communication is exceptionally fast, even in members not actively using Skills. Human micro-expressions and other impulsive movements may be responded to before any intent is fully formed.