Didelphi
The Dideplhi are a tribe of Ochae'nafod bonded to the opossum of north Kalesten. The Didelphi are on the smaller end of Ochae'nafod sizes, standing between 4'5" (1.34m) and 5' (1.52m) fully grown. Beyond this, they follow the typical physiology of the Ochae'nafod.
Appearance
As with most Ochae'nafod, their facial structure is vaguely reminiscent of their bonded species. Their facial structure tends to slim faces with narrow chins and narrow, pointed noses. Their ears have taken on a shorter, more rounded shape, about half the length of their ancestors. Their most notable trait is their hair color, which typically begins as black from birth to their first century, then gradually lightens along a grayscale over the course of several centuries. Between five to seven hundred years, their hair will go completely white, though facial hair remains dark. Often, the roots of their hair will come in darker while the color quickly fades from the shaft, leaving them with a gradient hair color with dark roots and pale ends. Because of this effect, Didelphi tend to grow out their hair and take great care of it. They generally have fair skin and brown eyes.
Culture
Didelphi culture is influenced by their bonded animal's characteristics in many ways. They tend to be quite shy and are quick to hide from unfamiliar Fayl'Idayn or even other Nafod. Once they become accustomed to the presence of a neighboring (peaceful) group, they are polite and passive. They prefer to be more active at night, like their animal, which also makes them a more private people.
Opossums are not picky about mates, and neither are Didelphi. They tend towards brief romances. While opossums are generally solitary creatures, Didelphi are close-knit family groups. Children are raised communally with their birth mother being their primary caretaker. As clans are family groups, mates find each other from neighboring clans. The private nature of the Didelphi does not lend itself to frequent crossing between them and other Nafod tribes, or Fayl'Idayn, but such unions are not unknown.
Meta
The name Didelphi comes from the latin genus of the Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana. Didelphis means "two wombs" which refers to the bifurcated uterus of the opossum. This trait is not present in the Ochae'nafod tribe. The name was provided by Entra, taken from her mother's catalogue of species.
