Hyaena
The Hyaena tribes of Ochae'nafod are bonded to species of hyena found in South Thiskel. There are four species within the Hyaenidae family; the spotted hyena, which is more widespread in the savannahs of the west and southwest; the brown hyena which often dwells closer to the desert edges in the southwest and south central regions; the striped hyena which delves deeper into the desert, and the small aardwolf which is found along the eastern edges of the desert and is known for eating termites.
| Species | Region | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Hyena | South Thiskel; savannah | Average | Golden, tawny, or light brown hair color common |
| Brown Hyena | South Thiskel; semi-desert and savannah | Small | Brown hair |
| Striped Hyena | South Thiskel; desert and savannah | Small | Golden or tawny hair, black beards on men |
| Aardwolf | SE., E, South Thiskel; desert edges, savannah | Extra small | Golden or tawny hair, far smaller and more passive than other tribes |
Appearance
Between the tribes bonded to the four species, there is a notable size difference, but one thing that is common is that women and men are of similar height. Hyenas are sexually dimorphic, but it is the females that are slightly larger than the males. In the Ochae'nafod, this has ended up leveling the over all average height of the tribe regardless of gender. For those bonded to the larger spotted hyena, the average height is 5'6" (168cm), which is close to the average height of a human woman. The tribes bonded to the spotted and brown hyenas are around 5' (152cm) tall, while the tribe bonded to the diminutive aardwolf has an average height of 4'7" (140cm). Their build favors a somewhat short, thick trunk with comparatively long limbs.
The facial structure of the hyena tribes have subtle traits that remind one of their bonded species, often with a small face and slightly upturned nose. Their facial structure is also similar to the local humans, as is their skin color. Their hair color reflects the dominant color of their animal form's coat, which is typically a golden blond or tawny shade for the tribes bonded to the spotted and striped hyenas, and aardwolves. The tribe bonded to the brown hyena has brown hair. Though humans of the region largely have coarse, tightly curled hair, the Hyaena tribes tend to have coarse but straight textured hair that easily styles into a mohawk-like style, reminiscent of the mane sported by hyenas. They commonly shave the sides of their head and grow the mane out in their natural form.
Hyaena tribes have dark eyes, framed by dark eyebrows and eyelashes, despite their hair color. A unique trait to the striped hyena tribe is that men grow dark facial hair that merges into the black throat markings on their species when they shape-shift.
Culture
The Hyaena tribes are known to be crafty and potentially dangerous in defense of their habitat. In conflict, they are pragmatic and opportunistic, much like their bonded species. The Hyaena tribes joined many other more aggressive predator tribes during the War of the Gods and were known for their effective tactics in skirmishes. The spotted hyena tribe is the most common and well-known, but the other tribes are somewhat more reclusive and the aardwolf tribe is especially passive and meek in comparison. Hyaena tribes have broad, varied diets, often with meat as a centerpiece. Aardwolf bonded tribes include their species' taste for insects into their diet.
Hyaena clans are highly matriarchal, following the example of their bonded species, but they don't exactly follow the typical matriarchal family unit of other Ochae'nafod clans. While a female progenitor leads a clan, filled with her daughters and granddaughters, it rarely contains her sons, but rather, men born of other tribes who were taken in as lovers. Around their first century, young men are essentially kicked out and sent to join other clans. They do not practice long-term monogamy and the young men who join their clan are often taken as lovers by any interested women of the clan--though later in life, they often settle into a partnership with one. They participate in raising any children born into the clan, regardless of if they fathered them or not.
Depending on their relations with nearby humans, or their isolation, Hyaena villages are hidden or conspicuous. The spotted hyena tribes are typically more obvious. Tribes build small villages with individual huts for each adult woman and the men of the tribe typically sleep under the roof of one of the women.
