Inia
The Inia and Lipotes are tribes of Ochae'nafod bonded to the river dolphins of South Kalesten and Qao-Baiji's greatest rivers, respectively. These two tribes are unique amongst Ochae'nafod as no others are bonded to fully aquatic species. The Inia and Lipotes themselves are not fully aquatic, but remain almost exclusively along the shores of the rivers in their Nafod form.
| Species | Region | Size |
|---|---|---|
| (Chinese) or (Yangtze) River Dolphin, Baiji | NW. North Thiskel (River unnamed) | Large |
| (Amazon) or Pink River Dolphin | South Kalesten (River unnamed) | Extra large |
Appearance
The South Kalesten species of river dolphin is the larger species, but both are quite sizable, leading to their tribes to both be taller than human averages. The Inia are on average 6'3" (191cm) for men and 5'10" (178cm) for women, while the Lipotes are 6' (183cm) for men and 5'8" (173cm) for women. Their builds are solid, but lanky, easily able to put on muscle or gain fat to about 30% of their body mass index. They tend to have long, narrow faces with a streamlined sort of look, but they also take after facial features of the neighboring human population.
No coloration traits for their dolphin form affect their natural form, so their hair color, eye color, and skin color are all the same traits as their human neighbors--which is typically black haired and dark eyed. Their ears are of the typical Nafod length for their size, but frequently tip upward and back.
Culture
Both the Inia and Lipotes tribes have small, discreet populations found along stretches of rivers uninhabited and rarely traversed by humans. Most of the interactions with humans are in their dolphin form, where they exhibit the curiosity typical of the species. The tribes make their homes on the river banks, usually a collection of small individual huts constructed of wood frames and rushes, hidden from view from the river itself by foliage. In their Nafod form, they tend to present as passive and cautious, even aloof. They have an omnivorous diet, heavy in fish and aquatic vegetation.
Clans are matriarchal in nature, headed by a female progenitor and comprised of her descendants. Romantic relationships occur between different clans with short-lived romances. Children are raised by the mother in her clan with little to no influence from the father.
