[TheRaisin]

Today, rather than the next chapter, I'm taking a moment to clue you in on some of the finer details of the world in which this story takes place. I'll be doing a few of these, whenever I feel an explanation is in order. Don't worry, the next post will continue the story.


As you may have gathered, if you were paying any attention at all, Tak is not human. He comes from a race called the D'naathi. The average D'naathi is seven feet tall, and stands erect. The body structure is similar to that of a sort of humanoid velociraptor: backwards-facing knees, clawed feet and hands, a long tail, reptilian skin, et cetera. However, there are many differences. For one thing, the upper body is like that of a man, and the head rests at the top of the neck rather than in a forward position. Also, the tail, rather than being stiff for balance, is serpentine, flexible, and prehensile, serving as an extra limb for climbing trees, and is capped with a foot-long protrusion made of a cartilage-like substance that serves as a blade. What makes this material unique is the fact that it's owner can cause it to stiffen or become flexible at will: for instance, a D'naathi would allow it to become flexible for grabbing a branch, but would stiffen it if fighting to use as a weapon. D'naathi skin is reptilian and dark green, and extremely tough. It is extremely thick and as hard as armor, but extremely smooth and flexible, like a mail suit. The eyes are slightly more forward-oriented than raptor eyes for manipulating objects and can move independently of each other, and therefore allow the D'naathi to see in all directions except directly behind them. D'naathi evolved from hunters, and have raptor-like snouts. Though they retain their carnivorous canine teeth, they have also developed molars and rounded, platelike teeth, and combined with their powerful digestive systems and occasional gastroliths, they can eat pretty much anything that isn't directly poisonous or to hard to chew/swallow.
D'naathi senses are extremely sharp, and they can see a large spectrum of light. They also have special senses left over from their carnivore days:
Electro-sensors-- can detect electical currents from animals and electrical devices
Magnetic sensors-- give the D'naathi an uncanny sense of direction based on their planet's north and south poles, but it may be put to other uses yet.... >hint hint<
Chemo-receptors-- can detect minute chemical changes in atmosphere, sort of like a super-sensitive nose/tongue combo
Oh, and did I fail to mention they're amphibious? Gills remain closed when on land, but open up automatically underwater. They can engage at will bony spines between their toes and at the end of their tail, extending fan-like flaps of skin that serve as paddles. In this state, they look like a frog halfway through development and are excellent swimmers.


Well, I hope you found this educational. Or you may have thought it was exceptionally geeky. But I promise not to do too many, and I thought it was important for you to know what this Tak dude looks like, what he can do, and why he's such a damned good hunter. Okay, bye now.