Akubi

Akubi Sketches

The Akubi are one of the True Alien species encountered by the Pelted.

Vital Statistics (At a Glance)

• Species Type: True Alien
• Origin: Evolved
• Frame Type: Avian
• Average Height: very tall, 9 feet
• Average Lifespan:
• Gravity Preference:
• Homeworld: Kubi
• Native Language:

Appearance and Physiology

Appearance

The Akubi, though, are enormous, with small individuals starting at nine feet and larger ones over twelve. Unlike the bipedal Phoenix, they are bird-shaped, with enormous, predatory feet equipped with two thumbs, one on each side. Their faces have long, heavy, serrated beaks, accented with two long tendrils, one on either side, and they have curling horns and a long skull plate. Akubi have feathers, fur, and skin, and colors are deep and vivid: browns, purples, blacks, rusts and deep oranges. These match the forest shadows where they evolved, among trees as tall as buildings and as wide, and canopies that spread and joined until they formed ceilings beneath the skies where the Akubi fly their mating dances.

They are "giant, bird-like creatures with horned heads and hints of saurian scale along the sides of their long, muscled necks and on their backs."

There is a claw at the apex of their wings.

• Males are hunters, with feathers and hides in camouflage colors, and smaller bodies that "evolved to navigate the cluttered canopies of their world's enormous trees"

• Females "fly the skies and grow spectacular plumage", attracting groups of males to feed their clutches

The third sex is a "waiting-sex" that can become either male or female, depending on environmental cues that cause the change.

Body Language

• "For�tunately, their eyes were less inscrutable than those of the birds they resembled, for the skin around them folded and bunched to give them expressions. Usually amused."
• "A gaped mouth, with eyes almost entirely closed, was a grin in this species."

Physiology

Akubi are born neuter from the egg and differentiate into sexes depending on the ratio of male to female Akubi near them. When there are few Akubi, more individuals become female, and then a smaller proportion become male and fertilize the ‘harem.’ But when there are too many Akubi in one place, most neuters become male, and compete for the less populous females. Though an individual can only differentiate once in their lives, the social arrangements, and the history of families and communities, can become very complex, and sexed Akubi often end up migrating elsewhere if circumstances where they were born change abruptly.

It is unclear whether this biological change is induced, chosen, or automatic, and the Akubi aren’t telling. But most sexed Akubi have responsibilities that make it difficult for them to justify leaving their world for long, which is why so many of the Alliance’s visitors are neuter.

Characteristics

• Amazing mimics
• Extremely even-tempered

Stereotypes

the Akubi are gregarious aliens, natives of a planet with enormous trees who see the Alliance as an expansion of their skies. They greeted the revelation of sentients off their world with great pleasure, and as often as they can they travel the Alliance for the fun of mingling with the little mammals, so busy, colorful, and fascinating. Their clever throats and tongues are capable of mimicking almost any noise, so they speak every Alliance language they learn with facility, and their curiosity and bonhomie are legendary. If more of them could leave the world, they would probably be more frequently seen. But the only individuals who have the luxury are almost always the neuters, and the biological window for those individuals to travel is narrow.

Song of Wine Skies at Sunset, the Akubi Proctor from Dreamstorm

Society

Little is otherwise known about the Akubi; they do not share much about themselves with outsiders, being far more interested in enjoying the company of their new, small mammal-friends. There’s no evidence of heavy industry on their world, but they are remarkably sophisticated thinkers in their chosen arenas, and while it’s clear they’re hunters from their maws, no one is sure whether they remain hunter/gatherers or have moved to farming their food. In some ways they are as inexplicable as the Phoenix, though with—the Pelted think—far greater reason.

Akubi Characters

Category Akubi Characters not found

One is the proctor for the exam on Tsera Nova that Jahir attends in Dreamstorm, Song of Wine Skies at Sunset, healer-assist at Succor Most General Hospital on Karaka'Ana.