Repzork (Species)

Anatomy
Repzork stand between 1.82 and 2.43 meters (6.10 and 8 feet) in height, not including the horns on top of their head, which can add an additional 15 centimeters (6 inches) to their height. Adults tend to weight between 145 and 204 kilograms (320 and 450 pounds). Their legs are digitigrade, and they can run up to 17 kph (11 mph), though exceptional individuals have achieved bursts of up to 48 kph (30 mph). They possess three fingers and a thumb on each hand and three toes on each foot, each possessing sharp, gray-colored keratin claws. Despite their reptilian appearance, which has earned them a number of nicknames such as 'crocodile' and 'dragon', Repzork are warm-blooded. There is little to no sexual dimorphism between genders besides subtle differences in their tone of voice and proportions, making it nearly impossible for inexperienced foreigners to distinguish between the two.

Their leathery skin is covered in thick, durable scales which provide moderate protection against slashes and blunt-force trauma, though they offer no defense against modern weaponry. The scales around the joints, stomach, and the underside of the neck are smaller to allow for better flexibility. The scales grow thicker as an individual ages and shed individually. Scale colors include various shades of red, green, brown, and black. Blue and white are also possible, but are a result of rare genetic abnormalities.

The Repzork's snout can vary greatly in appearance, making them the easiest way to distinguish individuals from one another. Snouts can range from 15.24 to 30.48 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) in length and can be either 'U' or 'V' shaped. The width can also differ, with either both jaws being the same width or the top jaw being slightly wider than the bottom jaw. An uncommon occurrence is a thin, almost straight snout referred to as a 'stick snout', a trait derived from a single subspecies. Regardless of shape, the muscles used to close their jaws are remarkably strong, and can bite down with enough force to shatter bone; however, the muscles for opening their jaw are comparatively weak, making it possible to hold a Repzork's mouth shut with little effort. In total, they have between sixty to seventy teeth which are designed for grabbing and holding unto prey. The teeth are protected by soft, scaly lips which keep them moist. The nostrils, eyes, and ears are each located on top of the head, allowing the Repzork to submerge the rest of their body underwater. The nose and ears both possess membranes which close to keep out water and other particles, and the eyes are protected by a transparent eyelid. Their eyes are forward-facing, with vertical eyelids and slit-shaped pupils. Iris colors include red, green, yellow, orange, and blue.

Keratin horns can grow on multiple parts of the snout, including the chin, between the nostrils, above the eyes, and various spots along the bottom jaw. These horns can either be straight or curved. The horns are little more than stumps on children, and only begin to grow once an individual reaches adolescence. Once they start growing, they never stop. If left untreated, the horns can become a nuisance as they make it difficult or outright impossible to wear headgear. Thus, it is common for individuals to trim their horns with specialized grinders. The process is entirely painless unless the horn is cut too close to the skull. The three horns on top of the head, often referred to as the 'crown', are also made of keratin and are predominantly used as a mating display.

Repzork are omnivores; though their diet is primarily composed of various kinds of meat and insects, they can also consume some fruits and vegetables with no problems whatsoever. Their stomach acid is notoriously strong and can break down bones, scales, shells, and other hard objects with ease. Repzork consume their food whole, and can eat up to a quarter of their own body weight in one sitting. Though such large meals often result in a period of inactivity, it also means that the Repzork can go for longer periods of time without eating than many other races. This can give them a significant advantage in combat, as they do not need as much food to sustain themselves as most other armies.

Despite their appearance, the Repzork's wings are not true wings, as the Repzork are too heavy for flight in any capacity. Instead, the wings vent excess body heat via an expansive network of blood vessels that run just beneath the wing's thin skin. This is their primary means of regulating their body temperature as the Repzork do not possess sweat glands. Fanning and/or wetting the wings can accelerate the cooling process. The wings become a detriment in freezing weather as they are particularly susceptible to hypothermia. They are also a potential weakness in combat, as even a minor cut can cause substantial bleeding. As a result, it is not unheard of for individuals to have their wings surgically removed and instead rely on cybernetic augmentations to regulate their body temperature.

Repzork reproduce sexually and are an egg-laying species. After fertilization, the female will lay between four to seven eggs which will take nine to ten months to hatch depending on the temperature of the nest or incubator; warmer environments will develop faster. Likewise, the gender of the hatchlings is dependent on the temperature of the egg; warmer eggs produce males, whereas colder eggs will produce females. Young Repzork consume a diet of insects until they grow old enough to consume meat. They reach biological maturity around the age of 25 and typically live to be about 120 years old without life-extension procedures.

Psychology
In general, the Repzork are aggressive, opportunistic, and above all, pack-oriented. Even in the modern era, groups of Repzork, whether they be a family or group of coworkers, will almost inevitably organize themselves into hierarchical packs. Members of the pack tend to form close bonds with one another, especially in high-risk professions such as the military, and can express intense devotion to one another. Once a pack has been firmly established, they operate with an efficiency and cohesiveness that most would struggle to match. This is most evident on the battlefield, where their heritage as opportunistic pack hunters expresses itself in their tendency to wait for or to bait an enemy into exposing their weaknesses.

A pack can vary greatly in numbers, but all are structured roughly the same. Every pack has between one to three members who lead the group. Below them are individuals assigned to direct specific portions of the pack, each with their own unique tasks. These individuals can also take over as leaders if the pack leader is rendered unable to rule. The rank-and-file are all generally considered equals. Though pack leaders carry significant sway within their own groups, they have no authority outside of their circle, and are themselves subservient to their superiors. It is possible, and in modern times commonplace, for individuals to belong to more than one pack, such as belonging to a family pack and to another group at their workplace. But while they may respect both, almost all Repzork show favoritism one way or the other. Packs can also merge together, though this often translates into a temporary loss of cohesiveness until they learn how to best cooperate.

--WIP--

The topic of separation from one's pack is a complicated one due to it being heavily dependent on many contextual factors; but in general, Arkevan behavior tends to shift significantly when they are separated, or worse, completely isolated. These behavioral shifts can completely change the individual's personality, turning them into a completely different person; such extreme cases are sometimes referred to by various names such as, 'Isolation's Madness' and 'Solitude's Touch.' Isolated Repzork typically become more aggressive and easier to agitate; their goal will shift to relocating their pack or finding allies, and they will most often go to great lengths to achieve this goal. If they are unable to achieve their newfound objective, the individual may become more impulsive and desperate as time progresses; alternatively, they may instead lose motivation and become depressed. In either case, an isolated Repzork can be incredibly dangerous, as they are quick to use whatever weapons they have in order to defend themselves if they feel threatened; many soldiers have been killed long after the conclusion of a battle by an Repzork who was unable to return home or had lost the bulk of their pack. Interestingly, it has been shown that it is possible even for completely foreign strangers to sometimes earn the trust of an isolated Repzork, even if the strangers in question originate from factions considered by the Empire to be enemies. In these cases, if they manage to form a bond, any symptoms the Repzork had previously displayed will gradually disappear before the individual ultimately returns to normal.

Ultimately, if the Repzork is for whatever reason incapable of reuniting with their old pack and the Empire, whether it be because they were cut off in battle or simply by circumstance, the Repzork will likely try to join a new 'pack' or form one with individuals they have bonded with. This process is how many Arkevan mercenaries and pirates would come to be. However, if they are unable to fill this social void and remain isolated, the Repzork will continue either becoming more aggressive or more depressed; in either case, death is almost certainly an inevitability.

One interesting observation is how the Repzork respond to fear, which is dependent on whether or not they are in a pack. If they are in a pack, the Repzork will either have a significantly reduced fear response, or no response whatsoever. When placed in situations that would strike fear into most species, the Repzork will take up the challenge with no hesitation unless it is blatantly clear that they are incapable of defeating it, in which case they will simply avoid it or work around it. This has created the misconception that the species is completely incapable of feeling fear. In truth, if they are isolated, the fear response is much stronger, and will often make their symptoms worse if frequently provoked. A scared Repzork is extremely dangerous, as they will almost always attack the source of the fear if they feel cornered.