Arkevon

The arkevon are an omnivorous, reptile-like species of sapient humanoids. Though having originated on Kovas, arkevon in the local galactic region originate from a group of refugees who fled Kovas during the Wars of Unification and settled on Alrukai, soon forming the Telkevan Union. Since settling the region, the arkevon of Alrukai have earned a reputation for intense militarism, a pack-centered social order, devotion to their gods, and cold, ruthless pragmatism.

Evolutionary History
The arkevon's earliest known ancestors diverged from a species of semiaquatic, crocodile-like saurians situated in what is now western Nolsaria several hundred million years ago. These early arkevon were quadrupedal and land-dwelling, and slowly migrated across the continent. Overtime, they evolved bipedal forms with two sets of arms and adopted a partly arboreal lifestyle; they would return to the forest floor to mate, but otherwise hid themselves in the trees in order to ambush potential prey. A sudden ecological disaster saw most arkevon wiped out, the survivors residing in central and southwestern Nolsaria. The central population once more adopted a purely terrestrial lifestyle and organized themselves into packs, eventually evolving into the modern arkevon and developing sapience. The southern population returned to the water before eventually going extinct.

Description
arkevon stand between 1.82 and 2.43 meters (6 ft 10 in and 8 ft) in height, not including the horns on top of their head, which can add an additional 15 centimeters (6 inches) to their height. Adults 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', arkevon are warm-blooded, with bright, blue colored blood. 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 males and females.

Skin
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.

Head
The arkevon'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 in) in length and can be either 'U' or 'V' shaped; the width can also vary, producing either an under or overbite. An uncommon occurrence is a thin, almost straight snout referred to as a 'stick snout'. 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 arkevon's mouth shut with little effort. In total, they have between sixty to seventy teeth designed for grabbing and holding unto prey. The teeth are kept moist by soft, scaly lips. The nostrils, eyes, and ears are each located on top of the head, allowing the arkevon to submerge the rest of their body underwater. The nose and ears possess membranes which close to keep out water and other particles, and the eyes are protected by a transparent eyelid. Their eyes provide excellent nocturnal vision and 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 be straight or curved. The horns are little more than stumps on children, and only begin to grow once an individual reaches adolescence. Once horns start growing, they never stop, and if left untreated, 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, referred to as the 'crown', are also made of keratin and are used as a mating display.

Wings
Despite their appearance, the arkevon's wings are not true wings, as the arkevon 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 arkevon 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 frostbite. They are also a potential weakness in combat, as even a minor cut can cause substantial bleeding. It is not entirely unheard of for one to have their wings surgically removed and replaced with cybernetic components.

Diet
Arkevon are omnivores; though their diet is primarily composed of various kinds of meat and insects, they can also consume fruits and vegetables without issue. Their stomach acid is notoriously strong and can break down bones, scales, shells, and other hard objects with ease. Arkevon 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 arkevon 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.

Reproduction & Lifespan
Arkevon 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 arkevon 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, arkevon are aggressive, opportunistic, and above all, pack-oriented. Even in the modern era, groups of arkevon, 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 arkevon show favoritism one way or the other. Packs can also merge together, though this often translates into a temporary loss of cohesiveness until a new dynamic has been established.

Separation from one's primary pack often results in severe mental distress for the arkevon, leading to a condition colloquially known as 'Isolation's Touch'. Isolated arkevon are substantially more aggressive and impulsive, and will often go to great lengths to reunite with members of their pack if at all possible. If they are unable to return to their group, typically because the pack has perished, and are unable to find a new pack to join, a arkevon will gradually lose motivation and become depressed, though they will still violently lash out at anything they perceive to be a threat.