Ottemensen
Description:
The otter-folk are meter tall, anthropomorphic otters. They have short legs and
arms with flat tails to aid in propulsion. Their fingers are tipped with little
claws and their toes are webbed. Ottemensen are natural swimmers. They have
natural lifespans of fifty years and live in nuclear families not that
different from most humans. One of the most unique traits of the ottemensen is
their venomous bite. Before developing civilization, they were aquatic
predators that fed on fast moving fish. In order to instantly immobilize their
prey, the prehistoric otters evolved extremely potent venom. If introduced to a
warm-blooded metabolism, the venom is fatal within seconds.
Society:
Ottemensen live in towns built upon the water, on rocky islands or on seaside
cliffs. They usually live in rivers, but have been known to build communities
in salt-water estuaries. They are generally a carefree people and general naïve
when it comes to dealing with other species. They also possess an odd concept
of property. Essentials such as food they consider to be property of the
community and share freely. Luxuries and other items not required for survival,
on the other hand, they guard very jealously and usually horde. They also
consider land to be a communal property, with each family simply owning the
house that sat upon it.
They are aquaculturalists, either kelp farmers or seafood
ranchers. They mostly raise fish and shellfish, but communities located near
the sea will have extensive kelp farms. Communities growing different foods
will share with each other, though usually in a mutual sharing agreement. It is
not quite trade in the human sense since no ottemensen would ever consider
selling food.
Language:
The ottemensen language consists of a series of squeaks and barks. Their vocal
chords and mouths allow them a wide range of vocalization, enabling them to
speak human and dolphin languages alike. Most of their species know how to say
“don’t eat me” in Orca.
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