Re

Species Description
The Re are large arboreal monkeys endemic to Marafire. About 98% of all Re live within the nation's borders. Native language is Temarafire.

Culturally they are extremely friendly and welcoming, very strongly believe in social welfare and this extends to all living beings not just the Re and not even just sentient beings. Generally the Re welcome all friendly and respectful visitors within the borders and gladly grant citizenship to anyone who asks.

The Marafire political leadership is highly in favor of tourism and makes open efforts to be welcoming and inclusive (ie. Kutau). However a visit to Marafire could result in culture shock.

Part of the tourism effort is distributing propaganda in the region hailing Marafire as a pleasant resort-type tropical getaway, and the Re as amicable and polite. While all those things are true none of the propaganda mentions the intense hiking and potentially climbing required to visit most locations, the fact that 80-90% of food served will be raw or preserved produce and organized hunts are prohibited by law (a common complaint amongst omnivorous and carnivorous guests), or that the Re are friendly but also an incredibly raucous, free-spirited, sexually liberal, minimal order society. - WIP large monkeys, similar in size and stature to orangutans but with prehensile tails (tail is long and v strong, used for balance and to climb when hands/feet full, primary defense mech)

males avg ~200lbs; 5ft tall foot to head; 9ft head to tail; heavily muscled and extremely strong; 9ft armspan

females avg ~120lbs; 4.5ft tall foot to head; 7.5ft head to tail; lean muscled and nimble; 7.5ft armspan

avg lifespan 38 years (~190 earth years); females tend to live slightly longer than males on average

live in communes in tree canopies; infrastructure uses tree forming techniques to shape trees as they grow into structures, highways, defenses, and even reservoirs in processes similar to topiary and hedge laying over the course of decades and centuries

3 sexes and 5 genders

3 subspecies:

wetland (dominant culture): live in the east and south; prefer tropical and temperate climates; prefer swampy or marshy environment; mostly herbivorous but will consume insects; infrastructure is mostly horizontal and heavily interconnected; primary locomotion is walking and swinging; large extended family groups sharing large communal residences; urban/suburban; generally wealthy w high quality of life; predators include jaguars, large constrictors, sharks and alligators; distinguishable visually from western mountain by long ring of white, brown, or red fur around the face called a fiame; usually bigger than mountain, longer fur



western mountain: live in the valley and western mountains; prefer semiarid environment; omnivorous, will rarely actively hunt but will eat insects, small rodents, reptiles, eggs and anything else that is easily caught; infrastructure is mostly vertical with gaps between structures; primary locomotion is climbing and leaping; immediate family shares apartment-type residences; families are evenly distributed through territory, few major population centers; higher tech than wetland counterparts but more rugged lifestyle; predators include large predatory birds (for youth) and jaguars

male western mountain Re



female western mountain Re



eastern mountain: same lifestyle as western but have fiame similar to wetland and smallest (~170lbs/~95lbs)

male eastern mountain Re



female eastern mountain Re



All Re are born fully covered in golden fur with big black spots.



They maintain this youth coat until puberty, when some begin to lose the spots on their head, back, or both, and the vibrant gold fur may fade to pale yellow, tan, or brown. The fur fading gene is recessive so it persists throughout the population regardless of subspecies. It can be a source of colorism in some rural communities.





Puberty is also when fiame begin to develop in Eastern Mountain and Wetland Re. Some adolescent Re in urban areas wear prostetic fiame to appear older.

Through adolescence the Re sexual organs develop but remain a dull tan as the rest of the body. Around 4 years old (~22 earth years) the genitalia and buttocks will begin to turn a vibrant shade of turquoise. It is at this point that the Re is considered an adult, even though they usually move out of the juvenile residences a year earlier (~16 earth years). Culturally there are certain things considered inappropriate until you are blue.

leopard spotted fur is double layered w undercoat for temp regulation and overcoat for weather protection: wetland: straight thin undercoat keeps air flow against skin for cooling; oily long overcoat for rain and parasite protection

Re tails are of extreme importance. They are either spotted (esp w mtn) or banded. There may be some correlation between Re with banded tails and those with fur fading.

mountain: thick undercoat w tight waves for insulation; coarse medium length overcoat for dust/dirt protection

Re fashion typically includes feather headdress, necklace, scarf, or cloak. Usually don't wear clothing unless for ceremonioal reasons or while eating (considered polite to cover the genitals and tail while in a public dining space or a sacred place)

specialized spatial awareness: excellent 3D mental mapping/navigation and can move through home canopies with eyes closed

specialized memory: short-term memory: humans can store 5-10 items in stm for seconds, while Temarafire can store 25+ items for minutes which means high mental computing power, good at mental math and giving/following instructions communication is complex and nonlinear (multiple "trains of thought" can run concurrently), writing is less vital but is also significantly more detailed; native script is logographic and nonlinear not very susceptible to distraction, can multitask (not just switching focuses rapidly like human multitasking but literally successfully maintain multiple focuses) long-term memory: humans have ~2.5 petabytes of storage capacity, Temarafire have ~6 petabytes which means oral tradition is strong and extremely important

martial arts style using all five limbs (arms, legs, and tail) and involves moving in 3D through surroundings while fighting which overwhelms opposition that is used to standing in one place to fight

highly sensitive and slow to adapt to changes to their environment

focus on horticulture vital food resources:

Fasu



Kakie (made from fasu)



Saisa



Sutuu