Homo Currosta

Names

 * Scientific name: Homo Currosta
 * Common name: Currosta, Equan, Cavoll
 * Names meaning: Those that run. The people of the horse.

Those that run
Named by the colonists of Vibergska. After their first interactions with the Equan herd. A massive constantly moving city. That arrived outside the colonies main land port Havdel. At the time nothing more than a trading camp. That first interaction was tense and quick. With the Equan herd males testing the Reich-men defences and reactions to their mock attacks. Though the herd would quickly retreat from the region with no one harmed of either side. Disappearing over the horizon within a matter of days. A feet that amazed the colonist due to the size of the herd. Numbering in the 10s of thousands. The speed in which they disappeared as well as how fast the male Currosta attacked, gave them their name as well as the respect of the Reich.

Physiology
Homo Currosta is mostly humanoid in appearance with the basic, two arm, two legs and a head. However the areas in which they do differ are extreme. Starting from the creatures legs. They have altered to become more horse-like in appearance and function. With the creature walking on its elongated toes. That are padded to allow the creature ease of movement on the soft sand of the region in which they call home. However this may very depending on the subspecies/regional variant. The number of toes have also decreased to three. With the toes on the sides haven become claws for attacking one another, during mating displays and defending their family/herd.

Moving up the body the creatures to the pelvis. it has enlarged to allow for more muscles and ligament attachment points. Giving the horse-like leg more power, for high speed long duration running. An essential feature for life within the region. The abdomen and chest of the creature is very much human. however it is thinner than average and longer than most. Allowing for better fat storage as well as decreased surface area, so less water is lost through sweating.

The arms of the creature is again very humanoid, with limited to no differentness. however this can not be said about the creature neck. That has again elongated to double that of a average human. Giving it extra height as well as more of a field of movement. Both adaptations to stop being prayed upon by human slavers and the deadly creature of the salted sand dunes.

The head of Homo Currosta has evolved a short muzzle that the rest of the face evolved around. With the nose similar to that of a camels, with two nostrils that can close stopping sand/dust from getting in. Within the muzzle they have two rows of molars, allowing the creature to grind up plant matter, like leaves and bark. That make up the majority of their diet. In addition to this they have a long slightly prehensile tongue and thick leathery lips to assist in the removal of leaves and bark from the trees that may have needles, without cutting their mouths

Their eyes are positioned higher up from the muzzle allowing them to look past it. They are also placed slightly to the sides of the face, like that of most pray animals giving them a larger field of vision. Though this does decrease the amount of details they can see. When the eyes are not facing the same direction. The ears of the creature are the same as a humans though on average slightly larger, giving them slightly better hearing.

When it comes to hair. they are known to have some covering their heads, with a trail of hair going down from the head to the coccyx. This trail of hair acts as a mating display, as well as a indicator of wellness. The colour of their hair can rang the same as humans. From blacks and browns to reds and blonds. Though the browns and black are more common due to the constant sun. This is the same as with their skin colour. Having a black or tanned complexion. Though a mixture is most common, with the occasional white skinned individual due to mutations or interspecies mating.

The evolution problem
When it comes to the evolution of the Currosta, things become murky at best. It is known that evolution on the scale that has happened to the Currosta is impossible within the 1000 year timeframe between the end of recorded history within the region to the first sighting of the species. However their creation wasn't done by either the Alliance or the Union, to the best of the commonwealths knowledge. Though this maybe due to the loss of information, like with many things that was lost during the collapse. Though researches and enchanters alike believes that their creation was due to magical/divine intervention.

This belief is not without evident as individuals that had left the region has shown decrease in their natural abilities, though not to the degree that it become hazardous to their health. It has been observed that those that have breed outside of the region, have gave birth to children that have less differences to normal humans and that these differences continues the decrease by generation till they would be seen as fully human.

This effect is known to be due to the absence of the Razmolt. A selection of 'holy' plant life. That depending on the plant, gifts curtain abilities, though only to that of the Currosta. Experiments on the Razmolt have shown no scientific reason for the abilities or for the accelerated evolution of the Currosta. Later experiments by Vibergska colonists. Located a magical aura. That extended across the entire region, in criss-crossing patterns. Connecting all Razmolt together and leading to the underground rivers that feed the waterfalls of Maldkin (kind curse). The mirror world, where the old become young and the dead live once more, but they can never leave. The rivers of this world only lead in one direction and you can't fight against its flow.

Those above and those below
There is a religion based around the Razmolt. One in which the majority of the Currosta practice in one way or another. A story of their beginning, of a group of families, a herd. Running through the sun baked desert, away from the collapsing world. They ran chased by those that should of been claimed by Lucifer. The mad and insane. Creations of the tyrant god Cris-Jant. Cannibals that had already claimed many of their number. Mothers and fathers sacrificing themselves so then their children could live. A useless scarifies as they the 'first ones' continued to follow, picking off the slowest and the weakest. They ran for what felt like an eternity. Across the boiling, bubbling seas, salt forming around them. Cutting in to their feet. They ran till they was faced with cliffs and waterfalls. Faced with falling metal rocks. Faced with their end. But those above and those below took mercy on their souls. They took the beasts and plunged their heads in the ground. Its blood poured out. Being cleaned by the rivers. Their souls accepted as payment.

From the blood, white and translucent flowers appeared as if from the wind itself. They glistened in the baking light, shimmering across the faces of the starved children. Exhausted and hungry the young bent down to pick the flowers, and eat them. So they had something to sate their endless hunger. After filling their stomachs, the children fell in to a peaceful slumber. The ever-present fear of death, evaporating like the seas. The first once were gone. The first once become the flowers of the first.

When they came too. The world around them had changed. No longer were they by the rivers and waterfalls of Maldkin. No now they where in the middle of the desert. Salt and sand everywhere they looked. The sun beating down on them. Then suddenly the ground shook. The sand parting, becoming holds in which trees erupted from. A gift from those bellow. The space in the air sacrificed by those above. And from those trees came fruit. Berries gold in colour. Light in taste. The hungry children raced to their feet, to taste this gifted fruit. They stood up on long leg. Long and different. though they pay it no mind. Their hunger all encompassing.

They eat and eat. Gorging themselves on it, and as they eat their mouth altered. Growing longer. Their teeth changing. Their eye moving. For a moment they were sated. Content. But many were injured, and so the kind and knowing among them took the leaves of the trees and ground them up. Becoming a paste. A paste that they smothered their cuts in. Quickly their cut healed. Only taking moments. Another gift from those above and those bellow.

But this paradise was only for a moment. Like with all things. life is but a moment and their moment was ending. Slowly the leaves began to wilt, becoming brown. falling from above. The need to run. Itched in the back of their minds. A desire to move. Collecting what they could. From the leaves, to the bark on the trees. They began to run. Run because they needed to. Run because their new legs wanted to. Run as far as they could. Those above pointing the way. Whilst most ran away. Some waited. Waited till the rest was over the horizon. Waited for the itch in their mind became to much to stand. Waited for the first rains to fall. Another sacrifice, from those above. And those that waited, planted the seeds of the Razmolt in the ground. And those below, accepted them. And those that waited. Waited no more. They ran. Ran away as the first ones grow once more.