Reference for a new species I've been developing the last few days.

–Physical

While they are primarily bipedal they can also comfortably walk/run on all fours.

Males have four horns (but can develop more with age, up to a total of eight in the most ancient), females only two. Horns grow in a wide variety of shapes, and can be “groomed” to some degree when the Draedha are young. Carvings and other adornments are common and often clan-based. Similarly males have four long “whiskers”, the longest being the front and the second being shorter (as with horns, up to a total of eight can be developed over time, extras sprouting along the chin/jawline rather than the snout). Females only have two, typically shorter, though in elder females they can grow long.

Fur colors range in earthy tones from pure black (somewhat uncommon) to white (very rare). Patterns are varied, ranging from flat colors to the more naturalist patterns found on wolves/wild dogs, and even more stark designs like those found on big cats like leopards and tigers can be found, though they tend to be found only in certain clans based in more temperate, forested areas as opposed to the plains and tundras most clans favor.

Scales vary in color from black to white, generally duller/muted colors, and often correspond with the general environment the Draedha inhabit. Some clans paint theirs to be more vibrant.

Claws on the feet are partially-retractable, claws on the hands are not.

Mane grows to about halfway down the back. The tail can either be halfway furred from the base to the middle, halfway furred from middle to tip, fully furred from base to tip, or tufted. Tuft variants aren’t usually found in females. Halfway from base to middle is most common across both sexes.

Genitalia on both sexes is concealed by a vent of skin between the scales, which retracts when needed.

Teeth are sharp with the front top canines often growing long enough to jut below the lips, though they do possess grinding molars in the very back, allowing them to maintain an omnivorous diet. Meat is definitely favored, though they cultivate and herd livestock for eggs and milk/cheese/butter. They do not farm, given their nomadic nature, and instead forage for whatever vegetation they consume.

–Society

Draedha live in clans that generally have between 30-50 members, though some can have up to 100. They maintain very large territories and are nomadic within them, though regularly groups will patrol to maintain the borders even when the bulk of the clan is settled further away. They are primitive and simple, but very intelligent, and very in tune with the world. They favor the practices of archery and swordsmanship when it comes to weaponry aside from their own teeth and claws, which are often more than enough.

Clans are generally peaceful together, as long as they do not trespass or otherwise cause trouble for each other. They hold yearly to twice-yearly meetings with neighboring clans to maintain diplomatic relations, and also to arrange for young Draedha to be transferred between them as they come of age, to help keep bloodlines varied.

Clans are led by a council of Elders who advise a chieftain, who can be either male or female. Chieftains either gain power through succession via their eldest children or otherwise chosen heir, or if they are challenged and defeated (this is rare, as challenges must be considered ‘valid’ by the rest of the clan to hold any weight and be permitted).

Childrearing is shared between parents, though most females within the clan will also pitch in to help each other, particularly older females helping younger ones. Draedha typically only have one child at a time but twins are not uncommon (though rarely identical) and triplets, while rare, are also not unheard of.

–Magic

Most if not all Draedha have at least some ability to “shape” as they call it. Elemental magic dealing with earth, water, and fire, it allows them to bend such things to their will, provided there is a source in their vicinity. They cannot conjure from nothing.

The Draedha with the strongest ability are called Shapers, and they are tasked with things like building up the settlements and defenses for the clan when they settle somewhere, and deconstructing them when they leave. They are often on the council of Elders, as the strength comes with age, but sometimes even younger Draedha are especially gifted and earn the title of Shaper early on.