Owlpanther(Nre'kathi)

Homeworld/plane: Sjirra.

Climate/terrain: currently most owlpanthers can be found in a temperate mountaineous area, but it is believed that they can thrive in any climate but the arctic.

Mental abilities: as mostly terran owls and panthers were used when designing them, the owlpanthers still have a few generations left to go before they reach their design intelligence of above average human-level intelligence. Mentally and emotionably their intelligence is currently the equialent of that of a ten years old human, with a bit of predatory instinct thrown in.

Special Abilities: while the sjirran griffin part of their genetics makes them rather tough creatures, the owlpanthers have a strong talent for biomancy-- which currently allows them to enjoy excellent health and heal injuries in themselves and others. However, in a few generations they may be capable of shapeshifting and perhaps also create new lifeforms, if such abilities are allowed to mature in the most talented of them. While they usually speak vocally, ownpanthers do have some telepathy(although their range isn't very far), individuals have also showed a talent for some other types of magic.

Society: as the owlpanther race currently only consists of a few hundred individuals, and they are a young race, little progress has been made towards a unique society of their own. Young owlpanthers, below the age of five, will usually stay together in mixed gender packs until they reach maturity-- when most will take a mate and establish a territory of their own. However, pairs of owlpanthers will live within a days flight of the territory of another pair, this due to that they are still a relatively sociable race-- enjoying to have someone to talk and share experiences with, not to forget the safety of having another pair near; in case one of a pair dies and for potection purposes.

Description: as previously mentioned, owlpanthers are related to the sjirran griffin, but it is still clear that they are a seperate race. While owlpanthers doesn't have a true beak, their muzzles are beak-like and the head bears a strong resemblance to that of a eagleowl-- down to the large eyes and feather-like fur. The fur on the head and shoulders is a mottled golden brown and black-brown, while the fur on the rest of the body is various shades of black-- sometimes with faint spots visible when the creature stands in the sunlight. Owlpanthers, unlike sjirran griffins, have paws on all four legs-- something makes it easier for them to move around at the ground and climbing when neccessary. Although no owlpanthers in the first generation had wings, the 2-5 generations all have fully functional wings, these being the broad and relatively short wings of owls, which makes them very agile but not swift fliers.
Usually there are little difference in lenght between males and females, but the males tend to be more muscular of build, most males will also have a strong, but not entirely unpleasant peppery smell-- particulary during mating season.
Size at birth: 100-160 cm long.
Size at maturity: 10-15 meters long.
Time to maturity: 5-6 years.
Normal lifespan: 70-100 years.

Combat: owlpanthers are quite versatile, but as they have not encountered many situqations where they have to fight, they have yet to develop a fighting-style that may be said to be more or less unique to their race.

Race weaknesses: due to that their skeleton is more like that of terran animals, owlpanthers need certain minerals and vitamins to strenghten their bones, and young ones can be particulary end up with fractured bones if they play too rough and sometimes also when they first begin strenghtening their wings.
They may also easily get dehydrated, something which may be more dangerous for them than for humans and other species as muscles and tendons can easily harden and then tear the next time s/he has to excert him/herself.