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==An Introduction to S'Kra Anatomy ==
'''[[Silmoran]] Tangoranae '''<br>
'''edited by [[Insrat'ha]] iird'Kortaal'''
  

  
:I, Insrat'ha iird'Kortaal, scholar of the King, His Royal Majesty [[Korlanis II]], called Malksaanin, offer here the translated works of the Elothean Silmoran Tangoranae regarding S'Kra anatomy.  It is a comprehensive work, and, such as can be verified, seems quite accurate.  The reader is advised to be patient with Silmoran, who often takes some time in getting to the point -- I have left none of his rambling out.  An Elothean might offer tribute to Silmoran's thoroughness -- I personally believe that he simply liked to hear himself speak.

:By my hand, <br>
:Insrat'ha iird'Kortaal <br>
:Akroeg 254 <br>
  

==On the Anatomy of the S'Kra Mur: ==
'''Five Senses '''

  
Early studies have led my predecessors to believe that 
S'Kra are colorblind, but this could not be further from 
the truth.  I personally believe that this misconception 
may have arisen from Elven 'studies' wherein the scholars 
held a private bias that any eye not similar to that of an 
Elf (or Elothean, or Human) could not possibly be as 
developed as their own.  For their defense I can only say 
that among the creation myths of the S'Kra there is no 
apparent need for the S'Kra to have full color sight, as we 
have found that those creatures lacking it often have 
increased night vision, and this would in fact enhance the 
capabilities of a hunter as they seem to have been 
originally created, if one is to believe the myth. 
  
From studying comparisons between Elothean eyes and S'Kra 
sight we now believe that S'Kra actually experience a 
deeper and more varied level of color in the visible world. 
However, this richness is counterbalanced by a weakness in 
focus in the eyes both in the very young and the very old 
-- it is not uncommon for an elderly S'Kra to be utterly 
blind. 
  
However, these new findings on the depth of an average 
S'Kra's color vision shed new light (if you'll pardon the 
word play) on many aspects of S'Kra culture.  Could this be 
why so much emphasis, for example, is placed upon color in 
many of their rituals?  And though their intricate, 
asymmetrical designs may seem overly excessive or chaotic 
to other cultures -- what glorious intricacy does the S'Kra 
eye see with its perception for the many more levels of 
detail in a dyed fabric? 
  
From a practical perspective, this also may explain why 
S'Kra are such efficient hunters within a certain range, 
during the daylight hours -- the enhanced color vision 
enables a S'Kra to pick out a fish in the sea at close 
range, or separate a deer from dense autumn foliage. 
  
We have found, though, that a S'Kra's depth perception and 
indeed length of focus is not as great, compensating for 
this fascinating color perception.  Scholars, particularly 
in the Empathic arts, continue to study the limits and 
abilities of the S'Kra eye, but as entire studies can be 
written on this subject alone, I will move on to other  areas. 
  
S'Kra do, of course, have ears, though they lack external 
projecting flesh.  Their ears are, instead, mostly internal 
-- and, we have found, closely tied in with the S'Kra's 
sense of touch! 
  
By depriving a subject of one sense or another, we have 
found that a S'Kra feels a detriment in hearing when their 
sense of touch is lessened.  Likewise, without sound, they 
do not sense as much when touching things.  This strange 
phenomenon has led us to believe that the S'Kra actually 
sense, to some degree, sound through their skin! 
  
This theory must of course be refined, but most believe it 
to be a rather simple device by which S'Kra, in their 
minds, align the material effects of sound with their sense 
of touch.  For instance, in a small room, a terrific yell 
will veritably shake the walls -- S'Kra sense this shaking 
and interpret it as "hearing."  Many see this to be a 
defect in the construction of the S'Kra, and I must admit 
it is indeed strange. 
  
Thus it is clear that, contrary to the beliefs of some of 
my contemporaries, S'Kra skin is actually quite sensitive 
and complex.  For this reason it gives the species a 
slightly greater resistance to intense heat, but conversely 
an increased sensitivity to cold, as is commonly known.  It 
is also this "hearing" mechanism and congruent complexity 
of the skin, it is believed, that causes S'Kra scales, 
though thicker than Human skin, to be unable to take much 
more damage than the latter. 
  
Scales do indeed provide increased protection, but 
compensating for this -- or, as is my personal theory, due 
to it -- is the delicacy of the S'Kra tactile sense.  The 
scales of a S'Kra are beautiful and fascinating, but I will 
attend to them later, for I am still speaking on their 
senses. 
  
It is vehemently argued whether the S'Kra sense of taste is 
more or less sensitive than those of the other races. 
Based on food preference in general, evidence seems to 
point toward the latter -- most S'Kra, for instance, cannot 
appreciate the intricate tastes in Elothean tea cakes, much 
to their loss.  Most tend not to prefer sweets or heavily 
prepared foods in general.  However, is this an indicator 
of increased or decreased sense of taste?  Those subjects I 
have spoken to find cakes and such "too sugary" yet 
"bland."  So perhaps there is no indicator here.  Certainly 
S'Kra tend to prefer a heaviness of spice in their foods 
that most confounds the delicate senses of this Elothean, 
but there is some indication that S'Kra can perceive a 
depth to such strong tastes, as well as a breadth of mere 
spice power. 
  
A tradition in the island-dwelling cities has arisen 
sometime during the past one hundred years -- that of 
eating fish raw!  I am told that this is to verify 
freshness, and indeed, I have had the chance to interview 
and test a number of these connoisseurs. 
  
Most of my subjects accurately gauged the freshness of a 
fish past the ability of an Elothean, Elf, and Human, 
signifying a definitely increased sensitivity.  These S'Kra 
also claimed to be able to discern whether the fish had 
been Moongated -- but results here were inconclusive.  The 
Moongate aspect came into play when the desert city of 
[[Muspar'i]] was accessible, however sporadically, and trends, 
as they tend to, migrated there -- though of course it is 
much more challenging to assure freshness in sea creatures 
so far from the coast.  Most S'Kra who favor this rather 
strange cultural variation will not sample fish beyond a 
certain distance from its sea origin. 
  
The same tests would have been conducted with other raw 
meats, but the S'Kra refused.  It is generally understood, 
though, that the fish sensitivity would translate to many 
varieties of meat -- perhaps providing "wilder" S'Kra a 
useful ability to tell when meat has turned. 
  
Thus we have found that S'Kra have, rather than a "better" 
or "worse" sense of taste, one geared in a different 
direction.  This direction may also contribute to their 
preference for highly spiced -- but not sweet! -- foods, 
though this does of course vary between individuals. 
  
  
==On the Anatomy of the S'Kra Mur: ==
'''Physical Attributes '''

 
Though they are clearly omnivores, the teeth of a S'Kra 
reflect a carnivorous origin.  Between the two primary 
fangs in the front of the mouth are four identical, slender 
incisors.  Behind each fang are four more interlocking 
demi-fangs.  With the exception of the two primary fangs, 
all of these teeth are matched on the lower jaw.  All of 
the teeth are -exceptionally- sharp -- and it is a good 
thing that the forked S'Kra tongue is slender and highly 
maneuverable, rather than thick like a Human's, or the 
creatures would constantly cut it on their sharp -- but 
relatively delicate -- front teeth. 
  
Behind these teeth is a gap, followed by a row of molars, 
also interlocking.  These molars, like the rest of the 
teeth, are proportionately more slender and sharp than 
those of the other races. 
  
S'Kra most certainly are not venomous, despite some of the 
wilder legends circulating among the Humans.  And, save for 
in the case of certain rituals in the Drum Clan, they are 
just as susceptible to poison as any other race.  But I 
digress. 
  
S'Kra shed their teeth four times over the course of their 
lives.  It is postulated that this serves to maintain the 
intense sharpness of the teeth.  However, the process by 
which the teeth are replaced is slightly different from, 
say, that of a Human.  Except in exceptionally rare cases, 
teeth -always- come in directly behind the departing tooth. 
And the departing tooth does not leave -- and in fact 
retains almost all of its strength -- until the new tooth 
has come in.  Thus S'Kra teeth, barring injury, are never 
"loose". 
  
This is due to a notch on one side of each tooth.  When a 
new tooth is fully developed, it last grows the piece that 
fills this notch, triggering the release of the old tooth. 
Not surprisingly, their scales have a similar device -- 
really quite ingenious, but I suppose these are gods we 
speak of when discussing their creation. 
  
I will take a slight detour now to discuss the structure of 
the S'Kra tail.  I must admit to some puzzlement regarding 
the discomfiture of those S'Kra I petitioned for 
information about this -- only the Empaths were of any help 
at all, and even they seemed positively squeamish with 
regard to this appendage.  Strange for such a proud race. 
The tail, of course, has enormous personal significance and 
is considered a S'Kra's most private part of the body. 
Therefore I would assure any S'Kra to read this document 
that I have no offense in mind with my following 
discussion. 

The tail of a S'Kra is an immensely flexible, sensitive 
organ.  It is the seat (no pun intended) of many virtues in 
S'Kra culture, I believe, precisely because its movement is 
so closely tied in with a S'Kra's emotion.  Certainly a 
S'Kra's tail will never "wag" like a mammal's, but many a 
diplomatic endeavor has failed for the outsider's lack of 
proper observational skill of a S'Kra's tail posture. 
Granted, S'Kra work diligently to control the degree to 
which they express this emotion -- and S'Kra children are 
much more likely to be possessed of more dramatic tail 
movements. 
  
I say that the tail is more sensitive, and this is due not 
only to the natural result of avoiding contact with the 
area, but to, I believe, a concentration of sensory 
receptors in certain parts of the tail.  Again, my evidence 
has been hard-won, as it is an exceptionally rare S'Kra who 
will so much as discuss this with me, to say nothing of 
participating in experiments. 
  
As the tail is increasingly sensitive -- the scales, one 
will note, are slightly smaller on the tail than the much 
larger scales that protect the spine -- the ritual of 
removing the tail in the 'smozh' ceremony is not only 
humiliating but intensely painful.  In this process the 
tail is detached as close to the base as possible (this is 
enacted by an elder Empath, as to cut the tail any closer 
to its base would result in bleeding death) and magically 
cauterized so as to never grow back.  The tail, if cropped 
closer to the tip or in some cases near the titled "smozh 
barrier", will slowly regrow over time, though the S'Kra in 
question will most likely endure a period of intense 
mortification until it does. 
  
In some cases it is said that, as an act of mercy, the tail 
is "accidentally" cut too close to the primary arterial 
node just below the pelvis, allowing the S'Kra an agonizing 
but honor-saving death.  There are certain minor and little 
spoken rituals involved in the family's treatment of the 
blood that issues forth in such a death, but I am afraid 
that the whole issue is too grotesque for my own 
sensibilities, and I have not researched it. 
  
Ah, I did mention that I would speak on the scales of the 
S'Kra.  As with the teeth, they employ the trigger- 
detachment method.  A S'Kra's skin therefore does not 
"shed" into strips in the manner of a lizard, but rather 
the scales themselves flake away in whole during grooming. 

There is no "molting" period -- the S'Kra undergo a sort of 
constant regeneration of their scales.  In an unhealthy 
S'Kra the new scales will not grow as quickly as the old 
ones deteriorate, leading to a patchy appearance of skin. 
  
The care of the skin is one meticulously undertaken by the 
S'Kra elite.  They routinely apply scented oils to their 
skin, rubbing it into the scales (which possess tiny pores 
so tiny as to make the surface of the scale seem shiningly 
smooth) with a certain type of soft cloth.  Prior to the 
application of this oil, a coarse brush is passed roughly 
over the scales, sanding away any imperfections on the 
edges of each individual scale and causing the entire 
scale pattern to lay properly into place. 
  
The scales vary in size.  The largest by far surround the 
spine, though those that actually cover it are quite tiny 
-- and noticeably harder than those covering the rest of 
the body.  The smallest cover the face, as might be 
obvious, allowing for a full range of facial expressions 
and movement. 
  
I will speak briefly on the S'Kra's claws before I close. 
Formed of a relatively soft but quite dense substance, the 
healthy S'Kra claw is dark black and glossy.  If chipped, 
the impacted edge cracks white, and "dead" spots flake away 
over time.  S'Kra in fact keep these claws blunted as to 
grow them out too far is not only considered uncouth, but 
also causes the older claw material to be increasingly 
subject to chipping or snapping, which can be quite 
painful.  If too much of the claw snaps away at once, 
the blood vessel at the end of the fingertip can be bared, 
resulting in quite profuse bleeding.  Thus the sanding of 
the claws is not only aesthetic, but quite practical. 
  
  
==On the Anatomy of the S'Kra Mur: ==
'''Concluding '''

  
I find the S'Kra Mur to be quite fascinating creatures from 
an anatomical perspective.  I do not pretend to understand 
the intricacies of their culture and language, though my 
competency in both is, I would say, perhaps superior to 
many of my peers'.  As with most species, it is clear 
that an understanding of their culture can at least in part 
be determined from their physical structure.  My studies of 
the S'Kra will continue, allowing for the cooperation of 
those who have kindly offered answers to my questions and 
subjected their bodies to inspection by the Empaths. 
I thank in particular Empath [[Saarli]] Irrlivas, who was able 
to share with me her extensive experience with the 
treatment of S'Kra patients.