Stratos Artes
| Stratos Artes | |
|---|---|
 |
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| The two most common Stratos species. From left to right: Whirlwind S. and Zephyr S. | |
| Sociology | |
| Population | ~ 3,800,000 |
| Common roles | Companionship, construction, delivery, entertainment, medicine, law enforcement, military. |
The Stratos Artes or just Stratos are a family of sapiential Artes species, characterized by their six limbs, presence of feathers, and gregarious behaviour. They are the oldest extant lineage of sapiform Artes, and as such, have attained worldwide popularity and historical renown.
Stratos can be found worldwide, having arrived by contractual work or as commissioned specimens. They are highly social, and while they interact with humans readily, they commonly form cliques and behave cooperatively. It could be said they have a symbiotic relationship with humans; providing work and companionship in exchange of shelter and food.
The Stratos family consists of three groups, with three extant species and seven functionally extinct species.
Brief history
See also: Artes
The history of the Stratos is closely linked to the history of Artes as a whole. The very first Artes came from the defunct Atesham Empire, but Stratos themselves were created by the Tarrukar Empire. The very first Cyclones came to be as a military weapon, able to traverse the mountainous terrain of the Kar continent.
The end of the war and the massive success of Cyclones led to a fervent demand for more species of its kind, leading to the domestic species of Zephyr Stratos. Their cognitive function was much improved in order to let them fill roles as caregivers or maids, and a modular design system was implemented to allow limitless possibilities in feather colouring and patterns. Their wings were kept small, and their build was designed to be as close as human as possible.
In no time, the wealthy commissioned their own Zephyr secretaries; celebrities tailored theirs to their image. Due to the priority placed in technological advancements for Artes production, the civil situation within Tarrukar turned tumultuous. A large percentage of the territory protested against creation of new Artes, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Absolut from financing military and genetic engineering programs while ignoring the millions of victims left from the war.
This resulted into the eventual Artes Purge, a catastrophic event that led to civil war and the death of thousands of Artes. War ended in favour of the anti-Artes coalition, who took over a territory of the continent and founded the Braukar Republic. A subsequent treaty limited the future of Artes creation, and from here Tarrukar took a more conservative mindset in their design: prioritizing public opinion and a favourable integration of new species in society. This led to the production of the Whirlwind Stratos, being the 'friendly and submissive' alternative to Cyclones.
Species
Cyclone Stratos
Main article: Cyclone Stratos
The Cyclone Stratos are the oldest extant species of sapiform Artes, being initially released over a century ago. They are characterised by their six limbs, tails, and peculiar body proportions. The body form of Cyclones feature short, powerful legs and long arms, allowing the flexibility to walk in a quadruped or bipedal gait. They present wings and a tail large enough for aerial locomotion, as well as plumage, teeth and talons adapted for slicing flesh, whiskers, and large eyes.
Their INTACT species code is TKSC. The current extant species of Cyclone Stratos is the fifth generation (TKSC:5). The previous generations of Cyclones, TKSC:1 through TKSC:4 are considered functionally extinct, as they aren't produced anymore, though some individuals are still alive and active in society. Previous generations of Cyclones presented more extensive plumage, less humanoid appearances, scales, behavioral and health issues, and a lower cognition level.
Whirlwind Stratos
Main article: Whirlwind Stratos
The Whirlwind Stratos is the latest developed species in the Stratos family of Artes, with the first generation having been developed almost forty years ago. They are capable of flight, meaning that they feature large wings and a feathered tail. However, unlike the Cyclone, they present a much more humanoid form: standing upright, and having longer legs than arms, a combination of mammalian hair and plumage, human-like teeth and primate nails.
Their INTACT species code is TKSW. The current extant species of Whirlwind Stratos is the second generation (TKSW:2). The previous generation of Whirlwinds, TKSW:1, is considered functionally extinct as they aren't produced anymore.
Zephyr Stratos
Main article: Zephyr Stratos
The Zephyr Stratos is the most widespread variety of Stratos. They are made on commission by private companies, and are usually kept for customer service, nursing, private management and performance. Even if designed with customizable traits, they all have to follow the same basic structure: humanoid, bipedal-only build, dwarfed wings, softened keratin, and adequate physical/mental health to engage with human architecture.
Their INTACT species code is TKSZ. The current extant species of Zephyr Stratos is the third generation (TKSZ:3). The previous generations of Zephyrs, TKSZ:1 and TKSZ:2, are considered functionally extinct as they aren't produced anymore, though some individuals are still alive and active in society.