Birrin

The Birrin are a sentient hexapod (six limbed) species from a planet approximately the size of Venus. This individual, gaudily attired, lives (and sometimes works) in the tropical regions of their world, bordering the uninhabitably hot equatorial zone many birrin call the 'Kiln'.

Here, refugees, faced with starvation and loss of livelihood by the diversion of the river that feeds the vast lakes they live upon, were shipped to the uninhabited badlands. Ill feelings due to the destruction of their towns and habitat, anger soon erupted into large scale protests.

Seen here is a vast march from a nearby tent city; angry refugees storm an area of newly (but cheaply) build admin towers created to manage the huge displaced population. Younger and angrier refugees quickly turned to violence, attacking understaffed riot police staff with knives and other improvised weapons.

The Birrin are an egg laying species, and clutches typically contain 3 or 4 eggs which hatch within days of each other to reveal small, hungry and fuzzy chicks.

The young birrin have several adaptations evolved to aid their survival in the humid and life filled swamps in which the species first evolved. The short hair covering their small bodies is a dense mat of fibers designed to keep the myriad nest parasites from gaining access to their skin, while the conspicuous stripes allow birrin parents to immediately locate their young on foraging trips. This fur, while useful, poses an overheating problem in the tropical climate and so the undersides of the large dorsal wings are highly vascular and by holding them out from the body the young can cool themselves. The fur is shed in stages, first falling away from the lower limbs to prevent mud from the wet forest floor fouling the fibers.

The other major adaptation youthful birrin possess are large patterned plate-like growths around the base of each eye stalk, and covering part of the breathing apparatus: These plates not only help deny access to certain parasites but are also used to elicit feeding behavior from the adults when displayed around the open mouth.

Most modern birrin, having long since industrialized, rarely brood traditionally but often use communal incubators or hired nannies to warm eggs during gestation. Indeed the fur, once useful for parasite control, is now in some regions is shaved off soon after birth to keep the chicks cool.

Many birrin, being pleasurably susceptible to many of the psychoactive defense compounds found in plants, have developed complex rituals around recreational drug use.

The practices are not universally accepted, and many societies have strict controls to reduce their economic impacts. Others embrace them to such an extent that they have become an essential part of the daily ritual. Before and after work many stop at their local smoking bars to partake in a variety of substances both inhaled and ingested. As community focal points, smoking houses are also places for social interactions, and as a way to prepare for, or wind down from, the days’ pressures.

Smoking houses have a long history, this example predating the widespread collapse of birrin society millennia ago. Restored by wealthy locals as civilization recovered, the interior was painted a calming blue to lend an air of tranquility. To avoid the smoke damaging their garments, many regulars wear blue smoking suits infused with years of volatile chemical scents.