Hashka

Hashka
A sketch of a (presumably male) haskha fisherman.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukarya
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Superfamily:	Herpestoidea
Family:	Haschidae
Genus:	Orthohascha
Species:	O. garrula
Binomial name
Orthohascha garrula F.

Hashka (sg. and pl., alternative plural hashkae, Orthohascha garrula, Regal Dòn Proper: haBHkashiN Háàhkashin) are the native people of Anschuhe, somewhat distantly related to the hyenas of Nkungu and more closely to the sveltewolves of southern Ashnan. They originated around central-southern Ashnan, near modern-day Cicex, approximately 60,000 years before present. Like the rest of their family, Haschidae, they are mesocarnivores, with around 50% of their diet requiring meat. They are the only sapient members of genus Orthohascha.

History

Prehistory

Hashka are theorised to have gained sapience around 60,000 years ago within the territory nowadays occupied by Cicex. At the time, they were little more than hunter-gatherers, living in small and disperse pockets, with some knowledge of riverine sailing. Upon human expansion 40,000 years ago, most early hashka were either driven out or killed. The only surviving populations managed to sail to nearby Anschuhe, where they thrived and expanded, covering most of the continent.

Hashka Copper Age

Evidence of early hashka copperwork can be found around eastern mountainous Anschuhe, dating to around 8500 BP, in the form of various vessels, weapons and bells. The nature of most of the weapons found, i.e. arrowheads and spearheads intended for hunting, lends credence to the theory that warfare amongst hashka populations was minimal or nonexistent at this time. Proto-Hro-Don is theorised to have originated around this time, around the mouth of the Fíó River.

Human contact

There is scant and inconclusive evidence of hashka-human contact before this time, but since 2000 CY it can be said that the early populations of modern-day Cicex and modern-day RSS have held tenuous trading partnerships.

Industrialisation

After the initial colonisation efforts by TSC which would later become the United Territories of Anschuhe, a small industrial boom began in the more populous cities, while the rest of the continent remains mostly pastoralist.

Behaviour

Social organisation

Hashka group themselves in hierarchical family units, with a matriarch at the very top, her unmarried female children under her, followed by the matriarch's male spouses, then her unmarried male children, and her young cubs at the very bottom.

Communication

While hashka primarily communicate through spoken language (mostly Hro-Don languages), their body language and emotional reactions are idiosyncratic and often hard to parse by unknowing humans. Below is a general guide.

• Laughter is the main emotional response that may confuse a human; hashka usually laugh not as a result of happiness or pleasure, but as a response to stress, nervousness and/or anxiety. A happy laughter is tendentially a "woo" sound that rises and falls in pitch rhythmically. Similarly, a hashka smiling is usually an indicator of fear or stress, especially with ears angled flat.
• A pleasant sound hashka usually make is called the moo, a long, sustained low sound reminiscent of a cow mooing, which usually signifies calmness or affection.
• Angry hashka will usually emit a rolling growling/roaring sound from the back of their throats
• Hashka experience piloerection on most of their body fur but particularly their nape, which reacts to emotional impulse. A relaxed, slightly erected mane is the neutral position, while negative emotions are usually accompanied by a flattened mane. When preparing for an attack, the mane erects fully.
• Ear position is important in reading a hashka's emotions.
  • Folded flat: fear, anxiety, concern.
  • Folded back: anger, about to attack.
  • Held upright: neutral, happiness.
• Tail motion is another notable factor. In its neutral position, it will hang limp. An erected, up-curled tail is usually a signifier of excitement, while a tail curled into the crotch is a sign of fear. A flick of the tail signifies discomfort.

Hashka physical communication also differs from humans'. A typical display of affection between close friends is neck-to-neck contact, while romantic affection is usually demonstrated by touching noses and rubbing snouts against each other's fur.