Nu Mou

The Nu Mou are an elusive group of hunched, doglike creatures. They  are among the longest-lived races, but age early; as they approach adolescence, Nu Mou quickly lose suppleness and muscular flexibility, gradually becoming crooked, stooped adults incapable of moving faster than a shuffle. Bound by these physical limitations, they have become first-rate sages and intellectuals, channeling the energy other races put into honing their bodies into sharpening their minds.

Though they share a single name, there is a significant amount of physical variety among the Nu Mou - to such an extent that some naturalists believe the race encompasses two entirely separate species. The most commonly encountered Nu Mou are gray-or brownskinned, with long, floppy ears, elephantlike hides and sunken nostrils on either side of the face. Others are smaller and lighterskinned, with brown, button-like noses, ears like a beagle's, and prominent facial hair. Others still mix features of the first two, though there are some physical constants; beyond the hunched bodies, all sub-species share long, heavy tails topped with a layer of coarse fur, small, four-fingered hands and three-toed feet.