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The Otterman Empire
Otter Arps are large, tailless humanoid mammals with proportions that differ from Human in having somewhat longer torsos and shorter legs. Average male height is 6'10", weight average is 240. Females average at 6'4" and are generally more lightly built. They consume an omnivorous diet leaning heavily toward meat, especially fish and other aquatic denizens. Ottermen always have anchovies on their pizzas. Beyond all other interests and pursuits, all Ottermen learn to swim from infancy, and their world-view is strongly influenced by an amphibious lifestyle. An Otter Arp who doesn't like to swim is mentally ill; one denied access to swimable water will soon become mentally ill. They are very strong, fast swimmers, and can hold their breaths underwater for much longer than a human; five minutes normally, with eight minutes or more achievable by most individuals in an emergency. The Otterman military focuses on cavalry, with lightning raids and quick feints. Their riders are skilled with bows, making their numbers even more effective. Otterman infantry are used to take and hold ground behind the cavalry, or to storm strongholds. Otterman troops are all well trained, and their antique equipment is the finest modern technology can produce. The average Otterman is outgoing and humorous, industrious but with a tendency to make a game out of everything. They are highly intelligent, and take great pleasure in exploring the new and unusual. They have an alarming habit of becoming fixated on 'goals' that they will pursue beyond all reason. While not inherently mean or cruel, they are sometimes seen that way by other races when a current 'goal' (or practical joke) becomes more important to them than the well being of others. Social gender equality is as complete as biologically possible, though size/strength differences between male and female tend to influence job specializations. The social norm is for monogamous relationships, of which formal marriage may or may not be a part. Females take primary responsibility for their children, usually with most of the rearing and education being done by the State (community). The riding beast used by the Ottermen, known as the "giant maned weasel-mouse," is of uncertain genetic origin and is reputed to have originated from a group of "kittens" left in a basket on the doorstep of the Central River Control Agency. They are friendly, easily trained animals, and are completely impossible to ride unless one is an Otterman with 5 years of training. The tack and saddle necessary to keep a rider mounted on one is so complex that in the Otterman dialect the word "saddle" has been replaced by "Rube-Goldberg". Resources
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Otterman Infantry OfficerStock number GCC17-2140 Officers in the Ottermen Empire are highly trained in the finer points of tactics and warfare. Many spend hundreds of hours honing their skill with boardgames designed to simulate battles. On the field of combat, they stay on the move, directing their troops from the midst of the fray. Their chain armor and swords keep them nimble and combat-effective.
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Otterman Empire BowmanStock number GCC17-2141 Archery is held in high regard in the Ottermen Empire, a fact this warrior takes pride in. In training or friendly battles, he uses blunt arrows and targets the body for non-lethal hits. In serious combat, he often aims for unarmored limbs, and is capable of making trick shots.
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Ottermen Empire Heavy InfantrymanStock number GCC17-2142 While the stereotype of an Otter is quick and lithe, this race does produce its share of bruisers. The Heavy Infantryman is one such fighter, covering his body with heavy scales and swinging a vicious war axe.
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Light Cavalry BowmanStock number GCC17-2143 While the standard archer is an effective warrior on his own, when the bowman is mounted, his mobility threatens even more targets. Not only does the bizarre saddle keeps the rider steady when the giant maned weasel-mouse is stationary, but it makes firing during a charge possible.
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Heavy CavalryStock number GCC17-2144 For heavy-hitting fast strikes, the Ottermen have the Heavy Cavalry. Although the extra layers of armor slow the weasel-mouse down, their "poinging" gait allows the Heavy Cavalry to wade into the thickest battle. The Heavy Cavalry rely on maces and the sheer mass of their armored mounts to break through an enemy's defensive line.
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Heavy Cavalry BowmanStock number GCC17-2145 The Ottermen place a high value on archery. Even the most heavily armored cavalry units include some archers. Sporting heavy armor on both the rider and mount, the Heavy Cavalry Bowman works close to the front lines of the battle, alternating between his bow and his sword. 
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