The Cervids
Feb 27, 2014 23:53:23 GMT
Post by deerpeople on Feb 27, 2014 23:53:23 GMT
Name: Cervids
Appearance: The Cervids are generally humanoid, though during puberty, both the male and female of the species begin to develop antlers. They are generally fair of skin, though they tan and handle sunlight well. A few are born darker, but this is rare. They have a multitude of freckles across their cheeks and on their shoulders. They also have small fluffy deer like tails. Most have long blond, ginger, or golden brown hair, which is worn long and often braided by both sexes. The men tend to have full beards. The average male is 5 and a half feet tall and the average female is five feet. They tend toward stockiness.
Cervid fashion is focused on natural materials: wool, linen, and cotton are common. Their leaders wear the skins of deer for ceremonial purposes. Furs are very fashionable. They use natural dyes and favor indigo.
They are organized tribally and tend to live for a very long time unless killed. The current chief is Lord Kristjan, and the chieftains of the three tribes who answer to the Great Chief are Klaas, his brother, who rules the northern tribe; Parsley, his grandson, who rules the western tribe; and Rivka, his daughter, who rules the eastern tribe.
Numbers: A few hundred in each tribe. Maybe a thousand all told. In the past, they were a much larger group.
Diet: They are omnivores, but have a mostly plant based diet. Due to their road, flat molars, they are able to digest even the toughest of leaves, grasses, and have even been known to strip the bark from trees in wintertime. They do occasionally eat meat, and since they farm sheep for wool and other products, it tends to be mutton. Animals they will never consume are deer, as they believe these creatures sacred ancestors of their people.
Powers: The Cervids have some innate "magical" powers. Animals, even wild ones, are calmed by their presence. Plants grow more strongly and blossom more fully. Some, which are identified at a young age and raised to be shamans in the tribes, have powers of prescience and can control the powers that are innate to all Cervids. ie: the shamans are able to control when and how the plants bloom, even out of season, and can command animals psychically. Some highly skilled shamans can control other sentient beings.
Role in Empire: The Cervids have a largely agrarian background and much of their produce and livestock was traded to the major cities of the empire. Despite this, they also have a strong war culture, especially the northern tribe, which was well known for providing elite sea vessels and the men to command them to the armies of the Empire. When not used in war, the northern tribesmen would raid nearby settlements.
Appearance: The Cervids are generally humanoid, though during puberty, both the male and female of the species begin to develop antlers. They are generally fair of skin, though they tan and handle sunlight well. A few are born darker, but this is rare. They have a multitude of freckles across their cheeks and on their shoulders. They also have small fluffy deer like tails. Most have long blond, ginger, or golden brown hair, which is worn long and often braided by both sexes. The men tend to have full beards. The average male is 5 and a half feet tall and the average female is five feet. They tend toward stockiness.
Cervid fashion is focused on natural materials: wool, linen, and cotton are common. Their leaders wear the skins of deer for ceremonial purposes. Furs are very fashionable. They use natural dyes and favor indigo.
They are organized tribally and tend to live for a very long time unless killed. The current chief is Lord Kristjan, and the chieftains of the three tribes who answer to the Great Chief are Klaas, his brother, who rules the northern tribe; Parsley, his grandson, who rules the western tribe; and Rivka, his daughter, who rules the eastern tribe.
Numbers: A few hundred in each tribe. Maybe a thousand all told. In the past, they were a much larger group.
Diet: They are omnivores, but have a mostly plant based diet. Due to their road, flat molars, they are able to digest even the toughest of leaves, grasses, and have even been known to strip the bark from trees in wintertime. They do occasionally eat meat, and since they farm sheep for wool and other products, it tends to be mutton. Animals they will never consume are deer, as they believe these creatures sacred ancestors of their people.
Powers: The Cervids have some innate "magical" powers. Animals, even wild ones, are calmed by their presence. Plants grow more strongly and blossom more fully. Some, which are identified at a young age and raised to be shamans in the tribes, have powers of prescience and can control the powers that are innate to all Cervids. ie: the shamans are able to control when and how the plants bloom, even out of season, and can command animals psychically. Some highly skilled shamans can control other sentient beings.
Role in Empire: The Cervids have a largely agrarian background and much of their produce and livestock was traded to the major cities of the empire. Despite this, they also have a strong war culture, especially the northern tribe, which was well known for providing elite sea vessels and the men to command them to the armies of the Empire. When not used in war, the northern tribesmen would raid nearby settlements.