Lupines
Feb 27, 2014 3:17:05 GMT
Post by Ulfric Blacktail on Feb 27, 2014 3:17:05 GMT
Name: Lupines
Appearance: Standing larger and more muscular than most humans, Lupines are intelligent wolf-like bipedal creatures with long snouts, teeth and fur, which comes in a wide variety of colors. They have clawed hands with opposable thumbs.
Numbers: Hundreds (Divided into Packs)
Organization:
Lupine society is divided into family organizations called packs, which are lead by an Alpha Male and Alpha Female, who are typically, but not necessarily a monogamous mating pair. Below them are Betas, usually relatives of the Alphas, brothers, sisters, cousins etc. At the lowest rungs are Omegas, who typically take up a submissive and servile role, and who rarely are able to afford mates or offspring. Lupine society is a competitive meritocracy, and Alphas may fall to Beta status, or even Omegas rise to Beta status, through a series of challenges or through notable action, typically in battle. When Packs grow overly large schisms are possible, with a section of the Betas breaking off to form a new pack.
Alphas of a pack must always be challenged for that position in a formal process overseen by the Alpha Council. The Alpha Council consists of the Alpha Males of the Twelve Largest Packs. Alphas from smaller packs are permitted to speak at the Council, but are not permitted to vote. In the Days of the Empire the Wolfguard pack, which served as the Emperor's Elite Bodyguard, provided a tie-breaking 13th vote, but this is no longer possible. Typically the Council serves to ritualize and limit inter-pack violence, to recognize the formation of new packs, and performs religious ceremonies. It also has veto power over the taking of Mercenary Contracts, which it rarely exercises, although efforts are taken to prevent large scale inter-pack violence on behalf of a third party. (For instance if a pack were to already have a contract with one side, a second pack may be "discouraged" from taking a contract with the opposing side if it was likely to put the two into direct competition.)
The Alpha Council
The WolfGuard [Destroyed]
BlackTails 80
LongTooths 40
DarkHowlers [Missing]
WhiteMoons 40
NightHunters [Missing]
RedClaws 40
SnowFeet [Missing]
GrayEars 20
BloodSnouts 20
SteelClaws [Missing]
MoonCryers 20
MountainRunners 20
Assorted Smaller Packs (10=<) and LoneWolves 120
Family Structure and Mating:
Lupines are monogamous, and typically mate for life. Alphas as the best fed and most stable of a pack, will typically have a litter of between 4-10 pups every year, althogh the mortality rate is high, and typically less than half of a litter will grow to full adulthood. Betas may occasionally have mates and offspring, but rarely, and Omegas never. Lupines have a traditional mating season, mating only in winter, with the females giving birth in the spring. Raising Pups is a Pack wide activity, with Omegas routinely serving as nurse maids, or babysitters.
Eating Habits: Lupines are largely carnivorous, although if desperate they can and will scavenge. Packs typically conduct group hunts, where they will bring down large game, as well as taking advantage of other smaller game to supplement their diet when available. Excess food stuff is typically buried in specially constructed ice houses, for future retrieval. The hunting of intelligent creatures is formally forbidden since the formation of the Alpha Council and the Wolfguard, although in cases of legitimate combat, it is not unknown for Lupines to consume some of a slain opponent.
Technology and Tools: Lupines are an Iron age race, capable of forging arms, armor, and various tools, and are able to work with stone and carpentry.
Religion: The Lupines have two primary Gods, Wolf-Father and Moon-Mother, who function as law-giver/war god and creation/earth mother archetypes respectively. They recognize other Imperial gods as existing, but do not typically worship them.
Powers: Lupines are much stronger and faster than humans. They have powerful claws and sharp teeth. They have excellent night vision, an amazing sense of smell, and superior hearing.
Reputation: The Lupines have a reputation for being violent and warlike. Among those educated in their ways they are known for being honorable and loyal as long as contracts and agreements are honored. Among the ill-educated, there are still stories of Lupines snatching livestock and eating babies who didn't listen to their parents.
Role: Lupines lived in the rural, mountainous areas away from civilization. When they interact with other races it is typically to serve as bodyguards and mercenaries for those who can afford their talents.
Greatest Weakness: Lupines have limited social skills compared to most other races. Their highly stylized social structure of dominance and submission cues comes off as little more than threats of open violence and terrifying growls and bared teeth. Lupines have a negative to all Social skills (except Intimidation).
Economy and Trade: Lupines primarily engage in the Imperial economy through the sale of their services as bodyguards and mercenaries. While they they are capable of making their own weapons, armor and leather goods, they are not highly skilled craftsmen, and even Lupines prefer Human-made items to their own Iron. Typically their services are sold in exchange for weapons, armor, jewelry and other trinkets, as well as for cattle or other livestock.
Appearance: Standing larger and more muscular than most humans, Lupines are intelligent wolf-like bipedal creatures with long snouts, teeth and fur, which comes in a wide variety of colors. They have clawed hands with opposable thumbs.
Numbers: Hundreds (Divided into Packs)
Organization:
Lupine society is divided into family organizations called packs, which are lead by an Alpha Male and Alpha Female, who are typically, but not necessarily a monogamous mating pair. Below them are Betas, usually relatives of the Alphas, brothers, sisters, cousins etc. At the lowest rungs are Omegas, who typically take up a submissive and servile role, and who rarely are able to afford mates or offspring. Lupine society is a competitive meritocracy, and Alphas may fall to Beta status, or even Omegas rise to Beta status, through a series of challenges or through notable action, typically in battle. When Packs grow overly large schisms are possible, with a section of the Betas breaking off to form a new pack.
Alphas of a pack must always be challenged for that position in a formal process overseen by the Alpha Council. The Alpha Council consists of the Alpha Males of the Twelve Largest Packs. Alphas from smaller packs are permitted to speak at the Council, but are not permitted to vote. In the Days of the Empire the Wolfguard pack, which served as the Emperor's Elite Bodyguard, provided a tie-breaking 13th vote, but this is no longer possible. Typically the Council serves to ritualize and limit inter-pack violence, to recognize the formation of new packs, and performs religious ceremonies. It also has veto power over the taking of Mercenary Contracts, which it rarely exercises, although efforts are taken to prevent large scale inter-pack violence on behalf of a third party. (For instance if a pack were to already have a contract with one side, a second pack may be "discouraged" from taking a contract with the opposing side if it was likely to put the two into direct competition.)
The Alpha Council
The WolfGuard [Destroyed]
BlackTails 80
LongTooths 40
DarkHowlers [Missing]
WhiteMoons 40
NightHunters [Missing]
RedClaws 40
SnowFeet [Missing]
GrayEars 20
BloodSnouts 20
SteelClaws [Missing]
MoonCryers 20
MountainRunners 20
Assorted Smaller Packs (10=<) and LoneWolves 120
Family Structure and Mating:
Lupines are monogamous, and typically mate for life. Alphas as the best fed and most stable of a pack, will typically have a litter of between 4-10 pups every year, althogh the mortality rate is high, and typically less than half of a litter will grow to full adulthood. Betas may occasionally have mates and offspring, but rarely, and Omegas never. Lupines have a traditional mating season, mating only in winter, with the females giving birth in the spring. Raising Pups is a Pack wide activity, with Omegas routinely serving as nurse maids, or babysitters.
Eating Habits: Lupines are largely carnivorous, although if desperate they can and will scavenge. Packs typically conduct group hunts, where they will bring down large game, as well as taking advantage of other smaller game to supplement their diet when available. Excess food stuff is typically buried in specially constructed ice houses, for future retrieval. The hunting of intelligent creatures is formally forbidden since the formation of the Alpha Council and the Wolfguard, although in cases of legitimate combat, it is not unknown for Lupines to consume some of a slain opponent.
Technology and Tools: Lupines are an Iron age race, capable of forging arms, armor, and various tools, and are able to work with stone and carpentry.
Religion: The Lupines have two primary Gods, Wolf-Father and Moon-Mother, who function as law-giver/war god and creation/earth mother archetypes respectively. They recognize other Imperial gods as existing, but do not typically worship them.
Powers: Lupines are much stronger and faster than humans. They have powerful claws and sharp teeth. They have excellent night vision, an amazing sense of smell, and superior hearing.
Reputation: The Lupines have a reputation for being violent and warlike. Among those educated in their ways they are known for being honorable and loyal as long as contracts and agreements are honored. Among the ill-educated, there are still stories of Lupines snatching livestock and eating babies who didn't listen to their parents.
Role: Lupines lived in the rural, mountainous areas away from civilization. When they interact with other races it is typically to serve as bodyguards and mercenaries for those who can afford their talents.
Greatest Weakness: Lupines have limited social skills compared to most other races. Their highly stylized social structure of dominance and submission cues comes off as little more than threats of open violence and terrifying growls and bared teeth. Lupines have a negative to all Social skills (except Intimidation).
Economy and Trade: Lupines primarily engage in the Imperial economy through the sale of their services as bodyguards and mercenaries. While they they are capable of making their own weapons, armor and leather goods, they are not highly skilled craftsmen, and even Lupines prefer Human-made items to their own Iron. Typically their services are sold in exchange for weapons, armor, jewelry and other trinkets, as well as for cattle or other livestock.