Post by Trippy Hare on Apr 18, 2005 7:03:24 GMT -5
The Canids are not so much a single race, but a coalition of many of the sentient humanoid creatures that inhabit the forest of Ivorsherlet. The race itself has four major clans, each based upon the base-species (called Breeds) of its members. Cross-clan breeding is not frowned upon, but neither is it encouraged. Each clan is, for all intents and purposes, a completely different species, though they have a few traits in common that lend stability to the race as a whole.
Most Canids themselves object to the term "Canid", as it refers to the majority clan. The government of the Canid collective as a whole refers to itself as the "Vayan Confederacy", and so many individuals refer to themselves as "Vayans", not Canids.
Member species of the Vayan Confederacy all have several common traits. These common factors are the primary unifying factor between the different Breeds.
The primary factor of Canids is Sentience: a Canid is aware of himself, his people, and his mind. A Canid is able to use Logic and Reason, and can make decisions based upon those factors, rather than simple instincts.
The second common factor is Humanoid features: Canids have a minimum of two hands, two feet, two arms, legs, eyes, ears, etc. They walk upright and use verbal language as their primary form of communication. It is this factor that has made transition into the collective difficult for the Spider kin, called Weavers, as they have the least humanoid resemblance, and verbal communication can be problematic at times.
The final, and most damning, factor among Canids is their heightened metabolism, which has the unpleasant side-effect of a shortened lifespan. Canids live, on average, 40 to 50 years. There are those who live considerably longer, but for the most part, 40 years is seen as the average Canid's operable lifespan. This relatively brief timetable has forced the Canid collective to adapt to their brief lives by setting very short term limits on vital positions such as Judicator and High Counselor. Although this helps offset their short lifetimes, it causes a lack of experience in politics, and leads to shortcomings of leadership in the military.
Below is a breakdown of the individual clans:
The Avians - Avians are winged, birdlike bipeds, capable of self-sustained flight. They serve as the scholars of the Canids, as well as the scouts, reconnaissance, and covert agents of the Canid military. Avians are a shy people, and prefer their own kind and clan. Although they seem aloof and snobby, avians are actually witty and clever. Most of the populace actually living in the Sky-City consists of Avians, as the elevated position gives them both a natural vantage point, and an excellent roosting position. Essentially the upper class of the Canid race, Avians are not completely trusted by the other breeds, but their skills are undeniably useful.
Lunis - The most social and populous of the Canids is the nomadic Lunis Clan. These Canids are the ones from which the epithet Canid derives, as they are humanoid with either wolf (Lupus), Fox (Rufus), or Canine (Canis) traits to them. Fiercely loyal to other Lunis as well as the Canid race in general, Lunis provide the bulk of the Canid military machine, and are both fearless fighters and brilliant on-the-fly tacticians. Lunis' live predominantly in small nomadic villages, although there is a large contingent of Lunis serving in Llanivaya's standing army. They move by season, setting up small temporary villages or meeting with other such nomadic groups. Often, several villages will converge to market in one location, forming a huge gala social event, known as a 'moot'.
Consortium - The Consortium are the Artificers and Artisans of the Canids, fabricating everything from armor and weapons to silks and cloth. Consortium Canids are not actually a single Breed, but like the race itself, composed of many different Breeds, from the subterranean Moles to the mysterious Weavers. Very few Consortium serve in the military, although a notable exception is the enormous and incredibly powerful Ursus. These gargantuan Bearfolk are a welcome addition to the Canid forces, and are a fearsome sight on the battlefield. The other Consortium play a specialized role in the military as varied as the Clan itself, utilizing the best features of each clansmember. The quick and stealthy Weaselkin scout out enemy positions, infiltrate enemy camps, or spread chaos and confusion behind enemy lines, the moles tunnel under enemy fortifications, while the Weavers are predominantly combat medics, sewing and stitching up the wounded.
Felis - Serving as a counterpart to the social, pack-oriented Lunis are the cat-like Felis: once bitter adversaries, the Felis clan value individual achievements over pack/familial ties. Felis are ambitious and clever, and their agility and speed makes them formidable fighters as well. Felis culture has formed the basis of the Vayan Confederacy's republic-style form of government, where a single individual is representative of a greater populace. Felis are not exactly 'friendly' with other clans, and most Felis prefer to live separate from the Confederacy capital in their own city-states. However, Felis are still excellent warriors, and their speed and stealth makes them invaluable as spies and scouts. Of all the clans, the Felis are the least-integrated into Confederacy society, and are more akin to allies than citizens. Even still, Felis are the largest clan next to the Lunis, and their contribution- capricious though it may be- is vital.
Of all the clans, the Lunis are the most likely to ever be spotted outside the forest. Lunis caravans are not an uncommon sight, though due to their rowdy nature they are seldom a welcome one. Lunis are also the most likely to tolerate other races, as they have a great deal of contact with the world outside the forest.
But caravans aren't the only Canid groups wandering about. Just as with all peoples, there are unsavory sorts among the Canids. Canid law exiles criminals, rather than incarcerate or execute them. Often these criminals will band together for protection. In most cases, these Guilds of criminals seek only to continue their existence, but there have been cases of a Guild attacking settlements or caravans.
The Canid military is stratified into individual fighting groups, known as "packs". Each Pack must contain a minimum of 35 soldiers, of whom must be present some faction from each clan. A typical Pack contains 18 Lunis infantry, 2 Bearkin berserkers, 3 Avian scout/snipers, 9 Felis scout/assassins, and one Weaver medic. Packs typically do not socialize outside of military service, and once an individual's term of enlistment expires, they seldom re-enlist. Packs themselves are designed to be autonomous fighting units, and are left to devise strategies as they see fit. This ensures that no single Canid comes to control a majority of the military, thus minimizing the risk of a coup-de-tat. Canid strategy leans heavily towards defense, as Canid War-Packs limit aggression to patrols around the forest's periphery, and a heavier presence the nearer one gets to Llanivaya.
Most Canids themselves object to the term "Canid", as it refers to the majority clan. The government of the Canid collective as a whole refers to itself as the "Vayan Confederacy", and so many individuals refer to themselves as "Vayans", not Canids.
Member species of the Vayan Confederacy all have several common traits. These common factors are the primary unifying factor between the different Breeds.
The primary factor of Canids is Sentience: a Canid is aware of himself, his people, and his mind. A Canid is able to use Logic and Reason, and can make decisions based upon those factors, rather than simple instincts.
The second common factor is Humanoid features: Canids have a minimum of two hands, two feet, two arms, legs, eyes, ears, etc. They walk upright and use verbal language as their primary form of communication. It is this factor that has made transition into the collective difficult for the Spider kin, called Weavers, as they have the least humanoid resemblance, and verbal communication can be problematic at times.
The final, and most damning, factor among Canids is their heightened metabolism, which has the unpleasant side-effect of a shortened lifespan. Canids live, on average, 40 to 50 years. There are those who live considerably longer, but for the most part, 40 years is seen as the average Canid's operable lifespan. This relatively brief timetable has forced the Canid collective to adapt to their brief lives by setting very short term limits on vital positions such as Judicator and High Counselor. Although this helps offset their short lifetimes, it causes a lack of experience in politics, and leads to shortcomings of leadership in the military.
Below is a breakdown of the individual clans:
The Avians - Avians are winged, birdlike bipeds, capable of self-sustained flight. They serve as the scholars of the Canids, as well as the scouts, reconnaissance, and covert agents of the Canid military. Avians are a shy people, and prefer their own kind and clan. Although they seem aloof and snobby, avians are actually witty and clever. Most of the populace actually living in the Sky-City consists of Avians, as the elevated position gives them both a natural vantage point, and an excellent roosting position. Essentially the upper class of the Canid race, Avians are not completely trusted by the other breeds, but their skills are undeniably useful.
Lunis - The most social and populous of the Canids is the nomadic Lunis Clan. These Canids are the ones from which the epithet Canid derives, as they are humanoid with either wolf (Lupus), Fox (Rufus), or Canine (Canis) traits to them. Fiercely loyal to other Lunis as well as the Canid race in general, Lunis provide the bulk of the Canid military machine, and are both fearless fighters and brilliant on-the-fly tacticians. Lunis' live predominantly in small nomadic villages, although there is a large contingent of Lunis serving in Llanivaya's standing army. They move by season, setting up small temporary villages or meeting with other such nomadic groups. Often, several villages will converge to market in one location, forming a huge gala social event, known as a 'moot'.
Consortium - The Consortium are the Artificers and Artisans of the Canids, fabricating everything from armor and weapons to silks and cloth. Consortium Canids are not actually a single Breed, but like the race itself, composed of many different Breeds, from the subterranean Moles to the mysterious Weavers. Very few Consortium serve in the military, although a notable exception is the enormous and incredibly powerful Ursus. These gargantuan Bearfolk are a welcome addition to the Canid forces, and are a fearsome sight on the battlefield. The other Consortium play a specialized role in the military as varied as the Clan itself, utilizing the best features of each clansmember. The quick and stealthy Weaselkin scout out enemy positions, infiltrate enemy camps, or spread chaos and confusion behind enemy lines, the moles tunnel under enemy fortifications, while the Weavers are predominantly combat medics, sewing and stitching up the wounded.
Felis - Serving as a counterpart to the social, pack-oriented Lunis are the cat-like Felis: once bitter adversaries, the Felis clan value individual achievements over pack/familial ties. Felis are ambitious and clever, and their agility and speed makes them formidable fighters as well. Felis culture has formed the basis of the Vayan Confederacy's republic-style form of government, where a single individual is representative of a greater populace. Felis are not exactly 'friendly' with other clans, and most Felis prefer to live separate from the Confederacy capital in their own city-states. However, Felis are still excellent warriors, and their speed and stealth makes them invaluable as spies and scouts. Of all the clans, the Felis are the least-integrated into Confederacy society, and are more akin to allies than citizens. Even still, Felis are the largest clan next to the Lunis, and their contribution- capricious though it may be- is vital.
Of all the clans, the Lunis are the most likely to ever be spotted outside the forest. Lunis caravans are not an uncommon sight, though due to their rowdy nature they are seldom a welcome one. Lunis are also the most likely to tolerate other races, as they have a great deal of contact with the world outside the forest.
But caravans aren't the only Canid groups wandering about. Just as with all peoples, there are unsavory sorts among the Canids. Canid law exiles criminals, rather than incarcerate or execute them. Often these criminals will band together for protection. In most cases, these Guilds of criminals seek only to continue their existence, but there have been cases of a Guild attacking settlements or caravans.
The Canid military is stratified into individual fighting groups, known as "packs". Each Pack must contain a minimum of 35 soldiers, of whom must be present some faction from each clan. A typical Pack contains 18 Lunis infantry, 2 Bearkin berserkers, 3 Avian scout/snipers, 9 Felis scout/assassins, and one Weaver medic. Packs typically do not socialize outside of military service, and once an individual's term of enlistment expires, they seldom re-enlist. Packs themselves are designed to be autonomous fighting units, and are left to devise strategies as they see fit. This ensures that no single Canid comes to control a majority of the military, thus minimizing the risk of a coup-de-tat. Canid strategy leans heavily towards defense, as Canid War-Packs limit aggression to patrols around the forest's periphery, and a heavier presence the nearer one gets to Llanivaya.