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Beastkin Culture

Mar 5, 2016
Beastkin Culture
  • Beastkin

    The Beastkin arrived in the Days of Fire when the world changed. The first of these creatures encountered by men were seen embattled with the forces of the orcs and the Undead. Impromptu alliances were swiftly formed on battlefields. Since then more beastkin have appeared in the Kingdom fleeing the lands controlled by the orcs. The King consulted his advisers and the Archimandrite informed him that the beastkin were created by the gods to aid the humans in their fight against the orcs and that it was the will of the gods that the beastkin be welcomed as their children. Following their introduction to the King they have proved to be useful allies.

    Prior to contact with humans, beastkin have no recollection of their lives past a certain point. In fact the oldest of their number tell the story of how they seemed to simply awake on a battlefield, fighting against the orcs. Younger kin have been told the tales of what they call the awakening by their parents and have had it explained that the gods created them to fight with the humans. There are few stories from that time and nothing approaching accurate knowledge. It is preached and believed by both human and beastkin alike, that the kin were created by the gods to serve them in their eternal battle against the forces of the darkness. They were created or awakened during the early days of the war to fight the minions of darkness and they love their work.

    These days most beastkin have become much more civilized and are able to train in most of the same skills as humans. You will find beastkin wizards, crafters as well as warriors and scouts. Some, however, are more feral and bestial. These DIRE beastkin are larger and more powerful but lack the cultural and intellectual development of their brethren. Since joining with the humans some of the kin have chosen to group together with those of similar species while other mix without regard to such matters. Famous groups include the Canines who have formed the Dog Legion around a core of Quadaq officers, the Felines, a proud and savvy species who are natural traders and merchants, the Reptiles of the Ashbriar Swamps and the Avians of Cloud Peak. Rumor has it that rodent beastkin exist in the shadows and in the underside of the realm but these are unsubstantiated and have no basis in fact.
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    Dariya of Sarqand,Ritualist and Licensed Mage of the Mother.


    Canines(top)


    The canines are one of the more numerous of the definable beastkin groups that have allied with the Kingdom. As their name suggests they all exhibit a dog-like appearance and tend to be well built and hardy. They are covered in short rough hair that can be found in many colours and patterns. It is often observed that canines of the same tribe are all coloured and patterned the same, a fact that human scholars believe helps with a kind of pack recognition.

    The pack mentality is strong in canines and they have a loyalty towards each other and their allies that is as fierce as their prowess in battle. They make excellent soldiers and have little trouble following orders from either the alphas of their packs or respected human officers. There are many regiments in the Kingdom army made up solely of canines and led by either trusted and proved canine or more likely, human commanders. The most famous of these is the Legio Canis. This body of soldiers is led by the decorated Qadaq General, Haran Thanys, and has been actively defending the southern border of the Kingdom against raids from the orc River Clans and the Great Khan's probing attacks across the Styric. This legion is one of the most dedicated and loyal Kingdom units in existence. Veterans of countless battles, only The Lion Guard are more honoured.

    Canines are an honourable species. When they give their word they are fiercely proud of the integrity of that oath and as such will do anything to keep it. It has been known for a canine to travel the length of the Kingdom to fulfil an oath while there are many stories of canines dying in defence of their honour. The Kingdom prize the loyalty of this proud and noble warrior species above all other beastkin.

    Felines(top)

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    Valis of The Barrens, Mercenary and Caravan guard.
    Of all the beastkin cultures, the one that has has integrated the most successfully with the human community are the felines. These haughty and at times arrogant creatures have a cunning and intelligence that belies the stereotype of the beastkin race.

    Very soon after the arrival of the beastkin the felines began to prove themselves to have keen minds that matched their reflexes. Not generally as physically built as their canine cousins, the felines are suited to the more scholarly pursuits and they excel in the fields of commerce and trade. A large mercantile faction run by a group of felines has recently become one of the most influential and powerful economic forces in the Kingdom and has trade routes and caravans that bring goods to the realm from The Theocracy, the Shield Lands and even as far away as the Northlands.

    Felines range in appearance from larger specimens that tend to be striped or spotted like the huge predatory cats of the southern deserts to the sleek black and brown pelts of the animals native to the deeper forests of The Theocracy and the Kingdom. They are capable of taking any career path but prefer as a rule to move down the less martial routes, seeing combat as vulgar and the last resort of uninformed minds (or best done unexpectedly). That is not to say that they are not capable of mastering the skills of combat and it has been known for larger felines to become fearsome warriors, however this is less common than with the canines.

    Reptiles(top)


    When the reptile-kin entered the Kingdom after the Days of Fire they were gifted the Ashbriar Swamps as a place to settle and successfully colonized the area, soon making it their own. The Kingdom was more than happy with this situation as the swamps lay on the edge of Kingdom territory and turned what was an unpopulated stretch of unprotected land into a defense against incursion from this direction.

    The reptile-kin were initially looked upon with a great deal of mistrust by the people of the Kingdom due to their appearance. Most reptile-kin bear a resemblance to many creatures common to the Kingdoms swamps and rivers. Snakes and lizards have ever been things shunned by society and this was the reason that the King was keen to hide them away from the eyes of his people. It was only after they proved their worth by constantly repelling attacks from Undead and orcs attempting to enter the Kingdom through the swamps that the humans began to sit up and take notice that in the reptile-kin they had gained a powerful ally.
    The beastkin of the swamps are highly proficient scouts and their skills in stealth and evasion are legendary in the Kingdom. They are regularly used by the legions as forward auxiliaries and if the need arises their skills can be turned to more nefarious outcomes...
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    Nicodemus of House Styrmont,
    apprentice wizard in the court of Count Gwylam.

    Reptile beastkin tend to be less trusting of outsiders and are sometimes seen as timid and retiring. This paranoia however is more of an innate, inbuilt defense that has allowed them to survive in places where they are seen as akin to things that scare and repulse the very people they call allies.

    Avians(top)


    Of all the cultures of beastkin welcomed into the Kingdom after the cataclysm, the avians are maybe the ones looked on with the most interest by the humans. In the south of the realm, the Mountains of Fire encroach into the Kingdom and The Theocracy. In the foothills of this intimidating range within the borders of the Kingdom a single crag of rock towers into the skies. it is here in this impressive landmark the elegant and striking lofts of the avian-kin are to be found. They have named the place Cloud Peak and it has become their home within human lands.

    The human fascination with avians stems from their affinity with magic. More so than any other culture of the beastkin avians have a relationship with the forces of mana and magic that is beyond that of their cousins. The path of the mage is prevalent in Cloud Peak and magic is practised with an ease that is both coveted and valued by the humans. The avians practice the magical arts with an innate ability and skill.
    Avians, as you might expect, resemble birds of every variation and style. All avian-kin sport beaks and avian features and are covered, on at least some parts of their body with soft feathers of every hue imaginable. Style of clothing tends to be loose fitting with robes and flowing dresses being the preferred garb. Bright coloured cloth is used to accentuate the feathers of individuals and it seems that this is culturally significant.
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