Examples
VESPER HOUNDS
Commonly called 'Vespers' for short, Vesper Hounds are a canine-based creature native only to the continent of Attica. Found primarily in the Northern and Eastern Territories, Vespers can vary greatly in their appearances, from their fur types to the markings across their coats.
ANATOMY & APPEARANCE
Although Vespers are all fairly unique in the coloration of their coats, all Vespers have the same core features. Vespers are quadrupeds, with two ears, two eyes and sharp teeth meant for ripping both flesh and plant life. Although primarily omnivores, Vespers can survive off a purely carnivorous diet - but not a vegetarian one.
Vesper toes are unusual to most canines, longer and more flexible than the average feral in Attica. Front paws have four toes, while hind legs have five. Their long legs and lean bodies make them swift creatures who rely more on speed than strength, although some Vespers do display a bulkier frame.
Although variances in both directions can be found, Vespers typically stand about six feet at the shoulder and are about nine feet in length.
Most Vespers have dull colored coats in natural shades, while others feature vibrant pelts and strange, bio-luminescent markings. All appearance variations can be viewed HERE.
LIFESPAN
While feral, uneducated Vespers have a lifespan of 20-30 years (assuming their natural high birth-mortality rate falls through), organized Vespers have been recording lifespans as long as sixty years or more. (The eldest recorded Vesper was an ancient witch, said to be 83 years old). Vesper mature after 5-6 years of age, but typically reach their full size by about four years old. The average 'puppy' phase for a Vesper lasts about a year, with pups opening their eyes at three weeks of age and rapidly growing in size from there on out. Most Vespers remain with their family throughout their teen years and beyond, but it is not uncommon for a Vesper to strike out on its own at five years of age.
INTELLIGENCE
Unique among the feral, four-legged races of Attica, Vespers display a high intelligence on par with the average human - or Dourin as they are commonly called. Using their long toes and remarkable creativity, Vespers can manipulate objects as well as craft new ones. They are capable of learning advanced languages, using tools, and can even cast spells to their advantage.
Despite their lack of said opposable digits, Vespers do not limit themselves in their hobbies and occupations. Some stick to the traditional ways of hunting and exploring the wild, seeking out treasure alongside their companions, and others are known for gardening or creating elaborate works of magic.
Although some Vespers roam the wild in vaguely organized packs, many live alongside other races in cities, and Vesper oriented villages have popped up across Attica.
SOCIETY & HISTORY
Vespers as a race can be split neatly into two groups - the uncivilized ferals who roam in packs and survive largely on scavenging, and the originally named domestics.
One of many children of Somnis, Vespers kept largely to the North and the place of Her birth. For the most part, the creatures kept to themselves, but a handful chose to investigate the villages and cities springing up across the regions. Dourin took to the beasts - but as beasts of burden. Taking advantage of the innocent curiosity in new Vespers, Dourin wasted no time in putting them to work in mines and lumberyards, using their great strength to accomplish much more than they'd been allowed in the past. Others used old magic to sway the Vesper's thoughts and will, pushing them into battle.
In a cumulative battle at the City of Kikoi, the gods themselves played a final card, splitting the ground between the two parties into a massive ravine and sending dozens into treacherous waters below. Taking advantage of the confusion, the Vesper parties were able to free themselves, and turn the Dourin back.
Now, Vespers have taken their place alongside others of Attica, expanding their own culture and thriving in strange, new worlds.
Although Vespers are typically comfortable with hiring themselves out as workers, they in no way require handlers or masters. Some join up with the slower bipedal races, offering themselves as transport, laughing at how slow Dourin and Thalla tend to be. Of course, this mocking is quickly ended by a remark on how Vespers lack thumbs ....
Typically having litters of 1-4 pups, Vespers are rarely known to have litters as large as six cubs. However, many are born stillborn. The cause of this is still being researched, whether it is a gene present in all Vespers or perhaps a strange virus. Due to the high mortality rate of pups, those that survive are treasured, frequently cared for by the entire community. Abuse of a Vesper pup is nearly unheard of, and may result in a violent response if discovered.
