Wolven
With a rich oral tradition passed down from the elders to youth, the Wolven are a proud race and act as the world’s natural guardians, law enforcers and bodyguards. The innate urge to protect and defend is ingrained into their very blood. Their history is also tied deeply into legend of the Moonchildren, for it is said that they were first to meet the Moon Goddess.
Loyalty and honesty are honored among the Wolven, though with the way times have changed, honesty has waned, as has loyalties within clans, packs – even families. Wolven also seem to be rather spiritual, regarding the moon as sacred; this is probably why they get along with Phantasmals well as they deal specifically with the spirit world (Aether) with a similar reverence.
This long-honored heritage and spirituality also ties strongly into their notions of romance and courting. Wolven seldom ‘date’ as other races do and, instead, have an innate drawing to their proper mates. Generally, this isn’t a problem unless the males – or two females in rare cases – are drawn to the same potential-mate, but there are a total of three possible people in a Wolven’s entire lifetime who would make ideal mates for them; however, when this conflict happens, a dominance battle will occur and the males will fight to have the right to protect this potential-mate. Still it remains a decision up to the pack Alpha how to best declare who would also cherish the female best, as well as the female, who has had the opportunity to review the evidence before her.
The females aren’t treated as second-class, however; rather, they are regarded as the mothers of their future generations and are many times venerated as being the fiercest in protecting a family line from ruin. The role of Alpha Female is not one to take lightly.
Granted with two forms, the Wolven can walk amongst the civil world in the guise of a human. Their distinguishing traits mark them as inhuman however.
Males tend have a solid muscle structure with broad shoulders and large hands. They also have extremely intense eyes that brighten in hue when emotions run high, thus bringing out their inner wolf.
Females retain the ears and tails with builds generally somewhat lean in musculature and fairly curvy. Due to this more obvious display of wolfishness, they tend to be less aggressive and more even-tempered than their male counterparts.
Wolven strength is second to none, being able to lift whole cars with ease; they have to be careful not to crush fragile things, especially people. It takes a great deal of control on their part, but has become second nature in their more civilized state.
Not really built for speed, Wolven can be quick and agile when necessary but most rely solely on their tremendous strength when engaged in physical combat. High stamina and regenerative abilities render a one-on-one fight with a Wolven nigh impossible unless silver is used, which all Wolven are deathly allergic to. The smoke from wolfsbane also has a terrible, hallucinogenic effect on Wolven as well – and in high doses can kill. However, a single Wolven is at a great disadvantaged when facing a group; due to this, Wolven tend to fight in groups.
Pack structure is very important to their society. They constantly play dominance games with one another which makes them seem and act overbearing at times. Generally, nothing is meant by it but slightly-rough play. After all, Wolven have a deep love for friends and family, who are both kin to them.
Common eye colors, usually a deeper color then that of their beast forms.
Examples:
* Deep Blue –> white blue (nearly losing all hue, these eyes tend to belong to those with lighter fur color, the dark ring around them makes them fairly cold and intense.)
* Dark Green –> Pale sage/spring green (These eyes are just as intense but have a softer quality, mesmerizing almost)
* Smoky Amber –> gold (The most ‘wolfish’ of the eyes, these are both alluring and mesmerizing when focused upon you. This shade is one of the family traits to the Lore blood-line)
* Dark Brown –> copper (Most common of the eye colors, these too are no less intense, but have an almost warm and fiery appearance.)
* Silvery Grey –> silver/platinum (matching those with rusty fur colors. These eyes also tend to have a ring of cobalt/slate around the pupil, also known to ‘crack’ outward to the iris edge)
Note: Heterochromia does occur on the rare occasion.
-Beast Forms-
Wolven vary heavily in fur colors much like domesticated dogs do, the markings make it easier to identify different bloodlines.
As a Wolven ages, their height in their beast form increases; the older one is, the larger he or she will be.
* Child (pup)-Early Adolescence –> 4-6 feet
* Middle Adolescence-Young Adult –> 8-12 feet
* Adults –> 16-25 feet
* Ancient –> 26-28 feet
While these are just rough estimates, there are in-between heights and exceptions to the generalities of these measurements. Some Wolven are larger at a younger age, while some are smaller at an older age. Like any person, environment, health, diet, and heredity have a lot to do with growth.
Their shoulders and forelegs are built more like a feline’s with front paws resembling something more akin to a hand, including opposable thumb. While they can walk upright if necessary, they tend to remain on all fours unless in a fight.
-Gender differences and turning-
Females have wolf ears and tails, males do not unless they are Halfsie’s and then they tend to have just tails; females can have one or the other. When they are in their beast form, females are built more streamlined than the males, who are far bulkier.
Turned Wolven retain their original appearances but gain a beast form.
Turning someone into a Wolven is a dangerous process that is nothing to sneeze at, the process takes about of week of careful doses of the Wolven toxin to the one being turned. The first change is also very painful but after that, it becomes fairly easy though a bit tiring for the first month or so.
The Toxin can also be used as a small boost of sorts for non-Wolven; their saliva also has healing properties.
It seems also that certain latent abilities from non-Wolven mates/turned mates do get passed on through the generations. It can’t be charted when and where a trait will express itself, however.
