Þóvaríans

The Þóvaríans¹ are sapient, bipedal wolves inhabiting Jarrak Forest in western Dragonía. They are close relatives of the þóharrans, three other species of bipedal wolves who, while smarter than mundane wolves, are not sapient. Conflict between these lupine folks are rare, as each species has its own clearly defined territory in the woods.

Appearance and abilities

Þóvaríans generally resemble their þóharran relatives, though slightly taller and more dexterous than the latter. Their tails are notably shorter than those of mundane wolves, the fur is short, rather coarse and ranges from gray to brown to black, and due to a mutation long ago, the vast majority of Þóvaríans have blue eyes. They are partially colourblind, being only able to see blue and yellow hues, and are fascinated by everything shiny.
The men and women are virtually identical at first glance, though Þóvarían men are usually slightly taller and have longer legs, broader nose and forehead. This matters little to them, as Þóvaríans have keen sense of smell.

History

The first Þóvarían societies appeared around nearly 36.000 years ago, who often clashed with the ancient Alalaríans -and later their descendants the Útels- over the best hunting grounds and territorial boundaries in general. Since the Útels erected the Reþokúl Wall -a series of towers connected by palisades on the southern border of Ela'k Forest- the Þóvaríans have kept to themselves and in near total isolation from other Dragonían cultures, safe for brief contact with Kroks from the east during their migration to Vorran Peninsula around 4.500 b.Dr.

Society

Þóvaríans are divided into numerous tribes made up of one to three extended families, with a complex hierarchy deciding each member's status depending on their actions within the tribe. Each tribe has its own territory, which they spend much of their time patrolling in search of prey and fend off rivals.
New tribes form as members leave when their old community grows unsustainably large.

Culture

Apparel

Þóvaríans don't wear clothes, but commonly adorn themselves with leather bracelets and necklaces decorated with teeth, feathers, beaks, small bones, colourful stones and other small objects. Young children also carry a rib stained with ochre around their neck as talismans.
Lightstones, metal nuggets and especially bronze objects dropped by Útel guards on the Reþokúl Wall are especially valued by Þóvaríans due to their lustrous appearance.

Art

Architecture

Within each territory are several enclosures made from local materials where the tribe makes camp to rest, tend to injuries, mend tools and make new ones. Within each enclosure are simple shelters -made of rawhide stretched over a wooden frame- where families sleep, and a place to dry meat into jerky. These sites are the closest thing Þóvaríans have for settlements.

Cuisine

Þóvarían diet is almost entirely meat-based, chiefly from Júkner Goats, Ykan Birds, rabbits and other small animals found throughout Jarrak Forest, though a few herbs are used for flavour and to aid digestion as well. The meat is usually eaten raw, with members of varying status only allowed certain parts, though some of it is dried for later use.

Language

While Þóvaríans speak a number of different languages of varying intelligibility, they are able to make themselves understood via facial expressions, which are essentially the same for all Þóvaríans and are the closest they have to a common tongue.

Religion

Þóvaríans are one of the few peoples in Dragonía that practice monotheism, based on the worship of Jarrúl'keh, goddess of the sun and moon. They await for her arrival at dawn and greet their goddess by howling, and whine when she leaves at dusk. The moon is believed to be Jarrúl'keh's spirit, whose waxing and waning represents how pleased the goddess is with her people.
During new moon, when Jarrúl'keh is believed to be most likely to abandon them, the Þóvaríans cease most of their daily activities to avoid any kind of accidents and spend the night cowering and pleading with the goddess to give them another chance.

Funerary rites

Þóvaríans neither burn nor bury their dead, instead the old, mortally wounded or ill leave (or are carried away from) their tribe to die somewhere far from the campsites, either from exposure or predators.

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¹Original icelandic: Þóvaríar, singular: Þóvari

Origin/Ancestry

Jarrak Forest.

Average Height

1.5 meters