Ursaka
Medium humanoid, Playable race
Sometimes simply referred to as the "bear folk", ursaka is a humanoid species with a striking resemblance to a bear. Known as bold, noble and spiritual people of the northern lands, ursaka can roam quite freely in the places they inhabit and are treated with hospitality by other humanoids. That said, their large, fearsome form can often lead to misunderstandings and clashes with people who do not know of their kin.
Ursaka are mostly found as small tribes around North Velkas and Whiterock, they might have ones populated parts of the northern Umeros as well.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ursaka are bipedal humanoids, with thick, shaggy fur and broad shoulders. they are commonly classified as part of "the beastfolks", and with a short glance it is easy to mistake them as common bears.
Ursakas, however, are leaner and less bestial looking than their beast-counterparts. They have larger eyes, and their front paws are more like large humanoid hands, with long claws that are better suited to crafting than slashing on enemies.
Due to their size, ursakas tend to be physically powerful and muscular. They have sharp, large canine teeth, and their bite can be lethal for those that provoke the Lusaka to use it.
Growth Rate & Stages
Ursakas reach adulthood around 15 years of age, living rarely over 80 years. Typically, ursaka female has a pregnancy of 9 months, and they give birth to one or two children at the time. Ability to get kids starts to drop significantly to ursakas over 40 years of age.
Ecology and Habitats
As a race, ursakas tend to form their communities on places with cold climates, usually around the northern hemisphere. Meeting groups of ursakas anywhere else is a rare sight indeed, but not totally unheard of. Due to their traditions and ancestral worship, ursakas tend to feel drawn towards homes they have held for generations, while their adventurous nature sometimes pulls them to explore the rest of the world.
Dietary Needs and Habits
It might not occur to some, but ursakas tend to prefer plant-based food over the meat, yet they are very much omnivores. Fish, berries, nuts, honey, meat and several different plants and insects find their way in the dinner tables of the ursaka, and they have a rather unique and rich food culture.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Generally speaking, ursakas are very perceptive; they have strong senses that help them navigate their environment. They are, however, unable to see in the dark.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Similarly to dwarfs, on ursaka cultures a child receives a simple birthname from their parents. As they come of age, they receive a personal added name, that describes their character, like "Fireheart", "Hollyleaf" or "Ironhide".
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Ursakas tend to be spiritual folk, that worship nature's spirits, nature gods and their great ancestors. Thus their traditions could well put them under the drui umbrella, and druidic magic is greatly respected among them.
Ursakas believe in living in harmony with the world around them and often live in either small villages or as hunter-gatherers that move through the ancestral lands from place to place along with the old migration routes.
Physical contests, arts and crafts are highly regarded in ursaka societies. They have a reputation as talented athletes, weavers, potterers, leatherworkers and wood- and bone carvers. They are also known from their honour, trustworthiness and hospitality.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Due to their peaceful and homebound nature, ursakas are able to live peacefully among most humanoid species but tend to have bad blood with goliaths and orcs. Creatures and cultures with destructive tendencies cause great mistrust and anger in ursakas, but otherwise, they are very curious and friendly towards strangers.
Females: 184 cm to 219 cm
Females: 95 kg to 163 kg
I really like the sound of this culture. They sound peaceful and like I would get on with them. :)