Borkans
If I am content, my life is good.
- Drifting Leaf, lone wandering do-gooder
The Borkans are humanoid canines who's societies vary greatly. Their societies are highly communal and collectivist with them viewing their communities more as expanded familial units than anything else. It is completely unheard of for Borkans to wage war among each other due to their strong empathy and camaraderie towards others of their kind. Borkans do not shy away from either magic or science but are generally not incredibly advanced in either nor would they want to overspecialize and start ruining nature and themselves because of it.
They have a deep connection and relationship with the forces and spirits of nature combined with near consistent and well distributed knowledge of technology and sorcery and the ability to combine both into powerful magitek. Due to this connection, they stand in the defense of nature and balance. The Borkans oppose any that may despoil the planet for their own selfish gains. Whether they are tribes roaming the plains or city-builders organizing the surrounding terrain, the Borkans protect the land from the depredations and ruinous ambitions of demons and despots.
wolf_lord by Glumych
Basic Information
Anatomy
Bipedal humanoids, legs can be either digitigrade or plantigrade. They stand as upright and straight as a human or elf. Their tails vary depending on breed. Borkans come in many different breeds that each have various strengths and weaknesses. This is due to their origins as various dog breeds, domesticated and otherwise, that underwent rapid evolution through the events and aftermath of the cataclysm. The species can come in many different shapes and sizes due to its various breeds that developed in order to suit the environment and fill in roles required by their communities.
Biological Traits
Can live up to 50 to 60 years, although shamans and various magic-users are capable living well past a hundred. A small numbers of non-magic users have also managed to attain similar longevity, most of the time by accident. The Race is divided into several breeds that differ from each other to varying degrees of height, width, color, shape, musculature and so on as each is suited to certain climates, environments, lifestyles, and societal roles.
The Bofa and updog are two organ glands that help differentiate them from their canine ancestors. Both of these organs allow borkans to sense the ebb and flow of the energies of magic, nature, and life around them. The Bofa is located in the pelvic region, whereas the Updog is situated within the cranium. The bofa allows a borkan to sense the flow of energy through the ground and helps them manipulate magic through their lower body, even when they are on the move. Updog allows sensing and identifying energy through smell, and helps connect the upper body to the flow of magic and energy.
Bofa and Updog
The Bofa and updog are two organ glands that help differentiate them from their canine ancestors. Both of these organs allow borkans to sense the ebb and flow of the energies of magic, nature, and life around them. The Bofa is located in the pelvic region, whereas the Updog is situated within the cranium. The bofa allows a borkan to sense the flow of energy through the ground and helps them manipulate magic through their lower body, even when they are on the move. Updog allows sensing and identifying energy through smell, and helps connect the upper body to the flow of magic and energy.
Genetics and Reproduction
Reproduction by copulation. Cannot interbreed with other species.
Ecology and Habitats
"I don't think my fur is suited for this environment."The species as a whole has been adapted to survive in a wide variety of different climates and environments. However, this is due to the various different breeds that developed over time to inhabit those biomes, if they weren't evolved from pre-existing breeds that were already adapted to the environment to begin with.
Volgovo, having recently arrived in the tropics.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Omnivorous, but generally leans towards a preference of meat. Full dietary needs, detriments, and inedibles can vary from breed to breed.
Although it is technically possible to train their bodies to rely on three meals a day, they only eat when they feel like they need to. They often go for days or even weeks at a time without food and only a few water breaks. This doesn't hamper them and their work in the slightest, primarily due to living in such a manner for so many generations. They are often always of some variant of muscular build, often dependent on their breed.
Although it is technically possible to train their bodies to rely on three meals a day, they only eat when they feel like they need to. They often go for days or even weeks at a time without food and only a few water breaks. This doesn't hamper them and their work in the slightest, primarily due to living in such a manner for so many generations. They are often always of some variant of muscular build, often dependent on their breed.
Biological Cycle
Borkans routinely grow and shed their fur in accordance to the seasons.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Borkans don't use money, nor work for material possessions. They live, labor, and love solely to benefit each other and the rest of the community or society even at the cost of their own lives. They have no desire for earthly wealth and prize community and their sense of spirituality above all. Borkans will go to hell and back for society and family without care or concern for reward. Everyone is treated and provided for according to their individual needs like a family member. Everyone works and pulls their weight in society to avoid being a burden. The closest that they have to a hierarchy are foremen and chiefs that manage and oversee construction and distribution.
Those that violate their way of life or behave poorly may find themselves exiled after repeated offences. Extreme cases have the offender executed.
Facial characteristics
Varies between breeds
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Can be found in almost every continent and country. However, their greatest concentration is on the north western continent. It is in here that they have thrived and prospered the most in terms of population and coverage. The diverse array of various biomes allow for almost all breeds to be capable of living within the continent.
Average Intelligence
Varies between breeds
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Borkans retain the sensory and perception capabilities of their canine ancestry, including the heightened senses of smell and hearing. They are also able to see in more than black and white. This is a general overview of their senses because wide variety of breeds and cross-breeds of their species means that full details of their perception needs to be done individually.
Civilization and Culture
Relationship Ideals
An ideal relationship is one where both members involved are dedicated and loyal to one another, exerting all the effort they can to support and care one another. It is a relationship where neither cheats or ever plans on divorce. One where both partners love and respect each other and spare the time to care and provide for their family.
Due to this, Borkans consider marraige to be a very serious matter and can spend years deciding on relationships and marriage.
Average Technological Level
"It is perplexing to think that these nomadic hounds are not only so different from their territorial and aggressive ancestors, but that they possess the capacity to restore the world to pre-cataclysm levels of technology and understanding.The majority of Borkans encountered by other races have medieval or lesser technology by appearance. In actuality, higher education standards and communal sharing of information mixed with knowledge gleaned from shamanism allows even nomads to be better educated than city dwellers and even scholars of most other races. Knowledge in various fields such as chemistry, agriculture, biology, engineering, metallurgy, ect, are up to par with modern real-life standards.
"Yet they choose to live as hunter gatherers and nomads. All without a care or concern matters like territory, politics, well-being, or conquest."
Their way of life and focus on more simpler things in conjunction with both their lack of interest in political affairs and the smear campaign against them is potentially the reason why they are viewed as little more than wandering cavemen.
As for actual technological level, the most advanced communities such as certain permanent settlements have attained technology similar to WW2 era of technology of the real world. These settlements also sport advanced plumbing and electrical grids, not to mention the plants and trees that go into decoration and urban farms to ensure self-sufficiency and cooling. Aesthetics wise however, they would appear completely lacking in these things from a passing look.
Even in their most advanced cities residing in their 'homeland' that resemble aztec or native american style metropolises would appear 'primitive' in the eyes of uninterested passersby. Closer inspection will reveal otherwise. Their societies ability to merge their shamanism and various magical knowledge into whatever object or mechanism they create is also worth consideration. They do this to add or enhance utility and performance, save on resources, or both.
Anything they make, they strive to make it the best that they can, anything they don't need is broken down, recycled, re-purposed, or reforged to make the most out if it.
helmets by Glumych
WW2 style cannons are capable of being produced but only when deemed necessary, not simply to show off. For the most part they are content to simple lives either as wanderers, farmers, builders, hunters, repairmen, and grove-tenders. Most of the race seen by others are nomads so the vast majority of people who haven't been to their 'homeland' view them as having equal or lesser technology by outward appearance alone.
westwalde_town_guard_concept by Glumych
Common Etiquette Rules
To ask for or to proclaim usage of something that another possesses or uses before hand. To respect personal boundaries and to not make a nuisance of yourself. To take only what is deemed necessary for yourself or the task at hand. To give freely, unless doing so is harmful to the recipient or others in anyway physical and beyond.
Common Dress Code
"I don't understand, my groin is obscured isn't it?"They always wear something that protects and obscures their private parts. They have little desire for opulence and fashion, at least not to the same extent as other races such as Humans, Elves, and Mhysathar. Beyond that they have little in the way of a unified dress code as they simply wear whatever is suitable for their tasks/environment or at least what they are comfortable with. What they wear is done according to their environment and current task or job when they are not dressing personal comfort and appeal.
-Unanomous quote from a borkan. You don't want to know the circumstances behind this.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Education and skillsets
Borkans do not limit themselves to a single specialization, in spite of what the existance of different breeds may indicate. Borkan education is communal, students learn and develop under the watch of all the members. Just like how a dog can be taught to perform multiple tricks, Borkans are raised to be self-dependent to ensure that they don't burden others needlessly while also to ensure he can help in a variety of situations. This is not to say that they don't have specializations, as the different jobs and breeds that they have can attest. Those specializations just don't make up the entirety of their being. They can work and contribute to things outside their current professions. Even if they can't work, they can still offer their wisdom to others and maybe provide aid in different means. For example, there's an anime called Log Horizon. It's an isekai where people playing an MMORPG get transported to a world very similar to the game. The player characters have classes and sub-classes. The class is the main adventuring class such as samurai and enchanter, this determines their role and abilities in a fight. The sub-class is something like scribe or chef, it mainly relates to what is done outside of combat. If Borkans were a playable race in that game world, they would not be able to buy or sell, but can obtain multiple classes and/or subclasses as a trade off.Just because a Borkan does not actively take part in manual labor does not mean that they are incapable of it. They want to help in any way they can, if they have the strength to lift they could help. If not, then they could aid in different means like providing relief and comforts to the workers such as serving them food or drinks. If they are completely unable to help, then they will set out to get someone who can.
Conflict Resolution
First Stage of conflict resolution
- Go to the other person privately. It should be done privately so as to avoid unnecessarily involving anyone else and to avoid unnecessarily shaming or embarrassing the other person.
- Meet with them face to face, do not sit there and stew about it. The longer that happenes, the worse the conflict will become.
- Definitely do not go and gossip to others about it. That is only going to spread the conflict around and make it more difficult to resolve.
- Do not send someone else in your place. That won’t help matters. You can’t expect someone else to resolve our conflict.
- Do not send a letter, written words are much more susceptible to misinterpretation.
- If there were people who “witnessed” the actual offense, then it would make sense to take them along. But if there are no such witnesses, then we should take neutral, third parties who are respected in the community. But whoever you take with you, do not take people who are just “on your side” or have a bias for or against you or the person. If you fail to resolve a conflict when it’s just you and the other person, how much less likely are you to resolve it if you take two other people with you who are going to see everything your way?
In many ways their societies seem utopic, but only to those that have the same sense of community and spirituality that the borkans espouse. There have been many cases of other races and cultures like those of humanity attempting to replicate Borkan society while leaving out key aspects in certain areas in order to fit it with their culture and mindsets. These attempts have often ended in tyranny, destitution, and bloodshed
Common Taboos
Gossiping, back-biting, rape, abduction, murder, cannibalism, incest, slavery, numerous philias, communing with demons or engaging in necromancy, greed, pre-marital sex, harems, and various other things that were taught to them as evil by their dwarven teachers. Homosexuality is virtually nonexistent among Borkans. They are aware of its existence but it is generally regarded as either unnatural behavior or simply as something that happens to other people.
History
What do you think we dwarves are, their parents? Even if we were, it wouldn't change a thing. Just because our ancestors taught their's how to live doesn't mean they venerate us like how you venerate your idols, kings, and currencies. If you want to have a good word with them, you should deliver it yourself.Borkans evolved due to the energies released from the Great Cataclysm, descending from the various breeds of canines that existed on the world. While many such 'beast' races were mostly left to fend for themselves, numerous tribes of borkans taken in by dwarf survivors who sheltered and tutored them. The race was even named after how a dog's bark came off to the dwarven mind.
The dwarves knew the race could not perfectly imitate how they live. Instead, they focused on teaching them the most important aspect of their culture; community, camaraderie, and self-restraint. The borkans took their lessons with them where ever they went as they sought out others of their kind. They would join other tribes to spread these teachings and dispersed whenever it was deemed necessary. Not all of their kind accepted their message and lifestyle, and there were instances of them being driven out by violence and death. Over the centuries of travel and proselytizing, the Borkans established contact with every other member of their kind, settling on every continent. Those that refused have been exiled from their lands, becoming little more than roaming/secluded bandit tribes.
Borkans have lived in unparalleled peace with one another throughout the world's history. This peace cannot be said to extend to other races and not from lack of trying. Dwarfs are generally in good relations with their old pupils. There are also instances of humans and even elves who live peacefully with and among the Borkans. The majority of the world, however, do not often take kindly to their presence or their influence. Their way of life is a dire threat to established powers such as various religions and governments. This has led them to being persecuted and chased out in most nations. In spite of this, they have not only endured but also thrived. The borkan people and lifestyle can be found on every continent and every race.
In the modern day, the Borkans stand to defend the balance of nature against those that would despoil the planet for their own selfish gains. Their preferred method of doing so is through honest and peaceful means. When pushed or when deemed as necessary through shared visions, then they can be roused to conflict and prove themselves to be dangerous foes.
miasma_trooper by Glumych
Historical Figures
Borkans rarely, if ever, knowingly make any mark in history as they do not strive to elevate themselves, only their message. Typically, whenever they know of someone of their kind who had done anything worth recording, they learned it from second-hand sources which they recognize as potentially unreliable. Most of the time however, they aren't recorded by other races for any individual acts of heroism or great achievement done by geniuses or paragons. If any deeds did happen, they would occur under the radar or have been recorded differently than reality. The only notable heroes recognized by the world are those that were part of groups involving other races, and are often recorded as having minor roles. Unfortunately, the major historical figures coming from the borkan race are not heroes, but are instead some of the most reviled and feared monsters to walk the earth. This minority is often taken as the majority by historians and rulers to justify any actions made against the race. Even then, these beings often had reasons for doing what they did that are far more complex than 'just because I felt like it' as most records say. In fact, most records that do so often come from cultures and nations that use the same justifications for their own actions against others.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
LET GO OF ME YOU BLUBBERING FLABBY ADDLE PATE! I'M PHYSICALLY I'LL! I can feel the unnatural happiness radiating from your empty skull LIKE THE NOON-DAY DESERT SUN ON EVERYTHING!Mixed, to say the absolute least.
Nebet, Mhysathar Sage
Origin/Ancestry
Various canines
Lifespan
30-50 years
Average Height
Varies between breeds
Average Weight
Varies between breeds
Average Length
Varies between breeds
Average Physique
Varies between breeds
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Varies between breeds
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