Ungol

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ungol are anywhere from four to fifteen inches tall. One of their special characteristics is the ability to rapidly evolve their physiology to a wide variety of environments over a small number of generations. As a result they have a wide variety of looks. (Like the monkey family.) They generally look like a rabbit mixed with a monkey. Some are hairy, some are hairless. Some have tails and some don’t. There are nocturnal ones with large eyes, aquatic ones with webbed feet, and a winged variety. Some can even inflate specialized sacks with gasses for a variety of purposes. What they all share in common are long, specialized digits with chemical excretion pores on the ends. They grab the beast to be manipulated around the nose or mouth with these limbs while riding on the back of its head or neck. Learning to sooth and manipulate any kind of animal takes practice and learning. They can’t just jump on any old creature and instantly make it dance. The secrets they learn concerning the right mixture of chemicals, appropriate doses, timing and sounds are fiercely guarded. The last thing a village of bear-headers wants is for a competing faction to learn to control bears.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Some Ungol operate as free agents within larger societies, without their own politics or social structure. The majority that do live in Ungol enclaves really hate the sell-outs that they see as sewer rats and slaves for other races. Ungol have the ability to communicate well with, and influence almost every animal on Talifar. This makes them an invaluable asset to most civilizations. The advantages to being able to tame and control, breed, and drive away wild beasts are obvious. Most beast riders have an Ungol or two as side-kicks. (Unless they are riding normally docile creatures.) In return the Ungol are usually happy to have fine foods, alcohol, and good company. They will rarely stick around if mistreated. Ungol can be quite dangerous as they can wield the power of many large and scary animals. In addition to this, they can hold sway over most beings that have an intelligence of 3 or lower. This includes the young of most sentient beings. Other races who live near Wild Ungol enclaves try to be respectful. Those who do live in their own communities tend to build homes in out of the way places; high in trees, underground, and even in river dams. They build a wide range of structures. Everything from woven straw nests, to intricate palaces of cut stone and mortar.