Vanghoul

Basic Information

Anatomy

Based on the combination of an Akachena and a Stryth elf, the Vanghoul is a mutated hybrid race.
It shares a similar ear style as well as the fangs from a Stryth elf, which gives them the enhanced predatorial abilities.
Another key area of the Vanghoul is their body mass, which can be pushed far beyond the limits of an elf and/or a human.
They're born with their pointy ears and fangs unlike the elves who grow them at different stages in life.

Genetics and Reproduction

The pregnancy period is 4 months.

Growth Rate & Stages

• Year 0-1 Infancy
• Year 1-4 Early Childhood
• Year 4-8 Middle Childhood
• Year 10-14 Late Childhood
• Year 14-18 Adolescence
• Year 18-65 Early Adulthood
• Year 65-120 Midlife
• Year 120-180 Mature Adulthood
• Year 180+ Late Adulthood

Dietary Needs and Habits

They have the same need for nutrition as the Akachena and Human species.
However, they are able to survive longer without food before their bodies start to break down.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

• High Intellect (on par with Akachena and Stryth elves)

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

With both the Akachena and Stryth heritage, the Vanghoul has enhanced capabilities that make them formidable hunters.
They have both heightened hearing and sight.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Children of the same parent would share surname, example: Bloodfist. However, they would not get the surname of their parent.
Vanghoul tradition states that children of a bloodline shall be given a new surname to be independent from their parents’ legacy. Surnames commonly tie into aspects of nature, which animals, actions, and surroundings play a huge role in.

Major Organizations

The Vanghoul Clans

Courtship Ideals

Males will show off their prowess by unarmed duels.
Females will show off their prowess by athletic skill.
Both genders also use facial paint to attract their mate.
A stronger male or more agile female is considered a good mate.

Relationship Ideals

Worshippers of Keldora

A Vanghoul male will be tied to the female until she desires a new mate.
However, by tradition, she can only mate with a Vanghoul who is superior to her former mate.
Failure to do so will cost her, her position and rank.
For the male, failure to accept his superior will cost his, his position and rank. A duel will be held to determine the strength of the new mate.

Worshippers of Gurashi

A Vanghoul male or female is allowed to mate with anyone they desire, and they’re not bound to any single person.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Raising A Child

A child is nurtured and raised by the female for the first 5 years and then the male raises the child until they’re independent, which is around 15 years old.
The male will teach the child to hunt their own food, to fight for survival, and to follow and to lead.

Family Relations

Aside from the mother, only the father’s linage is considered family to the child.

Worshippers of Keldora

The male child would be given everything, including the home, while the female child would be on her own.
The inheritance would only come in effect after both parents had died.

History

Cast aside by the elves, the Vanghouls is a hybrid race conceived from the Akachena and Stryth. They’re considered abominations in the eyes of the elves, an unnatural creation that should never have been allowed to come alive.
While their roots stem from the elves, they’re considered a species of their own. Despite the combination of the Akachena and Stryth, the Vanghouls were born with mostly similar features to the Stryth such as the same type of pointy ears, upper and lower fangs, and the faint glow in their eyes that came from the Ash’kar relic. However, for Vanghouls, this glow appears differently from their Stryth kin, in which they only become luminescent with excessive emotions such as rage.
The Experiment

Born as a hybrid experiment from the Akachena and Stryth in 713, Zarogh Wolfmane was the first of his kind. The boy was carefully examined by an elven apothecary who was tasked with inspecting his growth through the years. Almost twenty years later, an incident occurred that caused a rift between the Akachena and Stryth. At that point, Zarogh’s body had started to deform and become increasingly more muscular than an average elf. By the order of Elder Ni’rosh Aeran’thil, the young hybrid was to be executed. However, a female Akachena took pity on Zarogh and helped him escape the Covenant. The events of being on the run for a long time hardened his will, and his mindset became narrowed by hate for these people. Together with this elven woman, the Vanghoul species was born. With generally darker skin tones, stronger body mass, and increased height put the Vanghouls apart from their kin.

The First Clan

In the late 790s, Zarogh died during battle and his firstborn, Zhogat Wolfskull took the lead. The first Vanghoul clan was established as the numbers were growing. It was meant to lead the Vanghouls into a new future, but also to remember their origin. It was given the name the Forsaken Vanguard.

Overlord of the Clans

After many years, in the early 12th century, the Vanghouls had multiplied by the hundreds. The war between the Elves and the Vanghouls had escalated, and causalities were rising on both sides. With more and more clans formed, it became unclear who was in charge. Clans had their own leaders, which did not always agree with leaders of other clans. This led to the creation of a new rank, which would become the Overlord of the Clans. This would give the fiercest and strongest of them all the reign of the Vanghoul species.

The Forces of Mankind

In the early 18th century, the reigning Overlord of the Clans, Gathon Bloodfist brought the Vanghouls to the northern areas of Fariondor. Having been confined the Vanquished Island for almost a millennium, this new and uncharted land came with new threats. This, however, did not stop Gathon from going after new types of weaponry. They came upon the human town of Windshire, which had a fleet at their disposal. Despite being advised against attacking the humans, Gathon ignored all warnings and began a siege on the town. To mankind, these were monstrous creatures coming to raid them, in which they sent out a call to arms to allied kingdoms. Elite groups of soldiers arrived from the neighboring land of Aewyth, clad in steel with weapons mounted on their ships. The Vanghouls were rapidly outmatched by these soldiers and forced to retreat, but this defeat was not the end.

Spoilers from the Scourge of the East

In 1714, Gathon used new tactics to besiege Windshire, and this time made sure no one would be able to escape and warn the enemy. Taking their fleet, the Vanghouls set out to track down the enemies from before, but this time they would not engage them head on. Instead they would lure them back to the Vanquished Island. Coming upon a prisoner transport fleet, the Vanghouls used the flags of Windshire to get close. When in range, they sunk the entire fleet to the bottom of the ocean before they could even realize what was going on. However, they left a slope that could bring this news back to the enemies, which would set the plan in motion. The intended goal of luring the enemy to the Vanquished Island worked smoothly. Nonetheless, the humans survived the attack on the coastline and got ashore. This would lead to an unforeseen development. There were more parties in play, and the elves had also come ashore in secrecy. Now the Vanghouls were forced to fight a war on both sides, and the elves had no plans of making the humans their enemy as well. The human army was able to establish a garrison to defend themselves rather quickly, which meant the Vanghouls had to engage just as fast before they got too much of a foothold. What they did not know was that the humans had another fleet heading for the island, one that had vastly more men and weapons onboard. This led the Vanghouls to rally in the Forsaken Mountain so they wouldn’t be attacked on multiple fronts. This, however, would prove catastrophic as the humans brought black powder with them that they used to collapse the entire underground city. The vast majority of Vanghouls died during this attack, including the Overlord of the Clans, but there was one other who had been working on a plan. Nekada Bloodfist, the younger brother of Gathon had began to reposition various units to the other side of the island once he learned about the elves arrival. This saved them from the tragic demise of their fellow people, but this was a massive hit to the species as a whole. Nekada decided to take the rest of them into hiding from the elves and the humans. If one good thing came from this, it was that the Vanghouls were now considered extinct.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• The Vanghoul Species

Scientific Name

Humanoid

Average Height

Male - 2,10-2,40m / 6ft10-7ft10
Female - 1,90-2,10m / 6ft2-6ft10

Average Weight

Male - 120-160kg / 164-352lbs
Female - 80-125kg / 176-275lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

This race has light and dark skin tones.
Most common skin colors are:

• Mossy Green
• Gray
• Brown

Geographic Distribution

• The Vanquished Island