Bodaci

Foodies of the Mortal Lands

"I don't care what you think, he's the best chef in St. Fiule!"
"But sir-"
"He's earned so many Culinary awards the shelf collapsed under the weight! He can tell what ingredients are in a dish just by looking at them! He caught an assasination attempt on the Queen of [place] just by smelling the poison!"
"But-"
"But what, private?"
"But he's a Bear!"

Another of the myriad interesting species the dot the Mortal Lands, The Bodaci are unique in the fact that, for all intents and purposes, they are bears. Bears with a permanent ability to stand on two legs, more dexterious paws, and incredible sense for the culinary arts, but still Bears. How the Bodaci evolved from living in caves and breaking into beehives to running royal kitchens is a long and quite frankly, hard to explain tale.
We suspect that Magic is Involved.

The Nose Knows

The Bodaci are most well known for their sense of smell-Fine tuned over centuries into a percision instrument. This is both a boon and a burden, for while it enables the species' tendency for fine dining and culinary exploration, it also renders them more vulnerable towards pungent and overly strong scents. Particular musk-masking deoderizers are forbidden in their kitchens. Some even claim that their noses can sense the intent of a man before they've even opened their mouths. Those more informed on Bodaci culture will tell you that it is not their noses that inform them, but the culinary choices one makes when he sits down.

The Language of Food

Fitting for a species that can revere, taste, and smell food like no other, the Bodaci communicate intent, affection, and even battle plans through food. Foods with honey, as traditional for Bodaci, communicate affection, while sugar indicates a polite fondness, but no romantic attraction.
The plating on which a dish is serves denotes whether the meal is a communique or just dinner. Wooden servings are for mere sustenance, while fine china is meant for important communications. Gold rims are used in courting. Glassware when there is suspicion of assasination attempts.
The existence of allergens in other species can befuddle and confuse younger chefs, as it disrupts communications and can change the entire meaning of a dish to something altogether uncomfortable. More experienced professionals, however, have long since learned to covertly inquire in advance and plan accordingly. This is also denoted in the dishware with special water glasses denoting substitutions in the dish.

A Purpose in Life

As with any species, there will be those that do not follow the cultural norms. It is no different with the Bodaci-there will always be a few who do not feel the call of the stovetop as strongly as their bretheren. Unlike most species, however, the Bodaci do not look down upon these brothers and sisters-there are always other roles that need to be filled. And, at their heart, they are bears; they are not creatures of ambition or drive. So long as everyone is fed, the people are happy.

Geographic Distribution

• St. Fiule