Ursil

The ursil are the bear-folk of Kirris. They are large and imposing, generally very talented warriors. That is only half the story, however, as they also tend to be reserved, hospitable, and very devoted to their friends.

Basic Information

Dietary Needs and Habits

While their diet is omnivorous, much as any bear's, their sentience gives them much greater options. They greatly prefer meat, usually lightly cooked. They typically eat especially heavy portions that make anyone hosting an ursil guest practically mad with frustration.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Ursil tend to vary greatly in appearance. In particular, their features resemble those of several different bear species, from simple black bears to polar bears and anything in between. This refers not only to their coats, but facial structure, as well.
Cubs generally inherit the features of one of their parents over the other. Mixtures of inherited features do occur, but they are not the norm as they are for other species. This can be the source of some very unusual coat patterns.
The one thing practically all ursil have in common is their exceptional physique. Ursil are built far larger than many other races, not only in height, but musculature as well. This leads to an exceptional strength in all but the runts of the species.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The culture of the ursil is surprisingly complex. First and foremost, they value personal worth. Since almost all ursil are warriors in some capacity, this worth is determined with traits a warrior finds important such as strength, speed, endurance, and even wit.
They frequently test one another and themselves. These tests are often things such as brawls, wrestling matches, and footraces. The place of one in their society is determined by one's performance in such trials. This hierarchy is entirely informal, with no government overseeing it.
Their society as a whole is ruled by the Unbroken. These are rare individuals that have undergone a series of trials known as the Thirteen Ordeals. What these trials entail is a mystery to all but the Unbroken, and they are strictly sworn to secrecy.
Another important facet of their culture is their home life. Although the ursil are proud of their resilience, they enjoy their creature comforts. Their homes usually aren't any larger than needed, but they are always warm and cozy. They are a hospitable people, and refusing to share food and warmth is unspeakably rude to the ursil.

History

The ursil first developed in the mountains on the continent of Hr'ask'r. They lived as simple tribesmen for an untold length of time. They were hunters and foragers and little else, although they thrived in their environment.
Their civilization arose so quickly and suddenly that it is a mystery to scholars to this day. In only a few generations, they had a thriving city named Dolrar, the center of an equally prosperous civilization. Their pride and joy was an explosive known as Powdered Fury.
All of this changed with the Second Rising. The mind flayers attacked with such force that victory was impossible, even as formidable as the ursil were. As they were overrun, they were faced with the terrible fate of becoming mindless thralls. In an act of ultimate defiance, they used their explosives to bury their own capital city, effectively wiping it from existence.
Their entire civilization was in shambles, and so they went into the lowlands. They lived as homeless raiders, surviving on banditry for generations. This became their lives and their proud history was all but forgotten. This life continued unchanged until the rise of a lone warlord named Cand Romerrac.
He dreamed of more. He dreamed that his people would have a homeland to call their own. To that end, he united the various bandit gangs and marched on the great city of Hnng'yar seeking conquest. With his victory, the ursil would have a home more than worthy of them.
This campaign led to a massive amount of death and destruction, and ultimately ended in failure. After numerous challenges, Romerrac retained his leadership. He led his people to the mountains up north, determined to build, not destroy.
That was when they discovered the ruins of Rondrak. There they learned of their proud history, and were determined to live up to the memory of their ancestors. They rebuilt Rondrak, and it served as a capital of a new nation, which they named after Dolrar of old.
They built up quickly, and even fought off the Third Rising with very little trouble. It was the next war that would shape them into who they are today. Without warning, an army of the Yuan-ti Empire attacked Rondrak, starting a war that has continued unabated for centuries.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Due to their cultural focus on personal worth, the ursil don't make sweeping generalizations about those of other races. Each is treated as an individual. If they can keep up with the ursil, they are worthy of the same respect. Otherwise, they are simply not worth thinking about.
The only exception to this is the yuan-ti. Both races have been fighting for centuries, leading to a deep enmity between the two races. To an ursil, the only good snake-man is a dead snake-man.

Lifespan

Human average

Average Height

6.5 - 7.5 ft

Average Weight

200 - 300 lbs