Awroon

Awroon (AW-roon) are not wholly nocturnal Wruwara, but relish the solace of night. They dwell in dark caves and dens that are dry and warm, preferring those close to hot springs and, some, near volcanic regions. Their omnivorous and somewhat scavenger-like diet leads them to grow fond of mushrooms and the glowing larva of the large cave wasps that they often share their homes with.

Personality

Awroon are sometimes viewed as naturally pleasant to be around and physically attractive in a very simple way. They tend to keep a neutral side in most things, only speaking when necessary. Due to their neutral opinions of most things, they are not very driven individuals, however once they set their mind to something, they stubbornly refuse to sway from it, sometimes even fighting for a personal belief long after others have ceased to engage. This makes Awroon proud, self-sufficient, fun-loving Wruwara with a rare, but not uncommon, tendency to gregariousness.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Their speckled or spotted, long, semi-prehensile tongues give them the ability to reach into crevices which wasp larva are nested, into the rock-hard shells of forest crabs and mud snails, and the hard rinds of fruits other species usually avoid. Awroon have large horns that curl around their heads like a helmet. These horns are not ridged like a ram's, but smooth and even, sometimes, splintery at the tips- closer to the bovine. Their fur coats range from ashen greys to coal black, but very rarely, grey-browns. Then there are two features that are much less apparent. The first, is that Awroon eyes glow dimly in the dark. This glow can increase or decrease in strength depending on their physical wellness, but is not bright enough to give away their position if they are being stealthy. The second, would be that under ultraviolet lights, or the bio-luminescence emitted from glowing fungi, two long stripes appear on their muzzle from the tip of their nose to a point where they merge between their shoulders then tappers down their back. It's believed to be from traces of oils in their fur secreted from glands in their muzzle, the top of their forehead, and the back of their necks that could have once served as pheromones like those the Lodall exhibit. However, no trace of these pheromones exist today, and the oils left behind are merely vestigial.

Biological Traits

Bonus Natural Armor: Awroon horns serve as a helmet in many situations, and provide a natural +1 bonus to their Reflex Defense.
Bonus Natural Attack: In addition to their teeth and claws, Awroon have horns. An Awroon's horns are their pride and joy. They decorate them, use them to indicate social status and natural beauty, and most of all, use them for combat.
Awroon can make a bashing attack with their horns that deals 1d6 + 3 + their Strength modifier of bludgeoning damage.
Socially Favored Form: Natrulus.

Ecology and Habitats

Though they make their homes in caves, Awroon are not wholly cave dwelling, for they will sometimes make large settlements at the mouth of massive caves or on grassy knolls, so to be mediators or traders between their underground cousins, the Grindal, another subspecies of Wruwara. In some situations, they can even form mining colonies on snowy mountaintops or even into the sides of cliffs.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Awroon are a truly omnivorous subspecies of Wruwara. They were always more gatherers than hunters, and will scavenge the caves and forests around their settlements for anything from fungi to recently deceased animals. This leads their diets to be extremely varied. This does not mean that Awroon are extremely well suited to such a vast dietary array, as many individuals experience gastrointestinal upset most of their lives, more so than any other subspecies. This is likely due to genetics more so than diet, since other Wruwara raised on Awroon cooking don't experience this level of discomfort. Awroon dishes have some of the most robust and complex flavors of all Wruwara. They use a wide range of fungi and herbs to accent meals, making them extremely enjoyable in both sight and taste. Even their preserved foods are superior in flavor and aroma. Awroon dried foods are some of the most sought after rations for any adventuring party. Undeniably, the Awroon are the best Wruwara at preserving. In the winter months they live on rich diets of dried mushrooms, herbal stews, flavored and spiced jerky and other delicious treats. In regions where there is snow, they will make communal store houses out of ice blocks and packed snow to store perishables such as undried meats and eggs.

Biological Cycle

During the late fall and through the winter months, Awroon fur colors will often change to paler tones, and in some rare cases turn white. The thick neck fur of the Awroon will fill out and become almost similar to a mane in thickness. They also sometimes increase in body weight during the winter months and shed the weight again once spring returns along with their extra fur.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Low-Light Vision: Thanks to the bio-luminescence in their eyes, Awroon can see twice as far in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination, and retain the ability to see color and details in these conditions. Awroon ignore concealment, but not total concealment, from darkness.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Awroon prefer three or four syllable names that contain long O sounds and end with vowels or vowel sounds. Rotsuoy, Ghounahlorah, Phourabe, and Lornoror are examples.

Common Etiquette Rules

The most notable common etiquette among Awroon is to bow before beginning a conversation. Bowing is a form of introduction and they believe it is most important to introduce oneself to a discussion before engaging. It's not uncommon that an Awroon would wait for a long period while other species are holding a discussion before even joining in and even sometimes wait for invitation in a discussion. Awroon are not especially showy with their displays of affection in public spaces even though they are one of the most physically affectionate Wruwara. Some even find it rude to openly display affection without consent of the parties in visual proximity. However, they also find it even more rude to disrupt the display, so many will leave instead of engaging. It is very common to hear an Awroon apologizing for something, even if it couldn't be helped. They will apologize even to inanimate objects if they bump into them. Groomah often jest that "sorry" is the most common word spoken by an Awroon.

Common Dress Code

Awroon tend to wear long, flowing dresses and robes, usually with chest exposed in Natrulus form. They rarely adorn themselves with more than just simple cloth garments because they believe their natural, beautiful body should be accented, not adorned. During festivals and celebratory seasons they will often wear ash paint. Rarely do Awroon dye their fur or hair, but some will bleach their hair with acidic pastes in order to lighten the color or even whiten it.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Awroon rarely have a social problem with other subspecies of Wruwara, and can often be found as a neutral ground between them. The flighty and nervous Brooaff find comfort around Awroon when other subspecies would detour them. Awroon just present a natural air of trustworthiness and loyalty, and this is even sometimes taken for granted by other subspecies. Awroon sometimes view themselves as unshowy, even boring, but this is far from true, since many Wruwara come to Awroon for advice, amenity, and sometimes, general entertainment. Even the judgmental Groomah never turn down an Awroon that shows up on their doorsteps, and in adventuring parties, Groomah often look to Awroon for a sense of home away from home, when they would rarely seek repose in others, even one of their own. Awroon are the only subspecies of Wruwara that don't outwardly discriminate against Grindal, and even respect them for their 'different' way of perceiving the world. Even if an individual of a different subspecies doesn't naturally think wholly positively of the Awroon, most are at least indifferent.

Awroon Headshot by Rotsuoy

Scientific Name

Wruwara awroon

Lifespan

300 years

Average Height

Natrulus 5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Wruos 4.5 ft (1.3 m)
Myetis 7 ft (2.1 m)

Average Weight

240 lbs (108 kg)

Average Physique

Awroon have very soft fat deposits around their bellies, arms, and thighs that disguise thick and dense muscles. Thin Awroon are rare.