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| Race | Lupa |
| Over-race | Animalman |
| Classification | Animalman |
| Family | Caninoid |
| Sphere | Moons |
| Origin | Mysana made them from strands of her hair |
| Lifespan | 70-100 years |
| Habitat | Anywhere |
| Food | Meat |
| Description | There are 16 notable breeds of lupas. They all appear to be anthropomorphic wolves, with fur that is grey, white, black, red, ochre, brown, blond, etc. The commonest lupa is the grey lupa, who stand about 6'6" on average. They tend to have slender, powerful builds with pulled in abdomens and usually very thick fur, thicker on the ruff. Most moult their hair in summer. The females tend to be smoother, with narrower muzzles. Desert lupa are small (about 5'8"), with large ears that help displace heat and generally short hair. Their middle toes are fused. Red lupas are only a little smaller than the greys at 6'3" on average. They have almond shaped eyes, broader noses and large ears. Their ruff is less prominent. Juazan lupas are like reds, but much shorter (5'5"). Likewise, Ailanean lupas are about 6'3" and slightly different in coloration, but otherwise the same as red lupas. Tundra lupas are equal in size to the greys, but have denser fur, though of normal coloration. Altic lupas are similar to the tundra lupas, but with exclusively white fur and much thicker coats. Taggaran lupas are medium sized (around 6') and have light red or brown coloration, usually. Their tails are striped. Vimalan lupas have no underfur. They stand about 6' tall on average, and have a dark V stripe on their shoulders, with a tendency toward grey or red fur with black tips. Their heads are a little larger than the greys, and the pads on their third and fourth toes tend to be fused. Dire lupas are the largest lupas at about 7'2". Their legs are stockier and more sturdy, their heads are thicker, and they have powerful jaws. Tenzanese lupas are about 6'3" and are otherwise much like the greys. The changu lupas are the most closely related to caninians. They are about 6', with a saddle of black and white fur around their backs. Their noses are longer and more slender. Steppe lupas are about 6' tall on average, with coats that are usually grey, brown, or black. The hair on their withers are shorter and their tails are poorly furred. Palhuric lupas are much like the greys in size and shape, but have a quicker stride and more slender body. Black lupas are actually just melanistic lupas of any breed, and the great lupas stand at about 7' even on average and are the most feared of all lupas. |
| Procreation | With each other for more lupas. With other caninoids for halfbreeds. Elsewise, it follows the mother if possible at all. |
| Magic | One in five million have heart or soul magic. Mind and body magic are possible. Void is possible. Faith is common. |
| Special Powers | Grey lupas have strong crushing jaws. They can regulate body temperature by slowing the blood close to the skin. Their sense of smell is decent, but not as good as a caninian's. Their hearing is excellent, and their vision is moderate, though their nightvision is excellent. As pups, they are born blind and deaf, but grow out of it in about a month. They are excellent hunters, often using ambushes, decoys, and concealment well. Their language has a large bodily component, and their howls are used for rallying, raising alarms, locating each other, and just sending messages. Desert lupas never howl. They are the rulers of the night. They are immune to being blinded except by actual damage to their eyes, and they are able to see valkyries. They have perfect direction sense, as they always know which way is west and which way is southeast due to their connection to the moons. They are naturally intimidating. Red lupas are more resistant to heartworm. Dire lupas' jaws are stronger than any others', being able to crush bone easily. Altic lupas can survive for months in darkness and subzero temperatures. They are slower than other lupas, but have greater endurance. Vimalan lupas have a greater capacity for eating than other lupas. Great lupas can command great winds with their breaths and have capacious bellies that digest their victims very slowly. Anyone swallowed alive has a chance of surviving for a day or so in the belly of a great lupa. Great lupas never stop hungering, though, and are said to want to swallow the sun itself. |
| Weaknesses | They have issues with self-restraint, greed, and selfishness. Dire lupas are slightly less intelligent than other breeds. Tenzanese lupas are espcially susceptible to rabies. Sun magic or faith can harm them. |
| Culture | The central aspect of the lupa culture is the nuclear family. A pack of lupas will be a simple nuclear family, usually. These are not the most cohesive units, for they do not remain together their whole lives like lionesses, but split up after the children reach sexual maturity and go to form their own packs. The elders then remain together. Lupas put a lot of focus on mating for life and being monogamous, though there are exceptions. Lupas are very territorial. They mark their territories with their own nightblood, the blackened blood spilled only on the full moon. Their vocalizations are important to their culture. The howl is the main one, described above. Their barks are involuntary and occur when they are startled. Their growls are used during challenges, at meals, and during play to convey respect and dominance. Their whines are used to express anxiety, curiosity, and intimacy, depending. There are many legends about the earliest lupas. They have a strong bond to humanity and are respected as brothers by many cultures, though not the Remakans (who hate them). Talune was said to be founded by twins raised by wolves, and thus the lupas are well respected there. Abakuks and other goblins are known to have enslaved lupas and used wolves as mounts, and thus are hated by most lupas. Lupas have reputations in mixed societies as guides, hunters, and guards. Because of their abilities to communicate with wolves, they are often employed to defend crops and flocks that wolves might damage. Desert lupas and changu lupas do not live in packs, but usually just in pairs or threes. Desert lupas are rarely employed to defend flocks because of their more ruthless natures--they tend to steal food. Taggaran lupas hunt alone, but live in packs. They like to boast during fights. Tenzanese lupas are more benign than other breeds, with reputations for kindness. Tundra lupas do not keep permanent territories due to the shifting of resources in their locales. Altic lupas live in moderate sized packs and are known for their ruthlessness in fights--they go for the throat first. Vimalan lupas have a bipolar reputation--they are either docile and kind or vicious cannibals. They have small packs and are either outright evil or protectors of the village. In Vimala, it is especially illegal to kill a lupa or a wolf. The second lupa is said to be the first being to ever die on Shem, and because of this, Death Herself gave all lupas a special boon--to see death when it arrived. Thus, they can seek valkyries. |
| Notables | Jodha Hrown, an tundra lupa Indestructible |
| Sample statistics | PRO 15 ATH 15 STR 15 AWA 10 Nightvision 12 Hearing 19 Smell 14 WIL 10 Self-restraint 8 ROG 10 Sneak/Hide 15 |
| Special cases | There are said to be magical breeds of lupas other than the dire and great lupas. These are the forest lupas, the night lupas, the stone lupas, the winter lupas, the garm lupas, Phobian lupas, scarred lupas, enolupas, and the lunar lupas. Forest lupas are dark red and stand about 7' tall. They are slender. They command the respect of all forest creatures and have a gentle, respectful reputation as protectors of the forests. Night lupas are black with brown fringes. They stand about 6'8". They berzerk as a pack and their eyes glow red. Their howls only cause fear, and they can fade into shadow at will. Stone lupas have no fur. They have rocky skin and stand about 6'9" tall. They are able to eat rock, and they live in deep caves or rocky wastelands. Winter lupas are Altic lupas, but taller (6'8"), with a complete immunity to the cold. Garm lupas are said to be Death's servants. They have four eyes. Their chests bleed constantly, and it has four rows of teeth that are so sharp they can harm even the gods. They eat only bread, unless they are fighting. Their second pair of eyes sees death, and they are weak to undeath. They stand at 7' even. Phobian lupas are said to be servants of Nightmare. They are like night lupas, but terrifying to even see. They stand at 7' even and have reddish black fur. Scarred lupas are aptly named, being covered in scars. They are said to be descended of Fenrisulfr. They cause sorrow with their howls. They stand 7' tall and are said to hate the gods. Enolupas live in the between places. And lunar lupas are the same as grey lupas, but they can survive on the moons. |
GrandGuignol
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