Post by Evergreen on Feb 13, 2014 4:02:59 GMT -5
Rioga
The pack of the Forest
Summary:
• Strong, thick, curved, retractable claws instead of nails for climbing trees
• Fast runners and light, flexible bodies with long, strong legs
• Some (males only) have antlers or horns used for fighting rival males for mates, defense, and display
• Some (males only) may also have boar-like tusks
• Prehensile tails for added balance while climbing (not present in canines with docked tails or bobtails)
• Can hide themselves in treetops without being seen
• Make next to no noise when stalking prey due to their soft, almost down-like fur (same idea as the feathers on an owl's wings)
• Can jump to great heights
Note:: The tusks, antlers, or horns of some of the male canines are prone to getting caught on branches, vines, and in bushes and painfully breaking. Antlers are also shed every late Fall and grow back every early Spring. Horns are never shed, but are prone to irreversible breakage, chips, and cracks when enough force is applied at a constant rate. Jumping to great heights takes practice. Canines under two years old cannot make the same jumps that an adult canine can make. The claws can chip or/and break off, but that is rare. Canines with docked tails, bobtails, or no tails are usually unable to climb trees due to the lack of extra stability and balance. If they attempt to do so, they can suffer injury or even death.
Troid
The pack of the desert
Summary: Due to living in a hot, dry, nearly cold fresh water-less domain, these canines have evolved to be able to go months without a drop of water. They are also habitual omnivores; as they chew on succulents or spineless cacti to extract the fresh (although lukewarm) water that they contain. They are almost more reptile than they are canine. Almost.
• Numbing venom is sometimes present in teeth and/or claws
-Side effects: Skin and fur around point of contact turning a navy blue or black color and the fur falling out, bloodshot eyes, sweating, fever, numbness at point of contact, headache, drowsiness, blurry or temporary loss of vision.
• Elongated teeth and/or nails
• Thick skin; sometimes have patches of scales in shades of brown, shades of orange, shades of yellow, white or cream, gold, or rarely black on their face, shoulders, limbs, behind their ears, and on their haunches
• Heavy build and pillar-like legs add three pounds to the possible maximum weight of a canine's individual breed and assigned sex
• Can go a long time without water
• Black, sometimes forked tongue
• Third clear eyelid, to keep sand out of the eyes and reptilian-like pupils
• Ability to open and close slit-like nostrils, to keep sand out of the nose
• Teeth and nails resemble hooks in order to keep hard earned prey from escaping
• Body radiates a natural warmth (even in subzero temperatures)
Note:: These canines are slow, uncoordinated, sluggish, and tire easily in the mountains and in the Winter months (i.e. temperatures 70 degrees and below). Teeth and especially the nails are easily prone to chipping, cracking, and painful breakage. Their thick build and pillar-like legs makes them inflexible, poor sprinters, and poor swimmers. The closest they can get to running is a clumsy speed walk for a short distance (up to six feet is pushing it- trying to go over six feet results in overheating and fainting). They will drown in fresh water where the water comes over their back, but the buoyancy of salt water may prevent only the smaller breeds of canines (up to 18in in height at the shoulders and 27Ibs) from drowning. They can still wade in water up to their elbows (up to the shoulders if they have a death wish).
Mair
The pack of the Mountains
Summary: Due to the treacherous terrain and unforgiving climate, encounters with other canines outside of their pack is an extremely rare event. Thus, fights have rarely broken out over food or territory. So, the members of Mair have lost their body's primitive weapons. However, to make up for the downsizing of their teeth and the loss (or near loss) of their nails, they have developed spurs on their front limbs. Some males in the pack sport ram-like horns (used to battle rival males for mates and to defend the pack from predators). Their skulls have also become thicker to absorb the impact of butting heads and to protect the brain from severe damage. Their bodies are built more for speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility instead of strength and power. Hollow bones, large lungs, and wings make for a hasty getaway that is always safe. Fur has become thicker and tail has become fluffier in order to hold in more body heat and protect them from wind and snow exposure.
• Thick, sharp spurs (up to 6 inches long in males and up to 3 or rarely 4 inches long in females)
• Feathers (shades of only brown, shades of only grey, only white or cream, or rarely pure black) scattered throughout fur (mainly behind ears and along the spine)
• Feathered wings that mimic the colors and patterns of various birds of prey (commonly falcons, kites, hawks, and eagles and rarely owls and vultures)
- Wings must be three times the canine's height to allow for powered flight (canines may have smaller wings, but they will be totally useless in terms of flight- may slow a fall or aid in making jumps a few inches higher at the very most)
• Some (males only) have ram-like horns
* Some have bird-like front or hind legs (and in rare cases, all four) that end in sharp, curved talons
* Back legs of some end in mountain goat-like hooves instead of paws to make for easier, faster climbing
• Hollow bones and large lungs help with easy and quick flight
• Coarse topcoat to keep out snow and cold winds and thick, soft undercoat to trap body heat for insulation
• Short, blunt nails or no nails at all on wide paws that keep the canine from sinking into the snow
• Small, compact, lightly built body
• Small, yet very sharp teeth
• Blood, saliva, and other bodily fluids contain antifreeze that can make a canine outside of the pack sick should they ingest such fluids
- Symptoms of ingestion include body tremors, uncoordinated movement, fainting, rapid heartbeat, excessive urination, or/and diarrhea (in cases where others ingest large amounts of fluid- coma, weakness to the point of collapse and being unable to stand or move, seizures, drunken behavior, euphoria/hallucinations, or/and seizures)
- Best treatment is to induce vomiting if affected canine is ALERT AND RESPONSIVE TO STIMULI by consuming certain plants (see medic/healer list) while stray/feral dogs and housepets may be rushed to the vet; NEVER try to induce vomiting on an unconscious canine
- Failure to get treatment may result in irreversible kidney damage or death due to kidney failure within days of ingestion
• Sharp sense of vision like a bird of prey; able to judge depth and distance much better than a canine from one of the other packs or a packless canine
• Elongated, fluffy tail that can be wrapped around the feet and legs for added warmth when sitting or laying down (some males may have a feathered tail like that of a rooster, bird of paradise, or peacock for courting or/and pre-fight displays but offer little warmth)
Note:: These canines are prone to overheating/fainting, dehydration, and tire easily in hot climates (i.e. Rain Forest and Desert) and during the Summer months (i.e. and temperature 80 degrees and above). The horns of some of the male canines are prone to getting caught on branches and in bushes. Horns are never shed, but are prone to irreversible breakage, chips, and cracks when enough force is applied at a constant rate. Body and wing feathers are shed along with fur during Summer and last few weeks of Winter. Wing feathers grow in quicker and are slower to shed than the body feathers.
Extra info:: Called Sciathán by non-pack canines and by the few (still living) humans who have seen them.
Cinnte
The pack of the Ocean
Summary: More fish than canine, these unique-looking canines have no need to drink water; as they get all of the moisture that they need from the marine life that they eat. Solely pescitarians (eat only fish, shellfish, mollusks, and the occasional aquatic mammal or sea bird) and will get horribly sick if they eat any 'land animals'. They can swim in either bodies of fresh water or bodies of salt water. Cannot swim in dirty or polluted water; doing so can make them sick or even kill them.
• Gills
• Clear scales over eyes and large, round pupils that are very sensitive to direct, bright light
• Fins on back (sometimes barbed) and tail
• Scales (in shades of green, shades of blue, pure white, shades of grey, or rarely in pastel colors) scattered sparsely throughout fur, but large patches are on their broad, powerful shoulders
• Large, wide, webbed paws
• Swim bladder to control buoyancy while swimming underwater (useless while on land)
• Bioluminescent patterns on backs of ears, muzzle, under eyes, face, legs, stomach, and tail often flashed, brightened, or dulled in various patterns as a means of complex underwater communication called 'Aquatic' by pack members (see 'Guide to Learning Aquatic' under the Cinnte Pack page)
- Glows blue for males and green for females
• Strong, thick, powerful tail covered in varying shades of grey, black, or brown shark-like skin instead of fur depending on canine's fur color
• Able to close slit-like nostrils, to keep seawater out of the nose
• Very short, oily waterproof fur
• Strong, flat molars for crushing the shells and scales of their prey
Note:: These canines can breath in air as well as water. Their skin secretes a clear slime from special glands at the base of their fins that prevents the fragile appendages from drying out when they are not in water. Cannot be in area where there is absolutely no water in some form. Their movements are a little clumsy and awkward on land, but quite the opposite in water. The fins rip and tear easily; especially while the canine is on dry land. Because of the clear scales over their eyes, their vision on land is blurry and they are very nearsighted while out of water.
Madrai
The pack of the City
Summary: Because the dogs of Madrai live in territory occupied by countless humans, non-pack canines, and other aggressive city dwellers, their adaptions have somewhat turned them into walking weapons so that they can defend their territory from stray, feral, or house pet dogs more easily. They have developed a strong immune system to combat the many diseases that they are exposed to by living in a crowded area. If they are outnumbered or losing a fight, their suction cup-like pads allow them to climb flat, vertical surfaces to get out of harm's way.
• Strong immune system (cannot fight off Rabies; weaker in pups up to two years and in adult dogs 7 years and older)
• Shiny, black spikes on head, neck, back, and shoulders
• Ability to lie their spikes flat or raise them (like a switchblade)
• Sharp, serrated teeth that resemble shark's teeth
• Some know how to fight with weapons (knife, sword, chain, etc.)
• Pads act as suction cups, allowing a dog to scale vertical, flat surfaces (like a wooden fence, windows, or brick/stone wall)
Note:: Spikes can break off when enough force is applied and broken spikes will not grow back
Extra info:: Called Siorc by non-pack canines and by the few (still living) humans who have seen them
Housepets, Strays, and Loners
The leftovers
Can be any of the following
• Short nails**
• No tail**
• Hair instead of fur**
• Tiny teeth
• No nails
• No adaptions**
• Weak/brittle bones**
• Super skinny**
• Unusual eye color
• Weak immune system**
• No eyes
• Eyes without pigment
• Eyes without pupils
• Retractable teeth
• Heightened sight**
• Heightened hearing**
• Heightened smell**
• Unusual fur color
• No ears
** next to trait = allowable house pet traits
The pack of the Forest
Summary:
• Strong, thick, curved, retractable claws instead of nails for climbing trees
• Fast runners and light, flexible bodies with long, strong legs
• Some (males only) have antlers or horns used for fighting rival males for mates, defense, and display
• Some (males only) may also have boar-like tusks
• Prehensile tails for added balance while climbing (not present in canines with docked tails or bobtails)
• Can hide themselves in treetops without being seen
• Make next to no noise when stalking prey due to their soft, almost down-like fur (same idea as the feathers on an owl's wings)
• Can jump to great heights
Note:: The tusks, antlers, or horns of some of the male canines are prone to getting caught on branches, vines, and in bushes and painfully breaking. Antlers are also shed every late Fall and grow back every early Spring. Horns are never shed, but are prone to irreversible breakage, chips, and cracks when enough force is applied at a constant rate. Jumping to great heights takes practice. Canines under two years old cannot make the same jumps that an adult canine can make. The claws can chip or/and break off, but that is rare. Canines with docked tails, bobtails, or no tails are usually unable to climb trees due to the lack of extra stability and balance. If they attempt to do so, they can suffer injury or even death.
Troid
The pack of the desert
Summary: Due to living in a hot, dry, nearly cold fresh water-less domain, these canines have evolved to be able to go months without a drop of water. They are also habitual omnivores; as they chew on succulents or spineless cacti to extract the fresh (although lukewarm) water that they contain. They are almost more reptile than they are canine. Almost.
• Numbing venom is sometimes present in teeth and/or claws
-Side effects: Skin and fur around point of contact turning a navy blue or black color and the fur falling out, bloodshot eyes, sweating, fever, numbness at point of contact, headache, drowsiness, blurry or temporary loss of vision.
• Elongated teeth and/or nails
• Thick skin; sometimes have patches of scales in shades of brown, shades of orange, shades of yellow, white or cream, gold, or rarely black on their face, shoulders, limbs, behind their ears, and on their haunches
• Heavy build and pillar-like legs add three pounds to the possible maximum weight of a canine's individual breed and assigned sex
• Can go a long time without water
• Black, sometimes forked tongue
• Third clear eyelid, to keep sand out of the eyes and reptilian-like pupils
• Ability to open and close slit-like nostrils, to keep sand out of the nose
• Teeth and nails resemble hooks in order to keep hard earned prey from escaping
• Body radiates a natural warmth (even in subzero temperatures)
Note:: These canines are slow, uncoordinated, sluggish, and tire easily in the mountains and in the Winter months (i.e. temperatures 70 degrees and below). Teeth and especially the nails are easily prone to chipping, cracking, and painful breakage. Their thick build and pillar-like legs makes them inflexible, poor sprinters, and poor swimmers. The closest they can get to running is a clumsy speed walk for a short distance (up to six feet is pushing it- trying to go over six feet results in overheating and fainting). They will drown in fresh water where the water comes over their back, but the buoyancy of salt water may prevent only the smaller breeds of canines (up to 18in in height at the shoulders and 27Ibs) from drowning. They can still wade in water up to their elbows (up to the shoulders if they have a death wish).
Mair
The pack of the Mountains
Summary: Due to the treacherous terrain and unforgiving climate, encounters with other canines outside of their pack is an extremely rare event. Thus, fights have rarely broken out over food or territory. So, the members of Mair have lost their body's primitive weapons. However, to make up for the downsizing of their teeth and the loss (or near loss) of their nails, they have developed spurs on their front limbs. Some males in the pack sport ram-like horns (used to battle rival males for mates and to defend the pack from predators). Their skulls have also become thicker to absorb the impact of butting heads and to protect the brain from severe damage. Their bodies are built more for speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility instead of strength and power. Hollow bones, large lungs, and wings make for a hasty getaway that is always safe. Fur has become thicker and tail has become fluffier in order to hold in more body heat and protect them from wind and snow exposure.
• Thick, sharp spurs (up to 6 inches long in males and up to 3 or rarely 4 inches long in females)
• Feathers (shades of only brown, shades of only grey, only white or cream, or rarely pure black) scattered throughout fur (mainly behind ears and along the spine)
• Feathered wings that mimic the colors and patterns of various birds of prey (commonly falcons, kites, hawks, and eagles and rarely owls and vultures)
- Wings must be three times the canine's height to allow for powered flight (canines may have smaller wings, but they will be totally useless in terms of flight- may slow a fall or aid in making jumps a few inches higher at the very most)
• Some (males only) have ram-like horns
* Some have bird-like front or hind legs (and in rare cases, all four) that end in sharp, curved talons
* Back legs of some end in mountain goat-like hooves instead of paws to make for easier, faster climbing
• Hollow bones and large lungs help with easy and quick flight
• Coarse topcoat to keep out snow and cold winds and thick, soft undercoat to trap body heat for insulation
• Short, blunt nails or no nails at all on wide paws that keep the canine from sinking into the snow
• Small, compact, lightly built body
• Small, yet very sharp teeth
• Blood, saliva, and other bodily fluids contain antifreeze that can make a canine outside of the pack sick should they ingest such fluids
- Symptoms of ingestion include body tremors, uncoordinated movement, fainting, rapid heartbeat, excessive urination, or/and diarrhea (in cases where others ingest large amounts of fluid- coma, weakness to the point of collapse and being unable to stand or move, seizures, drunken behavior, euphoria/hallucinations, or/and seizures)
- Best treatment is to induce vomiting if affected canine is ALERT AND RESPONSIVE TO STIMULI by consuming certain plants (see medic/healer list) while stray/feral dogs and housepets may be rushed to the vet; NEVER try to induce vomiting on an unconscious canine
- Failure to get treatment may result in irreversible kidney damage or death due to kidney failure within days of ingestion
• Sharp sense of vision like a bird of prey; able to judge depth and distance much better than a canine from one of the other packs or a packless canine
• Elongated, fluffy tail that can be wrapped around the feet and legs for added warmth when sitting or laying down (some males may have a feathered tail like that of a rooster, bird of paradise, or peacock for courting or/and pre-fight displays but offer little warmth)
Note:: These canines are prone to overheating/fainting, dehydration, and tire easily in hot climates (i.e. Rain Forest and Desert) and during the Summer months (i.e. and temperature 80 degrees and above). The horns of some of the male canines are prone to getting caught on branches and in bushes. Horns are never shed, but are prone to irreversible breakage, chips, and cracks when enough force is applied at a constant rate. Body and wing feathers are shed along with fur during Summer and last few weeks of Winter. Wing feathers grow in quicker and are slower to shed than the body feathers.
Extra info:: Called Sciathán by non-pack canines and by the few (still living) humans who have seen them.
Cinnte
The pack of the Ocean
Summary: More fish than canine, these unique-looking canines have no need to drink water; as they get all of the moisture that they need from the marine life that they eat. Solely pescitarians (eat only fish, shellfish, mollusks, and the occasional aquatic mammal or sea bird) and will get horribly sick if they eat any 'land animals'. They can swim in either bodies of fresh water or bodies of salt water. Cannot swim in dirty or polluted water; doing so can make them sick or even kill them.
• Gills
• Clear scales over eyes and large, round pupils that are very sensitive to direct, bright light
• Fins on back (sometimes barbed) and tail
• Scales (in shades of green, shades of blue, pure white, shades of grey, or rarely in pastel colors) scattered sparsely throughout fur, but large patches are on their broad, powerful shoulders
• Large, wide, webbed paws
• Swim bladder to control buoyancy while swimming underwater (useless while on land)
• Bioluminescent patterns on backs of ears, muzzle, under eyes, face, legs, stomach, and tail often flashed, brightened, or dulled in various patterns as a means of complex underwater communication called 'Aquatic' by pack members (see 'Guide to Learning Aquatic' under the Cinnte Pack page)
- Glows blue for males and green for females
• Strong, thick, powerful tail covered in varying shades of grey, black, or brown shark-like skin instead of fur depending on canine's fur color
• Able to close slit-like nostrils, to keep seawater out of the nose
• Very short, oily waterproof fur
• Strong, flat molars for crushing the shells and scales of their prey
Note:: These canines can breath in air as well as water. Their skin secretes a clear slime from special glands at the base of their fins that prevents the fragile appendages from drying out when they are not in water. Cannot be in area where there is absolutely no water in some form. Their movements are a little clumsy and awkward on land, but quite the opposite in water. The fins rip and tear easily; especially while the canine is on dry land. Because of the clear scales over their eyes, their vision on land is blurry and they are very nearsighted while out of water.
Madrai
The pack of the City
Summary: Because the dogs of Madrai live in territory occupied by countless humans, non-pack canines, and other aggressive city dwellers, their adaptions have somewhat turned them into walking weapons so that they can defend their territory from stray, feral, or house pet dogs more easily. They have developed a strong immune system to combat the many diseases that they are exposed to by living in a crowded area. If they are outnumbered or losing a fight, their suction cup-like pads allow them to climb flat, vertical surfaces to get out of harm's way.
• Strong immune system (cannot fight off Rabies; weaker in pups up to two years and in adult dogs 7 years and older)
• Shiny, black spikes on head, neck, back, and shoulders
• Ability to lie their spikes flat or raise them (like a switchblade)
• Sharp, serrated teeth that resemble shark's teeth
• Some know how to fight with weapons (knife, sword, chain, etc.)
• Pads act as suction cups, allowing a dog to scale vertical, flat surfaces (like a wooden fence, windows, or brick/stone wall)
Note:: Spikes can break off when enough force is applied and broken spikes will not grow back
Extra info:: Called Siorc by non-pack canines and by the few (still living) humans who have seen them
Housepets, Strays, and Loners
The leftovers
Can be any of the following
• Short nails**
• No tail**
• Hair instead of fur**
• Tiny teeth
• No nails
• No adaptions**
• Weak/brittle bones**
• Super skinny**
• Unusual eye color
• Weak immune system**
• No eyes
• Eyes without pigment
• Eyes without pupils
• Retractable teeth
• Heightened sight**
• Heightened hearing**
• Heightened smell**
• Unusual fur color
• No ears
** next to trait = allowable house pet traits
