Post by Fenris on Apr 4, 2019 13:12:56 GMT
Singular – Ylz
Plural -- Ylz
Young -- whelps/litter
Group -- Crowd Of Ylz
Description
The Ylz are wild dogs that inhabit the wilds of Teragaia, ranging from temperate forests and grasslands to the edges of the tundra. Traveling in family groups called “Crowds” ranging from 15-20 individuals on average, they are a communal creature much like their fellow canines, the Hellhounds. These Crowds are led by a dominant alpha, typically one of the Queen or Junior Queen rank though sometimes a Lord Rank have been known to lead in the absence of their superiors, but this will always be temporary.
The average Ylz stands around two feet at the shoulder (female and males show little difference in height, females can be slightly taller), with six long, agile legs and long tails. Their paws are canine in shape but they possess larger claws and longer toes, the dew-claw is very flexible, almost truly opposable and giving them the ability to grip with their paws, though more fine manipulation (such as for writing) is beyond their capabilities. Their tails are long with coarse ruff on the bottom side.
The Ylz have a long and intertwined history with the Gul'drek'kathar Tribe of Orcs. Back when the tribe was known as the Kry'kathar Tribe they would ‘pay’ nearby Ylz crowd’s Igetis with food to permit their Kato Meros Rank to test their youths as a rite of passage into adulthood. The challenge for the young Orc would be to survive the night in a ten-foot enclosure with the chosen Ylz, without killing it. The creature could be incapacitated, restrained, simply avoided, or even bribed if that was possible with nothing really to bribe with, but never slain. After the challenge the Kato Meros would, if necessary, be treated with medicine, healing herbs and given food for itself and its Crowd and would go on its way. Despite this association, however, the Ylz has never Bonded with the Orcs as far as anyone knows, or anyone really, valuing their Crowd more than what a Bond could offer. But after the Kry'kathar split into the Kry'kathar and the Gul'drek'kathar Tribes, the Ylz found themselves hunted quite regularly by the darker Kyr’kathar, the rite of passage now being for young orcs to go out and kill as many as they can in a single night. So these Crowds, rather than face destruction, followed the newly-named Gul’drek’kathar tribe away and eventually into the Haven Weyr territory. They have made the area their new home, mingling with already present Crowds and though no Bonds with the residents of the Weyr and Villages of the area have been reported yet it is not unlikely to happen at some point.
Mating Information
Only the Igetis, or matri/patriarch and Defteros may mate. Any other litters, especially if one of the parents is a Kato Meros, will be killed along with the mother, and possibly the father if he is found. If both parents are Archontas or higher the litter might be considered allowance into the Crowd if there is a lack of members, but the pups will more than likely never rise above Kato Meros rank, no matter their color or ability of mind speech.
Bonding Information
Bondings are somewhat similar to the way dragons bond. They wait for their ‘chosen one’, but they have no prior idea of who it may be, it’s just something that ‘clicks’ when they meet a person. So far very few (if any) have Bonded in the Shrine. They will always be adults when they bond, living and learning within the Crowd when young. Depending on rank they will use different tactics to ‘test’ their new Bond, aggression, cunning, attempts at manipulation, anything goes, but Omega (the few of them capable of Bonding, around 5% of the Omega rank) will always use aggression and attack, to test their Bonded’s strength, as strength is the only thing they respect (outside of their own species).
Ranks
Igetis:
Matriarch (most common) or patriarch (less common but does happen, both genders are called 'Igetis’). The one proven smartest through social maneuvering, hunting skills and tactical decisions. Manipulation is widely used and approved of if it serves the Crowd. The matriarch will usually develop a larger, brighter crest over the years in command. Almost exclusively it’s the Igetis of any given Crowd that bears a litter after a chase (see breeding information). The Igetis are dark in color, often black, with cobalt blue stripes running diagonally across their body and fainter ones on their hind legs. Immediately after attaining leadership as Matriarch, there will be little to distinguish between an Igetis and a Defteros, perhaps except size. But, only months later the Matriarch will start developing a crest starting between the upright ears and running down to the nape of their necks. This will have a contrasting color depending on fur color, but often pure white at the base, turning into purples and reds at the tips of each strand of hair.
Defteros:
Second in command and the temporary leader whenever the Matriarch is away (usually only during birth). It is more common for the Defteros to be the one away, leading hunts or negotiating with the Gul'drek'kathar Tribe. They can be up to the same size as the Matriarch, but never larger. It is assumed there is some kind of biological inhibitor, perhaps a pheromone, that stunts any growth beyond the ruling Matriarch. Their colors are along the charcoal gray with a single cobalt stripe running along their spine and spilling onto their tail. Some may have faint Igetis markings, but these individuals run a dangerous line. They would be expected, when reaching maturity, to challenge the reigning Matriarch, but more often than not she will kill the challenger.
Archontas:
The best hunters of the Crowd, but always lead by a Defteros. They are the soldiers, defenders and make up the main body of the Crowd together with the Katoteros. Color-wise these are the outliers of the species. Usually the darker the color indicates a higher rank, but Archontad can be any color except the black of an Igetis. Still their cobalt markings will mark them as Archontas, being that they lack them completely. It is assumed that as hunters, bright blue colors blend badly with the greens and browns of their lands, hence the markings have disappeared over the generations for greater success in the hunts.
Katoteros:
Very similar to the Archontas, but smaller, lighter and faster. Of the hunters, Archontad are the muscle to bring the prey down, while Katoteros are the ones to catch up to said prey to slow it down for the larger Archontas to finish it off. Though they do not always bother to kill it before starting to eat. The hunters will eat what they can before inevitably the Matriarch arrives, then disperse, leaving the kill for her to gorge on. When she is done, the rest of the Crowd except the Kato Meros rank will eat together. Katoteros are usually a middle grey color, like that of stormy clouds, with lighter blue markings. They have the spine stripe of Defteros as well as stripes across both pairs of front legs.
Kato Meros:
These are the runts of the species, but only in mind. This rank is the only one that reaches the same size as their ruling Matriarch, though this is still rare. They are usually of average size, between Archontas and Katoteros and Archontas, their coats are white or close to it with ice-blue random markings, and it is the only rank with stunted, and sometimes completely missing, mind-speech. They are bestial in nature, more animalistic than sentient, and rely more on instinct than higher thought processes in any given situation. The Kato Meros could be called the servants of the higher ranks, though very few Ylz require help from any other in that respect, as any need like that is seen as weakness. They are accepted mostly because of being the ones preferred by the Orcs for their initiation rituals, since Omegas are the ones who are likely to do anything to escape the confines of the cage instead of reasoning with the other occupant.
Plural -- Ylz
Young -- whelps/litter
Group -- Crowd Of Ylz
Description
The Ylz are wild dogs that inhabit the wilds of Teragaia, ranging from temperate forests and grasslands to the edges of the tundra. Traveling in family groups called “Crowds” ranging from 15-20 individuals on average, they are a communal creature much like their fellow canines, the Hellhounds. These Crowds are led by a dominant alpha, typically one of the Queen or Junior Queen rank though sometimes a Lord Rank have been known to lead in the absence of their superiors, but this will always be temporary.
The average Ylz stands around two feet at the shoulder (female and males show little difference in height, females can be slightly taller), with six long, agile legs and long tails. Their paws are canine in shape but they possess larger claws and longer toes, the dew-claw is very flexible, almost truly opposable and giving them the ability to grip with their paws, though more fine manipulation (such as for writing) is beyond their capabilities. Their tails are long with coarse ruff on the bottom side.
The Ylz have a long and intertwined history with the Gul'drek'kathar Tribe of Orcs. Back when the tribe was known as the Kry'kathar Tribe they would ‘pay’ nearby Ylz crowd’s Igetis with food to permit their Kato Meros Rank to test their youths as a rite of passage into adulthood. The challenge for the young Orc would be to survive the night in a ten-foot enclosure with the chosen Ylz, without killing it. The creature could be incapacitated, restrained, simply avoided, or even bribed if that was possible with nothing really to bribe with, but never slain. After the challenge the Kato Meros would, if necessary, be treated with medicine, healing herbs and given food for itself and its Crowd and would go on its way. Despite this association, however, the Ylz has never Bonded with the Orcs as far as anyone knows, or anyone really, valuing their Crowd more than what a Bond could offer. But after the Kry'kathar split into the Kry'kathar and the Gul'drek'kathar Tribes, the Ylz found themselves hunted quite regularly by the darker Kyr’kathar, the rite of passage now being for young orcs to go out and kill as many as they can in a single night. So these Crowds, rather than face destruction, followed the newly-named Gul’drek’kathar tribe away and eventually into the Haven Weyr territory. They have made the area their new home, mingling with already present Crowds and though no Bonds with the residents of the Weyr and Villages of the area have been reported yet it is not unlikely to happen at some point.
Mating Information
Only the Igetis, or matri/patriarch and Defteros may mate. Any other litters, especially if one of the parents is a Kato Meros, will be killed along with the mother, and possibly the father if he is found. If both parents are Archontas or higher the litter might be considered allowance into the Crowd if there is a lack of members, but the pups will more than likely never rise above Kato Meros rank, no matter their color or ability of mind speech.
Bonding Information
Bondings are somewhat similar to the way dragons bond. They wait for their ‘chosen one’, but they have no prior idea of who it may be, it’s just something that ‘clicks’ when they meet a person. So far very few (if any) have Bonded in the Shrine. They will always be adults when they bond, living and learning within the Crowd when young. Depending on rank they will use different tactics to ‘test’ their new Bond, aggression, cunning, attempts at manipulation, anything goes, but Omega (the few of them capable of Bonding, around 5% of the Omega rank) will always use aggression and attack, to test their Bonded’s strength, as strength is the only thing they respect (outside of their own species).
Ranks
Igetis:
Matriarch (most common) or patriarch (less common but does happen, both genders are called 'Igetis’). The one proven smartest through social maneuvering, hunting skills and tactical decisions. Manipulation is widely used and approved of if it serves the Crowd. The matriarch will usually develop a larger, brighter crest over the years in command. Almost exclusively it’s the Igetis of any given Crowd that bears a litter after a chase (see breeding information). The Igetis are dark in color, often black, with cobalt blue stripes running diagonally across their body and fainter ones on their hind legs. Immediately after attaining leadership as Matriarch, there will be little to distinguish between an Igetis and a Defteros, perhaps except size. But, only months later the Matriarch will start developing a crest starting between the upright ears and running down to the nape of their necks. This will have a contrasting color depending on fur color, but often pure white at the base, turning into purples and reds at the tips of each strand of hair.
Defteros:
Second in command and the temporary leader whenever the Matriarch is away (usually only during birth). It is more common for the Defteros to be the one away, leading hunts or negotiating with the Gul'drek'kathar Tribe. They can be up to the same size as the Matriarch, but never larger. It is assumed there is some kind of biological inhibitor, perhaps a pheromone, that stunts any growth beyond the ruling Matriarch. Their colors are along the charcoal gray with a single cobalt stripe running along their spine and spilling onto their tail. Some may have faint Igetis markings, but these individuals run a dangerous line. They would be expected, when reaching maturity, to challenge the reigning Matriarch, but more often than not she will kill the challenger.
Archontas:
The best hunters of the Crowd, but always lead by a Defteros. They are the soldiers, defenders and make up the main body of the Crowd together with the Katoteros. Color-wise these are the outliers of the species. Usually the darker the color indicates a higher rank, but Archontad can be any color except the black of an Igetis. Still their cobalt markings will mark them as Archontas, being that they lack them completely. It is assumed that as hunters, bright blue colors blend badly with the greens and browns of their lands, hence the markings have disappeared over the generations for greater success in the hunts.
Katoteros:
Very similar to the Archontas, but smaller, lighter and faster. Of the hunters, Archontad are the muscle to bring the prey down, while Katoteros are the ones to catch up to said prey to slow it down for the larger Archontas to finish it off. Though they do not always bother to kill it before starting to eat. The hunters will eat what they can before inevitably the Matriarch arrives, then disperse, leaving the kill for her to gorge on. When she is done, the rest of the Crowd except the Kato Meros rank will eat together. Katoteros are usually a middle grey color, like that of stormy clouds, with lighter blue markings. They have the spine stripe of Defteros as well as stripes across both pairs of front legs.
Kato Meros:
These are the runts of the species, but only in mind. This rank is the only one that reaches the same size as their ruling Matriarch, though this is still rare. They are usually of average size, between Archontas and Katoteros and Archontas, their coats are white or close to it with ice-blue random markings, and it is the only rank with stunted, and sometimes completely missing, mind-speech. They are bestial in nature, more animalistic than sentient, and rely more on instinct than higher thought processes in any given situation. The Kato Meros could be called the servants of the higher ranks, though very few Ylz require help from any other in that respect, as any need like that is seen as weakness. They are accepted mostly because of being the ones preferred by the Orcs for their initiation rituals, since Omegas are the ones who are likely to do anything to escape the confines of the cage instead of reasoning with the other occupant.
