Post by Shy on Jul 29, 2021 18:52:06 GMT
Singular: Ursa Tempus
Plural: Ursus Tempus
Group: Sleuth of Ursus Tempus
Female: Sow
Male: Boar
Young: Cub(s)
Communication: Typical speech
Size ranges: Dependent on age and rank
Colorations: Dependent on rank
Naming Conventions: Ursus Tempus prefer names associated with the season they were born in, such as Snowflake for one born in winter. Doesn't necessarily have to be in English.
General Information
Long before Aeon opened Teragaia to travelers from other worlds, perhaps even predating Haven Weyr and its people, were the Ursus Tempus. With a deep connection to Teragaia's seasons and the earth, the Ursus Tempus were content to live quietly in small family groups without interfering in the lives of others. But much has changed since then, and there is no way that they would have been able to keep themselves hidden from the world forever. Younger generations have grown curious about these mysterious strangers and desire to leave the traditional grounds of their homelands to experience the rest of the world and if it requires bonding to another, then so be it. Unsurprisingly, it is very hard to kill an Ursus Tempus - not only are they quite powerful in terms of strength and therefore more than capable of fighting back, but they can also seemingly disperse into swirling flower petals, snowflakes, raindrops, or autumn leaves.
It is usually easy to tell which season an Ursa Tempus has been born in. Typically adults will bear a wreath constructed from plants that solely grow in their birth season. For instance, an adult born during the fall season may have a wreath made up of autumn crocuses and one born in winter may have a holly wreath. Should a cub be born to a cross-season pair, it is not uncommon for them to honor both seasons as an adult by crafting a wreath that pays homage to both at once. However, in the case that an individual chooses not to wear a wreath, body temperature is usually a good indication. Summerborn Ursus Tempus tend to have the lowest body temperature and winterborn Ursus Tempus the highest, with springborn having the second-lowest and autumnborn the second-highest.
Mating Information
Due to their connection to the seasons, it's quite common for springborn Ursus Tempus to wish to mate in the springtime, summerborn Ursus Tempus in the summer, and so forth. At the same time, it's not uncommon for cross-season pairings to occur. Ursus Tempus are monogamous, as in they will only take one mate for life and unless one or the other perishes will remain loyal to one another for life. A female will have anywhere from one to four cubs, though females of the panda rank are often not capable of giving birth to any more than two cubs at a time and even then find caring for two cubs too much for them to handle. Because of this, panda mothers are willing to surrender their extra cub or cubs to more capable mothers or even other humanoids.
Bonding Information
Ursus Tempus are capable of bonding both as juveniles and as adults. Depending on rank, cubs may hit maturity anywhere between three to six years and only then will they be permitted to bond if they wish to do so. Typically Ursus Tempus bondings are small, with only a maximum of five members present should a mother wish to see her cubs off, though larger gatherings of up to seven or eight adult individuals have been recorded on rarer occasions.
Panda
*****
The rarest rank of the Ursus Tempus, pandas are typically anywhere from three feet eleven inches to six feet three inches long and have black and white fur, though brown and white specimens have also been documented from cross-season pairings. Though they are capable of consuming meat and in fact are technically obligate carnivores, their diet consists primarily of bamboo. Their activity may vary throughout the day and they are perhaps the most docile of the Ursa Tempus ranks. However, females do not make good mothers should they give birth to more than one cub and are unwilling to share their territory or Bonded with other panda females. Many Ursus Tempus belonging to the panda rank are springborn, though there have been instances of summerborn panda Ursus Tempus.
Polar
****
The second-least territorial of the ranks, polar Ursus Tempus are typically rather cautious and will often pick flight over fight in a confrontation. Ursus Tempus of this rank are typically winterborn and pure white in color, with the occasional springborn sneaking in. Surprisingly stealthy despite their size, one will not often escape an attack from a polar Ursa Tempus alive as they do not take threats to their cubs or family group lightly. They can also be quite playful and even gentle with smaller creatures, including but certainly not limited to their offspring. Their diet consists primarily of seals, with adults eating only the skin and blubber while cubs receive the actual meat though they have on occasion been known to steal bird eggs. Should seals not be available, they will also consume fish, deer, and rodents.
Spectacled
***
Like their fellow Ursus Tempus, specifically the black rank, the spectacled Ursus Tempus are not opposed to making homes in trees for the purposes of safer food storage. They are the most likely to shy away from humans and humanoids seeking to bond them, and as a result the presence of a spectacled Ursa Tempus at a bonding is quite rare for all that they are not all too uncommon. This rank tends to have a wide variety of individuals being either springborn or summerborn and primarily black in color with distinctive beige markings on the face and upper chest, with springborn cubs being slightly more common than the latter. Though an obligate carnivore, only about five percent of a spectacled Ursa Tempus' diet will consist of meat with their preferences tending towards fruit and nuts, even tree bark. They are not at all territorial, though they prefer to keep mostly to themselves.
Brown
**
With this rank consisting mainly of summerborn and the occasional springborn, many brown Ursus Tempus are naturally brown in color and are most active in the early evening and morning hours. They are prone to hibernating through the winter like a typical bear, and will thus consume as much food as possible to get them through their long sleep. This rank is the most aggressive of the Ursus Tempus ranks upon reaching maturity, though their attacks are not usually fatal like those of the polar Ursus Tempus. Their diets consist mainly of plants and fungi, with the remaining ten percent being meat. Their favorite foods tend to be acorns, berries, flowers, and mushrooms, with insects or small mammals being used to supplement their protein requirements. Should a brown Ursa Tempus need to bring down larger prey, they will often target sick or young mammals.
Black
*
Black Ursus Tempus are black in color; they are also quite territorial and often forage for food at night. They are excellent swimmers and their diet consists of fish, fruits, and nuts. All of the Ursus Tempus of this rank are summerborn, though it's not uncommon for cross-season pairings to occur. Like the spectacled Ursus Tempus, they are capable of climbing trees for the purpose of food storage and even to hibernate. This rank is also the most promiscuous when it comes to their breeding season in the effort to find the perfect mate. This rank is also the one that values strength and size over anything else during said mating season. Black Ursus Tempus will only congregate in groups should there be a spot where there is an abundance of food, though it's not uncommon for them to be unwilling to share and begin fighting over said food.
Plural: Ursus Tempus
Group: Sleuth of Ursus Tempus
Female: Sow
Male: Boar
Young: Cub(s)
Communication: Typical speech
Size ranges: Dependent on age and rank
Colorations: Dependent on rank
Naming Conventions: Ursus Tempus prefer names associated with the season they were born in, such as Snowflake for one born in winter. Doesn't necessarily have to be in English.
General Information
Long before Aeon opened Teragaia to travelers from other worlds, perhaps even predating Haven Weyr and its people, were the Ursus Tempus. With a deep connection to Teragaia's seasons and the earth, the Ursus Tempus were content to live quietly in small family groups without interfering in the lives of others. But much has changed since then, and there is no way that they would have been able to keep themselves hidden from the world forever. Younger generations have grown curious about these mysterious strangers and desire to leave the traditional grounds of their homelands to experience the rest of the world and if it requires bonding to another, then so be it. Unsurprisingly, it is very hard to kill an Ursus Tempus - not only are they quite powerful in terms of strength and therefore more than capable of fighting back, but they can also seemingly disperse into swirling flower petals, snowflakes, raindrops, or autumn leaves.
It is usually easy to tell which season an Ursa Tempus has been born in. Typically adults will bear a wreath constructed from plants that solely grow in their birth season. For instance, an adult born during the fall season may have a wreath made up of autumn crocuses and one born in winter may have a holly wreath. Should a cub be born to a cross-season pair, it is not uncommon for them to honor both seasons as an adult by crafting a wreath that pays homage to both at once. However, in the case that an individual chooses not to wear a wreath, body temperature is usually a good indication. Summerborn Ursus Tempus tend to have the lowest body temperature and winterborn Ursus Tempus the highest, with springborn having the second-lowest and autumnborn the second-highest.
Mating Information
Due to their connection to the seasons, it's quite common for springborn Ursus Tempus to wish to mate in the springtime, summerborn Ursus Tempus in the summer, and so forth. At the same time, it's not uncommon for cross-season pairings to occur. Ursus Tempus are monogamous, as in they will only take one mate for life and unless one or the other perishes will remain loyal to one another for life. A female will have anywhere from one to four cubs, though females of the panda rank are often not capable of giving birth to any more than two cubs at a time and even then find caring for two cubs too much for them to handle. Because of this, panda mothers are willing to surrender their extra cub or cubs to more capable mothers or even other humanoids.
Bonding Information
Ursus Tempus are capable of bonding both as juveniles and as adults. Depending on rank, cubs may hit maturity anywhere between three to six years and only then will they be permitted to bond if they wish to do so. Typically Ursus Tempus bondings are small, with only a maximum of five members present should a mother wish to see her cubs off, though larger gatherings of up to seven or eight adult individuals have been recorded on rarer occasions.
Panda
*****
The rarest rank of the Ursus Tempus, pandas are typically anywhere from three feet eleven inches to six feet three inches long and have black and white fur, though brown and white specimens have also been documented from cross-season pairings. Though they are capable of consuming meat and in fact are technically obligate carnivores, their diet consists primarily of bamboo. Their activity may vary throughout the day and they are perhaps the most docile of the Ursa Tempus ranks. However, females do not make good mothers should they give birth to more than one cub and are unwilling to share their territory or Bonded with other panda females. Many Ursus Tempus belonging to the panda rank are springborn, though there have been instances of summerborn panda Ursus Tempus.
Polar
****
The second-least territorial of the ranks, polar Ursus Tempus are typically rather cautious and will often pick flight over fight in a confrontation. Ursus Tempus of this rank are typically winterborn and pure white in color, with the occasional springborn sneaking in. Surprisingly stealthy despite their size, one will not often escape an attack from a polar Ursa Tempus alive as they do not take threats to their cubs or family group lightly. They can also be quite playful and even gentle with smaller creatures, including but certainly not limited to their offspring. Their diet consists primarily of seals, with adults eating only the skin and blubber while cubs receive the actual meat though they have on occasion been known to steal bird eggs. Should seals not be available, they will also consume fish, deer, and rodents.
Spectacled
***
Like their fellow Ursus Tempus, specifically the black rank, the spectacled Ursus Tempus are not opposed to making homes in trees for the purposes of safer food storage. They are the most likely to shy away from humans and humanoids seeking to bond them, and as a result the presence of a spectacled Ursa Tempus at a bonding is quite rare for all that they are not all too uncommon. This rank tends to have a wide variety of individuals being either springborn or summerborn and primarily black in color with distinctive beige markings on the face and upper chest, with springborn cubs being slightly more common than the latter. Though an obligate carnivore, only about five percent of a spectacled Ursa Tempus' diet will consist of meat with their preferences tending towards fruit and nuts, even tree bark. They are not at all territorial, though they prefer to keep mostly to themselves.
Brown
**
With this rank consisting mainly of summerborn and the occasional springborn, many brown Ursus Tempus are naturally brown in color and are most active in the early evening and morning hours. They are prone to hibernating through the winter like a typical bear, and will thus consume as much food as possible to get them through their long sleep. This rank is the most aggressive of the Ursus Tempus ranks upon reaching maturity, though their attacks are not usually fatal like those of the polar Ursus Tempus. Their diets consist mainly of plants and fungi, with the remaining ten percent being meat. Their favorite foods tend to be acorns, berries, flowers, and mushrooms, with insects or small mammals being used to supplement their protein requirements. Should a brown Ursa Tempus need to bring down larger prey, they will often target sick or young mammals.
Black
*
Black Ursus Tempus are black in color; they are also quite territorial and often forage for food at night. They are excellent swimmers and their diet consists of fish, fruits, and nuts. All of the Ursus Tempus of this rank are summerborn, though it's not uncommon for cross-season pairings to occur. Like the spectacled Ursus Tempus, they are capable of climbing trees for the purpose of food storage and even to hibernate. This rank is also the most promiscuous when it comes to their breeding season in the effort to find the perfect mate. This rank is also the one that values strength and size over anything else during said mating season. Black Ursus Tempus will only congregate in groups should there be a spot where there is an abundance of food, though it's not uncommon for them to be unwilling to share and begin fighting over said food.