Lukoi

Appearance
Lupkyn (LOOP-kin), also known as the lukoi, strongly resemble wolves, dogs, and even bears. They are a varied and interesting race, consisting of all shapes, sizes and colors. Male lupkyn and female lupkyn differ in size, stature, and coloration. Female lupkyn have more prominent hips, a smaller waist, and larger breasts than their male counterparts. They usually stand no more than 7.5 rands tall, though a very few females are taller than 6.5 rands. Most average between 5.8 to 6.4 rands. Male lupkyn are usually very thickly muscled, and they grow to be sometimes over 8 rands tall. Most average between 7 to 8 rands in height and weigh over 135 crowns. lupkyn physiology requires a high protein diet to maintain the average muscles in their body. Necromancers who have studied lupkyn extensively claim that lupkyn have 15 more muscles than the average humanoid, and they build muscle bulk approximately 30% faster than other races.

Most lupkyn resemble wolves in their facial features, with a pronounced muzzle, sharp teeth, erect ears, and bright eyes. Their fur usually comes in a mixture of steel gray, white, black, and brown and comes in all manner of lengths. Some lupkyn are downright shaggy and must spend a good deal of their time grooming their fur unless they are willing to go around matted. Their eye colors range from icy blue to chocolate brown. Many lupkyn, though, resemble dogs in appearance, and nearly every breed of dog is represented in their lupkyn counterpart. All lupkyn have longer hair on the top of their heads. For some, the hair is merely a longer extension of their fur, but others have a full head of humanoid hair. Like all humanoids, some of that hair is curly and blond while others are black and straight.

All lupkyn have tails, though the length varies a great deal from 2-4 rands long to merely a thum in length. In some cultures, parents clip a newborn's tail to create a clubbed appearance which is considered extremely attractive. In SOMEYEAR, a dryad noble by the name of Darlen Jien tried to pass laws prohibiting clipping in Troj. She claimed that it was a barbaric and cruel practice that was not only outdated by caused the infant mortality rate to rise. Since one in 30,000 lupkyn infants that get clipped die from infection, Lady Jien was able to raise enough support for the issue to bring it to the Savants' Table. For three long years, the issue was fought between the Savants, but the entire issue ended when Lady Jien's body was found in the jungles near Troj with her lungs torn out of her body. The issue has not been raised again, and clipping has remained a vital part of lupkyn culture, especially in Troj.

Lupkyn are not fond of tattoos since most inks will not show on their furred skin. They do, however, have their own form of body art that is as expressive as it is difficult to create. The practice of "shavin" (pronounced SHAH-ven) involves a lupkyn having thin lines of fur shaved off of him in creative designs usually depicting his family crest or personal symbols. The lines of shorten fur are then darkened with different colored dyes. Shavin artists usually take at least three hours to do a complete body design. The face alone takes at least one hour to complete if the design is created by an expert. Most lupkyn , unless they are decorated warriors, create simple geometric patterns to wear for everyday life. Only nobles and highly paid mercenaries can afford to wear more complicated patterns in their fur.

Society
Very few lupkyn still live in traditional, nomadic tribes. Most live in one of the big cities: Troj, Askagard, or Chemer. Only two major tribes remain: the Grrtz and the Terroz. (All tribe names end in the letter Z.) The Grrtz tribe brags approximately 400 lupkyns, and the Terroz clan boasts that they are 500 strong. The Grrtz clan spends most of its time around the plains of Chemer in the southwestern continent. They claim to be direct descendants of the Salvation of Chemer, Terzt Grrt, the lupkyn who united Chemer and brought it into prominence. The Terroz clan, however, has no true origin or familial line of which to brag. They simply exist to take in outcasts of lupkyn society. Thus, the Terroz clan incorporates everyone from fallen nobles to failed assassins. They roam the frozen tundra north of Askamelodi, relying on their thick fur coats to keep them warm.

Lupkyn tend to congregate in residential districts in the three major cities, almost as if they form smaller towns within the cities. Each of the cities has a "Lukoitown" (archaic) section where the lupkyn band together to form business coalitions or restaurants.

Lupkyn day-to-day activities reflect their pack mentality. Very few lupkyn are willing to sleep alone, unless that lupkyn is a gestating female. Lupkyn tend to pile together, in a purely non-sexual manner, to sleep, sit, or eat dinner. They do not have a "personal space" concept unlike other humanoids, and prefer to be in some sort of physical contact with the people closest to them. For non-lupkyn, this can be extremely uncomfortable. Privacy is a very rare concept in lupkyn culture and can even be deemed as a punishment by some.

Lupkyn consume a large amount of protein, so it is the rare lupkyn indeed who is a vegetarian. Almost all lupkyn are capable of being excellent hunters, and they often hunt in packs, harrying their quarry towards their warriors. All of the old lupkyn tribes were nomadic, probably because they needed to move often in order to find richer hunting grounds. Because they live off the land in the very basest sense, the lupkyn have close ties to nature and the cycles of life. Those who are unable to spend time with the land or choose to cut off their nature senses are considered Forsaken.

History
The lupkyn believe that they were created by an ancient nature deity and that they were his beloved. He created them in his own form but blessed them with the speed, strength, and cunning of wolves. Thus, most lupkyn still worship nature by learning the rudimentary lessons of the land. Some lupkyn still believe that the nature deity, their creator, still remains in the world, perhaps in another form or even slumbering and waiting to return. He is still personified in a grand celebration that occurs every 12 years called Xatmus, where lupkyn will exchange gifts. Lupkyn parents speak of a demi-god by the name of Sylanim who brings wonderful gifts to well-behaved pups. Each household usually erects an everwood pine and decorates it with bright berries and bows. Some non-lupkyn have also adopted this centuries old practice.

The lupkyn race spawned two of the most renowned leaders in the world. Tertz Grrt brought Chemer out of ruins and built the city's foundation, allowing it to grow into the social mecca it is today. Grul Terro, on the other hand, ruled a chaotic Chemer nearly a century before Grrt and was responsible for the slaughter of over 5,000 catfolk during his reign. Before he was assassinated, catfolks, from elders to infants, were systematically slaughtered as scapegoats for bad business, crimes, and any imaginable fault.

Racial Bonuses
+ perception + strength

SEE ALSO: Races