Vespire
Ursuki
Vespire
Vespires are a social, sophisticated species that dwell within the Ebony Wreath. Their society is just as complex as that of pouflons, though their population is much more compact and generally lives in cities carved into the walls of mountains- or inside the mountains themselves, within caverns naturally occurring or created for their purpose.
Though vespires coexist peacefully with most other species, they've had a rivalrous relationship with pouflons for centuries. Their breath and claws can match the magic & swords of most pouflons- but clashes between them are rare, as pouflons are taught to avoid them, and vespires tend to keep to themselves. |
Magic The magical talents of vespires are not as diverse as that of pouflons- instead, vespires focus on magic in the form of breath, or pneumir, which can be used for offensive, defensive, or aesthetic purposes. They are able to breathe smoke for different effect – such as irritant gas, thick, impenetrable fog, or simply to express their mood or impress another vespire. Any smoke they breathe will be their runic color. Some vespires can breathe fire, which is a rare trait.
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Diet
Vespires can eat almost any kind of solid earth material – rocks, minerals, gems, and jewels all sustain their diet, which they mine deep into the Ebony Wreath mountains to obtain. However, they can only absorb magic from gems and jewels.
A vespire's stomach works like a furnace; rocks and minerals that have a lower melting point are easier and faster to digest, while gems and jewels with higher melting points take longer to digest, and their magic is absorbed slowly.
A vespire's stomach works like a furnace; rocks and minerals that have a lower melting point are easier and faster to digest, while gems and jewels with higher melting points take longer to digest, and their magic is absorbed slowly.
Ursuki
Ursuki are magic beings who resemble tanuki and bears. Their magic specialty is Illusion – they possess unparalleled abilities to create illusive tricks to fool other creatures, which also aid them in fishing and trapping. Their diet consists of fish and insects as well as plants and berries.
Their culture is outwardly friendly but inwardly mysterious– Ursuki have no trouble getting along with any species, and their merchants are very common to see among pouflon and vespire settlements. Ursuki towns and villages, however, are near-impossible to get to unless you have an Ursuki guide with you. They carefully hide their villages with magic and misdirection spells to remain hidden to the outside world. |
Of all the runic species, including pouflons and vespire, Ursuki are the most careful about using their magic because they only have a limited amount to use each year. They can recover a little bit of magic when they rest but not nearly enough to sustain them, so they hibernate for an entire season to fully recharge their magic reserves. Winter is the most popular season to hibernate in, but some individuals may choose other seasons.
Ursuki love to work hard and party hard - before the Great Sleep (winter hibernation) arrives, they host a huge festival where they use up the remainder of their magic reserves to put on incredible shows, creating illusions unmatched by any pouflon or vespire. On this one special night of the year, they open up their villages to be found by any guest who wants to be wowed by their legendary festival. |
St Veti, a Legendary Ursuki who is very active during the winter.
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Ursuki settlements are always nestled in forests – trees are symbolically significant to Ursuki culture as ancestors, providers and protectors. Wanderoot also have great significance to the Ursuki, so they often cultivate & release Wanderoot as a cultural practice.