| Sahnlinn © 2012 Elisa Ardell & Ryan Fernandes |
Species Name: Apolarin (Ah-pole-ah-rin)
Species Nick Names: Bears, Big Fuzzies, Growlies
Species Category: [Pre-Empire] Carnivorous Mammal, [Post Empire] Omnivorous Mammal
Entry into the Empire: 50 Years, Though they only begun to live within the Empire for the past 20 years since the War ended.
Adult Height: [Male] 6-8 feet, [Female] 6-10
Average Weight: 640 – 900 pounds
Life Span:
Pre- Empire: Nothing has been set. Their members either died by injury or were killed when they were viewed as no longer
useful or displayed behaviour that was no longer fitting to the group as a whole. Even the revered Shaman do not escape this
fate.
Post Empire: Unknown at this time. Since the war, Apolarins have begun to live in Imperial Cities. Documentation of the
ageing of the Imperial Apolarin Born will be used to make an average age of death.
Standard Eye Colours: Black, (Rare: Blue if born blind)
Standard Skin Colours: Grey Black (Fur is always white)
Standard Hair Colours: Grey, White, Black
Individual Biology:
Species they can Procreate With: Feliniks
Sexual Organs: Male genitalia is internal and both genders have their bodies covered with fur. Even if clothing isn't
something they wear for modesty, they do wear it to protect them from the harsh elements of the icy tundra.
Mating: Sexual interactions are only practised to produce offspring and not for pleasure. The concept of having relations for
fun is something new, that has been introduced to them since their joining of the Empire. Hard Traditionalists have held onto
the concept that they were raised with, while younger and more experimental adult Apolarins are more open with the idea of
having it for fun.
Mouths: Apolarins have 28 teeth and can taste 5 flavours. Bitter, Sweet, Tart, Tangy and Spicy
Teeth: They have 3 sets of teeth without including baby teeth. Before meeting the Bluidons and later the Empire, Apolarins
used to 'brush' by chewing on thick pieces of hide and nearly frozen fats from kills. Empire Apolarins brush their teeth like
anyone else does, though their toothpaste flavours differ in some ways. Along with the classic Mint and Cinnamon, the most
popular flavors include, Bacon, Steak, Honey and Tea.
Hands: Apolarins have four fingers and a thumb.
Eyes: In comparison to other species their sight isn't that bad. Though many older bears have been fitted with glasses to help
them read.
Gestation Period: 10 months.
Litters: It is rare for a female to give birth to one child. Typically they will have two or three. New born cubs are very vulnerable
to the cold and many of the ones that will die, will do so during the first few hours of life. If they survive that, they have a better
chance of surviving to be 3 and 5 years of age. Once there, unless something unexpected happens, they will make it to full age.
Growth:
Nearly right from the get go, Apolarins can run around and leap. They do this on all fours until they hit over a year of age to two
years when they are completely bipedal like their parents. Keeping proper watch on the children during these years is key,
since any who wander outside of the safety of a tent is immediately in danger of dying from exposure.
Adolescent: Up until this point the Male and female differences haven't been noticeable upon first glance. It is now that
females begin to grow faster than their male counterparts and their fur begins to grow longer and fuller around their neck and
chests. This extra tufted fur is normally used later in life to line bedding for cubs and it is pulled away easily without effort.
Adult: By this age they are fully fledged members of their home group and will have learned various skills to allow them to be
able to do everything that needs to be done to keep their home safe and working. It is at this time that 'trades' can happen
between the tribes which allows for new blood to come into their gene pool. Another thing that can happen is that individuals
can now head off if they so wish to begin their own tribe. This isn't always successful, and many times abandoned shelters
have been found with a dead Apolarin in it or they are not there at all, leaving people to wonder what had happened.
Social Structure:
Traditional: Are tightly knit but are very strict within their ranks. There is very little room for deviation, and if one diverges from
the path they all adhere to, they will be told to leave. This is a big difference than when the Bluidons first met them. Where
anyone who did not fit in was killed right then, and was 'turned into resources' for the betterment of the tribe. In more recent
times, the traditional ways are not seen as important, though there are bears who do stay in the northern lands and happily do
so.
Empire: Any Apolarins who are more traditional are typically viewed as 'uneducated' in the ways of the world and will have
tolerance up to a point. New young bears are growing up going to public schools, so unless lessons are being taught at home,
they are learning what all others are learning in the Empire. Due to the world they are being raised in tolerance is something
that all children are at the very least taught in school.
Homes:
Traditional: Homes are tents that are made of patched together skins which have been connected with strips of leather.
'Needles' if used are made out of bone. With how their claws are, Apolarins can puncture their own holes and weave or tie the
leather without hassle.
Domesticated Animals:
Apolarins have Wolf companions who aid in hunting. They are thick furred with ticker tufts around their neck and halfway down
their back. If one of these Northern Wolves saves the life of their Hunter companion or of someone else they will be honoured
as a hero. They will have a tooth of their kill, or if one isn't present, of their first kill as an honoured companion be placed around
their neck.
Religion (Native)
Before the Great Wolf, Apolarins didn't have much in the way of religion. Though somewhere along the way they did start
having rituals. When a kill was made, be it an animal or one of their tribesmen they would honour its passing before doing
anything else with it.
Religion (New)
Great Wolf: It is said that during a day of hunting that an Elder first saw the Wolf. A large, ethereal being that had waves of blue
energy flowing off of it. It was after this encounter that other Apolarins began to see the Great Wolf Spirit, and the Apolarins began
to worship it.
Even though they have joined the Empire and are now exposed to many religions, Apolarins keep the Great Wolf as their god
and very very few ever stray from this, even young Imperial bears identify their god as the Great Wolf.
Language: The Apolarin language is deep and guttural in sound, but is capable of being spoken by other species. It also can
be broken down to 12 letters in the Imperial Alphabet. A D E F H K N O R S T U
Inter Species Relations:
Bluidons: The Apolarins get along very well with the Bluidons. Being the first other species they ever met they are held in high
esteem. Some traditional bears do not like the changes the Bluidons enforced upon their people but such nit picking views are
hardly shared amongst even the more traditional peoples. This is also the Only species many devout traditional Apolarins have
ever met. For older bears who have moved into Imperial cities, Bluidons are their aids in helping assure that things go
smoothly. Many older Apolarins have their companion with them for at least a year while they become acclimated to a far faster
and more colourful world than they had ever experienced prior. Usually the Apolarin and their aid will become good friends and
even after the period for them to be an aid has ended they will remain good friends. It is also very, very rare to find an Apolarin
who would be specieist against an Bluidon.
Felinik: Are the only other species that Apolarins can mate with and produce offspring. Older Apolarins and traditionals would
view Feliniks more as children, due to their size and their energy levels. Imperial Bears who have been raised with Felinik's do
not face these problems, and have a far better understanding and ability at telling Felinik's apart as well as being able to
differentiate between ages.
Humans: They are seen as 'magical' in a sense that is different than the terms of actual magic, or their hands are at least.
Many Apolarins are fascinated with the things that the humans have created and how their imagination works. They can also
be seen as 'busy little things' who are always on the go, off to build brand new things that will make life better and easier. Even
if that is not what the human is going off to do. Many older Apolarins also have a compulsion to protect humans. Even if they
are taller than Feliniks, they are smaller in build typically and are seen as 'fragile' due to how 'easy' it is to kill one.
Magnuri: Of all the different peoples it is the Magnuri that Apolarins have the most issues with, and not just with prejudices but
with laws as well. Since they were on the opposite side of the war, many Apolarin warriors view them as evil. Warriors also
keep something of their kills, a foot, or skins. Apolarins don't view people as different than anything else once it is dead and
many skinned the bodies of Magnuri's they defeated in battle. A practice which the other species tried to have them not do
since it was at the very least, horrifying to experience for the onlookers. Permits were handed out to War Heros who were
determined to keep their lifes work of collected skins and bones. It is under Imperial law that they may keep items which came
from sentient beings, but under the same law, they are not allowed to ever display them in their home, or to ever take or wear
any of it in public. Most Apolarins will show off their other kills by hanging them up in honoured ways, but keep their Magnuri
Skins, Tails and anything else locked away in trunks or special areas that have a magical lock on them. As the years have
passed Apolarin heroes have come forward to have what they have kept of their Magnuri kills destroyed. Still there are those
who have kept the remain. Reasons for this vary greatly.
Telar: Like the Humans they are considered delicate. Unlike the Humans they are also considered to be in a better position
since they can just up and fly away if need be. Issues arise between the two species due to Apolarins having a great difficulty
telling Humans and wingless Telar apart. Most of the time this is seen as a non issue, though there are Telar who take offence,
and feel that it is clear that they are different from a human, even when the tell tale ears are not being seen. Apolarins tend to
view Telar as 'snooty' and 'fussy'. The use of longer words and their altered speech patterns by the species' own traditionals
are difficult for new Apolarins to understand which leads to great frustrations. More than one argument has spawned up
between head strong 'superior' Telar Tradtionals and new Apolarins, which nearly always ends up with a Bluidon scolding the
Telar and leading their Apolarin counterpart away. The situation can also happen with Apolarins who have been in the cities for
years, but they are more likely to have more than the basics of Common on their side which completely changes the dynamic
of the whole confrontation.
Species Nick Names: Bears, Big Fuzzies, Growlies
Species Category: [Pre-Empire] Carnivorous Mammal, [Post Empire] Omnivorous Mammal
Entry into the Empire: 50 Years, Though they only begun to live within the Empire for the past 20 years since the War ended.
Adult Height: [Male] 6-8 feet, [Female] 6-10
Average Weight: 640 – 900 pounds
Life Span:
Pre- Empire: Nothing has been set. Their members either died by injury or were killed when they were viewed as no longer
useful or displayed behaviour that was no longer fitting to the group as a whole. Even the revered Shaman do not escape this
fate.
Post Empire: Unknown at this time. Since the war, Apolarins have begun to live in Imperial Cities. Documentation of the
ageing of the Imperial Apolarin Born will be used to make an average age of death.
Standard Eye Colours: Black, (Rare: Blue if born blind)
Standard Skin Colours: Grey Black (Fur is always white)
Standard Hair Colours: Grey, White, Black
Individual Biology:
Species they can Procreate With: Feliniks
Sexual Organs: Male genitalia is internal and both genders have their bodies covered with fur. Even if clothing isn't
something they wear for modesty, they do wear it to protect them from the harsh elements of the icy tundra.
Mating: Sexual interactions are only practised to produce offspring and not for pleasure. The concept of having relations for
fun is something new, that has been introduced to them since their joining of the Empire. Hard Traditionalists have held onto
the concept that they were raised with, while younger and more experimental adult Apolarins are more open with the idea of
having it for fun.
Mouths: Apolarins have 28 teeth and can taste 5 flavours. Bitter, Sweet, Tart, Tangy and Spicy
Teeth: They have 3 sets of teeth without including baby teeth. Before meeting the Bluidons and later the Empire, Apolarins
used to 'brush' by chewing on thick pieces of hide and nearly frozen fats from kills. Empire Apolarins brush their teeth like
anyone else does, though their toothpaste flavours differ in some ways. Along with the classic Mint and Cinnamon, the most
popular flavors include, Bacon, Steak, Honey and Tea.
Hands: Apolarins have four fingers and a thumb.
Eyes: In comparison to other species their sight isn't that bad. Though many older bears have been fitted with glasses to help
them read.
Gestation Period: 10 months.
Litters: It is rare for a female to give birth to one child. Typically they will have two or three. New born cubs are very vulnerable
to the cold and many of the ones that will die, will do so during the first few hours of life. If they survive that, they have a better
chance of surviving to be 3 and 5 years of age. Once there, unless something unexpected happens, they will make it to full age.
Growth:
Nearly right from the get go, Apolarins can run around and leap. They do this on all fours until they hit over a year of age to two
years when they are completely bipedal like their parents. Keeping proper watch on the children during these years is key,
since any who wander outside of the safety of a tent is immediately in danger of dying from exposure.
Adolescent: Up until this point the Male and female differences haven't been noticeable upon first glance. It is now that
females begin to grow faster than their male counterparts and their fur begins to grow longer and fuller around their neck and
chests. This extra tufted fur is normally used later in life to line bedding for cubs and it is pulled away easily without effort.
Adult: By this age they are fully fledged members of their home group and will have learned various skills to allow them to be
able to do everything that needs to be done to keep their home safe and working. It is at this time that 'trades' can happen
between the tribes which allows for new blood to come into their gene pool. Another thing that can happen is that individuals
can now head off if they so wish to begin their own tribe. This isn't always successful, and many times abandoned shelters
have been found with a dead Apolarin in it or they are not there at all, leaving people to wonder what had happened.
Social Structure:
Traditional: Are tightly knit but are very strict within their ranks. There is very little room for deviation, and if one diverges from
the path they all adhere to, they will be told to leave. This is a big difference than when the Bluidons first met them. Where
anyone who did not fit in was killed right then, and was 'turned into resources' for the betterment of the tribe. In more recent
times, the traditional ways are not seen as important, though there are bears who do stay in the northern lands and happily do
so.
Empire: Any Apolarins who are more traditional are typically viewed as 'uneducated' in the ways of the world and will have
tolerance up to a point. New young bears are growing up going to public schools, so unless lessons are being taught at home,
they are learning what all others are learning in the Empire. Due to the world they are being raised in tolerance is something
that all children are at the very least taught in school.
Homes:
Traditional: Homes are tents that are made of patched together skins which have been connected with strips of leather.
'Needles' if used are made out of bone. With how their claws are, Apolarins can puncture their own holes and weave or tie the
leather without hassle.
Domesticated Animals:
Apolarins have Wolf companions who aid in hunting. They are thick furred with ticker tufts around their neck and halfway down
their back. If one of these Northern Wolves saves the life of their Hunter companion or of someone else they will be honoured
as a hero. They will have a tooth of their kill, or if one isn't present, of their first kill as an honoured companion be placed around
their neck.
Religion (Native)
Before the Great Wolf, Apolarins didn't have much in the way of religion. Though somewhere along the way they did start
having rituals. When a kill was made, be it an animal or one of their tribesmen they would honour its passing before doing
anything else with it.
Religion (New)
Great Wolf: It is said that during a day of hunting that an Elder first saw the Wolf. A large, ethereal being that had waves of blue
energy flowing off of it. It was after this encounter that other Apolarins began to see the Great Wolf Spirit, and the Apolarins began
to worship it.
Even though they have joined the Empire and are now exposed to many religions, Apolarins keep the Great Wolf as their god
and very very few ever stray from this, even young Imperial bears identify their god as the Great Wolf.
Language: The Apolarin language is deep and guttural in sound, but is capable of being spoken by other species. It also can
be broken down to 12 letters in the Imperial Alphabet. A D E F H K N O R S T U
Inter Species Relations:
Bluidons: The Apolarins get along very well with the Bluidons. Being the first other species they ever met they are held in high
esteem. Some traditional bears do not like the changes the Bluidons enforced upon their people but such nit picking views are
hardly shared amongst even the more traditional peoples. This is also the Only species many devout traditional Apolarins have
ever met. For older bears who have moved into Imperial cities, Bluidons are their aids in helping assure that things go
smoothly. Many older Apolarins have their companion with them for at least a year while they become acclimated to a far faster
and more colourful world than they had ever experienced prior. Usually the Apolarin and their aid will become good friends and
even after the period for them to be an aid has ended they will remain good friends. It is also very, very rare to find an Apolarin
who would be specieist against an Bluidon.
Felinik: Are the only other species that Apolarins can mate with and produce offspring. Older Apolarins and traditionals would
view Feliniks more as children, due to their size and their energy levels. Imperial Bears who have been raised with Felinik's do
not face these problems, and have a far better understanding and ability at telling Felinik's apart as well as being able to
differentiate between ages.
Humans: They are seen as 'magical' in a sense that is different than the terms of actual magic, or their hands are at least.
Many Apolarins are fascinated with the things that the humans have created and how their imagination works. They can also
be seen as 'busy little things' who are always on the go, off to build brand new things that will make life better and easier. Even
if that is not what the human is going off to do. Many older Apolarins also have a compulsion to protect humans. Even if they
are taller than Feliniks, they are smaller in build typically and are seen as 'fragile' due to how 'easy' it is to kill one.
Magnuri: Of all the different peoples it is the Magnuri that Apolarins have the most issues with, and not just with prejudices but
with laws as well. Since they were on the opposite side of the war, many Apolarin warriors view them as evil. Warriors also
keep something of their kills, a foot, or skins. Apolarins don't view people as different than anything else once it is dead and
many skinned the bodies of Magnuri's they defeated in battle. A practice which the other species tried to have them not do
since it was at the very least, horrifying to experience for the onlookers. Permits were handed out to War Heros who were
determined to keep their lifes work of collected skins and bones. It is under Imperial law that they may keep items which came
from sentient beings, but under the same law, they are not allowed to ever display them in their home, or to ever take or wear
any of it in public. Most Apolarins will show off their other kills by hanging them up in honoured ways, but keep their Magnuri
Skins, Tails and anything else locked away in trunks or special areas that have a magical lock on them. As the years have
passed Apolarin heroes have come forward to have what they have kept of their Magnuri kills destroyed. Still there are those
who have kept the remain. Reasons for this vary greatly.
Telar: Like the Humans they are considered delicate. Unlike the Humans they are also considered to be in a better position
since they can just up and fly away if need be. Issues arise between the two species due to Apolarins having a great difficulty
telling Humans and wingless Telar apart. Most of the time this is seen as a non issue, though there are Telar who take offence,
and feel that it is clear that they are different from a human, even when the tell tale ears are not being seen. Apolarins tend to
view Telar as 'snooty' and 'fussy'. The use of longer words and their altered speech patterns by the species' own traditionals
are difficult for new Apolarins to understand which leads to great frustrations. More than one argument has spawned up
between head strong 'superior' Telar Tradtionals and new Apolarins, which nearly always ends up with a Bluidon scolding the
Telar and leading their Apolarin counterpart away. The situation can also happen with Apolarins who have been in the cities for
years, but they are more likely to have more than the basics of Common on their side which completely changes the dynamic
of the whole confrontation.
| Pictured: Male and Female Apolarins in clothes that would be found in their native homeland. |
