Post by Felypsa on Feb 12, 2008 23:38:56 GMT -6
the Astran wolf
Lumi, half-Astran, daughter of Akeru Alphas
Pronunciation: AHS-tran ("ahs" rhymes with "glass," "tran" rhymes with "man")
Commonly Known As: Astrans, glowwolves
Average Height: 3' (no less than 2½', no more than 3¾')
Average Weight: 180 lbs. (no less than 150 lbs., no more than 220 lbs.)
Novawing (right) is purebred Astran, Alpha Female of Akeru
Appearance: All Astrans have wings. Their pelts can range from dark and shady to warm pastel colors. Whenever an Astran stands in firelight, moonlight, or starlight, one can discern a curious glow about them, as if they can somehow reflect that light. In bright sunlight, however, this glow is virtually unnoticeable. Astrans' eyes are usually very bright, and some believe that their eyes are the very source of that mysterious glow.
Information: Astran packs are mostly found in open areas in temperate zones, usually near a large lake or river. Occasionally, a pack may migrate to the mountains. Individual packs are territorial, but they don't mind sharing a large area, so long as each pack keeps their distance.
Lifespan: Typically, 12 or 13 years. Some Alphas, however, can live up to 15 or, in one case, even 16 years.
Magics: All Astrans are born with wings and the ability to fly. Most also have one -- just one -- special ability, known as their Gift. This Gift can range from warmth and protection to levitation to an innate control over an element to a persuasive voice to communication with all creatures, and anything and everything in between. There is no way to predict what kind of Gift an Astran pup may develop. The Alphas, as the shamans, are blessed with other have powers beside their inborn Gift, which they get by properly performing rituals to the Sun and Moon and Stars.
Beliefs: The Astrans honor the Sun, Moon, and Stars as the highest divinities, in charge of all aspects of life. They pray to these deities regularly -- the Sun and Moon for all the major events, the Stars for everything else. There are slight variations among individual packs, but most believe that their gift of life comes from the Sun, their magic Gift comes from the Moon, and their special, distinctive glow comes from the Stars. Because they are aware of all these gifts, they are very thankful for what they have been given and try not to spoil any of them.
Each Astran pack has a shaman, which is also their Alpha. There must only be one Alpha-shaman in a pack at one time. These shamans are taught skills and secrets that have been passed onto them by word of mouth from the previous ranking Alpha-shaman. Alpha-shamans perform all types of rituals: from the major (birth, acceptance of a new pack-member, mating, migration, death) to the minor (hunting) to the special (honoring the Sun, Moon, or Stars).
If an Alpha-shaman needs more time to find a suitable replacement for the next generation, then he or she is allowed to perform a special, private ritual. In this ritual, he makes an animal sacrifice and speaks to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. He states his case for why he needs more time before he dies, and if the divinities are convinced and appeased, then they will grant him an extra year or two of life. The Alpha-shaman must then dedicate the rest of his life to finding and training a suitable successor.
There are more intricacies and idiosyncrasies from pack to pack, of course -- for instance, some are more peaceful than others. It depends on the personality of the Alpha-shaman as well, to decide which direction to lead his or her pack.
History: Astrans have had a long history, and they use this myth to explain where they came from. Once upon a time, when the earth fresh and new, the Sun walked among earth's creatures every day. When it came time for her to go, she ran across the ocean and back to her home in the sky. There, she conversed the night away with her fellow stars, all of whom spoke of the days they had spent on their planets.
Though the Sun walked among the mortals, no one had seen her face. She kept it hidden behind a fiery veil, though no one doubted that she was stunningly beautiful. Then came to the world one wolf, Karis, who was always curious and never satisfied. He asked a million questions of everyone he met, which was tolerated. He was always staring up at the sky and wondering what it was like. Then one day, he glimpsed the Sun running across the ocean. Seeing her for the first time, he was suddenly flooded with a thousand questions about her and her secret life, and was determined to find answers.
He asked everyone in the world, but no one could answer. He started to ask the rocks and trees and ground and clouds, but none of them could answer either. Finally, he asked the ocean. "Ocean, the Sun runs across you every day; surely you know some of her secrets?"
The ocean answered, "Young Karis, I am privy to none of the Sun's mysteries. The only one who can answer your questions is the Sun herself. But though she walks among us, she speaks to no one."
Karis said, "What should I do? I am willing to do anything to find the answers I seek."
The ocean said, "Hide beneath my surface. When she comes running across it, you must ask her, but be careful not to come above the surface, or you will startle her. She will hear your questions, and if she approves, then she will answer them."
Karis agreed, and that next day, he swam out to the middle of the ocean and waited. When he saw the Sun running toward him, he hid beneath the surface, holding his breath. Then he realized that he could not ask his questions without opening his mouth, in which case he would drown. Still, he was determined to make the effort. When the Sun drew near, he opened his mouth, and water rushed in. Yet his mind was still focused on the questions he wanted to ask.
The Sun noticed the wolf struggling to speak in the water, and for a moment she stood still. With a benevolent smile that Karis did not see, she picked him up gently and ran with him to her home in the sky. He was coughing up water, but she took good care of him until he could breathe again. Then she sat back and said, "Who are you, who has gone through so much just to ask me some questions?"
Karis said, "My name is Karis, and I cannot stop being curious until all of my questions are answered."
The Sun said, "Karis, I will answer as many of your questions as I can, but even I do not know everything. Curious people have to live with their curiosity."
Karis bowed his head and said, "I understand. Thank you, O Sun." With the Sun patiently listening, Karis began asking all of his questions. He asked about her and what she did at her home in the sky, and she told him of her fellow stars and their respective planets. All night, they spoke, Karis asking questions, the Sun answering, though sometimes the Sun would only answer his question with another question, and they would discuss things for hours.
When morning neared, Karis was all out of questions. "Thank you, O Sun. You have helped my curiosity greatly."
The Sun said, "You may call me Rheia. It is my name." And with that, she dropped her veil, revealing the most beautiful face any mortal had ever laid eyes upon. "Now that you know all these secrets, I invite you to stay with me in my home forever. I am sure you are not completely out of questions, and we still have many things to discuss."
Karis said, "Nothing can make me happier."
So Rheia, the Sun, and the mortal wolf Karis mated, and stayed forever in their home in the sky. Neither Rheia nor Karis came down to walk among earth's creatures after that. The Sun kept careful watch over the day, while Karis, the Moon, watched the night. For one day in the moon's cycle, however, Karis was absent in the sky, so that he could stay up all night talking to his mate, Rheia.
Rheia gave birth to their son, and when he reached a certain age, Karis said, "My love, should we not give our son to the earth? I came from there, and you used to walk among it every day. It feels right that he should return there, and share some of the secrets that he knows so that he can guide others well in life."
Rheia said, "I agree, my love. He will form a pack of his own, and it will hold the truths to life that he knows."
And so it was that their son, Astran, came down to the earth and mated with a mortal wolf. He became the first shaman and the first Alpha of the Astrans. Today all Astrans believe that they are descended from him, and thus from the Sun and the Moon as well.
Mostly, they stay true to their beliefs and try not to bother anyone. They have had some encounter with other breeds, but they keep it minimal, preferring to associate only with those who share their beliefs. Sometimes Astran packs have fought over territory or a slight difference in their specific beliefs, but never have the Astrans participated in a full-scale, history-changing war.
Credits: All credits go to me, Felypsa. You may feel free to make your own Astran character, but please notify me when you do so. I will then add your character's name to the list below.
Lumi, half-Astran, daughter of Akeru Alphas
Pronunciation: AHS-tran ("ahs" rhymes with "glass," "tran" rhymes with "man")
Commonly Known As: Astrans, glowwolves
Average Height: 3' (no less than 2½', no more than 3¾')
Average Weight: 180 lbs. (no less than 150 lbs., no more than 220 lbs.)
Novawing (right) is purebred Astran, Alpha Female of Akeru
Appearance: All Astrans have wings. Their pelts can range from dark and shady to warm pastel colors. Whenever an Astran stands in firelight, moonlight, or starlight, one can discern a curious glow about them, as if they can somehow reflect that light. In bright sunlight, however, this glow is virtually unnoticeable. Astrans' eyes are usually very bright, and some believe that their eyes are the very source of that mysterious glow.
Information: Astran packs are mostly found in open areas in temperate zones, usually near a large lake or river. Occasionally, a pack may migrate to the mountains. Individual packs are territorial, but they don't mind sharing a large area, so long as each pack keeps their distance.
Lifespan: Typically, 12 or 13 years. Some Alphas, however, can live up to 15 or, in one case, even 16 years.
Magics: All Astrans are born with wings and the ability to fly. Most also have one -- just one -- special ability, known as their Gift. This Gift can range from warmth and protection to levitation to an innate control over an element to a persuasive voice to communication with all creatures, and anything and everything in between. There is no way to predict what kind of Gift an Astran pup may develop. The Alphas, as the shamans, are blessed with other have powers beside their inborn Gift, which they get by properly performing rituals to the Sun and Moon and Stars.
Beliefs: The Astrans honor the Sun, Moon, and Stars as the highest divinities, in charge of all aspects of life. They pray to these deities regularly -- the Sun and Moon for all the major events, the Stars for everything else. There are slight variations among individual packs, but most believe that their gift of life comes from the Sun, their magic Gift comes from the Moon, and their special, distinctive glow comes from the Stars. Because they are aware of all these gifts, they are very thankful for what they have been given and try not to spoil any of them.
Each Astran pack has a shaman, which is also their Alpha. There must only be one Alpha-shaman in a pack at one time. These shamans are taught skills and secrets that have been passed onto them by word of mouth from the previous ranking Alpha-shaman. Alpha-shamans perform all types of rituals: from the major (birth, acceptance of a new pack-member, mating, migration, death) to the minor (hunting) to the special (honoring the Sun, Moon, or Stars).
If an Alpha-shaman needs more time to find a suitable replacement for the next generation, then he or she is allowed to perform a special, private ritual. In this ritual, he makes an animal sacrifice and speaks to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. He states his case for why he needs more time before he dies, and if the divinities are convinced and appeased, then they will grant him an extra year or two of life. The Alpha-shaman must then dedicate the rest of his life to finding and training a suitable successor.
There are more intricacies and idiosyncrasies from pack to pack, of course -- for instance, some are more peaceful than others. It depends on the personality of the Alpha-shaman as well, to decide which direction to lead his or her pack.
History: Astrans have had a long history, and they use this myth to explain where they came from. Once upon a time, when the earth fresh and new, the Sun walked among earth's creatures every day. When it came time for her to go, she ran across the ocean and back to her home in the sky. There, she conversed the night away with her fellow stars, all of whom spoke of the days they had spent on their planets.
Though the Sun walked among the mortals, no one had seen her face. She kept it hidden behind a fiery veil, though no one doubted that she was stunningly beautiful. Then came to the world one wolf, Karis, who was always curious and never satisfied. He asked a million questions of everyone he met, which was tolerated. He was always staring up at the sky and wondering what it was like. Then one day, he glimpsed the Sun running across the ocean. Seeing her for the first time, he was suddenly flooded with a thousand questions about her and her secret life, and was determined to find answers.
He asked everyone in the world, but no one could answer. He started to ask the rocks and trees and ground and clouds, but none of them could answer either. Finally, he asked the ocean. "Ocean, the Sun runs across you every day; surely you know some of her secrets?"
The ocean answered, "Young Karis, I am privy to none of the Sun's mysteries. The only one who can answer your questions is the Sun herself. But though she walks among us, she speaks to no one."
Karis said, "What should I do? I am willing to do anything to find the answers I seek."
The ocean said, "Hide beneath my surface. When she comes running across it, you must ask her, but be careful not to come above the surface, or you will startle her. She will hear your questions, and if she approves, then she will answer them."
Karis agreed, and that next day, he swam out to the middle of the ocean and waited. When he saw the Sun running toward him, he hid beneath the surface, holding his breath. Then he realized that he could not ask his questions without opening his mouth, in which case he would drown. Still, he was determined to make the effort. When the Sun drew near, he opened his mouth, and water rushed in. Yet his mind was still focused on the questions he wanted to ask.
The Sun noticed the wolf struggling to speak in the water, and for a moment she stood still. With a benevolent smile that Karis did not see, she picked him up gently and ran with him to her home in the sky. He was coughing up water, but she took good care of him until he could breathe again. Then she sat back and said, "Who are you, who has gone through so much just to ask me some questions?"
Karis said, "My name is Karis, and I cannot stop being curious until all of my questions are answered."
The Sun said, "Karis, I will answer as many of your questions as I can, but even I do not know everything. Curious people have to live with their curiosity."
Karis bowed his head and said, "I understand. Thank you, O Sun." With the Sun patiently listening, Karis began asking all of his questions. He asked about her and what she did at her home in the sky, and she told him of her fellow stars and their respective planets. All night, they spoke, Karis asking questions, the Sun answering, though sometimes the Sun would only answer his question with another question, and they would discuss things for hours.
When morning neared, Karis was all out of questions. "Thank you, O Sun. You have helped my curiosity greatly."
The Sun said, "You may call me Rheia. It is my name." And with that, she dropped her veil, revealing the most beautiful face any mortal had ever laid eyes upon. "Now that you know all these secrets, I invite you to stay with me in my home forever. I am sure you are not completely out of questions, and we still have many things to discuss."
Karis said, "Nothing can make me happier."
So Rheia, the Sun, and the mortal wolf Karis mated, and stayed forever in their home in the sky. Neither Rheia nor Karis came down to walk among earth's creatures after that. The Sun kept careful watch over the day, while Karis, the Moon, watched the night. For one day in the moon's cycle, however, Karis was absent in the sky, so that he could stay up all night talking to his mate, Rheia.
Rheia gave birth to their son, and when he reached a certain age, Karis said, "My love, should we not give our son to the earth? I came from there, and you used to walk among it every day. It feels right that he should return there, and share some of the secrets that he knows so that he can guide others well in life."
Rheia said, "I agree, my love. He will form a pack of his own, and it will hold the truths to life that he knows."
And so it was that their son, Astran, came down to the earth and mated with a mortal wolf. He became the first shaman and the first Alpha of the Astrans. Today all Astrans believe that they are descended from him, and thus from the Sun and the Moon as well.
Mostly, they stay true to their beliefs and try not to bother anyone. They have had some encounter with other breeds, but they keep it minimal, preferring to associate only with those who share their beliefs. Sometimes Astran packs have fought over territory or a slight difference in their specific beliefs, but never have the Astrans participated in a full-scale, history-changing war.
Credits: All credits go to me, Felypsa. You may feel free to make your own Astran character, but please notify me when you do so. I will then add your character's name to the list below.
