Ician

The Werewolves of the South

The Ician people are amongst the canine beastfolk populations of Gaia. However they are the only native beastfolk population to the continent of Gateway. They are known for their complicated fur textures and a dark blue-like fur that covers their entire body. Icians are known to go into what is known as a Feral ferocity state of mind. Where they allow their inner instincts to take over their actions for a short time.
This has earned the Icians, the nickname of "The Werewolves of the South".

Early Ancestry

The Ician people were for thousands of years nomadic hunters that roamed the icy taigas and snow-covered plains of southern Gateway. They were very social creatures that made fairly large packs oh hunting parties and nomadic communities. They ususally folowed herds of native wildlife around the Ician Expanse, during the summer, and when Winter hit, they would trek them into the mountains and the Etrovan Taiga beyond. However, Etrova, was already home to a native human population that was well established. The Etrovan humans of the Church of the Ortodoxy, which was the primary seat of power within their nation saw these hunting Icians as monsters, and perceived them as a threat to "all of the Motherland".

Conflicts with Etrova and the Church

Even though Icians never intended to harm the humans, just hunt for their tribes, the Etrovan Ministry started to launch attacks against roving Ician hunting parties that came over The Walls, the mountain range that separated the sub-antarctic forests and plains from the rest of Gateway. These attacks took the parties by surprise mostly, as Etrovans were masters of guerilla warfare. These skirmishes sparked the first conflict between the Ician tribes and the Czardom of Etrova.
These conflicts were often short and brutal, Etrova's hit and run tactics were devastating to the tribes parties. It took the Icians some time to organize themselves. Something they haven't done beyond hunting parties, to strike back at their attackers.

"These Humans murdered our brothers, our sisters, our sons, and daughters, our sires and dames...This evil will not go unpunished. They see us as Monsters, then so be it, Give into your feral instinct! Show them the true south's Ferocity!" ~Huntmaster Sheiir Du'Matka the Fervant

The conflicts led to the end of the nomadic lifestyle of the Ician people, and they had to settle, to protect themselves and thier people from what the Orthodoxy considered a "holy purge" This led to the creation of the first ever Ician settlement, Southpoint.

A New Way of Life

With the old ways shattered, and the establishment of Southpoint, the ways of life would catapult them into the 'civilized world'. They quickly learned fishing, and animal husbandry. They have tamed many creatures, even the fearsome Ice Drakes of Icia. This feat is what started their high-risk lifestyle.
With the establishment of the Nutarniq Citadel, the Etrovans realized they awoken a beast that they could not tame nor control. After a few years of Religious Strikes at the massive stone fortification, the Hit and Run tactics had failed, against a bulwark of fortifications. They also then met their match in guerilla tactics. Icians took to the night, with thier predatory instincts to systematically weaken and eradicate roving warbands that arose in the name of the Church. Finnaly, the Czar called for an end of hostilities against the newly risen nation of Icia.

"The Orthodoxy has called these creatures monsters, but truly, have we not been attacked by them before our fervorous zealots had considered them works of evil? We have awoken a grand design in their people, and we can not afford to send our citizens against a slaughtering front. It is unbelievable how these people can survive the wastes to the south. It is simple for us, that we can not afford to send off  more to meet thier end, just for what these dog-men look like. If they wanted us eradicated, they would have done so before in our past." ~Czar Dimitri Korisgov II "The Declaration of Peace"

Of course the church did not stand for this at all. The Orthodoxy had always had it out for the royal family. A history of conflict between the two influences of power was Evident through their history. The CZar called for peace, while the Cardinal called for eradication of darkness. However, the Czar was able t o reign in the radical church, and eventually ended all hostilities against Icia, after two centuries of bloody war.

Modernization

By nature Beastmen are often not keen to modernize like their counterparts in Man. However, with the the stand of Nutarniq Citadel, it became a bastion to what they could do. Southpoint had grown considerably, and the city had to expand along the Northern Silver River. it as time to tame the lands.
Icia was a widlerness of ice snow and harsh winters. and they have made it -their own- Upon the victory against the Czardom, Celebrations were had to be across icia. that beastmen could indeed stand up against the historically dominant humans. Especially of Gateway, where stories to their pups and children warned them of the men of the North, how ruthless and god-like they were with their technology. The foundation of Sivudlerk had started their industrialization, where they were now free to establish cities all across the Expanse, without the fear of Human retribution and killings.
To this day, thier care-free attitude had returned, and they welcome travelers with open paws. Often touting about how their land is the perfect escape from the harsh and dreadful summers in the northern part of the continent. Southpoint had become their capitol, and their primary port city to the rest of the world. The establishment of the Trans-Ician railroad had started to pull visitors from all over to their lands. Mauja sealed the deal with globalization of their people. The once ancestral mysteries of the South were now open to the People of the world.

Scientific Name

Canine, Lupus

Lifespan

80-150 years

Average Height

5'-7'