Canids/Threrkens

Canids, better known as Threrkens (from the Oldspeak word for "hound"), are a species of sentient bipedal canine creatures found in the Heimish-Forests as well as near the Harbor. They are not considered a "race" by the people of Heimland, as most still consider Threrkens as animals.
Threrkens come in a variety of breeds, and are separated into Classes depending on their breed. They are related to dogs, but become provoked to anger if the derogatory "dog" or "mutt" is used to refer to them. Certain breeds of Threrken are more aggressive than others.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Threrkens are bipedal, standing and moving around on two legs. They share features and characteristics of their ancestors (as they are descended from dogs). Threrkens wear clothes depending on their Class and breed. Each Threrken breed/Class also has its own unique Attributes (powers).

Merchants

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Merchant-Threrkens are the smallest of the breeds. They sell all sorts of items ranging from weapons (guns, sword, daggers) to consumables (meats, vegetables, drugs). They are also the feistiest of the breeds, and are very sensitive about their height. There is an old story of a man who had his anus ripped out when he called a Merchant "shorty". They have the power to foresee the future to varying degrees. As knowledge of the future invariably causes it to shift, a Merhcant's visions within their sphere of influence is subject to frequent change. Most Merchants keep handheld journals to keep track of what they see. While these visions have been likened to déjà vu, Merchants can receive them at will through concentration. Drinking alcoholic beverages temporarily increases a Merchant's powers. They are descended from chihuahuas.

Guards

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Generally working as security, Guards protect cities and towns. They also protect people who give them sums of money, and can be bribed easily. They are not as aggressive as the other Threrken breeds. Their weapon of choice is their staff-axe, which is also their point of pride. Guards are powerful telekinetics who are trained to identify the specific atomic frequencies of a given material and alter the gravitational field around it, usually causing the nearby air to appear "warped". This allows them to move both animate and inanimate objects. A Guard using Advanced Attributes can work at the molecular level, creating shields in the air around them to deflect bullets or create power fists and kicks, a strike that delivers three times the power of a normal punch. They are descended from corgis.

Rangers

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered the middle-Class, Rangers maintain an honor-code and guard the forests of the land. They, unlike Guards, do not accept bribes of money for their services. They protect those they see fit. Their weapon of choice is their bow and arrow. Rangers have the ability to implant memories, thoughts and emotions into the minds of other people in order to manipulate them. The skill of the Ranger determines how many people the Ranger is able to control at one time, and how vivid the implanted memories are. A powerful Ranger can control a large group of people at the same time, basically creating a personal army. A Ranger is able to make a person do anything it desires, for a limited time. A Ranger's eyes indicate how powerful they are: their pupils will dilate to certain degrees depending on how powerful the Attribute is (for example, eyes rendered completely black when using the Attribute signify that the particular Ranger is incredibly powerful). The effects of a Ranger's Attribute will last from 4-12 hours. They are descended from greyhounds.

Laymen

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered the most peaceful breed of Threrken, Laymen work mainly as clergy and priests. They are also expert healers. They all follow the religion of Kristyanitty, making them the only Threrkens known to follow an organized religion (as most Threrkens are animists). Laymen are psychic healers trained to quickly reconstruct cells to their previous or healthy state, so they can heal and even "unheal" whatever they have done. For more detailed work, a group of Laymen will use their staffs to channel their Attributes. They are descended from St.Bernards.

Sorcerers

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered to be outcasts and extremely dangerous, Sorcerers make use of dark magic, with NM being their choice of weapon. They wield sun-staffs which they imbue with magic to wreck havoc on towns and cities. They worship a sun-god known as "Luciferitas", through which they receive their evil powers. They were once considered the highest Class, but went astray after dabbling with dark magic. They have the ability to emit high-pitched sonic vibrations that cause ruptures in a target's blood vessels. While using this ability, their pupils turn into vertical slits, like a snake's, because of synthetic materials implanted in them to protect their blood-vessels from the effects of their own ability; this screaming Attribute, if trained and used like a muscle, will be powerful enough to destroy locks on doors and shatter glass to pieces. They are descended from poodles.

Wizards

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered the polar opposites of Sorcerers, Wizards use magi for the purpose of good. They are the oldest breed of Threrken, and are known to assist Knights and Rangers in their journeys. They are respected by most, and their weapons of choice are their staffs and spellbooks. They are highly developed psychometrics who can track the location of people or objects over varying distances. Their Attribute is increased if they have tactile access to an object that has been in direct contact with the subject, relying on the scent to better find the target item or person. They receive information in the form of images, which is why identifiable landmarks help increase their effectiveness. They are descended from Great-Danes.

Knights

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Knights follow a deep honor-code. They protect women, children and the elderly and always help those in need. They never turn away from a fight, and always work for the greater good. Their main weapons of choice are their heirloom-swords and titanium shields. They are skilled at either temporarily or permanently erasing memories. Experience will dictate the accuracy of their powers, though there is always the danger that they will eliminate a desired memory. They can send mental-blasts into a target's brain to put high mind-stress into their powers for offensive means, using their Attribute to render attackers unconscious, either through the mental-blast method or deliberately over-stressing the mind through constant eliminating of a large number of memories. They are descended from dobermans.

Samurai

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

They follow an ancient honor-code, and guard villages and towns with their life. They also assist travelers to go through the territories of bandits. Their weapon of choice is their dagger and katana, and they are known for crafting beautiful armor. They also follow a code of Seppuko: if they lose a fight or are defeated in battle, they will end their lives to preserve their dignity. They have the ability to levitate slightly through harnessing the land's magnetic inner-chamber. This levitation ability works better when they wear metal objects such as bracelets or necklaces, since it is easier for the magnetic rays to push them up if they have metal or metallic items on their person. They are descended from Akita dogs.

Bards

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Bards are considered to be the Samurai who turned away from the path of violence. They are known for their musical abilities, and can play all kinds of instruments. Their favorite instruments are string-instruments, and they are beautiful singers. They are shunned by other Threrkens as "weird", and are treated harshly by Samurai who consider them as "traitors" and "cowards". They share the leviation-ability with their Samurai cousins, but the Attribute is not as strong since it is rarely used or trained. They are descended from Akita dogs.

Innkeepers

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Innkeepers maintain pubs and inns all over Heimland. They are amazing chefs, and good brewers of alcohol. Years of soft living has made them big and chubby. However, they possess the strength of adult bears and will rip a man to pieces if provoked to anger. Their Attribute allows them to increase their muscle-mass and size, expanding rapidly to twice their size. Adrenaline-levels also increase when they use their Attribute, and they gain three times their original strength. Their main weapons are their skinning-knives and fists. They are descended from Chow-Chows.

Inquisitors

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Inquisitors are neutral forces. They (like Sorcerers and Wizards) have an affinity for magic. However, they do not use magic for good or evil purposes. Instead they use magic to fulfill their own objectives. They collect symbols from pagans and Kristyans and use these symbols to cast their Spells. They can temporarily alter the appearance of an object by manipulating patterns of light interacting with it. Once the illusion is established, it remains with the object for a short period of time. For example, an Inquisitor could touch a piece of blank paper and alter it to appear as a colored poster until the effect expires. The object shifted must have roughly the same dimensions (size, shape, mass, weight) as the object it is shifted into. The length of time that the effect will last is based on the power of the Attribute. A normal effect can last up to five minutes (is not trained) or six hours (if trained). They are descended from dachshunds.

Gladiators

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered as the lowest Class, these brutes are violent and greedy. They are the largest species of Threrken, and have no honor-code. They will steal from other Threrkens, and will do anything to get what they want. They typically work as gladiators and fighters. Their weapon of choice is their bronze shield, stone dagger and iron mace. They can thicken their skin and muscle, causing the skin to form large, diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. These plates are effective body-armor, and can protect the Gladiator against blades and fire. However, this thickened skin slows down movement and causes the he eyelids to become everted, which leaves the eyes and the area around them very susceptible to infection and attack. However, if the Attribute is trained properly, the side-effects can be reduced greatly. When the scales form on their bodies, they will not come off until washed with bleach and rubbed with a rough cloth. They are descended from bulldogs.

Berserkers

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Berserkers are, like Sorcerers, considered outcasts. They are known for their thievery and aggressiveness. They frequently steal from villages and towns, and people who happen to wander through their territories in the Raginwald. Their main weapons of choice are their broadswords, hunting-horns (used to summon more of their kind from a distance) and their hammerheads (large stone maces that each weigh a ton at the hilt, and are slow but powerful offensive weapons) which are their pride and joy, and inherited through generations. They also wear an arm-band on their left arm to signify their status in the tribe. One arm-band is a normal citizen, two arm-bands is a warrior and three arm-bands is a leader. Their fur is adapted to the cold, and so are their Attributes. They can adhere to certain surfaces, using their hands and feet which both secrete substances that allow them to stick to objects. They can also sprout an icy coating on their skin that enhances their Attributes and give them protection from harm. This thick armor also aids them in absorbing energy from their surrounding environments. Channeling their powers through their Attribute, they can fire powerful red concussive blasts of kinetic-energy from their bodies. Their left blue eyes magnify energy-beams and enhance their vision, enabling them to see through solid surfaces through electrolocation and to zone in on their targets before attacking. They can fire pulses of energy that can cut through solid items and generate extreme heat, they can also focus hard enough to project powerful blasts out of their chests and hands. This is useful in battle, when they need to push an enemy back to deal an attack. They are descended from huskies.

Generals

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Considered to be highest Class of Threrken, these Threrkens are admired for their military-intelligence. They possess knowledge of battle-tactics, and can control large groups of people through the power of their voices. This is not one of their attributes, however. Their choice of weapon is their "honor-sword" (a blade passed down through the generations, considered to be blessed with good fortune). Their main Attribute is that they can "phase" through objects, moving so fast that atomic-latices slip through them like water. They can use this unique Attribute in battle to phase through large objects or to go through surfaces (e.g. going through walls). A basic phasing-ability allows them to move through small objects, an Advanced phasing-ability allows them to travel through solid surfaces with ease. Depending on the object they are phasing through and the speed with which they phase through it, one can identify the power of the Attribute. (E.g. if the Threrken can phase through a series of concrete walls 500 feet in distance, this is considered an Advanced Attribute). Using this phasing ability and their sword, they are highly skilled in fighting. Any objects they are holding when phasing will simply phase with them, for a limited time depending on the strength of their Attributes. There is a legend of a General who killed a Berserker by phasing through him with his sword stretched out in front of him and leaving the sharp blade stuck inside. They are descended from spaniels.

Blacksmiths

by C.S.De Silva (Ken D)

Known to assist Knights and Rangers, Blacksmiths are great at crafting weapons. They can forge weapons ranging from swords to rifles and machine-guns. Their weapon of choice is their dagger and crossbow, and they make use of a "wrinch" (a clockwork device that can be wound to retract or stretch out) to grab items in high places. They are loyal and hardworking, although horrible at fighting. They possess the ability to read other's mind, or more specifically their thoughts and emotions, making them empaths. Whilst not actually seeing or hearing what the person is thinking, they can form a brief mental picture from the spectrum of the person's emotions. Considered a weak Attribute, most Blacksmiths are born without it. They are descended from pugs.

Biological Traits

They share biological characteristics with the dogs they are descended from.

Genetics and Reproduction

Female Threrken birth litters of six pups each. Each pup weighs one pound, and is born blind at birth.

Growth Rate & Stages

Threrken pups grow in to adults within eight months.

Ecology and Habitats

Slums and cities. A few also live in deserts and forests.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Threrkens are mostly carnivores, but subsist on an omnivorous diet of greens, meats and grains. They can't eat cheese however, as it is toxic to them.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

All across the Heimland.

Average Intelligence

Human

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Certain breeds of Threrken, such as Wizards and Sorcerers, are attune with magic and can sense it in the environment.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The Threrkens speak Öl, a language known for its strange sounds. The Threrkens can produce these sounds due to their hardened larynx.

History

Threrkens were created from the DNA of dogs mixed with NM by the Old Folk. The Folk created the species in the hopes of making cheap labor that could be controlled like pets. The result was the first Threrkens, each species of Threrken created from a specific dog breed.

Scientific Name

Homo-Canis

Origin/Ancestry

Dogs/Canines

Lifespan

70 years (10 Threrken years)

Average Height

1ft.-2 meters

Average Weight

10 pounds-2 tons

Average Physique

Canine