Var'kiin
The Backbone of Tawdrii
The Var'kiin are a race with an incredibly gifted Shape - the strength & speed of a mighty beast hidden behind a sculpted stone. The skin of the Var'kiin has often drawn comparisons to the dark baked ceramics of their homeland, both in colour & strength, able to deflect even the strongest of blades & spears. Born in the far eastern dunes & mountains of The Heart, the Var'kiin earned early admiration from their neighbours for their excellence in battle, often selling their services as mercenaries in the constant skirmishes with the Drifters & feuding countships.A Founding Stone
The Var'kiin formed early alliances with the Rua'kiin that lead to their involvement in founding the Tawdriian Grand Courts, and their establishment as the backbone of the Sentinels. To this day, the Var'kiin are called upon regularly as the sword & the shield of the Tawdriian people & make up the vast majority of the Sentinels' forces.Deeply Loyal
Once bound by their word, the Var'kiin are the most deeply loyal of all races & will go through any lengths to keep their promises - so sure is their bond that a well-forged sabre is said to be "Strong as a Var'kiin's Word". Among the Nobiliary, Var'kiin are sought after as soulsguard and mercenaries for both their capabilities as combatants and their trustworthiness.Basic Information
Anatomy
Var'kiin sport a taller-than-average physique & long ears with tapered, pointed, upward-facing tips.
Biological Traits
The Var'kiin have five specific Genders;
- Male - The male of the species is the stronger of subjects by a small margin & possesses the male reproductive organ.
- Female - The female of the species is the stronger of subjects by a moderate margin & possesses the female reproductive organ.
- Phenotype - The phenotype of the species is capable of changing between the male or female gender of the race based on their environment. This change takes place over 48 hours. Phenotype Var'kiin are highly respected by society & their peers.
- Exotype - The exotype of the species are incapable of reproduction and are shunned from the Var'kiin society along with their families. The exotype is the weakest of subjects by an extravagant margin.
- Avitype - The avitype of the species is an Extinct subspecies of Var'kiin.
Ecology and Habitats
The Var'kiin have sub-par thermoregulation, and thus tend to become cold in environments below 27°C (~81°F) without the assistance of insulative clothing or additional heating. A sufficiently cold environment may cause a Var'kiin subject to enter into a state of hibernation, sustained in this environment, a Var'kiin will eventually find their fate cut short.
Var'kiin tend to keep their habitat rather comfortable through the use of fireplaces, heat-lamps, portable heaters & plenty of options for blankets & sheets.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Var'kiin dietary requirements reflect that of a Human of twice their size. Var'kiin are omnivorous, but prefer a diet heavy in animal meat & dairy products.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The entire structure of the Var'kiin social hierarchy is reliant upon three considerations:
- Gender
- Loyalty
- Strength
Facial characteristics
The Var'kiin almost never have markings on their faces, however very often sport piercings on their ears & faces. These piercings are incredibly painstaking, often requiring magic or multiple hours of repeated attempts to finally pierce all the way through the flesh.
Var'kiin with facial markings are often exiled by the Var'kiin Table under suspicion of practicing secretive rituals.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Var'kiin prefer geographic locations close in climate to their homeland in far east Tawdrii - a balmy, dry desert is where the Var'kiin are most at peace. To this end, the Var'kiin now try to find havens close to the equator & far from the humid coasts to lay down their roots on Earth, but can still be found far from the baking heat of their preferred homes, serving the courts wherever they are needed.
Average Intelligence
The Var'kiin are not notably more intelligent than any other species, and in fact, are more often compared to Humanity than Kindred for their fundamental understanding of the universe as a whole. There are those, however, who claim that some Var'kiin Exiles have become Oracles of some repute - called upon only when their secretive rituals are required.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Var'kiin have slightly better hearing than the average human, but otherwise have no particularly significant differences in perception or extrasensory capabilities.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Var'kiin Table is the governing social authority for the entire Var'kiin race, and represents their interest to The Grand Courts.
The Var'kiin Exiles are a loosely coordinated group of families & individuals who have been exiled by the Var'kiin Table for any variety of reasons.
Beauty Ideals
The Var'kiin despise most forms of bodily marking, but favor piercings and other tribalisms of the sort.
Gender Ideals
The Var'kiin expect the phenotype of their race to be gracious & self-contained, even in battle. The exotype of the Var'kiin is always exiled.
No other notable gender ideals or expectations exist within Var'kiin society.
Courtship Ideals
The Var'kiin believe in a long-earned rewards, and their courtship ideals reflect this. Var'kiin will often spend years & decades earning the affections of their counterparts - a quickly earned love is considered a cheap love & the Var'kiin will rarely ever spend time pursuing a romance they believe will not last many, many years.
When interested in a partner, the initiating companion will spend an extensive amount of time building up rapport & strong bonds with that individual. This may take the form of:
- Bonds of protection
- Bonds of emotion
- Bonds of soul
- Matronly/Patronly tendencies
- Gifts of trophies
- Dominative/submissive signalling
Relationship Ideals
The Var'kiin are hard-earned lovers, but their relationships are as deep as their bond & as strong as stone. Var'kiin do not believe in softness and forge their bonds to last as long as their lives, working through incredible strife & conflict with their partners to maintain a strong bond.
- Var'kiin see physical altercations as a norm in a passionate relationship.
- Var'kiin will be outspoken in their bonds.
- Var'kiin are incredibly bond-loyal and will avoid breaking bonds at all costs.
by brandon liao
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Homo Novus Inexcussus
Lifespan
176 Years
Conservation Status
The Var'kiin are not under any special conservation status, no specific steps are being undertaken to ensure the growth or survival of their race.
Average Height
1.9 meters / 6'2"
Average Weight
81 - 110 kg (179 - 243 lb)
Average Physique
The Var'kiin are strong & fast - the average Var'kiin is capable of feats of strength that would make a silverback gorilla shy & speed that would rival a panther - their bodies are sculpted stone, chiselled hard & muscular as though from the mountain itself & slightly rough to the touch. All Var'kiin are taller than the average Human.
By comparison, exotype & phenotype Var'kiin lack the same resilience - unlike their binary-gendered counterparts, both exotype & phenotype Var'kiin are incredibly soft to the touch & often lack the same chiselled physique & musculature as their kin.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The Var'kiin are most often of a dark skin color, and lack any notable markings on their bodies of face. Piercings are common, painstakingly carved out of their flesh using magic or hours of work, they are sported proudly & seen as a sign of wealth.
Markings on a Var'kiin are almost always through means of magic, left as the memory of powerful Werking or Rituals
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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