Post by kitearadarkblade on Jan 11, 2007 21:14:09 GMT -5
Appearance
Therians have three physical forms: human, bestial and hybrid. Each form is distinctly different from the others, yet may share certain characteristics with them. In human form, they can vary and appear like any human, from wealthy businessmen to homeless beggars. That said, in human form, most tend to have traits that are applicable to their bestial form. Husky voices, sharp angular features and coarse hair can all be examples of such.
A therian’s bestial form is determined largely by their parentage. If the therian’s parents were both of the same bestial form, their offspring will share that bestial form. When the parents differ, things are more varied. In most, if not all, cases of differing bestial forms, male offspring will share their father’s bestial form, while females share the mothers. When in bestial form, a therian will look exactly like their animal counterpart, save slightly larger than the norm for their specie.
Hybrid forms, for most therians, is an more individual matter to the bestial subtype. Almost universally, hybrid form is a blend of a therian’s human and bestial forms, becoming both and neither in the same instance. The therian grows taller than their human form and more muscular or slender as according to their bestial form.
Irregardless of form, therianthropes possess a dual nature, bearing both bestial and humanoid natures. While these dual natures may conflict at times, most therians can keep them in check and retain control over their actions. This does not mean, however, that they will always successfully blend in well with human society. The mores and ethics of the therianthropes do not always mesh well with those of humans and can lead to confusion and even hostility when the two attempt to coexist, if not dealt with diplomatically.
Combat
Therianthropes are versatile and fierce warriors, when need be. In human form, they are fully capable of using any weapon suitable for a humanoid of their size and stature. From weapons of old, including spears and swords, to modern guns and rifles, they are acceptable for a therian’s use. In bestial form, a therian will attack as appropriate for such, using teeth, claws, hooves or stingers to attack. Hybrid form calls for variation, as per the therianthrope. Some bestial subtypes retain human-like hands capable of wielding weapons, while others do not. Common sense and some knowledge of the therian in question’s anatomy is required to determine whether or not weaponry can be used.
Habitat/Society:
Therians are capable of living in nearly any climate that their bestial subtype can tolerate. With extreme effort and diplomacy, they can live among humans in some rural areas. The majority of therians, in urban or rural areas, prefer to live in secrecy, keeping their dual nature from the humans around them. Most therians live in groups as according to their bestial form. Therians of the canine subtypes would prefer close-knit Packs, while perhaps felines would have loose-knit and rarely gathered shared territories. In groups of various subtypes, the degree of closeness among the therians is determined largely by the leader. Aside from Alphas, therians tend to be matriarchal, as they worship the goddess Lunaris, the Mother.
Pack or group leaders are determined one of two ways. The first method is a consensus. If there is one individual that the group would like to lead and they accept, they lead the group until such is contested or they step down. The other method, and more common, entails battling for the right to lead. Any male or female of age may challenge the current leader for the rank. If a leader dies, often such a battle, involving all aspiring leaders, decides the next Alpha for the group.
Therians tend to share the same general lifespan as humans, some reaching ages ranging into their nineties. Due to the rougher lifestyles they lead, with battles for dominance and relenting to their bestial forms for hunts, few reach such ages.
Most therians are dedicated parents and very protective of both their young and the young of their pack. As the world advances and the wilds diminish, the therians have found that they too are growing less and less in numbers. Children, therefore, are carefully guarded and important to their survival. While some subtypes prefer several mates or even groups of males or females to one male or female, any therian is permitted monogamous or polygamous relationships, so long as all involved are willing. That said, all males and females alike are expected to breed at least once to help continue the dwindling specie.
In rare cases, there can be human and therian relationships, although such pairings are sterile. The human in question is always either kept ignorant of the fact that their partner is a therianthrope, or closely watched by the local group as a whole. If the human wins the trust of the group, they are welcomed among them, although some therians exhibit a sense of pity for humans, seeing them as limited in their one form. Even in cases of long-term relationships, or even marriage, between therians and humans, the therianthrope is expected to produce one offspring for the group. In turn, the human partner is expected to treat the child as the therian does, whether the child is kept and raised as their own, or fostered with another of the pack.
Pregnancy among the therians is both harder and simpler than that of humans. A therian’s cycles depends on their bestial form, leaving them either fertile at any time or only in seasons. They experience the same gestational period of nine months, as a human.
Ecology
As stated before, therians can exist in nearly any climate that their bestial form can tolerate. This gives them a wide range over which to settle, from sweltering desserts to even the artic tundra. Therians are usually omnivorous, despite their bestial forms. They can, and will, eat whatever their bestial form generally eats, and what they can find, grow, earn or steal as humans.
Therians have three physical forms: human, bestial and hybrid. Each form is distinctly different from the others, yet may share certain characteristics with them. In human form, they can vary and appear like any human, from wealthy businessmen to homeless beggars. That said, in human form, most tend to have traits that are applicable to their bestial form. Husky voices, sharp angular features and coarse hair can all be examples of such.
A therian’s bestial form is determined largely by their parentage. If the therian’s parents were both of the same bestial form, their offspring will share that bestial form. When the parents differ, things are more varied. In most, if not all, cases of differing bestial forms, male offspring will share their father’s bestial form, while females share the mothers. When in bestial form, a therian will look exactly like their animal counterpart, save slightly larger than the norm for their specie.
Hybrid forms, for most therians, is an more individual matter to the bestial subtype. Almost universally, hybrid form is a blend of a therian’s human and bestial forms, becoming both and neither in the same instance. The therian grows taller than their human form and more muscular or slender as according to their bestial form.
Irregardless of form, therianthropes possess a dual nature, bearing both bestial and humanoid natures. While these dual natures may conflict at times, most therians can keep them in check and retain control over their actions. This does not mean, however, that they will always successfully blend in well with human society. The mores and ethics of the therianthropes do not always mesh well with those of humans and can lead to confusion and even hostility when the two attempt to coexist, if not dealt with diplomatically.
Combat
Therianthropes are versatile and fierce warriors, when need be. In human form, they are fully capable of using any weapon suitable for a humanoid of their size and stature. From weapons of old, including spears and swords, to modern guns and rifles, they are acceptable for a therian’s use. In bestial form, a therian will attack as appropriate for such, using teeth, claws, hooves or stingers to attack. Hybrid form calls for variation, as per the therianthrope. Some bestial subtypes retain human-like hands capable of wielding weapons, while others do not. Common sense and some knowledge of the therian in question’s anatomy is required to determine whether or not weaponry can be used.
Habitat/Society:
Therians are capable of living in nearly any climate that their bestial subtype can tolerate. With extreme effort and diplomacy, they can live among humans in some rural areas. The majority of therians, in urban or rural areas, prefer to live in secrecy, keeping their dual nature from the humans around them. Most therians live in groups as according to their bestial form. Therians of the canine subtypes would prefer close-knit Packs, while perhaps felines would have loose-knit and rarely gathered shared territories. In groups of various subtypes, the degree of closeness among the therians is determined largely by the leader. Aside from Alphas, therians tend to be matriarchal, as they worship the goddess Lunaris, the Mother.
Pack or group leaders are determined one of two ways. The first method is a consensus. If there is one individual that the group would like to lead and they accept, they lead the group until such is contested or they step down. The other method, and more common, entails battling for the right to lead. Any male or female of age may challenge the current leader for the rank. If a leader dies, often such a battle, involving all aspiring leaders, decides the next Alpha for the group.
Therians tend to share the same general lifespan as humans, some reaching ages ranging into their nineties. Due to the rougher lifestyles they lead, with battles for dominance and relenting to their bestial forms for hunts, few reach such ages.
Most therians are dedicated parents and very protective of both their young and the young of their pack. As the world advances and the wilds diminish, the therians have found that they too are growing less and less in numbers. Children, therefore, are carefully guarded and important to their survival. While some subtypes prefer several mates or even groups of males or females to one male or female, any therian is permitted monogamous or polygamous relationships, so long as all involved are willing. That said, all males and females alike are expected to breed at least once to help continue the dwindling specie.
In rare cases, there can be human and therian relationships, although such pairings are sterile. The human in question is always either kept ignorant of the fact that their partner is a therianthrope, or closely watched by the local group as a whole. If the human wins the trust of the group, they are welcomed among them, although some therians exhibit a sense of pity for humans, seeing them as limited in their one form. Even in cases of long-term relationships, or even marriage, between therians and humans, the therianthrope is expected to produce one offspring for the group. In turn, the human partner is expected to treat the child as the therian does, whether the child is kept and raised as their own, or fostered with another of the pack.
Pregnancy among the therians is both harder and simpler than that of humans. A therian’s cycles depends on their bestial form, leaving them either fertile at any time or only in seasons. They experience the same gestational period of nine months, as a human.
Ecology
As stated before, therians can exist in nearly any climate that their bestial form can tolerate. This gives them a wide range over which to settle, from sweltering desserts to even the artic tundra. Therians are usually omnivorous, despite their bestial forms. They can, and will, eat whatever their bestial form generally eats, and what they can find, grow, earn or steal as humans.
