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Original Species for The Last Remnant.
Since this is the final version and an entry that will be left forever public, I'm going to say that I've worked on this species since 2006, back when The Last Remnant was first announced. My reasons are because I was a bit disappointed with the diversity of the four canon races and because I was disappointed that Square-Enix still hasn't made a dog-like or a wolf-like race, so I went and made one myself. Since I suck at names for species, 'Txakur' basically means 'dog' in the Basque language, but I'm unsure about the plural form, so for now, I'm using 'Txakuren'. If anybody knows the correct plural form, please let me know.

Txakur (Plural - Txakuren, pronunciations: 'za-kur', 'za-kur-en')

Overview: Humanoids which resemble dogs, the Txakuren are a somewhat primitive, mountain-dwelling race. They are fast, agile, and excel at climbing and jumping, able to leap great distances without fear of hurting themselves. Due to their reclusive nature and shyness, the Txakuren are not counted as a major race, and there are a few narrow-minded individuals who view them as nothing more than savage beastmen. Most Txakuren have rich voices, but a few individuals have a gravelly tone. Female Txakuren range from soprano to contralto, though most females tend to have voices within the mezzo-soprano range. Males range from tenor to bass in pitch, with most males tending to be within the baritone range. Aside from the common tongue, they have their own rather bestial language of barks, yips, growls, whimpers, and body language. They rarely howl, as such a vocalization is used to express deep emotions, and even as a battlecry. Not much else is known about these humanoids, and most prefer to keep it that way, but in recent decades, more and more Txakuren have been attempting to establish peaceful ties and trade establishments with the four major races. Most txakuren are illiterate when it comes to reading and writing, for they record laws, stories and chants by word of mouth and memory; however, the rare individuals who live amongst the four major races usually choose to learn how to read and write in order to communicate easier and in hopes of feeling less alienated.

Racial Traits

Heightened Senses: Due to senses of hearing and smell that go beyond that possessed by many of the other races, Txakuren are spoken of as keen hunters and able to track anyone down, even in the most severe weather conditions barring ice and snow, as the creatures are not suited for extremely cold weather. Txakuren are also intelligent enough to read signs left by whoever they are tracking and thus, they hardly ever fail at such a task.

Leaps and Bounds: Txakuren are quite spry and fleet-footed, able to move across mountainous and steep terrain with ease. They are also able to jump to astonishingly great heights and able to leap great distances, the muscles in their legs able to withstand amounts of shock from such activities. If living in a city, a Txakur is able to sprint along the top of a perimeter wall or across rooftops as easily as if she were running along mountainous terrain.

Wind Affinity: Due to living in the mountains and upon windswept plateaus for most of the year, Txakuren have developed an affinity with the wind, and are healed by wind-based attacks and magics, the stronger the attack, the more a Txakur is healed. As a consequence, they are harmed more by ice-based attacks, such as Whitebreath and Permafrost while they take only half-damage from earth-based attacks.

Txakuren True/Shield Names

Listed below are a few examples of Txakuren true names and shild names.

True Names (Male) -- Akando, Chatan, Dyami, Elan, Gavin, Hakan, Kwahu, Lonan, Ouray, Paco, Skah, Tadi, Tawa, Waban, Wakiza

True Names (Female) -- Aiyana, Alisha, Ana, Ayasha/Ayashe, Catori, Dena, Huyana, Keyra, Maka, Nina, Pazi, Rozene, Sihu, Tadewi, Yatokya

True Names (Both) -- Bly, Elsu, Hania, Izusa, Kele, Muraco, Namid, Nari, Paytah, Shiriki, Tuari, Una, Waki, Weayaya, Zaril

Shield Names (Male) -- Fenrisheart, Impfang, Peakstrider, Ridgewalker, Skywatcher, Windseeker

Shield Names (Female) -- Cloudflight, Dawneyes, Frostheart, Spiritwing, Swiftstride, Windfeather

Shield Names (Both) -- Nighteyes, Raptorheart, Skymane, Springstep, Stormfang, Whitewind

Shield Name Suffixes

Male only: --seeker, --strider, --walker, --watcher

Female only: --feather, --flight, --stride, --wing

Both genders: --eyes, --fang, --heart, --step, --wind

~~

Note: The fact that names seem to be shared throughout the races in the game helped me a lot with this, but most of these are Native American in origin, since that's the culture which this race is most influenced by. Shield names are pretty much based from both Tailchaser's Song and from the Warriors book series, but I tend to use words associated with the sky, wind, celestial bodies, parts of the body, and creatures. These are also very hard to think of, hence why only six each are listed.

Notable Individuals

Nina Swiftstride
Coloration: Silver and white with ice blue eyes. Picture here.
Class: Beastmaster.
Current Whereabouts: Athlum.
Overview: Overall, Swiftstride is usually a pleasant individual to be around, though she tends to be quite serious and very rarely allows herself to laugh or even to smile. Reasons for this are known only to herself and to the very few she feels she can trust. Like most members of her race, Swiftstride tends to be nervous around strangers, and she often tends to go quiet. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and quite protective of them, and she will do anything in her power to make sure that they are unharmed. She commands a she-wyvern named Taipa, whom she had raised from a tiny hatchling back during her days as a beastmaster within the pack of her birth.


Nyla Windfeather
Coloration: Silver and white with ice blue eyes.
Class: Would have been a Tracker.
Current Whereabouts: Deceased.
Overview: Windfeather was the younger twin sister of Swiftstride who had an upbeat and more carefree personality along with a streak of mischievousness -- the complete opposite of her more serious older twin. Windfeather was killed during her coming of age rite by a particularly crafty imp called Kajika who was notorious for killing younglings. Though she is no longer part of the living world, Windfeather's spirit still watches over her twin and appears to her in dreams and visions, usually in order to give warnings.

Alisha Stormfang
Coloration: Storm gray and white with ice blue eyes.
Class: Tracker, known as a 'Bounty Hunter' by the other four races.
Current Whereabouts: Balterossa, though her work as a sellsword takes her all over the world.
Overview: Stormfang wields a boomerang-like remnant called the Gale Runner, a relic which saved her life back when she was but a child. Though she wasn't banished from her home within the Ivory Peaks for choosing to keep the remnant, Stormfang chooses to stay away from the area unless her work forces her to set foot there. She chooses to hide herself behind a shield of icy coldness when it comes to her personality, since she believes that a person who hunts down others for pay wouldn't be a warm and caring individual -- which is what her true personality is. She prefers to bring bounties in alive rather than killing them, and will only do so if the job specifically states or if she feels that the individual in question deserves death as a punishment.

Ana Whitewind
Coloration: Black and white with dark blue eyes.
Class: Windweaver.
Current Whereabouts: Melphina.
Overview: Whitewind is still quite young, only twenty-six, though she sometimes acts as if she were five -- especially whenever her short temper flares up. This streak is most likely due to the fact that she is a quarter Sovani, this mixed heritage shown by her longer ears and shorter muzzle. When not angry at somebody or something, Whitewind is actually a very gentle and friendly person who enjoys healing the sick and injured. She also tends to be a bit of a klutz, though this very rarely happens whenever she is working with patients.


Appearance: From a distance, a Txakur can easily be mistaken for a Sovani, but upon closer inspection, the differences between the two races become apparent. Txakuren are Mitra-sized, ranging from 5' 7" to 6' even in height, are two-armed, and have tails. Their fur is thick and rich in texture in order to protect them from the harsh winds of the mountains, and is quite soft to the touch. The mane and tail consist of long fur, while the fur covering the rest of the body is short in length despite its thickness. The mane covers the back and sides of the neck, but is not present upon the throat or chest, and the hairs of a Txakur's pelt are able to stand upon end at the Txakur's will, in order to trap more heat against the skin in cooler weather. The mane and tail can be fluffed in such a way that the long hairs bristle, making a Txakur appears to be bigger than she normally is, though such a mechanism is used only when a Txakur is angry or when she is fighting. The head is completely canine in appearance, a pair of large, almondine eyes set above a semi-long, tapering muzzle which houses sharp, pearly teeth and a semi-triangular nose, usually black in color, at the tip. On silver and white individuals; however, the nose is pink rather than black. A pair of erect, triangular ears are situated near the top of the head, the insides sporting a thick lining of short fur to protect the inner ear against the harsh winds of their mountainous homes. Eyes are an icy blue in color, which often gives Txakuren a rather piercing gaze, with other varying shades of blue uncommon and shades of brown being rare. Rarer still are individuals who have two different colored eyes, such as a blue eye and a brown eye.

The body is lithe and slender, with males being a bit broader and more muscular than females. The majority of the body, excluding the head and tail, is humanoid in appearance, including a pair of arms that end in five-fingered hands that are tipped with sharp, coal black claws. The legs are also humanoid in appearance with the feet (five claw-tipped toes on each foot) being plantigrade in structure; however, Txakuren are able to walk upon the balls of their feet for more stealthy movement when needed. The legs are also strong, the calf and thigh muscles able to withstand great amounts of shock, and allow Txakuren to jump to astonishingly great heights, and to leap great distances. The tail is attached to the base of the spine, stopping a few inches past the calves, and is used for both balance during running, and for balance during leaping and climbing.

Most Txakur are gray and white, with shades of gray varying between each individual, ranging from light to dark gray. Some individuals are even black and white or silver and white, though this is exceedingly rare. Markings are generally similar between individuals, with the backside covered in gray from the top of the head (an inch or so above the eyes) down to the tail, though the tip of the tail is always white. The gray covering the arms and legs can vary, but always covers the back and sides of the arms and legs, while the insides of the arms and legs, along with the underside, throat, and most of the face are white. Some individuals sport an inverted blaze, where the gray cuts down into the white area of the face, inbetween the Txakur's eyes and stopping an inch above the muzzle. Others sport a 'normal' blaze, where the white cuts up into the gray found upon the top of the head, stopping between the ears, and can be either a thin line, a flame mark, or a starburst mark.

All Txakur adorn themselves with tattoos of tribal design, while black and white individuals use colored inks rather than black ink. These tattoos are believed to imbue the wearer with immunity to pain, so Txakur, especially slayers, often tend to become reckless when fighting. Most Txakuren also tend to weave bird feathers, reptile scales, and/or strips of often colored leather into their manes to further add more color and individuality to themselves. Though they usually allow their manes to stay free-flowing, some Txakuren braid or tie parts of their manes back in order to maintain a more well-kempt appearance.

Txakur live up to a maximum of 250 years, but begin to age slowly after their twentieth year when they, like Mitra, are considered fully mature. Even so, most Txakuren do not choose to mate until their late fourties/early fifties, as they still have their lives ahead of them at this stage. At the age of one hundred and twenty-five, they are seen as middle-aged, and at the age of two hundred and thirty, they are considered elders and begin showing physical signs of their age: the fur begins to lose its luster and dulls, their eyes become dull and less piercing, and many individuals begin to lose their accute senses and are no longer able to track as well as they once could in their youth. Many individuals, notably those who use mystic arts, become frail while warriors can remain surprisingly agile and still able to make some of the more incredible leaps and bounds despite their age, albeit no longer as frequently as they once did in their youth due to the fact that their lungs become starved of oxygen more quickly. This leads some elders - particularly the matron/patron of a pack - to go to the lengths of feigning frailty when dealing with outsiders, and many bandits have found themselves surprised by sudden retaliation from 'old dogs'. Mentally, some individuals become senile or even absentminded, while most become more irritable than they were when they were young.

Sovani/Txakuren hybrids: Though a very rare occurance, Txakuren are able to breed with Sovani and successfully produce offspring of mixed heritage, said offspring being that of the mother's race with some traits from the father. Txakuren born from such unions may have a shorter muzzle and/or longer ears, but most usually sport a different eye and/or pelt color than normal. They are always two-armed, and are taller than their fullblooded kin and less agile. Sovani of mixed heritage tend to be shorter than their fullblooded kin, are always four-armed, and may have a slightly longer muzzle, shorter ears, or different eye and/or pelt colors than normal. Some Sovani of mixed heritage are even born with tails, though they are removed shortly after birth in most cases. While halfbreeds born into Txakuren society are treated equally, those born into Sovani society, especially individuals who have kept their tails, are sometimes ostracized by fullblooded Sovani, who refer to them as 'half-Txakuren'.

~~

Note: The coat pattern described is mostly based off the traditional 'Splash Coat or Irish Coat' pattern of the Siberian Husky. Txakuren are only lightly based off the Siberian Husky, mostly appearance-wise, and are not well suited for cold weather. As for the halfbreeds, I'll probably make a more in-depth entry about them if people like the Txakuren entry. Suggestions for a name for the halfbreeds is also very welcome because I can't think of jack-squat.


Combat: Txakuren feel the most comfortable when in the mountains, preferring to use the colors of their pelts to help them blend in with the stone. They also use the mountains to conceal themselves, while gaining a vantage point of the surrounding area in order to plan out defensive positions and to monitor movements of potential foes. They like to ambush their opponents, allowing a small group numbering up to three individuals, or even a lone Txakur, to lure enemies to where the others lie in wait. Enemies who do not know of such tactics often find themselves suddenly surrounded upon all sides by Txakuren who have seemed to have 'appeared from nowhere'. Due to their keen sense of smell and hearing, it is quite difficult to sneak up on and surprise Txakuren, thus, they are hardly ever flanked in battle.

Most Txakuren choose to dual-wield, but others use the bladestaff, a weapon of their own creation. One-handed swords created by Txakuren, called talonblades, tend to be thinner in width and more lightweight than those created by the other races, allowing their wielders to strike more quickly and to perform flourishes which are used in tandem with feather trinkets to confuse an enemy. Some Txakuren use spears, while others may even use axes - either by dual-wielding one-handed axes or using a single two-handed axe. Txakuren tend to aim for vulnerable parts of an opponent's body, such as joints, and when dealing with fully armored foes, the dogs search for weaknesses and openings in the armor before striking. When in melee combat, a Txakur tends to reply upon her speed and agility to allow her to dodge blows from an opponent or opponents and to get into a better position to strike at a weak point or at an exposed area of an opponent's body. All Txakuren, even magic-users, are trained to use a blade in combat, as they believe that blunt weapons like staves and hammers would put them at a disadvantage. They dislike wearing armor heavier than leather, as they find it to be quite cumbersome, restrictive, and noisy. At the start of a melee confrontation, a Txakur will usually attempt to Provoke an opponent by locking eyes with them in an attempt to intimidate them with her piercing stare, and she will also allow both her mane and tail to bristle in order to make herself appear larger than she really is. If a fight begins falling out of their favor, Txakuren will often use Calvary Call by howling in order to call upon nearby reinforcements to strengthen their numbers.

Even though they possess muzzles filled with sharp teeth, Txakuren will rarely bite unless they have been disarmed and/or restrained, or if they feel particularly threatened into doing so. Most bites are warning nips that do not draw blood, and a Txakur will give a fair amount of warning beforehand by baring his or her teeth and either growling or snarling. Only a fully enraged Txakur will bite hard enough to draw blood, and when captured by outsiders, a Txakur will usually find him or herself muzzled in order to be kept from nipping at his or her captors and from crying out to rally allies who may still be nearby. In battle, a Txakur will howl either to call upon reinforcements, or as a battlecry to boost his or her own morale, as such a vocalization comes more naturally than shouting out words. A mother defending her pup (or pups) is said to be as fierce as a dragon, for she'll do anything to make sure that her child is unharmed -- even give her life if need be. If not forced into direct confrontation; however, a mother will lure her foe away from her child before doubling back once she is certain the enemy has lost her trail. Once back with her pup(s), she leads them to a more safe location before using Calvary Call in order to alert nearby pack members to her.

When hunting, Txakuren form small parties numbering from three to six individuals, and will often employ the use of domesticated fenris hounds in order to help in locating prey since the hounds hunt by smell and by sight where as Txakuren themselves hunt by smell and hearing. A few members of a hunting party will sneak up ahead in order to set up an ambush while the rest of the party works to drive the prey to them, often barking and clanging their weapons together in order to help frighten less aggressive creatures into the waiting trap. Larger prey is usually brought down with the aid of throwing javelins. Raptors are their favorite prey, as the creatures are large, able to provide an ample supply of meat for food and hide for armor and clothing. Txakuren know not to overhunt prey, and take only what is needed by the pack. Very little is wasted, as they find a use for every part of prey, and despite popular belief amongst outsiders, Txakuren prefer to cook meat rather than eat it raw, and will usually smoke and/or cure access portions of meat for later consumption. Though meat makes up a large part of their diet, Txakuren are omnivorous, using certain plant roots, stems, and leaves as side dishes or garnishes.

Txakur-specific classes

Though not counted as a class, the only role within a pack that is inherited through blood is that of matron/patron.

Tracker - A hunter able to chase down his or her quarry by scent and hearing. Trackers are sometimes hired by outsiders. Can use traps.
Slayer - A berserker who appears immune to forms of pain and who does not fear any opponent. Can use hexes.
Windweaver - A caster who specializes in healing/defensive mystic arts. Can use psionics or shards.
Stormcaller - A caster who specializes in offensive mysic arts. Can use potions.
Nightrunner - An assassin. Usually more malignant-minded Txakuren who dislike the other races and their more fair-minded kin class as this, but some of the more dark-hearted Txakuren belonging (or who once belonged) to the more fair-minded packs may choose this path, and even lend ther services to outsiders in exchange for a fair price.
Beastmaster - A Txakur who specializes in taming and raising a beast companion for battle, often dressing in a way to resemble the creature he or she is raising, as each beast is raised from a young age. This class can also choose to charm a wild beast for a set amount of time when unable to summon their own companion. Can use herbs and wards. Can use psionics only if the mystic or mixed path is chosen.


Behavior/Society: Most Txakuren are shy - even by Sovani standards - preferring to live high in the mountains away from the four major races. The other races have very little knowledge about the Txakuren, leading most to believe that they don't even exist. Despite this mindset, in recent decades, Txakuren have begun becoming more brave, making attempts to establish friendly ties and even trade with all of the major races, including sending envoys to a few of the larger cities in attempts at formal communication. Each envoy, though capable of defending him or herself, is always accompanied by a small entourage of fighters, usually numbering as two slayers and either a stormcaller or a windweaver. Males tend to be more shy than females, so it is extremely rare to see a male Txakur living in a city away from his pack. Because of this, others tend to view Txakuren as a feminine-oriented race with a matriarchal society, but this is not true as both genders are viewed equally, and pack leaders can be either female or male. They understand the value of weapons and tools, but they do not keep valuables, instead, Txakuren trade and barter.

Though they are able to bind Remnants to themselves, very, very few Txakuren use or even possess them, as they generally feel no need for the artifacts and do not wish to become dependent upon them, as the other races seem to be. Those who possess Remnants always live away from the packs of their birth, as their kin look down upon them for their choice, some choosing to remain alone and avoiding cities while others allow themselves to live among the other races. This doesn't mean that they are hated for their choice; however, because in such a circumstance, such an exile is better for them for they would only be viewed with caution and held at arm's length. Not all Txakuren who live among the other races possess Remnants; however, as more curious individuals, or those who feel that they do not belong within their pack of birth will also live within cities. Though the Txakuren are not counted as a major race, hunting them for their pelts is generally frowned upon, and in cities where friendlier packs have aided them in the past, hunting a Txakur is considered illegal and those caught doing so are punished by being turned over to the pack in question rather than dealt with normally.

Txakuren like and respect Sovani, due to the likemindedness of the two races when it comes to dealing with outsiders, and tend to give them leeway in order to avoid potentially hostile conflicts. The two races are able to breed, but instances of such pairings are quite few and far between. Such pairings always end in tragedy; however, as despite their 250 year long lifespan, the Txakuren are a short-lived race compared to the Sovani. They tend to be neutral towards Qsiti, and Txakuren who live among the other races often strike up friendships with them, while some individuals even find the little lizard-men to be amusing at times. They respect the Qsiti as powerful magic-users; however, so their overall neutrality comes with a degree of respect, sometimes leading a magic-user to take on a Qsiti teacher. Overall, they harbor very mixed feelings toward both Mitra and Yama, and tend to be wary around them, as some individuals hunt Txakuren for their soft pelts, which they use as cloaks or coats. Though they know that most Mitra and Yama have no intention of hunting them, Txakuren would rather not put their lives on the line from taking chances so they tend to be cautious when dealing with them. Txakuren hate Jhana, as the gorilla-men are aggressive and tend to pose a threat to Txakuren packs. Packs living in the same area will often rally together in order to bolster their defenses if Jhana war bands are spotted in or near their territories. Friendlier packs of Txakuren will even offer their aid to cities in order to help route or repel Jhana attacks.

Though they are territorial, they know better than to attack outsiders without any good reason to do so. Trackers are deployed in order to keep watch upon an outsider or outsiders whom have been spotted within a pack's territory, always keeping to the safety of the mountains in order to observe without being noticed before one tracker reports his or her findings back to the pack's leader, who then decides whether or not action against the intruders is needed. Outsiders who are merely passing through are left alone, while those who are caught overhunting or defiling the land are attacked and driven off. Lost outsiders are always aided with as little contact as possible, often by trail signs left by Txakuren which point the way back to hiking trails and/or back to civilization. If contact must be established; however, a Txakur knows to never bring an outsider back to his or her pack's location, and thus, they tend to lead or, if the need arises, carry the outsider down to the foot of the mountains before melting back into the mountains in order to see if help from the outsider's own world arrives.

Packs or lone individuals who have aligned themselves with a city or with a particular outsider or a small group of outsiders do so as a debt of gratitude -- including knowledge of the Txakur's true name in very rare circumstances. It is hard to earn such a deep sense of loyalty and respect from a Txakur due to the mindset of most individuals, and one has to do a great service, such as saving or even sparing a Txakur's life, in order to be granted such a debt in return. When a pack is involved, the Txakur in question is usually the leader or another high ranking member such as a beastmaster whom is involved. Outsiders who find themselves within the debt of an entire pack is allowed to freely pass through said pack's territory without question, though they are never told the pack's location as the creatures fear exposure to those who could hunt them. Friendship with an outsider (or outsiders) who has not been granted with a debt is not unheard of, and while allowed, the Txakur or Txakuren whom is part of this bond are warned about revealing the pack's location. Such a friendship is only forbidden if said individual has done something to upset the pack in the past. If a Txakur unused to life outside the mountains has been taken to a city or to an outsider's dwelling in order to recover from serious injuries, he or she will often panic -- especially if having just awakened -- at the drastic change in surroundings. A panicked Txakur usually cowers, but few will show aggression as a warning to be given space until he or she has had time to recollect him or herself and to recover.

Some packs are malignant-minded towards the other races, and even towards their own kin, attacking all who venture into their territories with little or no provocation. These packs are always hunted down by their more fair-minded kin and slain in order to keep outsiders from viewing all Txakuren as nothing but baneful beastmen and to keep such packs from causing problems. Due to living most of their lives high in the mountains and underground during the colder months of the year, most (if not all) Txakur are agoraphobic. Wide, open places that lack tall objects, like the Crookfen, make Txakuren extremely uncomfortable to the point where they even become disoriented and confused. Even when they are with a non-Txakur they can trust, they still remain antsy and easily startled because they feel vulnerable without the security of the mountains to help conceal them, as their white and gray fur tends to stand out in most open places. Despite this fear, they deem most valleys to be safe since these places usually have forests and rocky formations, of which make Txakuren feel secure while hunting game or gathering plants in these areas.

Txakuren absolutely despise imps (the feeling is mutual), as the two races tend to come into conflict over territory. This is because Txakuren tend to use the underground cave systems for shelter during the colder months of the year, where the long-furred, monkey-like fiends tend to live. There have been instances of imp raids upon small packs of Txakuren, as the fiends tend to snatch and kill unguarded pups, even sneaking into dens to do so. Txakuren will form hunting parties in order to kill or drive out groups of imps that have been spotted near den sites in order to keep their pups safe. Lone imps are unable to kill an adult Txakur, but a group of the monkey-like fiends are able to, and will often gang up on lone Txakuren in order to kill them. As a rite of passage into adulthood, a Txakur is tasked with venturing underground alone in order to kill a lone imp and to return with its pelt in order for it to be fashioned into a cloak. Such a rite is dangerous; however, and a majority of young Txakuren never return. These cloaks always have the upper part of the head still attached, with the brain matter removed and the eyes left intact, to serve as a hood. Such cloaks tend to intimidate outsiders, which is an effect most Txakuren aim for.

On the other hand, Txakuren love fenris hounds, often domesticating the fierce-looking dogs to train them as guards and hunters, or to simply keep them as pets. Txakuren also hold winged creatures, especially spiritlords and wyverns, in high reverence, and will also domesticate such beasts. Txakuren also gather spiritlord feathers to use them for ceremonial clothing, caster shawls, and even for decorating their manes, headbands, and weapons. The wing membranes of wyverns, and sometimes dragons, are also used as cloaks; however, such a cloak is only allowed to be worn by the matron/patron of a pack, and by a pack's beastmaster(s). To a Txakur, killing a winged beast for malicious reasons is viewed as an act of cruelty, though they are beginning to understand that the other races do not share their views, and that sometimes, it is necessary. Txakuren will only kill winged creatures if they are sick, dying, or if they have gone too far out of control and been declared a danger to the pack as a whole.

All Txakuren possess two names: a true name, which is given at birth, and a shield name. True names are known only by a Txakur's immediate family, by close friends whom the Txakur trusts with the knowledge, and by a Txakur's mate. They believe that the true name is a window to their soul, and those outside their family who know it can hold sway over them. Shield names are given to each Txakur pup upon reaching his or her fifth year of life by the pack leader in a public naming ceremony which takes place at sunrise. They are able to breed all year round, and after a gestation period of six months, females give birth to one pup, with twins being exceedingly rare. Newborn pups whimper and yip rather than cry, and older pups learn how to growl, bark, and howl before they learn how to speak. Pups tend to be quite curious and adventurous, often finding ways to sneak away from the safety of their pack in order to explore despite warnings of imps or other dangers that could be lurking nearby and thus, they must be constantly monitored by a sitter. Txakuren mothers help one another to raise their pups, treating them as if they were their own, and pups of the same age often grow up thinking of one another as kin and treat each other as such. Twins have an identical scent, so in order to better tell them apart, they are each given an 's'-like tattoo known as the 'Twin Mark'. The older twin receives this mark over his or her left eye while the younger twin has it over the right eye.

They are monogamous and mate for life, with mates being completely devoted to one another. Unlike Mitra and some of the other races, Txakuren do not have complex ceremonies to mark the joining of a mated pair (which they find to be quite odd), but instead, a mated pair mutually understands the importance of their bond. If one member of the pair dies, the other very rarely finds another mate to replace the one he or she has lost. Such a Txakur often falls into a state of depression, and becomes overprotective of his or her pup(s) if there are any, which often leads to these pups becoming distanced from their parent due to being sick of not being allowed to do anything deemed as 'dangerous'. These pups often become rogues or even Remnant users and often leave their pack upon passing the coming of age rite in order to gain more breathing room. Txakuren who have no pups will sometimes go insane, becoming malignant-minded and hating mated pairs which still have both members. Such Txakuren are always killed in order to keep them from harming others. Because of the effect love and mateship have upon a Txakur's mind, beastmasters are never allowed to fall in love or to have mates due to not only their powerful status within the pack, but because of their control over a powerful winged creature that of which obeys the beastmaster with no question. A beastmaster who falls in love is always exiled from his or her pack and never allowed to return under any circumstances.

Txakuren cremate their dead, burning each body one at a time to keep ashes of different bodies from mixing with one another. Ashes are stored in urns for a day in order to allow the family of the deceased to pay their last respects. The following day, either the deceased Txakur's mate or one of the parents scatters the ashes over a favorite place, always when a breeze is blowing in order for the dead one's soul to become one with the wind and sky. Pups are too small to be cremated, and Txakuren believe that a pup's soul would become lost without that of a parent to guide it, so instead, pups are mummified and buried in order to preserve the body and to keep the soul from wandering. A pup is only dug up when the mother or father dies, and the two are burned together. Because of their skill with anatomy and working with the dead, Txakuren who live in cities, if not working as a tracker, often work as taxidermists or morticians.

Packs who share the same area tend to live away from each other, and in order to communicate, they set up large drums at specific points to where the sounds would be carried the farthest and with little worry about echoes. Specially trained drummers beat out different rhythms, each rhythm encoded to stand for different things, such as warnings of danger, a need for packs in the area to gather together, and various other reasons. Smaller drums are used for music, along with bells and flutes, but Txakuren music is hard for some of the other races, Mitra especially, to appreciate, due to the ultrasonic and subsonic components of Txakur-made instruments, flutes in particular. Txakuren do not sing, but instead, they chant and even bark or howl at certain parts of these chants. Music and chants are used as ways of boosting a pack's morale before a conflict as well as for a more leisurely passtime. Dancing consists of flowing acrobatic movement, leaps, flips, sweeps, kicks, and feints, making it appear that a Txakur is fighting unarmed rather than dancing. This is partially true, as Txakuren use such a dance as a way to keep themselves spry and limber, and they often dance in pairs regardless of gender, as the dance is more of a way of testing one another's speed and reaction in combat rather than a way to attract a mate. When dancing alone, a Txakur tends to tune everything else out, as she is in deep concentration and feels closest to the wind and sky, and during this time, she feels truly at peace.

Body language is an important part of communication for Txakuren, with the tail and ears playing key roles in most expressions in order to help a Txakur to better get a message across when dealing with outsiders. A happy Txakur will allow her tail to wag from side to side in a rapid movement, her ears pricked and facing forward while a saddened individual will often hang her head and flatten her ears, with her tail kept either straight down behind her or even tucked between her legs depending upon how upset she is. Such posture is often accompanied by whimpering. A nervous Txakur will often pace with her head lowered, her ears slicked back, and her tail tucked slightly between her legs while an angry individual will slick her ears back, bare her teeth, and allow her mane and tail to bristle, such a posture is often accompanied by a low growl of warning. When anxious, a Txakur will sometimes wag her tail slightly before letting it droop behind her, and will keep her ears slightly flattened and slicked back. Depending upon their current mood, indidviduals will sometimes bark rather than try to speak, especially when they are excited or afraid. Eye contact is another part of body language important to Txakuren, and when addressing or being addressed by an individual -- even an outsider -- of higher rank, a Txakur will purposefully avoid eye contact and look at the ground as a sign of respect unless specifically told that eye contact is permissable. Individuals of equal rank maintain eye contact with one another, and when addressing someone of lower rank, a Txakur will stare in order to assert his or her dominance.


Txakuren religion

Since the Txakuren do not use or acknowledge Remnants on a major basis, most do not revere, let alone even know of, Marion Marshall or the God Emperor. Those who know of them are neutral at best though a few individuals may become curious and wish to learn about them. Txakuren who use Remnants do revere these two figures, since they feel that their own goddess no longer has influence over them as of their choice. Instead, the Txakuren have their own religion which consists of two deities:

The Mother Wind. Alignment: Chaotic Good. She is viewed by the Txakuren as the creator and protector of their race, and though she is described as benevolent in nature, her methods of teaching her children are far from gentle as she chooses to hold them at arm's length, in order for them to be stronger as a race and less dependent upon her for protection. She is said to behave rather harshly towards Txakuren who choose to stray from the laws of their kind in order to teach them a lesson for their disobedience, such as putting a particular pack through a harsh winter. Remnant users; however, do not count as individuals to be punished since she knows that they feel that they do not truly belong within the world they were born in to, and though it upsets her, she acknowledges their choice. Individuals whom she feels have a destiny ahead of them upon a different path, such as a better life outside their pack, than they themselves have chosen are also put through harsh trials, such as losing a family member, or presented with a particularly hard choice, in order for them to be tested and to help point them in the right direction. Very rarely does she directly interfere within the lives of these individuals, rather, she sends the spirit of someone close to the individual, such as a sibling or parent, to give them hints of the Wind Mother's intentions for them in the form of a dream.

The Mother Wind is said to have a total of three forms: Her main form is that of a constantly shifting silver-gray mist, the second is that of a feathered she-dragon which also sports a few canine traits, and the third is that of a winged Txakur female clad in a simple dress. Because of her dragon form, beastmasters are forbidden to raise and domesticate dragons for they are seen as sacred. The Mother Wind resides over the Evergale, a paradise constantly bathed within a gentle healing breeze that appears as a neverending plateau.

The Frozen One. Alignment: Chaotic Evil. An imp-like beast who is the opposite of the Mother Wind. He is viewed by the Txakuren as the creator of their mortal enemies, the imps, and only spoken of in hushed, fearful tones. Though usually spoken of as cruel, savage, and malicious, the Frozen One can also be deceitful, sometimes attempting to lure the weak-willed with promises of whatever they desire, only to reveal the deceit at a later time, usually when a Txakur is dying. He resides over the Chill Labyrinth, a frozen hell consisting of a maze of twisting tunnels, where the souls of Txakuren whom have fallen to the Frozen One's temptations, or those who are malignant-minded, are banished to and forever hunted by the icy imp-like spirits who live there. He is worshipped by Txakuren who class as assassins and by others who do not care about being sentenced to an eternity of freezing torment.


Txakuren items

The Txakuren have created specialized items for their own use, some are listed here, two of which have become valuable to outsiders:

Bladestaff -- A lightweight polearm consisting of two joined swords resembling talonblades, which are crafted for this purpose. This weapon is able to be folded for easier storage by a hidden catche in the middle of the shaft by sharply twisting both sides. Bonus: Imp.

Talonblade -- A lightweight, one-handed sword crafted by Txakuren and often used in pairs. This sword consists of a thin, gently-curving blade attached to a handle which allows the weapon to be held like a dagger without fear of injuring the wielder. These swords resemble those used for the Txakuren bladestaff, but are slightly smaller in size and cannot be joined together. Bonus: Imp.

Spiritlord feather shawl -- A shawl consisting of spiritlord feathers that have been woven together. These shawls vary in length and size, and are normally used by stormcallers and windweavers, but a few beastmasters who have successfully raised spiritlord chicks use them. This shawl grants the wearer immunity to curse.

Wyrm wing cloak -- A two-piece cloak made from the wing membranes of a wyvern, or in rare cases, from the wing membranes of a dragon. Pack matrons/patrons and beastmasters are the only ones who are allowed to don this cloak by tradition. This cloak grants the wearer immunity to acidburn.

Imp skin cloak -- A cloak made from the pelt of an imp, with the top half of the head kept intact to serve as a hood. These cloaks are a Txakur's proof of completing his or her rite of passage into adulthood.

Imp eye pendant -- A pendant consisting of an intact imp's eye set into a silver backing and strung from a fine, silver chain. This trinket is said to bring infertility to those who wear it and for the duration of being worn. This pendant is usually worn by females who don't feel ready to have pups yet or by females who have been traumatized enough to believe that they wouldn't be mentally stable to raise pups for a while.

Tattoo ink -- The ink mixture used for Txakuren tribal tattoos consists of various plant dyes (which determine the ink's color), and the juices of a plant that numbs against pain if rubbed into the skin. The Txakuren are unaware of the numbing affect from the plant, as they think that their belief causes their immunity to pain instead.

Laurelwood staff -- A simple-looking staff made from the wood of a mountain laurel tree, which is found near the base of some mountains. This staff is used by stormcallers and windweavers to better channel magic when casting spells, due to the Txakuren belief that the wood of the mountain laurel possesses magical qualities. This staff is purely ceremonial, usually decorated with bird feathers, and is not used for melee combat.

Laurelwood flute -- A simple-looking instrument made from the wood of the tree used to make caster staves, the mountain laurel. Unlike the version (made from other kinds of wood) that is used solely for entertainment, flutes made from mountain laurel wood are used exclusively by beastmasters. The instrument consists of seven holes: six in the front and one in back specifically for the thumb, and of three sections that are able to be taken apart for easier storage.

Throwing Javelin -- A lightweight spear used as a throwing weapon mostly for hunting and sometimes in battle.