Wrognoth

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Wrognoth
Pronunciation:	ROGG-noth
Homeworld:	Unknown

The Wrognoth are a very large, intimidating mammalian Native species, their intelligence greater than or at least easily comparable to a Human's. Their numbers are relatively few, and they are little known throughout the galaxy, as they historically choose to seclude themselves and have a disinclination to interact with other species. Regardless, though the majority of their kind are free entities, some major Wrognoth clans are part of the High Council of Harmony.

History

Though little is known of Wrognoth history, they were thought to always be composed of the same closely-knit clans as they are today. Their homeworld remains unknown to and unseen by Humans, as it is thought to exist in a distant corner of the stars: a part of space shrouded in strange mist that confounds the technology of ships that dare enter there. Even Helexith does not enter this region of space, and Humans believe the Wrognoth previously bested them when they attempted to conquer their planet. The Wrognoth discovered space travel on their own, without the aid of outside species, and they command a highly advanced civilization, though some other species still consider them primitive due to "shamanistic" practices.

Society

Wrognoth society is founded upon honor, loyalty, clan, and religion. Every Wrognoth belongs to a particular clan, composed of several families: an extremely important element of their lives and identity. Blood bonds among Wrognoth are incredibly strong, and Wrognoth even possess unique Psionics that allow clanmates, particularly direct family, to sense and communicate with each other across limitless distances. This bond can be created among Wrognoth individuals through ritual and is considered the highest of honors. Elders and children are always respected in Wrognoth culture, even by enemy Wrognoth clans, who war only through honorable means. Wrognoth culture emphasizes spirituality and the afterlife; they are known to go to great lengths to recover the bodies of their fallen for proper burial. Likewise, they guard the resting places of their dead with incredible ferocity. Males and females play an equal role in Wrognoth society, though males naturally feel inclined to protect the females, but females are not restricted from participating in battle or certain roles in society. Wrognoth rarely do anything alone, given their unique and powerful bonds, and to be outcast from one's clan is the greatest of shames, worthy only of those who have committed an unforgivable crime; thus, seeing a lone Wrognoth is a rarity and generally a bad sign. Wrognoth communicate using their own language, which sounds harsh and guttural, virtually impossible for other species to truly replicate, but they easily learn the languages of other cultures. The Wrognoths' most unique vocalization is the howl, capable of conveying an endless array of emotions to others of their kind. These intricacies are lost on Humans and other species, save the Sarran.

Religion

The Wrognoth religion remains very mysterious to Humans and nearly every other species. However, it is widely known that their religious beliefs are a foundational element of Wrognoth society, observed and celebrated every day of their lives. Wrognoth are highly spiritual, bearing their own form of psionics and possessing an incredible connection with what the Sarran call Afaelya, a spiritual energy. The strength of the Wrognoths' connection to their psionics is rivaled only by the Sarran themselves, whose connection is believed to be different in nature but equally if not more powerful. The Wrognoth have immense respect for the natural world, claiming it to be full of spirits and even saying stars themselves have a soul, and it is with these spirits and souls that the Wrognoth strive to maintain strong and respectful connections. Beyond this, little is known of their exact religion.

Biology

Wrognoth are said by Humans to look like beasts, as they have a considerable amount of fur on their bodies, which vary in color among black, white, brown, grey, crimson red, gold, and occasionally a bluish-grey, though always without any other patterns. Their eyes are brightly-colored, ranging in hue from green, red, blue, yellow, orange, white, and even purple. Their skin is always solid dark grey or even black, and their head is bestial, with long, pointed ears covered in short fur and a thick muzzle. Likewise, their heads and faces are furred, and they possess a relatively thick manes, as well as bushy yet relatively short and scrappy bottle brush tails, which helped lend credence to Humans referring to them as wolf-men. Their bestial legs end in paws with massive black claws they can retract or extend with but a thought rather than flexing muscles, as do their five-fingered, humanoid hands; both their feet and hands possess thick, black paw pads for running on all fours, which Wrognoth do frequently. Female Wrognoth possess two complex mammary glands to feed milk to their young, resembling those of Humans; Wrognoth females look similar to males otherwise, though typical of mammals, they are relatively smaller. In terms of size, a fully-grown Wrognoth easily rivals a Slashrim Zrillak, standing considerably taller than the average Human or nearly any other species. Due to standing more erect than the Slashrim, they often appear taller even than the Zrillak, particularly male Wrognoth. Wrognoth possess strength, speed, and endurance also rivaled only by the Slashrims' greater growth stages.

Antlers

Both male and female Wrognoth also grow antlers just behind their ears, and these antlers vary widely in size and shape. The antlers are shed during two or three winter months - or what would ordinarily be winter months, regardless of the Wrognoth's location - and regrown thereafer.

Reproduction

Being mammals, Wrognoth give live birth, generally to one, two, or three children; Wrognoth have more than one child far more often than do Humans, though twins remain very rare. A couple almost always mates for life, particularly as Wrognoth are known for the sense of loyalty bred deep into their culture. Wrognoth are not capable of producing offspring with Humans or any other Native species.

Lifespan

Given their reputation for high endurance to most any hardship, Wrognoth are hardy enough to live to very old ages. The oldest Wrognoth lived to be around 250, although most do not make it far into the 200's.

Antlers Both male and female Wrognoth grow antlers, and these antlers vary wildly in size and shape. The antlers are only grown relatively briefly, during the Wrognoth mating season in the two or three months of winter - or what would ordinarily be the months of winter on their original homeworld, regardless of the Wrognoth's location - and shed thereafter, to be regrown each mating season every year.

Some Wrognoth saw off their antlers, especially those in the military who do not want them potentially getting in the way. Others, however, wear their antlers as a kind of symbol, regardless of their vocation - some warriors even tie their antlers in particular patterns to control their shape and growth, carrying them into battle as a badge of pride.

Physical Capability Wrognoth have astounding physical power, with great strength and speed. They have acute senses, as well as the ability to "sense" fear and other emotions, and they can see even in extremely low light, leading Humans to say they can see in the dark. They are capable of running on all fours at high speeds for extended periods of time. The Wrognoth are well known for their endurance, and they are hardy against both injury and disease.

Although they give live birth, the Wrognoth have a very strange attribute to aid in the rearing of their young: every Wrognoth - male and female - has an inner pouch in their abdomen. While Humans compare this to the pouches of marsupials, and they are indeed similar, they are not used for holding undeveloped young, nor are they the same as pregnancy. The Wrognoth access this pouch via their throat, and the Wrognoth have developed a unique biology to let them swallow remarkably oversized objects. It is not uncommon for a Wrognoth to "swallow" one or more pups to allow them to sleep the pouch. Such a trait has aided the Wrognoth in relocating and protecting their young since before the Wrognoth began to build cities, and, some speculate, before they fully evolved. Although the pouch is often considered unnecessary in modern Wrognoth society, many Wrognoth still make use of it, particularly if a pack must flee when a city is raided by a rival. Seeing a Wrognoth swallow their pups into the pouch has led to Humans claiming that Wrognoth eat their young, which is far from the truth. A Wrognoth's pouch can expand to incredible sizes to hold their pups, and it provides a constant supply of air.

Although pups are raised communally by all members of the pack, they know who their parents are. Wrognoth couples usually mate for life, particularly as Wrognoth are known for the sense of loyalty bred deep into their instincts. A Wrognoth betraying his or her mate is considered one of the very highest of offenses. Wrognoth are not capable of producing offspring with Humans or any other Native species.

An important aspect of Wrognoth reproduction is their mating season. Once every ten years, during the winter mating season during which they grow their antlers, Wrognoth of both genders will feel an extreme drive to take a mate for life: far more extreme than the comparatively mild increased urges of a normal mating season. This is not a purely sexual drive, despite Human categorization, as neither male nor female Wrognoth take a mate lightly; their mating urges by no means lead them to commit violent sexual acts. Despite these primal instincts, the Wrognoth choose meaningful life partners. It is in the Wrognoth instinct to mate for life, not solely their culture.

While some can overcome this instinctual drive, and some Wrognoth have even developed drugs to aid in fighting the compulsion, it is an extremely powerful urge that most Wrognoth cannot ignore. If they continue to deny it for too long, it can lead to violent mood swings and unpredictable or uncharacteristic behavior, as it is said that Wrognoth can lose themselves to their drive. Some tales speak of Wrognoth going irreversibly insane if they go too long in mating season without a mate.

There are, however, other ways to overcome the urges. Military Wrognoth choose to lose themselves in a berserk rage for a time, after which their mating season drive is spent; this is called the Time of Madness, during which some Wrognoth will run feral on their home planets, behaving as violent animals and killing non-Wrognoth creatures.

The mating season of the Wrognoth is little spoken of, even among Wrognoth themselves; it is understood to be a part of their existence, but they prefer not to talk about it openly.