Dark Felver

Felvish is the common modern language for Felvers however Dark Felvers prefer to keep to the tradition of their ancestors and speak in the ancient tongue of magic.

Dark Felvers were first to record the history of Felver kind in cave paintings and later by totemic carvings. Clans keep totems with carvings depicting the rein of every chief. The job of carving usually came down to the head Shaman.

Dark Felvers keep the cultural traditions of all Felvers with some differences. The largest difference being that they are not nomadic. Many Clans stay in the region they always have and seldom move. If they do it is due to complications with the land, or due to a predator that will wipe out the entire Clan. It is also customary for new chiefs to go on a giant hunt and bring back a head as a signal of strength. The bigger and more renowned the giant, the more respect will be afforded the chief and the longer their rein will last.   All Dark Felvers follow a similar omnivorous diet of meat, fruit and vegetables that are common in the Dread Peaks. A common meat of the Dark Felver is the Emranak Boar, a giant boar the size of a bear that hunts for mushrooms and tramples the forest floor so violently that it leaves trails that look like dirt roads. The boar is considered a staple food of the Dark Felvers and killing one is seen as a mercy to the forest. Attowesh is their vegetable of choice. It has an earthy, starch filled flavor of a soft potato but can be cooked to become crunchy like a cracker. Attowesh is useful for long travels as it does not go off and it prevents scurvy.   Due to the ample sun provided by living in the canopy of the Peaks, a special fruit called the Lalac is cultivated in sunny areas. It thrives in the sunlight and its seeds can be eaten as a snack if not kept for the next crop. The translucent membrane of the fruit is extremely thin and fleshy. It can be sunburnt easily which turns it into an edible seaweed-like delicacy which can be taken on long journeys. The interior of the fruit is incredibly juicy, tasting of richest orange. When out of it's skin, it spoils quickly as the watery substance within it evaporates quickly in heat, leaving it's tasteless dried form and the seeds at the center.

Dark Felvers keep much of the etiquette as other Felvers do with some additions.  

• Standing with your front directly facing a Dark Felver is considered a challenge.

• If the bark skin parts of a Dark Felver flatten, they are preparing for to flee or fight. This is taken as impolite if not used as a warning to other Felvers of danger.

• Crouching down with one's body hunched forward is a sign of impoliteness in safe contexts. Doing so will make Dark Felvers worry about danger and begin to retreat or become aggressive.

• Felvers bare their chest as a sign of friendship, this is often followed by hugging for clan members.

• Hunching down while standing can mean you are hunting, which is extremely rude in camps.

Dark Felvers wear little more than basic protection for the chest and legs, preferring to let their bark skin defend them from attacks and allowing them to move faster.

Dark Felvers prefer lush green forests of varying density as they are best able to hunt and habit there.   Unlike other Felvers, Dark Felvers build great wooden structures and walkways in the massive trees of the Dread Peaks. This prevents them from being caught by many predators. Clan camps may stretch for up to 3km in length depending on their size. The camps look like a latticework of wood platforms and bridges encircling the canopy of the forest. Soil is brought up from the surface to be used in farms above. because of the ample amount of sun, Dark Felvers are able to cultivate plants that cannot grow anywhere else in the Peaks.

The Giant Hunt is the hunt observed by every new chief of a Dark Felver Clan to track and kill a giant on their own.

When a Dark Felver comes of age, they are required to complete a task of great importance pertaining to their chosen craft. Gatherers may be required to collect some rare herbs, scouts may be led far away from camp and required to find their way back and fighters may lead hunts or attacks on other Clans. Many tasks are dangerous in the Dread Peaks and most young will not reach adulthood.

Dark Felvers bury their dead underneath their home in the treetops to better feed the trees that support the village. Felvers may descend from the canopy to mourn or go to the Shaman's hut to plead for an audience with the dead.

Dark Felvers (Felvers of the Dread Peaks) reach adulthood at around 13-16 due to the harsh conditions of the Peaks they have evolved to reach adulthood and reproduce quickly.   Unlike most Felver types, Dark Felvers court differently and do not mate for life. Dark Felver Clans revolve around hunting and surviving more-so than any other Clan of Felvers. Camps are under constant attack from wild beasts and magical enemies. Felvers that fight often together will make a blood bond. Which is sealed by cutting each other's arm enough to scar it and letting the other drink their blood.There is no limit to the amount of blood bonds one can have and mating is a common practice among those who have entered into a blood bond. One must have a blood bond with the other to mate. This rule is punishable by execution without trial if not upheld.