Aryauk (ɑːɹˈjɔːk/ ar-ʏᴀᴡᴋ)

Known History

Beginnings

Throughout the history of Veltrona, all sorts of species have arisen, flourished, and perished. People are no different in this respect, with some entire ages defined by those who lived only during them. It serves as a solemn lesson about life and the struggle to persevere, and the constant danger of extinction when faced by horrors such as the Relentless Herds and Packs. Among the so-called minor species—as described by dragonkind historians—there has ever been one particular people that, despite all the odds, somehow survived. These deadly and fearsome huntresses, though few in number, etched themselves into the minds of other cultures, becoming beings of legend, fear, and awe. They are called the aryauk, and only those looking to have their skulls mounted on a wall would dare underestimate them.   Records of the aryauk stretch as far back as the beginning of the Second Dawn from all over Veltrona, but as a species their history is deeply steeped in mystery and uncertainty. Their reclusive nature meant they seldom had non-violent contact with other peoples, and most aryauk tribes preferred seclusion in their nomadic ways. The subsequent destruction of these tribes, for however it came to pass, ultimately meant the near-complete loss of their existences. Archaeological records, particularly in old aryauk-made fortresses hidden away in the corners of the world, and petrakin recollections, are the only proof they even existed at all at certain points in history.   In fact, it is through the petrakin that almost anything about the ancient aryauk are known. They're seemingly the only species the aryauk did business with, serving as the port of call to which their trade needs and other concerns were met. The two are historical allies, and though the aryauk are smaller in number, they would come to the aid of the petrakin whenever needed. It is, thusly, through the lens of petrakin understanding that rare glimpses into aryauk history and mindset are available.    

Top of the Food Pyramid

The keystone to understanding the aryauk comes from their extraordinarily unique nature, and the core root of what every other species views as horrific about them: adaptive consumption. Or, in other words, the aryauk integrate the natural abilities and physiological traits of whatever they consume. While not a quick process, it is through consumption do aryauk experience not only the greatest concept of growth possible, but literally change into new—arguably hybridized—forms of life. 'You are what you eat' is an extremely literal concept, and integral to their metamorphosis-like existences.   It is this understanding that led the aryauk to seek out the most 'worthy' things to consume. It is also what led to the infamous scenes of aryauk consuming enemy combatants in battle, horrifying every other species they encountered and creating myths of them being 'forsaken evils'. Some even ascribed them a kind of advanced or exotic form of Relentless, albeit from a narrow-minded understanding of both being 'mutants' of a kind. Nonetheless, such mannerisms did not earn the aryauk friends, and left them no shortage of enemies, either.   When combined with their nigh-fearless attitude and risk-taking readiness, the aryauk are the first into the fray and last to leave. To them, the greatest challenges are the greatest opportunities, and they must surmount to become that much greater themselves. For everyone else, this has often meant they would be on the receiving end of the aryauk's aspirations for a 'challenge'. They're a driven and highly motivated people, completely consumed with the drive of self-perfection—to what ends, not even the petrakin fully understand.   It is a cultural phenomenon that manifests throughout their species, even in locales seemingly disparate and unconnected from one another entirely. Some have called it an almost natural inclination to Cultivation Arts, as the aryauk's methods overlap heavily with those types of arts. One of the principle distinctions, however, is there isn't an intrinsic need to acquire immortality, for the aryauk are not terribly bothered by death. In some cases, it is even considered very necessary for true perfection to be obtained.    

Greatness of the Self

Nearly all aryauk cultures view martial prowess as one of the core pillars to greatness given their principally hunter-gatherer lifestyles. After all, one must be able to survive and eat, period. The wilds of Veltrona are ever ready to provide such challenges to test their mettle, and it is there they seek out the worthiest prey that deserves to become a part of them. The mightiest of these huntresses, either believing nothing remained for them or driven by other concerns, would eventually turn their eyes toward the people of other species. People who might offer greater sport and challenge, and perhaps even more worthy bodies fit for consumption. These encounters would become how most civilizations first recorded meeting the aryauk, and so began their infamous reputation.   Accomplished aryauk huntresses would set out in search of prized game, stalking and killing anything they found that seemed worthy. Systems of honor hadn't become codified nor ubiquitous among their species in these ancient times, leading to all sorts of horrific tactics being employed against sapient peoples. Though they gained their victories, the pain and suffering they left behind turned many civilizations against the aryauk—especially those of Aerthen and Nerzin, who saw the most aryauk migrating through their lands. Whether rightly derided as forsaken evil or otherwise, these civilizations would send their armies out into the wildernesses, scouring the aryauk tribes from their ancestral lands. For most, that displacement meant eventual death in the wilds they'd once arrogantly thought conquered.   At some point in the interceding millennia between the various aryauk cultures' displacement and seeming disappearance, a change overcame them. Or, at the least, some sort of cultural consensus was not only reached, but propagated among them in a way scholars still don't exactly know how. Aryauk legend and popular mythos describes some of their most ancient elders, from tribes long gone even by their standards, emerging from the wilds. These elders, possessed of bountiful knowledge and deep wisdom, shared with their younger fellows profound insights. It should be noted that the veracity of these legends comes from the greatly detailed and graphic depictions of these elders beating the shit out of the other aryauk until they listened, as was (and still is) tradition.   The result, however, was that these elders became deific beings to the aryauk—not as icons of worship, but as the ultimate challenges for their younger kin to overcome. To know that one of their own blood could be so great was an invigorating prospect, and a foundational core for their many tribes going forward. So it is these deific elders’ teachings became that much more important, and so changed the course of their species forever. Among these changes, new notions of morality and honor became something greater even than the thrill of the hunt itself.    

Honorbound

It is this consideration that most scholars ascribe as the beginning of their honor code, Bautam, which became a cross-cultural unifying power on the aryauk as a species. Its rapid spread implied the aryauk, who were perhaps either few in number or had not yet dispersed far from each other in such an era, were cohabiting somewhere on Veltrona. For so many tribes to otherwise come together implies at the least they were in a dire situation from their long-standing troubles. The exact location is a mystery, but depictions of a ‘mountain grasping the sky’ implies they were somewhere near Mount Skyreach itself.   Through the then-rare exchange of their elders’ knowledge between the different aryauk cultures, the aryauk came to the consensus it wasn't simply what they ate that changed them, but the knowledge they 'consumed' as well. They technically didn't acquire memories, minds, or thoughts or thoughts from their meals, but as the aryauk contemplated their place in life and its myriad hardships, they found a different set of challenges waiting for them. They struggled not only to decide what kind of prey was good or bad to consume, but how to transform themselves without consumption as a component—to improve upon themselves as people.   Bautam formed a centralizing ethical and moral framework that their tribes soon adhered to. Though it began with the deific elders’ own lived tales, it rapidly grew to include the various tribes' own feats of renown, folkloric histories, and other ethical or moral guiding parables. Through it, they found a means to improve themselves as people, accrue knowledge, hone interpersonal relationships between members of the same tribe and with their neighbours, and conduct rituals of honor that strengthened their cultural identities. Honor, as a concept, became the bedrock of the aryauk ways, and is so important they value it more than their own lives. The simple act of gaining or losing honor (be it to themselves or their peers) would change an aryauk's life significantly, and so became a source of many cultural ideas, memes, and similar understandings.   Of these understandings, their relationship with other civilizations changed. To hunt the weak or undeserving was not only wasteful, but a dishonorable crime as much as religious trespass. Instead, the aryauk venerated those who were powerful and capable among the other peoples, seeing them as great challenges upon which they could prove themselves. Defeating such people was, itself, improvement—to consume them the highest form of honor that could be given.   Similarly, consuming someone meant not only were they worthy, but that the aryauk would come to shoulder the souls (in part or full) of whomever they consumed, becoming a pivotal part of an aryauk's own existence. They saw it as something far more significant than even the greatest and most worthy animals, and one of great spiritual peril if done improperly. Whether or not other civilizations understood this perspective did not matter to the Aryauk, nor did they care, necessarily. Still, some made contact, some tried exchanges, and some succeeded in creating minor bridges and connections. Only the petrakin truly enjoyed a wide breadth of contact with the aryauk, who treated such people as the closest thing to a friendly neighbor they could conceive of.  

Heavenslayers

The traditional ways that the Aryauk approach self-improvement and cultivation arts are nearly a perfect circle of a venn diagram, minus some particular details. Actual cultivators often took notice of this, and ever seeking new ways to improve themselves as well, would visit the aryauk. At least, they tried to, but the aryauk despised such people with great intensity: they saw cultivators as practicing the same dishonorable ways their own ancestors once did with rampant and indiscriminate consumption for personal power. As those same people yet offered potential challenges, the aryauk would often hunt and war with cultivators and their various sects/organizations. In fact, they came to prefer them as ideal targets, for they saw cultivators as morally corrupt in the first place, and thus obtained great honor in culling them. A view that would only be reinforced as the Ancient Cultivation Wars—massive conflicts spurred on by greedy cultivators consuming every viable resource they found—kicked off in earnest.   It is around this time period that, while the other civilizations of the world began to war with cultivators, they also 'rediscovered' the aryauk once more. Clad in ceremonial armor and adorned in hunting trophies, these terror-inspiring huntresses struck suddenly and left even quicker, slaying formidable cultivators in grueling battles and duels. At first, they seemed to be some heavens-sent punishment, but as was ever the case, the aryauk turned their gaze to new prey when worthy challengers appeared. Even bound by their nigh-unbreakable sense of honor, their inclinations towards eating or dismembering worthy enemies nonetheless continued to horrify the other species who beheld them.   Records from civilizations in Nerzin—the land most ravaged by the ancient cultivation wars—were usually the ones with the clearest details of the aryauk, as well as demonstrating their incredibly unique ways. Some aryauk, who managed to consume dragons and adapt their features, boasted interwoven scales and plated spines on their backs, becoming almost hedgehog-like and physically massive beyond most of their species. Others, having supped on aquatic foes within river valleys and seas grew fins, gills, and chitin adapted for underwater environments that made them fearsome competition for the shermadi and ekurin. No aryauk seemed capable of adapting wings or non-magical flight capability, but gliding and jumping were readily available, leading to many folk tales of the fearsome 'flying' aryauk.   After a certain point, it becomes difficult to tell if records sourced from other species about the aryauk are actually about them, or are mistakenly conflating uniquely-adapted aryauk with other creatures from Veltrona's vast biodiversity. Cultivators, however, learned to fear the aryauk deeply and saw them as natural enemies/predators. While their records are incredibly accurate, they’re also secretive by nature and hoard knowledge, so nearly no scholars truly know what aryauk truths they may be holding onto. It is clear, though, that cultivator mistresses go to great lengths to teach their disciples how to identify and avoid, or kill, aryauk head huntresses.   Some modern sociologists from Votyoger consider the aryauk a difficult-to-gauge force that exerted negative pressure on the growth of many of the cultivation sects across Veltrona throughout history. At the least, the two are such historical enemies (if mainly on part of the aryauk) that few cultivators live without having fought an aryauk huntress at least once. And, since cultivators fear the aryauk so much, the societies these cultivators influence have also picked up on that fear, leading to an increasing mythologizing of an already ill-understood species in many cultures.   It has also led to attempts by other species to try and hire, or otherwise convince, the aryauk in their local areas to ‘take care of’ their cultivator enemies, to varying degrees of success.    

The Eternal Hunt

Cataloging and detailing the history of the aryauk is a matter that depends on which specific tribes are followed, given the variety of biomes and wildly different adaptations each group undergoes. As a species, however, their impact on the world stage is primarily related to their famous conflicts with cultivators, and the terrifying shadow they exhibit in legend. The typical aryauk lifestyle, broadly speaking, is primarily a nomadic one comprised entirely of subsistence hunting, trading, and heavily specialized craftswomanship. As such, their nations are small tapestries of ever-shifting hunting territories that expand and contract with the seasons as they follow their prey. Most aryauk tribes, comprised of individuals are more interested in self-improvement than statecraft, have had little desire to band together into larger societies. Consequently, historians have never noted any queendoms or empires that are predominantly led by, or formed of, the aryauk.   What impacts the aryauk do have are often difficult to attribute to them properly, or are conveniently erased by some historians for one reason or another. A well-known example would be an ancient war, in which two city-states, Shiyal and Tunnu of Nerzin, bitterly fought one another for farming land.   An aryauk huntress, purportedly uninvolved in the war entirely, ambushed the-then war general of Shiyal, engaging in brutal one-to-one combat wherein the general died. This tipped the balance of power dramatically, resulting in Tunnu's ultimate victory and Shiyal's destruction. The huntress, however, was never found, nor even what tribe she's from ever identified. Whether or not it was an actual aryauk huntress or an assassin using them for convenient cover is a hotly contested matter, and some folk tales take great delight in listing which body parts of the general that were taken for a trophy.   It is these scattered occurrences, tall tales, and other incidental transgressions where most people 'know' of the aryauk. In the unusual cases an aryauk seeks to join other civilizations, they're an almost one-of-a-kind wonder, but some did eventually create minority communities, leading to the populations found in large multicultural nations, such as Atenkhet. These 'outcast' aryauk are where most scholars managed to actually study their people, particularly their unique biology. Unfortunately, aryauk place great value in physical prowess and their formidable durability means cohabitation with other peoples can be difficult when a ‘good brawl to work out issues’ is an unremarkable thing to an aryauk, but potentially lethal to everyone else.   Most outcast aryauk manage to find a middle-ground between maintaining their own minority communities within the parent civilization, living semi-secluded lives in rural locations. Most of them would also discover that sedentary life is not something the aryauk are well-suited for. Stable sources of food ensure they'll 'stay alive', but the aryauk will not adapt what they deem ‘desirable’ or even ‘useful’ traits from these diets; in some cases, aryauk may even consider these sedentary adaptations to be degenerative malformations. There’s also great consideration that some adaptations are quite useful, but that view differs greatly among their cultures.   The aryauk are, without any embellishment, a people ideal for living in Veltrona's incredibly biodiverse wilderness, and living anywhere lacking that diversity severely impacts their health in dramatic ways. Given this difficult reality, aryauk who live in other civilizations usually seek employ as huntresses, foresters, merchant guards, or any other profession that would have them out in the wildernesses where they can hunt desirable game. There, at least, they can devour to their heart's content.    

The Great Darkness

There aren't many verifiable records of aryauk tribes fighting against the Imperium or Imperious herself, though many scholars find it impossible to think there weren't any. Given their small size as a species, the most likely outcome is that the aryauk, ever favoring dragons as targets to measure themselves against, or for a personal accomplishment milestone as prey, took to fighting the Imperium in earnest. Those who did most likely died out as a result of such conflict, especially as any who met Imperious clearly failed in killing her at all. The bieneren of Aerthen, surprisingly, have some details of such aryauk from western Aerthen (the home of Imperium territory), as they often fought alongside the hives as comrades of circumstance against draconic invasion. This, ironically, revealed that the bieneren themselves are a historical friend of the aryauk, much like the petrakin—albeit the aryauk 'befriended' the bieneren first, apparently.   A relationship that would become critical when the World Gate's planet-thundering explosion shook Veltrona, ushering in the Great Darkness. A calamitous time period of unmatched proportions, the strange and exotic complications of the era have never done scholars any favors. A persistent, oppressive gloom intermixed with shifting and surreal topography, assailed by beasts and flora of unknown and alien natures as much as Veltrona's own wildlife that’d been displaced. It was a time of great urgency and survival, placing a massive pressure on everyone. The aryauk, by all accounts, either lost entire nations and tribes in the wilderness closest to the explosion, sheltered with the bieneren or petrakin where they could, or somehow survived in the uncertain wildernesses.   Of particular note was the incredible harshness the Great Darkness wrought upon all aryauk. With their abundant wilderness food sources suddenly not only becoming scarce, but biodiversity crashing to the floor, they were forced into sub-optimal, if not degenerative, eating practices, such as regularly consuming the exact same foods week-after-week. Worse, the strange and alien creatures that came with the darkness were, in polite terms, inedible to the aryauk. While they could be consumed as a source of nutrition, their natures conflicted with the aryauk, engendering bizarre mutations they saw as horrific. These 'unholy' creatures became deeply hated by the aryauk who saw them as perversions of nature even worse than the Relentless.   While the bieneren as a whole are seldom ones to share knowledge, they're particularly open about advocating for the aryauk populations who lived with them in their hives during the Great Darkness. From their view point, the aryauk are hard workers and dutiful individuals with incredible biological potential. They can, however, be ‘somewhat rowdy’, but other peoples really should give them a chance, or so they would say despite the fact the bieneren zaffa bioforms are quite durable themselves. It is a puzzling sentiment for many to consider, especially as the bieneren usually find cohabitation with every other species 'somewhat challenging', given their nature as a collective hive mind.    

A Glorious Dawn

When the skies of Veltrona finally cleared and the Great Darkness receded, normalcy of a kind returned. Though clearly devastated in all sorts of ways yet incalculable, Veltrona herself was a resilient world, and she ever proved her ability to recover after such hardships. Yet, such a dawn still brought problems, at least for the peoples of Aerthen and surrounding lands. The Baarham Dominion arose from the ashes of the Great Darkness, mighty and powerful over all others, and brought with them a genocidal hatred of all other life. Though it may not have grown to the size of the Imperium, the Dominion's shadow stretched almost around the whole world.   The aryauk, however, were indifferent to its emergence and the affairs of all the other peoples.   Struggling as they were to return to their ancestral ways as nomadic huntresses, those who survived the Great Darkness yet contended with its lingering malaise. The aryauk faced a world still recovering, her peoples scattered and scarred, and a lack of abundant prey as their ancestors once enjoyed. It forced the aryauk to reconsider many of their traditional ways; more importantly, to examine their own plans for the future in this changed Veltrona. If they couldn't obtain the biodiversity they needed for healthy living, only a slow and painful death awaited their species.   A novel innovation came in the form of the Aerthen aryauk tribes who cohabited with the bieneren during the Great Darkness. Mistresses of their own genetic engineering, the bieneren were quite interested in studying the aryauk's composition; something the tribes were initially adamant against for fear of spiritual perversion. As the generations changed and hardships continued, however, the need for better solutions became apparent. If they weren't able to discover them, the degenerative sicknesses resulting from limited food types would have unimaginable consequences. This, coupled with generations of cohabitation building trust between the aryauk and the bieneren, led to some willing to brave such concerns if it might save them all, and so eventually, these aryauk agreed to the bieneren’s examinations.   The exact details are a closely guarded secret as to what was discovered or what happened, but one particular and species-changing outcome emerged: the aryauk manner of consumption changed slightly. It, in effect, introduced more control over their diet, allowing them for the first time to eat without immediately triggering adaptation at the same time. Ergo, aryauk could regularly eat larger amounts of the same foods without fear of adaptation changing them in directions they didn't want, allowing them to survive on less diverse diets.   It wasn't perfect as too much of the same food would still trigger adaptation, but they’d gained far more flexibility than ever before. In the cases they wanted adaptation to occur, traditional consumption still sufficed, albeit ideal/worthy prey became more important. In fact, due to their consumption tolerance widening so much, they could target specific traits better and exert more control over their pursuit of self-perfection. Though many were skeptical at first, the results quickly proved themselves, and the remaining aryauk tribes with the bieneren sought to incorporate them. In honor of the bieneren, the aryauk tribes incorporated the ethos of Arrakee into Bautam, which revolved around geniality and sharing one’s own strengths to others as a form of worthy self-improvement.   With the help of the bieneren and their planet-spanning hive mind, the rest of the aryauk across Veltrona were contacted, negotiated with, and shown the results of the alteration. Of them, a few staunchly refused such useful adaptation changes, but most warmed up to it, becoming a historical moment between their two species. The bieneren were henceforth regarded with great esteem and respect, much to their own bemusement as the various aryauk tribes made it a 'point' of including bieneren hives in their migratory routes. Though the rest of the world may not have witnessed such a pivotal moment, it nonetheless became one scholars believe that saved the aryauk species as a whole.      

Biology

Anatomy and Physiology

Note: Given the physiological variability present within the aryauk due to their unique nature, this biology section aims to describe the prototypical aryauk that exists in the modern day.   A mildly sexually dimorphic species, the aryauk are humanoids with a head, torso with two arms that end in five fingered hands, a long and flexible bushy tail emerging out of the end of their spine around the buttocks, and two legs that end in five-toed feet. In general, females are simply 'larger' in all dimensions than the males and have pronounced breasts, but the two are otherwise nearly identical in anatomical characteristics and appearances.   The aryauk are, regardless of their height, a physically massive species with incredibly bulky musculature. They're nearly unrivaled powerhouses in weight-to-strength ratios, possess explosive amounts of energy, and a raw durability that makes even dragons sweat when thinking about fighting them. When combined with the immense coverage of spines and spikes that grow from their bodies, doubling as both a natural suit of armor as much as deadly weapons in their own right, they're difficult to harm at the best of times and viscerally dangerous. Some other species even consider the aryauk to be more akin to proper monsters rather than person-like monsterkind, but they are, nonetheless, still people.   Aryauk fur and spines occupy the same portions of the bodies, with the spines growing out from the fur patches, similar in distribution to scales in other species. These areas are: the top of the head, back of the neck, broadside of the back down to the hips, along the tail itself, the forearms, the thighs, and the calves. If one imagined an aryauk without their spines, they would be half-skin, half-fur covered, with their ‘frontside’, fatty tissue areas, and face being skin, and their ‘backside’ being fur; some compare this as hedgehog-like. The dense fur around the spines is believed to help in preventing debris from being lodged under the spines, prevent parasites from attacking their nearly inaccessible back skin, and thermoregulation.   The spines themselves do not grow uniformly, as those closer to the 'center' of a fur patch are both larger and longer, taking up more space, while smaller spines grow around them and eventually terminate into fur; the spines following an aryauk’s spinal cord are some of their biggest ones, for example. This behavior can change based on a number of conditions, but such a pattern is usually quite common. The mostly-smooth spines vary in thickness between one-to-several inches, and so are respectably large in diameter. Their material composition is unusually equally organic and inorganic, but they’re generally heavily mineralized and have a rock-like toughness to them. As such, once they’re grown, they’re articulated mostly by the underlying musculature in limited ranges of motion and have sharp, piercing points. Some aryauk traditions will ritualistically carve them, adding serrated edges or a sword-like sharpness to them, but given how much aryauk damage and regrow their spines on the regular, it is a time consuming practice, and so may be reserved for important events.   The aryauk head has two round eyes, a generally broad nose, and a wide mouth full of thick, wedge-shaped cutting teeth at the front and thick molars at the back. Aryauk ears are wide and rounded with a squirrel-like stubbiness, and are situated in the upper middle of the head, where the crown region is. Two enormous horns, multiple inches in diameter, grow out from above the temples, stretching forward and tapering to sharp and piercing points. These horns can grow to sizes multiple feet long, and almost all the forehead and upper sides of the head can be taken up by them, representing an enormous amount of weight.   The horns’ actual shape and total size does vary, but are usually always something offensively usable, not strictly defensive. As a result, the aryauk neck is incredibly thick and strong to support all this additional weight. The eyebrows have no hair, but are instead a series of smaller, ornamental spines themselves. In some cases, additional spines may grow along the jaw or nose, but these are unusual features arising either from specific adaptations, or simply a result of hybridization in their lineage.   Aside from the spines growing across their back, the aryauk torso is very human-like, albeit broad and incredibly muscular. The roots of the upper back's spines begin just over their shoulders and sweep backward, so as to not impede their head or arms' range of motion. Similarly, the spines on the arms and legs grow outward and face away from the body to avoid interfering in range of motion, or impaling themself on their own spines. Aryauk hands possess noticeable claws, being several inches in length and as thick as the finger itself, making it both an ideal natural weapon as well as a tool that can carve through solid rock and packed veltron.   The tail of the aryauk is usually proportionally quite long, typically 3/4ths of their height in length, similar to the jiuweihu. Their tails are incredibly flexible and heavy, but do not have enough dexterity to be tool-usable in the vast majority of cases. For the aryauk, it is an important mechanism for balance, weight-distribution, and in some cases a blunt-force weapon with spiked edges. Typically, the tail itself has larger, thicker spines than even the main body, while smaller spines may be buried inside the fur.   Aryauk legs and feet are generally human-like, with spines growing on the exterior-facing sides of the thighs and calves. Their toes have claws similar to their hands, but are shorter and more curved so as to be useful in climbing without interfering in their running capability.    

Appearance

The aryauk usually have veltronic colors, such as golden-to-sandy hued 'soft skin' and darker—almost iridescent—blues-to-blacks for the 'root skin' at the base of their fur and spines. The fur itself is usually a brown or ashen color, while the spines are a pale ivory color that are darker at the base and lighter at the tips. The soft skin, over all, has a slight patterning and somewhat mottled appearance, particularly at the growth locations and exterior sides of the body. Towards the interior or inner areas, such as the belly, it becomes smoother and more homogeneous.   Aryauk hair grows only on the scalp and is interspersed within the spines, making grooming their own hair a difficult thing to manage alone. Having one’s family or friends braiding their hair is a common practice, with many elaborate, time-consuming styles being necessary to both safeguard their hair from tangling and dirt, as well as to weave the braids around the bases of the defensive spines on the scalp.   In general, aryauk hair can come in a far broader array of colours, and is more readily influenced by an individual’s lineage or adaptations gained from their diet. It is differentiated from their fur both in density, texture, and by the fact their hair can have a different color than their fur. While their hair is typically some sort of analogous color to their fur, dramatic changes are possible. For example, aryauk who adapt more avian-centric traits may even see their hair replaced with a crest of colorful feathers instead. Those who adapted or inherited particular colors for the sake of threat display, camouflage, beauty, or cultural practices, may even take on more jewel-toned hair colours such as fiery reds or oceanic greens and blues.   Their nails may either appear similar in color to their spines or be closer to black outright.   The tail of the aryauk notably has the greatest fur growth, giving them plume-like tails that are both voluminous and fluffy, were it not for the spines woven into them. In times of spine shedding and regrowth, the interim period exposes the truly fluffy potential of the aryauk, lending a squirrel-like appearance. This is especially evident on aryauk more adapted for colder climates and have more fur for insulation purposes. As the spines regrow and their natural armor takes shape again, their appearance becomes much more hedgehog-like instead.   A long, well-groomed, bushy tail with unbroken spines is a common beauty standard in many aryauk cultures, and keeping one’s tail in good condition can be a point of pride for many as well as a necessity to ensure it retains its efficacy as a weapon.   Given the physiological variability of the aryauk, their appearances can change quite dramatically even within the same family. However, these changes are usually indicative of age, or at least how much desirable consumption an aryauk has achieved. The above suits as a consideration for an aryauk still at the 'core' of the species, or at least very near it still. In the cases of more extreme physiological changes, such as adaptations toward aquatic environments, entire new characteristics not seen elsewhere will emerge. It can be said, however, that all the traits the aryauk adapt into themselves are functionally useful and desirable. If not purely from selective pressure of 'choosing' the best ones themselves, then the fact their bodies will self-optimize in the best ways it can with the material it's given.    

Natural Abilities

Adaptive Consumption — Aryauk physiologically change to adapt and integrate the traits, DNA, natural abilities, and any other characteristic of whatever it is they devour and digest. They have some internal control over this process, though it is largely instinctual. How 'effective' this consumption is depends on several factors, including the 'potential' of the consumable. This means the aryauk would have to eat a lot of something with low potential to experience changes, while something with high potential might change them as they're eating it on the spot.   Aryauk cannot turn into other species just by consuming them and will always remain aryauk on some level.   Physical Powerhouse — Aryauk are naturally strong as a species, possessing a strength profile that easily places them in the top 5 of sapient peoples before training or modification.   Monstrous Appetite — The caloric intake of the aryauk is among the highest on Veltrona, requiring an amount of food bordering on the unimaginable. They're capable of devouring an entire creature—tip to hoof—and digest them within hours thanks to their unmatched digestive system. However, they can also store incredible amounts of energy, so the aryauk aren't at a constant risk of dying during famine or bad times, though they must manage their activity levels closely.   Hyper Regeneration — One of the best regenerative abilities on Veltrona render the aryauk stunningly resilient against damage and harm. Cuts seal within seconds, wounds mend within minutes, spines can regrow on the spot or hours at the latest, and so forth. The price for this regeneration is an insane nutritional intake requirement, and the aryauk literally heal as fast as they can be fed. If one cannot decisively kill them quickly in battle, their only other hope is to try starving the aryauk to death through exploiting this nutritional weakness.    

Diet

Extreme omnivores, it'd be much simpler to state what the aryauk don't like to eat, which is 'waste' or 'expended' biomatter such as excrement, sludge, rotting waste, etcetera. Nutrient poor or deficient material, such as solid rock, also does nothing for them. Given that whatever they eat can physiologically alter them, the aryauk are also among the pickiest eaters on Veltrona. It is an ironic combination that isn't lost on them in the slightest, but they perceive it as a test of personal character—the power to become anything means a discerning mind must make the best choice possible.   As such, food with the richest nutrients, the densest mana concentrations, and any estimable qualities they want are the top pick priority for them. This often means the aryauk turn their attention to the fauna of Veltrona, who possess both great richness and diverse characteristics they can adapt from. Combined with the inherent danger of hunting the greatest fauna in the world and the aryauk have not only a veritable feast, but a whetstone upon which they are sharpened.   Plant matter isn't something they scorn, either; in fact it is a fairly stable choice with less overall potential, but great nutrient upkeep. Fruits, nuts, the very plants themselves and their roots; it doesn't really matter if they find it tasty and worthwhile enough. While something like bark isn't necessarily desirable to eat, it does give them something to chew on, which can be a pastime hobby when they're relaxing. If they did have a particular preference, aryauk like plant matter rich in carbs, proteins, and sugars, with fiber typically a byproduct.   As they're so discerning about what they actually eat, most aryauk end up being self-taught (or educated proper) chefs. The aryauk understanding of flavor and composition is virtually unmatched, if only because they can stomach eating even the inedible. For those of greater age, wisdom, and experience, they're living vaults of culinary knowledge that can make even dragons envious. In fact, it's because of draconic envy that most of the world even knows of the aryauk's impressive culinary capabilities.    

Life Cycle

Infancy & Childhood

Aryauk typically birth in pairs, and it’s considered weird for odd numbered offspring, but auspicious for even-numbered ones. For the expecting mother, the pregnancy itself isn't all that bothersome given her natural durability and incredible regenerative prowess. Her dietary needs, however, skyrocket, and pregnant aryauk are even pickier about what they eat as it will have direct impacts on her unborn children. Many plan and prepare special meal courses and save up particular foods of interest in anticipation of pregnancy so as to influence the physiology of her children. An expectant mother is the one thing the aryauk species as a whole deeply fears crossing, for she has all the reason in the world to destroy whatever gets in her way.   Infant aryauk are almost nothing like their adult forms, covered head-to-toe in newborn fur so thick and fluffy they seem like puff balls. Affectionately referred to as flumps, they're helpless, mewling creatures who crave constant attention and will remain on, or near, their mother until they're fully weaned in a few years' time. With age comes an increasing sense of self and mobility, and the aryauk's notorious appetite begins to rear its head. Depending on the parents' dietary plans, the infants may subsist on great portions of their mother's milk into late toddlerhood, particularly if it engenders desirable physical adaptations or to avoid having the child consume undesirable food. Given that they're so young, infant aryauk do not immediately adapt from consumption, but it is a common belief in many aryauk cultures that infants become 'primed' based on what they consume from birth, influencing what they will change into later on in life. Whether or not this is actually true has been a topic of debate since time immemorial.   As such, one of the great challenges for aryauk parents is teaching their children to not eat foods that either the parents or their culture deem inappropriate. Feeding a youngster's appetite is a formidable challenge, especially as they gain muscle mass and become capable of acquiring their own food. The usual solution for aryauk parents at this stage is to have their children join their peer-group in communal rearing areas where designated guardians can watch over them. The children, easily distracted by each other, are busied by rough housing and play, teachers trying to educate them, and carefully curated-for meals until they're taken home once again.    

Adolescence

By the time of adolescence around age 10-to-15 years, aryauk children are capably strong youngsters with something to prove. Most will have received some form of education from their parents or broader family unit, usually in their specific branches of knowledge, martial arts, survival know-how, etc. Adolescence is commonly believed amongst most aryauk cultures to ‘properly’ begin with the shedding of an individual’s fluffy childhood fur, and when the first-time uncomfortable growth of their spines begins.   The resulting physiological changes amplify the aryauk's strength, aggressiveness, and capacity to integrate the traits of the prey they consume. Being both young and possessed of increasingly destructive potential, they need an outlet, and so they're inducted into the first of many training regimes by the tribe. The exact methods of training differ among each tribe given their choice of locale, ancestry, and overall traditions.   As a whole, adolescents are put into regimens that train their bodies, sharpen their minds, and imbue them with the wisdom they'll need to survive the wildernesses. To outsiders, this training can seem a nightmarish gauntlet of brutally demanding labor, savage combat drilling, and punishing trials of a mentally and physically taxing nature. To the aryauk, fierce and nigh-indestructible, it is a proving ground that thrills, as much as anguishes, their adolescents.   More than anything else, the aryauk desire prestige and honor among their peers. Defeat and shame alike are acrid, nasty things they despise with their whole being. Youngsters in particular, lacking experience and age, are desperate to acquire the respect and adulation of their peers and so suffer that much more when they don't. At their age, it is a childish tribulation, but one that prepares them for the true dangers beyond the tribe’s camp. Veltrona's wilds offer neither pity nor mercy to anyone, and those without the resolve to face such hardship head on are doomed to die a miserable death.   Females and males will be separated into their own groups at this age, if only for the simple reason that the much more powerful females can easily crush the males, and adolescents have not yet learned to control their strength. While most forms of education are—for pragmatic reasons if nothing else—fairly equal, in many cultures adolescents will also be taught more gender-specific traditions and practices at this time. Male aryauk, in particular, become very interested in methods of proving their worthiness not only amongst their peers, but to potential courtship partners. They tend to be the more extroverted of the two sexes, frequently leaving the tribal camps to brave the wilds and accrue deeds of honor. Female aryauk, on the other hand, must balance not only their own aggressive hunts, but familial inheritance and responsibility. They're more concerned with jockeying for tribal clout and a position that benefits them, their family, and their future children.    

Adulthood

Adulthood is generally reached around the 25-to-30th year of life, depending on the culture, which for most individuals usually coincides with the plateauing of their physical growth, their spines fully hardening, and the musculature of their body reaching final stages of development. By such a point, an aryauk is well on their way to adapting (or having already adapted) their first new traits into themselves, along with developing an idea of the trajectory of their adaptive path. They’ll also have a robust skill set for not only hunting, but their desired profession in life. Many, ultimately, become jacks-of-the-trade, having some proficiency in a number of fields as they'll often be required to fill many different roles while out on a hunt.   It is this combination of self-led learning to refine their skills in their areas of interest that defines aryauk societies at large, creating a patchwork of highly capable individuals bonded together through common adversity, interests, and familial ties. To become a mistress in one's craft in many aryauk societies is neither easy nor simple, for they often had to innovate entire methods themselves or inherit them from a prior mistress (as apprentices, winners by trial, or otherwise). Huntresses, in particular, faced the most brutal challenges as the competition for greatness in such a profession is the highest in their entire species.   For every aryauk, this relentless drive, constant competition, and unending pursuits are what define their entire lives.    

Old Age & Death

Old age is a difficult concept to define for the aryauk due to an interesting facet of their adaptive consumption. Aryauk will, to some extent, partially recover and/or even extend their own lifespan through significant transformative experiences from adaptation. So long as they continue to do so at regular intervals, their life span can continue to increase and increase. How much ‘exactly’ isn't clear, even to them, but it's not uncommon for aryauk to have lifespans in the hundreds to thousands of years. Some argue they're even 'technically' immortal, albeit a kind that requires outside resources to maintain. As this also means their bodies maintain their physical prime (or simply increase the duration it), most aryauk do not associate old age with physical decline or inability.   That said, not all aryauk can maintain this affair. Some, by choice or circumstance, will cease pursuing adaptive consumption, and thus ride out their remaining lifespan. Others, perhaps encountering physiological dead-ends or disease, can no longer change meaningfully, and so forced stagnation leads to their eventual decline as well. Depending on how much lifespan remains, the aryauk will slowly begin declining, usually through metabolic inefficiency, lethargy, and a dwindling regenerative capability–symptoms that are predominantly behavioural rather than visual. These 'withering' aryauk are what most think of when old age and death are concerned. For every tribe, withering aryauk are venerable existences and highly regarded for their wisdom and experience, and so usually hold honorary seats at the pinnacle of their societies.   To be old in the wilds of Veltrona is, after all, a commendable feat of accomplishment no matter how one got there.   A common fate for particularly elderly aryauk, usually before physiological decline becomes too severe, is for a final, glorious hunt or battle. They, who are filled with pride beyond measure, would have their last act in life be one worthy of being passed down in legend and song. Whether by themselves, with others of similar circumstances, or as the vanguard of younger, in-their-prime aryauk, these withering elders lead the way in some of the most challenging encounters their people might ever experience. To die then and ensure their peoples' success is a tremendous honor.   Others, perhaps more concerned with their craft or family, will spend their days within the tribal camp, recording what they know, creating what they can, and helping wherever possible. For them, their final death will come from metabolic failure, and is generally considered a peaceful way to die. Given how unusual such a death can be for the aryauk, it is always a cause for great celebration and feast to honor the departed who reached such an impressive milestone.   Aryauk burial sites are secretive locations, but ones usually never far from their migratory routes. For those who died honorably, they will be interred into such vast tombs, their burial chamber specially carved out by family and tribe. The exact decorations depend on that aryauk's life, but each burial chamber is different from the last in their personalized touches. It is during visits that dust is cleaned away, tarnish buffed out, and the graves made splendorous once more. To the aryauk, it is a sign of filial piety and a means to help their deceased reach greater heights—wherever in death they may be.   The sheer richness of these burial sites tends to attract grave robbers, but if there is one thing that can make tribes—even the bitterest of enemies—come together, it is hunting down grave robbers and exercising some of the most heinous punishments imaginable upon them.    

Anaxials, Hybrids, and Variants

Anaxials

Aryauk anaxials are not that uncommon among their tribes, particularly as worthy human women must prove their mettle in their ways and are accepted as romantic partners. The resulting anaxials of such relationships are, themselves, considered aryauk proper, but they may not necessarily possess the same natural strength as their sires. Anaxials, differing in form and shape as they are, can veer as close to the aryauk form to something nearly human-like, except with cute squirrel-like ears and a large, fluffy tail. That said, by human standards they're incredibly strong and capable people, and more often than not can match a single-blood aryauk pound-for-pound in a trial arena.   Unlike their sires, the aryauk anaxials have a much more 'limited' form of adaptive consumption. They experience very minimal to almost no physiological changes, but they do inherit traits, natural abilities, improved strength, greater mana density, and so on. By some measures, their adaptive consumption is 'ideal' in that it only ever improves them, giving them a nigh-endless growth potential. It's led to some curious thoughts by the aryauk about their own nature, and is a source of philosophical contemplation in itself. Most single-blood aryauk, for better or worse, do consider physical change an important quality, but their anaxial's so-called 'limitation' shouldn't be considered a downside, either.   If someone does say that to their face, then much like any other proper aryauk, they'll beat the shit out of them.    

Hybrids

Hybrids are quite difficult to distinguish among the aryauk. Their very species changes based on what they consume, so a hybridized aryauk simply looks like 'any other aryauk', even with the changes brought on by their sire. In some ways, they simply have a 'head start' on changing as a concept, and they may become different as they go through life anyway. That said, the one singular thing hybridization does do is bring consistency to the aryauk form. The traits inherited from their sire are much more resilient against change, refusing to be totally subsumed or altered as it would happen on a single-blood aryauk. If one happens to know a hybrid aryauk particularly well, or simply observed them for long enough, this 'unchanging aspect' of them can single out their true heritage properly.    

Variants

The aryauk are famously used as an example of scholars arguing that the criteria for describing a variant of a species as being 'too arbitrary'. Technically speaking, in some circles nearly every aryauk might qualify as a variant due to their physiological changes. More practically, the aryauk themselves are simply grouped into three broad categories based on the greatest degree of potential change observed in their species.   The so-called land aryauk are those to whom this article in specific describes, and are considered the 'root' species.   Aquatic aryauk are those with consistent (arguably permanent) adaptations toward aquatic environments, such as having fins on their arms and legs, gills, and the capacity to breathe underwater proper. Their fur is also notably even denser, and optimized toward being water repellent—in some cases, it may be absent entirely. In many ways, they begin to exhibit traits typically see in either the shermadi or ekurin, though it's unclear if this is a convergence of useful traits or they actually ate those people. These aryauk principally live near or inside of great bodies of water, such as inland seas or the oceans proper.   Aerial aryauk, also sometimes called flying aryauk, are those with less overall physical density, smoother and more aerodynamic spines, and the emergence of skin-flaps that connect from their wrists down to their ankles. Similar to the vampyr, aerial aryauk are not true flyers, but instead capable gliders. The usage of wind magic allows them a form of propulsion, and thus obtaining true flight, but it does require great skill to utilize effectively. They mostly live around mountains, alpine regions, great forests, and other locales with high verticality and strong wind forces. Their feet are notably more hand-like, suited for grasping branches and shear surfaces, as well as climbing trees or other tall obstacles swiftly.      

Sociology

Cultural Universals

Bautam

Aryauk concepts of propriety, duty, and honor, as expressed through Bautam, is the singular most unifying aspect of their entire species. The collective vessel of cultural knowledge, religion, folklore, and tradition, there are no aryauk without Bautam, and no Bautam without the aryauk. While the honor code itself has its differences and peculiar wrinkles between different cultures, the bulk of it remains consistent. Because of this, even aryauk of otherwise entirely separate cultural groups can come together under its purview and interact with a sensible understanding of one another. The greatest issues usually arise from circumstances where one group’s interpretations or derivative practices come into conflict with those of another group’s. In such cases, should the offense prove great enough, Bautam itself dictates resolution through a number of options, with ritualistic combat being among the main methods of ideological debate. Most Aryauk are fine with it going straight to a brawl as that is often the quickest way to prove one's mettle and imminent superiority.   Bautam itself is divided into six conceptual groups called trunna—’eating way’—and they're stylized after the six traditional lifestyles employed by the aryauk: body, staff, axe, blade, bow, and hammer. As a whole, most aryauk are taught the basics of every trunna, and from there they will usually begin to specialize in a given trunna that interests them. With age and experience, older aryauk usually have proficiency in every trunna, though few command true mistressy as their deific elders once did.   The Body Trunna principally concerns itself with mistressy of the self in all ways: physical training, education, and mental refinement. It is where the bulk of cultural norms, concepts, and philosophies are contained and all aryauk begin their journey by studying upon the body first. There was once a time when teachings of the body were split amongst the six trunna, but this led to inconsistencies in a number of things, so the teachings were recompiled into the concept of body as a whole. There remains philosophical disagreement on this approach, so some tribes may pursue alternate methods related to the body.   The Staff Trunna is considered the first tool-using conceptual group, and seeks to refine an aryauk's understanding of themself, their environment, and how to use it. For veltron magic, the staff is the first and easiest tool made, being a literal stone rod and nothing else. Depending on one's skill, the newly made staff may shatter after short usage, and so it is a sign of mistressy to create ‘unbreakable’ staffs—be that durability, flexibility, self-repairing, or similar notions. The aryauk, being naturally physically powerful, easily destroy most materials by over-exerting their strength, and so a renewable tool is important in order to train themselves in self-control. This is also considered the trunna which concerns itself the most with the study and practice of the magical arts, so mages are usually part of this specific trunna.   The Axe Trunna combines pragmatic personal capability and natural connection together. The axe is a tool made by the efforts of many, but mistressed by the wielder; just as a person eats what nature provides, so too must they give in return. Traditionally the huntress’ trunna, those following the way of the axe hone their hunting skills, sharpen their craftiness, and brave the dangers of the unknown for themselves as much as their tribe. The axe is a tool of great potential and destruction, of responsibility given and burdens upheld. An axe that chops indiscriminately can destroy the jungle; one that knows where and what to cut revitalizes it instead. This balance of harmony and purpose is what the Axe Trunna teaches the most, and its adherents honor this relationship deeply.   The Blade Trunna concerns itself with war almost exclusively; it is learning how to kill the enemies of the aryauk to ensure the tribes' survival. Of the six, it is the smallest, but its adherents are among the most dangerous aryauk warriors to exist. They carefully study and devise means of utter destruction, but at the same time balance it greatly with temperance and understanding. This trunna is greatly concerned with the morality and ethics of good and evil, as well as the consequences of one's actions. In another sense, its main concern is resolving conflict between the aryauk and foreign civilizations, so diplomats are just as at home as warriors here.   The Bow Trunna centers around ranged combat and the balance of one's self and their impact on the world. The aryauk prize bows as weapons that kill without risking danger to themselves or their group, and are appropriate for dishonorable prey or enemies, such as the Relentless. Yet, at the same time, the great engineering and intellectual challenges of ranged warfare, as is argued, are no less important than close-range martial arts. Such weapons are also a lesson in consequences, for aryauk bows possess tremendous power—enough to punch through castle walls if they try. Yet destruction once unleashed cannot be returned, and the damage can go farther than even they intend. It is an important consideration that provides a perspective on the ripples of their existence, and the consequences, both known and unknown, that can result.   The Hammer Trunna is synonymous with creation and destruction; the hammer destroys to make the shape of something new. It is also sometimes simply called the craftswoman trunna, but there are huntresses, warriors, and priestesses who adhere to the ways of the hammer. Those studying them come to find new and inventive ways to regard the world and how it might be changed, for better or worse. In some cases, even turning the metaphorical (or literal) hammer upon themselves to engender a new change; to destroy their old self and forge again. The imminent danger of the hammer, as many adherents will caution, is that when one becomes a hammer, everything else looks like a nail. Restraint is an important aspect in all stages of wielding the hammer, and without it, one is simply a wild beast.    

Elder Veneration

To survive is a testament of one's accomplishments in the ways of the aryauk. Great age in a civilization where death is around every corner is no simple feat, and thus commands great respect. The aryauk are mindful of such people, particularly immortals or others where a long life doesn't necessarily lead to physical decline. Even then, from their point of view, someone like an elderly human—while possibly posing no physical threat at all—deserves respect for their wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and lived experience. But, respect from the aryauk can mean being challenged constantly, especially by those with something to prove or seeking the bounty of elderly wisdom. If not in acts of physical context, then surely mental ones, and so elderly aryauk are never short of people willing to keep them occupied.   The intrinsic bond of age and respect extends to other aspects of the aryauk worldview, such as architecture, created items, and similar things. Age begets legacy, and in that legacy's survival, there is an ephemeral quality unlike any other. The aryauk love well-maintained yet old buildings, items passed down by familial generations, and relics of great cultural or religious renown. Aryauk priestesses often fulfill the role of collector, particularly when their tribe uncovers new ruins or ancient remains. It falls to them to catalogue, store, and maintain items of interest, and in some respects, aryauk tribes are treasure troves of long-forgotten Veltrona history.    

Physicality

Aryauk are incredibly physical people, and so their lack of boundaries and confrontational, if not often outright physically aggressive, mannerisms can cause wildly different reactions among others. Personal space is, to them, something maintained with strangers or one's enemies, and so can be seen as either an insult or a sign of hostility to an aryauk if someone is regularly pushing them away. At the same time, their natural spines and strength means even simple gestures can pose great danger to others, which leads to frustration for the aryauk when they try to engage with such people in their usual displays of skinship and play-fighting. But, among their own or those who can withstand them, one must expect to be smacked upon, jerked, and rough-housed with quite routinely. All these mannerisms, however, very carefully do not try to take control of one's body away from them; e.g, grabbing and pulling someone. Unless there is a very good relationship between two aryauk, grappling, hugging, or physically blocking someone is asking for a fight on the spot.    

Lingual Characteristics

The aryauk can be described as having human-like voices, but of rather deep tonal and pitch ranges with incredible projection. The latter of which coincides with their capacity to roar, scream, and otherwise emit high-volume sounds at such magnitudes it can temporarily deafen or stun anything close to them. In other words, their voice is, itself, a weapon they use, and contributes greatly to the fact the aryauk are never a 'quiet' species.   Another distinctive characteristic is aryauk vocal clicking and growling. The clicking itself is done through the tongue, with different sounds produced via rapid motions and glottal plosives, and can transmit for quite a distance with clarity. Growling is done deeper into the throat, and is achieved through tensing and relaxing muscles in the neck. The two together form the cornerstone of aryauk non-verbalized communication, and is essentially a second language learned in addition to verbal ones. They'll commonly intermix clicking into their verbalized speech amongst themselves, but since most other species have trouble reproducing it, they'll omit such when talking to them in particular. Growls, however, are much more primal and intention-transmitting, and so are not done without some readiness for violence behind them.   Anthropologists suppose the aryauk originally used clicks and growls for their principle languages, but interaction with other species who could not easily produce nor distinguish between such sounds necessitated the adoption of different phonemes. In some cases, distinct aryauk languages maintained root words and concepts from languages they once borrowed from their neighbors, even long after said neighbor’s own language drifted into a new form. This unique blend has ever been a puzzle to linguists, especially as useful records of aryauk speech are very rare in the first place unless one goes to the aryauk directly.   An unintended side-effect of the Bautam honor code coming into existence was the unifying pressure it placed on aryauk written language. Until its emergence, the various tribes maintained their own dialects and generally didn’t bother translating themselves to one tribe or another. In order for Bautam to be maintained and passed through the generations, especially in a way lorekeepers may not accidentally forget or ‘conveniently change’, it had to exist in an immutable written form. This Bautam ‘script’ was initially maintained on its own, separate from local tribal dialects, and usually overseen by priestesses and mistresses. Eventually, however, it propagated into common usage and supplanted local tribal dialects. Despite this, people ever keep unique quirks and mannerisms, so many tribal dialects survive on as part of local custom anyway.    

Arts and Beauty

The aryauk love color, especially vibrant and prominent ones that stand out. A common feature of their mostly jungle homelands, color in such an environment demonstrates power, danger, and a promise of certain death. Only those who live in fear of something stronger, or have a need for secrecy, would bother with some drab or dreary to 'blend in'. Or, as the case may be, some visual relaxation to the eyes. Either way, the aryauk love to make themselves prominent, invoking colors as sensible as extravagant.   In fact, their concept of beauty ties together personal achievement and demonstration greatly. Accomplishments are to be worn with pride and demonstrate to all one's deeds and mettle, through which ornamentation, colorful displays, and elaborate clothing attires help to realize. An aryauk doesn't simply wear cloth for protection or comfort, they're a walking trophy rack of their greatest and most prized moments. When everyone commits to such a display, however, it can be truly challenging to distinguish themself, and so aryauk cultural traditions endlessly churn on how to do so.   Art, unsurprisingly, is a battleground of its own making. From a certain view, hunting and battling are themselves art forms, so performative art—while obviously less dangerous—yet offers a means of demonstrating one's competency. The aryauk took this idea and ran with it into the sunset, creating all kinds of music, theatrical performances, sports, and whatever else they could imagine. Of these many arts, however, one rose to prominence and has ever reigned supreme: wrestling.   The aryauk love wrestling as a martial art, contact sport, and raw entertainment for it is the perfect outlet of their aggression and strength, while displaying their skill, aptitude, and superiority to the spectators. Its relative ease of participation and clear rules make victory and defeat easy to grasp and enthralling to watch. With its ever-increasing participation and their drive to innovate, the aryauk soon crafted elaborate outfits, devised ritualized dances and moves in the arena, and adopted entire performative personas that soon engendered their own living mythos and legend. It is as sacred to them as any religion, and the aryauk come to deeply respect foreigners who engage faithfully in their wrestling ways—a much better prospect than trying to defeat them in combat directly.    

Magic and Technology

Aryauk magics are some of the most specialized in the entire world, shaped and sculpted by the extremely pragmatic requirements of survival as semi-nomadic hunters in their remote and hostile homelands. In this respect there is quite a number of magics widespread among their cultures that answer problems related to sanitation, water and food purification, medicine, construction, etc. The exact approaches vary as much as their environs do, but meeting these needs is a challenge every civilization faces in some form or another.   Aryauk specific adaptations center on concepts like wildlife tracking, ecological composition, areas of unknown danger, and similar concerns. Wind, water, and veltron magics are particularly employed in this capacity as they can acquire different types of information, especially over long distances. They are a people who know to respect the dangers of the wilds, both known and unknown, and information gathering is an important aspect of that respect. Aryauk ground sensing magic, which employs vibrations, ironically made them stand out to lindwurms, the preeminent species specialized in that form of information.   One of the more unique forms of magic developed by the aryauk is simply known as ‘flensing’, or flensing magic to scholarly sorts. A combination of water and wind principles, flensing magic is a specialty skill where aryauk can dismantle a body and separate out its desirable and undesirable components in record time. It also minimizes the mess that usually results from butchery, an important quality not only for sanitation, but to prevent predators from tracking them via scent. While many civilizations have varying levels of skilled butchers, the aryauk elevate the practice into an artform, and in doing so offer deeper respect to the lives they take.   Other specialty forms are the likes of tracking magic that can mark prey for weeks or months, quick camouflage techniques that blend aryauk in with the environment, weapon retrieval techniques via veltronic applications (i.e, enveloping a weapon in dirt then moving it through the veltron itself), bait/lures, and so on.   What becomes problematic is when more sophisticated magical arts, as devised by a mistress or group thereof, arise and die out. These particular magical arts are usually handcrafted wonders by someone dedicated to the craft, but often to the point of having trouble being passed on. Some aryauk find these arts as reflections of themselves, and so do not necessarily want inheritors for them, either. Others keep them within family lines rather strictly, and then there are those where time and circumstance suddenly make the arts less useful, popular, or lost outright. Managing the legacy of these magics, and often their associated technologies, is a particular challenge for every tribe.   As the aryauk venerate age as a measure of survival, they especially like tried-and-proven methodologies and technologies, and do try to maintain them. Given their principally nomadic lifestyles, however, there is great difficulty in doing so as they may lack the infrastructure or sheer quantity of personnel needed to maintain their greatest works. It is for this reason that keystone innovations, like dragonkind's torzei, are highly valued by the aryauk. A single, well-maintained torzei may become a vast library of knowledge for an aryauk tribe, containing generations upon generations of vetted and proven information. However, as they don't have the means to create such devices themselves, they're forced to trade with dragons on-and-off in order to secure their needs.   Similarly, the aryauk tribes often end up amassing a bounty of very different technologies from other civilizations. Whether scavenged from honorable battles, traded for, or uncovered from ancient ruins, the aryauk piece through the most useful and maintainable creations they can find. Some entire categories of technology once built but later discarded end up surviving on in their tribes, especially if they're low maintenance or easy to repair. In other cases, extremely advanced technology may find its way to their hands and become important cultural pieces. A good example of this are the aryauk of eastern Etzli Cuauhtla, who somehow find and have maintained Pasha Commongood-era technology for their own usage. It's something that has mystified the tokyau for millennia, but as the two species usually butt heads, aryauk secrets remain their own.    

Religion and Philosophy

The Bautam honor code's enormous presence within the aryauk species engenders a curious relationship with their world views and faiths. It is at times an encompassing, all-in-one solution, but in others deliberately avoidant of certain topics. To the aryauk, they venerate their ancestors who lived and died in honorable triumph; the greatest among them that they all aspire to surpass in some form. The likes of divinities and heavenlies is that of outsiders; the aryauk do not view them as belonging to their species, and so do not worship goddesses or gods of any measure. But, they aren't xenophobic about such beings, and instead see them as new types of challenges, friendship, or opportunistic enemies. To other cultures that venerate the divine and take to obedience beneath them, aryauk confrontational eagerness can be quite sacrilegious.   Pragmatically, from an outside perspective there is almost no separating Bautam from broader aryauk religious and philosophical inclinations. Virtually all things viewed by them are through the lens of Bautam, or something influenced by Bautam, so it creates a fundamental relationship that is critical. At the same time, however, the specific context in which it exists greatly informs how it actually functions, so these external perspectives can struggle to capture its true nature. To the aryauk, it is a tool as much as a way; a purpose as much as a challenge. Whether near to the heart or far away on the horizon, Bautaum exists, and all things ultimately come into accordance with it.   This has, for certain scholars, made Bautam seem incredibly similar to the Nerzini concept of Yonfao. Of the two, the latter is distinctly more a philosophical and spiritual guidance, though far less strict and more open ended to interpretation. Some, however, are curious if the immortals who may be responsible for creating aryauk Bautam themselves were practitioners of Yonfao. Those familiar with the aryauk usually point out that many of Bautam's components existed before these immortals and their influence. The aryauk themselves, amused by such inanities, simply refer to the core tenets of Bautam itself as an answer.   That is, they rather do not care whoever thinks to rule over, or manipulate, them. Such people only become challengers, and the aryauk will overcome them as they have everything else in their path, or die trying. In the end, for whatever reason Bautam exists, it does nothing to impede or stop the aryauk from doing what they do best.    

Science and Spirituality

Pragmatism and science are at times allies as much as enemies, and the aryauk embody this duality. On the one hand, the unrelenting reality of their lifestyles means practical solutions are a must-have. On the other, once they know something works, there can be great wariness about trying to change it, especially where the unknown is concerned. Yet, they are also a people who embody change with every bite of a meal they take, and so the aryauk know to keep pushing forward in such a respect. All of them simply fear the bad kind of change, the sort that not only knocks them down, but pushes them back—forces them to alternatives they don't want. Managing this fear is an important skill in itself, and one that dramatically shapes their cultural landscape.   Aryauk trials, for example, are social events that center on ritualizing the source of said fear, then having respected friends and/or leaders ascribe ways of overcoming that fear. In taking the unknown and creating specific, actionable goals, an aryauk can devote themselves to the steps needed to confront the challenge and overcome it. In the cases of one taking on bad adaptations, these trials seek to expunge those traits by challenging the aryauk to consume more desirable and honorable prey instead. The exact nature of the trial varies depending on the aryauk and their community in question, but it is an important aspect of maintaining not only one’s honor, but demonstrating character and potential growth. While failing a trial is always a possibility, it falls to the aryauk in question to garner the strength to complete that trial.   Those who continue to fail, or succumb to their fear and undesirable change, may face certain types of discrimination, and perhaps dishonor itself from the stricter tribes.   In a sense, science and spiritual concerns come together in a relationship of wild nature and unknown possibilities. It is that unknown they strive for, as within it is their potential to become a perfect being of their own making. As Bautam itself suggests and guides, it is not just enough to consume something of higher potential—after all, how did that thing gain its potential in the first place? What secrets does it hold to become worthy of becoming part of the aryauk? If there are more paths than just consumption, how do we find them?   Where reason and logic stumble or fail, faith and belief become guidestones to the aryauk. In attuning to their understanding of the world, their place within it, and all that known and unknown around them, they seek a path that can yet move them forward. What form this perspective takes is a very unique one for each aryauk, for each of them is different from one another, in great or small ways.   In sharing these understandings, the concept of aryauk science and spiritual understanding advances that much further. For instance, the bieneren are a species considered unrivaled in their genetic mistressy, save for the ancient tokyau themselves. The aryauk, while perhaps not commanding the same overall industrial capability, have a far deeper understanding of biology and its functions at a nearly instinctual level. A very necessary skill when they must consider how certain types of desirable changes may or may not interact with others. This understanding not only helped their pursuit of self-perfection, but achieved new breakthroughs, such as medical marvels for treatment in other species. The aryauk tribes of Aerthen command a unique position of respect as a result, for many species who cannot solve their own medical dilemmas seek them out as a bastion of last resort.   Similarly, the aryauk reverence for their dead, and rejection of spiritual beings as ‘not of their kind’ makes them incredibly hostile to the undead. To return to life in such a misshapen, broken existence is the ultimate insult to their pride, and a grave dishonor upon anyone who engenders such beings. It makes necromancy a controversial art at the best of times, and something better left behind closed doors—so long as it is handled by priestesses seeking to absolve the dead’s grievances, and not bring dishonor upon them. More than one tribe, especially those in Etzli Cuauhtla, have emerged from the wilds to lend unexpected aid to civilizations being overrun by malevolent undead.   The aryauk, after all, hate having their hunts interrupted, and no one would dare interrupt the hunt of the departed elders, busy with their own trials in the realms of death.      

Psychology

Rest and Sleep

Management of one's energy is important where (nearly) every meal may have an impact on their existence in some form. The aryauk, thusly, embrace resting and conserving their energy whenever possible. Fruitless busywork is not a thing in most aryauk cultures, and wasting one’s energy on endeavours that do not further one’s betterment is generally frowned upon. Rest is to be spent contemplating their goals and planning for future challenges.   In most of their cultures, the aryauk will lounge practically anywhere that meets certain requirements: moderate to low noise, desirable food and drink, and some form of entertainment or people to chat with. In some cases they'll settle for one or two such things, especially if they're off to watch sports, theatrics, or other (semi)public performances. Just because the aryauk are seeking to rest doesn't mean that they are any less chatty, and gossip is a passtime they're all skilled in.   Sleep is a much more solemn affair as the aryauk will seek out specialized alcoves made for the purpose. Aryauk tribal settlements are themselves temporary locales, created from a variety of veltron magic, technical skill, and exploitation of local features. Some tribes prefer harmoniously blending with the environment to better camouflage themselves, others hide in secluded areas that are hard to reach, and there are those who will slash-and-burn whatever is in their way. Once a location is settled upon, buildings are fashioned quickly and efficiently, with every family and/or aryauk having a particular method for ‘their’ building.   As a people they sleep quite deeply, and so aren't generally bothered by low levels of noise or business going on around them. They do, however, absolutely hate bugs and insects bothering them, and so their sleep alcoves usually come with special netting, aromatics, and insect repellents of some manner. The size of the alcove correlates to their familial situation, with larger ones becoming homes outright. Spouses and young infants will all sleep together, while older children or young adults will have their own quarters which they share with one another until they either leave the family home or marry. A communal area combines together functions like a lounge, kitchen, and recreation area. The aryauk do like large living spaces where possible, but it can be difficult to acquire that sort of space where they live sometimes.   When the time comes to migrate once more, the aryauk will pack up everything and usually destroy the rest that doesn’t come with them. It is a momentous occasion as the aryauk see it as a chance to reevaluate what is important and should be kept, and what should be discarded. Some tribes, particularly those that favor secluded locations, will leave barren infrastructure behind as they routinely return to such areas on their migratory routes.    

Consciousness and Thought

As a whole, the aryauk are generally close to human-like consciousness and thought behavior, though they do possess stronger spatial reasoning and clearer understanding of sensory information. That is to say, they can maneuver through complex topography with astonishing clarity while simultaneously managing the complex perception of their environment. It leads to some behaviors other species consider almost supernatural, but the aryauk are not in the realms of dragon or bieneren-like capabilities.    

Motivation and Emotion

Hunger is, perhaps, is a constant desire every aryauk experiences; be it as an infant for their mother's milk, or as an adult seeking greater strength. It is a compelling force that they learn to live with and control, tempering it into something directed and purposeful. Hunger, after all, is but a form of desire, and when their hunger is stirred, it can mean a great many things: physiological need, desire, the detection of something edible with desirable traits, etc. Whether in control or not, the aryauk are driven by hunger, and everything they are flows from that singular basis.   It's a difficult perspective to capture, especially for other species who do not grasp the complexity of aryauk hunger. It might be closer described as an innate drive toward self-improvement; eating is simply the vehicle through which that is achieved. The aryauk consider taming this hunger an important milestone in their personal pursuit of self-perfection. They do not deny it, but rather simply mold it into a tool as useful as any other. Those who succumb to it entirely are, quite often, no different from beasts or Relentless in their eyes.   But, one mustn't imagine them as mindless devourers as so many myths deride them as.   The aryauk are a genuinely emotional people first and foremost, wearing their hearts on their sleeves and making their feelings known without embellishment. The only ones who might be more earnest are dragons themselves, if only because of their natural conveyance of meaning. A capability some aryauk actively seek out themselves as they believe it to be a powerful means of embracing truthful honor over any other. That said, emotional honesty is volatile when combined with being socialized to employ violence as a means of communication, and the aryauk are more than willing to throw down at a moment's notice than not.    

Sexuality and Love

There's some debate if the aryauk are a bisexually-oriented species or something closer to pansexual. As a whole, their adaptive consumption rarely affects their secondary sexual characteristics expressed by all members of their species. Some, however, are known to have transitioned from one sex to the other as a consequence, intended or otherwise, of their adaptations gained from their dietary pattern, while others adopt unisexual characteristics or amalgamate into new ones entirely.   Culturally, they have a fairly tolerant and wide-definition of the sexes, but they're always concerned about who makes children and who takes care of them. It is purported in some cases that some aryauk have even developed a cosexual-to-asexual reproductive schema, effectively reproducing on their own, though the offspring that result from such individuals still seem to default to the usual female-male binary sexual inclination of the species. Such reports, however, are difficult to verify, but that 'potential' is accepted among the aryauk as 'one possible outcome'.   Some scholars proposed them as a sex or gender fluid species, but arguments over semantics usually occur at such a point. In most cultures it matters little what one is born as, so much as what one chooses to become. As a result, differences at birth tend to only be as consequential for as long as the individual chooses to maintain them. Some individuals may believe that certain genders are more complementary to certain growth plans, but such ideals are so fluid and change so much between the generations that they are more reflective of a culture than of anything truly fundamental to the species.   Regardless, the aryauk find love an important and distinguishing characteristic; something that exalts them as people over animals. Love, to them, is a great and powerful force that smashes reasoning and quiets distress, providing clarity of purpose and meaning where nothing else may offer a solution. It is the binding force of civilization and a priceless treasure that can withstand any change thrown at it. Thus, they jealously guard it, as much as covet earning the privilege of such a love from others. It is where notions like familial piety, honor, and devotion arise for them, after all.   As such, courtship displays and rituals, along with matters of marriage or other oaths of devotion, tend to be incredibly important things in the majority of aryauk cultures. The longevity of romantic relationships varies from culture to culture, with some believing it is natural for relationships to end and begin as easily as the aryauk themselves change form, while others view such relationships as the only things to be a constant in the world regardless of the changes an individual undergoes, providing as much of a unifying thread for someone’s identity as their own mind and blood-kin.      

Society

Social Mannerisms

Loud, aggressive, center of attention—there are many ways people have chosen to describe the aryauk in their day-to-day lives, but none of them are 'quiet' or 'demure'. Prideful by nature, and egos sharpened by trial and effort, aryauk live with their accomplishments on their shoulders and take no backtalk about them. For, if someone foolishly did so, it would stain their honor and demand an accordance of such. From an outside perspective, it can seem as if the aryauk are hyper-sensitive and looking for an excuse for violence, but there is an extremely particular method to their so-called madness. For the aryauk, there is the idea of simply 'having fun' with their roughhousing, and then there is them throwing down once honor has been besmirched; both very different outcomes.   The greater problem tends to be that most other species do not have the sheer durability or strength to keep up with the aryauk. A playful smack from them might crack a human's bones or blow out a joint, never mind something more intense like a soft punch. It's something the aryauk are painfully aware of, and so pay great mind toward when dealing with other species. It can lead some to see two very different sides: the rowdy fighter and the restrained, almost polite, lady. To the aryauk, the latter is almost an insult unto itself, as it means whoever they're dealing with is 'too weak to survive them' even in a casual way. Not every aryauk sees it that way, of course, but it can be a difficult sentiment to shake in most cultures.   That said, the aryauk pay attention to societal rules and customs, especially those that coincide with their sense of honor. In places of quietude or scholarly contemplation, such as libraries or shrines, they'll contain themselves with a great sense of decorum. They'll visit shops and stores, secure what they need, and leave such a place undisturbed from their pursuing. They think nothing of helping those in imminent need or facing minor inconvenience, but at the same time, might enjoy razzing them in the process. If one analyzed their actions versus words, the aryauk are indeed incredibly honorable and helpful, but people often feel very conflicted by their brash and gruff mannerisms.   Being highly social people, the aryauk are ever busy with each other as much as themselves. Their various nomadic groups are far more open to meeting other aryauk than they ever have been, with many having planned meet up times during their migrations. Such meetings often become great festivals, to which contests of individual worth, ‘debate competitions’, and tales of triumph or woe are shared. It is also a means by which the aryauk keep apprised of the broader situation in their lands, especially when landed nations decide to get greedy and try going on conquest once more.    

Gender

The aryauk might be considered nearly 'gender-blind' as a species as most of their cultures do not readily distinguish that much between women, men, and otherwise. By necessity and/or tradition, women form the backbone of the family lineage, and are usually responsible for the primary decisions thereof, as well as child-rearing concerns. Their spouses, or any one they want involved in the process, are brought in to share responsibilities and burdens as she sees fit. The only other large concern is that, since women are naturally far stronger than men in their species, direct physical contests between the two ends badly for the men. Were it not for the aryauk's incredible durability and regenerative power, it might even be lethal more often than not.   As-is, though, women and men gravitate to their own spheres to be among equals of martial and physical prowess, but cohabitate everywhere else without much issue. If one has the strength to hold their own in the women's spheres, then they're all too glad to welcome such a new contender. In a way, the aryauk concern over gender is more based on 'who is strong enough to belong where', and 'how are children and family business taken care of'.   This leads to varied and dynamic social makeups in each of their tribes, particularly between the generations as new blood enters the equation. It'd be easy to say the aryauk are a matriarchal species, since women are so strong in the first place and assume leadership roles, but men who prove their mettle just as easily acquire positions of power and respect. In reality, 'meritocratic' might surmise their views much better, if someone cares enough about doing something, and they have the strength and skill to do it, then they should be in charge of that.   Those who tend to face the most difficulties in aryauk societies tend to be those who are, either by birth or by circumstance, unable to bring much might to bear physically or socially. As they are unable to participate in traditional means of jockeying for position, most are either left by the wayside until they survive long enough to earn respect and status from age alone, or they must conceive of more cunning ways to establish themself within the social hierarchy. Particularly cutthroat tribes may even expel such members outright, making them outcasts undeserving of status. While it’s possible to find a place in other tribes, it may be a difficult proposition, so most will seek out civilizations of other species instead.    

Kinship and Ethnicities

The aryauk family structure is usually based on the matriarch of a given family, or as some cases may be, the patriarch. This principle leader, and their spouses or reproductive partners (for however many they have), form the core unit of a family, then the adolescents/young adults, and finally younger children. Broader inter-family relations are drawn through the parental lines, and may or may not attach them to a greater clan within the tribe. When two or more clans have blood-ties to such a family, there can be great debate and arguments over which clan they 'truly' belong to. Property (i.e, hunting grounds, choice of prey, tribal heirlooms, etc) and inheritances are the real sticking points of aryauk familial legacy, and so they'll be far more meticulous and picky over such a process.   Generally speaking, designated inheritors or successors will be determined by the family's preferences rather than by any codified rule, such as primogeniture. The usual qualifications are a child’s willingness to take on the familial burden, and then proving their capability in handling that responsibility. The various trials and tests done for this are family specific, especially if it involves inheriting trade secrets or other prized (but secret) information. Once a successor is settled upon, they’ll either remain in-waiting until the family head dies or step down from that position, and become the new head themselves. Other children, after receiving training from the family, will be freer to make their own choices and strike out, either hopefully bringing something of value back to the family, or establishing their own family units. Thus, the overall clan continues to expand in size and/or build bridges to other families and their respective clans. An aryauk tribe is a webwork of such social relationships, and can be incredibly complex when determining who is 'legitimate clan members', 'branch members', or 'married out'.   Aryauk ethnic identity is traditionally based upon the particular customs of a given tribe: attire, verbal speech, rituals, accepted and taboo foods, etc. This means even two tribes of semi-frequent contact in the same overall geographic region or hunting territory can have very different ethnic identity concepts from one another, particularly if their diets are different. When one factors in the likely nomadic path they take as crossing entire continents regularly, or even spanning multiple continents, the vast majority of an ethnic group starts and stops within that given tribe.   That said, in the uncommon case of tribal members living in other civilizations, they're usually still considered part of the tribe unless explicitly exiled. Very cosmopolitan cities can see new aryauk subgroups form within them, but their overall size is often so small it's difficult for a significant population to begin. If any new children do arise in the first place, they, and their parents, often return to the maternal tribe to be taught their ancestral ways in a proper manner.    

Governments and Politics

Aryauk governance across Velrona is noted for being staunchly meritocratic at its core, but also extremely divisive. An effective tribal leader is often no different than a dictator, yet their power comes entirely at the esteem and discretion of their peers, the honor of their accomplishments, and recognition by the great families of the tribe. This leader often fulfills the role of mediator between the families, acting as a final voice of authority in matters otherwise unsolvable. Their other, major role within the tribe is religious in nature, usually being enshrined as a priestess of a tribes' particular faith or spiritual ways. In this sense, they also mediate between the affairs of the mortal/mundane world and the divine/spiritual, particularly when outside forces come seeking the aryauk for one reason or another.   In matters of inter-tribal business, or when handling diplomacy with the civilizations of other species, an aryauk tribal leader has much greater leeway. While the various clans might want to do business with such people on their terms, the tribal leader acts as the gatekeeper to ensure no one gets an unfair advantage. More importantly, the tribal leader can keep an effective eye on foreigners who may have unsavory designs in mind for the aryauk. When it comes to matters of war, conquest, and/or defense, a tribal leader is the ultimate authority everyone rallies behind to ensure the tribe's survival.   Otherwise, the political intrigue and factionalism among aryauk tribes is a veritable meat grinder. Competition is good, and competition between each other is often the most meaningful to be done. What exact form it takes varies depending on the specific tribe, but to outsiders, the sheer brutality in these exchanges seems all but a war in and of itself. Yet, one day's battered enemies is tomorrow's rabble-rousing drunkards around a campfire, taking the piss out of each other (and possibly starting another fight). One might confuse malice, especially from an outside perspective, as intrinsic to such affairs, but to the aryauk, it is 'extremely fun'.    

Trade and Economics

Aryauk only really participate in barter trading, principally securing whatever is they desire by trading away whatever excess goods they have on hand, or whatever trade good that they are able to gather in abundance within their territory—usually the remains or meat of their preferred prey, or other desirable foods that other aryauk might prize. Being nomads means space is a premium, and when it comes time to move, hauling too much stuff is a very real problem. As such, it must be extremely worthwhile for them to keep inventory for trading purposes, but they'll plan for such in their migration routes. Generally speaking, this means what the aryauk do keep for trading is of a very high quality and command a fearsome price. Their preference for hunting great beasts and monstrosities also means they can usually secure exotic or unusual goods otherwise usually not seen by most other species who rarely venture from the safety of their cities.   Thus, when the time comes, an aryauk tribe will migrate near a city (if not go within the city limits proper) in order to do some localized trading. This affair is heavily monitored by their tribal elders, who mostly want to ensure their traditional rowdiness doesn't cause problem for the city-folk. These trading bazaars are one of the few times most civilizations ever encounter the aryauk, and the only continual proof of their existence in historical record. It can usually be quite the profitable exchange for both sides, but those looking to exploit the aryauk usually end up realizing that it was a poor decision to make. Slights are not easily forgotten by most aryauk, and cheats even less so. Folk tales of more than one unscrupulous merchant princess attempting to fleece an aryauk highlight this fact, with the merchant often waking up the next day to find an entire band camping outside of their private estate waiting challenge everyone inside to single combat.    

Interspecies Relations

The bieneren and petrakin remain the longest-standing friends of the aryauk, and are especially regarded by them. For their part, the petrakin are quite fine with the aryauk, though they may find their rowdiness overbearing sometimes. Yet, as one of the few species that can take a berserk petrakin head-on, the aryauk have no issues in their friends' occasional outbursts. Perhaps, in a sense, it lets the petrakin safely blow off steam they otherwise might not.   The bieneren, by extension, are generally bemused by such friendly treatment, but are not poor hosts. They'll usually assign zaffa bioforms to handle the aryauk, as the renyi are too fragile and the umta would rather not 'encourage competition' with the mages. From the aryauk point of view, it is a great time to fight some of the most dangerous warriors that exist on Veltrona, and is a celebratory competition period.   Of every species that might detest the aryauk, dragons rank the highest by far. Seen as the greatest powers on Veltrona comes with the downside of inspiring the aryauk to fight them nearly constantly. Coupled with the fact that ancient aryauk actually ate dragons they killed to acquire their power, and already a species scarred by being 'hunted' for their bodies, dragons despise aryauk entirely. That is to say nothing about the aryauk's rowdy, confrontational mannerism being excessive even by draconic standards.   Similarly, and although not a 'species', cultivators have an antagonistic relationship with the aryauk. Unlike dragons, who the aryauk saw as worthy of consumption, cultivators are greatly hated for their parasitical and destructive nature. They're living embodiments of the worst of the worst for the aryauk, and proof of what happens when hunger and consumption are left unchecked. While not all cultivators follow such practices, it's an uphill battle for them to prove their worthiness to the aryauk at every turn and pass.      

Associated Articles

Notable Civilizations

     

Notable Characters

       

Design Notes