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 Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:28 pm
exclaim NEW DISCLAIMER::
Elemental abilities described here are the traditional guideline. For example, males usually have more physical powers and females more psychic, but this is not a set rule. When you apply for the Gift your character can vary from what is written here as long as your concept is still related to your Voronwe's element. 
Voronwe are social creatures; and often form "packs"; a group of Voronwe who wander the land together. They often have certain things in common; personality traits, or physical mutations. Most Voronwe don't limit their members to these things, as Voronwe tend to be open-minded; there are, of course, some exceptions...
Packs are an ancient tradition; which go back to before the Voronwe were one species, and were in fact two. There are ancient packs, bound to the very elements around the Voronwe; which can only truly be led by one of the ancient line of elementals. However, a Voronwe does not need to be tied to an element to join the pack of that element- although they may find they don't fit well.
Many extended families also choose to create a pack, in order to develope a tighter family bond. These are often more intimate than an elemental pack. Many Voronwe are drawn to a pack due to the philosophies which rule the pack; the leader's way of life influences that of all those underneath him or her, and it's important that those within the pack feel that way of life is "right" for them.
Regardless of whether the pack is an ancient and elemental pack, or simply a travelling family, they can only be led by one aged and wise enough to be considered a "mature adult".
Why join a pack?
Packs weren't just a social way of life- originally, they were also for defense, against predators, enemies, and the hardships of nature itself. Life seems much calmer now; but there's no telling what fate may hold, and what difficulties lie on the horizon...
Additionally, there may also be certain... benefits to your Voronwe being in a pack which have yet to be discovered. For example, some packs may have easy access to certain natural materials, allowing them to make certain items easier. Others may, from socialising with others of similar temperament, find that certain characteristics are more prevailant in their offspring.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:33 pm
The Fire pack is a noble and ancient pack; the males control elemental fire and the females control spiritual and emotional fire. As they reach adulthood, they have a coming of age ritual where they apply to the Goddess Pheidren to unlock the Gift within them; which they spent their childhood being trained to use.
The males of the Fire control elemental fire and the females control spiritual and emotional fire. As they reach adulthood, they have a coming of age ritual where they apply to the Goddess Pheidren to unlock the Gift within them; which they spent their childhood being trained to use.
Due to the fire running through them, even after death their pelts are incredibly warm; and for this reason, they were hunted nearly to extinction. The remaining few formed a number of smaller packs, and hid themselves throughout Gaia, hiding from the other Voronwe- and more specifically from humans.
The fire running through the veins of those of the Bloodline is almost explosive; it can be destructive in it's raw power; like a forest fire eating everything in it's path, some of those strongest in the fire and weakest in themselves have been consumed by it.
Those of the Fire bloodline do have their positive qualities, however. They tend to be strong-willed, decisive, and utterly passionate about what they believe in. These traits tend to be encouraged of those of the Pack, even if they're not of the Bloodline.
Generally speaking, the Gift bestowed by the Goddess to those of the fire element is as passionate as the Voronwe who follow this course. The males get the ability to control the flames themselves; the most practiced being able to create a warm fire on a winter's night and turn back a raging forest fire. The females have the ability to speak and act with such passion that it heats and influences anyone who they direct it at.
Through their life Voronwe can develop even more advanced versions of these fires. The males can do something as delicate as burn poison from a wound and dry wet fur; whilst the females can sense the emotional fires raging in others, and help them flame higher or cool them down.
Many Voronwe have blood from the ancient fire pack running through them, however diluted; but true ancestors of the Fire elemental Voronwe are rare indeed
The Earth pack is mysterious- but not due to any effort on their part to appear so. Rather, it's the opposite; their lack of consideration to how their Bloodline appears to others, and their habit of tucking themselves away, has earned them some strange reputations.
Only some of them are unfounded. The Earth Voronwe are solid, strong Voronwe; the males have power over rock and grass, whilst females can sense disturbances in the "natural order" and "commune" with the plants. Both male and female are very sensitive to their physical surroundings. Those of the Earthen bloodline value life and its natural cycles; and they rarely stop to think about those outside their communities unless it negatively affects the environment they all share. However, this does lead to their developing a highly unpretentious way of thinking; as long as it doesn't harm others, they are very accepting of even the strangest things.
Only those with more foresight than is usual in the Bloodline are able to truly lead an Earthen clan.
Those of the Earthen element get very natural gifts; but unusually, their Gifts are split in two- Rock and Plant.
The males who follow the Plant path get the ability to make plants grow and drift; the most skilled controlling them as an extension of their own bodies. The females of the Plant path can read the plants to see what has come before.
Those of the Bloodline can develop these abilities to phenomenal levels; the males being able to manipulate fully-grown trees, and the females almost being able to see the past through the experiences of the plants.
The males who follow the Rock path can call forth the stone and earth to do their bidding; throwing up barriers or creating stairways. The females can track regardless of scent or mark; by asking the very rock and ground what has passed their way.
Those of the Bloodline, as with the Plant path, can develop their abilities to the point where the males can sculpt the stone into delicate shapes or hew entire cliffs of stone. The females can not only read in the earth what has been; but can read their surroundings from the echoes in the ground.
The Earth packs gradually dissipated; due to their preference of being alone deep in forests and caves. Most of those with an affinity to earth and plant are oblivious to their heritage. This was fortunate, as it stopped them from sharing a fate similar to that of the Fire pack, and being hunted for their pelts; which are extraordinarily hard-wearing.
The Water Pack is a bit of an oxymoron in wording; as those of the Water Bloodline have rarely led a pack. Often cold and manipulative; it is rare to find one with the heart and soul to lead such a pack. Due to the rarity of true leaders in this Bloodline, Water Packs are rare.
Those of the Water Pack aren't all bad, however. Their minds tend to be brilliant; they are logical and quick-witted. Unfortunately, they most often turn their brilliance towards deception and manipulation unless guided otherwise by a strong leader.
This conflict in personality traits puts them at an awkward balance between the Order and the Chaos packs; as they tend to be well-versed in traits both clans hold dear. (That is to say, wisdom and deception respectively.) Far more Voronwe with a tendency towards the Water element end up in one of these packs instead.
The males of the Water Element are able to find water in the most seemingly drought-suffering places; drawing it out of a multitude of hidden places. They can cause waves and plot the course of streams and, in the case of a strong elemental, rivers. Some of them can chill the water and shape ice.
The females can read the weather through the water in the air; and have additional intelligence. They're also more skilled with manipulation, deception and seduction.
Males of the Bloodline can seemingly create water from nothingness; creating pathways of ice to previously unreachable places, and rivers for the most parched areas of land. The females can read the intentions and desires of others to an intense level; and can read the water flowing over land and hanging in the air to read the weather, the lay of the land- and sometimes deeper.
Their nature often makes it hard for more than one of the Water bloodline to stay together as a pack. As a result, it's completely unknown to humans that their pelts are completely waterproof- which is fortunate indeed.
The Air pack is another very solitary pack; in fact, some consider them as nothing more than a rumour. The Voronwe with mastery over the winds are a mysterious race; considered by many to be fickle and selfish. Although some are indeed like this, the assumption that all are is an unfair one; although they do tend to either be flighty, or laid-back. This is the Bloodline which most often creates genetic throw-backs to when one of the species' had wings in both genders- in other words, giving the males wings. Those rare males born with wings are considered by the Air pack as something to be nurtured; but outside the pack they're at a disadvantage.
The males of the wind race can control the air around them; sometimes to incredible strengths. Fighting an air elemental used to be considered a fool's errand; they can control the air around an enemy to slow and hamper his movements, and sometimes snatch the very air from his lungs. However, most wind Voronwe are too laid-back to fight.
Females can sense and read the air currents and everything carried on the wind. Their hearing is phenomenal; as is their sense of smell.
Males of the Bloodline can hone their skills to a level which is legendary; having power which borders on telekinesis. They can condense the air into a physical force to move and affect their environment- although it takes intense concentration.
Females can, with training, use disturbances in the winds and air currents to paint a mental image of their surroundings without ever using their eyes.
It was discovered by the humans just how incredibly light the pelts of the Air Packs were; but as soon as they started to be hunted, they gradually migrated into the highest regions; and there many of them still live, ignored by others.
The Chaotic pack is a very interesting one. Strongly linked on one of the original species of the Voronwe, they are often misunderstood; their philosophies abused by thuggish individuals. Although they're often viewed as black-hearted villains, the reality in the past- which still makes the backbone of the pack's philosophy- is a different matter entirely.
The Chaos pack values traits seen in many of the Bloodline- the passion of the Fire, the deception of the Water, and the unpretentious thinking of the Earth and Air packs. However, what they value most of all is freedom. The freedom to choose to lie for good or evil; to fight for those suffering or for those in power.
They are often perceived as being power-hungry; another misunderstood trait. As a pack, what the Chaos value the most is personal power- a power to understand their inner workings and accept them. They value inner strength above physical strength; a trait they share with the Order clan, despite their many disagreements.
The original war between Chaos and Order was mostly due to misunderstanding. Whilst Chaos Voronwe tend to be very good at stealth and guile, being able to sneak and fast-talk out of almost anything, the Voronwe of the Order perceived them as being cheats and black-hearted villains. In turn, the Chaos thought of the Order as being stifling and controlling.
The Gift received by the Goddess to this pack shows that they were once much more than they are now- along with the Order pack, the Gift is the same for both genders, and combines psychic and elemental powers into one potent gift.
They develop the ability to blend into the shadows; to melt and hide. As well as that, they are able to best read others; and can perceive the best way to talk with others to gain the response they desire.
Additionally, due to their slightly parasitic nature, if they have the blood of any other element running through their veins, although their power over the darkness is weakened, they also can develop an affinity with their second element.
The pelts of the Chaos pack have never truly been discovered by humans; due to their ability to melt into the shadows. However, there are a few rare items made with the skin; and it retains their skill with the darkness, allowing the human to hide in the shadows. Prized by rangers of the wilds.
Those of the Order bloodline are a close link to the times when Voronwe were two species; and they still hold true to many of the philosophies and ideals which they lived by then. However, as with the Chaos clan, they are often misunderstood and their philosophies abused by power-hungry egotists. They are not so domineering as they are often perceived.
Regarding tranquillity, peace and wisdom as ideals which are second only to inner strength, those of the Order are the type who can often be found meditating- that is, if they can be found at all. They are more secluded now than they ever used to be; distant and unattached to the world around them; they hide themselves away and work towards inner peace and enlightenment. Similarly to the Chaos pack, they are strong in the belief that to truly eliminate a weakness or flaw, one must accept it's presence and that it is a part of the individual's nature.
They value law and community order; and shortly after their banishment, those most directly linked to the ancient species were seen as "white knights", just and protective. Some others, however, saw them as being controlling authoritarians.
Along with the Chaos pack, they are unique in their Gift, in that each gender gets the same; a mixture of psychic and elemental. They can control the light; bring a shine to the darkest forests, and eliminate the shadows. Additionally, they can best work out how to sway others to their way of thinking; master linguists and debaters.
Additionally, due to their intelligence, when one of the Bloodline of the Order has blood of another element running through their veins, they can adopt slight abilities of the second element. Their abilities with the light do suffer as a result, however.
They are wise enough to elude capture; but the few pelts of the Order owned by humans are prized for their inability to get dirty.
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