"Intro to My world" by Marcus W. Ager

This is a full explanation of the races of my world as well as a complete list of characters that I have dreamed up for it so far. By the way, I am VERY interested to know what your favorite character(s) is/are and why, so if you could leave a quick comment (or long one if you prefer :-p) about it, it would make my day ^^

Intro

In this universe, there is an ongoing war between the Proger-Luna (all canine anthros, called “dogs” in most everyday speech) and the Bithi-Sol (all feline anthros, called “cats” in most everyday speech). No one can remember what started the conflict, but the two races are different enough in their views that the fighting has not ceased. There is also a group of lizard people called the Vithis that want nothing to do with the war.

A little about the different races -

Proger-Luna - This is a race of anthro canines, from foxes to wolves to jackals to the common dog breeds, pretty much any canine can be found in their midst. Proger-Luna are generally wise and physically strong. They are, for the most part at least, loyal and trustworthy, completing tasks given to them to the best of their abilities. Despite this somewhat formal outlook on life, Proger-Luna are very playful as well, taking part in all sorts of games and festivals. They value their friends and work together to eliminate their enemies. Their rulership consists of a King and royal family. Under the king, there is an elite group of rulers that are ranked based on their abilities. Additionally, each settlement of the Proger-Luna, wether it is simply an outpost, or as big as a metropolis, will have a “Canis,” a group of elders that will solve disputes and pass minor judgements for the community. Groups such as these are not allowed to do anything serious, such as put one to death. If the Canis decides that such a punishment is necessary, then they must send the offender to a city under the command of an elite commander or, in some cases, the king himself, to be judged by those individuals. There are also specially appointed judges for when the elite commanders or king are too busy to handle the case.
Different species of Proger-Luna really tend to have different roles. For example, common dogs prefer to worship the gods as a cleric or to use their considerable strength to their advantage as a fighter. Foxes, on the other hand, are generally more intelligent and dexterous than their cousins, but not necessarily as strong and can sometimes be rash and impudent. For these reasons, they tend toward spellbooks and wizardry and/or stealth and surprise. Wolves have a slight tendency to be loners and the majority of them feel at home in the wilds, which leads them to tend towards the use of nature magic and tracking skills. These are but a few examples, and when all species are accounted for, the Proger-Luna run the gamut
Proger-Luna are loyal and true of heart, they tend towards honor and valor, though this is not true for all of them.

Bithi-Sol - This is a race of anthro felines, from cougars, to lions, to panthers, to the common house cat breeds. They are graceful and intelligent, but somewhat self centered. Did I say somewhat? I meant very. The Bithi-Sol believe that self comes first, and their desire for luxury and monetary gain is, for many of them, a primary driving force. This attitude doesn’t prevent them from rushing headlong into combat for fear of getting hurt, however, for they also possess an arrogance that often leads to their downfall. The Bithi-Sol are also a fairly playful race, though not in the same way as the Proger-Luna. They focus more on pranks and on toying with ones enemy (you ever see a cat playing with a mouse? Same thing). The race is not evil, they have a sense of compassion and morality, but they draw the line further than the Proger-Luna do. They are governed by a Raja who lives in his palace in the capitol city. Each individual settlement, great or small, is governed by a powerful wizard, sometimes appointed by the Raja himself, though usually by one of the Raja’s generals. These mages are usually obeyed without question, though the arrogant Bithi-Sol often believe themselves correct over the mages and will occasionally argue a point. This is acceptable, though the offender does so at his or her own risk as the mages can sometimes humiliate them with a carelessly forgotten detail.
Like the Proger-Luna, the Bithi-Sol also vary in their roles. Although this variation can depend on the specific species, it actually depends on gender more. Females are usually inclined to be study arcane secrets or learn the art of stealth. Males of the more delicate species, such as cougars or house cats, tend to have those inclinations as well, but males of the more sturdy species, such as lions and tigers, tend to serve their gods as clerics or to learn the way of the sword and become fighters.
Bithi-Sol are sneaky and self-centered, they tend to be free spirits, doing what they want for themselves and not caring terribly about others, though not all of them are like this.

Vithis - This is a group of anthro lizards. They are fiercely territorial and live in the jungles. They have tamed the raptors that live there and use them as mounts for hunting parties and for combat. The Vithis want nothing to do with the conflict between the Proger-Luna and the Bithi-Sol, mainly because they are busy fighting amongst each other. Vithis are suspicious of outsiders, making it difficult to gain their trust. They are ruled by a tribal government, with the chieftain being the one in charge. The chieftain is usually the biggest and strongest of the tribe, though some tribes value wisdom more than brawn. The chieftain usually has a personal aid that is a shaman, however, and it is widely believed that the shaman holds the true power over the tribe, for whenever the chieftain must make a big decision he will almost always first consult the shaman. There is not only one shaman per tribe, however, there are usually many lesser shamans that bolster the ranks of raiding parties. Occasionally, shamans can be found in hunting parties as well. The tactics of the Vithis are brutally efficient. They will often utilize raptor mounted javelin throwers that can pelt the enemy and then quickly retreat. Enemies who pursue these fighters often rush into a trap where they are captured or slaughtered. If this tactic is not available, such as when the Vithis are defending their homes, they will use ranks of spearmen guarding archers and shamans that lay waste to enemies.
The Vithis are wild and, some say, feral. Their ties to nature and the land are strong. Generally, the Vithis become warriors of the wilderness, either tough brutes who are hard to drop, or cunning warriors who can use the land to their advantage. Some choose to channel nature’s power through them, becoming shamans.
Vithis are generally loyal to their chieftains, and will obey them faithfully.

Characters - this is a full list of characters that I have dreamed up as of yet. For each character, I will give the name, a brief description, the character's class, the weapon(s) the character uses, the character’s exact species, age, and the relations the character has with other characters. Btw, for the species thing, only some of the characters have specific species. For those that don’t, I will simply say “dog” or “cat” and describe them a little.

Proger-Luna -

Dash - headstrong and arrogant, Dash’s smirk is well known to all who know him. He is playful and friendly, but one to be feared on the battlefield. He augments his martial skills with the use of magic, becoming what some call a spellsword. Dash likes to think of himself as a protector for those not as skilled as he. He will gladly enter combat to protect a complete stranger. Though he is a powerful fighter, Dash’s fighting style is highly offensive, leaving little room for defense, and, thus, he often gets wounded. He is lucky to have Hart as a friend. Though he always projects an image of being happy and carefree, Dash feels lonely sometimes. His parents were killed by cats and his grandparents are long dead. His only real family is his sister, Wren, who has recently chosen Dael to be her mate. He has an uncle as well, but has no desire to see him at all.
Class- Fighter/Wizard (Spellsword)
Weapon(s)- Twin longswords: “The Dragon’s Fury”; wields arcane magic as well
Species- Wolf (grey-white fur)
Age- 19
Relationships- Little brother to Wren, friend to Hart, friend to Jaya (maybe a romance there), student of Blitz, nephew to Azdrael, Brother-in-law to Dael

Wren - Kind and loving, Wren is content with her life. She sees no reason for the war between the Proger-Luna and the Bithi-Sol and desires its end. As such, she has chosen to be a shield maiden, an elite bodyguard. She only resorts to violence as a last resort and, even then, tries to incapacitate her opponent rather than move in for the kill. She has inherited a precious heirloom from her bloodline, a set of Sai called the Viper’s Fangs. Though she never plans on using them because they tend to bring about painful deaths rather than the unconsciousness she strives for, she respects the tradition of her family and, thus, has trained with them. She has recently fallen in love with one of the males she was ordered to guard and is now his mate. Things couldn’t get any better for Wren, however they are about to get much worse...
Class- Fighter/Rogue
Weapon(s)- Shield and longsword; also trained with twin sai: “The Viper’s Fangs”
Species- Wolf (dark furred)
Age- 28
Relationships- Mate to Dael, older sister to Dash, niece to Azdrael

Jaya - Brilliant and mischievous, Jaya mastered the basics of magic faster than anyone could have imagined. She has quickly learned the more advanced spells as well, and many say that she is a prodigy. Something of a show-off, Jaya is nonetheless a useful addition to any group and a good friend. Unlike most other mages, she usually does very little contemplation before rushing into battle, trusting her wits and spells to get her out of tough situations, and that hasn’t failed her thus far.
Class- Wizard
Weapon(s)- Dagger, though she prefers to use her arcane magical abilities.
Species- Dog (black fur)
Age- 19
Relationships- Friend to Dash (maybe a romance there), friend to Hart, acquainted with Renard

Hart - Hart is a wielder of divine magics, though he worships no god nor does he revere nature. He is a healer, one who draws their power straight from their souls, tapping their inherent goodness (or evil) and using it to shape spells. Hart is kind and loving, but by no means is he a pushover in combat. He values his friends lives very highly and would gladly give his own to save them. He is quiet and somewhat shy, though he offers his advice freely to those who he believes would appreciate it. He sometimes comes across as innocent, but he has seen his share of the battlefield. He wears around his neck a softly glowing blue stone called a soulstone. As of yet, he hasn’t figured out how to tap it’s true power, but he has been assured that one day he will, and that it is an artifact capable of untold abilities. Like Wren, he questions the necessity of the war, and wants nothing more than to have it end.
Class- Healer
Weapon(s)- Modified Glaive (Glaives are reach weapons and, thus, can strike at a greater distance but cannot engage someone who is directly in front of the wielder. Hart’s glaive is shortened, so it gets no range bonus but can engage those directly in front of the wielder.) Wields divine magic as well, though it is more for defense and healing
Species- Dog (light brown fur)
Age- 19
Relationships- Friend to Dash, Friend to Jaya, older brother to Faith

Faith - Hart’s younger sister, Faith is a very innocent pup. She is only about 15 years old, and she has started training to be a monk, a master of martial combat. She has already mastered most of the basic techniques, and could probably hold her own in combat, at least for a little while. She deeply loves her brother and constantly worries about him. She is always overjoyed when he returns to base-camp.
Class- Apprentice Monk
Weapon(s)- Martial arts
Species- Dog ( light brown fur)
Age- 15
Relationships- Younger sister to Hart

Blitz - Blitz is a combat instructor as well as a commander for the Proger-Luna army. He can be harsh and critical, but he honestly cares for his troops. He carries out all commands given to him by superior officers in full and expects no less of his men. His attention to detail is great and any orders he gives are highly organized and efficient. If you can crack his militaristic exterior you’ll find a dry wit and a large heart.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Katana: “Swift”
Species- Wolf (grey-black fur)
Age- 36
Relationships- Teacher to Dash, friend to Rex

Rex - Rex is, in many ways, the opposite of Blitz. Where Blitz is thin and toned, Rex is big and muscular. Where Blitz calculates, Rex rushes in. Where Blitz generally keeps a very formal atmosphere with his troops, Rex keeps a laid back one. It’s a wonder, then, that these two have been best friends since they met. Perhaps there is something to the saying “opposites attract.” Rex treats his troops as his closest friends, often laughing and joking with them. He has a presence that puts all those around him at ease, save for when he is in combat. He also has a sort of arrogant charm that always seems to snare the ladies.
Class- Barbarian
Weapon(s)- Greataxe: “Earthsplitter”
Species- Dog (grey fur with a white furred breast)
Age- 35
Relationships- Friend to Blitz

Dael - A kindhearted soul, Dael is a powerful leader, even at his young age. His troops believe in him completely and would follow him into certain death if he asked them to. He almost resents this, however, because of the great burden of responsibility he constantly feels. He tries his hardest to protect his men, often putting himself in danger for their benefit. He has recently fallen in love with a shield maiden who was sent to protect him, and has taken her as his mate.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Broadsword: no name
Species- Dog (dark brown fur)
Age- 25
Relationships- Mate to Wren, brother-in-law to Dash

Renard - A sly fox with a sarcastic tongue, Renard is haughty, but in no way is he malicious. His teasing can often anger those he is around, but none doubt his prowess with magic and stealth. Renard’s power lies in surprise, which is shown by his motto: “strike first, then get the hell outta there!” Renard will often rain arcane and martial fury down on his enemies while he remains cloaked in invisibility or hidden away in magically induced darkness. Fighting him is like shooting at mist and shadows, and his constant mocking comments often cause his enemies to loose their cool. Those who get used to Renard’s snide demeanor enjoy being around him.
Class- Wizard/Rogue
Weapon(s)- Rapier: “Wraithpoint”; light crossbow; wields powerful arcane magic as well
Age- 35
Relationships- Acquainted with Jaya

Divvar - Stoic and true, Divvar is a loner. He wanders from place to place, offering his help when needed. He is loyal to the crown, but serves no single combat unit. Though he can be hard to get along with, his skills with the bow are legendary, and if a foe should get within melee range, Divvar’s magicked shortsword is employed to end his enemy’s existence. He feels at home in forests and jungles, and is one of the few Proger-Luna that has earned the trust of many Vithis tribes.
Class- Ranger
Weapon(s)- Longbow: “Shardrain”; and Shortsword: no name
Age- 37
Relationships- none

Azdrael - Azdrael does what he wants and kills all that cross him. He is a brutal person who relies on his strength and skill with weapons to get what he wants. This mentality leaves many dead on his account, but he sheds not a tear for them. He covets wealth and will often serve someone for the right price, at least until he figures out how to kill that person and take all of their valuables. He has recently decided that he wants an heir to continue his dark work. He has had his eye on Dash for some time now, given that he shares blood with him. Azdrael likes the potential he sees in Dash, and is currently waiting for the right moment to take Dash in and teach him his ways.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Armblade and Bastard Sword: Fleshrender and Soulreaver
Species- Wolf (black fur)
Age- 41
Relationships- Uncle to Dash, uncle to Wren

Adrian - Adrian delights in manipulating others. She has studied magic extensively, especially the school of enchantment, and she utilizes her powers to influence others to do her bidding, only rarely getting her own hands dirty. She is a tough foe to track, indeed it is even difficult to figure out that she is your foe as her lackeys almost always strike for her. She is a mysterious figure, one who is both respected and feared by both sides of the war. She sees no reason for her to put herself in harms way by doing battle with the cats nor does she see any reason for her to be loyal to her own kind. Thus she lives in the forest, away from common civilization, playing her cruel little game of manipulation. Her greatest goal is to corrupt the pure, as that, she believes, is wildly funny. Many questing paladins and devout clerics have fallen from grace due to her webs of magic.
Class- Enchantress
Weapon(s)- Dagger, though she rarely fights herself and, when she does, she uses her arcane magic
Species- Dog (dark brown fur)
Age- 32
Relationships- none

Bithi-Sol -

Leo - A natural leader, though he hasn’t yet risen to this position because he is relatively shy. He has a strong arm and an even stronger heart, carrying compassion with him to the battlefield. When prisoners are taken, he often argues against their execution or even imprisonment, usually suggesting that a trade be organized to reclaim some of their troops taken prisoner by the enemy. Leo is another one that doesn’t see the cause of the war and wishes for it to end. He, however, is prepared to do something about it. He plans on posing as an ambassador and going to speak with the king of the Proger-Luna. He doesn’t know what this could accomplish, but he feels he must try.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Greatsword: “Dawnshard”
Species- Lion
Age- 22
Relationships- Younger brother to Sharyn

Ryvven - Headstrong and arrogant, even for a cat, Ryvven is an apprentice mage. Although he is somewhat obnoxious and believes too much in his own abilities, he is tolerated for his talent. He eagerly learns how to wield magic, wishing to further his own power. He is a good student, but is rash and inexperienced. His teacher, Rook, constantly tries to keep him in check, but Ryvven believes that the only one who should be able to control him is himself. Often, Ryvven will experiment with some of his master’s magical items, usually leading to regrettable consequences. In response to his teacher’s discipline, he is known to reply “but then how am I supposed to learn?”
Class- Apprentice Wizard
Weapon(s)- Dagger, but prefers to use his arcane magic
Species- Mountain Lion
Age- 17
Relationships- Student to Rook, friend to Sharyn

Rook - an accomplished mage, Rook is an overseer of a small outpost for the cats. He is official and sometimes demanding, but he is a good person at heart, and he knows when he is pushing someone too far. He currently has his hands full with Ryvven, his student and, in his eyes, a real pain in the neck. Rook doesn’t mind this, however, in fact he has grown to like Ryvven’s quirky arrogance. Rook simply sees Ryvven’s disobedience as a challenge, a problem to be solved, and he is quite good at solving problems.
Class- Wizard
Weapon(s)- Staff, but prefers to use his arcane magic
Species- Cougar
Age- 42
Relationships- Teacher to Ryvven

Skye and Lumis - These identical twins are rarely seen apart. They are both somewhat mysterious and enchantingly beautiful with vibrant green eyes and silky golden fur. Those who would mistake their beauty for weakness, however, would soon find themselves clutching desperately at their chest wondering why all of their organs were spilling out onto the floor. Skye and Lumis utilize the “Blade Dance” fighting style, and they fight in such perfect unison that it is rumored that they have a psychic bond. They are employed by the cats as skirmishers and assassins, and they do both jobs very well.
Class- Rogues
Weapon(s)- Blade Dance set (dual arm blades and dual ankle blades) these blades are hidden in bracers worn an the wrists and ankles and are spring loaded to a trigger movement
Species- Lionesses
Age- both 26
Relationships- none

Sharyn - Sharyn is the happy-go-lucky leader of a faction of the Order of the Red Bow, a legion of highly trained archers equipped with bows that turn arrows into fiery projectiles. Somewhat of a tomboy, Sharyn is a playful and likable leader offering compliments when they are due and snide comments when appropriate. Though she is kind and fun to be around out of combat, inside of combat she is all business, barking orders and expecting absolute compliance. This, she believes, will lead to a lower casualty count among her fighters.
Class- Archer
Weapon(s)- Longbow: “Red Bow”; and Shortsword: no name
Species- Lioness
Age- 31
Relationships- Friend to Ryvven, older sister to Leo

Kain - The one who calls himself Kain is an enigma, both to the dogs and the cats. There is no record of him at all in the military records of the cats. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere and demanded a place in the military. His power allowed him to quickly climb the ranks and become a commander, though he barely seems to notice this. He fights to eliminate the weak from the world, wielding his powerful scythe with deadly efficiency. Those who fall by its cold blade rise again as undead under his control. He is greatly feared, even, perhaps especially, among his underlings. He has been known to strike down an ally he perceives as weak with little warning. He dresses in a powerfully enchanted black robe and his eyes occasionally seem to glow with a yellow light. Many believe that he is the incarnation of death itself.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Scythe: “Reaper”
Species- Cougar
Age- unknown
Relationships- none

Sakura - An expert swordsmistress who has vowed to slay Wren for brutally murdering her mate and child. Sakura is a strong willed female with amazing skill in swordplay. Her beautiful style of fighting consisting of sweeping strokes and perfect body movement is seemingly unbeatable. Although Sakura feels rage for what Wren has done, she has not allowed herself to be consumed by it. She is haughty and headstrong, but she still possesses a kindness that many see regularly.
Class- Fighter
Weapon(s)- Longsword: “Whirlwind”
Species- Cougar
Age- 29
Relationships- none

Eleron - Sinister and self serving, Eleron is a cheat and a liar who used bribery and blackmail to climb to the top. He cares nothing for the lives of others and easily snuffs them if it serves his purposes. He is often called upon when the cats need a ruthless general to break a stalemate. Recently, however, he has been found to have participated in sadistic rituals in order to climb in power, and has been relocated to a rather boring outpost as punishment.
Class- Wizard
Weapon(s)- Energy Bracers, also uses arcane magic
Species- Tiger
Age- 36
Relationships- none

Ryu - A free spirit, Ryu is a pyromancer, a mage who specializes in the creation and manipulation of fire. This is an appropriate career for Ryu, as his personality is much like that of fire: chaotic, passionate, and difficult to read. Ryu is really just rank and file in the organization of the pyromancers, and he is small and skinny for his species, but he is not one to be trifled with.
Class- Pyromancer
Weapon(s)- Dagger, but prefers to use his arcane magic
Species- Tiger
Age- 23
Relationships- none

Vithis -

Skizzik - For the Vithis, Skizzik is an anomaly in every way: his views, his goals, even his clothing. While most Vithis are solemn and survival focused, dressing only in sparse, necessary clothing, taking what their chieftains say as absolute truths, Skizzik is almost the exact opposite. He dresses flashily, wearing large-ended gloves, a shirt/jacket that is little more than sleeves and a backside, and long sagging pants. He’s very energetic and curious, with an excited glint in his eye that seems very close to madness. He also doesn’t share the general suspicions of the Vithis concerning the Proger-Luna and Bithi-Sol. He believes that if any being does wish to hurt him, then he or she will be in for an unpleasant surprise. Skizzik doesn’t have a very imposing figure, he’s scrawny and many think his clothing choices are absurd, even outside of the Vithis. This can cause Skizzik to be underestimated, a mistake that most don’t make more than once. Skizzik is a powerful sorcerer, wielding his arcane magics with practiced ease and amazing talent. He greatly favors lightning spells over others, preferring to fry his enemies with electricity, which fascinates him: power in one of its rawest forms. He quests for knowledge, going to great lengths to feed his curiosity, never fearing the consequences
Class- Sorcerer
Weapon(s)- Staff: “Stormbringer” but prefers to use his arcane magic
Species- Lizard
Age- 22
Relationships- none

Shaku - Powerful and mysterious, Shaku is a member of the feared Shadowwater tribe, a tribe of Vithis famous for their stealth and secrecy, and Shaku is no exception. All who meet this shadowy figure are certain he is powerful, a dark sensation that creeps into their very souls, and they are not wrong. No one knows the true extent of Shaku’s power, however, as he always uses exactly what is necessary to defeat his enemies, never unleashing his true power. He is an imposing figure, slightly bigger than the standard Vithis which he emphasizes with his dress: large, billowy, tattered robes that cloak his form and throw darkness on his features. He also wears a belt on which numerous trophy skulls hang, taken only from his most worthy opponents. Shaku needs no magic to bring fear to the battlefield.
Class- Shaman
Weapon(s)- Staff: “Rotwood,” though he prefers to use his druidic magics
Species- Lizard
Age- unknown
Relationships- none