Vala

The Vala are a race of lupine Terans native to Algarath. Long ago they once roamed the wild tundra of Western Algarath in packs. Following the arrival of humans on the continent, the Vala forged an alliance with their king. Several millennia later, Vala now live peacefully alongside humans. Most Vala embrace their place in human society. Some long to return to the wild, fighting foot tooth and claw for survival as their ancestors did. This shift in lifestyle has resulted in the development of 4 distinct categories of Vala: Common, Royal, Wild, and Nyx.

### Appearance

Like all Terans, the Vala are physically imposing, with an average height of about 7 foot. They are covered in thick fur that protects them from the snowy climate of their homeland. They are a humanoid race with the features of wolves, including a wolf head, tail, and paws. All Vala have sharp fangs and retractable claws.

### Abilities

While the Vala are strong, they rely more on speed and agility than raw power. They can run incredibly fast, and cross snow so lightly that they do not leave footprints. The Vala are most at home in the open snowfields and sparse pine forests of Western Algarath, where they can outrun and surround their foes. They are masters of swordplay, known for their nimble footwork and decisive strikes. Even unarmed, their claws are effective weapons. While they can hold their own in any fight, the Vala prefer to wear out opponents through pursuit or evasion until they can land a single killing blow. Their capacity for precision extends beyond the battlefield, as the Vala are also respected craftsmen and smiths. Their incredible sense of smell allows them to sniff out ore veins while mining, and to sense impurities when processing stones and metals. Vala were once capable of earth magic, but have lost this ability over the millenia.

### Behaviour

The Vala are an incredibly loyal race. They are highly social and affectionate with those they consider kin; whether that be friends, family, or countrymen. As a result, they can sometimes be cold to strangers. Due to their strong sense of smell, Vala prefer fine scents as a sign of social presentation and self expression over physical adornments. They are highly active, and exercise frequently as a form of emotional release or inter-personal bonding.

Most Vala live alongside humans, and adopt many of their social norms (eg. clothes, food, housing, etc.). Young Vala are not involved in the same education as human children, and are usually taught by their families until their early teens. They are then taken by their parent or mentor into the tundra to hunt as a coming of age ceremony. After this point, they are free to work toward any education or career they desire. Relationships between Vala and humans are not uncommon. However, these relationships are generally considered to be the stuff of "youthful flings", rather than a legitimate adult partnership. Even so, many long term couples exist. Vala and humans are unable to produce children, but are able to adopt a child of either species under Frystan law.

## Subspecies

### Common Vala

The vast majority of Vala in the modern day are considered to be Common Vala. They are identified primarily by the colour of their fur, which can be either grey, white, or black. These Vala are the most likely to integrate into human society, and for most it is all they know. Common Vala make up around 30-40% of the population in Western Algarath. Common Vala can be found in almost all professions, but are most often employed as artisans, hunters, or soldiers due to their specialized skillset.

### Royal Vala

When humans first arrived on Algarath, the Vala struck an accord with their king. Several prominent Vala packs became retainers to the royal family, and trusted members of the court. Over the generations, these Vala packs have developed into what is known as Royal Vala. The Royal Vala are fluffier than their common counterparts, with fur of brown and gold in addition to their regular monochrome shades. Their snouts are more rounded, and some Royal Vala have developed floppy ears. All of these features can be used to identify a Royal Vala, but this is largely unnecessary. Royal Vala are almost exclusively members of the Frystan elite, and present themselves accordingly. They speak clearly, wear elegant finery, groom their fur to perfection, and adorn themselves with intricate, imported perfumes. The most high ranking of the Royal Vala are direct advisors to the king, while even the lowest houses serve as respected attendants and cooks in the palace. Some Royal Vala become scholars, studying at the Archives or the University in Uria. All Royal Vala are incredibly proud of their station, and make this fact clear to any they can. This has led many to view the Royal Vala as foppish and arrogant, particularly amongst the Common Vala.

### Wild Vala

The Wild Vala are not distinguished from their brethren through physiology or class, but through ideology. Some Common Vala grow to despise human society. They believe that the Vala, who were once a proud culture of hunters and warriors, have grown coddled and complacent. In protest, these Vala venture out to the snowfields of Western Algarath, and name themselves Wild. They hunt in packs as their ancestors once did, avoiding contact with outsiders. While they are not openly aggressive, they do not accept insults or disruptions lightly. They will sometimes find work as mercenaries or bounty hunters. Some children are born to Wild Vala packs, and grow up in this harsh environment. However, due to their dangerous lifestyle, the Wild Vala population is only kept steady by a flow of Common Vala converts. While the Wild Vala are not officially acknowledged or sanctioned by the Kingdom of Frysta, they are largely left alone.

### Nyx Vala

When the alliance between Human and Vala was first established, several packs of Vala rejected this change. They valued their ancient magic above all else, and despised the taint of human spellcasting, weaponry and culture. Rather than fight against their kin, they left for Uria. They made their homes deep in the old mountains, and reside in these caves to the present day. They are very few in number and extremely secretive. Over the generations their isolated lifestyle and exposure to dark magicks have changed their appearance. Their fur is most often black and red, resembling foxes more than wolves. It is said that the most wise among the Nyx Vala grow multiple tails. They value privacy and secrecy, and many are openly hostile to any who intrude on their territory. They spend most of their lives honing their magic, but still develop close blonds within their small social groups.