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Sten Vardna, also known as Vardna, or "Stone Guardians" *were* a widespread species of tribal people native to Acetate. But are now considered critically endangered.
Physical Description
Vardna come in 3 known varities based on their Habitat. These 3 varieties are known as Forest, Swamp, and Mountain Vardna.
However generally speaking they are bipedal goat-like creatures with sharp venomous fangs and a pair of horns.
Swamp Vardna
Unlike their smaller cousins, Swamp vardna have adapted to the murky waters of marshes, lakes, and rivers. And are amphibious in nature. They grow extra horns and spines along their shoulders, spine, nose, and occassionally the tail.
These extra spines are coated with a weak oily paralytic poison, as opposed to their cousins tiny deadly fangs.
This is mostly due to their abundance of teeth packed together like a shark to help them catch and eat slippery fish.
And speaking of aquatic adaptions, Swamp varna also have webbed hands and feet to assist with swimming.
Like all vardna they have dark manes and tails, however their manes tend to be longer and oily, starting from the forehead and running all the way down the spine to the tail tuft. making them appear like an oddly shaped moss covered log when they float along the waters surface.
Swamp Vardna's grooves are significantly less intricate but they instead often have shiny flecks of color useful for attracting unsuspecting prey. Swamp vardna are usually murky shades of green or brown with blue or orange/yellow flecks.
Forest Vardna
Small and nible, the forest vardna is notable for its skill in climbing and intricate skin patterns. Which look like swirling grooves in rock. Or sewn leather. These Grooves are usually accompanied by a subtle mottled or "freckled" skin pattern.
They come in various shades of earthy brown and the occassional grey and like all Vardna they have a dark colored mane and tail.
Forest Vardna have long thin fingers for digging and climbing, and have a set of sharp dewclaws to hook into prey. They have forked tongues akin to snakes, and large goat-like ears. Their sharp fangs also contain a potent poison.
Their coloration is usually closer to rock and stone, and their "grooves" are more like large callous patches of skin. And are slightly chitenous.
Mountain VardnaMountain Vardna are hulking behemoths of beasts, having abandoned poison in favor of brute strength.
Like all Vardna they have dark manes and tails, and the mountain variety has very thick manes in particular, which they will actively decorate with bone beads.
They also grow strong tusks. Especially large tusks are considered attractive, while broken ones are a sign of shame. As they imply having been utterly defeated in battle. They also have Dewclaws like forest trolls.
Mountain vardna have very sturdy skulls and are known to headbutt each other in defiance.
Biology
Vardna are warm blooded mammals and vary in sized based in species. Forest Vardna are around the size of a large dog, Swamp Vardna are around the size of a human, and Mountain Vardna are about the size of a car.
Habitat
Sten Vardna can live in a variety of locations and are fairly good at adapting to such situations. They tend to live in crudely constructed tribal towns wherever they settle.
Diet
Vardna are mainly carnivorous but will also eat insects and nuts. They are very adept hunters. They do not have heat cycles.
Cubs are born blind with soft downy fur. And callous nubs where their horns will grow.
Mothers are extremely protective of their children and can be downright aggressive. Do not approach Vardna nests unless you are someone the parents trust.
Reproduction
Females give birth to 1-2 cubs after around 9 months of pregnancy.
Abilities and Magic
Sten Vardna usually have earth and psychic based magic. Often along the lines of abnormal strength, telekinesis, and rock shattering roars. Psychic based abilities are often utilised by sending electric pulses along the horns to amplify senses and brain waves, making them seem to glow (or spark if something is going wrong). Removing the horns will severely weaken a Vardna's ability to use such powers, And doing so is considered an effective way to control the population.
As well as a rather useful resource for jewellery, ornaments and tools.
Culture
Sten Vardna culture centres around strength and honor. Often, it is a great honor to be formally challenged to battle by a Sten vardna, as it means the individual considers you a worthy adversary.
As a coming of age ceremony adolescent Vardna are taken on a ritualised hunting trip where they will hunt their first quarry. They are expected to kill a great beast to the best of their ability, and are then allowed to take a trophy from their quarry which they will fashion into an accessory and wear as a badge of honor for the rest of their lives.
Trying to take this trophy is a big no no, and a great sign of disrespect from anyone who defeats a Vardna. Even if they are killed in a duel, or combat, it is expected that this trophy be buried alongside the individual.
Breaking a Vardnas Horn is also a huge insult to a Vardna, as a broken horn dishonors them for life in the eyes of their peers.
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