"The paint helps me remember which child has stubborn feet, which one fears the shadow of high trees, which one dreams of running too far. To mark an animal is to say, ‘I see all your paths.’ Some think it is only for beauty. Beauty is part of it, but individualism among hundreds is the true mark we make."

Recorded from Rose-Father Yarro during a spring migration in the 6th Age. Sourced from CIPE document "On Painted Marks," Public Document (C-III). 

The Articore were alpine wayfinders and members of The 44 Peoples. They were native to the mountainous areas of Iberstein and Runia, but were not uncommon across the Confederation. The Articore were highly distinctive for their lower half resembling a panthera species, which allowed for high mobility across rocky and steep terrain. Despite this body type, the Articore were not carnivores but omnivores, with a vast and varied diet. They had a humanoid upper body covered in fur, with horizontal eyes and a single horn that connected directly to their brains.

Socially, the Articore held a profound respect for migratory animals and the shifting patterns of the modern landscape. Their relationship with livestock was not one of ownership but stewardship, with a single Articore capable of looking after hundreds of individual animals. The Articore often gave unique and harmless painted patterns onto each of their animals to better identify individuals. In their native lands, they often herded troja and other flol, but they had also been known to raise prua and himbe. Himbe, in particular, had become a fascination for the Articore, who often painted the unique markings early onto himbe eggs and treated them as members of the herd before they even hatched. Articore tradition holds that early painting with young animals strengthens the bond between them.

The eyes of an Articore allowed for an increased field of view to better maintain visibility over their herd. Their horn was also unique in that it gave the Articore limited mindcord abilities, allowing them to telepathically gain knowledge in a radius of up to 300 meters. They used this ability primarily to locate stragglers or food sources.

Average height: 1.4 meters (F) 1.7 meters (M)

Average weight: 118 kg

Average lifespan: 50-60 years