Varulv 
VARULV are a race of isolationist lycanthropic aliens from the forest planet of Virke. The Valruven people experience a transformation once a month wherein their normally human-like anatomy transforms into that of a wolf-like being of a monstrous size and appetite. Valruv have heightened healing abilities, necessary to survive the gruesome monthly transformation, which extends to the regenerative abilities of their appearance. Often, Valruvens can live well over 250 years old, but appearing much younger, aging at a 40% rate of humans.

Because of the strong impact of the lunar shifts on the Valruv people, their society revolves around the cycle of the moon, with a high emphasis on the rituals around the monthly transformations that build and enrich the bonds between members of the community. A tight-knit community, each ilk – or village – has ritual keepers that maintain ancient order.
details



ACTIVE ALFIE KALTYR ○ investigator, marlowe
LEDA KALTYR ○ hauler, wayfarer
virke Virke is the fourth planet in a small system surrounding a small star, roughly half the size of the one in Penglai. The distance from the sun has allowed the planet to grow dense beautiful forests and lush plant life blanketing most of the planet surface that isn't covered in water. Largely marked by alpine mountain ranges divided by deep narrow inlets of freshwater, Virke has a moderate climate, comfortable for a variety of wildlife.

Two large binary moons orbit Virke, both pulling heavily on the gravitational fields of the forested planet. Because of the binary nature of the moons, once a month the planet is bathed in the shadow of night for seven days, as Virke alternates between the two consecutive eclipses that keep the planet dark. The chill of the extended night dips well below zero, leaving the life on Virke in the bitter cold for days.

The eclipse cycle has had a strange effect on the development of the species on Virke, with millennia of adaptation responding to the regular eclipses that keep the planet in shuddering darkness. Every species found ways to adapt: some hibernate for a week out of the month, some learned to harness fire, some … went a different way. The Valruven evolved to spend one week in an altered state, transforming into a wolf-like creature to survive the cold, dark week without sunlight. Perhaps it was this transformation, evolved over thousands of years, that allowed the Valruven to become the dominant species, a predator unlike any other for a quarter of the month, feared by their surroundings even in their natural state, allowing them the freedom to develop communities and civilization.

communities
The Valruven live in the trees. Intricate beautiful communities have been built around the massive redwood trees that populate the dense forests of Virke, high off the ground for protection from the roaming animals that reside in the forests alongside the Valruv. All of the living quarters and structures are built into the boughs. Planked walkways connect between trees, in high catwalks dotted with carefully caged lanterns. Throughout the trees, occasional ladders lead up above the crown, for escape from predators and to keep watch for forest fires.

Children learn to walk and run and play on towering platforms, their homes safely maintained by every member of the ilk. The structures are built of wood, and those who know how to build and manipulate wood are highly regarded. Craftsmanship is king, and carpenters have a high position of influence, despite not being an elected official, unlike the ritual keepers.

Each ilk – or local clan of Valruven peoples – have their own culture around the building of structures and homes. Their ritual keepers maintain and guard the old customs, which include what sort of homes and buildings can be made and to what specification, learned from centuries of trial and error. The ritual keepers are highly regarded within the society as being dependable and organized, voices of reason voted into their positions after demonstrating their dedication to their ilk.
the ritual keepers
While the carpenters earn their respect through hours honing their craft with woodworking and carving, the Ritual Keepers have earned their position through hours memorizing the old ways. Years of dedication to memorizing the sacred rites leads the Ritual Keepers to being voted into their positions of power, elected to guide the ilks through their hardships and perform the mores that promise safe futures, secure crops, and healthy births.

Governed by the moons, the rituals of the Valruven follow cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, marked by the veiled darkness of the eclipse. Many rites are spoken in animalistic grunts and echoing howls that remind the whole forest who runs these woods.
the gateway
Still in their relative bronze age, the Valruven people haven't mastered interplanetary travel on their own; they were unaware of the planets surrounding them as anything other than dots in their skies until they were visited by a curious entrepreneurial alien, hoping to make use of the rich forestry. As a passive participant in trading with local nearly populated planets, the Valruven have been relucantly dragged into modernity. While some members of the ilks have interest in space travel, most Valruv stay grounded by choice, only occasionally catching rides on the ships of visiting merchants.

As the news of the opening of a Gateway finally reached the disconnected forest floors of Virke, the Valruv tutted and ignored the development – more silly fragile aliens to ignore or possibly trade with if their trusted partners reported kindly of these "humans". However, some of the braver Valruv have tried to explore life on the other side of the Gateway, curious about a world outside these pines.

It's unclear how foreign moons will affect the change; few of the Valruv who travelled outside of the warm enclave of their ilk have reported back. Communication devices aren't popular or common among the Valruven people, and word from abroad comes by way of merchants delivering holorecordings and letters alike.
abilities
  • ENHANCED SENSES: though this varies throughout the valruv, they do tend to exhibit more strength and added durability than a human. with a denser muscle mass and a population that tends towards the shorter, their strength is also typically doubled closest and during their monthly shift.
  • ACCELERATED HEALING: though it is by no means an immediate cure and life-threatening injuries are still very serious, a valruv's healing time is generally halved in comparison to a human, especially around their shift, though it is sluggish in the days following.
  • HEIGHTENED SENSES: all senses are heightened, including sight, smell, and sound. smell is a particularly powerful sense for the valruv, and is something they rely on during their long nights.
  • BEASTMODE: their monthly shift grants the valruv access to a hulking second form that is very, very dangerous.
weaknesses
  • HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY: though their heightened senses are also a benefit, they can be a flaw, too. sudden bright lights and sounds can be disastrous for a valruv, causing concussions and confusion. it is very easy to slow a valruv down in this way, and they typically always need additional time to recover.
  • BLOODLUST: if not properly prepared for their monthly shift, a valruv can experience severe and dangerous bloodlust, and many fail to learn how to control it and are thus exiled from their clans.
  • CERTAIN MINERALS: found primarily in penglai and other galaxies (like lead, silver and and zinc) can cause issues akin to poisoning or severe allergic reactions if injested or if introduced to the bloodstream in any way.
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 CREDIT TO WOODSY