This writing describes my fantasy race, the Lueth in more detail than in my previous works. Including how they were created, their features, and their ways of life. This is the same race that make up most of my characters, including my main character Malek Lukos. However, Malek is also a demigod, and has some additional features that Lueth do not have. This synopsis works to describe more in depth how Lueth are normally.

I may move this submission to scraps later. The .rtf file contains everything that I've written in this description, but I have mostly just copy pasted everything into this description field for convenience so that no download is necessary to read it.

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The Lueth


The Origin of the Race

Many centuries ago, before the time of Malek Lukos, the dominant people of the known world was the empire of the elves. After a golden age of prosperity and growth for their civilization had passed, the elves looked for methods of expansion to continue their nation's growth. They decided to expand their territory by settling in new lands for the development of new cities. The colonization of these areas was done very aggressively, taking the new territory at the expense of the sentient wildlife that the land belonged to previously, most notably the feral wolves. The wildlife eventually retaliated by attacking and killing the settlers to take their land back. After a series of attacks that had been committed by the wolves as well as other wildlife, the conflict had escalated into a war against the wild, as the elven government began using their military to reclaim the conquered territory and push outward from their empire into the territory of the wild.

The elves had the advantage in the war. Their forces had superior weaponry as well as more advanced magics. However, the largest voice of opposition came from within the empire from the order of Druids. The Druids were a very old order in the elven empire that worshiped the forces of nature and sought mastery of natural magic. The druids were also traditionally emissaries to the wild on the behalf of the elves, but they criticized and condemned their government for its aggressive action against the wild from the start, and they tried to convince the council to end their military campaign. Diplomacy failed, and the government first ignored their pleas for peace, then soon afterward began to turn the people against the druids by labeling them as unpatriotic sympathizers and traitors.
All druids had sworn oaths to defend nature, and with peace no longer an option being considered by the government, the Druids had no choice but to leave elven society and aid the forces of the wild. The order of Druids were immediately branded as traitors and heretics who could no longer return to society under threat of immediate imprisonment or death.

The assistance that the druids gave to the wild changed the tide of the conflict. The forces of the wild could finally hold their ground against the elven campaign and push back, but the druids soon realized that their kind could not survive in the wild for the duration of the war. Not every druid had mastery over nature, and harsh environmental hazards began to take more toll on their numbers than the elven army did. At the current rate, the druid order would be soon be dead, and the forces of the wild would follow after without their help.

One of the druid masters by the name of Valak Lannard offered his idea for their survival, as well as winning the war. His proposal was that since the druids were no longer welcome as elves, that they should become as the beasts that they decided to aid, and permanently alter themselves to become as beasts who could survive with and fight alongside the feral animals. The idea was unpopular at first, but seeing it as the best course of action, Valak decided to go through it himself first as an act of leadership. He had worked closely with the wolves to develop a ritual to alter his body to take on wolf-like traits. When the ritual was complete and undertaken, the result was the creation of the first Lueth, a hybrid of elf and wolf that assumed the form of a bipedal wolf creature, Valak's ritual had worked. Even better, he discovered the ritual granted him natural shape changing abilities and he could become an elf again at will, and could also assume the full form of the feral wolf.

The ability to still be able to retain an elven form persuaded many of the druids to follow Valak in his plan, and willingly altered themselves into the new race. They could now survive better in the wild, and even found that the beast forms had given them additional fighting prowess against the elves. Clever druids used their new shape shifting abilities to infiltrate elven society and attack weak points behind the front lines. The elves were shocked at what their former kinsmen had done to themselves, and began to suffer too many casualties for the campaign to be worth the fight. The pressure led to the elves calling for a truce with the forces of the wild, which the druids accepted and negotiated on their behalf.

The druids finally succeeded in their effort to end the war, but they still could not expect to return to elven society. Even though they were legally allowed to return, they would surely be met with hostility from their former countrymen who now only saw them as barbaric beasts and traitors. Led by Valak Lannard, the druids chose to forge a new future for themselves. They named their new kind, the Lueth, and left for the northern mountains where they would start a new society, which would flourish and eventually become the grand Kingdom of the Lueth during Malek Lukos' lifetime.


Characteristics

At their core, the Lueth are a race of natural shape shifters. They are the combination of elven kind and the feral wolves. All Lueth share an inherited natural ability to shapeshift between three forms: An elven humanoid, a feral wolf, or an anthropomorphic wolf. The anthropomorphic wolf form is the defining look of the race as a whole, and is considered the default form of the Lueth, as most Lueth choose to appear that way in casual life in their society. The majority of the Lueth feel most comfortable with themselves when are in their default form, the anthropomorphic wolf. Being individuals with their own unique personalities, some Lueth find other forms more comfortable for themselves, and will instead wear those forms as if it were their default. Such Lueth that prefer to stay as elves or feral wolves for the majority of their life will often gravitate towards aspects of those cultures and ways of life. For example, a Lueth who prefers their elven form usually lives in a population that has other elven kin, or may even elect to live in the heart of elven lands in their society. Lueth can recognize other Lueth no matter which form they are wearing, as long as they are close enough to examine the individual in detail. Feral wolves also have the instincts to pick up a Lueth's true nature even if they appear as feral wolves or elves. However, normal elves have difficulty discerning a Lueth in their feral or elven forms without special training to recognize the subtle differences.

The Lueth embody the best attributes of both elves and wolves. From their elven side, they retained the ability to remain united to form a new Kingdom, and a desire to improve their lives through building cities which offered them the benefits of a society. They utilize technology to outfit themselves with clothing, armor, and weapons to improve themselves, and they also study the arcane and can learn amazing feats of magic as adeptly as the elves. On the other side influenced by the instincts and traits of a feral wolf, the Lueth body is in many ways superior to the elves and the feral wolves. The Lueth have hides that are just as tough as any animal, and even without armor and weapons, a Lueth still has claws and can bite; An unarmed Lueth is still potentially very dangerous. The Lueth have finely tuned senses and instincts, and at the same time are capable of putting those instincts aside for reasoning when it's needed.

The different forms a Lueth takes does affect their state of mind as well as their physical bodies. Lueth in the feral wolf form will behave much like a wild wolf. The elven form tends to dull the instincts, and a Lueth will be much less likely to react on a gut feeling, which is one reason why Lueth tend to wear this form less often than that of the feral wolf. Generally, the Lueth have found their elven form to be most useful when among elven society, or when interacting with elven folk, as the form puts elves more at ease, even when they know that they are interacting with a Lueth.

Despite what ignorant elves may think about them, being a Lueth is by no means a curse or disease, and Lueth cannot turn elves or wolves into other Lueth by means of a bite or scratch. This misleading rumor stems from the fact that the first Lueth's were elven druids who used a ritual of the wild to transform themselves. Theoretically, the old ritual could still work to transform elves, but knowledge of this ritual was lost within the first generation of the Lueth. The old druid order never passed knowledge of their ritual to their children. They believed that any attempt to use this ritual to transform an individual against their will was reprehensible. Now, the only way to become a Lueth is to be born as one.

The Lueth are predominantly carnivorous, similar to feral wolves, but they can still eat and enjoy food that is grown and cultivated by farmers. Their territory offers plenty of wild game to feed their population with the combination of farming. Since they are not completely animalistic, the Lueth still have a taste for the finer things during their meals, including their drink. They value those who are exceptionally skillful in the culinary arts, but unfortunately, most Lueth cannot afford those luxuries very often since such resources and talent are not plentiful enough to be spread among the majority of the population.

Lueth generally have a very healthy constitution. They are not immune to disease, but are quite hardy against more common illnesses that would otherwise leave them temporarily bedridden. Lueth have lifespans that are much longer than those of feral wolves, but slightly less long as the elves. Thanks to their natural ability to change into elves and wolves, Lueth can actually reproduce with either as well as other Lueth. This fact is what allowed the first Lueth to grow in number from their small numbers, and save them from becoming a short lived species. At the beginning of their society, Lueth could only mate with wolves at the time. Their relation to the elves was hostile, and they could not reproduce within their own small pool, as it would have led to inbreeding. In more modern times, Lueth more freely mate with whichever of the three species they wish. Any offspring between two Lueth parents are always Lueth themselves. Children that are born when one of the parents is elven seem to have a half to half ratio of either becoming Lueth or being a normal elf. Any cub that is born when one of the parents is a feral wolf has a much greater chance of being a Lueth, though a small chance exists that the cubs may turn out to be normal wolves. The parents of the Lueth child do tend to affect the specific form that the Lueth is most comfortable with.


Government

The Lueth first started their society as a tribe, due to the low numbers they began with. They did not expect to grow number or even last as a species until they discovered that they could reproduce with feral wolves. Once the Lueth flourished into a thriving culture they could call a civilization, they decided that they should no longer be ruled under a chieftain like a barbarian culture. The most influential members of the society came together, and after much internal strife, a celebrated an honorable Lueth hero installed himself as King, claiming himself as the chosen of Luena, the goddess of the moon and the popular religion among the Lueth. The Lueth government had formed into a divine monarchy, still ruled under one individual as they had been with a chieftain, but now under rule that could enact laws and strengthen the society. Fortunately for the Lueth, their king believed in benevolent ruler ship, and his beliefs and virtues had been passed down to his heirs well. For the most part, the Lueth have had a good number of kings who held to benevolent policies as well, which allowed the Lueth to stay united and grow rapidly into the thriving kingdom it is today.

The Lueth king is given the highest protection and luxuries for his services. His home is an enormous castle in the Lueth capital, which has access to many services, resources, and skilled individuals, such as elite craftsmen and highly skilled mages. The king is also assisted by advisers and have many nobles and vassals who have sworn their support and service to him, vassals in particular act as commanders of the Lueth military. The most honored, experienced, and loyal vassals often become high ranking generals in the king's army who help the king manage military affairs.

The kings of the monarchy and their descendants are believed to be personally blessed by Luena herself. Their claim to the throne is not in a crown or their jewels, but by the ability to wield a divine weapon that is not able to be crafted by mortal smiths. In its dormant state, the weapon is merely a radiant sphere of divine magic until it is claimed by the king. Among other properties, it has the unique power to transform into any weapon the king desires, with exceptionally few limitations. The creation of this weapon is credited to Luena herself, and because of its shapechanging ability, it has been through many different names from king to king. The weapon also seems to have a mind of its own, as it has been witnessed rejecting past heirs who were thought to be the next king. Successfully claiming this weapon is the first trial in a new king's coronation.

In this monarchy, a king is not at all required to reproduce with a female from nobility in order to carry heirs that have a legitimate claim to the throne. The king will often choose who he will be with out of love rather than out of political interests. Any female that the king chooses as his mate may become queen of the Lueth alongside the king. As in most monarchs, the king is the one to hold authority over the kingdom. If there is a queen that holds the throne, but no king at the time, then the queen holds authority over the realm instead. The same rules and powers apply to a ruling queen if there is no king.


Religion

Luena is a goddess of the moon that is widely worshiped by the Lueth. She was first worshiped by the order of druids after they had transformed themselves into the first Lueth. Many of the druids claimed that they personally spoke to Luena upon their transformation into Lueth, and it is speculated that Luena was a divine celestial sent to their aid to guide their new race to survival and prosperity. Luena is usually depicted as a striking female Lueth in the default anthropomorphic wolf form, and sometimes as a feral wolf, but almost never in the elven form. Unlike the Lueth, she is believed to not even have an elven form. Such artists who depict Luena as an elf are viewed as extremely distasteful, but are not officially condemned as blasphemous. Although the monarchy is based off of this religion, the religion itself is not enforced. Lueth are free to not worship Luena or worship other gods. Regardless, the religion is very popular among the Lueth kingdom.

Because of this religion, silver had become highly prized by the Lueth, as it is perceived by some to be a holy metal that symbolizes the moon. Some believe that silver holds a power over the Lueth because of their fascination with the metal, but it is merely superstition, it has no adverse effect on the race. Silver had instead become a valuable commodity to the Lueth, and it became the primary metal used in their currency. The holy metal is also used in the decoration of expensive furniture, art, and even weapons and armor that are used by the Lueth.


Culture

Even though they had permanently transformed themselves, the first Lueth were still elven at heart and retained their elven behaviors and customs. However, because of the bitter resentment the elves still had for their kind, they separated themselves from elven lands and their society, and the first generations of the Lueth were limited to only being able to mate with wolves as a result. Interacting with the feral wolves while contact with the elven empire was severed, the Lueth began to shift away from their elven roots and became more wolf-like with each passing generation. They still had a spoken and written language, but also combined it with the howls, growls, and body language of wolves. The Lueth also had become more animalistic in nature, and reacted more often to feelings and instinct more than their elven counterparts. Though they had not grown so far apart from their elven half that they could no longer talk and reason. Being half elven was still a part of a Lueth's being, and they could never fully reject this half of themselves.

So while the Lueth had changed much, they had still banded together to form a thriving kingdom and their own culture. Many Lueth controlled towns and villages are located in climates with temperatures ranging from mild to frigid, since two of the Lueth forms offer a coat of fur that keeps them relatively comfortable against the cold. Their settlements are usually nearby forests. Hunters will often go into the wild to hunt wild beasts for food, and bring them back to provide or sell food for the people depending on their profession.

In Lueth society, physical strength and fighting prowess are very admired, but this praise is not exclusive only to seasoned warriors. Lueth value many characteristics that show strength of character, such as devotion, intelligence, wisdom, and the ability to tap into the arcane and use magic. Even the mastery of a profession is admirable if the individual is skillful in his craft. Because of the instincts of their wolf half, Lueth can be prone to challenge each other often in some way. The amount of taverns in a town or city are plentiful and are often full. The Lueth are very fond of drinking, and drunken brawls are common and enjoyed by onlookers.

The heart of the Lueth kingdom is at the base of a mountain range, which offers many locations for the mining of rock, metals, and jewels. Their economy is largely based on the trade of stone masonry, jewelry, and refined metals, most notably silver. Silver coins are the dominant form of currency and trade in the Lueth kingdom, as it is considered to be a holy metal that resembles the moon, and it is also used to decorate many crafts. By comparison, the elven empire has always based their currency on gold, though they also have some needs for silver. Gold is also not without worth among the Lueth, but the metal does not hold the same reverence that they have for silver. The jewels that are mined out of the mountains are equally valued by both cultures, and the Lueth economy benefits greatly by the sale of precious gems that are in demand in the elven empire. Despite being on friendly terms, the Lueth do not usually trade anything with the feral wolves. The feral wolves do not have a demand for any particular commodity. There are uncommon exceptions, but the feral wolves do not have any currency to offer in return. Instead, any trade the Lueth make with feral wolves is based on the exchange for a favor from the wolf pack, which they will always honor in an agreement. These trades for a favor are usually only beneficial to an individual or a small group of Lueth, rather than the kingdom as a whole.


Relation to Elves and Wolves

The relationship between the Lueth and the feral wolves is very healthy, as the ancestors of the Lueth had assisted the wolves tremendously in the past, possibly saving them from extinction. Since then, the Lueth and the feral wolves have always been on good terms with each other, as no major event has yet to negatively affect the peace between them. Feral wolves freely roam the territory of the Lueth kingdom with no hindrance, though Lueth do not usually stray far from their society for extended periods of time. The Lueth and the wolves will even assist each other in their hunts for food, which often proves to be bountiful and mutually beneficial. Unfortunately, the relationship between the Lueth and the elves has always been unsteady, despite what they hold in common with each other.

The Lueth's druid ancestors turned against the elven empire many centuries ago when they chose to side with the wild and the wolves. They were immediately branded as traitors and heretics and were no longer welcome in elven society even long after the conflict had ended. Additionally, there have been multiple skirmishes between them throughout history. In the current time, the two races are on more friendly terms, but some elves will always consider the Lueth to be a traitors that rejected their elven roots to become wild beasts and cannot be trusted. Before Malek had taken the throne, the Lueth kingdom was left without a ruler for a time, and it had fractured the kingdom as various nobles and warlords took the opportunity to strengthen their own influence. Conflicts emerged between some of these factions and the elves, which has caused the alliance to become uneasy. Even with Malek's return, the feelings of the elven empire only become more unstable once he is revealed to be a demigod. With such a power on the side of the Lueth kingdom, the elven people have become fearful and even more mistrustful. Regardless of Malek's deeds to prove his honorable intentions, maintaining the peace between the two races is proving to always be a great challenge, even to a demigod.

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This is the end of this written work, and if you read it, I hope it was enjoyable. I will close this submission by noting that this writing, the Lueth, and the characters mentioned in it are of my own creation and belong to myself. This is an ever changing work in progress on my part since I am always looking on ways to build the world and the story. Thanks for reading. :3