Wirk info

Wirk are a species divided into five differently evolved tribes: Aer, Erde, Firth, Viz and Umbra. The five tribes all have glowing markings across their bodies, larger front paws than back paws, long bodies and necks, and horns. Their sizes range from fox-sized young wirks to the largest Erde, which are nearly the size of a moose. The tribes' sizes are as follows, from smallest to largest: Viz, Aer, Firth, Umbra, and Erde.

Aer are a flying Wirk tribe that evolved thick, feathery coats, some with actual feathers, to keep warm in their natural environment of snow-capped mountains. Their diet consists mainly of evergreen berries and other mammals who make the mountains their home. Depending on the Aer, they may have feathered wings, a tiny pair of feathered wings that they can encase in their magic to be bigger and allow the Aer to fly, or, as is the case for most Aer, no physical wings whatsoever, instead summoning a pair of magical wings when necessary. Some Aer have bird-like beaks rather than the usual snout. It isn't uncommon to see an Aer with puffs of clouds around them, but this isn't actually what's happening. The "clouds" are part of their bodies: long fur with next to no weight that flows with air currents. This fur grows extremely fast, as its fragile make breaks off in pieces in strong winds.

Erde are the bulky cave dwelling tribe with thick hides, crystals and minerals growing around their bodies, at times forming into what look like scales. They have thick, extremely sturdy claws to dig and move stone when they need to, along with a short, thick tail unlike the other tribes' whip-like tails. Their diet, maybe unsurprisingly, includes minerals rich with necessary nutrients. They also tend to eat more bugs than the other tribes. Rather than the long canines the other tribes tend to have, Erde have tusks that extend past their top lip. Some Erde, rather than having a snout at all, will have a short beak instead. They can have feet that look more like spades, to be more efficient at digging.

Firth are the most numerous tribe, dwelling in many types of woodlands. They tend to have longer fur than the other tribes, often with a lion-like tuft of fur at the end of their whip tail. As their environment is the most varied, so is their diet; some eat mostly greens, some stick mostly to meat, they really don't have much restrictions other than personal preference. Many Firth welcome nature onto themselves, and it is not uncommon to find flowers, grass, or plants growing on one, or even a bird nest nestled between another's horns. Some Firth are so in one with nature that they develop tree-like bark around their bodies over time.

Viz are the smallest of the tribes, living in oceans, rivers, and lakes. To better adapt to their surroundings, they have very short fur and webbed feet. They typically eat fish, crustaceans and sea greens, with some even hunting for animals or scavenging for berries, fruit, and other edible greens on land. Viz have rounder and sleeker characteristics than the other tribes, and instead of four toes and a dewclaw, they have three toes and a thumb, a thin webbing between each digit. Some Viz have teardrop-shaped pearls dangling from their fins to offer greater light, which the Viz can regulate, in darker waters. Viz, like Firth, frequently have nature incorporated into their bodies: Seaweed and corals growing around them, shells and sea glass adorning their fins and tails. Whether or not these are by nature clinging onto them or the Viz making natural accessories, is dependant on the individual.

Umbra, unlike the other tribes, are nomadic in nature. Though some have claimed varied territories for their own, it's not uncommon to see an Umbra either live within another tribe's community or traversing the realm with its tribemates. They have short fur and the longest, thinnest tails of all five tribes, along with flames emitting from their bodies. They tend to be more carnivorous, but don't mind eating veggies either. Their fangs have a powerful paralytic poison that excretes when they bite into their prey. Umbra tend to have sharper features than the other tribes, long sharp fangs sticking out from their mouths, spikes growing along their bodies. These spikes, like their fangs, are venomous if they cut into another being. The paralytic isn't effective on other Umbra, instead functioning as more of a mild aphrodisiac. The flames emitting from an Umbra's body, usually around the ears and tail, stem from them subconsciously absorbing natural magic into their own body, unable to use it for much.

Mixed Wirks are rare and frowned upon by the tribes. Even when Wirks of two different tribes decide to mate, instead of a mixed Wirk they end up with twins, one baby sharing the tribe of one parent. Mixed Wirk are more severe in their emotions and behaviours, frequently unable to hold them and exploding at others. They frequently abandon their tribes, either by choice or by force, and become lone nomads, not unlike the Umbra.
A mixed Wirk will share in traits from both parents, matching more with the parent they share their gender with. If you'd like to join the Wirk Sanctuary Discord for raffles and a fun community, feel free to pop on over! https://discord.gg/gQ6S3XEkqQ