Random Lore The Wendigo Pt. 1

They believe that they are conquerors of nature and masters of the natural world. The Forest Father, their creator, tasked them with taming the wilds, which they achieved by building cities, wielding magic, and conquering lands. They hunt the beasts of their lands and feast on their flesh. They create familiar contracts with those animals that are worthy of admiration for their prowess and power.

Once the mythical and feared people of the forest, the wendigo are a humanoid species primarily found in the wendigo kingdom of Yuhia. They have grown in magic, political acumen, and influence and technology since their creation as the savages of the wilds. They are some of the most accomplished magic casters in the world with a large population that can utilize mana. The worship of the Forest Father and the war for the Diredain Forest shapes their culture and people.

Wendigo Anatomy & Morphology

Wendigo are humanoid with a similar physical appearance to that of a humans. They are typically taller than the average human. Wendigo males are 5’11” (180.34 cm), and females are 5’9” (175.26 cm) on average but are known to be much taller on the higher end. Their skin ranges from alabaster to vanilla among the Snowfallen, shades of brown among the Wooden Tail, and grays to pitch black among the Nighthand. Their hair is either white or black, with no shades in between.

After puberty, they began growing antlers similar to those of deer. The antlers will continue to grow until they are 25 years old. They will shed antlers once every fifty years on average growing new, often times larger antlers each time. They also have razor-sharp teeth and extremely powerful bite force, some capable of crushing bone.

Wendigo Growth Rate & Stages

Wendigo have a comparable early development cycle to that of humans. However, they will often lag behind in cognitive awareness for the first three of infancy while their magic cores stabilize. After this process completes typically at four years old, they will quickly catch up and surpass humans of the same age. They begin puberty at ten years old, at which time they will start growing antlers, which will take on average fifteen years for their first pair.

They will be at full physical and mental maturity at 22 for females and 25 for males. They will reach prime at 40 years old and remain in this state until they are 193 years old, at which time they will start to age again  and females are no longer fertile. They reach senescence at 248 and end of life around 274 for males and 290 for females.

Social Structure

Wendigo follow social hierarchy typically dependent on one's magical aptitude or strength as a material user, though the former is more valued. The royalty of Yuhia is the most capable magic caster family in the entirety of the country. Nobility is maintained by high levels of magical aptitude and granted by the King of Yuhia.

Those with some magical ability but lacking the power to excel are part of the commoner class, where most of the population resides. These individuals range in both class and title, ranging from rich business tycoons to farmhand and everything in between but are unable to become nobility due to their lack in magical power.

Those with little or no magical ability occupy the lowest rung of society and often face social ostracization. This is primarily because magical ability is believed to be genetic, and a magicless wendigo is more likely to have magicless children.