I can't
hide I'm excited with this race.
Same as Orcs I wouldn't like to see Bearan as brainless brute beings. "Bearan smash". I would also like to see a "healthy rivalry/sportsmanship" against Orcs, for me they are similar in some aspects, I think some good stories can come out from that.
STRENGTHS
▶Natural
predators: They were
born to kill, Orcs are survivors, Bearan are natural predators. They are the
strongest playable race, only most strongest Orcs can compare in strength with
a Bearan. They have fangs, claws, speed, power, big size, strength, better
sense of smell, better ear, natural armor against sun, cold, water and ice, natural
camouflage, excellent sense of orientation, a connection with nature.
▶Frenzy: Frenzy state empowers all their physical
skills. Something like Viking Berserks, and similar to Orc Berserk.
▶Short
Hibernation: I already suggested that only
younger Bearan have to hibernate until they reach their adulthood rite to reach
the "Short Hibernation" mode (that's a bad name), adult Bearan
getting the benefits of Hibernation just by sleeping is an strength. This
hibernation is a form of meditation that empowers their mental skills.
▶Naval force: If Bearan are going to take
some aspects from Viking culture, I would like them to be experts at sailing
with big and medium size ships, meaning they are faster on the oceans, and they
can sail rivers.
▶Fishing: They love fish. Actually, I would
like to see fishing big fishes like a sport or a rite for something, not like
the Salmon Day. Something more dangerous, fishing something that equals,
doubles or triples their size on the Ocean, something where they have to use
their natural weapons to fish.
▶Quick Learners: They often are very underestimated
by other races, except by Orcs who sees them as exceptional enemies to prove
their strength. Other races look them like talking animals. Bearan are natural
predators, what means that they are natural hunters, what means that they can
study their prey to exploit their weaknesses and learn how to kill it. They
often use this to beat the enemies who underestimate their intelligence.
▶Social Intelligence: They have ritualistic mechanisms to meet strangers and
decide if they are friendly or not. Bearan routinely
distinguish between threatening and non-threatening human (and other races) behaviour.
▶Trustworthy: Once you have won their trust, if you are their friend, they won’t let you down, sometimes even if they don’t feel comfortable with what they are doing, of course they have limits. That’s why Orcs respect Bearan, they are honorable creatures for them.
WEAKNESSES
▶Traditionalism: Just like Orcs their
traditionalism can be a limitant factor to develop their society.
▶Size: Sometimes being that big can be a
disadvantage
▶Frenzy: Once they are in frenzy state,
making them to get to a normal state is a difficult task for others and for
theirselves. It requires a lot of training to control that state. We can see it
like Avatar state from Avatar The Last Airbender. Just the more experienced
Bearan can control theirselves while they are in Frenzy state.
▶Long - Hibernation: As I said, all Bearan that haven't passed the Bearan
adulthood rite must to long hibernate, what it can be a great disadvantage in
times of war.
▶Little endurance on long battles/distances:
Bears are fast; they can run
more than 60 kilometers an hour (37 mph) – that’s twice as fast as an Olympic
sprinter. In fact, a bear can outrun a race horse over short
distances, but has little endurance. To put their speed in perspective, bears
can run 15 meters per second (50 feet per second). That’s why they also use mounts to travel.
▶Body language: Bearan communicate using body language, sounds and
smells. Bearan treat humans and other races just as they would other Bearan;
the problem is that Bearan are very physical with each other, with the
intentional use of bites, swats or body posturing, what intimidates and often
leads to conflict with members of other races.
▶Predictable and peaceful: They are peaceful. Bears are not as unpredictable and dangerous as Hollywood or the media would have us believe. Bears exhibit very predictable behaviour. This trait can be beneficial to people who come into contact with Bearan, even enemies. They can conquer and fight if they want, but they prefer to remain in peace, they only fight when they need to do it, they respect nature.
▶Bad eyes: They have great vision for close distances but not so good for long distances, they are likely not able to see details of a large object from further than aprox. 25 meters away.
I’m saving some things for Friday, because I think they
fit better on that topic.
Thanks for reading!