Volpi

The Volpi (singular: Volpe) are a fox-like Packfolk (and oftentimes Woodfolk) race which are commonly found all throughout Howl Basin's more forested areas. Among the Packfolk heritages they are some of the more individualistic, but the are nonetheless strongly social individuals who form and feircely defend personal, and oftentimes familial, cliques. They are particularly known for their social graces, general cleverness, and cunning. These may be intended as complements or condemnation depending on who is speaking: one man's gracious problem solver is, after all, another man's schemer.

History

While the Volpi are found throughout the temperate northern regions of the World, and even parts of the Frontier in native populations, perhaps surprisingly, they are relative newcomers to Howl Basin, arriving only as the region began to be settled. By and large they have formed two broader camps within their own culture, with one portion of their culture finding their tribe and niche in the denser cities springing up around the basin, and the other subset finding greater comradery abroad and afield, in a return to their roots.

Culture

Art and Architecture

Volpi artists tend toward find craft as often as possible, favouring what they would term as "tasteful ostentation" over purely functional design. Their homes are always orderly and usually well appointed. It is common for Volpi to collect and display art objects and other "finer things" as both an investment and display of wealth, as part of their social climber natures.

Furs are especially prized by Volpi and are used in their fashion and artworks. Sometimes these are Folk furs, though this practice has been illegal for nearly a century now thanks to the formation of the Federation.

Language

The Volpi language, Volantine, has a complex structure, with a somewhat rigid (though hard to navigate for foreigners) system of gendered grammar, applying to both the speaker and the subject. This grammer also includes several layers of formality and honorifics intended to not just acknowledge the presence of a social divide, but just how broad that divide may be. Many Volpi learn additional languages appropriate for the region in which they live, but they rarely suppress their own distinct accents.

The Volantine written language is clearly recognizable as it is written in the Lagosi script, causing it to appear to be complete jibberish to those familiar with that language.

Food

Volantine cuisine is rich, varied, and heavily oriented toward the consumption of animal protein - prior to the Volantine joining the Federation, this sometimes included the flesh of other Folks, especially Lagos. It is common for Volantine dishes to involve extensive preparation and prior planning, and even their vegetable dishes and sweets are considered exercises in decadence.

Religion and Spirituality

"The right way to rob a movin' train is to stop it first."

- Anonymous Lagos Bandit

This article or section alludes to information that is under active development and subject to change.

Science and Technology

The attitudes of Volpi toward the current era of rapid technological progress are mixed, and are largely divided between their urban-dwelling cousins (who tend to be among the Packfolk) or their more rural counterparts (who tend to be among the Woodfolk). The former group have lives that are improved in measured strides with each individual advancement of technology and are quick to embrace any development that benefits them personally or is obtaining social currency. The latter, with a more measured approach and often times more experience dealing with Howler natives and the working class, tend to have more nuanced attitudes toward the use of technology, though they're often reluctant to give up a luxury if they become accustomed to it.

Entertainment

Volpi dancers are especially well known and sought after for cabarets, and their singers often obtain quite a fair bit of fame.

Society

While they're all relatively new to the Basin, the gracious nature of most Volpi tends to make them endearing to their neighbours. Many look to them as fans of their work, consider them as visible and well-mannered members of the community, or find usefulness in their gregarious natures. It's quite common for Hivefolk or Eyriefolk magnates to hire Volpi overseers to work with Folks that don't necessarily share their ideals, since the Volpi are by and large both comfortable and skilled at managing these sorts of social interactions. Because of this, quite a few public personalities, minor politicians, and middle managers are Volpi.

Physiology

Vulpi are small and lithe for the folks of the Howl Basin, approaching (and occasionally exceeding) 1.5 meters in height, and usually possessed of proportions best described as waifish. This makes them the second smallest of all the folks which constitue the Packfolk, second only to the musine Gaspard. A variety of factors create some variation in coats and facial features of the Vulpi, which otherwise track with most species of fox, be they exceptionally fluffy and white like an Arctic Fox, or lithe, ruddy, and keen-eyed.

The tails of Vulpi are a point of pride for their species and are often very well maintained, sometimes even ornamented.

Gameplay Mechanics

"The right way to rob a movin' train is to stop it first."

- Anonymous Lagos Bandit

This article or section alludes to information that is under active development and subject to change.

Base Apptitudes

During character creation, all Vulpi have +1 Presence and +1 Intuition, along with -1 Hardiness and -1 Willpower. Vulpi are phenomenally empathetic and perceptive socialites, but tend to let themselves be swayed by the social tide as a survival matter. Their small sizes naturally mean they cannot take the same physical punishment as, say, their larger Lupata cousins.

Heritage Trait

All Vulpi have the Mask of the Todd (Heritage Trait) property.

Vulpi may also select any one of the following secondary heritage traits:

• Urbane (Heritage Trait) - Urbane Vulpi have strong webs of connections and are especially talented at forging and improving new connections.
• To the Cleverest (Heritage Trait) - Many Vulpi are exceptionally clever and pride themselves on their ability to solve problems and understand puzzles, making huge leaps of inferences. This heritage trait adds a mechanic to supplement Analysis-related skill checks with Presence.
• Silver Breath (Heritage Trait) - A rare few Vulpi are touched by Strangeness in birth or life, and have an especial knack for a particular sort of it. This trait gives them access to that ability.