Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2018 20:40:01 GMT -5
Forest Walkers
Some of the earliest Gurahl to inhabit the Pure Lands, the Forest Walkers migrated across the North American continent, settling mainly in the eastern and southern woodlands of what is now the United States. Many withdrew from the world as Europeans ravaged the continent’s wilderness, although some remained hidden and slumbering in what habitat was left to their ursine Kin. When those who left for the Umbra returned in the late 20th century, they found that the vast majority of the great forests destroyed, and their Kinfolk had followed their shapeshifting relatives’ example, retreating into what wildernesses remained. Although the most populous of any Gurahl tribe, the Forest Walkers still work hard to increase their numbers, and to preserve the lore of their Kinfolk as well as their own sacred history. Home Territories
Though they range across the breadth of the North American continent and even into Mexico, Forest Walkers are most plentiful in the woodlands of the eastern United States. Many stay in protected habitats such as national parks and wilderness preserves. They have also made inroads into the South American rainforests and African jungle in search of new Kinfolk — both human and ursine. Now and then, they attempt to cross into Asia, but so far have met with little acceptance among the native bear populations — and strange shifters — they have found there. Kinfolk
Bear Kinfolk among the Forest Walkers consist mainly of black bears with a smattering of other bear species, including the spectacled bears of South America. Homid Kinfolk used to come solely from Native American stock, predominantly of the southern and eastern tribes. As with all of the Gurahl, Forest Walkers have begun to take their human mates where they can, often choosing those who are actively working in forest conservation, animal preservation, or other outdoor career paths. Tribal Culture
Forest Walkers tend to form small groups for mutual support. They regularly attend powwows and gatherings, eager to learn and share new tales. Although independent, they treat their elders with great respect, and cooperate with one another, regardless of rank. Appearance
Ursine Forest Walkers usually resemble black bears, the smallest of North American bear species. Black bears tend towards broad skulls, narrow muzzles, and coats that are smooth and dense. Despite the name, fur color varies widely, ranging from a true blue-black to warm browns and almost blonde cinnamon tones. One sub-species is known for giving birth fairly often to non-albino whitecoated young. These “spirit bears” are prized by the Forest Walkers as ursine Kinfolk mates, as they give birth to a higher-than-normal ratio of Gurahl offspring. Human-born members of the tribe resemble the ethnic type of their human parent. Traditionally this has included Native American tribes throughout most of the continent, as well as the tribal peoples of Asia, where there was some overlap with the now-extinct Okuma Gurahl.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2018 20:44:49 GMT -5
Ice Stalkers
The Ice Stalkers were once accused by the Garou of bringing about the Ice Age to serve the Wyrm’s purposes. Most modern Garou have never heard — or have chosen to forget — the accusations their ancestors slung against the Gurahl. But these rumors and lies came near to bringing about the destruction of an entire Changing Breed, so the point is still a sore one. Ice Stalkers maintain a keen interest in polar bears as well as the native peoples of Alaska and Northern Canada, watching the Wendigo Garou carefully (while staying out of their way). Human exploitation of the northern icelands for fossil fuels and other natural resources has hurt both the human and bear populations tied to this tribe, as have the climate changes which are slowly but surely melting away their territories. The Ice Stalkers now labor furiously to protect what remains of their lands and Kin, before both are lost forever. Home Territories
Ice Stalkers inhabit Alaska, northern Canada, Russia, and the circumpolar regions of the globe. Some have moved further south in Canada and into Scandinavia in search of potential Kinfolk, although they are wary of coming into closer proximity to the Garou populations that call those lands home. KinfolkMost bear Kinfolk are polar bears (with the occasional grizzly bear). Human-born Kinfolk traditionally come from the native Aleut and Inuit peoples, as well as other northern peoples like the Saami. Tribal Culture
Although many see only the fierce and intimidating aspects of their nature, Ice Stalkers are also highly inquisitive, impulsive, and curious, with a keen sense of humor and playfulness. Gregarious by nature, Ice Stalkers congregate in semi-permanent “family groups.” Buri-Jaan and cub often remain together for several years. They attend and hold more powwows and fests than any other tribe. Subjected to extensive periods of seclusion due to adverse climate conditions, the Stalkers zealously cultivate a wide variety of art forms. They excel at crafting jewelry and other items from the bones and hide of animals they kill for food, as well as sculpting ice — where it still remains to be crafted — into intricate shapes. Appearance
Most Stalkers come from polar bear stock and resemble their bear-parent in human form. Homid Ice Stalkers resemble their human parentage, whether Aleut, Inuit, Scandinavian, or other ethnic type.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2018 20:58:17 GMT -5
Mountain Guardians
The Mountain Guardians are the youngest of the Gurahl tribes, coming into being after the werebears crossed into the Pure Lands. They learned to coexist with the Wendigo, Uktena, and even the local Bastet. They served as shamans for the native northern tribes, and sometimes lived openly with the American Indians of the southwest. Risking annihilation to cooperate with those who had hunted them in the past, they worked with the Garou to cleanse the Pure Lands of the taint of the Pattern Breaker. They withdrew en masse when the European Garou arrived, leaving nothing but legends to tell of their presence there. Their return to fight the Soul Eater signaled their re-entry into the world. Upon their return, however, they discovered that during their absence, their grizzly bear Kin became almost extinct. Unwilling to leave their Kinfolk’s fate in the hands of those who had harmed them already, the Mountain Guardians vowed to remain, and today they fight to preserve their existing grizzly bear Kinfolk, while preparing themselves to stand with the Garou on the front lines of the Last Battles. Home Territories
Once, Mountain Guardians occupied the majority of central and western North America, including Canada and Mexico. Now, most Guardians dwell in national parks and preserves, particularly in the Northern Rockies of North America. Some travel to the rest of the continent to make contact with other Gurahl, but they are loathe to be parted from their ursine Kin for long, and many make their permanent homes in Western Canada or Alaska. Kinfolk
After the decimation of their traditional Kinfolk — the Native American tribes of western North America — the Guardians have begun to expand their human Kinfolk to include any who are strong enough of body and mind to brave the few-remaining wildernesses of the continent. Their new Kin are often chosen from among those who are still capable of living a hardy, outdoors life, despite the encroachment of civilization: remote northern villagers, homestead ranchers or farmers far from urban crawl, survivalists, and those who choose to live “off the grid” for one reason or another. The endangered grizzly bears form their primary ursine breeding stock, although interbreeding with the Ice Stalker tribe’s Kin is not unheard of — sometimes with and sometimes without the permission of that tribe’s Changers. Those who are attempting to reclaim former grizzly territory sometimes seek Kinfolk among the brown or black bears that are found there now. Tribal Culture
The Guardians tend toward solitary travel, coming together mostly at powwows and gatherings. They value independence, self-sufficiency, and privacy. The most competitive of the Gurahl, the Guardians’ culture revolves around challenges and competitions, emphasizing ritual combat more than any other tribe. Appearance
Human-born Guardians exhibit the appearance of their human ethnic heritage, though they tend toward the high end in both height and musculature. Most ursine Guardians resemble grizzly bears (or their bear-parent, in the case of cross-tribal breeding). Whether due to genetic predisposition or selective breeding, Guardian Kinfolk are rarely petite individuals; big bones and bigger attitudes tend to run strongly within the tribe.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2018 11:15:46 GMT -5
River Keepers
River Keepers once dwelt along all the major rivers of the world, including (but certainly not limited to) the Nile, Amazon, and Mississippi. During the War of Rage, their roles as shamans and weather-workers to the native populations in these areas made them easy targets for the rampaging Garou, and the River Keepers died in disproportionately high numbers. Those who survived went into hiding or hibernation, coming out only when the need was great enough to risk the Garou completing their attempt at ursine genocide. Along the Nile and the Amazon, the River Keepers were utterly annihilated, and their duties — and lands — were taken over by the Bastet of the area. In North America, the River Keepers remained active longer, assisting the Garou of the Pure Lands in their fight against the Wyrm, though they kept a low profile lest they draw the attention of their European counterparts. The coming of the Storm Eater brought the River Keepers out in force. When they returned from the deep wilderness and Umbral dens that had hidden them, the tribe saw that their Kin — ursine and human alike — had been abused, slaughtered, and driven from their native territories. Today, they work to bolster the existing bear population wherever they can. As a tribe, they are dedicated to renewing their ancient ties with the world’s waterways in order to give the armies of Gaia some unexpected resources against in the Final Battles against the Pattern Breaker. Home Territories
Once common to all riverlands of the world, the Keepers were largely driven out of Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, leaving the majority of the tribe along the more remote rivers of Alaska, Russia, and the Pacific Northwest. A brave few, however, have sought out the rivers of other parts of the world to make their homes, taking up their guardianship of those long-abandoned waterways in hopes of healing the damage done through centuries of neglect and misuse. Kinfolk
Human Kinfolk of the Keepers are perhaps the most diverse of all of the Gurahl, crossing many ethnic and cultural backgrounds. From Egypt and Africa to the Americas and beyond, human civilizations have always thrived along strong, clean sources of water, and the Keepers were there to make certain the resource was not being abused. Human-born Keepers resemble their human parent, which could mean heritage from virtually any ethnic group. Many Ursine Keepers come primarily from black or brown bear stock but also the sloth bear of India, the Himalayan or moon bear, the Malayan sun bear, and South America’s spectacled bear. In northern climes, there is also significant crossover between Keeper Kinfolk and those of the Ice Stalker tribe. Tribal Culture
Keepers have no formal organization, though they do manage to meet informally to exchange information and gifts. They have at least one large gathering a year. Though they usually travel alone, they sometimes work in small groups. Much of the Keepers’ culture revolves around the giving and receiving of gifts, whether material items, such as food or artwork, or less tangible things, like stories, poetry, and songs. They also share Gifts and rites as part of the gifting. River Keepers also consider hosting gatherings a sacred duty. Appearance
Homid River Keepers have the same phenotype as their human parent and exhibit the most variations among the Gurahl. Ursine Keepers resemble their bear parent, resulting in just as great diversity within the tribe’s bear-born members.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2018 11:25:32 GMT -5
Breeds
Gurahl have only two breeds — homid and ursine. Because werebears choose their mates carefully through the use of a special ritual, metis Gurahl are unheard of. Gurahl consider this a special boon from Gaia as a result of their generally solitary lifestyle. A deformed or otherwise flawed Gurahl would seldom survive the rigors of wilderness life on her own. Should two Gurahl mate, the union results in no pregnancy, or else a stillbirth. As the Gurahl are under great pressure to repopulate their Breed after the decimation of the War of Rage, Gurahl who choose to involve themselves in such a fruitless pairing are viewed with great sadness by the rest of their kind.
• Homid: For hundreds of years after the War of Rage, the Gurahl removed themselves from the world — including human society — to protect themselves from the Garou’s predation. This meant that there were extensive periods — entire generations — where there were no homid werebears born at all. Gurahl born from humans are beginning to make a comeback, though they are still sparse in number. Traditionally, human-born Gurahl were born into tribal societies that were somewhat apart from mainstream urban civilization, or among cultures with strong traditions and connections to the natural world. However, many of these families have integrated with urban culture, bringing forth a generation of homid Gurahl who are comfortable with high-tech gadgets, cars, computers, and the like. To make up for past losses in Kinfolk, Gurahl have tried to select new groups of humans as breeding stock. While these may be from any culture, werebears are very careful in choosing their mates, and many have taken partners from among those involved in medical careers, peace-keeping duties, environmental activism, or wilderness protection.
Beginning Rage: 3 Beginning Gnosis: 4
Starting Gifts: Persuasion, Ursa’s Light
• Ursine: For centuries after the War of Rage, the Gurahl were an almost exclusively ursine Breed. Mating with, and raising young among, their bear-Kin was seen as safer than among homids with whom the Garou might also be interacting. Even today, many Gurahl active in the modern world come from bear-parents, although hunting and territory devastation have taken a toll on the were-bear’s ursine Kin. Where bears are endangered, ursine Gurahl are rare. Most modern bear-born Gurahl grow up within protected places such as restricted wilderness areas and national parks, retaining bear form until some crisis forces the First Change — and hopefully alerts a teacher to their presence. Once they have taken on human form, ursine Gurahl often remain in that form out of curiosity about human affairs, learning as much as their human born cousins (though usually later in life). Gurahl born in captivit usually escape (or are “liberated” by other Gurahl) soon after their First Change.
Beginning Rage: 4
Beginning Gnosis: 5
Starting Gifts: Heightened Senses, Voice of Woe
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2018 11:34:13 GMT -5
Forms
Gurahl possess five forms ranging from those that would pass for normal humans and animals to those which are likely to have sparked wilderness legends of monstrous beasts of the forest. • Homid: Gurahl in human form are indistinguishable from normal humans, though many tend to be above average in height and musculature. Werebears with human parents resemble the ethnic heritage of their family, while Gurahl with a bear parent tend to retain the general pigmentation of their bear-form. A Gurahl’s human voice has a rich timbre; they tend to speak slowly and thoughtfully, although this is as much a manifestation of their nature as of their form. • Arthren: The “near-man” form of the Gurahl resembles the stereotypical wild man of the mountains: humanoid, but hairy and unkempt, with brutish features. Arthren Gurahl are tall and burly, often approaching (or exceeding) the human extreme for both height and weight. This form does not invoke the Delirium but does tend to intimidate most humans. Their voices are often guttural and harsh, but they are capable of human language in this form. • Crinos: The Gurahl’s fighting form inspires nightmares in humans even when they are awake (invoking the Delirium). Standing upright at between 14 and 16 feet in height, the Crinos Gurahl may weigh well more than a ton. The Crinos face becomes bearlike with huge canines capable of biting small trees (or other limbs) in two. Non-retractable claws extend to nine inches on both front and hind paws, perfect for burrowing through stone — or flesh. The Gurahl’s fur is thick and shaggy in Crinos form, providing natural armor for battle. Gurahl can speak only in harsh monosyllables in this form. • Bjornen: The cave-bear form. Gurahl in Bjornen are most comfortable on four feet, although they are capable of walking upright for short distances. Much taller and more massive than contemporary bears, Gurahl in Bjornen have elongated claws on all four paws, and sharp teeth. In this form, a Gurahl reverts to instinctual “thinking” and loses the ability to converse in human languages altogether, although it may still communicate roughly in the Gurahl tongue. • Ursus: Gurahl in Ursus form look like normal bears of whatever species they are most closely related to by birth or tribe. They can speak the language of bears and a limited version of the Gurahl tongue. When in this form, Gurahl tend to think like the bears they resemble.
|
|
|
Post by Polar on Jan 10, 2018 22:37:39 GMT -5
Forest Walkers - black bear Ice Stalkers - polar bear Mountain Guardians - brown bear River Keepers - kodiak/atlas bear???
Result? The whole crew of Ursus
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2018 7:33:07 GMT -5
Is it any wonder that I like them?
|
|
|
Post by brobear on Mar 17, 2018 6:53:17 GMT -5
www.movieinsider.com/m10266/mowgli#plot The story follows the upbringing of the human child Mowgli (Rohan Chand), raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo (Andy Serkis) and a panther named Bagheera (Christian Bale), Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own. All but one: the fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch). But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.
|
|
|
Post by brobear on Mar 17, 2018 8:37:33 GMT -5
screenrant.com/andy-serkis-jungle-book-origins-differences-interview/ Andy Serkis says his Jungle Book: Origins film is a more genuine adaptation of the classic novel, and was shot using motion capture. A combination of bad timing and a bit of bad luck have the Serkis-helmed film following the hugely successful Disney version that was released in 2016. Loaded with an all-star cast itself, in addition to directing, Serkis will star as Baloo alongside Benedict Cumberbatch as Shere Khan, Christian Bale as Bagheera, Cate Blanchett as Kaa, Naomie Harris as Nisha, Freida Pinta (presumably as Raksha), and more A-listers. Where the Disney film spent much of its time with Mowgli coming to terms with his animal family, this version will include the man-cub getting a handle on his human side. In a previous interview with Serkis, he compares his work with Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes to working with animals whose faces don’t move as fluidly as apes. He describes the process as having to create animals from scratch that embody what their actors are truly emoting. *Note: I just wonder if Andy Serkis will portray Baloo as the brown bear he is meant to be or follow the Disney version with a sloth bear?
|
|
|
Post by brobear on Mar 17, 2018 10:03:21 GMT -5
*Also, besides have the right bear, Himalayan brown bear as Baloo, might they do Mowgli correctly rather than the sugar-coasted Disney version? In the books, Mowgli, being raised by wolves and other animal friends, was - of course - in the raw. Wild animals do not dress their cubs in "little britches". This can be done, as it was in the 1942 film, The Jumgle Book" staring Sabu. Also, in the 1984 movie, "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" when the young Tarzan, as in the novels, was as naked as the monkeys and apes. So, will this movie prove to be a more realistic novel-version or just another Disney-Like politically correct version?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2018 21:09:08 GMT -5
Credits to Mark Viszlay. The bear has arrived - Moscow.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2018 10:02:27 GMT -5
Credits to Chad Poppelton. A bull moose dies from the elements at the end of a long winter, a grizzly fresh out of his den finds a banquet and then is joined by unwanted hungry guests. Who will prevail?...
|
|
|
Post by brobear on Mar 19, 2018 10:18:36 GMT -5
The wolves will try to bluff. They cannot risk loosing one, two, or more members of the pack for a single carcass.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 12:58:45 GMT -5
Grizzly Encounter II by painter John Banovich.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 17:59:07 GMT -5
Credits to Monson Art.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 9:44:11 GMT -5
What do you guys think of the berserkers in norse mythology? They wear bear heads as helmets. They are some of the strongest fighters in norse mythology if Im not mistaking?
|
|
|
Post by brobear on Sept 22, 2018 12:33:02 GMT -5
What do you guys think of the berserkers in norse mythology? They wear bear heads as helmets. They are some of the strongest fighters in norse mythology if Im not mistaking? Those were real Vikings who were part of a "bear cult". Bear cults were so common from some very early age right up until between 1000 Ad and 1200 Ad. The ancient Church actually waged war against the bear to end the cults. This is how the lion ended up replacing the bear as "King of Beasts". The word berserker in the ancient Scandinavian language means "bear shirt". The berserkers wore bear hides for clothing and thought themselves endowed with the strength of bears. The only bear native to Europe is Ursus arctos.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2018 16:09:20 GMT -5
Credits to Grizzly Bear Kingdom.
|
|
|
Post by tom on Oct 30, 2018 20:48:36 GMT -5
That would make a great print on a shirt.
|
|