Frost Ursid
The Frost Ursids are the rarest of the Ursid races, a once-mighty lineage now driven to the edge of extinction by ecological upheaval and war. After Humans departed Terra Prime, the planet underwent a natural climatic cycle, shifting from a temperate–polar balance to a warmer state. As the polar ice caps receded, the great Frost Bears—ancestral megafauna of the frozen wastes—lost their habitat. Those that survived became the genetic foundation of the Frost Ursids, though the reduced variance left their numbers perilously low.
Frost Ursids are renowned as the largest and strongest of all Ursid peoples. Towering in stature with thick white fur and deep black eyes, they embody both the primal force of their glacial ancestors and the tragedy of ecological loss. Today, they are a dwindling species, remembered as warriors, mercenaries, and relics of a colder age.
Overview
- Rarity: One of the rarest sentient species of Galaxa, surpassed in scarcity only by Humans following their departure from Terra Prime.
- Homeworld: Terra Prime (Galaxa), specifically the polar regions before the great melt.
- Enclaves: Small hidden settlements persist in Terra Prime’s highest mountains, where the cold endures despite planetary warming.
- Ecological Decline: Victims of climate cycles, habitat loss, and territorial wars.
- Cultural Theme: Survival, loss, and strength in solitude.
Biology
Anatomy
- Size and Strength: Largest of the Ursids, often exceeding the height and weight of their cousins by wide margins.
- Fur and Camouflage: Thick white fur evolved for snow camouflage, now marking them as relics of an obsolete ecosystem.
- Eyes: Solid black, adapted for high-contrast vision in low-light and blizzard conditions.
- Cold Resistance: Near immunity to freezing temperatures, capable of surviving storms and sub-zero environments unassisted.
Traits
- Longevity: Comparable to other Ursids, though shortened by harsh lifestyles and mercenary work.
- Technology Affinity: Known for the creation of frost-based technology—weapons, armor, and survival gear that harness cryogenic energy.
Culture and Behavior
- Solitary Tendencies: Particularly among males, who are notorious loners and often leave Terra Prime entirely. Many live as mercenaries, smugglers, or bounty hunters, earning reputations for violence and reliability in equal measure.
- Enclave Life: Those who remain on Terra Prime live in hidden mountain strongholds, relying on ancient frost-tech to preserve their way of life. These enclaves are fiercely guarded, with outsiders rarely permitted entry.
- Conflict Resolution: Little patience for diplomacy; disputes are settled through raw physicality or the threat of it.
- Family Structure: Small family groups persist among females and their offspring, but larger clans are rare.
History
Ecological Collapse
The warming of Terra Prime’s poles reduced Frost Ursid population to a fraction of their original numbers. Their survival hinged on genetic engineering and adaptation drawn from the dwindling Frost Bear stock, yet their population never recovered beyond scattered enclaves.
The Felid War
Frost Ursids once waged a brutal conflict with the Felids over polar hunting territories. Though the Felids were ultimately forced from Terra Prime, the Frost Ursids bore catastrophic losses. This war further cemented their decline, leaving them scarred as a people and mistrustful of alliances.
Diaspora and Enclaves
With Terra Prime’s frozen realms gone, most surviving Frost Ursids live abroad, scattered across the Galaxa. Yet, a handful of hidden enclaves persist high in Terra Prime’s mountains, where cold winds and glaciers still cling. These mountain bastions are the last sanctuaries of Frost Ursid culture and are viewed with reverence by their kin abroad.
Interactions with Other Species
- With Ursids: Respected for strength but regarded as tragic and unstable due to their dwindling numbers.
- With Felids: Open hostility remains, with blood-feuds persisting across generations.
- With Humans: Shared a kinship in loss, as both species saw their Terra Prime legacy disrupted.
- With Wider Galaxa: Known as mercenaries and warriors-for-hire, feared more than befriended.
Trivia
- Frost Ursids are often mistaken for myth or exaggeration due to their rarity.
- Their frost-technology is highly sought on black markets, with pieces of ancient Ursid-forged cryo-weapons commanding enormous value.
- Despite stereotypes of savagery, Frost Ursids are said to value loyalty deeply, considering betrayal a greater crime than murder.