THE SALTROMNIJR: A BIO

Salstromnijr are natives of the cold mountains of Hollyhock, where they eke out relatively peaceful lives. They are earth-aligned elemental creatures, with a variety of magical abilities which accumulate as they age and gain experience. Additionally, all salstromnijr are given control over a specific type of magic at birth, which I will elaborate on further in this bio.

They are around 8ft/2.5m at the shoulders when fully-grown and weigh several pounds. Their forelegs are extremely strong, like a bear of similar standing. A salstromnijr's single horn is the source of its birth magic, their earth magic drawn from the planet which they live on. These creatures are, also like a bear, able to stand on their hind paws. Unlike a bear, however, they are fully functional when on two paws and may run or walk as fast as possible as if they were on four. Their forepaws additionally have a thumblike appendage which allows them to grasp and hold onto objects like a werewolf.

Their intelligence is remarkable among most creatures, rivaled only by dragons. They are capable of advanced math and linguistics, along with astrology and numerology. Their language is harsher on the ears compared to the tongue of dragons, of which it is thought a common proto-language is shared (though both races very strongly do not believe this).

Dragons and salstromnijr are, seemingly, forever at odds. The salstromnijr prefer to keep to themselves in the mountains, while dragons actively engage in claiming territory and hoarding treasure... typical dragon things. Some say that a long time ago, dragons and salstromnijr were born of the same kin, and that the salstromnijr are simply wingless, furred dragons. Along the way, however, a clashing of interests often drove them apart. Salstromnijr are not willing to give up their mountains to the dragons, who often come along to try and claim them. Salstromnijr also disapproved of the dragons' reign over the Salken for several thousands of years, and it was the salstromnijr who kept with them the young good dragon which changed all of this in times of trouble.

The single most important bond between salstromnijr are the clans. Clans among salstromnijr have existed for as long as anyone could remember, as they are one of few creatures older in roots than dragons. Clan names are often long, for example, "White Leaf Upon the River Setk". The heads of clans are often females. At the roots of all clans are the ancestral clan figures, the first female salstromnijr of a given clan. They are often very iconic and are the spirits given everyday prayer. For more serious prayer, the very first salstromnijr (a mythological figure for sure) is given tribute, "Clan Mother" is her only name. At birth, the ancestral figures of a clan will endow a salstromnijr with personal magic. This may be anything from healing to control of weather to control of gravity.

Their culture is mostly sedentary, they gather and hunt carefully on a specific range so that they may ensure livable conditions for their descendants.