Another post regarding the creatures of my mythical world of Vitarentel. This is concerning the mighty race of the Elvurs. The Elvurs are in the Bestiary due to the fact that they are giant wolves. Some of them have been known to grow as large as a horse, and jump over forty-foot walls. They have poison fangs in place of the canine teeth, and the only antidote for a bite is to get bit by the opposite gender than you were originally bit by. They are extremely strong, extremely fast, and very deadly. The Elvurs are not mentioned in any of the tales or songs of the elves, they are only spoken of in nightmares. Most of the Elvurs serve the enemy, Moren, but there are some who are free and fight against him, unwilling to declare allegiance to either side. They fight for and against the enemy at the same time, by destroying his enemies and thralls.

So, what say you of this race? I look forward to your feedback and questions!

Very nice. Good job, I love the fact of them being poisonous.
I have a question: If they fight for and against the enemy, are they just simply animals who attack whomever or have they made a conscious decision to rebel as it seems from what you said and if not would they be intellegent enough to make that decision? Are they used similar to the way horses and wargs are used?
Awesome animals!

-Aeleknight

Yes, they are a bit like animals, except a little more intelligent. They have made a conscious decision to remain free, however, the elves are ancient enemies of the Elvurs, ever since the first elves landed on the continent of Vitarentel.

And yes, they are used similarly to wargs and horses, except they can function just as well without a rider as with one.

They have to get bit by the opposite gender?! How original is that?! I have to say, when I read that I went O.O... I've never even heard of that being done. Very original. I like it.

So obviously these things are sentient, but how far does that sentience go?

Wow, I don't think something like that would need the poison at all.
I don't think one would survive an attack by one anyway.

@ Airianna, Thanks, I wasn't sure if I was going to include that in their traits, but it is for sure a part of the Elvurs now. Yes, they are sentient, they made a conscious decision to not serve the Enemy, but they were at war with the elves over territory a hundred years prior to the book, and the hatred still remains. Also, they have the ability to reason, but not as much as the other races of Vitarentel.

@ The Bard, An Elvurs does not need venom for a human, dwarf, or goblin, but the elves, trolls, and Kudaren are a little harder to bring down. the elves practically won the war with the Elvurs, but they decided it would take too long to fully drive the creatures out of the territory, and decided to move further West. Though one can survive an attack by an Elvurs, it is highly unlikely that one would survive a bite from an Elvurs of the opposite gender, even with the venom from the previous bite fully neutralized...

Okay, cool. Thanks for sharing.

When these Elvurs do come into Elf territory, are they hunted? Do bands go out and if they bring one back, get a handsome reward? Are their furs highly valuable? Or do the Elves look upon them as worthless and in-the-way type of creatures? Do the Elves tend to shy away from Elvurs?


My curious thoughts,
God Bless,
-Donn Q.

If an Elvurs is sighted in Elven territory first all the people are called back into the village via horn calls. Next the elder of the village and his band of warriors approach the Elvurs an warn it that it is in the territory of the elves and command it to leave. If it does not leave, or continues into the territory of the elves, then they send a message to the capitol via hawk or eagle, and then a special team is sent out to kill or drive away the Elvurs. The Elvurs are respected by the elves, but they are also a dangerous and hated enemy, when the Elvurs are killed, the body is burned.

Very interesting. Thanks!

God Bless,
-Donn Q.

Whooogh! Ooh, that gives me shivers! Good job!

Thanks! This is one of the races in the book that gets the most comments. Them and the Kudaren... I'm looking forward to writing about them.

Do you have to be properly bitten by an Elvur of the opposite sex to the original bite, or could you (for example) carry a supply of Elvur fangs taken from the dead and use them to cure bites?

That's a very interesting concept! I'll have to think about it, on one hand, the venom could have a certain shelf life, and on the other, the odds of facing an Elvurs and killing it without being bitten (unless you're an elf) are extremely low...

Wow, interesting

When I first read it, it said they could get as big as a horse, and I thought it said house. So now, I have this image of these giant wolves as big as houses. LOL
These sound very scary, even if they are only as big as a horse
So, who would ride these things, if they are hostile to everyone?
What colors can they be?
About how long are their claws? Teeth?
Do they go around in packs, or are they solitary for the most part (since they're so big, I would think solitary).
What is their hierarchy like?
Can they speak, or merely think?
Have any of them ever been tamed or befriended?
How many young are in a litter?
What is the best way to kill one?

Monta tervedis, Laura Elizabeth, Ei talen elleama vel selen silen loestel!

Oh my, that brought a scary image...

Some of them have turned to the enemy, so as far as riders, goblins and sorcerers would probably ride these. Some also have joined the side of light, and perhaps the dwarves would be able to ride them, but dwarves prefer the feel of stone beneath their feet...
As far as colors, I normally picture them like giant grey wolves, but some could be brown and some black as well.
Their claws are the same size in comparison to their body size as a regular wolf's claws are to their size. Their teeth are the same way, with the exception of the canine teeth, which are replaced by hollow fangs like those of a serpent, which are linked to a sac containing potent venom.
I hadn't thought about how they would live, but probably in mating pairs for life, with bachelor males traveling in small bands together until locating a mate.
I've not decided whether or not they can talk. I was thinking of having a complex language of growls and barks, used in conjunction with different body languages to communicate, but they are certainly capable of rational thought.
In history past there have been times when Elvurs have befriended elves and fought alongside their previously mortal enemies, but that has been rare.
That I have not thought of either, probably around two or three pups per litter.
The best way to kill one would be to shoot just behind the front shoulder in hopes of getting the arrow to hit the heart and lungs, but due to their size it is extremely difficult, one would need to be an expert archer with an extremely powerful bow. The other option would be to enter Illnorean (if one is an elf) and dodge to the side as the Elvurs charges while cutting for the neck. Another option (if you're a dwarf) would be to plant your pike as it charges and hope to get it in the throat as it charges. All of these options are extremely difficult, and very rarely successful.

Thank you for all the questions!

Ah, you're welcome
Was that Tolkien Elvish at the beginning? I recognized the word 'silen', even though I don't know what it means

Ah, one of my favorite topics! I'm making my own Elvish language for my book. I call it Seanil, which translates as the Word. The greeting at the beginning translates as "Many greetings, may the star of life on our meeting shine." I have a post about the language here. Sometimes working on the language is more fun than the books.