Fellows,

The Vulgrak (vool-grack) are a race of Being (in my series, a "Being" is a metaphor for a certain belief or worldview here in the real world, whereas the "Beast" is just an animal. In this case, the Vulgrak represents Naturalistic Darwinism - the "Noble Savage" if you remember your philosophy class), but is more of a creature than not. They are hooved creatures, similar to a Faun in that regard except their hooves are not cloven and they do not have the hair covering their legs. Instead, they are as hairless as a human. Their skin is dark, ranging from brown, to gray, to black. Their faces resemble humans' except more muscled and bony, with nostrils instead of noses, and at times their mouths (or to use a creature-ish term: jaws) protrude fangs. Their necks and shoulders are thick with muscle, and though the Vulgrak walk and stand on their hind-legs, they run on all-fours. They have hands designed for crushing and tearing, and many Rogue Vulgrak (often called "Blooders" by the common folk), which choose to hunt down only human prey, kill their victims by tearing out the heart and eating it in their presence just as they die. Graphic, I know, but effective considering the way Naturalistic Darwinism steals the heart of the intellectual.

The horse is often used in the Bible to represent strength or war. So I decided that in my language of the Vulgrak, I would use horse-ish terminology: the Vulgrak don't roar, they bray; they don't have cubs or children, they have colts; they don't have hair, they have manes; and so on. I noticed Tolkien used a similar technique with his Orcs, only it was dogs or wolves instead of horses (in "The Hobbit," the goblins often "howled" or "barked").

So, let me know what you think.

Desiderio Domini,
Palavini

Nice. Very fearsome-sounding creatures...I must say. Just one question. If they are like horses, and have hooves, how are their hands specially designed for crushing and tearing. (You said they run on all fours, so I assumed they had four hooves instead of two like fauns)

Your book sounds interesting. Does each type of creature have a different Being? And what are all the different Beings? Anyways, it all sounds interesting...can you post more about different races and maybe some of the story? By the way, welcome to the forum!

eruheran

The Beings are:

The Vulgrak (naturalistic Darwinism)
The Dwarves (New Darwinism)
The Elodell - ee-low-dell (Calvinistic Christianity)
The Rood (Catholic Christianity)
The Baridor - bare-eh-door (Armenian Christianity)
The Shelo - shee-low (Agnosticism)
Countless others...

The Beasts are:
The Burrow Folk (which are basically talking animals)
The Faerie Folk (in my book, faeries/fairies are birds "with blessings")
The Dragons
The Baridor Wolves
The Griffins
Countless others...

Fellow Eruheran,

If you want a more in-depth description on the divisions between Beings and Beasts, visit my new post of the same name.

Desiderio Domini,
Palavini

Good job describing a horrifying creature. How big are they and what is there skin like? Could a normal human ever overpower them? And do they use weapons?

Fellow Griffin,



As far as size goes, an average Vulgrak will be a head taller than an average man. Their skin is like a humans', though rougher and leathery, and can be either black, gray, or brown (or red, though this is rare). A normal human being stands little chance overpowering a Vulgrak, and even trained warriors have a difficult time with them. The Vulgrak are Beings in my world, which means they can teach themselves, and think, reason, and perform better than Beasts. This means a Vulgrak can also learn to fight. However, they aren't very good at it. That leads to some history:

In the days before the Wars of Braygon (a series of battles between only Beings and Beasts), the Vulgrak were a civilized society. They had their own art-forms, forged their own weaponry, wrote in their own language, and so on. Their culture was defined and sustained. Their city was called Shamadume of the Green Eyes, for its ruler, a red-skinned, green-eyed Vulgrak by the name of Shama, ruled it well. The other nations were wary of the Vulgrak, for they were a somewhat savage and hostile race. As The Wars of Braygon drew to a close, it was suddenly revitalized when the Vulgrak, by the command of their king (called a High Savage) Shama, made war with the Beings and defended the Beasts (which at this point were predominantly Dragons - a nasty, evil race). At the Battle of Braygon'wull, a the Vulgrak were defeated and their city, Shamadume, burned by a General named Alibur. However, the Vulgrak king, Shama, did something no Vulgrak was known or allowed to do - he lost, not because he was killed, but because he surrendered. In the savage culture of the Vulgrak, every warrior was expected to fight until death. Shama's actions in surrendering his High Savage Totem (an elegant, Vulgrak-crafted knife called Dalamvi, which he was forced to bestow on Alibur) was like breaking the land-law. The Vulgrak, in seeing their leader so shamed, were shamed likewise and grew wild. Their civilization was never rebuilt. Their culture vanished. The Vulgrak were now divided and scattered across the lands, many turning rogue and hunting down human quarry. Nothing remains of the once powerful Shamadume. Their weapons were now unkept and rusted away. What weapons they now used, along with their clothing and other needed items, were stolen. Their burnt cities crumbled to dust. The Vulgrak are now more like Beasts than Beings.

However, only one item remains of that lost civilization: the knife, Dalamvi, now in the possession of Alibur. By the time my series begins, the General is on a hunt trying to find a red-skinned, green-eyed Vulgrak to return the Totem to him and restore the Vulgrak cities. Shama is last hope for peace from the Wars of Braygon, which in a way, never ended.

Desiderio Domini,
Pavalini

So does that mean that they are not all evil? They were good once, but went wild?

Fellow Griffin,

Vulgrak were never quite "good." They had a civilization, but it's culture was not near as rich as that of other Beings. Because of their primal philosophy, Vulgrak saw no difference between Beings and Beasts (which is why they fought for the Beasts in the Wars of Braygon). They were always hostile, savage, and warrior-like, but until their king broke the Vulgrak philosophy by surrendering, rather than fighting to the death, their animalistic nature was never fully realized.

They had always warred with the neighboring civilizations. The only difference now is that they battle in one's or two's or in swarms, rather than in armies.

Desiderio Domini,
Pavalini

So there culture didn't really change?

Fellow Griffin,

They used to fight in armies: organized, governed, and well-armed. Now they fight in disorganized, leaderless swarms or in singles, armed with whatever they've stolen

They used to have certain enemies, now they're enemies with everyone.

They used to live in cities within walls. Now they are scattered across the kingdoms, their cities left to crumble.

They used to speak and write their own language. Now they speak the common tongue, yet unable to write or read, and their own language has reduced to brays and roars.

One could at one point reason with a Vulgrak. Now they are mindless savages.

Reduced to an animalistic state, they war with the Beasts as equals, fighting as every Beast does for survival. The very creatures they protected in the Wars of Braygon are now their natural enemies; so much for the gratitude of an animal.

Did their culture and its noble-savage philosophy actually change? No, it did not. It merely became what it ultimately saw itself.

As said before, the "unforgivable sin" committed by their High Savage in surrendering his throne was like breaking the land-law. Not only did their social government fall, but so did the self-government of every Vulgrak. The intellectuals of my world debate if the Vulgrak are still Beings. Most believe not. However, we come to find that one Vulgrak regains his self-government, though none others follow. This Vulgrak happens to be the High Savage himself, Shama. After spending years as a Rogue Vulgara, he finally comes to his sense with the help of my protagonist, Dythus.

But that's another story...

Desiderio Domini,
Pavalini