Jiuweihu (ju-way-who)

Known History

Beginnings

Few species are as steeped in mystery throughout the annals of Veltrona as the jiuweihu—'nine-tailed fox', or so the name means in Nerzin. A monsterkind people, they count themselves among the oldest immortals on Veltrona, contending the likes of dragonkind for seniority. For such lofty claims, though, the jiuweihu were far more reclusive and seldom bothered with the other peoples. They were so reclusive, in fact, most confused them as some kind of bizarre variant of the nebusah, who share a number of physiological similarities.   As with other immortal species, it's rather hard to say when or where the jiuweihu or their clans began. Their own mythologies commonly point toward them having arrived upon Veltrona, rather than through nature or manifestation. The details vary, but the theme of a calamitous event commonly runs throughout. It's supposed by their scholars the jiuweihu were once divine beings of a sort, but their nature changed at some point. While there are arguments over the details, or even the veracity of the event, it serves as the catalyst for the great impetus of the jiuweihu: transcendence.   Life is a journey that, for the mortal peoples, always ends in death of some manner. To the immortals, though, there is no natural 'end' to their story. For whatever meaning their life should have, they must endeavor to discover and make their own. The jiuweihu embody this truth wholly, for they are born weak and mortal, but through effort and self-realization, become powerful and divine. Each step of this journey is embodied within their fluffy, fox-like tails. Through greater realization, more tails manifest, with the greatest and most divine among them counting the mythical nine tails.   It is also upon that journey that many wandering jiuweihu, young or otherwise, cross paths with other species. Educated and capably formidable, they truly appeared otherworldly in their prowess to peoples far, far younger than them. Some were even worshiped by these others, and the jiuweihu found themselves confounded by such attention. They felt some responsibility and in their own ways, tried to guide and teach these younger peoples.   So began the point where many recorded meeting the jiuweihu, and all the joys and miseries thereof.    

Shared Burdens

The scholarly minds of the jiuweihu became informative bastions of knowledge to many of their young 'wards'. Despite the initial encounters often going well, the teachings of the jiuweihu did not survive first translation. Many of their ideas were appropriated, changed or mutated, and then produced things they deeply did not agree with. War, especially, horrified them as their peaceful knowledge unlocked many terrible things in the hands of the others. There were those among them that argued such evil was proof enough of the outside world's unworthiness, and so great debate followed.   It would be, after long discussions with their oldest allies/enemies/rivals, the wokma, that something resembling a solution emerged. The draconic concept of 'responsibility', which entailed one fully owning and seeing through to the very end whatever they were responsible for, became a cornerstone of jiuweihu thinking. Such was the only appropriate course of action for an immortal people, and so the decision propagated among the clans. Some, understandably, did not want wish for such a burden, and so chose continued seclusion instead. Many more, however, tried tackling what responsibility meant, and in doing so, forged unexpected bonds.   It would be through the shared burdens of life, prosperity, and adversity that the jiuweihu learned cooperation and cohabitation with the other peoples. Still, even for those still yet mortal, they were ever treated differently. For some, the jiuweihu's skill made them insufferably overbearing and haughty. For others, they resented being talked down to or having their considerations brushed aside. Most dangerous of all were the nobility and richly powerful, who jealously desired immortality for themselves as much as feared the jiuweihu's influence overpowering their own. Despite the usually fruitful cooperation between species, the jiuweihu found many eventually turning against them.   Sometimes even the simplest whisper poisoned the purest spring, or so they came to consider.   While this time period is notable for the great interspecies relations that occurred, the jiuweihu gradually withdrew from their neighbors, returning to seclusion inch-by-inch. The more capable, self-confident, or simply indifferent among them maintained their sense of responsibility to the other mortal peoples. This generally coincided with them occupying niche, but desirable positions such as high priestesses, seasoned governors, and other leadership roles. Most idioms alluding to someone being 'as sly as a fox', 'having two tails about something', and similar are usually derived from these roles.   They remained uncertain if they could truly share a life together with other species; at least mortal ones.    

Cultivation, Of A Kind

Cultivation is an ancient concept that generally entails 'cultivating one's self to achieve enlightenment'. For many, however, the most common form is 'a path for mortals to become immortals through enlightenment'. The exact nature of that path depends on the methods, concepts, and raw ability of its practitioners, but the end goals are usually quite similar. For the jiuweihu, there is a long standing belief that their very own transcendental nature inspired mortalkind into pursuing cultivation. 'If the jiuweihu, born mortal, could become immortal, then surely other methods existed', or so scholars usually postulated. Whether true or not, fairly or not, the blame for the evils of cultivation often landed squarely upon the jiuweihu.   It wasn't hard to see why, either, with some paths even using or stealing their magical arts.   The jiuweihu took no issue with mortals seeking to break free of death's fangs, necessarily. Those who did so through ritual sacrifice, desolation of the lands, and the slaughter of innocents—that enraged them. So, jiuweihu warriors, rarely seen by anyone and mythical by all accounts, departed from their clans on journeys of virtuous punishment against evil. Thus began what many would later call the first of many Cultivation Wars, rocking the lands of Nerzin, Aerthen, and Lophern.   These ancient wars stood out, even among their peers, from their sheer scale of destruction. As conflict brought innovation, newer and more devastating magical arts, weaponry, and otherwise emerged. As was the norm, however, the greater heights one reached, the worse enemies that followed. Many jiuweihu clans such as Firetail, Wind Whisper, Moonsula, etc, established themselves as regional powerhouses, and eventually continental superpowers.   By the end of such bloody struggles, most of the cultivation world had been culled in some form or another. It is this point that the general form of cultivation as it has existed ever since began taking shape. It wouldn't be until the likes Evergreen, founder of the Infinite Growth Sect, and the resulting establishment of the Thousand Step Path did the modern cultivator truly come into existence. The jiuweihu at large, though worried over such a unified approach, found Evergreen's methodology to embody virtuous principles at a fundamental level. Virtuous cultivation sects, similarly, arose and practiced methods that were harmonious with the world around them. Thus, the jiuweihu left the matter be, though ever maintained a vigilant watch.   It'd be improper to call the jiuweihu 'gatekeepers of cultivation', as they're so often derided as by their opponents. Rather, much like any other immortals, they're acutely aware of the fact that greedy, immoral, or simply evil people acquiring immortality is an existential problem. When many cultivation paths rewarded such people with power, it all but encouraged evil to flourish like a plague that might consume all life. With many of these paths having begun from stolen or misappropriated jiuweihu magical and spiritual practices, many felt a keen responsibility for stopping such evil and the consequences thereof.    

Aloof Leaders, Stalwart Allies

The jiuweihu are nothing if not worldly in their perspective. Though they deeply desire calm days and peaceful times, the turbulence of life makes such moments quite fleeting. Many clans also came to understand that, even if they preferred isolation, they shared the world with countless others. By shutting such people out, they not only risked unforeseen dangers in the future, but denied themselves opportunities to grow. How, of course, differed among the clans, but ultimately, the seemingly ephemeral jiuweihu began voyaging into the worlds of other civilizations once more.   Veltrona, however, had matured greatly in the times of their seclusion. Deep schools of philosophies, profound views, and the general development of the sciences had caught up to, or exceeded, the jiuweihu in some respects. Many tried to ascertain the strange innovative speed to which the mortal peoples worked by, but even their immortal neighbors had adopted such mannerisms as well. Fearing their insular nature had somehow blinded them to unimaginable possibilities, many clans ordained their new generations to experience the world as pilgrims in search of enlightenment.   Though never among the most numerous species, the jiuweihu's time, care, and practical expertise made many of them quite memorable. Guided by the virtuous principles of their clans, these wandering pilgrims, warriors for hire, and otherwise became chaotic forces of justice. In the same breath, they proved deeply insightful and curious about the many ways of everyone else, though perhaps to the point of excessive intrigue. The friction between the jiuweihu and the other mortal species, existent as it was, gradually fell into the background. There were simply too many other concerns going on to be bothered by such details, or so it usually went.   The ultimate fate of the myriad clans does depend when and where, especially as their interests converged or divested from one another. Like all others on Veltrona, however, the clans would soon be forced to contend with an ultimate adversary. One whose name would ring throughout history and scar every immortal who knew her.    

Age of the Imperium

If their legendary reputation ever brought calamity upon the jiuweihu, then Imperious certainly claimed the most disastrous of all. A dragon of unmatched greed and selfish desire, she sought the greatest foes to challenge and break apart. When word of the jiuweihu's prowess reached her frilled ears, Imperious went off in search, tearing Veltrona asunder in the process. Though no strangers to unruly or evil dragons, the jiuweihu warriors that met her in battle woefully underestimated her.   The jiuweihu clans of Aerthen landed squarely within her grasp, and one-by-one, Imperious decimated them all. The frantic resistance, the many thousand years of skilled practice, the secret arts of last resort—the jiuweihu brought them all to bear, and all failed. When it became apparent that no single clan could stand against her, with even the likes of the once-renowned Vaytaen being utterly wiped out, the jiuweihu elders knew something was terribly wrong. A conclave was ordained while a general evacuation declared, and so the jiuweihu fled en-masse as Imperious' rampage escalated.   As the clans came to a decision about Imperious, to their horror, the Imperium itself soon began. Aided by other dragons, either as vile as her or press-ganged into servitude, Imperious began a bloody conquest of everything before her. When word of the devastation reached the conclave, the jiuweihu leadership began believing Imperious would become a threat to everyone on Veltrona. Even the bieneren, normally left to their own devices and generally peaceful, began forming massive armies for war.   Unfortunately, the jiuweihu's low numbers meant that their prized prowess in quality was easily matched and overcome by their draconic foes. While their strongest could defeat dragons in individual or small encounters, entire groups working together were an insurmountable threat. Since a direct confrontation was all but impossible to win, the clans subdivided their forces, instead seeking to supplement the other peoples in their own confrontations. By doing so, the jiuweihu's lack of numbers could be compensated for while their own incredible prowess dealt with more unusual problems.   Sadly, for all their vaunted skill and peerless magic, the jiuweihu slammed face first into the cruel reality of war against Imperious. Draconic arsenals easily matched if not exceeded them, and the vicious imperial dragons found new, horrific methods of waging war. Honor, as a concept, simply didn't exist, and for the honorbound jiuweihu, it constantly hamstrung them when hostages, prisoners of wars, and the lives of the innocent were used as living shields. Imperious herself became impossible to confront, her constant battles somehow radically strengthening her to unimaginable heights.   Spurred on by Imperious' hunger for competition, the imperial dragons saw her favor of the jiuweihu as a sign to hunt them as well. Wherever jiuweihu warriors appeared, dragons were not far behind in seeking their heads. While such predictable behavior led to easy ambushes and abusive tactics, they were still dragons in the end. In the opening decades of the war against the Imperium, many jiuweihu elders, venerable ancients, and otherwise were killed in battle. The clans lost their strongest fighters and scrambled to train more, but they simply hadn't the time.    

The Great Darkness

The end of the Imperium was heralded by the destruction of the World Gate. Its collapse released an unimaginable amount of energy, resulting in an explosion that thundered across the entire planet. Thousands of miles of land, both surface and below, erupted into the sky, sending clouds of choking darkness that drowned out the sun entirely. Though Imperious had vanished, and the heart of the Imperium had literally exploded, the dangers everyone faced merely changed in nature. For the jiuweihu, nearly all their remaining greatest warriors were annihilated in the explosion as they fought imperial dragons. Entire clans who refused to leave Dorvar and Lophern, too, were annihilated.   Battered, broken, and far from their collective height of power, the surviving jiuweihu clans retreated. The conclave formed to fight the Imperium dissolved, and as planetary conditions worsened, it became clear a struggle for their own survival was all they could do. Some argued isolation to secret ancestral lands as the wisest course of action, but the clans were exhausted from centuries of warfare. They had almost no reserves left, and with the very lands themselves suffering, it sounded impossible to replenish their own strength.   It would be, perhaps to the surprise of their most embittered survivors, that help arrived in the form of the many other peoples they'd fought alongside. Enamored by jiuweihu heroism, sacrifice, and their stalwart character, many of the peoples saved by them from the Imperium extended a helping hand in kind. Though everyone carried only meager reserves, able bodies and undaunted spirits became the wellsprings to which the jiuweihu found reprieve. Despite the world itself seemingly coming to an end, they weren't as alone as they first believed.   So it is the clans preserved alongside their newfound comrades, weathering the great dangers and strange times that was the Great Darkness.    

Baarham Dominion

When the skies finally cleared, and life at large bloomed once more on Veltrona, a third, terrifying threat had emerged. The baarham, abused slaves of the Imperium, had garnered power in secret during the Great Darkness. Under the profoundly xenophobic rule of their Sorcerer King, Ghown, they sought to create a dominion that ensured the supremacy of their species. Unfettered by the infighting of the dragons, or Imperious' own delusional shortcomings, the baarham made frightening advances in a few short years. By a few decades, they were a veritable superpower in western Aerthen, and threatened every other continent around them.   At such a time, many jiuweihu clans had left the continent, either seeking new lands for themselves or ignoring the danger the baarham posed. Those who remained, far weaker than they had been in centuries, struggled to mount effective military power. Fearing another, even worse Imperious coming about, yet lacking the strength themselves, they turned to their proven allies from the Great Darkness. By opening their martial arts to other species, a practice often banned or heavily restricted, they hoped to arm the other peoples with even more effective weapons.   If there was one saving grace for the jiuweihu, the baarham did not expand as aggressively fast as Imperious did. Their rule, however, was that much more certain, and they abused magical arts of truly profane and powerful capabilities. In some ways, the Dominion had much more conventional concerns limiting its overall ability. Many clans, especially those battered by the Imperium and Great Darkness, saw it as a more limited, continental issue. Though another conclave was called to deal with the baarham, they simply weren't regarded as an existential crisis. This political infighting would surface again and again, becoming a newfound thorn in the jiuweihu clans.   Ultimately, what clans did fight against the baarham often acted in supporting roles to many others. Their skill with magical arts principally defused and defeated baarham magics, putting the two in an arms race throughout the Dominion's lifetime. However, the sudden and abrupt disappearance of the entire baarham population derailed this long running war. Though heralded as divine intervention, the fact many goddesses themselves were perplexed by what happened proved disconcerting. No one knew for certain, but another problem yet remained.   The many armies reared to fight against the baarham had no enemy to fight all of a sudden. Thus, their many queens and ladies soon turned their eyes upon each other, sensing opportunity for conquest. The jiuweihu's urging for peace and disarmament would soon be drowned out under the tides of war as once-allies turned upon each other. With their influence crumbling and seeing no point to such conflict, the involved clans withdrew, leaving the others to feud amongst themselves.    

Solemn Foxes

By the time of the modern era, the jiuweihu clans had divided deeply amongst themselves. Their notions of responsibility for their actions clashed with personal desires and ambition, as well as the consequences of history itself. Many of the younger generations grew disillusioned with the virtuous shroud their ancestors once prized so much. Furthermore, the constant stewardship for problems caused by other species left them feeling like immortal janitors, doggedly chasing after messes created by children who could never learn better. When viewed under the lens of mourning, loss, and pain that their still-living ancestors bore from Imperious, the Great Darkness, and the baarham, it wasn't all that surprising.   In general, while a good number of clans retreated into seclusion, many more struggled to define an identity in Veltrona's changing landscape. Their philosophies wrestled with all sorts of moral and ethical issues, while their vast repertoires of magical arts and resources needed refilling. A general sense of fear about a fourth calamity arriving arose, gripping the jiuweihu's cultural minds. It seemed inevitable, especially since three had already happened in relatively rapid succession. That paranoia would become a cornerstone of deviant thought among the jiuweihu, and a constant issue they would struggle with over the ensuing centuries.   It can be said that the greatest loss the jiuweihu experienced from the calamities was their sense of inviolability. The certainty that their ancestors brought with them, and the unyielding conviction of such powerful immortals, had been thoroughly shattered. While their oldest history, little more than myth, legend, and superstition, told of a similar fate before, it didn't have the lived experience of the 'current' jiuweihu. For the younger generations, it seemed great power only brought on greater suffering.   Still, it would be the likes of humanity, keshlaen, rachtoh, and other mortal species that provided an 'answer'. Their fundamental drive to live, even in spite of death's seeming inevitability, provided endless invigoration. Through them, the jiuweihu learned, or were reminded of, the value in steadfast conviction; faith, of a kind. Where reasoning crumbled, emotion provided an avenue. Where emotions roiled without direction, reasoning provided structure.   The jiuweihu didn't know what the future held anymore, but they resolved to deal with it one day at a time.      

Biology

Anatomy and Physiology

Jiuweihu are mildly sexually dimorphic humanoids with a head, torso, two arms that end in five-fingered pawhands, two digitigrade legs that end in four-toed pawfeet, and an ensemble of one-to-nine tails emerging out just above the buttocks. In general, females are taller, have enlarged breasts, wider hips, and a pronounced fluffiness to their fur and hair. Males are predisposed toward sleek fur with a flowing or swept-back characteristic with slightly shorter tails. Jiuweihu, overall, have a somewhat lithe physique and can be considered physically similar otherwise. They have a disposition toward longer proportional bodies than humans, making them seem 'stretched', but it is a minor distinction.   Their heads have two eyes, a nose, mouth, and generally human-like facial features as well as hair. Their ears are two large, prominent fox-like ears positioned beside on either side of the crown of the head, possessing a distinct furry coverage on the exterior, as well as pronounced ear fluff. Jiuweihu eyes are notably almond-shaped with a distinctive outer, upward tilt; famously known as the 'fox eyes'.   Their torso, upper arms and legs are defined by unblemished skin, resembling human physiology quite closely. Their forearms and lower legs, however, are completely covered in fur, and their hands and feet are distinctly 'paw-like'. As with other similar species, their pawhands are proportionally larger, but structurally functional in the same way as a five-fingered human hand. There is some variability between the delineation of 'skin' and 'fur' on their limbs: some bloodlines exhibit more fur 'crawling up' the skin toward the torso, others exhibit less. However, their pawhands and feet are always furry regardless.   The iconic jiuweihu tail(s) emerge from above the buttocks. As each new tail is added, they sprout from the first (or central) stalk (itself a terminating extension of the spinal cord), which results in it enlarging with each subsequent tail. By the fifth tail, the stalk is large enough that the many tails coming from it appear as if each one is separate and distinct. The exact arrangement of the subsequent tails varies, though bloodlines do inform general trends. For example, one bloodline may have tails that branch in 'pairs', creating naturally symmetrical motions. Another bloodline may favor one side in particular, which naturally curves the angle and flow of their tails. In many respects, jiuweihu tails are associated with tropical fish characteristics in colorfulness, mannerism, and behavior.    

Appearance

Both the head hair and fur of the jiuweihu have notable distinctions from other fur-bearing monsterkind. Their color vibrancy, density, overall luster, and general healthiness have a naturally high—almost supernaturally so—quality to it other species have to work hard themselves to obtain. While the hair and fur usually share colors, the hair on their head has a distinctly different texture, setting it apart from their body fur. The exact hair textures for both vary by environment, with tropical or warm-weather jiuweihu embodying sleek, shiny, or glossy, and winter or cold-weather ones having matte, rough, or silky. As a trend, warmer climate jiuweihu have straighter hair fibers and colder ones have more curly/kinky hair.   Overall, their hair and fur colors vary wildly and are indifferent to the concepts of environmental camouflage; many liken them toward tropical fish or birds as a result. A principle color usually forms the base, while a secondary one joins it as a compliment or opposition. For example, a red-furred jiuweihu may have gold, blue, green, or other colors paired with it. This might express as the two working in tandem, creating patterns, one constituting the 'main body' and the other becoming the 'tips', etc. Regardless of how, jiuweihu fur always carries a sense of beauty to it that's difficult to ignore.   Their skin colors typically follow human-like ranges, with warmer climate jiuweihu veering toward brown and black tones, and colder climates to peachy and white. The leathers of their pawpads tend to follow these same tones, though darker toned jiuweihu maintain lighter toned pawpads in general. The internal flesh follows the pinkish-hues. However, the jiuweihu themselves have crossed regional lines and intermingled so much that the spectrum of skin tones is found in virtually all their clans. Fur and hair color tends to be much more reliable as an identifier of one's familial legacy as a result.   Their eyes typically have white sclera, though hybrids may inherit their sire's regularly. The pupils and irises are round and proportionally a little larger than humans, complimenting the almond-shape. The jiuweihu's overall facial expression can be described as pleasant and emotional, yet carries a sense of hidden danger and predatory cunning.    

Natural Abilities

Immortal Realization – Although born mortal, as jiuweihu age over time, their bodies can begin transforming into immortal existences. It's not considered a wholly biological nor automatic thing. Instead, it is representative self-realization (as expressed through effort, achievements, etc). To the jiuweihu, immortality is a journey no different than a child becoming an adult, so it is instinctively natural to them. There are, however, cases where a jiuweihu may not achieve this 'natural immortality', for one reason or another.   Nine-Tailed Fate – A jiuweihu's tail represents both age and sheer power potential, and each additional tail conceptualizes that exponential growth. The loss of a tail, correspondingly, reduces their existence in a measurable way. However, with medicine, practice, and healing, it's possible for them to restore that lost existence. As such, tails are culturally sacrosanct to the jiuweihu in a way other species do not easily understand. A jiuweihu who becomes immortal does not lose their immortality if their tails are removed for some reason.   Divine Affection – Jiuweihu have unusually close and natural connections to the divinities and heavenlies, making interacting with such existences much easier for them.   Magical Affinity – Jiuweihu conducting mana into magic do so much more easily.   Obsessive Tendency – Jiuweihu rather easily fixate on certain matters, and it may be quite the trouble getting their minds off it as a result.    

Diet

Jiuweihu are omnivores by nature, though with a slight preference toward meat-based proteins. They have an aversion to raw meat, though it is technically edible, for both taste and cultural reasons. On the other pawhand, they do greatly enjoy complex and varied meals, particularly ones with many different flavor profiles available. As such, they often combine many different foods together, creating elaborate buffets of fruits, vegetables, cooked meats, and otherwise.   Of these foods, rice and beans are usually centerpieces, and anything that combines well with them forms the main staples in their cuisine. Fried foods, in particular, are front runners they indulge in often. So it is, fried rice, fried beans, bean curds, fish on rice, and so forth, all make regular appearances at their dinner tables. While these cuisines tend to be greasy, there's usually complimenting acidic or refreshing side dishes, such as fermented/pickled fruits and vegetables, vinegar-based sauces, etc. Fruit wines and grain-based beers are the common drink of choice, and usually carefully made to compliment their vibrant palate.   They do have particular repulsion to things like grapes, certain types of nuts, chocolate, and overly salted foods. In many respects, they share most of the same aversions of the nebusah themselves, which has made many suspect kinship ties of some kind. While they do like rice, it's better to say jiuweihu prefer soft and easily chewed grains over harder or tough ones.    

Life Cycle

Jiuweihu infants are messy, loud, and fuzzy bundles of mewling, soft fur who alternate between dead sleep and screeching. By the year end of their birth, their hair proper will begin growing, as well some of their childhood fur. This period of shedding and growth is marked by agitation and growing capability, making them both noisy and troublesome to care for. A vestigial nub sits where their first future tail will grow from, but one that will take some years yet to fully emerge. Infancy as a whole will continue for around a five year period and the jiuweihu will gradually develop motor skills, awareness, and curiosity. Nearly all of them remain attached to their parents in some form, and it isn't uncommon for them to nest/hide within their large, voluminous tails.   Hence the saying, 'in the tails', a combination of cowardice or child-like ignorance from hiding (often behind one's parents or a greater power).   Young jiuweihu are marked by a sense of growing confidence, capability, and the emergence of their first tail. While still heavily reliant on their parents, their physical capabilities can exceed that of most other species in the equivalent age. It is this period that sees a lot of preliminary education, exploration, and determination of a child's potential and curiosities. For many jiuweihu clans, it is where the first lessons of their clan's history begins as well. It's considered poor form to physically tax a child at this age, but their young minds crave stimuli more than dreary history lessons.   As adolescence begins, childhood fur sheds as the permanent coat begins growing in its place. The first tail has generally reached its proportionally appropriate size and now grows in tandem with the body proper. Physical mass increases and sexual characteristics begin expressing, as well as general capability. Around this time, jiuweihu young are taken in as apprentices or already on school-based education tracks. The principle concern is to teach them universally applicable knowledge and stimulate their interests in certain areas.   By their fourth decade, jiuweihu achieve physical maturation in many respects. The exact mark of adulthood varies among the clans' own cultures, but for nearly all jiuweihu, two tails or more denotes one as a full-fledged adult. Ideally, they're also well-educated on their clan's history, relevant topics of interest, and have undergone apprenticeship for one or several artforms. By now, most jiuweihu have an inkling of their 'calling', or at least some general sense of purpose that guides them in a direction. While not generally a life-long affair, it pushes them to pursue their own realization, and so begin embarking on their path of immortality. Thus, their life's journey begins in full.   It is around this period that a distinction happens within the species.   The further toward their realization a jiuweihu becomes, the more tails they grow. It is generally the transition between second-and-third tail that their transformation into an immortal occurs. However, if their realization is stymied, interfered with, or otherwise incapable of fully resolving, a jiuweihu will not garner additional tails and remain a mortal. The changing and uncertain nature of this process can, and often does, frustrate the jiuweihu, as it is a deeply personal one. While guidance and advice can help greatly, in the end, it is a path one walks themself or not at all.   Those who do not achieve immortality remain as mortals for the rest of their lives, and generally have an average lifespan of around 200 years. Various medicines, magics, and other things can extend their lifespan, but they are ultimately still as mortal as any other. Their physical prime will generally endure until the last quarter of their lifespan, where rapid physiological decline will begin. This period of severe decline is usually referred to as 'wilting', and its swift speed means most jiuweihu retire immediately for their final days. Death, as in the case of most species from aging, is a combination of terminal organ failure and metabolic cessation.   For the four-tailed jiuweihu, however, they have become fully immortal, and will maintain their physiological prime henceforth.    

Anaxials, Hybrids, and Variants

Anaxials

Jiuweihu anaxials are well-known for their generally beautiful appearances. Whether due to a strangely high compatibility with humanity or otherwise, there are few instances of chaotic growth, asymmetrical features, or unexpected arrangement as with most other types of anaxials. Those that do arise have a combination of either excessive or unusual fur growth patterns, or disjointed body proportions. Perhaps the most common and unusual feature of jiuweihu anaxials is their 'four ears'; human and fox ears together on the same head. All jiuweihu anaxials inherit and follow the same rules concerning their tails, and feature the same potential of becoming immortal.   They do, however, struggle greatly with the concept of 'realization'. Intrinsically lacking that same self-guided purpose jiuweihu themselves possess, they struggle to form an identity through which realization happens. In many ways, they're mentally closer to humans than jiuweihu as a result. It led to a curious form of self-reflection to the jiuweihu, who found the struggle of their anaxials as an informative process in itself. Most commonly live and die as mortals, but newer and newer forms of education are helping jiuweihu anaxials to achieve realization better.    

Hybrids

Jiuweihu hybrids principally inherit fur colors, patterns, and growth behaviors from corresponding species. In the cases of scale-bearing species, some parts of their fur may change out for scale growth instead. There are even cases of species like the baarham cross-proliferating their unique and distinctive horns. As a whole, however, jiuweihu hybrids maintain a surprisingly orderly and cohesive nature. Similar to the anaxials, the hybrids do not often suffer from incompatibility issues or unexpectedly detrimental features.    

Variants

The jiuweihu themselves are not known to have any definitive variant types. There is some speculation that, if their divine origin does pan out, there may be more kinds of jiuweihu somewhere in the Heavens, or even other worlds. But, as far as life on Veltrona is concerned, there is only the one principle species.      

Sociology

Cultural Universals

At times obvious, others distinctly not, the self-motivated drive of the jiuweihu permeates their cultures. The desire, or ambition, to experience the world, obtain fulfillment, and even (intentionally or not) further their own self-realization. This often means the jiuweihu themselves are animated, lively, and above many other concerns, self-centered in their evaluations of things. While easily derided as a form of intrinsic selfishness, it's actually closer to a concept of self-respect and willingness to protect it thereof.   As an example, whereas humans may be more comfortable trading time for money (or other resources) in otherwise undesirable conditions, jiuweihu greatly avoid such circumstances in the first place. In this respect, the jiuweihu's mannerisms are closer to that of immortal species. They'd rather find specialists who enjoy or prefer such arrangements, such as a jiuweihu fascinated by geology in order to get mining done. It isn't that they can't do so themselves, and perhaps they even will, but their stress for such short-term projects makes it an unreliable prospect for the long-term.   On the other pawhand, jiuweihu specialists are quite often mistresses, if not close to becoming one, in their given fields. Being the foremost experts, they're often called upon by other species, particularly as the jiuweihu are generally easier to get along with than people like dragons. Particularly large organizations may even have such mistresses on call, and they usually form the likes of department heads, division leaders, and other broad visionary positions.   Honor and propriety always end up becoming cornerstones of jiuweihu cultures, even ones intermixed or conjoined with others. This gives them an air of prickliness, traditionalist tendencies, or a general 'strictness' that some may find overbearing. Their stringent moral and ethical codes inevitably leads to conflict when the jiuweihu encounter unsavory or villainous elements that others may not regard as such. In this respect, they themselves may come off as villainous, tyrannical, or even heroic, depending on the context.   Their proximity to divinities and heavenlies does mean, however, that many such beings or forces often find a way to the jiuweihu. While not a persistent issue by any stretch, it means they're particularly sensitive to what happens in the spiritual realms around wherever they are. If evil is being done, or a calamity happening, they'll pick up on it very quickly. Similarly, if times of prosperity are about, they'll know about that as well. What they do, however, depends on the jiuweihu themself.    

Lingual Characteristics

Given their generally above-average hearing capability, jiuweihu language exhibits a great and dynamic range from highs to lows. While interspecies relations has been a downward pressure on this and greatly normalized their vocal range, there are unique jiuweihu-specific expressions they maintain. Their particular growls, chuffs coincide with yips, chirps, and gekkering that are only partially audible to most types of ears. Given the stress involved in such vocalizations, though, they're usually relegated to specific and compact forms of information. Many clans use this as a type of dialect to identify each other, even over considerable distances.    

Arts and Beauty

Often under the guise of their own ambitions—which usually desire 'the best' of something—jiuweihu desire that which compliments their own perceived nature. While critics thereof usually lambast such attitude as haughty, discriminatory, and narrow-minded quite commonly, they often miss or downplay the other core component: demonstration of the self. Beauty to the jiuweihu is an advertisement of one's achievements, inner nature, and most importantly, prominence of personality. It is this point where their views deviate from others as physical characteristics actually tend to take a backseat as a consideration. No matter how beautiful the exterior may be, if the soul is rotten, they will be disgusted by such a person.   The concept of prominence of personality itself is integral to their artforms at large. The jiuweihu do not believe in subtlety, for it is loudness that demonstrates one is alive. In that loudness, character is expressed, and so all others may come to learn or experience it. Bold colors, punctual instrumentation, vivid displays of complex arrangements, and similar ideas become hallmarks of their cultures. Competitiveness naturally follows, and the jiuweihu love to ritualize competition in their various artistic fields. This also extends toward their martial ambitions, and jiuweihu tournaments are renowned for their intensity.   If there is one type of art they're particularly fond of, it is music. With their much broader range of hearing the jiuweihu develop sophisticated and complex forms of music. It can be rather tricky for other species, who often do not hear the full totality of the sounds being utilized. While jiuweihu-specific pieces don't usually leave their cultural realms that often, it has resulted in unintentional successes sometimes. One famous example, Unassuming yet Fiercely Running by Raolu Sun-Ears, became popular among the Rachtoh of Aerthen, who enjoyed the 'mid range' drumming and woodwind instruments as it depicted a hunting fantasy to them. The complete piece's higher layers relied on string instruments that depicted the fierce duel of the actual two jiuweihu the piece is centered around.    

Magic and Technology

In the eternal question of quality or quantity, the jiuweihu are so deep into the quality argument that quantity doesn't exist anymore. In much the same ways they do not bother themselves with menial work they find boring or uninteresting, the jiuweihu do not create things they do not take pride in or find interesting. It is something one would expect to help them get along with dragons, but each species' respective pride is so great they usually come to blows instead. While perhaps not to the legendary pedigree of the draconic lineages, the jiuweihu clans are not slackers with their often one-of-a-kind creations and their fantastical capabilities.   This unfortunately means the concept of 'standardization' is more talked about than actually implemented. As such, anywhere the jiuweihu are left to their own devices soon becomes a jagged, nightmarish landscape of very different designs, concerns, and considerations. On the one pawhand, they may achieve truly incredible feats of construction, engineering, or magical arts. On the other, if the practitioners die, fail to record their methods, or generally do not share how it was done, it practically becomes a lost art on the spot. Reverse engineering a jiuweihu's creations is itself a sport for most professionals in the same field.   Jiuweihu scholars, thusly, have the (un)enviable task of trying to record such creations and ensure they're properly stored within a given clan. While they're given great authority to do so, drawing blood from a stone would be easier than having a mistress explain how her creation was actually made. One might think they would enjoy demonstrating their prowess, but in the cutthroat world of jiuweihu artistry, it opens one up to endless tides of criticisms, critiques, and 'I could do that better'. Those unprepared, or unwilling, to deal with such intellectual hostility do not survive long in their fields.   Those who work with other species tend to be far more amendable and sociable, if only be necessity.   Of particular note and interest in the field of magical arts, though, is the jiuweihu's command of illusions. One of their most effective means of defense for their settlements, their magic arrays are sophisticated constructs that shroud their true homes from outside intrusion. While this doesn't necessarily stop something like a wide-area explosion or stampeding Relentless, it's principally meant to prevent other people from finding them. Given the vast wildernesses of Veltrona, and most civilizations unwillingness to recklessly explore them, it has been a pivotal method through which the enigmatic jiuweihu have remained hidden for countless millennia. Only the wokma are known to readily pierce the illusions with ease, though it's unclear if this is because these illusions are based on wokma magic or their own strange physiological capabilities.    

Religion and Philosophy

The jiuweihu concept of religion principally falls under the ideas of ancestral worship with rare intersections by various types of deities. Fundamentally, the jiuweihu's close connection to the spiritual and metaphysical realms garners a very different view point for them. This has, and does continue to, clash with their overall growth as a species, particularly in the context of their own potentially ancient history. Broadly speaking, their views consider 'higher beings' as teachers, guides, and/or guardians of a sort similar to parents. It falls to the jiuweihu to rise up to such standards, or even surpass them.   That is, however, not an easy task to do, nor even a conceivable one most of the time.   The vast majority of their philosophies have, in some form, roots originating from this conflict. In order to achieve self-realization, itself often called enlightenment by other species, they must undergo profound study, contemplation, and experimentation. By observing the results thereof and then iterating, they could build the unimaginable, and become that much closer to greater heights—in whatever form those 'heights' took. The universe held its secrets, but they wouldn't be uncovered that simply.   Moral, spiritual, and/or ethical character became cornerstones of jiuweihu philosophical concern. To them, the very character and shape of the mind itself would inform not only the questions asked, but the answers understood. Thus, very particular and proper measures had to be taken to shape one's own mind into the qualities they considered ideal. Everything not considered ideal, or worse, profane, were things to avoid, overcome, or destroy if necessary. It is this stern consideration and brutally thorough gauntlet of intellectual questioning that formed the world renowned moral character of the jiuweihu, regardless of clan or creed.    

Science and Spirituality

Philosophy and science are, conceptually, the same word in most jiuweihu languages. The intelligent, directed analysis of the world (and universe at large) through observable and reproducible means or phenomena is how the jiuweihu, divided as they are in their opinions, form common ground. A universal language, in many ways, that they use to determine the foundation through which their other considerations grow from.   There are, however, no end of egos involved in the process. When foundational truths become intertwined with personal beliefs and ideas, strange and differing creatures emerge. Often, because of their shared basis, there isn't direct conflict or even friction. When new information comes along, however, the prior establishment may despise as much as accept it. For the jiuweihu, navigating their understanding is as much appeasing their elders as it is ascertaining what the 'truth' is; for whatever use it has.   Spiritual meaning, thusly, is the realm to which anyone is a goddess and all who tread upon it are visitors. The bastion of emotion and feeling as much as raw instinct and intuition, it is where jiuweihu contend with themselves to achieve 'understanding'. Emotions are not a bad thing to them, and in fact are deemed extremely necessary. Yet if emotions are blind, and reason has eyes, then reason is deaf while emotions has ears. In the end, without one or the other, a jiuweihu has that much less to understand with. It is this sort of thinking that contextualizes their concept of deities, who tend to be abstract entities that handle vaguely defined ideas, not definitive truths.      

Psychology

Rest and Sleep

Due to their higher sensory intake compared to some species, though far behind the likes of the vampyr, the jiuweihu greatly prize quiet, calm, and serenity. Unlike most other species, this sentiment extends strongly into the spiritual realms. If there is some sort of disturbance or activity going on in the metaphysical, the jiuweihu become bothered by it. Thus, they are often in an eternal predicament of finding somewhere both conventionally and spiritually 'peaceful' in order to fully rest or sleep.   It is often for this reason that for many jiuweihu, especially those visiting foreign lands, will lodge at spiritual places like shrines or temples, while avoiding locales of frequent disturbance. In many respects, they find wilderness dwelling often more 'peaceful' despite the more imminent threat posed by wildlife or the weather. This has led to misunderstandings of them being a 'naturalistic' species by nature, rather than the convenience thereof such locales offer.   While there are various coping strategies for stress, and the jiuweihu often appear to handle it quite well, it is much closer to a boiler situation. If they do not make time to eventually relax and de-stress, they'll reach an exploding point. This can be particularly aggravating when a more abstract, long-term burden is on their mind, especially if they have fixated upon it. Some of the more violent forms of ritualistic dueling the jiuweihu utilize were, at least initially, made entirely to be a 'safe' outlet for those trapped in this sort of situation.    

Consciousness and Thought

There's often a misconception around the jiuweihu possessing especially sharp minds or 'superhuman' reactions. This, however, is usually the result of great and extreme training undertaken by them, particularly warriors or martial artists. The average jiuweihu's cognition, particularly in either their 'early life' or mortal existence, is not any different from other mortal species. Because of their affinity for the divine and heightened senses, though, sensory overload is an easy problem they encounter and thus must train for. In some respects, others who train under a similar mental load obtain similar results, for the most part.   Obsession is a frequent and constant problem the jiuweihu themselves must tackle. While some are easier to satisfy and overcome, others become long-lasting afflictions that begin to contort their very way of thinking. This issue is, itself, the root of many jiuweihu cultural ideas centered around addressing and controlling, if not resolving, their own obsessions. That said, when compared to the broader spectrum of species on Veltrona, while the jiuweihu are 'prone to obsession', they do not suffer it by default. It is akin to a cognitive sensitivity issue of sorts.    

Motivation and Emotion

What is difficult to quantify, yet existent nonetheless, is their intrinsic sense of motivation. The jiuweihu do not want for the mental energy or coordination to achieve their desires or ambitions, often in excess of other peoples. It can perhaps be described as a form of over-activity, though it lacks the associated mania or instability most people associate with that concept. Instead, a better conceptualization is that they are fundamentally driven, but the direction they go in is much more unpredictable sometimes.   This often plays with their genuinely strong emotions. To the jiuweihu, who feel and experience things in a definitively broader and encompassing way, their emotions are the valves to which action and direction take shape by. Learning to control this, and thus control over themselves, is a universal thing their species contends with constantly. It can even be especially problematic to jiuweihu anaxials, orphans, or others who do not receive the cultural upbringings associated with their species. Such jiuweihu come off as far more volatile, over-reactive, hyper expressive, or otherwise.    

Sexuality and Love

Bisexual and pansexual characteristics are the norm among the jiuweihu, who often find the whims of their hearts more compelling than reason itself sometimes. Romance, as a result, usually begins with strong and fiery passions that, over time, must be stoked or risk shimmering out. This form of love is seen as one that comes in waves, and while always present, the intensity thereof is what changes. For some species, the jiuweihu can come off as indecisive, flirtatious, or lacking commitment, especially as they oscillate between these high and low intensities. Others have regarded it as a type of 'mating season' behavior, though biologically the jiuweihu do no work that way at all. It is, if nothing else, a turbulent thing that sits at the heart of many tales they tell.   Familial love, and that of kinship as a whole, is a bedrock upon which the jiuweihu build greatly. In contrast to romantic love's ceaseless tides, familial love and loyalty is a steady, unwavering thread of certain promise. The jiuweihu take such bonds with unshakeable seriousness, even to the extent of journeying across Veltrona herself if need be. A slight against one of them is a slight against many more, and they bear deep grudges against those who've wronged their kin (even more than if they, personally, had been wronged).      

Society

Social Mannerisms

Social decorum, by whatever standards a particular culture may have, are hallmarks of the jiuweihu. They are sticklers for propriety, honor, and respect, as much or moreso than even other immortal species. Their profound sense of self-respect mandates such a thing, for it would be rather easy to not only offend each other, but rapidly escalate to open conflict. Their behavior at large can be seen as socially reserved or controlled, especially to more jubilant cultures who are used to loud and proud expressions. Those same cultures, though, are often surprised by the jiuweihu joining such festivities on the occasion. As the jiuweihu themselves are usually concerned about propriety, they'll observe local customs so long as they don't infringe on their values. In many ways, they're the perfectly awkward guests.   In another sense, jiuweihu social interactions are highly ritualized affairs. There are particular orders of operation that must be observed, not only for propriety, but as a demonstration of one's own character. The severity to which this judgement works depends on the occasion, with the likes of leadership events mandating extreme perfection, even by their own standards. In many ways, how one acts and behaves, even under oppressive overtures, is itself a form of communication. This indirect behavior is usually rather opaque to those without experience in it, making it both frustrating and perilous to navigate.   There are, however, rather funny stories about the overly complicated and, usually unnecessary, mind games the jiuweihu become caught up in. The presumption of intent and character swiftly divorces from reality, leading to a bizarre affair of insane interactions between individuals who might not otherwise act that way. Such outcomes are a prominent piece of jiuweihu humor and comedy scenes as a result.    

Gender

The jiuweihu traditionally lean toward matriarchal power structures, with the likes of women being heads of family, business, and clan leadership. Men uncommonly fill into these roles, usually ones that are not directly in the path of a given family or ruling power. That said, it's also not uncommon for men to be designated into positions of power or leadership by a woman of similar or higher authority herself. The jiuweihu generally value competency and capability, but in matters of succession, they will prefer women or their families. The overall effect of this dynamic has led to large dynastic families within the clans who control certain areas of influence and are particularly protective of their 'ownership' over them. There are those families who are headed up by men, but they are relatively rare and often fiercely preyed upon.   By far and large, jiuweihu women are usually educated and trained under the purview of their family and its relevant interests. The first and second born daughters are typically treated as the primary successors, though especially furtive families may have more elaborate schemes. The first and second born sons are trained as auxiliaries to the daughters, ensuring they have both able pawhands and minds available. The third and onward offspring generally have more freedom insofar as permission to expand the family business and lineage as they 'see fit'. This state of affairs has ensured both stability and adaptive growth for the jiuweihu, but also constant hardship and burden upon the first and second borns. It is a frequent source of drama, both real and fictional.    

Kinship and Ethnicities

The jiuweihu ethnic groups are principally defined by their clans, which are close alliances (either through blood or politics) of various jiuweihu families. These families, thusly, form the body of a clan and its membership. Depending on the historical context of that clan's identity, the families will identify themselves through the likes of a clan crest and familial modification thereof. Dialect, especially high and low sounds unique to their physiology, is a secondary means of identification.   While the exact definition is somewhat muddied, the jiuweihu clans are not as strictly tied together as those like the Sa-kemet Tribes. A given family may divorce from its mother clan, exchange itself with another clan, migrate between clans, etc, for all sorts of reasons. Some families may even interchangeably maintain membership in multiple clans, particularly those of traders or wandering nomads. These dynamics form the complex webwork of inter-clan relations, and especially political alliances among themselves. Given the jiuweihu's high regard for family and kin, many would-be conquerors have found themselves attacked by numerous, otherwise independent clans at the same time for harming a 'minor' family.    

Governments and Politics

Among the jiuweihu clans, generally speaking two forms of governance coincide: a council of elders through which the number of tails qualifies someone, and then the clan leadership itself. As the number of tails indicates one's achievements in self-realization, those with a high tail count are revered as more worldly, experienced, knowledgeable, etc. While not every clan may employ such a council, every clan respects their many-tailed elders, and their opinions often carry great weight as a result.   Clan leadership varies between forms of democratic elections and meritocratic autocracies. In simple words, potential leader(s) must prove not only their capability, but garner the respect (if not loyalty) of those among the clan. Normally such a leader is among the immortal type of jiuweihu, but it's not completely unheard of for very successful mortal jiuweihu to achieve such a position either. Whether or not they maintain their position generally involves maintaining their clan's loyalty and proving themselves capable of leadership's burdens.   Because numerous families and their political interests coincide in a given clan, factionalism is the norm. Particularly strong or politically powerful families may hold the reins in certain subjects, but no one family can unilaterally dictate the clan's direction. To do so risks angering the other families, and so bringing about an internal schism, if not civil conflict outright. The push-pull of these relations, and the consequences thereof, have been the political battleground of the jiuweihu since forever.   Otherwise, the exact arrangement of a given clan varies among each one. Generally, several families of near-or-actually shared bloodlines coincide together to form the core of the clan. These families structure under matrilineal lines, with men of the clan or otherwise marrying into their families. In older times, the clans would meet and arrange marriages or host shared dating events in order to propagate relationships and bloodlines. This process eventually morphed into successful clans absorbing more and more foreign families, uniting in a way reminiscent of tribal affairs. Scholars generally consider the jiuweihu clans as basically being tribes, but the 'clan' name remains for legacy or traditional reasons.    

Trade and Economics

Given their penchant for hyper-specialized works that often out perform their competitors, yet suffer from their overly complicated and unique designs, the jiuweihu always hold a strange position in the realm of trade. Their goods are highly desired, but at the same time they do not produce a lot of them (or even regularly) for external trading purposes. This commands a much higher price on their wares, and given their often fantastical capabilities, drives up the prices even further. This external pressure presents endless opportunities, though they rarely care about capitalizing on them because of the work involved.   That said, the clans themselves still have their needs, both mundane and fantastical.   The jiuweihu, thusly, form trade relations more on work contracts and resource streams. One example might be a mining town that harvests vast amounts of raw ore, and/or even processes it to some degree. The jiuweihu take a cut of that material, then their artisans do their work upon it. The clans acquire what they want, and the town in turn gains a variety of jiuweihu wares (often one-of-a-kind pieces themselves). By subverting the laborious parts of the process they don't care for, the jiuweihu can better focus on the areas they do. Thus, their trade relations exist to facilitate this somewhat unique approach.   Internally, however, they generally work through a barter system. Currency only holds value relative to the peoples' willingness to give it any, after all. When many are mistresses of the arts, specialists of great training, or just simply eccentric, coin matters less than other things. Rare materials, labor for unsavory work, exotic forms of knowledge, familial favors, good food, and so on, are what the jiuweihu barter by. Knowing who one is doing business with is an incredibly important piece of information because even a queen's vault worth of gold might be worth less than dirt to them.    

Interspecies Relations

Aloof, mysterious, valiant protectors, enigmatic scholars, priestesses of the divine; there are many ways the jiuweihu are regarded by others, most of them positive if somewhat guarded. As the jiuweihu have, historically, kept to themselves and/or their nearest allies, there is often a veil of mystery around them. That they often occupy positions of high social standing, esoteric value, or specialized capability, they're afforded both respect and a certain amount of distancing. It could be said that, for as close as the jiuweihu are with some other species, there is something of an awkward barrier between them nonetheless.   There are those who find their strict sense of decorum and respect overbearing, if not tyrannical, and so conflict between such parties is usually quite inevitable. Still, the jiuweihu are particularly notable in that their species has never really engaged in widespread destruction, actual tyranny, or other forms of evil as most define it by. Their selective reclusiveness and virtuous moral character has done well in seeing them as stewards of safety, prosperity, and liberty for all others.   However, the baarham in particular harbor grudges against their kind. While perhaps not entirely specific, the baarham resent the idea of the jiuweihu as unmitigated saviors when they never helped the baarham during the Age of the Imperium. The former Sorcerer King, Ghown, even named the jiuweihu among those he deemed as enemies as a result of their inaction. Something the jiuweihu scholars themselves argue, even to the modern day, as complete nonsense given their own sacrifices against Imperious in that awful time. Their own clans fought, died, and faced slavery just as much as the then-unknown baarham, so such dismissal of their mutual sacrifice rankled the clans fiercely.      

Associated Articles

Notable Civilizations

     

Notable Characters

Laoshi Shi-Weiba, the Venerated

   

Design Notes