Ursus

The Ursus tribes of Ochae'nafod are bonded to several species of bear in North Thiskel and Kalesten. They are one of the better known tribes, as they are bonded to large apex predators. Like the Tigris and Lupus tribes, they fought in the War of the Gods alongside Idayn and other races.

Brown bears, the largest bonded species, are found in more northern regions of the two continents, and primarily on the eastern side of North Thiskel. Kalesten's smaller black bears have a wider range through the northern continent. In west North Thiskel, a species of black bear dominates that is marked by the white V shape across its chest. Polar bears are present in Aserra, but no Ochae'nafod inhabit the same region. There are two other bear species outside of the Ursus genus, the panda of west North Thiskel, represented by the Ailuro tribe and the spectacled bear of South Kalesten, represented by the Tremarctos tribe.

Species	Region
Brown Bear	E. North Thiskel (Eldir, Itray Forests, Ispa's Sepulcher), N. North Kalesten (Lands of Kaius, Gayntos Mountains)
(American) Black Bear	North Kalesten (Edges of brown bear range; much of forested and wooded areas; Ardir, Perdraser Mountains)
(Asian) Black Bear	W. North Thiskel

Appearance

The Ursus are among some of the largest of the Ochae'nafod, with some variation in averages depending on local bear species. Those bonded to brown bears are the tallest with males standing between 6'5" and 6'8" (196-203cm) and females between 6' and 6'3" (183-191cm). Black bear bonded tribes range between 6'3" and 6'5" (191-196cm) for males and 5'11" and 6' (180-183cm) for females. Their build is often sturdy, the men with broad shoulders and women with wide hips and sometimes broad shoulders as well. Both genders build muscle easily or carry some extra fat.

Ursus facial structure tends toward and oval shape with a strong jawline and long, straight nose. Their ears are a little shorter than other elemental races, especially those in more northern climates. Their skin color, and some facial features closely mimic nearby human populations. For brown bear bonded tribes, the most common hair color is in shades of brown, matching the dominant color of their bear form coat. Black bear bonded tribes typically have black hair, especially for the west Thiskelian tribes, but Kalesten tribes sometimes have shades of brown and even blonde, colors which sometimes occur in the local bear populations. Ursus eye color is typically brown.

Culture

Ursus culture is confident and brazen, especially so for the larger brown bear bonded tribes. While they still prefer to keep their distance from humans, they are still quick to reveal themselves and use their size to intimidate trespassers. For anyone in their good graces, they can be pleasant companions and dependable neighbors. They have good humor and a fondness for food. As bears are omnivorous, so are the Ursus. Their diet is quite similar to humans and they have a definite sweet tooth. Clans prepare food communally and they can be quite creative with local ingredients in their dishes.

Bears are typically solitary animals, except when raising young, but the Ursus live communally. They do have a preference for solitude and personal space from time to time, so their communities are often small villages with several homes for individuals or mothers with children. Romantically, they are inclined to trysts and short-term romances with other clans, so most clans are family groups lead by a matriarch. Children born into the clan are typically raised by the mother and her extended family, with little to no involvement from the father. However, if an Ursus woman desires to have a child, the father is rarely some one-night stand. Instead, she declares her intention to have a child to neighboring Ursus clans. Interested men gather in one location to fight each other for the right to father her child, and the winner of these contests is often the man she chooses for a lover until she successfully conceives.