Lutren

Lutren are a water-loving race that live in the kingdom of Sunsgrove Their capital city is Lutra.

History

Before the Treaty of Cenolau, the Lutren were fractured into many tribes that lived along the western coastline. They fought amongst themselves and had difficulty unifying. They also did not get along with the Tamian, who believed that the Lutren were lowly because they were bound to the land and wanted their land. Some Lutren also believed the birth of their race was more noble than that of the others and discounted the Tamian creation myth, claiming that the Tamian god also came from the sea, but fled to the Western Deep because he could not handle the sea's glory, which caused much tension between the two races. The Lutren founded their capital city in 1E:432.

The Tamian and Lutren were on stiff terms in the second era, each keeping to their own territory. However, that changed when the Polcan arrived on the western coasts during the war. The Lutren and the Tamian put aside their differences to defend themselves.

A few years after Sunsgrove was united, but before the Treaty, the Canid came to Sunsgrove asking for help, claiming the Ermehn intended to invade their land. Sunsgrove believed the Canid and helped them fight the Ermehn.

Today, they are the only known races to share a kingdom. The Polcan remain a threat, but the Western Seas remain relatively calm.

Geographic Distribution

Because of the closeness of the two races, many Lutren can be seen in Terria, to the point that the Terrians have made modifications to accommodate for their presence.

Some Lutren live in Nessa.

Culture

The Lutren love the sea. At one point, they lived in loose, scattered tribes. The Lutren harvest food and make a living from the sea. Many Lutren are content to live in houseboats and barges.

Currency

Lutren use pearl flakes as currency.

Fashion

Dakkan in Lutren formalwear

High collars are markedly Lutren and come from their seafaring history, where high collars helped stave off the cold wind. This element is echoed in more formal military garb as well. Because they need their tails in the water, and because of the steep taper, they avoid tail ornamentation like rings except in formal occasions.

Pictured to the right is the modern-day equivalent of a Lutren tuxedo. In addition to the base robe, Lutren formal wear would have some form of lower armbands- either in the form of wrappings, which should be evenly wrapped, or with something made of solid material like wood or gold. Heavy, solid tailrings are also worn in a formal setting. Etiquette says that the material of the tailring should match the material of the arm wrappings, although this is not a hard and fast rule.

Music

The Lutren play simple stringed instruments like the fiddle, but also use horns made of shell.

Religion

The Lutren believe the sea is god-like. It has an important role in their creation myth, in that it gave birth to the Lutren. Some Lutren believe this origin makes them superior to the other races.

Military

The Sea Guard is the branch of the military that defends the coasts during the ongoing war with the Polcan. Many Lutren find their calling here. Couriers are a low rank in the Sea Guard.

Most Lutren soldiers wield swords or spears.

Military Garb

Lutren armor is made from shark leather. This leather is harvested by Lutren shark hunters.

Martial Art

Like all the other races, the Lutren, have their own unique martial art centered around throws, which is heavily based on "streamlined form and fluid movements" that make the user hard to pin down. It also heavily relies on spinning moves that allow the Lutren to incorporate their tails into the fight and employs strikes from hands, feet and their tails. All Lutren practice the unnamed martial art for a few years in their youth.

Shark Hunters

Shark hunters hunt big sharks to harvest their leather. They are armed with harpoons and their own wits. The job requires nerves of steel and a bit of lunacy. The slightest mistake n this line of work leads to casualties. Shark hunters tend to be burly and heavily-tattooed and live a rough-and-tumble lifestyle on the brink between the open sea and the rest of Lutren civilization.

The hunters wear turtle shells on their bellies to protect themselves from disembowelment, although it only provides limited protection.

Different crews of shark hunters have different methods. Some drop bait in the water and then have some boats dragnet them efficiently and safely, and then there's the ones that get up close and personal with the sharks. The latter are likely to have shorter careers due to untimely deaths or amputations, but they have better stories and everyone wants to buy them a drink at taverns.

Politics

The Lutren are currently allied with the Tamian and the Canid of Aisling.

"Baron" is a title used by Lutren nobility.

The Ermehn War

A hundred years ago, the Lutren had a senate. If things got loud, the senior member of the council would blow a conch shell sitting in front of them.

Notable Lutren

• Kenosh
• Dakkan
• Beck

Gallery

Lutren as portrayed in a Felis text

The Redesign of the Lutren Armor

Trivia

• According to Beck, "Tess" is a good Lutren name.
• The Lutren first appeared in the Prologue, Page 1, where a one-eyed Lutren can be seen amidst the bustle of Gair.
• The Lutren are based on otters.
• The friendship of the Lutren and the Tamian are a "direct homage" to Brian Jacques' Redwall Series, where the otters and the squirrels are close allies.
• The Unnamed Lutren Martial Art is based off Capoeira. This video provides an example of what the Lutren Martial Art may look like, especially around the 1:36 mark.
• Lutren tend to be both taller and broader than Ermehn.