Inu/Pero

Inu and Pero are sentient bipedal canine-humanoids, native to the Northern Reaches and the South Seas.

Physiology and Geography
Inu are rarely seen in Central Imperium, and are thus considered a myth by many. They are thought to be one of the oldest races, along with their ancestors, the Pero. Like Gatos and nekos, Pero and Inu represent two variations of the same overall dog-like humanoid. The Pero are fully furred and come in several different breeds, from black-furred and jackal-like to white and grey furred with husky-like features. Inu, on the other hand, are like nekos in that only their ears and tails remain as evidence of their ancestry, though they will also display mannerisms common to canine species.

While the Inu are fairly prosperous, their Pero ancestors are considered extinct by most official records. Currently, there are only two known Pero in existence, the rest having died off long ago. The fact that Pero still remain has led some to theorize that the furred dog people have enormous life spans, but this theory has never been confirmed. Inu, meanwhile, keep to themselves in the Northern Reaches and the South Seas. The former are almost all part of a grand, ancient Inu civilization based in the icy city of Andalou, a place few non-inu have visited. Northern Inu are feared by many due to the legends of cruelty and murder that are tied to Andalou. A common jab among other Northlanders is that Andalou’s chief export is its assassins. Southern Inu are less well-known but distinct enough from their cousins to avoid these stigmas. Darker skinned and more heavily built, South Seas Inu are excellent hunters and loyal companions who place great importance in the well-being of the tribe. Their society is crude and quaint, but functional. The largest known population of South Sea Inu is on the aptly named Inu Isles, while other populations exist on the neighbouring Venom Isle and even as far as Oni Shima, which contains a couple of scattered Inu settlements.

Scholars disagree on where the Inu and Pero originated. Many believe they were once the dominant race in Imperium and were central to the development of the ancient kingdom of Halden. Others agree that while the Pero were part of Halden, they first came from the North, as Andalou’s recorded history predates that of most of Central Imperium. All agree that the Inu are a result of Pero-human interspecies breeding, and do not predate the Pero.

With the humans of Imperium having reached an age of exploration and expansion, many believe that the Inu will soon become major players in the future of Imperium as a whole. Andalou in particular seems to be the only city that can rival the human stronghold of Capital City in terms of size and grandeur, and negotiations between the two civilizations seem inevitable.

Notable Inu
Though there are no particularly famous Inu from the standpoint of Central Imperium, many have become renowned in their own lands for their heroism and combat prowess. Inu are known for their love of fighting, often taking their engagement with combat to the level of an art form. The Moon Dancers of Andalou exemplify this way of life. Rare Inu who are born with vocal chords incapable of producing any language but that of the Pero, Moon Dancers become property of the Inu Queen and are trained from a young age as both mesmerising dancers and graceful killers. When a Moon Dancer is not occupied with an assassination, they will perform in the court of the Inu Queen, where they can double as bodyguards. The athleticism of these Inu is unparalleled. A particularly feared Moon Dancer is Tarja, the ‘Mad Mutt’ of Andalou, who is incapable of speaking even coherent Pero and instead has a tendency to bark gibberish. Tarja’s record as an assassin is flawless, and it is said that any who displease the Queen enough to become a target of the Mad Mutt will hurriedly turn themselves over to the court of Andalou in hope of earning a less violent punishment.

Among South Sea Inu, Godspeaker Sumera of Venom Isle is recognized as an influential religious leader through her work with the civilization of Guatan. Her religion of Guatani stems from her connection with a goddess of the same name, and has resulted in policies that have been generally beneficial to her people. Other South Sea Inu include Tero and Teko, recent immigrants to Costa Del Nyan who have become familiar to the locals through their work in the Grand Casino. Rumours suggest that the father-son pair are in fact enslaved to Mayor Kortis, but the reason for this is unclear.

Notable Pero
Captain Pasha is the most accessible living Pero. The old captain has run her ship from the Northern Reache's Fjordlands to ports across Imperium for as long as anyone can remember.

There exists a rumour that the legendary Pero huntsman Rhastelyn has attained immortality and now serves the Inu Queen, but very few from outside Andalou have entered the royal court and escaped unscathed.