The Nemateelu

-Creation
First there were the creatures of the earth and the creatures of the deep. Then from wolf the first alpha Brimstone broke free. Respected was he and requests were granted onto him. He took a male as his mate and given the ability of flight. Thus he was powerful as a demon but he served one on neutral ground. He was neither good nor evil. Thus cast upon to him was a task of his kind. The task of the dead. Guides and saviors to those who can not find the light. They will speak and listen. For the Nemateelu are death. No other can compare for they are powerful and they adapt. More so than any other creature they adapt.

-Gold Eyes and the Mother
Long ago when Nemateelu were still very young... Their Deity Anubis looked at the world and saw the growing need of Death. He chose his favored race to assist him. His Nemateelu. They would act as the Angel of Death. However, to serve him they needed part of him. He chose a young Nemateelu who was brave and strong. Approached that Nemateelu and explained the great fortune that had befallen him. That he would be The Mother. That he would be the first in a proud line. That Nemateelu... Promptly explained to Anubis where he could shove it and proceeded to whip the Jackal, sending him running back across the veil with his tail tucked between his legs. The Jackal saw the challenge he had not been fortunate enough to achieve in many centuries... Decided to pursue this Nemateelu. For centuries they clashed, becoming something of companions. Anubis found he loved this wolf... He gave the Nemateelu a single rose and won his heart.

Three Gold eyed puppies were born. The start in a proud line. Every few generations one is chosen to act as the Angel of Death. A pure gold eye is sacrificed on his one hundredth birthday by Anubis himself to ascend to that of an Angel.

The Nemateelu he loved... Dunamis. Will always be known as the mother...

-Hybrids-
For their unpredictability hybrids are normally looked down upon though it is up to the alpha of the pack that the hybrid is born into as to what to do with it. Normally death is chosen for the 'good of the child' as hybrids tend to lose the ability to control some of their more powerful traits or are born with little control over them at all. They are also considered an insult to the race.
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-Mates-
Nemateelu generally claim a mate by a game of dominance and submission. Generally a mate is chosen by the future possibility of strong pups however, once an emotional bond is formed Nemateelu mate for life. To the point that often when one dies the mate will soon follow.
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-Family-
Nemateelu tend to live in small packs or villages, though they remain close with their family group. The bonds between parents and their pups or even between siblings and extended family is a very strong one. It takes a village to raise a pup is very well understood among the Nemateelu. Extended family is just as respected as closer, immediate family.
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-Pups-
Nemateelu generally give birth to one pup at a time though twins and triplets are very common. Though some Nemateelu are able to give birth to a pup in what is considered a 'normal manner' most can not. Thus the birthing process is partly ritual among their kind. The Nemateelu is literally ripped open by the claws of their pack mates to retrieve the pup. Thus their very fast regenerative and healing abilities come into play. Certain hormones in the system during the birthing process speed up an already fast birthing rate meaning that some Nemateelu are up and able to relocate only an hour after being near disemboweled by their pack.
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-Feeding the Pups-
Once the pup is born they feed entirely on the blood of their parents. Nemateelu for this reason are able to regenerate blood faster than any other mammal. To the point that some have to be bled occasionally to avoid falling ill.

Ceremonies

The Markings: Each Nemateelu in a traditional pack will bear three marks, given at different landmarks of their lives. These markings are distinct and applied by the Shaman, then treated with a special poultice that alters the fur growing back so that it comes back as white, grey, or silver.

• The Mark of Pack and Family—This is bestowed upon each Nemateelu of a pack upon or shortly after birth. This marking is the same for each member of the same pack and is used to identify one’s cultural background.

• The Mark of Self—This marking usually is given upon the coming of age for a young Nemateelu. Often, this is intimately related to something unique about the individual and is chosen by the shaman or Alpha.

• The Mark of Union—Otherwise known as the mating mark, this is the one mark not applied by the Shaman. This mark is designed and applied by two Nemateelu when they choose each other as mates.

The Seasons: Each and every season is worthy of celebration to Nemateelu, who revere life and death in equal amounts. Each season and every solstice and equinox are cause for celebration.

• Spring: Festival of Life—Like their more feral cousins, Nemateelu generally try to conceive during autumn, so that the young is shielded from any exposure to the Winter Sickness. Thus, many births happen during the spring, and many naming ceremonies happen during the warm nights. These are very intimate events, but celebrated by the entire pack (unlike births, which are very private events). The shaman works closely with the pup’s parents to formally name and give a first marking to the puppy, welcoming him into the world, then the pack tells tales and dances to celebrate the joyous occasion.

• Vernal Equinox—During this festival, many Nemateelu gather to celebrate the Mother, celebrating his resurgence back into the lore and minds of the packs.

• Summer: The Coming of Age—As the seasons change, the focus goes to the next stage of life, and Nemateelu find cause to celebrate the youths that are growing into mature young adults. During this ceremony, masters of their crafts take apprentices from those youths that they have mentored and studied with. The crafters take center stage at this festival, engaging in competitions of skill and reverence as they honor the new blood entering their crafts.

• Summer Solstice—This is a more private ceremony for some packs, but for others, it is a public occasion. The Alphas look to the future of the pack on this day where light outshines the dark… and if needed, a new Beta is selected

• During this ceremony, certain packs will engage in a form of prima noctes, during which the Alpha and Omega will ritually welcome the newly anointed adults into the world of adulthood, teaching them about the things that make the Nema, such as the pain reflex.

• Autumn: Harvest’s Bounty—If there were ever a cause to feast for Nemateelu, this is it. Once the harvest comes in, it’s not unheard of for Nemateelu to spend a week celebrating its bounty. These celebrations start focusing on the adults of the pack and many, many courting ceremonies are considered auspicious if they are held during the Bounty. It is considered a blessing of Anubis if one takes their Mark of Union during this time.

• Autumnal Equinox—For the most part, the Equinox heralds the majority of the Union Marks, and the poor shamans likely see their duties triple during this period, given that they have to brew poultices to prevent pregnancies, mark the new unions, and prepare the new mothers for what their coming days are going to be like.

• Winter: Veneration of Ancestors—The celebrations Nemateelu have during the winter are mixed between private and pack-wide. They tend to focus mostly on the oldest and wisest wolves of the pack, who gather everyone around a fire as they tell ancient myths and tales of Nemateelu of old. Firestarters are often seen juggling flames and putting on performances for the pack during this ceremony above all, their talent providing entertainment and warmth for all gathered.

• Winter Solstice—This is when the oldest Nemateelu usually make a decision to pass their title and responsibilities to their successor, and the apprentice becomes the master, Beta becomes Alpha. If such a change happened earlier in the year, it is still celebrated as the new master pays an homage to their mentor and role model.

Nemteelu as a whole generally do make very good servants. They are fiercely loyal to one who proves themselves as 'Alpha' and generally enjoy the struggle between dominance and submission. This leaves them prone to the trade of slavery as their already natural instincts are called into question.

- Birth Vs. Captured -

A Nemateelu who has been born into the trade is rare. Most have been captured through pack raids because as a race a Nemateelu does not reach adulthood until the age of one hundred years. Most do not have time to allow them to mature making them a very slow investment. Only dragons and other immortal creatures tend to have the time and patience to raise a Nemateelu from birth to become a slave. Those who are born into the trade though will generally accept no other life.

A Nemateelu who has been captured is like a lit firecracker ready to go off... They are a constant challenge even after being broken to accept their place. It is not in their nature to allow an 'alpha' not deserving of the title to carry on without challenge. They will test their Master from time to time. They are difficult to break but once that happens they can be just as loyal as one who has been born into the trade.

- Suppression -

Most Slavers who know the race and seek out to capture them use wing chains to subdue them. Gold, silver, steel or iron chains are pierced through the flesh of their wings and welded around those delicate bones. Removing them is incredibly painful and it makes flight impossible. Most slavers use chains of witch hunting standard, surpassing their natural abilities.