Crithean:

Image by Cloudpaws

Colors:
Main: green, brown, grey (earth tones) / Sub: golden (yellow), red / Eye: gold, brown, green

Image by Cloudpaws

Image by Alora
Pack Base:
The wolves of the earth reside in a thick, old growth forest up in the northwestern part of Paragon's continent. The Emerald Forest is a haven to these wolves, and many don't ever wish to leave! The forest stands tall in the face of many weather patterns and other occurrences, making it one of the most protected elemental areas around. The focus of the Emerald Forest is a great, ancient runic stone that stands in a small clearing in the woodland's center. Nearby to this stone is the old-growth tree that houses the Alpha(s) of the Crithean wolves. Currently, the Alpha, a female named Sylvan Shadows, resides there.

Celestial & History:

Image by Tabatha!		Many earth wolves consider themselves the caretakers of the living earth around them, and only a select few branch out from their forest to explore the other lands. The wolves of the forests believe that the spirits of the forests, referred to as only the Great Forest Spirit(s), have placed them here as the caretakers of all living and growing things. They wish to cultivate all living and growing plants and animals, treating them with respect, even when they must take them for their meals. Their spirits are portrayed as small green wolves that hop amongst the trees like sprites. The great ancient runic rock that sits in the middle of their forest home has been known as the 'medium' from which the tree spirits gain their power.

A tale of the Critheans that is passed from older to younger wolf explains perhaps some of why the stone holds so much power to this pack. It is said, that long ago, within the first generation or two of Critheans to reside in this forest, there was a wise wolfess Alpha whom was fond of telling her wolves that she would give her life for theirs if ever was the need. She was a stout and dedicated protector of the forest and it's wolves and when tales of the strange beast that seemed to spirit in and out of the forest like the wind itself came to her ears, she wracked her lupine mind for a way to somehow guard the pack from it. For, after all, while it was not outwardly evil, a creature that seemed to manifest out of nowhere could not be trusted. It was said that after a long time soul-searching, she gave her life before the ancient stone, as a way of a final action of a protector to her wolves, and since then they have had no trouble with strange creatures, having their earth magics to ward them. There is truth to this legend, perhaps, but what could it possibly mean in a literal sense?

Abilities In General:
Critheans can naturally cause plants around them to grow, in any season, simply by their feeling of wellness within the earth element. The magnitude of which they can do this increases with the rank in the pack. Along with this, they can communicate with the earth about them, hearing the trees, the plants, and even the entire forest if they have the patience. The Alpha of the pack can even use this ability to hear a warning of a wolf coming to the border or being able to tell where the members of the pack are within the forest, and when they've left if they've done so! Also, as the seasons change, so do their coats to reflect the season. They are lighter in the spring and summer, and darker in the fall to match the vibrancy around them. Finally, their connection with the earth gives them increased land speed; they can perform at twice the speed a "normal" wolf could on the ground, no matter what the rank in the pack!

Charms:

Image by Tabatha!		 Tremors: (The Birthright Charm) Earth wolves have the ability to cause small quakes in the land around their location due to their natural affinity with the earth. Alphas may do so with enough strength to knock down a full grown wolf male, whereas Betas and Omegas may only do so with enough strength to perhaps knock down a very scrawny wolf or a small puppy.
Camouflage: (The Landright Charm) Critheans may cause their pelts to become lighter or darker depending on the surroundings or moods. They may also shift their markings and colors about on their own pelts to further enable a type of camouflage, and even cause their pelts to become closer in texture and look to the earth around (Ie. they may harden their pelt like packed earth, or soften it like lush grass)! This is not a permanent change of pelt, and this adjustment lasts a certain length of time dependent upon rank. Alphas may create this effect for up to an hour, Betas for up to a half hour and Omegas only fifteen minutes at a stretch. This enables them to hide (as long as they're not moving!) in earth colored cover or even protect themselves!
Sculpting: (The Starfall Charm) This is earth sculpting and moving up to the size/weight of the wolf doing so. This also takes effect on roots, branches, grasses and other 'earthy' things around. Multiple wolves together can move/sculpt up to their combined size/weight, and things that are sculpted may be used as weapons or even tools if needed!
Lament: (The Samhain Charm) The wolf can cause the earth and trees within two wolf lengths about him or her to audibly moan and groan as if they were alive!
Tunnel: (The Eclipsed Charm) A Crithean may be "swallowed" into the very earth at their paws as a defense mechanism or perhaps simply as a way to rest. They may do this indefinitely, but they cannot travel within the earth (they might sculpt some of the earth below but it would not be enough to cause their form to travel underneath the surface for there would be nowhere for the earth to go, if they intend on staying hidden). As the earth hardens above them when they use this charm, they may not be "dug up" by any other save another Crithean using the Sculpt Earth charm!
Shapeshift: (Charm of the Shifter) The wolf can shift into one of these earth-related shapes including his own form; badger, mountain cat/lynx (small, will be smaller than the wolf that shifts into it most likely), mustelid (ferret, weasel), hedgehog, chameleon. When in this form, the wolf acts as one of those creatures would, and has the abilities that one of those creatures would have; which means of course, they lose access to the other charms and abilities of their own shape. They are able to communicate with other creatures of their same type, as well as still with their own pack. With others of their own pack, it is assumed that through body language and the connection with the elements that this is still possible. As well,the shifted wolf is never larger than their original form in their shifted form and any debilitations that they might suffer in one form are directly transferred to that same area on the other. No "natural healing" is given by the ability to shapeshift. Finally, a wolf has a choice on how their pelt colors appear in this form. They may retain normal coloration that they had while a wolf, or a wolf may choose to simply manifest as a normally colored animal of that type. The eyes of the wolf never change color, however, to symbolize the ties that remain with the element.
Rite of the Forest Spirit: (Tine'eitil) (The Sacred Rite) A Crithean gives up their ability to move twice as fast on land to gain the ability to become as if a small forest spirit; embodied by a glimmering shine of light no larger than a rather large firefly. To do so, they must return to their earth focus, the great runic stone in the center of their packlands, and meditate before it for one entire day and night. They may not eat during this time, nor drink. If they are vigilant and do not break the spell; they will gain the charm.
~~"Firefly", known as Tine'eitil, enables the wolf to cause themselves to minimize their existence until they are but a mote of buzzing light. In this form, they may travel in the air, but remain no more than a standing wolf's height from the ground. They are quite small, but may manifest in solid form within minutes as long as the area they are manifesting in is large enough for their full form. They cannot pick things up or carry things in this form, nor can they speak. While in a forested setting, this form enables them to, however, speak to the spirits of the trees and the plants.


Heirarchy:
These wolves follow the "normal" heirarchy of wolves of Paragon, as stated here: About Paragon Wolves
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Paragon, the elemental wolf play-by-post is © Cheryl and James 2007-onward.