Canopy tribe members are on the smaller side as far as Zonians go. They always have healthy, powerful limbs from endless travelling, and the most frequent feature in their kind is golden blonde hair. The magic coursing through them allows any Pride member to move as quick as the fastest Olympian human. Some are even known to be able to outrun their own fired arrow and catch it. They can leap as far as most humans can throw, and with a good swing or height, they can seem to glide on the air. With training, a Pride member can think as fast as she can move, and they can move with lightning reflexes. Detecting a trap before it can be sprung, or even moving out of the path of a projectile.
The weapons of the Canopy tribe are the most primitive of any tribe. They rely on whatever they can scavenge, whether it is bone, stone, and wood. They have no problem improvising, and the weapons of enemies work just fine in their hands if they can work for their foes. The most powerful weapons they have are ranged weapons however. Since the giant trees of their homeland are magically grown, the wood of their bows and weapons is incredibly durable and flexible. Canopy bows and nets can travel faster and farther than normal, and their spears can absorb blows from metal weapons without breaking. This gives enemies a surprise in battle if they can even survive long enough to get into melee combat.
The Armor of the Canopy tribe is all but nonexistent. They live fast paced, nomadic lives with no time to set up forges or craft anything that cannot quickly be sewn and tied together. The constant wear, and lack of sturdy material means that members of the tribe are often adorned in little more than pelts and rags. Only those that stay in the Deeproot village typically have anything ornate or well covering. Not that the tribe is complaining. They feel that having armor is an extra burden, and they have no need of protection when they cannot be caught, and cannot be hit. To the Canopy tribe, escape is the best method of survival.
The Canopy tribe is born and bred to be the hunter, not the hunted. As such, they prefer to always be on the attack, and escape swiftly when put on the defensive. When they attack, they usually already have stalked and studied their prey, so by the time the first arrow flies free, the battle is already over. When caught off guard, they prefer to retreat and regroup, or escape if overpowered. They fight together and fall together. The Pride comes before one’s own pride, and one should always expect if they see one Canopy tribe member, there are many more nearby.
When warring with other tribes, they are quick to go on the offensive, and push outward until they are overpowered, then retreat faster than they can be chased down. Once the enemy has tired themselves out from losing and chasing, if they dare to turn and try and retreat, the Pride quickly turns warfare into a hunt, and chases down their exhausted foes. These hit and run tactics, combined with specializing in fighting from afar give the Canopy tribe exceptional advantage in combat. Adding the mobility and flexibility granted by their wind magic, it is easy to see why other tribes hesitate to oppose the Canopy in open war.
The Canopy tribe is united by the central Pride, but this ruling group is made up of several different sisterhoods that all serve the tribe in various fashions. Each sisterhood is identifiable by the unique breed of Prowler that they always work with. The Ashmanes are the diplomats and leaders of the tribe. They are the tacticians and authority figures for any group of the Pride, whether they are hunting, trading, exploring, or protecting. the Flamestripes are the defenders of the tribe. They ferociously repel any threat to the Pride, and keep safe the territories of the tribe.
The Mooneyes are a secretive group that do what cannot be done openly in the interests of survival. They are the assassins and spies of the tribe. the Razorfangs are the warriors of the tribe. They fight the battles that go beyond hunting, and act as the army of the Pride when it is threatened. The Swiftpaws are the primary hunters and messengers of the tribe. They move swiftly wherever they must go in the continent to deliver goods, messages, and discoveries.
The only animals that the Canopy tribe has ever connected with has been the rulers of the territories they inhabit. The many breeds of giant felines they call Prowlers have a wide variety of abilities, and are naturally drawn to humans, despite being predatory towards them as well. The Canopy tribe respects the authority of the Ashmane, the power of the Flamestripe, the cunning of the Mooneye, the ferocity of the Razorfang, and the agility of the Swiftpaw. Prowlers of all breeds can magically grow larger than any normal bear over their lifetime, and it is said they can come back from death multiple times. One myth even claiming that they have nine lives, and the tenth time they return, they become immortal spirits.
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