Rome was founded by two brothers raised by a wolf. Now, it is reborn by its Forebearers: men who are wolves. Forebearers are a proud people who have embraced the legend of ancient Rome as their own and seek to continue its legacy far into the future.
Physical Description
A complete fusion of man and beast, Forebearers appear as bipedal wolves. They have long arms and legs similar to Humans, but have the head of wolves, along with clawed hands and pawed feet. The fangs of Forebearers are often long and protroud from their mouths. Bushy tails extend from their backs which they possess full control of.
Fur is often brown, grey, or white or some spotted combination of those. The eyes of Forebearers are usually a deep yellow, though green, red, and blue are also known to exist.
History
Another of the various experiments by the Preeminent, Forebearers stand as a fusion of Wolf and Human genetics. Many speculate that the experiments sought to see how well two distinct species could be combined into a single whole.
After the departure of their creators, those who would be called Forebearers scattered to the winds, searching for meaning in what they had become. After generations of solitary existence, a single man would discover an ancient legend from the world before about a man raised by wolves who went on to found an empire. This man named himself Romulus in honor of this legend and sought to rally his people under the banner of this long lost culture. He declared them to be the Forebearers of the empire, as they were like the wolves who raised the original Romulus.
After years of growing, Romulus eventually settled his people on the edge of the ruins and dedicated themselves to upholding the culture they had adopted as their own. Though Romulus himself is long passed, his legacy lives on as the founder of a new republic like the one his namesake once founded.
Culture
Forebearers place a great emphasis on laws. The pride of the Forebearers is their legal system, a complex code that has survived since the time of the original Roman empire. Judges are highly esteemed among Forebearers and criminals are the worst of scum.
Forebearers also posses a strange relationship with war. While they use their large military to push the expansion of their territory quite often, they declare that these wars are only ever in defense of their territory and protection of themselves. In fact, Forebearers will often invent excuses or slights so that they can march to war. This extends into the life of average Forebearers, who are quick to violence, but will always justify it as self defense.
Politics
The Republic is ruled by two Consuls advised by a large Senate. The role of the Consuls is to propose and set legislation for the Republic. There are two so that they may check each other’s ambitions. The Senate is made up of a large body of elected officials whose duty it is to vote on the legislation put forth by the Consuls and to serve as their advisors.
Beyond the Senate, the Republic also holds a large military filled with conscripts from throughout the Republic. All people must serve in this military force, known as the Legion, for at least 5 years upon being adults. The Legion serves to keep order throughout the Republic and is often used to conquer new lands and expand the Republic’s holdings.
Lands
Much of the lands held by the Forebearers are surrounding the city state of Reme, a city at the edge of the ruins of Rainfall. Much of the city is built of chunks of ruined stone and surrounded by a circular stone road. This road, known as the pomerium, marks the border of the city and within its boundaries weapons are forbidden. Much of the city is densely urban and a large portion of Forebearers live within the city limits.
Sprawling outside the city are many miles of military camps and small farms. The countryside is rather spread out and the Republic claims that it rules far more territory than it controls, often using this as an excuse to go to war with neighbors who step onto land the Republic claims as its own.
Relationships
Many are wary of the Forebearers. As they are often aggressively expansionist, they are often placed in conflict with their neighbors. Those who have their lands far away from the Republic find themselves at an easy peace with it. However, those who share a border are always on edge, facing potential war at almost all times.
Religion
The Forebearers worship a large pantheon of gods, each controlling their own domain. The most powerful member of this pantheon is the goddess of the hunt, Artemis. Animal sacrifice is the most common method of worship for the gods of this pantheon and many Forebearers believe the gods take an active role in everyday life.
City of Rainfall 