Houndswell Training Academies
Dog Ferox blend seamlessly into almost any society, and have garnered a reputation for their senses of duty and loyalty. These values are taught to them at Houndswell Training Academies, which all Dog Ferox are encouraged to enroll in. Though some may choose not to attend these schools, or may drop out, most Dog Ferox share in this tradition and become proud graduates of the program. They learn to venerate service, and often forgo leadership positions in favor of acting as supportive followers to people or groups they respect. While this training often leads to Dog Ferox becoming helpful members of their chosen communities, the schools themselves are morally neutral, with some graduates even choosing to support clandestine operations or influential criminals. What matters most to them is finding other people to serve, and doing so with a devoted heart. After all, everyone needs a best friend.
History
The story of Dog Ferox is especially entwined with Human history, particularly as Humans began to spread across Aesox, contending with both Dwarven raids and the perils of the local wilderness. Originally existing as scattered tribes who also struggled for survival, these Ferox began to unify alongside the Humans, growing in population and slowly finding their own individual cultures replaced with those of the Human colonists.
Over time, the Ferox would continue to be outpaced by the Humans’ explosive population. This led to Dog Ferox being spread thin across many settlements, with no real society of their own aside from what roles Humans allowed them to have. While this meant that they were greatly appreciated, many even filling high ranking positions among militaries or as advisors, there were still always more Human leaders than Ferox ones, with the animalistic people merely co-existing with their historical allies.
Over the centuries, with the rise of great cities, came the rise of great crime. Youths without direction or guidance would find themselves swept into gangs, and people without better opportunities were dazzled by wealthy criminals into becoming pawns. Dog Ferox were often targets of these groups, as they sought to find a community who would care for them.
Fortunately, 250 years ago, a Ferox called Maximilian Houndswell began what was essentially a boarding school specifically for Dog Ferox in the capital city of Porta Lusia, in Keldwike. This school would teach bright young Ferox how to find their place in modern society, instilling a sense of personal pride in their race for the first time since their ancient origins had been forgotten. Duty, loyalty, honor - these values and more were pressed upon the Dog Ferox who attended the Houndswell Training Academy, which aimed to show that while leadership was a powerful commodity, those who devoted themselves to serving a cause could make their own mark on history.
This school was so well-received that it was soon overflowing with enrollment requests from Dog Ferox across Aesox, and new schools could not be opened quickly enough. Their popularity exploded out of human settlements, and even crept across Pannotia, across racial and cultural borders, reaching foreign Dog Ferox and uniting them in a way that once seemed impossible. While their cultures were as varied as their locations and loyalties, the core tenants remained neutral enough that practically any group could benefit from having more graduates of the schools.
Those who attended the Academies learned about world history, languages, etiquette - all things which encouraged them to travel, meet new people, and find their purpose in life. Each was a valuable skill, no matter one’s ultimate occupation or position. Many would go on to seek more formal education, like enrollment in universities for alchemy or medicine, and especially into military and naval training, where their commitment to service and discipline made for a natural fit.
Now, most Dog Ferox feel compelled either by a sense of pride or by social pressure to at least try and enroll in these training schools. Even those who will go on to seek wealth in the underworld will still aim high, and look for influential groups or great leaders there. They act as ruthless bodyguards to calculating fixers, all with that same rigid devotion taught at the academy. Many join the military, and of course others still return to their family trade and simply aim to serve their own community as well as they can, while still feeling that they belong to a larger community of graduates who have a shared experience and values.
Philosophy
Ferox who graduate from these schools have a particular relationship with honor and service. While they do occasionally make for excellent leaders, they mainly venerate service itself, and thus tend to settle happily into serving their groups or communities however they can.
Even in typical everyday jobs, these Ferox look to be employed by people they respect, and may proudly turn down work that they don’t agree with. They are comfortable filling ranks, and they enjoy feeling like they’re part of a bigger picture, whether that be as a soldier in an army, an attentive butler in a Magnate’s estate, or among any other group with strong leadership. Acting in service to others is where they feel that their rigorous training at the Academies shines the brightest, and they want to be proud of their work. They are not necessarily discouraged from leadership, or told that they shouldn’t attempt to strive for it - rather, their values simply make them feel proud to serve at any level.
Houndswell graduates are unequaled in terms of loyalty. They see their own hands as the instruments of whatever leadership they have adopted, and strive to never fail them. They sometimes have a high tolerance for dubious morality, often being the first to defend the actions of their group’s leaders as “necessary”, or at least to take them in as much good faith as possible. Subordinates forgive their leadership’s actions more easily than others, and will try to stick with them even after others have abandoned them. After all, even a kicked dog doesn’t always run off.
The most loyal Ferox of all may strive to become a second-in-command, typically to someone whom they feel the strong urge to serve. This can mean the general of one’s armies, or it can mean becoming a personal bodyguard, or a most trusted attendant, and so on. It may be a Captain’s first-mate, or a Courtesan’s Confidant. It can even be the ‘muscle’ to a criminal boss, or a ‘fixer’ in the mob. There are countless more examples of niches one could fill, but in general, all of these roles will be referred to as a “Second”. To become a Second is considered the greatest honor of all to these Ferox, as they feel pride in all the accomplishments of those whom they serve.
It is expected that a leader will treat their Second as if they were blood-related family. If a Second dies, their leader is expected to see to the needs of their family in perpetuity. If a Second lives in poverty, their leader may give them a place to live in or near their own estate, and will assure that they live in a manner that befits their own station. Of course, not all people are of equal character, and some may even abuse the loyalty of their Seconds.
While it is possible for Dog Ferox to renounce their loyalty to someone or some group, it does mark a stain on their honor, and thus should only be done in the most extreme cases, when trust has been so irrevocably broken that it cannot be mended again. Because of this, Houndswell alumni can be choosy about whom they serve, and may not fully devote themselves to someone until they are certain that they are trustworthy and that they believe in the same causes.
All Ferox have a philosophy that explores some area of duality in nature. The Houndswell philosophy explores the dichotomy between independence and reliance. These Ferox are most comfortable being part of a larger picture, staying out of leadership positions, but using their incredible sense of purpose to achieve amazing things as a group. And yet, being part of the wrong group may be a double-edged sword, leading one down the wrong path and closing them off from others who may only wish to help.
Naming Customs
Names for Dog Ferox depend entirely on the culture they’ve adapted into, and thus don’t have any unique identifiers of their own. However, if they have a title or an honorific, they like to hear that before their name. Sometimes a particularly proud Dog Ferox will change their last name to reflect that title, such as the captain of an archery regiment changing his last name to “Yeoman”. These names can sometimes be simplified or made into a more unique name, such as the lifelong personal stylist of a respected Courtesan adapting the title “Stylist” into the surname “Stiles”.
Life in the Academies
When a Dog Ferox leaves home to attend their Training Academy, usually around the age of 11 or 12, they leave their family behind and live exclusively at their school for a number of years. While two years is generally the minimum, the education can take up to four years, with the first two focused on general skills, and more specific tutelage coming after. Naturally they can visit home and sometimes also work as they study, but these years are considered crucial for instilling the core values that all graduates eventually share.
The days begin with group activities, like eating breakfast and seeing to various chores around the school. The afternoon studies are led by professors who teach things like courtesy, history, and vocational skills. All will learn to read and write, and many take up another language or two to assist in their travels. All the while, students are rewarded for things like commitment to their work, and group-oriented projects. Praise is generally used more than punishment, though there are schools that choose a more heavy-handed approach. The education is usually tailored to each student, with only about 100 or so attendants at a school at any one time, though large cities may have up to 500 graduates in a single year.
At the end of one’s training, they will have a broad understanding of many social skills. They will have been trained to be orderly and quiet when receiving instructions, and to finish assigned tasks dutifully. In essence, they can choose whatever field most suits them, and have a high success rate in seeking their careers of choice. Those who remain for four years usually receive some specialised training such as military decorum, fighting, or medicine, but it does not replace the need for further training in a university or experience on a battlefield.
These skills are adaptable to any lifestyle, and even those who return to a simple life at home generally look back on their schooling years fondly as a time when they experienced independence from their parents for the first time, met some lifelong friends, and got to know themselves. Others will credit their training for their successes in life, such as attaining high ranking positions in everything from the military, or in civic governance. Some may even return to their alma mater and become professors themselves, teaching new generations so that they too can go into the world ready to excel.
Mages
While almost every Training School offers the same general education, some specialized schools do exist for promising mages. These schools allow a Ferox to become comfortable with their magic, they receive foundational training in channeling potentia and controlling it. They also learn magical history and about various schools of magic, though they do not replace mystic schools themselves, merely giving the basic groundwork for further training. They also heavily emphasize the legality of using magic in various countries, and how to practice it safely. Their classes tend to include historical mages and misuses of magic, and how to navigate current political landscapes who favor or disfavor magic use.
Fashion
Dog Ferox fashion typically reflects that of whatever culture the individual currently inhabits. However, they are particularly fond of uniforms, and tend to dress up in their working clothes, or any sort of attire that displays their rank or position, as often as possible. They’re fond of wearing medals or other awards, as pride in one’s accomplishments is typically a respectable form of flaunting.
A Dog Ferox who completes training receives a special Class Ring, on which they can choose some sort of insignia. Most typically take the insignia of the school they’ve attended, though personalizing the ring is also popular. This can mean adding an expensive stone, or having it engraved with a symbol of one’s family, or a personal icon, like a particular flower or tool of trade. The ring is a mark of honor, allowing Houndswell Alumni to identify one another, and it also keeps members accountable to one another in the world; one would not want to embarrass their school, or allow someone else wearing the ring to do the same. The ring itself is a wide band, with an elevated, flat surface that bears the engraving, and sometimes a precious stone or gem. It is considered unisex, and suitable for both casual and formal occasions. Tradesmen who need to keep their hands clear may wear the ring hanging from a necklace.
Families
Family dynamics are as varied as the many places where Dog Ferox live, but with the expectation that even half-Ferox children will attend training when they come of age. There often isn’t much argument over this, since it’s generally considered a good thing, but some outsiders may not understand just how deep the connection is between most Dog Ferox and their commitment to keeping with their traditions, training included. While children can still visit their families on holidays, the send-off of one’s child is often very emotional, knowing that when they return, they’ll be a young adult looking to make their way in the world.
A massive event for any Dog Ferox who completes schooling is their graduation celebration, which is when a community comes together to congratulate them on their training, and offer any assistance they need for navigating the wider world. Typically one’s friends, family, and other alumni will attend, eat good food, and offer gifts to the graduates. It’s seen as a transitional moment from childhood to adulthood, so many gifts are based on the theme of maturity. Notebooks, ink pens, alcohol, books, and tradesman’s tools are all traditional gifts. A particularly generous attendee may give supplies like maps, backpacks, bedrolls, and money, to encourage the young Ferox to travel the world and seek out their place in it.
Houndswell Alumni in Galudon
To this day, Academy graduates tend to strive more for personal satisfaction, rather than positions that place them above others, always hoping to contribute to their chosen society as capably as possible. They are generally well-liked by their communities, and tend to wear their hearts on their sleeve. They’re seen as honest and very dependable, if at times a little single minded.
Alumni in Galudon can settle happily into any role that suits them, so long as it gives them purpose. Without a clear reason to get out of bed in the morning, these Ferox can become depressed or may seek out unsavory ways to fill that void, like demeaning work or even escapism through substance abuse.
Ideally, they should seek to fill any positions similar to those listed in the sections above, finding someone they can devote their loyalty to and assisting them in any way that they can. This is an excellent choice for those who wish to play with friends from any other culture or group, but don’t necessarily want a leadership role. They are morally ambiguous, with the only thing that matters being their commitment to their group or leader, and their cause. They should strive to never betray the people they’ve chosen to serve, and should remain a beacon of duty and personal pride.
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