FOREWORD

Written by Rusty Oakes

In the distant past, the world named Erulxe was a more magical but less diverse planet. There are no longer any living witnesses to this time in the planet's history, but there are some species with good ancestral memory. They tell of a world populated by a handful of hairless, physically weak races that constantly waged war on each other.

These wars started as simple skirmishes over territory or religion, but grew into full-scale conflicts that covered the planet and led to the eradication of multiple species. Eventually, the dominant species developed a weapon so insidious that it wiped out not only many of the remaining species, but its own as well.

Fortunately for the people who now inhabit Erulxe, the weapon that was designed to destroy mankind was also responsible for the creation of the species that now populate the world. The cataclysmic event disrupted the flow of magical energy through the planet while at the same time altering the DNA of the still-feral remaining species. The animals of the forests, the fowl of the air, and even the aquatic life gained sentience.

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With the new found intelligence came the desire to live as their creators had. They began evolving to walk upright and communicate with each other, establishing a worldwide recognized language. They adopted and adapted what they could from the now-extinct humanoids. With the assistance of the Fairy-folk, the knowledge and remnants of the previous civilization were passed on to the new owners.

Along with species with direct lineage, many of the new species of Erulxe became mutated. Most of the mutations were short-lived, but some flourished. Canursids happen to be one of those mutations.

Canursids are externally canine in appearance, but internally they more closely resemble their ursine cousins. Their bones, muscles, and organs are heartier, like that of a bear. The exterior of Canursids varies greatly, but their features tend to favor those of large dogs. They have pronounced snouts, walk upright on their lower paws, and have large ears.

Canursids also gained two special features from their mutation. The most used is their retractable claws. These claws are strong and functional. They keep their claws sharp and trimmed and use them for a variety of reasons.

The other and more unusual mutation to Canursids is their tail. A Canursid’s tail is fully articulated, like a primate’s. It also has a ridge of ultra-sensitive fur along the bottom side.

The soft underside of a Canursid’s tail prevents it from being used for mobility or as an extra limb other than in extreme circumstances. However, the fur does allow for a level of empathy and connection far beyond what most other species can achieve.