Growren:
Growren are bear like people, who appear much like Giant Teddy Bears... and are as about as smart.
Full Description
The Growren are Ursoids, bear people. They are bigger than humans and proportioned more like Teddy Bears than normal bears. They have strength, toughness, high endurance, heavy fur, all the things you would expect. There eyes are bright and quite large. That adds to their precocious child look. They are a fairly happy and friendly folk; perhaps a bit deficient in the mental prowess department.
They were somewhat intelligent when they were found by Humanity. The Local Humans decided to uplifted them to Civilization; the way Elves are said to 'bring civilization' to Humans. (Any Elven personage would of commented NOOOOOOOoooooo!!!! if they had been asked about doing it). They taught them about tools and leaders and civilized things.
Of course once you give them civilization, which seems like such a good idea at the time, you are stuck with them. Now your 'children' are doing stupid things, competing with you for resources, and mucking with your world. They cut down more wood than they need, then wondering why they run out of new trees. They can't figure out why things smell, when they keep garbage in the middle of their homes. They have mock wars for real reasons and real wars for fun. They just seem to have it all confused.
Additional Information
They can be used as a complication to any situation in their environment.
They can be used as a 'moral lesson' for the people in the world, as to being careful. (Watch the Elves smirk and say we told you so).
They are great comedy relief.
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? Responses (5)
Interesting idea, especially the comment on Uplift. Startide Rising?
That is where I got the term from it is true. However, these people were not uplifted actually. They were taught the way of 'modern civilization' by the Humans. They went from very primitive hunter gatherers to a feudal (or para-feudal) society in under a generation. They don't quite get it yet.
Perhaps a MU magically did uplift them. That may be their origins. If the MU died, that would of left his children all alone. The Humans took pity on the poor critters and gave them 'civilization'. However, they don't understand everything completely. So they are getting it wrong.
Either way, they are living a bad caricature of modern civilization (as found on their world). All their traits (and flaw) are magnified and simplified to the point of humor (or annoyance).
Maybe we could have little more about how their minds work. Do they have trouble with cause and effect relationships? They can chop down a tree for fire, which shows planning, but they chop down too much. Many a human has been guilty of that so that isn't evidence for limited potential.
How about their emotional intelligence? Are they sympathetic, alturistic or empathetic?
Does war for fun show more stupid than war for political gain?
Just kind of a gag huh.
More of a moral statement than a gag, but yet you can easily play them for laughs or stinging social commentary.
Think of them as emotionally and intellectually as 5 or 6 years old when fully grown. Does that give you a good benchmark?
Cognative abilities, without too much. Little follow through. Very little in the way of planning or impulse control.
Imagine a society of them.
This gives you the mimicry as well. They see humans go to war. They think they can too, and should.
So again, they can be funny or serious.
This is just a minor race listing, so it was not supposed to be detailed (after all, then it would be a full race rather than a minor), but I should of given a benchmark. I originally left it open because people could play find their own sweet spot.
This makes me think of Ewoks - for good and bad. :)
I could see using them, especially in more family friendly, less gritty fantasy.