Delvihen Wolves
Delvihen wolves is the name given to the species of wolves that live on Delv Ihoo. This name was given to them by their Dragon Gods as Delvihen was a term used to describe "Dragon wolves". The dragon gods affected the land which in time allowed for many animals to evolve. Wolves especially share a connection with these very dragons. While each species has their own separate page, there are things they do share in common. Therefore this page is dedicated to bring these facts up.
Lifespan & Growth
In AzureHowl Reborn, the aging of wolves is very different than that from their ancestors, the Gray wolf. While normal wolves generally become adults at the age of two and only have a lifespan from about six to eight, Delvihen wolves are only adult around the age of 18 and can have a lifespan of over 100 years. Due to the presence of their dragon gods, the first gray wolves slowly adapted and changed drastically over the years until species were formed. This change was far more rapidly in comparison to most species needing far more time to develop or evolve. Not only did the wolves gain powers, traits and new abilities, but their lifespan itself is one of the biggest changes from their ancestors. Their extended lifespan comes with more, as Delvihen wolves are extremely intelligent in comparison to their ancestors. It is believed their aging system paired with their powers and intelligence is the main reason why their growth is much slower.
Newborn - pup (0-3 Yr.)When born they will quickly grow in a matter of two weeks, and pups are considered newborn till then. Usually around a week old will the pups open their eyes, gain sight and hearing and even their little milk teeth will be showing. Around two weeks old most pups will start to walk and communicate vocally. Depending on the species the growth can differ, as some species will lack floppy ears and others will be born with them or lose the floppy ears much later. They will depend on their mother's milk for four weeks and usually begin consuming other foods at around five-six weeks old through regurgitation. Around the age of two years, they will eat solid foods.
|
Child (4-9 Yr.)At the age of four they will enter the "Child phase". They can walk around and communicate perfectly. The parent figures will usually teach their children and take them on hunts to observe till the age of five. Around the age of five most pups will follow lessons from elders, and will be taught about their history, the dragons, their powers and so on. Fighting skills and hunting skills are more developed around the age of six. Even if most pups attend the teachings of elders, it isn't uncommon for parents to take this role if they do not live in a large pack. They will gradually grow bigger, especially around the ages of eight-nine years.
|
Teenager (10-17 Yr.)At the age of 10 will pups become teenagers. During this phase they will have a body that is similar to that of adults and only their size and facial structure will give away their age. Generally, their eyes seem a lot bigger than that of adults. Growth is a lot slower during the ages of 10-14. During the teenager phase they will gradually grow bigger, and males and females will generally be around the same size until they reach around 17 years. Wolves will usually deal with hormones around the age of 15+, as during this time they will potentially develop feelings for other wolves. While females can give birth much earlier than the age of 18, it will usually rarely happen as it is forbidden and not accepted. Giving birth at an early age can cause death for females. During this phase, the wolves will also take full part in hunting and fighting lessons.
|
Young Adult (18-30 Yr.)Around the age of 18 will they finally become young adults. In their previous phases they have grown gradually over time to reach their standard adult size at 18 years of age. Usually young adults will at least reach the minimal adult size of their species. It isn't unheard of for some young adults to still be smaller than a full adult, as not all will reach their max size at the age of 18. Considered to be the prime of their lifetime, they are full of energy and usually around this phase will many consider bonding with a mate and getting their own pups. During this some individuals can show signs of aging, while for some this only starts at 30+ some experience this earlier.
|
Adult (31-49 Yr.)Around the age of 30 will wolves be considered adults. By now they most likely have reached their max size. It's quite common for wolves to still give birth during this age as some consider the experience being beneficial for their young while others might be considering a second litter. Around this phase signs of their age will be starting to be slightly visible, more for males than females. They will gain a slight scruff on their chin, their faces will also give away that they re full adults. A clear sign are their teeth, as they are no longer white and will have a slight gray tone to them. While these changes are most common for the majority, it can occur that some wolves will look younger for a longer period of time.
|
Aging adult (50-69 Yr.)Around the age of 50 will they be considered aging adults. During this time it is almost unheard of for a wolf pair to have a litter of pups. At this age complications can take place during birth, so it's mostly avoided. They will appear more scruffy with males nearly having signs that resemble a tiny beard. Scruffy fur can appear on their ears, eyebrows and especially their facial expression will clearly show they are much older. Females generally get away with it a little bit, as they are usually less scruffy, and will not gain a beard of sorts. While old, they are still more than capable of fighting and are not known to have any issues regarding their age. Usually only their sight and hearing will slightly decrease. Their teeth will again gain a slight darker coloration that indicates their age.
|
Elder (70+ Yr.)Around the age of 70 will they be considered elders. During this final phase their bodies will start to give in over time. While generally mobile, they will find themselves exhausted a lot faster. Their bodies will usually be more fragile and their fur more scruffy. While females maintain some scruff on their chin, males will have a beard-like scruff. They will look old overall in their body and face. Around the age of 80+ will their elemental power also decrease in strength. Their teeth will gain a yellow tint, and the possibility to lose teeth is not uncommon. Elders will depend on their pack for survival, as hunting will become more difficult as they age.
|
Size Chart
As the species developed a long time ago and gained several beneficial traits to their species success, wolves grew larger every generation until a species was formed. Delvihen wolves are extremely large in comparison to their ancestors the Gray wolf. Despite the standard sizes, wolves can be individually smaller or bigger than what is average. Wolves which lacked nutrition could have a slower growth while wolves that had rich nutrition could grow faster. It can also depend or their family line, if they come from a family which had rather large wolves for its species, then chances are the child will gain this trait too. Below you can see the average size difference between Delvihen wolves and normal ones. This example being based of Shadow wolves.
Communication and more
Although Delvihen wolves are capable of communicating with one another, they are capable of inner thoughts as well. There are various ways which these wolves communicate. On Delv Ihoo, not just wolves, but even other mammals are capable of communicating with wolves. This is generally not always known by wolves nor any other mammal. While mammals can communicate with other mammals, they cannot with different classes of animals. Communication between reptiles, birds or fish for instance wouldn’t be possible unless they are summoning spirits. But this also means that if a summoning is of the reptile class, only his master can communicate with him, while if the summoning was a mammal other wolves could also communicate with it.
- Open Telepathy: This way of communication is generally used on Delv Ihoo. It's very similar to regular talking with the difference being that it depends on the animal class for who can hear it. Consider it like an open network that anyone nearby is using. This also means that wolves can still sneak up and eavesdrop. If the wolf in question is close enough, they can still pick up and hear things that were not meant for them to hear. But just like regular talking, wolves can communicate softer and louder as well.
- Deep Telepathy: This is not a form of communication but rather a way that wolves talk to themselves. This is completely private, meaning that wolves cannot listen in on them. Only summoning spirits are able to hear whatever their master is saying. Meaning around their summoning spirit, they cannot always hide their own secrets.
- Vocalization: Just like their ancestors, Delvihen wolves vocalize. In their eyes it’s a more primitive way of communication. Growls can often be heard during battle, or are used when wolves try to scare off a potential opponent. Howls are used to locate a missing friend or ally. Equally, a rally of howls can take place before hunts to lift the spirits of those taking part.
- Broadcast: A broadcast is a unique howl which stands out from regular howls. The regular howl of a Delvihen wolf can travel up to 15 miles, when a broadcast can travel up to 500 miles. And while regular howls are used for locating a pack member or rallying before a hunt, a broadcast is used for far more. It is believed that Delvihen wolves inherited this ability directly from the Dragon gods themselves. Dragons are capable of sending out calls which those who strongly believe in their God can pick up on. In a sense, Delvihen wolves are believed to even classify as “Gaia Dragons” as with their powers and physical changes, they have become more than just wolves. This unique call is known as the “Broadcast” and while every wolf can use it, the effect is different depending on the wolf’s status. This type of howl is known as the howl of Kings and Queens, Leaders and Commanders. Once a wolf vows loyalty and views an individual as their leader, it will empower the ability of that very wolf. The loyalty of followers forms a connection to their leader which allows them to hear a message produced from a broadcast. A broadcast itself is a loud howl, but it carries an entire message chosen by the leader. Only true pack members can pick up on this and understand it. If a wolf betrays his pack or fails to see his leader as a leader, then this wolf in question will no longer be able to pick up on the message produced by a broadcast. This means that a wolf with few followers is less loud, and won’t be able to send their broadcast far. To most wolves, their broadcast will sound like a regular howl unless they have a great following.
Body language and dragon senses
While wolves have their various methods of communication, they still use body language as well. Some species do have additional or alternative ways of communicating, such as Psychic wolves using more tail gestures, but generally most species use quite similar body language. Just like their ancestors, they will lower their ears, snarl and growl, and use tail gestures to indicate their mood. Despite being evolved, these behaviors are still present among the wolves, and usually if an argument gets out of hand it resorts to a competition of growling.
Keen dragon senses is also an ability Delvihen wolves possess without really considering it an ability. When the species began to develop, they gained wisdom thanks to the Dragon Gods themselves. Wolves became extremely smart and it is because of this that wolves communicate and talk rather than resort to primitive vocalizations. Additionally, this gift that each species of wolf gained from their Dragon God came with some handy perks. Wolves are time aware and usually have a perfect idea on what time of day it is. This helps species like the Shadow wolves to hide during the middle of the day, for instance. Large societies especially kept track on years and days. Certain aspects can interrupt their sense of time, however; this could be if the wolf is trapped underground, or if the wolf is trapped in a small enclosure. This also means that wolves are aware when they age although their birthday is usually not celebrated. Wolves can even sense when a full moon will take place.
Keen dragon senses is also an ability Delvihen wolves possess without really considering it an ability. When the species began to develop, they gained wisdom thanks to the Dragon Gods themselves. Wolves became extremely smart and it is because of this that wolves communicate and talk rather than resort to primitive vocalizations. Additionally, this gift that each species of wolf gained from their Dragon God came with some handy perks. Wolves are time aware and usually have a perfect idea on what time of day it is. This helps species like the Shadow wolves to hide during the middle of the day, for instance. Large societies especially kept track on years and days. Certain aspects can interrupt their sense of time, however; this could be if the wolf is trapped underground, or if the wolf is trapped in a small enclosure. This also means that wolves are aware when they age although their birthday is usually not celebrated. Wolves can even sense when a full moon will take place.
Credit for the "Free wolf silhouette" and free "man silhouette". .