Bearzeks

Bearzeks are a sapient, bear-like humanoid species described in the fictional world of the Verdant Archive. They are characterized by dense fur, strong limbs, and a robust build. Most Bearzeks stand between 1.4 and 1.9 meters tall and possess agile hands suitable for woodworking, craftsmanship, and tool use. They are primarily herbivorous to omnivorous, with diets varying by season and locality.

Habitat and distribution: Bearzeks inhabit temperate forests and highland meadows across the northern Silverspine Range and adjacent archipelago. They organize into semi-nomadic clans that move with seasonal resources, often establishing temporary villages near reliable water sources and game grounds.

Society and culture: Social life centers on clan networks, elder councils, and communal decision-making. They value stewardship of forest resources, storytelling, and craft traditions such as wood carving, weaving, and hornwork. Rituals emphasize kinship, gratitude to the land, and rites of passage for youth.

Language and writing: The Bearzkan language family comprises analytic-to-agglutinative structures with a rich vocabulary for forestry, weather, and animal behavior. Some communities use wood-bark or carved-tooth symbols as mnemonic scripts; oral tradition remains central.

History and relations: Historical records describe contact with neighboring agrarian and maritime cultures, including trade, alliances, and occasional conflicts over resources. In the modern era, Bearzeks are recognized as a distinct people in some territorial polities and maintain autonomous or semi-autonomous governance in others.

Economy and technology: The Bearzeks practice subsistence agriculture, hunting, and forest resources exploitation. They are known for skilled woodworking, timber crafts, and metalworking in certain clans. Exchange networks with neighbors focus on timber, hides, and carved artifacts.