Ruvin

Ruvin
Homeland	Delmora
Average Height	1.5-1.8 meters
Average Lifespan	90-120 years
Distinction	Stocky build, waterproof fur, webbed hands and feet, flat tail, strong teeth for wood and stonework
Language	Ruvani (River-Speak)

The Ruvin are a species of semi-aquatic humanoids native to the river-laden lands of Delmora. Renowned as master engineers, canal-builders, and flood-tamers, the Ruvin have transformed their homeland into a vast network of irrigation channels, levees, and water-powered cities. They live in guild-based societies, where craftsmanship, water management, and adaptability define social status.  

Physically, Ruvin are short and stocky, covered in dense, waterproof fur, with webbed hands and feet adapted for swimming. Their most distinctive feature is their large, flat tail, which they use for balance, communication, and even defense. Though not naturally aggressive, Ruvin are fiercely territorial when their waterways are threatened.

Biology and Physical Traits

Ruvin are uniquely adapted for both land and water, possessing a mix of mammalian and amphibious traits that allow them to thrive in Delmora’s ever-changing river systems.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5-6 feet)
• Build: Stocky, broad-chested, highly muscular due to labor-intensive lifestyles
• Fur: Dense, waterproof, varies in shades of brown, black, and reddish hues
• Hands & Feet: Webbed digits for swimming, but dexterous enough for fine crafting
• Teeth: Strong incisors capable of cutting wood and carving stone
• Tail: Large and flat, used for balance, communication (tail-slapping), and defensive strikes

Senses & Abilities

• Low-light Vision: Adapted for murky river waters and nighttime construction
• Strong Lung Capacity: Can hold breath for up to 10 minutes underwater
• Tail Communication: Rhythmic tail slaps are used for signaling warnings, directions, and group coordination
• Master Engineers: Naturally skilled at structural integrity, water management, and flood prevention

Culture and Society

Ruvin civilization is deeply intertwined with water and engineering, valuing adaptability, craftsmanship, and collective progress. Their cities are constructed on rivers, lakes, and floodplains, protected by levees, canals, and artificial islands.

Social Structure

Ruvin society is guild-based, with different factions controlling trade, construction, and water management. Leadership is meritocratic, with the most skilled engineers and flood-masters rising to positions of influence.

The Riverborn Ruvin → Live along the great rivers, specializing in trade, canal expansion, and levee construction. They are explorers and diplomats, extending their influence through water routes.

• The Lakeborn Ruvin → Dwell in fortified lake cities, where they serve as record-keepers, flood-seers, and builders of monumental dams. More traditional and isolationist.
• The Flood Seers → Mystic engineers who interpret the rise and fall of the rivers, consulting Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal, for guidance.

Economy & Trade

• Hydraulic Engineering: Ruvin control water flow, irrigation, and flood prevention throughout Delmora. *Lumber & Stonework: Masters of woodworking, stone-cutting, and natural resin waterproofing.
• Trade Network: Their canal systems serve as trade highways, connecting inland settlements to the Great Lake.

Notable Settlements

• Kelmarin – The capital city, located at the confluence of the Twin Rivers, a hub of trade and governance.
• Braskir’s Hold – A fortress-dam city, controlling the flow of the Great Lake.
• Zelmari Wharf – A river-town, famous for its flood-resistant wooden causeways and shipbuilding.

Spirituality and Beliefs

The Ruvin revere Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal, as both a creator and destroyer. Water is not simply a resource but a living force that must be respected, harnessed, and feared.

• “The River Remembers” → A belief that water carries the memories of past generations.
• The Sunken Libraries → Legends speak of ancient underwater vaults, containing lost knowledge.
• The Drowned Oracle → A mythical Ruvin who vanished beneath the river, yet still whispers through the currents.

Technology and Warfare

Ruvin are not expansionist, but they are fiercely defensive of their waterways. Instead of grand armies, they rely on fortifications, strategic flooding, and siege defenses.

• Dams as Fortresses → Their cities are built with massive floodgates and defensive levees.
• Tail-Slap Combat → In close combat, Ruvin can deliver powerful tail-strikes to knock opponents off balance.
• Water Traps → Ruvin engineers use controlled floods, collapsing bridges, and shifting currents to trap enemies.

Mythology and Legends

• The Eternal Currents – Some Ruvin believe their spirits return to the river upon death, becoming part of the eternal flow.
• The River Wraiths – Myths tell of vengeful spirits of Ruvin builders whose work was destroyed.
• The First Flood – A legendary event where Naithis reshaped the world, teaching the Ruvin how to build with, not against, water.

Relations with Other Races

Ruvin are diplomatic but highly territorial, willing to trade knowledge and goods but ruthless in defending their waters.

• Allies: Those who respect water and engineering (merchants, traders, architects).
• Enemies: Those who pollute, overfish, or disrupt riverways.
• Neutral: Most nomadic or land-dwelling peoples, unless they interfere with Ruvin projects.