The Gora

It is said that when the Great Wyrm Ophyxia first began to dream the world into being, her first-born thoughts, imbued with the raw, untamed power of the jungle, took form as the Gora. They were the first, a primal race forged from the very essence of the Dreaming Mother’s slumber, and in their hearts, they carry the deep-seated pride of being "The First Dream." They are an ancient race of immense and terrible beauty, their souls as deep as the forests they inhabit, their eyes, coal black or cocoa brown, holding a quiet wisdom that belies their fearsome appearance. The Long Limbs stand as tall as a man on two legs, while Strong Backs and Orange Fur stand anywhere from 7’ to 8’ tall on two legs, but almost all Gora prefer the grounded grace of four limbs, a quiet humility that they can shed in an instant to assert their presence or wield a weapon.

Their society is one of simple order, governed by the unyielding rule of the alpha male, a leader who holds his seat of power by strength and ferocity alone, yet bears the solemn burden of protecting and sustaining his tribe. To those outside of their kin, the Gora are a study in quiet aggression, slow to anger but swift to intimidate, for they guard their territories with a fanatical zeal, allowing none to trespass without their consent. But among their own kind, and among those they deem as friends, a different nature is revealed—a spirit of playful humor and simple joy, a gentle soul hidden beneath a formidable exterior. They are a people who do not use words to solve disputes, but whose every action speaks volumes.

While racism across Wyrmdream is a real and tangible thing, the Gora often intimidate most settler races into silence and do not face much direct racism. The Gora, while seeing themselves as akin to the other indigenous races of Wyrmdream, still count themselves as in higher favor as they believe themselves to be the first race dreamed into existence. However, older Gora do see Hadozee as being beneath them. A long forgotten tale of the Gora’s creation mentioned the creation of the Hadozee as a half formed dream following the Gora that left the Hadozee smaller and slighter. Though many Gora do not follow this belief, some of the Elders within their tribes still hold this bias.

The Gora adhere to no creed but that of The Dreaming Path, for they are its very foundation. They venerate Ophyxia and see their druids not as mere priests, but as the very heart of their communities, a sacred conduit for healing and divine contentment. The three largest clans of their kind are scattered across Wyrmdream, reflections of their parents' natures. The Orange Fur Clan, a particularly thoughtful and sagacious line, and the Long Limbs Clan, the most numerous and talented generalists, both reside in the fertile lands of the Verdant Cradle. Meanwhile, the largest and most enduring of their kin, the Strong Back Clan, has made its home in the dangerous wilds of the Shadowfang Jungle, a testament to their toughness and dedication.

It is a rare and solemn thing to see a Gora wander far from the confines of their forest home, for their spirit is forever tied to the land of their birth. When they do, it is often a tale of a solemn exile—of a male who challenged the alpha and lost his claim to the throne—though some females and others of their kind have been known to embark on journeys for reasons known only to themselves. Rarer still, is the hushed legend of those Gora who seek out the dwelling of the unnamed Acid Dragon in the Shadowfang Jungle, drawn by the chilling whispers of a primal fury. They see her not as a demon, but as a fascinating and terrible part of the Dreaming Mother's mind, a goddess whose ferocious temperament has been a story told in hushed tones around campfires since The Dream Began. They are a people of unwavering neutrality, neither good nor evil, but always loyal to their lands, a quiet and ancient race that will protect the soul of the Dreaming Mother until the end of time.