I- She walked before all...

Long before humans built walls and roads. Artio walked the woods.

 She has been known by many names, she once walked the lands herself, a colossal bear with moss in her fur. She was guardian of the deepest wood, Grove and mountain peak. 

Creatures who lived within her domain would find her guidance not through tyranny, but patience and guidance. When humans began to settle in the wild lands, many spirits of the wild demanded them be hunted, destroyed or driven out. Artio refused, she saw good in those that held it within their hearts, so she found another way. Instead she formed a pact. She granted some humans her gift. A boon of the Bear so that they may tread the line between both worlds. To remember the forest, even when the forest was gone.

 Those who became the first Werebears also became Guardians, maintaining the balance between the wild and the civilised. Her children as she came to call them, were given her guidance and by her word lived by a simple doctrine of 5 values:

[ ] Protection - Strength exists to defend, not to dominate. 

[ ] Patience - Act when necessary- not before.

[ ] Community - The den survives together, lifts each other.

[ ] Endurance - Survive through hardship, but do not lose yourself to it.

[ ] Balance - Do not forget the Forest, even once the Forest is gone.

 Her children followed her words, building quiet communities where resources were shared. And those who were in need were never turned away. Over time as their culture developed, many Werebears took on more of Artio's teachings, they became healers, shamans and spiritual leaders, growing more in tune with the nature and spirits that guided them. Now, in modern times and with the veil lifted, many still follow the teachings of old, they continue to nurture the balance as best they can even as the world advances around them. And they hold strong to their doctrine, community and protecting those who cannot protect themselves, nurturing the pockets of wild and nature that still hold root. Many werebears do not believe that Artio demands worship, ceremonies or offerings. They believe the truest form of worship they can provide is continuing her teachings, preserving balance, protecting those in need, and uplifting their community together. However many do still carry totems to their Mother. And know that though she does not demand offerings, every mother enjoys a gift occasionally, bringing small offerings of fruit, honey and carved trinkets to her altar as thanks. Artio is no longer the towering Bear who roamed the deep woods she once was, or a distant and aloof goddess. She acts more as an ancestral spirit, a gentle hand who guides her children through change and hardship. Sometimes she shows herself to her children in seclusion, as a great spectral bear, or rarely as a tall and matronly mother-like figure with a warm smile and amber bear-like eyes.

- The ways of Artio - 

As Artio's children began to settle into their new being, and as generations passed, their kin started to disperse amongst the realm, her newest and youngest children remained within the deep woods, holding close to the base tenants that were bestowed upon them by the Bear-Mother. But as years pass, the more experienced of the kind started to roam out further, settling in new lands and taking on new teachings from the new lands they found themselves in, developing into clans and communities, they all still held fast to Artio's tenants, but they diversified with a fresh experiences brought forth to them in these lands.

Bears of the mountains valued Strength and Stoicism, hard as the earth and stone that built the lands they now called home and unwavering in the face of danger.

Those that settled in the river traced plains valued Nurturing and Healing, bringing life like the waters they settled near. Kin of the Tundras value Fortitude and Endurance, growing tough under the harsh conditions of the frigid lands they dwell in.

And finally the bears of the swamp. Who reflected more upon the end of life, the decay that allowed the cycle of all life to continue, and the borders between the living and spiritual realms, finding a closer connection with the spirits of the natural realm than any of others of their kin.

The first Exile

The day it happened was unforgettable seeing someone I use to call brother stand before Artio, the blood on his hands from the innocents they had harmed the people we were supposed to protect no remorse on his face she asked him what happened calmly like any mother would trying her best to console him but my brother didn't want any of it calling her gift a curse.

Each word he spoke was like another strike at our Mother, but she only listened, patiently as tears fell from her eyes. Each word broke against her like a wave against a rock. Once his tirade had ended, our mother simply bowed her head, a look of betrayal on her face, of trust broken. Yet still she could not bring herself to lash out at our Brother in rage. She reached out, laying a hand upon his cheek. The world fell silent for a moment, the wind itself held it's breath in anticipation. As her hand left his cheek, where it had touched there was left a mark, a jagged scar that would forever more mark him as Exile. His gift was taken from him, unbound from Artio she still could not look as he was cast from the wood by us, never to be allowed to return.

From then on, we all knew the price for breaking the promises we had made to Artio. If we were to walk against the tenets and teachings our mother had set forth for us, to bring harm where patience could be shown, to turn our back on those who cannot protect themselves, to bring a claw against our brothers or sisters out of malice. Our mothers grace and patience could only be pushed so far before our gift would be stripped from us and we would be marked Exile forever more.

II - Weaknesses

Though the bears are a sturdy nurturing race, some still seek to do them harm. Creatures of this realm may find ways to take down the bears 

• Cold Iron
• Fire / Burns
• Broken Oaths
• The cold winter

These are just some of the ways the race can be made to kneel

III —

IV —

V —

VI — Pacts

Bears can NOT under any circumstance make a pact with a demon. It is just not in our nature to seek out Infernal beings as a means to seek power. 

But Bears can make pacts with Angels, but if broken it will cost you your power. As you have broken vows of promise and that goes against both Celestial and Werebear beliefs. 

VII — Bears Do's & Dont's

• Protect those that cant protect themselves
• Helped build community
• Guide those that have passed to their rest
• guide the young

• Attack those that do you no harm
• Call what Artio has given you a curse
• Distance yourself from community you are here as one
• lose yourself

VIII — Growth & Mastery