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Truth or Consequences

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1.  Essentials

1.1  Geography

Truth or Consequences is a city of human ruins located near the Rio Grande. It is considered part of the Chihuahuan Desert that climbs up into southern New Mexico from Chihuahua, Mexico.
ToC is home to several (around 40) local hot springs, some of which had been transformed into now abandoned spa facilities.

1.2  Climate

Truth or Consequences has a cool desert climate. Teersians experience three main seasons (summer, monsoon, and winter). From April to June (summer), the air very dry and generally hot with a significant temperature variations in the same day. July hosts the monsoon season, when one can experience high temperatures not only during the day, but at night as well (as opposed to colder nights in both summer and winter). During this season, the air is incredibly humid due to frequent thunderstorms. October to March (winter) has relatively mild days and significantly colder nights, sometimes reaching negative temperatures (fahrenheit). Winter hosts occasional rainstorms from extratropical cyclones, but this is not as common as the storms during monsoon season.

1.3  Flora and Fauna

Accompanying Truth or Consequences' desert geography are shrubby plants, such as creosote bushes and tarworts.
Yucca can be found in the area, as well as many cactus types of flora such as prickly pear and Mexican fire barrel.

Native wildlife include predators such as black bears, pumas, and bobcats, but is also home to many prey animals like jackrabbits, javelina, pronghorn antelope, and turkeys.
Other fauna endemic to the area include rattlesnakes, porcupine, and roadrunners.

2.  Culture

Teersians have effectively taken over what was previously a small resort town for humans. They are fairly humanized because of this, using the remaining buildings as homes and market places. While they utilize their four-legged forms most when hunting and travelling over long distances, most can be seen wearing clothing and using human tools.
As a whole, Teersians belief that comfort and pleasure is their life goal, and are accepting of many habits that outsiders may consider debauchery.

2.1  Species

• Coyotes make up most of the population in Truth or Consequences.
• Wolves are welcome and are gradually growing in numbers.
• Coywolves and other coy-hybrids are becoming steadily more common since ToC's founding.

2.2  Luperci & Shifting

Majority of the citizens of ToC have the ability to shift. Upon being able to do so for the first time is celebrated among Teersians, called Mayoridad, and seen as coming of age.
Those who are unable to shift are not outcasted, but are viewed upon with sympathy among Luperci, who embrace their optime forms with appreciation.

Though their optime forms are often prefered in town and for crafting, Teersians find anyone trying to hunt outside of their lupus or secui form foolish. Hunts are completed as a group, typically comprised of 4-5 canines in either of their four-legged stances.

Travelling is also usually done in lupus form, however some younger generations of Teersians adventure in their optime stance upon horseback.

2.3  Languages

• Most citizens of Truth or Consequences learn New Mexican Spanish as their first language and are prone to use it as a default. Mexican Spanish is also common.
• English is the second-most used language among Teersians, usually to communicate with outsiders when not being used to simply teach their children ESL.
• When speaking English, they speak with a Western American dialect (most evident with their full-fool merger tendency) or Chicano English dialect.
• Teersian's also have a habit of adding or no? or or what? to the end of their sentences, such as in "Are you coming, or no?"

2.4  Technology

Truth or Consequences citizens have Bronze Age prowess, using tools to manipulate both stone as well as metal. They are more urbanized than some outside areas due to their claim over an abandoned resort town -- complex buildings were already in the area upon their initial arrival to the city.
Some Teersians are capable of reading and/or writing, but most prefer that their communication stay strictly oral -- most stories are passed down orally. The younger generations of Teersians may write letters back home during their travels, but considering that their remaining family may not be able to read, most save their anecdotes until they can share them in person.

Their use of metal is most evident in artisanal craft or ritual usage, such as sewing with metal needles, utilizing hot-iron brandings, or in piercings.

Animal Companions

Horses

Horses are uncommon in the Truth or Consequences area. Because Teersian's hunt and travel predominantly in their lupus or secui forms, there isn't much use for a horse other than it's uses agriculturally. Only a few domesticated horses are present in the city and they are under the possession of the leading Suarez family.

Others may still own a horse, and they are not prohibited, and those outside of the ruling family usually keep horses merely for companionship.

Livestock

While horses and bovine are not common to the area, bighorn sheep and chicken are kept for meat, trophies, and feathers.
The citizens of Truth or Consequences lack any communal livestock to provide wool or milk, prompting them to prioritize trade as a respectable profession.

Like horses, while other livestock are not prohibited and are allowed to be owned by Teersians, there is no communal stable so sheltering any large animal is the sole responsibility of its owner.

Other

Pets are common companions for Teersians. The most common companion is some species of bird, though some canines are known to have claimed lizards, insects, kangaroo rats, or even in one case, a porcupine.

Style and Fashion

Clothing

While the summer season of Truth or Consequences can be unforgiving with high temperatures, the Teersians still make common use of clothing. The style of the Teersian's is heavily influenced by Mexican apparel.
Hats, such as gamber hats, cowboy hats, porkpie hats, and similar styles, are used to keep the sun out their eyes, as well as to keep their head dry during the monsoon season showers. Shawls are also common, in styles such as the serape or the poncho, though rebozo are more common for females, and tend to be more ornate with tassels.

It is not rare to see even non-luperci canines or luperci in their lupus forms wrapped in shawls, protecting their skin from the harsh rays of the sun and providing warmth in the significantly colder nights.

Agriculture

Chili Peppers

Due to the harsh geography of the Chihuahuan Desert, not much can thrive in Truth or Consequences crop wise. The town does have, however, a supply of chili peppers that are harvested and used medicinally.
It is most commonly used in attempt to treat cough, asthma, and toothaches.

Residence

Truth or Consequences was once a human resort town with plentiful numbers of spas and various other buildings, among citizens households. Now, the ruins offer shelter to the luperci that have moved in.
Most buildings are brick or stucco with beige or off-white to clay red exteriors. Most of the wood staircases and decks that let to pools or hot springs had been dismantled before the Teersians had arrived, and only skeleton remains of unstable structures can still be seen.
The largest building in ToC is the Sierra Vista Hospital, and while most of the glass has been shattered away, the location still offers many rooms for residence or visitors to stay in and has been repurposed as a sort of inn.

2.5  Practices & Traditions

Rituals

Piscinas Curativas

Truth or Consequences is home to about 40 natural hot springs, a feature that promoted the building of spas around the area.
While the buildings are no longer used, the springs are still offered up for use from citizens and outsiders alike.

Teersians believe that these hot springs are piscinas curativas, or healing pools. It is said that soaking in the warm waters will bring better health, good luck, and great fortune to those privileged enough to bathe in the springs.
Though these claims are not founded, the relaxing pools still drive in many visitors to soothe muscles aches and for the experience.

Payment is required for any canine looking to soak in the pools, and duration is determined by the demand of the item exchanged in payment is worth to the Teersians. For example, trading dried meats or parchment may allow a visitor half an hour in the waters, a one time-use item of greater demand such as wool, dyes, or milk would allow the visitor an hour to an hour and a half, and something of greater value still, such as a goat or fully crafted good may grant the payer full use of the springs, freedom to come and go as they please for the duration of their stay.

Ofrendas

Ofrendas, or offers, are sacrifices made to appease either the Saints of the Teersians' primary religion or made to keep La Hambrienta (see below) at bay.
Usually, only food or small crafted items (such as trinkets or clay figurines) are used as offerings, many of those objects staying on an altar for months before being replaced. However, in dire circumstances, live animals may be offered as a more drastic sacrifice, especially in times of terrible weather or rumour of trouble from outsiders.

Heinous criminals who have committed terrible offences are sometimes referred to as ofrendas and branded with a hot-iron marking them as 'no greater than an offering'. After a quick trial held by the town's highest ranking individuals, if one is considered guilty of their crime, they may be restrained in optime form and branded with a mark representing La Hambrienta between their shoulder blades. The branding is done in their two-legged form so that shifting before they are driven out of town will be almost impossible without excruciating pain and skin tearing.
Being unable to shift, the criminal is not only tortured through branding but is forced to travel in optime form, something considered shameful to Teersians who travel predominantly in their lupus stances.

Some sample headers (again, go wild, these are just samples):

Gender and Sexuality

Teersians are highly accepting of all gender identities and sexualities. Due to their culture being focused around reaching peak comfortability with oneself, they promote exploration of both spectrums. There are many canines among the Truth or Consequences population that do not recognize gender roles, believing simply that work is work and able bodies are just that to complete it. Most Teersians are respectful of preferred pronoun usage, and while not calling an individual by their preferred pronouns or name will not result in punishment, it may lead to tensions within the community. Those who may choose to harass an individual based solely on their disagreement with the other's gender identity or sexuality, however, can be punished as deemed fit.

Families and Family Structures

Hedonistic Behavior

Vices

Luck and Superstition

La Devoradora de Cachorros

A local cryptid that terrorizes Truth or Consequences, La Devoradora de Cachorros, also known as La Hambrienta, has had tales passed down from generation to generation.
It got its name (The Eater of Pups) from its supposed tendency to 'devour' puppies that are out too late or that travel too far from home. Story tells that The Hungry One then 'vomits' up an evil version of the pup swallowed and sends it back into town to do its bidding (namely cause harm to the pups loved ones).
Instead of a growl typical to bear or other predator, the cryptid is said to have a call like a pained scream.

Those that follow the main religion of Truth of Consequences, Avanism, believe that La Hambrienta was once a troubled canine who died without finding inner peace, roaming Earth as an angry spirit and eventually transforming into a Daemon after centuries without balance.

The canines of Truth or Consequences make offerings to the cryptid, designating a location far enough from town to keep the monster away but close enough to travel to and from without much trouble, the Teersians lay out meats, trinkets, candles, and anything else suitable for The Hungry One.
Those who are banished from ToC are marked with a brand that looks like a simplified bear skull with horns, a symbol that marks them as suitable sacrifices to the monster.

Though many truly believe in La Devoradora de Cachorros, in reality, it is likely what was first seen was simply a bloated black bear with some sort of skin disease, such as mange.

Fishing and Hunting

2.6  Outsider Relations & Travel

Travel

If your area is in Europe, think about the connections it may have to other prominent European areas -- for example, is it along any of the trade routes of the maritime map? Is it a port? Mediterranean sailing is much more common than Atlantic sailing, so keep that in mind! Arctic sailing is a bit beyond our Luperci; they do not possess ice-breakers or much of the requisite technology. Perhaps your area traded for horses in Bucharest.

If you plan to have a lot of characters get to 'Souls through this area, make sure to include some information about how long it would take to travel to 'Souls. O:

Outsiders

How do canines regard outsiders? Are they a cohesive, tightly-knit group or are they a quarrelsome group, prone to outbursts of disobedience or even "mutiny? If there are any civilizations that are nearby with which your area interacts, you can give them a subheader under here, even.

3.  Structure

3.1  Leaders

Alpha/beta/gamma? King/queen? Remember, Luperci don't tend to form complex government organizations -- their structures are simple, reflecting that of their ancestral packs.

3.2  Law & Justice

If there is a dominant system of government—e.g., a monarchy, or a pack-like structure with alphas, betas, etc—you can describe it here. Remember that extremely large groups of Luperci are usually split into smaller sects of canines -- e.g., a structure with a few packs or families banded together under a common name, like Sobiratsya.

4.  Religion

Most natives of Truth or Consequences are practitioners of a polytheistic religions called Avanism.

Avanism is a contemporary belief system revolving around inner peace and balance. Their main teachings revolve around spirituality and good versus evil, and these teachings are often passed on through visits to spiritual places and monthly town gatherings. It's teachings come from experiences and lessons from ancient leaders who have reached a higher status within their belief system. They often express their beliefs through wood carvings, offerings and sacrifices.

Followers of Avanism worship two greater Gods and a 'council' of lesser magical beings represented in canid forms called Espíritu.
Teersians that believe in Avanism are taught to believe that they are a product of both good and evil combined. The believe that they are the offspring of two Gods of opposite domains, brought into life through specially chosen individuals who have proved their purpose to the council. Everything is thought to be a product of the Gods initial concepts, with meddling by the council to shape individuals.

Avanist do not believe in a paradisiacal afterlife. Instead, they believe that if one has achieved inner peace that they simply cease to exist and escape the possibility of having to roam Earth as a lesser spirit. Those who do not meet those requirements are Fantasmas, or ghosts. A Fantasma cannot communicate with the living and can merely observe, attempting to find inner peace through the experience and realizations of others to end their otherwise ceaseless meandering.
In some rare cases, a Fantasma may never find peace, and after too long in an endless isolation, will eventually transform into a Daemon.

Deamons are purely evil creatures who attempt to disrupt the peace of mortals through various means, though it is believed that depictions of Espíritu are to repel them, such as totems or carvings. Offerings may also be made in their favor to keep them appeased and to distract them from their nefarious deeds.
La Hambrienta, the local cryptid, is believed to be a Daemon.

Deities

Those practicing Avanism believe in two greater gods, Leotl, the God of Good and Xoklos the God of Evil. They are ungendered and represented as canid, though it is believed that they only appear as such to Avanist to make their presence more comforting. Leotl is often portrayed as a pale white coyote with golden eyes and halo, whereas Xoklos is seen as a black coyote with blood-red eyes and halo. Despite their titles, they are not believed to be dueling but showing how factors of good and bad can coexist and create balance within nature.

While Avanist believe that Leotl and Xoklos are higher beings and are creators of Earth and its beings, they also practice the idea that the Gods made their creations and then freed themselves from further meddling. That, instead, is left to their shared council of sprits, called Espíritu.
Espíritu were once mortals, but showed great inner balance and prowess in their particular fields before their death. In return for their success, they were granted the power to use magic and bestow blessings on their followers.

Offerings and prayers are often meant for the appeasement of the council, rather than the Gods. Misfortune is to be associated with the displeasure of a particular Espíritu, to which sacrifices or offerings may be made to reverse whatever wrong-doing has been committed.
Though particular Espíritu may differ from various communities following Avanism, a few examples of them include:

• Tere, Spirit of the Harvest and Weather
• Conchita, Spirit of Fertility and Birth
• Lucio, Spirit of the Sun and Light
• Marcela, Spirit of War and Victory
• Tonio, Spirit of Wealth and Prosperity

Symbols

Are any symbols pervasive in your religion (e.g., Christian cross, Star of David, etc). Think about what these things mean for your characters, and how these symbols are represented in your culture (e.g., perhaps residents get tattoos or markings in the shape of the symbols).

Religious Order

Are there priests, priestesses, shaman, religious leaders? How do they enforce the religious code, if there is one?

Practices

Do your canines have any particular practices, rituals, or pervasive beliefs? Perhaps the canines from your area are exceptionally superstitious. Ceremonies and the like can be listed here.

Ceremonies

If your canines celebrate particular holidays or religious observances, describe them here. This space can also be used for the description of rituals and the like.

5.  Significant Characters

5.1  NPCs

Here's a description of a significant family from the area!

5.2  Adoptable Characters

6.  History

6.1  Significance

If your area has a particular influence on 'Souls (e.g., a large number of immigrants come from this area, or a pack was founded on the basic beliefs of this area) write about it here! List any families that originate in your area:

• Families

6.2  History

If there was a massive war or other large scale occurrence here, you may include it here, however, please keep in mind that these events don't have a lot of meaning for characters who did not originate from the place during that time. A generalized summary is much better.

7.  Notes & References

7.1  Quick Reference Index

Essentials Isthmus of Tehuantepec Define areas, practices, beliefs, etc. quickly down here. This helps you in roleplay if you only need a momentary reminder, and it helps others especially if you use a tonnage of foreign words in your area's culture or whatevers. ;_; Isthmus of Tehuatepec

Religion Momoztli ("altar") The single deity revered by Eternian religious canines.

7.2  Notes

Status Creator: Pabs — see Wiki page for contact information. Status: REQUEST. You can also check out PLAYER's Adoptions to see if I have any available Families characters.
Inconsistencies something you maybe fudged from reality knowingly?	References any references not included in the index here?	Name Meanings define a name here if you want, or replace and rename this section