Guardkin

Dem dogs.

Vital Statistics (At a Glance)

• Species Type: not sure about this
• Origin: Selectively Bred by the Hinichi
• Frame Type: Quadraped
• Average Size: wolf-sized (can be larger)
• Average Lifespan: unknown
• Gravity Preference: Mediger 4
• Homeworld: Hinichitii
• Native Language: telepathic

Appearance and Biology

Ranges from that of a large working dog (shepherd-style, tall with triangular, upright-pointing ears, long muzzle, and long tail) to wolf-like.

History

The Guardkin are descendants of dogs that were decanted by the Pelted during their Exodus from a small amount of genestock 'rescued' during their escape. Since these samples created dog-like wolves (or wolf-like dogs), the Pelted assumed them to be the pets that humanity used as partial data for the creation of some of the more lupine prototypes. The people who would become the Hinichi volunteered to take care of these orphans of the Exodus (a decision that would later become their basis for arguing the precedent/rectitude of Second Chances's efforts)... but they assumed that the creatures were very smart animals, not people. They bred them for intelligence, but there was some debate over whether they were as smart as a Pelted, a debate possible because the Guardkin refrained from attempting to communicate for their own, inscrutable reasons.

While the Guardkin sapience debate was never distinct enough to generate factions, the people who believed them to be as smart as any Hinichi self-selected into the care and breeding of the Guardkin, leaving the regular population to think of them as smart animals. Before the delegation headed by Benneit Drummondly brought the first two Guardkin to Escutcheon, the Hinichi who handled the husbandry of the Guardkin couldn't decide between preserving the existing pattern of 'very intelligent animal' or change them to become more like the Pelted, and capable of speech. In the end, they decided they could not receive consent from the Guardkin for substantial modifications, and were resistant philosophically and spiritually to the idea of playing God. Needless to say, Talthien's utterance of "Graeme says they've been waiting for someone like me all their lives" rather, um, rearranged everything. At this point, Benneit and his delegation asked to stay on Escutcheon while waiting to hear from Hinchitii about their suggestion that Escutcheon become a hub for breeding Guardkin: "now that we know, it's likely other Guardkin may want to emigrate."

Timeline

• 480 BA, "December"/end of winter: First introduced to the Eldritch homeworld during the events of A Rose Point Holiday
• 480 BA, end of winter: Rhodri and his family become the third Guardkin to arrive to Escutcheon.
• 482 BA, summer: By this time, there are enough Guardkin on Escutcheon that when Liolesa asks Reese to find one for Sediryl as an investiture gift, Reese asks what to do if "the right dog" isn't "on the planet, and won't be in time for the ceremony."
• 482 BA, summer: Liolesa is adopted by the Guardkin she arranged for Sediryl, Bran and Bleddyn. Reese tells her their 'Hinichi minder' said they don't come often come bigger.
• 483 BA, spring: Kirthander and Madoc bond during the events of Dragons' Fealty. At this time, Talthien and Graeme are in training at the palace with the White Swords. Also at this time, there are Guardkin families at Forecourt: "several more babies and young children were gamboling or napping in the sunlight with their nurses, along with a startling number of puppies, of both the sentient and non-sentient kinds."
• 483 BA, summer: Giliriel and Arianhrod form their partnership in To the Court of Love.

Culture and Religion

The Guardkin consider themselves part of God's pack, so they think of themselves as a group as the godpack. Anyone who helps them find their bondmates is called a matchmaker. Brothers and sisters are referred to as littermates. Bleddyn observes that they are not technically dogs; they are related to the Hinichi, who were made with wolf DNA, so they are closer kin to wolves. But that there might be some 'working dog' DNA in there as well.

They also call non-Guardkin 'natural dogs.'

Abilities

They can talk to any esper but prefer to choose one or two people and practice talking mostly with them. But their psychic powers often present to them as smells: they smell emotions and histories, along with more strictly biological things, like diseases and lineages. They also smell the future, maybe? see quote from Farmer's crown above.

It is implied they can talk to each other. It is demonstrated they can in the presence of Liolesa. Arianrhod makes it clearer: "We Guardkin talk to one another, of course, but not at the distances you Eldritch seem capable of. And it’s harder outside families. [...] Our telepathy is weak, or it was until we met you. I wonder what we’ll be capable of together?" When asked if the Guardkin can talk to any Eldritch: "Some are easier than others."

They do *not* disturb the Pattern, so Eldritch with pattern sensing don't see their participation in it.

Characters

Bleddyn

Bran

Madoc

Rhodri