Editing Pugmire (section)

==Dogs of Pugmire==
The dog Empire of Pugmire is based out of the city of Pugmire. In contrast to its older rival, the Monarchies of Mau, they are a more stolid people, but also much more organized than the relatively fractious felines. Pugmire is ruled by a collection of noble houses, each of whom descend from a dog that discovered what the Church of Man verified as a masterwork relic - an authentic artifact of the Old Ones. These artifacts are the source of each noble house's legitimacy, and should they be stolen or destroyed, that house immediately loses all noble privileges.

Pugmire is an elective monarchy, a compromise born after the original dog civil war over a dispute about inheritance of the crown. When the current king or queen either dies or abdicates, the royal court selects a new king or queen from Pugmire's assembled nobles.

===The Church, Word & Code of Man===
Whilst the dogs of Pugmire aren't a true [[theocracy]], the Church of Man is a very powerful influence over theri culture. It was founded when a dog named Anastasia Akita discovered ancient writings in a cave that contained advanced environmental manipulation techniques, allowing the fledgling kingdom of Pugmire to transform a tainted river and a noxious bog into a place where they could create the first dog city. To this day, its purpose is to help dogkind, to further learn about and understand the Old Ones, and to follow what they believe is the ideology that Man laid down for all dogs to follow.

The Church's full ideology is the Word of Man, a sprawling litany of observations and preachings compiled in a massive library of volumes. The Code of Man is the simple set of religious tenents that the Church boils it all down to, and uses to instruct and guide the lay-persons of Pugmire:
* Be a good dog.
* Obey the master.
* Bite only those who endanger you.
* Defend your home.
* Stay loyal to those that are true.
* Protect all from the Unseen.
* Fetch what has been left behind.

The Church of Man is so powerful it even has its own [[Inquisition]]... except that Pugmire Inquisitors are more a combination of detective, street judge, and specialized hunter of the Unseen. Kind of like if Sherlock Holmes was a church-trained demon-slayer.

===Callings===
Callings are the Pugmire equivalent of classes, and consist of the following.

'''Artisans''' are the Pugmire version of [[wizard]]s, using a "focus" to draw "magical energy" and shape it to their will. However, their abilities key off of [[Charisma]], which also makes them similar to [[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)|sorcerers]].

'''Guardians''' are Pugmire's [[fighter]]s, or perhaps [[paladin]]s; master warriors with great charisma who make natural leaders.

'''Hunters''' are Pugmire's [[ranger]]s; explorers of the wilderness and dedicated monster-killers who walk the borders between civilization and the wilderness. 

'''Ratters''' are Pugmire's [[rogue]]s, using their speed, deft hands, stealth and guile to triumph over all obstacles in their way, be they traps, locks or enemies.

'''Shepherds''' are Pugmire's [[cleric]]s, who gain the ability to perform miraculous magic after being ordained by undergoing the Ritual of Transubstantiation, wherein they are injected with the sacred blood of the Old Ones (yes, it's probasbly nanites). Outside of their miraculous magic, they are advisors, philosophers, sages and luminaries.

'''Strays''' are the [[barbarian]]s of Pugmire; dogs who forsake the comfort of civilization to instead pursue a life in the wilderness, surviving on their own strength, tenacity and fury.

===Breeds===
Breeds are Pugmire's equivalent of races, representing "archetypal" collectives of different dog strains that are lumped together based on common traits. 

'''Companions''' descend from dog breeds specifically selected for their companionable nature, usually lapdogs such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pugs and Shihtzus. Highly sociable and naturally charismatic, Companions excel as diplomats, politicians, educators and conversationalists.

'''Fettles''' are descended from dogs bred for toughness and hardiness - Bulldogs, Dalmations, Dobermans and Mastiffs. Hardy, stubborn and stoic, Fettles don't make friends easily, but their loyalty is unquestionabloe.

'''Herders''' descend from the various herding breeds of dog; Collies, Corgis, German Shepherds and English Sheepdogs. They are natural leaders with deep-rooted insight and a wisdom that helps them excel as confidants and advisors, diplomats or priests. 

'''Pointers''' are the distant descendants of dogs bred for hunting and tracking; the Bloodhound, the Dachsund, the Labrador and the Rat-Terrier. They are best characterized by their intelligence, and naturally gravitate to the roles of researchers, storytellers and sages.

'''Runners''', obviously, are descendants of dogs bred for speed, from professional racers like Greyhounds and Whippets to speedy hunting dogs like Wolfhounds. Filled with boundless energy and with incredible reflexes, runners gravitate to roles such as messenger, racer, and combat trainer.

'''Workers''' descend from large, powerful working dogs such as Akitas, Huskys and Malamutes. Strong, stubborn and not afraid to get their paws dirty, Workers tend to be blunt and direct, even the ones who belong to the nobility.

'''Mutts''' are, obviously, the myriad dogs who haven't got a clear lineage; crossbreeds and mongrels whose ancestry crosses two or more distinct species. They're not all bastards - many are in fact recognized and accepted members of the established Pugmire noble families - but they do tend to be more common amongst the lower ranks.