Codex Alera - Races of Carna - Canim

Canim

The Canim are large, anthropomorphic wolf-like creatures and fierce warriors. They are long-lived, with a society organized in a caste-like social hierarchy which is susceptible to political in-fighting. Canim speak a growling barking language more suitable to their muzzles than the mangled Aleran that they attempt. Most Aleran contact with the Canim is through Canim raids along the west coast of Alera. They are capable of sorcery, as revealed in Academ's Fury when the Canim use their influence over the elements to batter the coast of Alera with violent storms and in Cursor's Fury when they shot bolts of concentrated red lightning to hit the officers of the First Aleran legion. The blood of living (or formerly living) intelligent beings is necessary in the use of Canim sorcery, in contrast to the fury-based magic of the Alerans. Their current ambassador to Alera is Varg, who was imprisoned after the events of Academ's Fury. In Cursor's Fury, a large contingent of Canim invade Alera with the intent of creating a permanent colony on the continent. In Captain's Fury, it is revealed that the Canim are invading Alera with such massive forces because their homeland has been invaded by the Vord. In "Princep's Fury" it is revealed that Canea used to consist of several countries, or ranges as the Canim term them, each of them as big as or bigger than Alera itself. Yet by the time the Canim invasion force returns home only one range, Shuar, remains. Shuar is described as a cold, northern, range with tundra and hardy people. The Shuarans are known for their golden fur and their monumental defense engineering. They had turned the plateau that defined their range into a monstrous fortress, which is the reason they have survived against the vord longer than the others. The Narashans are Canim with mainly Black fur and are called the "tree people" by other Canim, suggesting that they once lived in forests. Their range was south of Shuar. Ambassador Varg is a war-leader of Narash. Most Canim view Alerans as unnatural demons and call them as such. Historically, only the Canim of Narash viewed the Alerans as anything more than vermin to be eventually exterminated.

Four classes in the Canim caste system are described:

  • The warrior caste consists of the elite warriors. These professional soldiers are the Canim analog of legionnaires. They are taller and stronger than the other castes and much more disciplined. They are issued military standard armor and weapons. Warriors often ride on animals called Tuarg, which are giant bull-like creatures that are very irritable and will eat their rider or trample them if not held in check with Canim discipline. The heads of Canim armies are known as Warmasters.
  • The Maker caste consists of the farmers and artisans, the Canim equivalent of an Aleran steadholder. In the invasion of Alera, the Maker caste is deployed in raiding parties that attack Aleran travelers and raid steadholts with improvised weapons. They are not very disciplined and pose a threat mainly because of their numbers and sheer Canim strength. By the end of "Captain's Fury" the Raiders that were a part of the Canim invasion have been trained by Nasuag into a force that approaches the warrior caste in capability.
  • The Ritualist caste consists of the Canim's spellcasters. They gain their power from the blood of intelligent creatures. They have the power to summon red cloud-like creatures with acidic tentacles to guard the sky from flying Alerans. They can also summon fire or acid from the sky and cause devastating damage to their foes. They use their own race's and Aleran blood for power. Originally, their role in Canim society was to grant luck, bless family lines, and grant a plentiful harvest, but by the time of the invasion of Alera, they are vying with the warrior caste for political control of the Canim. They often use the skin or body parts of their enemies as clothing or tools. For example, many ritualists have cloaks made of human leather or helmets made of Vord skulls.
  • The Hunters are the Canim version of Cursors. They are the spies, scouts, and assassins of the Canim. They use short black lengths of chain, small javelins, and iron bars for throwing. These light weapons allow the hunters to sneak up on people. They are only mentioned in passing in the books until Princeps' Fury, in which they make their first appearance. Unlike cursors, they have no overt authority, remaining as pure covert operatives. They are considered to already be dead, having received their blood song (Canim form of last rites) when they became hunters. The Hunters are usually assigned to a Warmaster. They are most commonly tasked with missions where the letter of the Canim codes of honor must be violated in order to preserve the spirit of the codes. The Hunters justify their role by renouncing their right to their life, removing their obligation to observe the codes. With extreme skills in stealth and assassination, Hunters are able to sneak in and out of the most guarded positions in Canea and Alera. This is often used to the advantage of Warmasters who can cause dissenters or enemies to simply "disappear".

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