Avery's Secret Collection (Chrona's Art and Random Book 2)

CANIRAS EXPLAINED- DREAMLANDIAN LORE I

(So, I had the craziest idea a few nights ago and thought I'd roll with it. People have been telling me for years that I should do some kind of scrapbook to explain Dreamlandian concepts and/or species and I want to make my art and random book... a little less random... so while in the past I don't think many people have enjoyed my info dumps, I'm going to be making a few explaining Dreamland species, starting with Canira and moving onto anything of your choice and if they're generally well received I'll just keep going.

Other notes: this and any future chapters are canon with The Space Between Stars upwards. While I don't think they contradict much existing lore (because there was nothing to contradict, my old books are awful at explaining things) there might be a few inconsistencies here and there between this and Double Rainbow, The Cities Have Fallen, and The Gardenkeeper's Daughters. Make no mistake- this is the real canon, or at least the most current one.

So yes before you ask about virtues and how Natrina/Lotus fit in with their plant motif I swear I can and will explain later.

If you haven't read any of these books, ignore all of this. You'll be fine. Probably.)

BACKGROUND

Dreamland is a planet of many Sentient species, the foremost of which are the Canii and Canira. While similar in name, the two are quite different in role, lore, and culture. The Canii are similar to domestic dogs, save for their massive horns from which they pull their magical strength, while the Canira are vulpine and will be the subject of today's lore. The Canira are said to resemble the mythological Terreskians, ensemble and caretakers of the Dreamlandian goddess Verhamera, who created Dreamland with her tails, as well as all the species that now exist on the world (with some exceptions, which will not come up today). 

The Canira's role in mythology has always been that of the defenders and caretakers of the Canii's empire, much how the Terreskians care for and protect Verhamera. It is often said that Verhamera decreed this herself, along with giving the first Canira their powers, but others are firm that any claims that Canira are supposed to 'protect' Canii are just a long-standing ploy to keep them subservient. Regardless, these fears have gone mainly unrealized as Canira have been more or less on equal footing with Canii across history.

Due to their amazing biological diversity, Canira are able to adapt and live anywhere, taking on characteristics and features that allow them to better utilize their environment. This is in part due to the Canira's ability to bring out the most of their basis and alignment, as explained below:

THE THREE PARTS OF THE SPIRIT

In Dreamland, the Sentient (any creature capable of reason and thought) spirit is comprised of three parts: the soul, heart, and mind. After death, the soul returns to the magical biosphere and becomes one with the earth, while the heart goes on to another new being and the mind passes into the afterlife. In this way the dead never truly leave, and the world itself is often seen as a living being in need of the care of its inhabitants. 

Much like the afterlife, magic also heavily corresponds with the three parts of the spirit:

The basis, associated with the soul, is passed down from the parents and tends to be associated with natural power. At its core, the basis can be boiled down to nine elements, which govern all of existence: Fire, Nature, Water, Light, Dark, Air, Earth, Lightning, Ice, and Air. These elements correspond not only to what is found in nature but also to fundamental aspects of reality, which in turn are subconsciously stirred by the way Dreamlandian creatures manipulate them.

The alignment, associated with the heart, is passed down through heartlines (essentially reincarnations). It also follows the nine-element system, but adds a virtue to each: Fire (Determination), Nature (Adaptability), Water (Love), Light (Hope), Dark (Steadfastness), Lightning (Leadership), Ice (Justice), Air (Free-Spiritedness), and Earth (Honesty). These virtues may be prominent in those who correspond with that element, but they also might flat-out reject it, which will substantially weaken their magic. For some, alignment is about as helpful as a horoscope, and it is hard to figure out and track because of it.