I thought to post this here as it seems to be attracting some people on other spaces, but it might not be a good measure of people’s interest for the idea.
This is how I’d conceptualize a Vulpera Paladin-Archetype. Personally, I wouldn’t like anything related to “humans or belves teaching”. I see that as lazy at best, because I believe it would be best for them to actually show some depth and maturity of their own and some cultural nuance.
The Duneblessed
The Duneblessed is a representation of all a vulpera is, but cranked up to fifteen. Zealous treasure hunters, stringent leaders of the caravans, healers, and storytellers.
They’re devout of Vol’dun. Where many see a wasteland, and even fewer see an opportunity of survival, they instead choose to see a land of wonders and miracles. They echo these principles not only by telling inspiring tales, but by their actions.
They guide Caravans in an quest to unearth all the Wonders buried in the Sands.
At times, because they’re optimistic. At other times, not only because of their faith in the Sands ever providing, but also because of their own vulperan capability to see opportunity even in the worst situations and thrive.
Some homebrewed details and inspirations
Some Values:
Communalism: “Take care of others, no one else might”. They share their findings, wisdom, and muscle, should it be needed. All for kin.
Hyperoptimism: Common in all sorts of paladin archetypes, to see Vol’dun as a land of opportunity requires a very special mindset, one that at times might be perceived as madness. It is up to the Duneblessed to actually make it true, because the Sands don’t just provide by themselves.
Obligatory development of Strength, Intellect and Willpower (DPS, HEALER, TANK) in EQUALLY BIG parts. Mens sana in corpore sano!
Shamanistic roots: As I see it, they would have a sort of shamanistic origin, inverting the Draenei take on it (Priest/Paladin → Shaman, as Nobundo considers it to be “another face of the Light”). It creates a parallel given the exile / slave motives that I saw them both sharing in a way or another.
Some of their symbology could for example be:
- The Sands mainly as their sayings already show, a main element of their beliefs.
- The Stars or the Night sky, gently lit in contrast to the Scorching Sun. The “secret” only shown by the Night.
- The Oasis, related to water and bountifulness.
- Torch, guide through the Depths, the Sun in their paws and the representation of their inner flame.
These draw a parallel to Earth, Air, Water and Fire respectively. Some stuff like totems would be viable, akin to the Tauren totemic Sunwalker motives.
No Sun worship: While it was an option that I thought viable in a way, I believe that by appealing to their fennec inspiration, they’d probably lean towards the night, moon and the stars as symbols. The Sands and Dunes would still be their object of worship, as the various texts of the game show (Vulpera NPC Banter, Aisha). I’d dare even say they could revile it instead, bringing some internal contrast to the Sun Worship (Tauren, Sun imagery of Blood Elves). Obviously, this contradicts their IC joke of “haha we’d freeze to death”, but I still stand by them favouring Dawn and Evening as more tolerable moments.
ART GALLERY
https://imgur.com/a/7HNk7ro
