Culture of Third Earth
The Dogs
*The Dogs primarily live in the desert near Mount Plun-Darr, in a large establishment called the City of Dogs, or Dog City, made mostly of stone and dried mudbrick, with buildings supplemented and augmented by various forms of aging technology and scrap metal.
*The city's main focus is on the Pit, a huge gladiatorial arena in the middle of the city, where slaves and criminals fight in all-out battles to survive, and to win.
*A prisoner in the Pit has to fight until he/she has won one hundred fights and earned his/her freedom, or is dead.
*The Dog City has no centralized government, although it does have some authorities who keep the law in the city and take care of troublemakers and thieves, including Dog Constables.
*Some Dogs live in the slums of Thundera, but they are not treated very well by the Cats who are the main inhabitants, similar to the way "low-life" Cats and tailed Cats are treated there.
*Dogs usually use melee weapons in combat, like swords, spears, and shields, and are mostly adverse to technology, though there are a few exceptions, such as an individual named Jorma who keeps a junk/hardware shop outside Dog City and loves to tinker with tech.
*Dog breeds vary amongst the ranks. Jackals were once considered royalty amongst Dogs, but have mostly disappeared from the scene mysteriously. Many remaining Dogs are like Mutts, while others are like Wolves, Foxes, Coyotes, Doberman Pinschers, Pitbulls, Labrador Retrievers, Mastiffs, Dingoes, Bulldogs, Sheepdogs, Spaniels, Beagles, and many more kinds, even some toy Dog breeds, like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pugs.
*Dogs have a partial hierarchy. As already stated, Jackals were once considered royalty, though that rank seems to have fallen to the Dobermans in recent decades. Bulldogs usually serve as guards, especially in Dog City's prison. Boxers and German Shepherds are known to be Constables. Smaller Dogs, like Beagles and the toys, are often laypeople.
*Besides the Pit, Dog City consists of a relatively normal society, filled with bazaars, bars, dime stores, grocery stores, bookstalls, butcher shops, liquor stores, a tobacconist, and even the Doggie Day Spa.
*Some Dogs deal in illicit activities at the City's two "head shops," or illegal drug shops, one of which sells caffeine, something addicting, but very harmful, to Dogs, but they use it anyway, because it makes them "get high."
*Rotty's Fighting Guild is an organization where the fighting Dogs go to train to be the best of the best. Dobo, former criminal and now owner of the Pit, once trained here to be one of the best Dog warriors of his time.
*The Chamber of Scars is a museum, which displays the gladiatorial feats of every valiant Dog prisoner who's ever fought to victory, or to the death, in the Pit or on the battlefield.
*Hunters and farmers provide most of the food that the Dogs consume. Dogs eat mostly meat, though some will occasionally eat certain plants that they can chew on more easily, and adult Dogs usually drink wine or beer (or another form of alcohol), while the Puppies usually drink grape juice or water.
*Gambling is one of several semi-illicit ways the City of Dogs maintains its fragile economy. Both the Pit and a place called Draw Lots each have a grubby but well-ordered casino where the Dogs play games to survive, and individual and group gambling is encouraged in the stands of the Pit, as well.
*Dog culture values loyalty and bravery to be higher than any other perceived virtues, and the Dogs are willing to be partners with brave fighters who return their loyalty passionately. They are not so fond of those who break their words, or who are cowardly, and will not fight beside such people, nor be lenient to them if they are thrown into the Pit.
*It's believed that Dog ferocity in battle is near equal with that of the Cats, even though the Dogs' military is not as strong as that of the Cats, or of Mumm-Ra's Lizard army, either.
*Arms and armor are made in the bowels of the Pit, but the City also has an armory that provides arms and armor for those warriors who are not subject to the Pit.
*For those Dogs who prefer a slightly more "friendly" version of fighting, there's the Dog Wrestling Federation (DWF) next door to the Pit. Some of the more peaceful Dogs go here for their entertainment. Other Dogs who don't care for battle at all like to go to the local theater to be amused.
*The clothing of Dogs ranges from simple but handsome cloth and leather for the laypeople, to tough and durable armor for the warriors. Dog armor isn't as artistic as Cat armor, or the refined clothes of Birdmen, for that matter, but it's sufficient for its primary purpose, to protect its wearer from harm.
*Dog society is not entirely battle loving, and they will live normal lives like those of common people, especially if they're among the smaller and weaker Dogs, like the toys and other cute Dogs.
*Dogs are normally pragmatic and materialistic, though some here and there believe in something more.
*Even sport is practiced in some parts of Dog territory. Some middle-class and lower-class Dogs play sports games like Agility, Disc Dog, and Dock Jumping, if they are willing to get down on all fours and act like real dogs, that is. Dog society isn't meritocratic, but Dog sportsmen still compete to be the best, like any other sportsmen would, in good, clean fun.