Been doing some Saurok research, and found the concept of the Saurok Shortfangs to be a bit interesting.
In the Skumblade Tribe, their belief that the strongest are the ones in charge and to eradicate the weak, which is a common view among most Saurok. Shortfangs, in particular, arenāt very strong, and Iāve read that they need pets to help protect them. The ones in the Skumblade Tribe use a basilisk pet called āIhgaluk Basiliskā show here:
If you speak to them in Saurok form, on the Isle of Thunder, they do have some interesting, albeit depressing things to say:
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There are ways for a shortfang to become stronger. If I wanted, I could escape the scorn of my tribe. There are waysā¦ but I am afraid. I am too scared, too weak. They do not understand me. I will be a shortfang all my life.
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The saur-priests have seen my weakness. The brutes beat me, call me shortfang. If I did not have my basilisk to protect me, I would be all alone. Likely dead.
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(The saurok cowers behind its pet.)
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(The shortfang recoils in fear.)
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I am nothing, I am no one, I am weak. I am nothing, I am no one, I am weak. I am nothingā¦
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You bend down to speak with me? A pet-keeper? A shortfang? I know my place in this world, stronger. I am not so strong enough to fight on my own, so I keep a pet. I am called weak, and pushed to the edge of the village. You should stay away from me, before they see you.
A named Shortfang āSiakannā says the following:
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They tell me that I can shed my shame. I only need to do one thing, and then I will not be a shortfang. But I cannot do that. I cannot take Farrosā strength for myself. Not after what he has done for meā¦ (I believe Farros is the basilisk pet he has. Saurok, at least the Skumblade Tribe, possibly frown on having pets, thus the Shortfangās lowly status. Apparently killing the pet and eating its meat could elevate a Saurokās status)
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I will never know the strength of Kros. I will never hunt in his fields. I am not the predator. I am the prey.
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I was not always a shortfang. I was strong.
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My father was a brute. My mother was a saur-priest. I am nothing. I am a disgrace to the Skumblade. I will die in the filth, and they will not eat my meat.
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(When being sacrificed) As a shortfang, I must wait until the stronger saurok have had their share of meat.
Some of the hierarchy makes sense, given the primitive nature of the Saurok. I assume most tribes would act like this. Despite that, however, the Saurok shortfangs do have some hints of free thoughtā¦kind of.
Most Saurok shortfangs arenāt too thrilled to be in the position they are in, granted most seem to want to be stronger and thrive in the Skumblade Tribe as opposed to outright leaving it. The first text for regular Shortfangs could refer to leaving the tribe, but it could also refer to eating their basilisk pet.
Siakann shows some form of bonding and appreciation for his basilisk pet, refusing to ever want to kill it. In some ways, it can show that the Saurok are capable of more than just savage rage.
Despite what I typed, it isnāt a huge basis for Saurok to run off and form their own hippie tribe utopia where everyone is equal and such, but it could be taken into consideration should Saurok ever be considered as a playable race. A band of Saurok from different tribes that think differently and wanted to escape the other Saurok that called them weak and threatened their lives because of it would make for an interesting story, in my opinion.
On another note, that basilisk I linked earlier could work as a Saurok Hunterās starting pet. They likely wouldnāt be referred to as shortfangs, and would just be actual hunters that utilize traps and hunt with their pet. I am unsure if any other Saurok tribes use different pets, let alone have pets to begin with.
At any rate, all I typed is speculation on my part. As I mentioned, some creativity would need to be taken to implement Saurok as playable. Still an uphill battle, but not impossible, in my opinion. ^^