Lupians (''Homo ferus ex canis'') are one of the species of '''feral animal-people''' (scientific designation ''homo ferus''), species that have evolved to grow humanoid traits and sufficient intelligence to use tools and weapons, but have remained largely 'feral'; they inhabit small, hidden communities in the UA, or are nomadic. They are not considered to be a sapient species, as none are able to speak a recognizable [[languages|language]], instead speaking in unrecognizable dialects, which seem to vary between species, sometimes between individual groups of tribes within the same species. Biologists believe that feral animal-people are "edge cases" of sapience; they may very well be self-aware, with the potential to one day develop the ability to speak a commonly-used language.
In nearly every way, lupians are related to [[canine halflings]] in more than just appearance and with few major differences, being seemingly much more animalistic in behavior and cognitive capabilities. Like actual [[wolf|wolves]], lupians enjoy traveling in packs, though they seem to form smaller packs and squads. It is rare for lupian squads to be any larger than three individuals at any given time.
Another interesting trait is that they are biologically compatible with canine halflings, and by extension, may be also able to mate with other sapients such as [[human|humans]], other [[halfling|halflings]], and [[youkai]]. However, there remain critical differences between the sapient halflings and these creatures, which has helped scientists classify lupians as a different species; most notably, their carnivore diet, unlike canine halflings which are true omnivores. As such, lupians Lupians subsist largely on meat hunted from creatures they encounter. Another major difference is height and weight. Whereas canine halflings have average dimensions that are nearly equal to that of a human, lupians average at 5 foot 3 inches and 130 lbs, with individuals taller than 5 foot 6 inches being considered extremely rare.
Lupians, like most canines, possess pointed teeth with prominent fangs, as well as retractable claws, the latter replacing nails on their fingers. Despite that, they possess enough dexterity and intelligence to use tools, and can be frequently found carrying weapons, making them a significant threat. Adventurers are advised to be very cautious if they encounter lupians, as even a single individual can be very deadly, especially if it feels cornered or threatened.
Similarly to other '''feral animal-people''' species, the exact origin of these creatures is not known; they have only started appearing in the Mazes around [[History of the Mazes|early Era 7]], and are suspected to have been the result of some type of past scientific experiment gone wrong, and that they have since escaped into the Uncivilized Area and become a native species.