Chimeras
The chimera of Adarus are a Linnaeus order of sapient species with diverging families. They are all "anthropomorphic" to the extent that they have a complex structural mix of genetic information from two genus families, with one of those families always being Hominidae (more to the point: Homo, or human).
There are three known Chimaeram families:
- The cat-like felimera (Homo Felis sapiens)
- The wolf-like lupimera (Homo Canis sapiens)
- The fox-like vulimera (Homo Vulpes sapiens)
What could've been does not equal what can no longer be.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Chimeras possess a set of Felidae or Caninae ears, a dextrous prehensile tail, and sharp canines that resemble noticeable fangs. Their eyes have an abundance of tapetum lucidum, which provides enhanced night vision and gives their varied-color eyes a subtle shine. Beyond those physical traits, they are almost entirely human-like upon visual inspection.
Their ears provide an enhanced range of auditory sensory perception and can pick up high-frequency sounds. The behavioral twitching and folding of the ears (as well as the waving, flicking, or curling of the tail) can betray a chimera's emotional state, not unlike many wild and domesticated Felidae and Caninae species.
Chimera hair colors vary according to their Linnaeus family:
- Felimera hair colors cover all ranges found among humans.
- Lupimera hair colors tend to be naturally white, gray, brown, or black.
- Vulimera colors include ranges of blonde, orange, and red.
Genetics and Reproduction
Slow to age and great in numbers, the chimeras compensate for this naturally with a lower birthrate compared to their human cousins. Female chimeras experience cyclic periods of "heat" every three months. During these periods, they are fertile. After mating, pregnancy lasts a full year and mothers can usually expect two-to-three children. This leads to a high amount of twins and triplets among the species' population.
Males are virile year-round and are capable of copulating with female humans. In this case, a human is always born. Likewise, if a male human copulates with a female chimera, a chimera is always born (the offspring assumes the species of the mother).
Growth Rate & Stages
Unless specified, any years referenced will be in Leo (Adarus), which is 1.48x longer than a Sol (Tellus) year.
Chimera lifespans can far surpass our own; however, due to the poor conditions they are forced to live in, they are burdened with a high mortality rate. Normally, a physically and mentally healthy chimera can expect to live up to 300 years (Leo, or 444 years Sol), more than quadruple the average human lifespan. They also appear to age at a slower rate; meaning that a chimera in their middle adult years can look like a young adult in comparison to humans.
Prenatal Development
In utero, chimera fetuses require a full year before term. Infancy and Toddlerhood
For two years after being born, a chimera is considered an infant. They are a toddler from 2 years till their 6th birthday. During this stage, similar to humans, eye color will generally be blue, regardless of their parents' genetics. Early Childhood
6-20. Since, physically, they age far slower than humans, a chimera in their childhood will resemble a human child until they are about 20 years old. During this span of time, their emotional maturity, unfortunately, grows along with their bodies, but their cognitive skills develop at the same rate as a human's. Thus, just because they may act like a child, it doesn't mean they have the limited intellectual capacity of one. Prepubescence
20-30. More closely resembling human pre-teens, chimeras will remain in the middle childhood stage for about a decade. During this time, their bodies will undergo the early stages of puberty. Hair and eye colors will develop and shift as the dominant alleles of their parents' genes take over. While they may technically also become capable of reproduction, they will have extremely low virility/fertility. Adolescence
30-40. Comparable to human teenagers, chimeras will be in the full swing of puberty and will experience a rapid incline in virility/fertility rates. Their voices will deepen over time and eye and hair colors will finalize. Early Adulthood
40-100 Middle Adulthood
100-200 Late Adulthood
200+
In utero, chimera fetuses require a full year before term. Infancy and Toddlerhood
For two years after being born, a chimera is considered an infant. They are a toddler from 2 years till their 6th birthday. During this stage, similar to humans, eye color will generally be blue, regardless of their parents' genetics. Early Childhood
6-20. Since, physically, they age far slower than humans, a chimera in their childhood will resemble a human child until they are about 20 years old. During this span of time, their emotional maturity, unfortunately, grows along with their bodies, but their cognitive skills develop at the same rate as a human's. Thus, just because they may act like a child, it doesn't mean they have the limited intellectual capacity of one. Prepubescence
20-30. More closely resembling human pre-teens, chimeras will remain in the middle childhood stage for about a decade. During this time, their bodies will undergo the early stages of puberty. Hair and eye colors will develop and shift as the dominant alleles of their parents' genes take over. While they may technically also become capable of reproduction, they will have extremely low virility/fertility. Adolescence
30-40. Comparable to human teenagers, chimeras will be in the full swing of puberty and will experience a rapid incline in virility/fertility rates. Their voices will deepen over time and eye and hair colors will finalize. Early Adulthood
40-100 Middle Adulthood
100-200 Late Adulthood
200+
Dietary Needs and Habits
Omnivorous
Like humans, chimera diets include large quantities of fruit, rooted vegetables, and meat.
Like humans, chimera diets include large quantities of fruit, rooted vegetables, and meat.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Arcanaan Empire
Most chimeras within the Empire are lupimera. By law, all chimeras within imperial territories are slaves. Every human is their better, even humans who are, themselves, slaves. Most chimera slaves are used for manual labor, but some "privileged" few serve in the direct employ of nobles and the wealthy and have the skillset to perform clerical tasks. The more unlucky ones are used for forms of entertainment, such as gladiators in coliseums. The Nasir Dominion
Most chimeras on the Abian subcontinent of Nasir are felimera. While once enslaved in the Dominion, their lives haven't improved much in the last thousand years. Chimeras that lack a skillset or are too young, old, or frail to perform laborious tasks are not forced to do so, but basic needs force many to consign themselves to a life of indentured servitude. Dominion chimeras do not enjoy anything close to a comfortable standard of living by human comparisons, and they are relegated to live in ghettos. One small freedom they possess is the privilege of choosing which master to serve should they seek work. Most young chimera males serve in the Agezran Shar (the Crimson Legions) under a cavalier lord. This usually brings a modest life of comfort, training in Nasirian martial arts, military discipline, and honor to their families. Motsuta
Most chimeras of the east, particularly in Motsuta, are vulimera. The eastern continent of Nawon was largely spared from most of the calamitous aftermath of the Fall, but the chimeras there were still subject to being stripped of their divine creation magic. However, since humans were far fewer in number than their chimera cousins, not only were they incapable of overthrowing them, they also never possessed a desire to do so (or, at the very least, were never so discontent as to find cause for rebellion). This is likely because the chimera of the east were never as militant as their kin in the west, and weren't as vulnerable to pride and greed. Shankara
A balance of all three Chimaeram families can be found in the proto-egalitarian city-state of the Aurean Stretch. Shankara is a relatively new power to the world stage, but its republican and market-focused politics leave little room for prejudice. It is a safehaven for members of both races, and chimeras can breathe easy and feel safe walking the frosted streets of the neutral city. Many of its leaders are chimeras themselves: runaway slaves of the Empire, former indentured servants of the Dominion, or ex-pats of Motsuta...
Most chimeras within the Empire are lupimera. By law, all chimeras within imperial territories are slaves. Every human is their better, even humans who are, themselves, slaves. Most chimera slaves are used for manual labor, but some "privileged" few serve in the direct employ of nobles and the wealthy and have the skillset to perform clerical tasks. The more unlucky ones are used for forms of entertainment, such as gladiators in coliseums. The Nasir Dominion
Most chimeras on the Abian subcontinent of Nasir are felimera. While once enslaved in the Dominion, their lives haven't improved much in the last thousand years. Chimeras that lack a skillset or are too young, old, or frail to perform laborious tasks are not forced to do so, but basic needs force many to consign themselves to a life of indentured servitude. Dominion chimeras do not enjoy anything close to a comfortable standard of living by human comparisons, and they are relegated to live in ghettos. One small freedom they possess is the privilege of choosing which master to serve should they seek work. Most young chimera males serve in the Agezran Shar (the Crimson Legions) under a cavalier lord. This usually brings a modest life of comfort, training in Nasirian martial arts, military discipline, and honor to their families. Motsuta
Most chimeras of the east, particularly in Motsuta, are vulimera. The eastern continent of Nawon was largely spared from most of the calamitous aftermath of the Fall, but the chimeras there were still subject to being stripped of their divine creation magic. However, since humans were far fewer in number than their chimera cousins, not only were they incapable of overthrowing them, they also never possessed a desire to do so (or, at the very least, were never so discontent as to find cause for rebellion). This is likely because the chimera of the east were never as militant as their kin in the west, and weren't as vulnerable to pride and greed. Shankara
A balance of all three Chimaeram families can be found in the proto-egalitarian city-state of the Aurean Stretch. Shankara is a relatively new power to the world stage, but its republican and market-focused politics leave little room for prejudice. It is a safehaven for members of both races, and chimeras can breathe easy and feel safe walking the frosted streets of the neutral city. Many of its leaders are chimeras themselves: runaway slaves of the Empire, former indentured servants of the Dominion, or ex-pats of Motsuta...
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Chimeras within Arcanaan and Nasir have not possessed surnames since the Fall. Instead, they are known only by their given name, and (if appropriate or needed) the household they are beholden to. Nasirians have their own naming conventions (dan and san) that accomidate a lack of surnames for chimeras. As for their counterparts across the Riah, following a chimera's given name, Arcanaanites will simply add "slave of" and then the household name.
- Example: Mika, slave of House Petra
- Example: Yuki Yatsuyoshi—where Yuki is the clan name and Yatsuyoshi is the given name
History
Presumably indigenous to many regions on Adarus. It is difficult to trace their evolutionary footprint to any particular cradle of life, as evidence of former civilizations dating back several millennia are scattered across the planet. Isepox lore praises them as Adarus' "caretakers", and were presumably the "first of the Creator's children" and also "His beloved".
According to Astralian lore, pre-fall, the chimeras were the last of the Creator's additions to the world. They were tasked simply with protecting the world and natural order that the Creator had established; however, the chimeras saw nothing to really protect the world from. The god of Adarus had manufactured a perfect world with a cyclical ecosystem that managed itself just fine without further intervention. Thus, the chimeras grew bored with their task and set their minds on nation-building.
To a lesser extent, the chimeras were blessed with divine abilities similar to the astrals and the Creator: the power to make and unmake. They could give form to new shapes and constructs, direct the flow of energy, and dramatically alter the space around them. They constructed great cities above and below ground, below the oceans, and even in the skies. They formed governments, economies, and grew their numbers a hundred-fold.
When Ahriman introduced mankind into the world, the chimeras welcomed them as cousins, but the world had already been made theirs. There was no room for humans to carve out kingdoms and city-states of their own, and they lacked divine powers to do so anyway. They could either live as nomads or become citizens of the chimeric nations and serve their precursors in exchange for lives of comfort. A portion of early humanity chose the nomadic path and became the Isepox, who still survive into the modern era. The rest lived in service to the chimeras.
At this point in the clouded history of both races, Astralian texts shift to adopt a more sinister, anti-chimera tone. The Fall is mainly blamed on the chimeras succumbing to Ahriman's corruption, learning and embracing emotions like jealousy and contempt. They waged countless wars against each other, destroying creation in the process. Whether or not this is wholly true is, sadly, rarely debated or considered and is more accepted as an objective fact among human nations. What is certain, however, is that if the chimeras once possessed resonant divinity, the power of creation and destruction, they no longer do. Lore explains that the astrals themselves took back the Creator's blessing from the chimeras because their reckless infighting was a danger to Adarus.
Astralian canon cites this senseless violence as just cause for mankind overthrowing the rule of the chimeras when they were weak and without divinity. It also asserts it's only right to punish the chimeras by reversing the roles... enslaving them in servitude. It should be noted, however, that humans were never slaves of chimeras, but the likelihood that untold numbers of human lives were lost as collateral during the chimeric wars is high. Humans lean on the needless deaths of their ancestors as the crutch of their prejudice.
Scientific Name
Order: Primates
Lifespan
300 Years, Leo
Average Height
1.9 m
Average Weight
55 kg
