Demi-Human
Demi-Humans, coined by ancient Elven and Human empires to describe the animal-like humans that were native to the southern Savanna region. Details provided by the Emporian Ministry of Historical Records. Unless stated otherwise, assume the comparisons to be against humans.
Basic Information
Anatomy
There is a lot of variety within the species itself but the common features include fur, tails, muscle dense legs. There are three main races under the Demi-human umbrella, Gnoll, Tasaki (Fox Folk), @fummau.
The Eons spent studying the Demi-humans, it's widely recognized that they, in appearance, are their wild cousins on two legs but unlike their wild cousins, Demi-Humans have a mental capacity similar to humans. Gnolls resemble hunched over hyenas, Tasaki with the various fox species and Fummau with ocelots, pumas and panthers.
Growth Rate & Stages
Growth rates are rather fast, most reaching maturity by the age of 12 years.
Ecology and Habitats
It is possible for Demi-Humans to adapt to nearly every environment, their most beneficial place to be is the Southern Savanna Region but some adaptations have been found for the few who have found homes in the north and west.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Most Demi-Humans are Carnivores as shown by the high number of fangs and incisor teeth. Early texts show them as hunters but also cattle herders. It is believed that they would collect cattle by the hundreds and kill them as needed to feed the population
Additional Information
Social Structure
Like the human barbaric tribes of the north, Demi-Humans adopted the rule of force in the early Eons. Many original Demi-Human territories were run by clans with chieftains or warlords in the case of the Gnollish populations. Through Emporian and Elven influences, all but the gnolls have become democratic or monarchic.
Domestication
Early Eons saw domestication by the Emporian who often collared and/or tricked them into certain jobs as trackers to find criminals or help hunters find food. Those who were collared by the wealthier class of Emporians, saw a loss of brain and mental capacity with an increase in basic instinctual functioning. However, the domestication was a short lived part of the Demi-humans timeline and the familial lineages who were taken in as pets have since ceased to exist.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Trackers, Hunters. Demi-Humans became an emergency relief during the many Emporian Dominions that existed over the Eons. When pestillence and disease struck the agricultural center for the Dominion, Demi-Humans often stepped up and provided other food types to supplement what was lost.
Facial characteristics
Less fur on the faces than most animal species, often have snouts similar to their wild counterparts. Whiskers are present on the fummau
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Mostly concentrated in the southern Savanna region however some do live in he central plains and eastern jungles. It is rare to see Demi-Humans in the Western Deserts or the Frozen North due to the extreme temperatures those two zones experience
Average Intelligence
Academic intellect is slightly below Human standards
Street smarts is relatively higher
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Demi-Humans of Akora's central and southern regions are famed for having strong sense of smell, night vision and improved hearing. While it's rare for Demi-humans to have magical abilities, it's not unheard of.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Demi-Humans are fond of body marking and modifications. The concept of piercings, introduced by the Emporian as a method of marking Domesticated from the wild counterparts, became a cultural focal point to show integration into a larger society.
Gender Ideals
Demi-humans are the one species that never developed a gender role despite the outside influence. Their culture was heavily fluid and allowed for complete variations in gender-based jobs and roles in their societies.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Demi-Human languages died shortly after the first Emporian Dominion and it is unknown just how many there were or how they worked. Tyrranical Emporian reign of the region forced the adoption of the Common Language through various means
Common Dress Code
Demi-Humans for the longest time, never wore clothing. Indoctrination from Elves and Emporian forced them to adopt clothing however, it was never properly integrated. It's common to see cross dressing or lack of gender identifying clothes. The high class of both Emporian and Aldail societies have women in dresses and men in suits or other fancy clothing that put wealth and standings on display.
Demi-Humans dress for function, not show so it is rare to see dresses, skirts and kilts as well as long robes and capes. However, it is very common inside Demi-human settlements for them to roam naked since their fur is often more than enough for the Savanna Region
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Demi-Humans were often afflicted with Lycanthropy which resulted in excessively violent mentalities rather than producing a massive feral form. After several generations, Sura (Goddess of Instincts, hunting and Queen of Werewolves) paid a visit and told them how and why it was happening and that the only way to stop it was through a month long hunting ceremony. This tradition is acknowledged by just about every culture and even humans enjoy joining in.
Common Myths and Legends
It is well documented that there was a great and might werewolf who lead a slaughter party of a hundred other werewolves across Emporian territory in the Second Eon. The Myth portion is the ever lingering rumor of one Demi-Human's promise to Sura to give them the power to overthrow the Emporian strangle hold over the region.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Elves rarely mingled with the Demi-humans due to a lack of potential offspring. All known attempts resulted in miscarriages or unnaturally short lives. When the Humans started to mingle and entangle themselves with the Demi-humans, offspring was discovered possible and there was even a one in eight chance the child would be fully human, hence the term "Demi-Human". It's well known that Demi-humans and humans are capable of mating and have mated numerous times in the past. It's recorded to be the most stable inter-species relationship in recorded history
Lifespan
30 Years
Average Height
7 feet
Average Weight
180 pounds
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
In the Central, Western and southern regions, most have some variations of tan, brown and similar colors. Northern variants are often some shade of white and gray. In the East, they are often black or darker shades of already dark colors
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Looks pretty interesting so far, although some bits feel a little too vague at the moment, at least to me: Anatomy & Morphology: I would go a little more into detail here on the types of variations you have, because while you mention them as being animal-like, but I cannot imagine what these beings look like at all. What sorts of fur do they have? What sorts of animals are they based off? Are they more human than animal, or the reverse? Can multiple animal types be mixed into one (ie horns on a cat-like human)? Ecology and Habitats: Maybe "any environment" might be a bit of a stretch. If they adapt at an exceptionally quick rate, it would generally take a while before an individual with thick fur can learn to survive in a desert. What are the "central and southern regions" exactly? Is there a map for this? There is a bit of an issue here because you stated earlier that they were "native to the savanna and plains biomes of the south and central regions" but then in this section you mention "the central and southern regions where the climate is warm and wet and the ground is flat and empty." I think a map would really help us figure out exactly what you mean, or just add a bit more detail as to why these climates are preferred over others, along with why you mention multiple climates for the same locations (unless it is a mistake). Dietary Needs & Habits: A bit of an issue here. You mention that they are carnivores due to their "high number of fangs and incisor teeth" but what are you comparing them to? What is a high number of fangs and incisors? How many teeth do they have exactly, because humans have fangs and incisors as well. If you compare skulls of canines to humans, you will see similarities in their front dental structure, although canine molars are designed for a different purpose than ours. Also you do not actually mention any dietary needs. "Carnivores" can mean a lot of things. What sort of animals do they eat? What about the ones who aren't carnivores? Social Structure: You do not really explain the social structure here, who is at the top and bottom of the social ladder? Are these creatures even smart enough to develop a political system based off outside influences? Why exactly did they start shifting to the new democratic or monarchic systems? Societies do not just switch political systems and in a majority of cases they must be forced to do so in an effort to fix flaws with their original system. Domestication: "However, the domestication was a short lived part of the Demi-humans and those who were have since ceased to exist" the whole sentence seems off, can't really explain. How did the Emporians influence their culture in the way it did when all they seemed to do was capture and enslave these individuals? Uses, Products & Exploitation: Could use a bit more detail. You can describe both the jobs in great detail and when/ where they were most prevalent. Facial Characteristics: Who/ what are their wild counterparts? This kind of goes back to their appearance. Major language groups and dialects: If their original languages died, how do they communicate now? It's extremely difficult to snuff out ALL methods of communication. Common Dress code: "It's common to see cross dressing or lack of gender identifying clothes." There is no definition here of cross dressing or gender-identifying, so really there is no real detail in exactly what they wear when they are not naked. If it is based off Emporian clothing, that probably should be stated and explained more. Common Customs, traditions and rituals: That is a REALLY cool section. I think that could be its own article on its own. Needs a bit more detail, but that's probably one of my favorite things in this whole article. It sounds really cool, I do wish there was more! Overall, a bit lacking in detail but you have a strong start. I think images can really help you out if you are uncertain as to how to explain this species, but it's nothing a bit more writing can't fix. I would say to put a bit more effort in actually describing their appearances, because that is the one thing really missing out of this whole article. You've got a bit of history over here and something else over there, but there just isn't enough to paint an image of what these creatures look like. That leaves it up to our imagination but in your effort to make a book, you might want to include that. Good luck, hope I helped somehow.