Fuundian

Perseverance in persecution. Love amidst strife. One with asahiin. Fuundia.

Fuundians have suffered an unfortunate and despicable history of discrimination and exploitation. It is only proper that they now have the most fearsome military in Astania - perhaps even in all of Vana. They fought hard for the recognition they deserved.

— Historian

Thousands of years before the Great Sage, magic was an unregulated and unknown medium of chaos. Sages were few and far between - a force of unreckoned power. The side effects and dangers of magic were untested and it wasn't uncommon for sages to cause disasters or injure themselves from failed spells. This is where the roots of the Fuundian race began.
The first transmuters discovered their ability to transform into animals and some, without knowing the consequences, spent copious amounts of time in their animal forms. After a time they began to notice changes in their elvish forms. Heightened vision and hearing. Sensitive noses. Thicker hair. Elongated ears... And eventually, fully-formed animal parts. Tails, claws, ears, whiskers, horns, etcetera. No matter how long they stayed away from these transformations, the animal parts never went away. As magic was still a new concept in early Vana, transmuters with such side effects were driven out of their homes and ostracized from communities. Eventually, they banded together and formed their own villages in the far reaches of Astania, which would eventually house the Western Sage Tower.

With these new communities, the first ancestors of the race came together. As time went on and the members of the new race had children, they realized that their animal traits showed in their offspring. Those with magical powers were able to transform into the animal whose traits they had without completing the transformation ritual. Those without magical powers had heightened senses from their animals, but couldn't transform. A few generations into the beginnings of the race, due to slavers and racist ordinaries and sages alike, the animalistic transmuters banded together and built their own kingdom. They called it Fuundia.

You can never imagine the freedom a transformation brings. The first time a young transmuter fills their wings with open air... the first time they sink their claws into soft dirt... the first time they see through the eyes of what you call a lesser creature... Everything changes.

— Unknown Transmuter

Anatomy & Morphology

Every Fuundian has a different genetic makeup dependent upon the animal that their ancestors were fused with. Fuundians were elves - and still are partially elves. They have elvish bodies and limbs and faces, but they also have additions or mutations of different animals. Each Fuundian has only a single animal's characteristics.

Genetics & Reproduction

Birds and bees and all the normal things. When a Fuundian has parents with different animal characteristics, they typically take on the characteristics of one or the other. There has never been a Fuundian with the traits of two animals. Occasionally, the child might have the characteristics of an animal that neither parent has. This is due to the weirdness of DNA and punnett squares and whatnot. To be sure, they had an ancestor with whatever animal characteristic they have, and perhaps the ancestor was from multiple generations ago.

Growth Rate & Stages

Fuundians have the same lifespan and growth rate as their lesser elven ancestors. The eldest of the species usually live to be around 250 years old. Depending on their animal counterpart, it's possible their lifespan might grow or shrink, but typically only within 50 - 75 years.

Dietary Needs & Habits

Most Fuundians have the dietary needs of elves - that is, they're omnivores. There are some who have appetites more in line with their animal counterpart, however. A rabbit Fuundian, for example, might be vegetarian. A cat Fuundian might be carnivorous. And so on.

History & Emancipation

For many thousands of years Fuundians were exploited for magical talents and kept as slaves. It is only recently that they have been granted full freedom across the countries of Vana.
The first transmuters to gain animal mutations were seen as freaks and monsters. They were driven out of communities. Stoned and beaten. Or if not, captured and put in cages to be on display. Forced to perform for the masses.
It wasn't until the year 257, three hundred years after the first recorded mutation, that Fuundia was founded. It then took more than two thousand years, 2734 AGS, for it to be recognized by the other kingdoms of Astania. Despite the recognition, it was still common practice to keep Fuundians as servants and slaves. The kingdom of Fuundia itself was the only safe haven for the mutated elves.
Astanian government granted full freedom to Fuundians in the year 2941. In Caladvel, 3004. In Oriddean, 3022. In Riseil... pending. Though Riseil is prejudiced against nearly all races.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Lesser Elves

Lifespan

240 - 270

Fuundians of Import

Champion Haath (a.k.a. The Iron Dragon)

Biological Traits

The first Fuundians came from all around Vana. The only thing that connected them biologically was their animal mutations. Skin tone, bone structure, culture - all different. Those living in Fuundia are mixed. Over the years of living in Fuundia, however, most have developed darker skin. Fuundia rests in the middle of the hottest desert in Astania, after all.