Infobox
Property Value Name Zoomorph Aliases — Category Races Is Subrace No Origin North Mangfold Status Stable Maturation 4 – 18 years Lifespan 30 – 180 years Fertility 1.1 – 1.3 Gestation 8 – 12 months Height 148 – 313 cm Weight 42 – 390 kg Deity Depends on Gene Reproduction Sexual Mostly Genders Male\Female\Hermaphrodite Bio Traits — Vulnerabilities — Dist Feature — Anatomy Feature —
Overview
A collective name for all humanoid mammals and other creatures descended from the Kilui. The variety of species is so vast that no being in this world has encountered them all. The specific traits and characteristics of a Zoomorph depend upon the animal gene from which it originated. The majority of zoomorphic races are located on the Mangfold continent. This is logical, as the site where this race was brought into the world—the Ancient Kingdom of Kilu-Ares » PHIYLAKEIA! IT WAS PHIYLAKEIA! »—was situated northwest of the Delin River, near the Vekster Mountains.
Result of Failure
A failed experiment. Kilu-Ares was obsessed with the hybridization of beast and man in order to breed the Kilui specifically; these… are merely the byproducts. Observing how they multiply in the slums of Mangfold, I see no “ancestral heritage.” I see only the biological waste left behind by the ambitions of a madman who knew not when to stop.
Physiology & Psychology
Their appearance, anatomy, charac— » animalistic instincts » —ter, depend on their animal gene. If it is a hare—expect a small, fluffy, timid creature. If a tiger stands before you—expect danger.
Bias
I understand this sounds quite biased, but it is the truth—this race is heavily dependent on its animal gene, which at times can entirely consume their “humanity.”
The larynx and vocal cords allow them to produce sounds and speak the Common Tongue. However, there are tribes where Zoomorphs are physically incapable of learning even this. Their intellect is human—they are capable of thought and inclined toward development. One nuance is that very “margin of error” in the form of the animal gene: their character depends on it to a significant degree.
Somni!
Hah! Look! He’s chewing on your bone again! Take it back! Go on! — Does it not bother you at all that he is playing with a leg that belonged to you by birthright?
Sometimes it reaches the point of absurdity. They say that in the heat of battle, one can throw a ball to a dog-morph—and he will chase after it, forgetting the fight entirely.
Culture & Society
In this regard, the race is also renowned for its unfathomable diversity. Northern Zoomorphs are more prone to tribalism and are deeply protective of their “identity”.
The Imperial Vivarium: High Zoomorphologist; Tribal Radicalism Analyst
There is a direct correlation between the tribal lifestyle of Zoomorphs and the intensity of their aggressive behavior. When gathered into packs, the “instinct” of the beast exerts a pronounced, innate influence over the remnants of human reason and self-control. This fosters a perception of anyone who appears different or possesses a different animal gene as an absolute enemy.
On the other hand, there are Zoomorphs who have been fully integrated into the human social fabric, where the inhabitants have essentially ceased to perceive any distinctions.
Distinctions
But they do exist! Even in those empires of yours—those specific decrees, special laws, and codes of conduct weren’t introduced for nothing! If not for these beasts, humanity would not have to suffer so.
Yet, one trait unites them all—the assimilated and the tribal alike: the inherent necessity for a “pack leader.” Notably, a “pack” can refer to either a group comprised of various Zoomorph species or a community of one specific kind. Nevertheless, different species generally strive to remain among their own, avoiding the vortex of “diversity”.
Origin
Kilu-Ares
“To what lengths can human ambitions lead—to the conquest of the world? The universe? The enslavement of all nature’s beauty? Where is the limit of greed? Until man harnesses all the laws of creation and becomes like nature itself—his ambitions will not weaken by so much as the tip of my fingernail. And having conquered the laws of creation, he will think—this is not enough—he will demand more.”
As previously stated, » Or?! Yet?! Not? » Zoomorphs originated from another artificially created race, named after the ruler of the ancient northern kingdom—the Kilui.