The Hewas are a hybrid, sophont species of both Awassi and Henin origin. They are scientifically improbable, like many other recorded hybrids, yet many are born each year without any reproductive difficulties on the part of their parents. No two Hewas experiences are the same, in a physiological or cultural sense. Most broadly, however, the Hewas are best known for their unique cultural upbringings, balanced constitutions, and extremely high infertility rates.
Dual Heritage: A Blessing and a Curse
Different societies and cultures have placed varying meanings and judgments upon the Hewas and their parents. Some societies raise the Hewas up as symbols of peace and balance, while others revile them as symbols of promiscuity and a dillution of their pure species. Regardless, there are close-knit communities of Hewas peoples all over the Kivrian globe that support each other and celebrate their unique dual heritage.
Both and Neither
A Hewas person carries the traditions and customs associated with both sides of their parentage. On one hand, they are granted a rich and diverse cultural experience compared to many of their peers. On the other, they are often made to feel like outsiders within their own cultures, as if they belong fully to neither while really belonging fully to both. The above experience is shared yet felt especially keenly by those who take after one species more than the other, those who do not have access to a Hewas community base, and those who live with only one side of their heritage, such as those who live with only one parent.
Societal Rights
In Lainism, the Hewas are the only species permitted to become
the Shepherd because they symbolize balance between the two species. They were also chosen as the sole inheritors of the role because of their infertility, which is thought to help preserve the position from the corruption of nepotism.
Even in cultures where the Hewas are put on a pedestal, the communities have often had to fight for basic civil rights akin to those enjoyed by their Awassi and/or Henin families. This battle is still being fought today in some parts of the world.
Physiology
The balanced constitutions of the Hewas are the envy of both parent species. They tend to inherit the best traits of both species, which balances the worst of the other.
Infertility
The Hewas are mules, meaning they are unable to reproduce.
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