Kizodae

Out of all my travels, all the crazy stuff I've seen, all the varied people I've met, I've never seen such a diverse species. It makes me wonder if they even are the same species, or if it's just thousands of one-person races. Moreover, I'm equally surprised that all of them aren't druids, given the shapeshifting into animals. But then, they don't exactly learn that like druids do. I once nearly shot an arrow through my friend Shik's - a deer Kizoda - brain because she decided she wanted to be in her animal form while I was hunting DEER. I of course noticed it was her, so I missed and hit her shoulder, she of course thought I was a stranger actually trying to kill her, so she lit me on fire, Stella of course tried to get between us, so she got kicked in the face trying to stop us, it was a bad day for everyone. Except Konn-Doul. He laughed. Dumb lizard...
Anyway, I still don't understand a lot about the Kizodae as a whole. I've not found much reference material about them, and the one Kizoda friend I have just so happened to be born from immigrants, so she can't tell me much either. I would try to learn more about them, but I like this continent, and it's hard enough to get across the Sea of Lights even once, let alone a return trip. I think the biggest mystery of the species is how any of them even got here in the first place, considering how hard their homeland is to get to. To get there and see those sights would be the holy grail for an explorer like me...

— Excerpt from the memoirs of Venyur Chase

The Kizodae are one of the few known races not to hail from the western continent of Occida. Instead, they hail from the other end of a massive, perilous stretch of water known only as the Sea of Lights. They call their home "Atagos", which translates to "Synthesis" in their tongue. Their appearances are strange, being equal parts animalistic and humanoid. They possess the ability to shapeshift into their animal forms, much like a druid, however there is no limit to their transformative ability sans the fact that they may only become one animal, specifically the animal their physiology most resembles. For instance, a tiger Kizoda can only transform into a tiger. In addition, all Kizodae are inherently magical. This is used as an excuse by most biologists to explain the more peculiar traits of the race, such as their admittedly bizarre reproductive qualities. However, this magic heritage produces a few other notable effects, most notably the rare variations of each species.
Each species of Kizodae congregate in clans. There can be multiple clans of any given species, with the exceptions of what are known as the Twelve Great Clans of the Kizodae. There are only one of each clan, each composed of one of the twelve grand species: Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Sheep, Horse, Snake, Rabbit, Ox, Rat, Tiger, and the greatest among them, Dragon. Among the twelve great clans, a special phenomenon is observed: upon the death of their predecessor, a Kizoda is born to eleven of the twelve great clans whose features are an abyssal black. Their fur, scales, hair, and/or eyes are jet black. Not only that, but their physical and magical abilities are notably greater than those of their peers. Why this happens is unclear, but whenever a black Kizoda is born, they are destined to lead the clan upon maturation, and they are known as Primes. The exception to this is Dragon Clan, which has never known a Prime. Legend has it that when the Black Dragon is born, it shall become the greatest and most powerful evil the world has ever known.
Even rarer than the black Kizodae however are the exceedingly special golden Kizodae, known as Divines. Their fur, scales, eyes, hair, etc, are all a shining, beautiful gold. When a Divine is born, they are held up as a gift from the gods, destined to become a champion of all Kizodae. Dragon Clan does create Divines, though they are more common in Dragon Clan than the rest, fulfilling the roles of both Divines and Primes. Divines have an even greater magical potential than Primes. It is said that when the Black Dragon rises, it will be stopped from destroying the world by a force led by a Divine.

Basic Information

Anatomy

All Kizodae have two forms which they can shift between: an animal form, and an animalistic humanoid form. Depending on the species, different Kizodae can have different animal traits. Typically, their bodies up to their necks possess fur, scales, or feathers, along with the ears of their animal, and any other notable physical traits of the animal, such as horns, claws, wings, etc. Height and weight can vary greatly depending on the species, with some species being under 4 feet tall and very light, and others being over 7 feet tall and very heavy. All Kizodae possess the ability to shapeshift between their humanoid and animal forms. The exact mechanism of this transformation is unknown, but it is clearly magical in some way. In most cases, a Kizoda's animal form operates identically to their natural counterpart on a physical level, though their mental faculties are unaffected by the transformation. Any clothes, armor, or equipment carried or worn by a Kizoda merges into their body upon transformation into animal form, and emerges intact in the same state as before upon returning to humanoid form. It is important to distinguish Kizodae from other animalistic humanoid races, such as the Zan-Noum. Zan-Noum lack the inherent magic and shapeshifting of reptilian Kizodae, and their appearances are different enough to distinguish them, despite their similarities.

Biological Traits

The exact physiology of an individual Kizoda depends on their biology. E.g. an ox Kizoda will be tall and heavy, while a rabbit Kizoda will be small and light. Despite these differences, individual biology plays surprisingly little into the life expectancy of Kizodae, as they all share similar life cycles. Typically, they mature at a rate similar to humans, and live an average of 2.5x as long, the average lifespan being around 250 years. The exceptions to this are the twelve great clans, whose life expectancies can exceed 500 years, with Dragon Clan being notable for being nigh immortal, possessing average life expectancies well beyond 1000 years, to the point where some of the most ancient even remember the Great Conflict, being able to recount the face of Dohmis himself as he descended from on high to restore the world.

Genetics and Reproduction

The reproduction of Kizodae can be... perplexing, to say the least. First of all, the method by which a Kizoda is born depends entirely upon the mother's biology. For example, if the mother is an egg-laying Kizoda, the child will be born from an egg, even if the father or child is mammalian. The same applies to mammalian mothers. The child's species is typically determined by their parents' species, e.g. two tiger Kizodae will create another tiger Kizoda. For examples where the species clash, the child's biology takes after their father's. There is one exception to this rule however: the biology of any of the twelve great clans of the Kizodae will always supersede that of a lesser species, while the biology of a Dragon Kizoda will always take dominance. When two non-dragon Kizodae of different biologies from the twelve great clans procreate, the normal rules apply. Nobody quite understands the reason for the race's peculiar reproduction, not even the Kizodae themselves. However, their magical nature tends to subdue a great amount of headache regarding the conundrum.

Growth Rate & Stages

Despite the variable life cycles of naturally occurring animals, Kizodae, regardless of the species, share similar life cycles and stages of growth, typically maturing at around the same rate as humans. This is almost universally attributed to their magical origins.

Ecology and Habitats

A Kizoda's optimal environment is based on that of the animal of its biology. It is said that the lands east of the Sea of Lights possess a myriad of biomes scattered amongst each other almost haphazardly. This goes some way to explaining how the different varieties of Kizodae can coexist in close enough proximity to claim each other to be of the same race. It is important to note that Kizodae are much more adaptable than their natural counterparts, likely due to their intelligence and magical nature.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dietary needs of the Kizodae vary depending on their biology. An interesting trait of Kizoda psychology is that they are perfectly fine with their naturally-occurring animal counterparts being hunted and eaten by predator Kizodae, and predator Kizodae see nothing wrong with it either, even if their best friend's or lover's biology is that of the animal they're hunting. No guilt is felt on either side, and it is barely even seen as an act worthy of acknowledgement. It is a rather peculiar quirk of their mentality. Interviews with Kizodae of both predator and prey biology reveal that they see it as merely part of the circle of life. Natural animals lack the intelligence and individuality of their Kizoda counterparts, so their deaths at the hands of a Kizoda are exactly the same as their deaths at the hands of a normal animal, or even a humanoid.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Most Kizodae exist in clans based on the species, and these clans act similarly to how collectives of normal animals would act, with the added benefit of human intelligence. For example, a wolf Kizoda clan acts similarly to how a wolf pack would, but with greater intelligence. Most species have multiple clans scattered around, however there are twelve clans of which only one exists, known as the Twelve Great Clans.

Facial characteristics

Most Kizodae possess humanoid faces, as their fur, scales, or feathers reach up only to the neck. They typically also have some animalistic trait on their faces or heads to denote their animalistic nature, such as whiskers, horns, or a beak. They also all possess ears similar to their animal counterparts, e.g. a rabbit Kizoda has rabbit ears coming from the top of their head. Most Kizodae also possess eyes with the appearance of those of their animal forms, such as feline slit pupils, or the disproportionately large eyes of an owl.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Kizodae are said to exist in surprising proximity to each other given their differing biologies, though the supposedly varied and scattered biomes of their homeland play a part in alleviating this discrepancy.

Average Intelligence

Kizodae share similar intellectual capacities to humans, with certain species of Kizodae, such as owl Kizodae, possessing notably greater intellectual prowess.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Kizodae by default possess similar sensory abilities to humans. However, depending on the species, they can possess different senses depending on their animal. For instance, a bat Kizoda can utilize echolocation, while a wolf Kizoda has a heightened sense of smell, and an owl Kizoda possesses incredible sight.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Typically, Kizoda naming conventions lack the intentional meaning of that of other races like the Zan-Noum, and instead are more similar to human conventions, in that Kizodae generally name their children based on how they hope they grow up to be, or based on their appearance, or even based on a whim. The exceptions to this are Primes and Divines, whose names generally have meanings relating back to their status and color.

Beauty Ideals

Kizodae aesthetics are more than just a philosophy, they are a part of daily life. They tend to focus on nature as something to be admired and appreciated, seeing it as similar to an ocean: the water represents potentiality, and all things that exist are like waves, rising up and then returning to the ocean, never complete even at their peak, always returning to a state of potentiality before rising once more. This appreciation of nature is fundamental to many of the Kizodae's aesthetic ideals and other cultural elements. This idea is expanded upon in a philosophical principle which informs the aesthetic ideals of the Kizodae, what they call "Bisawa", which refers to a mindful approach to everyday life. The intricacies and beauties of nature can be so subtle that it takes a quiet mind and cultivated eye to recognize and appreciate them. The values of Bisawa are ingrained in the very ethics of Kizoda culture, so almost all Kizodae possess an inherent appreciation for nature, and the ability to quiet themselves and simply observe and take in the beauty of the world around them. To the Kizodae, all things are most beautiful in their natural form, the form in which they were born, built, or otherwise created. To tarnish this beauty is seen as a great shame in their culture.

Gender Ideals

The Kizodae have a fairly equitable society. Men are marginally more expected to be productive and dominant, while women are marginally more expected to be domestic and submissive. Men and women are held to the same ideals: loyalty and courage. They are expected to be loyal to their clans, their leaders, and their families. In addition, men are generally expected to be learned in literature and the arts as much as martial disciplines, while women are expected to be learned in finance and domestic skills. Despite these expectations, the equity of their society means that they are by no means strict guidelines. Women are just as capable of becoming great warriors as men are, though there is a present, albeit not very prominent, bias towards domestication in Kizoda women, and towards dominance in Kizoda men.

Courtship Ideals

To court a significant other is a great responsibility in Kizoda culture. It must not be done carelessly, as family bonds are a sacred thing to them. As such, great thought is put into courtship. Typically, men propose to women, though the reverse is not unheard of. Proposal is often performed in places of great natural beauty and stillness, to give the moment the heightened sense of importance and weight that it deserves. Upon acceptance, the couple set out to create a pair of matching trinkets, anything from a pendant to a ring, and enchant them with a spell of spiritual bonding between the creator and the recipient. When the trinkets are finished, they are presented to their recipient, and the fates of the couple are forever intertwined from that day forward.

Relationship Ideals

As previously mentioned, men and women are held to a standard of loyalty. In a committed relationship, secrets are not to be held, as to do so would be a grave insult to the other and the very ideals for which they both stand. To be honest and open with one's other is the highest responsibility in a relationship. As long as these rules are held to, the specifics of what a relationship entails are mostly determined by the couple themselves.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The Kizodae can speak the language of the animals, a variant of the druidic tongue. In fact, it is said that the druidic tongue itself is a derivative of the Kizoda language. Each species of Kizoda has its own minor dialect changes and quirks to its speech, such as clicks between sentences, or specific elongated syllables.

Common Etiquette Rules

It is a common courtesy to not disturb someone who is engaging in the custom of Jizuko. It is seen as incredibly impolite, though is treated with more understanding towards those who are simply unaware of the custom.

Common Dress Code

The amount of clothing Kizodae wear tends to vary depending on their biology, as some Kizodae simply don't require much of the insulation that clothing provides. Bare chests are common among those Kizodae who possess insulating fur. Kizodae tend to more universally cover their lower halves though, as they do possess a similar sense of modesty to most other humanoids, despite their differing biologies perhaps not necessitating it as much.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Most Kizodae observe a custom called "Jizuko". Jizuko involves a daily period of quiet contemplation, silencing oneself internally and allowing nature and its beauty to flow through one's mind and spirit. It is a vital custom, helping to center one's inner self in the natural world, and even the most energetic and dynamic of Kizodae recognize the importance of Jizuko in daily life, especially in times of turmoil and stress when such centering is quite welcome.

Common Taboos

There are two great taboos in Kizoda society: the senseless tarnishing of nature and its beauty, and the betrayal of the bonds of family. The latter crime is especially egregious and consequently rare, as it can be punished by exile and even death depending on the severity of the betrayal. There is also the more minor taboo of disturbing one who is engaging in Jizuko, though this is treated more as a faux pas than anything seriously offensive.

History

The origins of the Kizodae are shrouded in mystery. According to testimony by various Kizodae immigrants, legend has it that at some point in the Primordial Age, a great catastrophe occurred which took countless lives. Man and beast alike were ripped apart and slain en masse by the original Black Dragon. Of the countless casualties, 24 living creatures were left at the end of the catastrophe. 12 humans, and 12 animals: a boar, a dog, a rooster, a monkey, a sheep, a horse, a snake, a rabbit, an ox, a rat, a tiger, and a golden dragon. After they managed to slay the fell dragon, they all breathed their last breaths in unison, and collapsed by each others' sides.
Moved by their union and sacrifice, Zoldith, the god of magic itself, descended from his domain and cast a mighty spell. A spell which fused the men and the animals together, and reincarnated them into the first Kizodae. The 24 warriors were now 12, and they went on to found the Twelve Great Clans. The spell also infused the Black and Gold essences of the dragons into the species itself, resulting in the Primes and the Divines. However, the land had been rendered an inhospitable wasteland, so Zoldith gathered some of his fellow gods, those who created the biomes in the first place, and together, they revitalized the land, and scattered it with a startling variety of biomes, so that the various biologies of the race could coexist in close proximity.
There is of course no way to verify this legend, but Kizoda historians generally accept it as fact, so it can be assumed that there must be some truth to it. After all, the gods work in mysterious ways...

Historical Figures

As the creation myth of the Kizodae is treated as historical fact, the most important figures in Kizoda history are the 12 original Kizodae who were created by Zoldith after the great cataclysm brought on by the Black Dragon. Other major historical figures tend to be Primes who have achieved noteworthy feats. Divines almost always become notable historical figures for their rarity, and subsequent status as champions of all Kizoda-kind.

Common Myths and Legends

The most common legend of the Kizodae, the myth of the Black Dragon's cataclysm and the birth of the Kizodae at the hands of the god Zoldith, is generally regarded as historical fact among historians. Another prophetic legend tells of the Black Dragon's eventual reincarnation, and its subsequent defeat at the hands of a Divine, though the species of the Divine is not specified. Because these events have yet to transpire, it is not known whether this legend is an actual prophecy or a simple story.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Kizoda are generally either indifferent to or appreciative and respectful of most other races as important parts of nature. Certain subspecies of Kizoda tend to regard some of the more animalistic races of Dohma, e.g. lizard Kizodae and the Zan-Noum, with a certain degree of camaraderie and kinship due to their biological similarities.

Scientific Name

Homo Antiqui

Origin/Ancestry

Mystic

Lifespan

Usually at least 250 years, extending further for specific species

Average Height

Anywhere from under 4 feet to over 7 feet depending on species

Average Weight

Anywhere from under 100 lbs to well over 300 lbs or more depending on species

Average Physique

Physique depends heavily on a Kizoda's species. A rhino Kizoda is large, tough, and muscular, whereas a rabbit Kizoda is small, light, and nimble, while a tiger Kizoda is of average height, slender, and fast.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Markings and colorings are based on the species. A tiger Kizoda has striped fur and hair, a peacock Kizoda has remarkably colored feathers, etc.