Beast

Like all lifeforms in Emynea, animals are able to inherit two Racial Magic abilities and possess both a normal form and magic form. Because there is such a wild variety and even blending between non-human forms of life, all lifeforms which are neither human or purely plant/fungi are generally referred to as beasts in Emynea. Of course, microscopic life isn't understood during the height of the Accian Empire and there are plenty of instances where lifeforms are mistaken as plant, fungi or animal incorrectly as any scientific knowledge during this era are either dregs or remainders of previous eras or still rudimentary. It should also be noted that many beasts throughout Emynea are sentient or even sapient, a seeming side effect from magic connections or even via familiar pacts. However, this does not extend to every beast in Emynea.

Lunil himself, element of fauna, greatly enjoys mixing and matching attributes of his beasts and even gifting humans these attributes as well. He was even known to revive extinct species or alter existing species into mythical beasts. Humans with Lunil's blessings tend to take on only the physical attributes of a beast but there are cases in which their ancestors were also gifted the racial magic of the beast they imitate. However, these powerful forms stay within specific bloodlines and require divine blood of a divine descendant to fully manifest. For example, descendants of Ralgotar the Volcanic have such forms, those of the four dynasties of the Si Xiang each carrying features of a different auspicious beast!

Despite his generosity in granting humans a handful of features of his animals, Lunil has not granted any human the ability to fully transform into beasts. He finds this repulsive, unnatural and profane. He only makes exceptions for himself and his own Aethid children, untrusting of how humans might abuse such abilities. This is a line he is unwilling to blur.

There are whispers and unconfirmed theories of another unique classification of beasts often referred to as monsters. According to legend, there is an Aethid which is the aspect of such monstrosities, some of the more frightful species of beast falling under their control. No such name or confirmation of this divine is known to the kingdom but one thing is clear: there exist massive and frightening beasts in every reach of Emynea much larger and far more powerful than ordinary animals.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Every beast can alternate between their ordinary form and their magic form, just as beings can. Many beasts will blend these or even remain in their magic form instinctually while others only manifest when necessary. Like the plant life in Emynea, the remains of a beast still hold some of their racial magic within or are able to help channel a given aspect.

Remains of beasts are necessary in material magic, depending on the spell, and are also useful for enchantment. However, these remains are typically used up once activated unless worked into an enchantment.

Biological Traits

 

Beasts possess the same magic potential as humans, inheriting two abilities from their ancestors. However, while humans can breed with any other human across Emynea, beasts are limited to those of their own kind. Because of this, there is far less variety in which magic a beast can inherit and most beasts possess abilities related to their ecosystem. There has been some purposeful breeding arranged by humans, resulting in special beasts, but most have evolved to survive in their particular biome and the aspect which defines these biomes. There are also extremely rare or powerful beasts which were favored and gifted with extreme forms by the Erlithmanil. Dragons are an example of this and are amid some of the rarest beasts in Emynea. Some of these have been around since the Era of Legends.

Additional Information

Domestication

Beast taming is a valued practice in the Kingdom of Accia, one particularly practiced within the Mobile Division of the Accian Military. Some are able to manipulate or summon animals by using their racial magic, some do so through a familiar pact and some maintain this practice purely through skill, dominance or trust. Unfortunately, this practice has led to a highly developed black market for rare beasts. Poaching is common thanks to the usefulness or even necessity for the remains of beasts and plants to perform material magic and true magic. However, there is also a fervent schism between beast tamers. One group sees all beasts as tools and resources for human advancement and take a very dominance focused approach to beast taming. On the other side are beasts tamers who are ardent animal lovers and who value the bonds, familiar or otherwise, between humans and beasts. These tamers work to protect rare and unique beasts rather than abuse them as a resource and have developed an organization which lobbies these pursuits within the kingdom and elsewhere. This group is backed, financially and politically, by Evelyn Minx and heavily opposed by the Chevalier family.

Civilization and Culture

Historical Figures

Most beasts fall under the aspects of Lunil or his children, Banalkar, Malrot and Zuvaath. There are also lifeforms many humans consider beasts which fall under Dalyeric's aspect, Bulok. These elements are able to freely control their corresponding lifeforms and are uniquely connected to them.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

There is a unique relationship powerful beasts or those with a Body manifestation of certain aspects are able to forge. Once this link is esetablished it is permanent and the beast's life is tied to the human they choose (or the beast a human chooses in some cases). This is a sacred bond, linking the souls of a beast and being together as partners. Beasts who have forged this bond are called familiars. They will share in each other's racial magic, well of energy and even their thoughts. They will both take on the lifespan of the longer lived between them. Lastly, the being is able to take on certain attributes of their partner as if they possessed a drastic Form manifestation and the beast will acquire the intelligence of their human partner. The stronger their bond, the more they can gain from that connection. While this arrangement has many benefits it comes with a critical weakness. If one of them dies, so does the other. The only exception to this is elemental familiars and the chimeric shape shifters they create. This is because these beasts' true familiar bond is with their elemental master. It should also still be noted that these bonds are not common. Not all beasts are capable of becoming a familiar and most occurrences of this connection come from Body manifestations connected to aspects of living organisms.