Anthropos empyrea maxima: Empyrean Fairies) (Ann-throw-pose Emp-erie-ah maxima)

A humanoid species sought to find a means of escaping the fate of mass extinction, and they found it - through a blessing from the earth that granted one community of people in present-day eastern Kipatria to evolve wings, lighter bones, indigo-tinted blood, and the ability to seek literal new heights as they flew to the hidden above-ground continent of Empyrea. Many deny the existence of nymphs prior to the creation of the Empyreans, despite this not being true. Evolving somewhere around -100,000 PATP, they believe they are descended from the gods and therefore are the true "inheritors" of the earth. They indicate that the gods were their first kings and queens, and that they were granted life through them as well as dominion over Gi'ardi and magic itself. They saw the humanoid species that already dwelled on Gi'ardi at the time of magic acquisition and afterwards as inferior, although they slowly warmed up to the idea of protecting them and encouraging their advancement, so long as the power of humans was never greater than that of the fairies. They replaced the homo erectus species when that species died out.

Basic Information

Anatomy

light bone marrow, partially hollow bones like birds, butterfly-style wings on back, hair tends to be a combination of floral colors and black or brown. Small feet. Blood contains lanthanum, a key differentiator between humans and fey types. Otherwise, they are humanoid.

Genetics and Reproduction

They are born usually when a female fairy (they are in the majority) goes through a process to create and remove a part of herself to make a child. The fruits found only in their land provide them with strength and nutrients to aid the process. Babies are then incubated and born from "flower pods." "Male" fairies are rare. When an indigo fairy "does the deed" with a human male, it typically either kills them or makes them sterile due to the elements involved.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ten human years = one fairy year. Life expectancy: 1000 human years, on average.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Depends on the tribe. Most of them foreswear to never eat rabbit, as many rabbit species were their first allies and were granted intelligence via magic, but only the fairies of the Bharatan and Umhlaban region don't eat cows or bison and the like. Everyone can agree on eating fish and vegetation in general. They also have a high need for sugar in their diet due to the effects of lanthanum in their blood.

Biological Cycle

Within the hidden cities of the fair folk (of multiple species), the seasons pass as if each is 2 and a half years long. Long growing seasons and harvest seasons make for huge fruit trees and crops, partly because

Types found: Bakhna Rakhna: winged spirits of the dead in West Kipatria, particular to haunting and sometimes helping; Aziza: butterfly-winged fairies who assist hunters and spiritual seekers in West Africa, residing in anthills and silk-cotton trees; Gandharvas: music-loving shy fairies who live in hillocks and caves; Aos Si/ Daoine Si - flower fairies based on Celtic myth Tien - Vietnam-based Zana - Romanian/forbidden-forest-based

Took over the former domain of Homo Floriensis (Indonesia) and drove that species to extinction by 50,000 years before present. By 30000 years BP, they began their cycle of kings and queens, ending during the Dryas eras.

Scientific Name

Homo empyrea maxima

Origin/Ancestry

African/Indian