Beastfolk
Overview
When powerful concentrations of aether twist existing life, the majority is turned into strange creatures, but doesn’t automatically grant them sapience. For example, the legendary karkadann arises when a rhinoceros is heavily affected by aether, turning it into a strange analogue of a unicorn; when a stocky-bodied desert mantis is affected, it tends to expand to the size of an average riding donkey. However, some beasts become humanoid entities with sapience to match humans, and these have been broadly referred to as beastfolk.Beastfolk are as varied as the animals of the sands, savannahs, and canyons they originate from, but all came into existence when these normal animals were affected by aether concentrations. The aether coursing through them grants them humanoid forms, but with unmistakable features of their animal origins, such as serpentine lower bodies in place of legs or hair made of the same structures as antennae; even within the same group of beastfolk, the chaotic nature of aether may cause significant differences between individuals.
Once transformed, beastfolk live as any normal humanoid would: they talk, dream, learn, propagate, and develop arts and culture often unique to that specific variety of beastfolk. Those that are created through aether concentrations are often pulled toward the instincts of their animal origin, but they are not governed by these instincts, and nothing prevents them from integrating into various cultures unless they choose not to. This is true biologically, as well: beastfolk that were formerly wasps, for example, may instinctually prefer fruit nectars, but nothing prevents them from digesting meat and vegetables and gaining the same nourishment from it that a human would. Over the centuries, these varied beastfolk have propagated through Ithara, but their equality has been a source of contention for the merchant kings.
Beastfolk are welcomed in the safe cities of the Merchant Kings and even gain their own positions as guards, merchants, and laborers, but the ruling class and those in higher Itharan society still view the beastfolk more as the animals they originated from than the humanoids they’ve become. While there may not be active persecution by the Merchant Kings, mistreatment of beastfolk may be conveniently disregarded by law enforcement, and at times their settlements may come under threat when the advancement of larger civilization demands. Sometimes these settlements are given offers to adapt to the new situation; other times, there are no offers, only force.
Because of this, most beastfolk choose to live outside of the Merchant Kings’ cities, surviving in their own larger communities: harpies in their nest-villages, sobekites and adamdun in river flotillas, kurma on mobile flotillas in the sands. It is a challenging life, but such is the way of the desert.
The Lady of Beasts
Among the beastfolk, one band in particular stands out. A sizable nomadic caravan travels the desert, counting all different kinds of beastfolk among its ranks and espousing respect and equality through Ithara. Its leader, a sand cat mau named Inaam, is said to be a skilled dancer and healer whose charisma and wisdom have brought together many diverse individuals in a common community.
While her leadership has brought together many lost beastfolk, there are rumors that suggest her methods for this respect and equality may not be entirely peaceful. Adventurers and trusted members of her own caravan have been sent to search for magical artifacts, and, some say, even to enact assassinations. Are these slander in an attempt to delegitimize a potential growing movement, or is there maybe a grain of truth?
Beastfolk Types
Adamdun (Hippos)
Apollians (Locusts)
Ettutu (Spiders)
Girtablilu (Scorpions)
Gnolls (Hyenas)
Harpies (Birds)
Inpu (Jackals)
Kurma (Tortoises)
Kuzazu (Wasps)
Mau (Cats)
Mokele (Elephants)
Monthu (Oxen)
Naga (Snakes)
Ngiri (Warthogs)
Ninki-Nankas (Lizards)
Salamandrites (Salamanders)
Sobekites (Crocodiles)
