Biological Engineering

The first age of Plavithen was home to an incredibly advanced technological society. One of the many things that society produced was advanced biological engineering.
Going far beyond gene-modified crops or selective breeding, they created wholly artificial beings with selected genetic traits from around the world, and the descendants of some of these beings still live on Plavithen now. At the time, these were new bodies into which an existing consciousness was placed. After the fall of the first world, it was discovered they could produce offspring.
The people currently known as "Tabaxi" are descended from a long-range scouting, exploration, and emergency services body. Lithe and quick, covered in temperature-regulating fur, and equipped with claws that are useful for both fighting and climbing, the TBX-1 platform was popular among long range military scouting units, extreme athletes, and search-and rescue team members. It used a lot of feline genetic material.
The people currently known as "Lizardfolk" are descended from a heavy-duty harsh-environment body. Covered in thick scales and boasting a moth full of teeth, a powerful tail, and muted emotional responses, it was popular with hazmat teams and heavy infantry units. It used a lot of genetic material from both small lizards and heavy amphibious predators like crocodiles. Interestingly, because of the muted emotional range, the body is resistant to feeling of aggression and anger. A notable design limitation is that they are endothermic, which means that they are at increased risk in cold environments.
The people known as "Kenku" are descended from a covert operations body. Covered in black feathers, pre-loaded with covert skills, and equipped with a voice box capable of reproducing any sound the Kenku are offshoots of the KNK-U3 covert operations platform. It was almost exclusively used by elite military units and guerilla fighters, though a few were issued to entertainers who wanted the increased vocal range.
Other specific artificial bodies and even weirder things were made, including living weapons and tools, but most of these have vanished from the world as the centuries passed.