Overview

Beastfolk (Therianids) are humanoid peoples descended from animals that were transformed by ancient magical resonance between the Wyrd and the Aria.

Long exposure to this energy caused certain animal species to evolve upright bodies, extended lifespans, and full sapience comparable to other mortal races.

While their forms retain animal traits such as fur, scales, tails, or vestigial wings, Beastfolk think, speak, and build societies as any other people. Today, they are a widespread and culturally diverse race, found both in their own realms and living alongside other sapient civilizations.

Vertebrate Classes

Beastfolk are separated into five categories; Mammalian, Reptilian, Amphibian, Piscian, and Avian. These are generalizations of animal classes to help separate one Beastfolk type from the other. Regardless of animal class, all Beastfolk have a humanoid appearance.

Mammalians

Warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, and the ability to secrete milk. They adorn paws, hands, or hooves, along with varying types of tails, antlers, horns, and other notable appendages depending on whatever species they descended from.

Amphibians

Cold-blooded vertebrates that are comprised of frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They're seen both in aquatic and terrestrial environments due to possessing both lungs and gills, alongside three-chambered hearts for oxygen production, however their organs have not developed enough for permanent water breathing, a trait that remained consistent albeit the accelerated evolution caused by their habitats.

Piscians

Commonly cold-blooded (sometimes warm-blooded/mesothermic depending on the type) vertebrates that possess gills and fins and inhabit water. Minor fins decorate their arms and legs, and they possess a tailbone that sometimes exceeds the standard humanoid length, allowing for large tails to stick out their rear end. Similar to Reptilians, they have iridescent scales and gills, though despite having visible gills, they cannot permanently breathe underwater. It is believed that due to spending more and more time on land during their evolution to interact with their cousin species, their gills have become less effective over time.

Reptilians

These include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises. They are distinguished by having dry scaly skin and typically lay soft-shelled eggs on land. Similar to their primal ancestors, they can be identified through colorful or neutral toned scales, tails, tympanic membrane ears, and potentially venomous components which are typically housed within their oral region.

Avians

Warm-blooded, feathered vertebrates that include ducks, grebes, pigeons, falcons, and sparrows. Unlike standard avian fauna, Avian Beastfolk can only glide, as their natural bodyweight often exceeds the limits of one's ability to ascend. However, they're known for their hollow bones, ability to grow feathers, with the occasional beak!

Echo Mark & Magnetoreception

While all of these classes have their own distinct traits, one trait all Beastfolk have in common is an Echo Mark, similar to a pontils mark in glassblowing. It appears as three v-shaped lines on the base of their nape, signifying an evolutionary shift. Beastfolk also have an affinity for a "sixth sense" giving them the ability to detect Nimoria's magnetic field, also known as magnetoreception. It is a deep-rooted instinct for navigation; a common trait found in their ancestors across many different taxonomies. This is like an internal compass, allowing them to orient themselves and migrate over long distances.

Similar to their Tiefling "cousins", Beastfolk also possess the "Maker's Mark", faded though not forgotten, each Zoionid and Tiefling have these on their napes and cheeks respectively as a strange reminder of their upbringing... Some believe they're kissmarks left by the Prichordial Hallenmyr upon these souls as a sign of their undying love... Even though they've long since vanished since the First Shattering...

Society

There are trends within every respective animal class, but social structure is too varied to determine a general social behavior within Beastfolk as a whole. Because of this, there is no defining structure, as it is simply too large to record.

Diet

Knowing Beastfolk are separated by their vertebrate counterparts, there is an obvious difference in diets. However, there is a basic understanding that their ancestors are the very things they eat, which now have sentience on their own. Thus, there is a common trend of Beastfolk pledging to veganism or vegetarianism, despite their physiologies depending on diets outside of fruits, herbs, and otherwise protein-lacking dishes.

Mammalians

Known for being all three types of consumers with a wide range of dietary limits based on the species. Plant-based foods like leaves, shoots, fruits, and bark are common, along with any type of animal-based food, provided it fits within the general dietary restriction of the specific mammalian species.

Amphibians

Generally carnivorous, however in their earlier stages of childhood their digestive systems process an herbivorous diet, slowly leaning into omnivorous with age until they finally reach their adult stages. Young amphibians (tadpoles) eat algae, plants, and decaying organic matter, while their adult counterparts opt for worms, snails, slugs, insects, and spiders.

Reptilians

Also align with all three types of the consumer tree, however their diet is less open due to their smaller sizes. Frogs, birds, mollusks, and insects are common, along with fish or even other reptiles.

Pisceans

Yet another animal class which can be any consumer type. A variety of fish, crustaceans and amphibians are common sources of protein, along with plants, algae, worms, and insects.

Avians

Tackle every consumer type, however their dietary palette is narrow in comparison to diverse consumer type classes. Seeds and pellets are a common filler food between vegetables, insects, and rodents, with the occasional flower.