Penance

1. #1Terraconstantselective

   Keys: Terra, planet, setting

   Terra is a world in post-apocalyptic science fantasy setting, based on the game Arknights. Terra is a rather bleak and grim world.

   Terra is similar, if not identical, to Earth, including having an oxygen atmosphere, more-or-less identical gravity and atmospheric pressure, carbon-based lifeforms, and an identical climate. Even the Homo sapiens of Earth will have no issue living on Terra if they are somehow brought into it. Terra's environment, however, is notably more arid and inhospitable than Earth's.

   Terra is located in the Zobeide Nebula on a planetary system centered on a main sequence star similar to the Sun and has two natural satellites (i.e. moons) known as the Twin Moons in various folklore.

   Terra is strongly hinted at to be a former space colony that was terraformed by an advanced space-faring civilization, but was later abandoned for more than 13,000 years due to unknown disasters that wiped out said civilization. As a matter of fact, Terra possesses many remnants of architectures built by the previous civilization. For example, one of the Twin Moons is said to be an artificial satellite. Another remnant of the previous civilization is the Starpod.

   Within Terra, there are also hidden threats that could easily wipe out its civilizations. To start with, the planet is filled with Catastrophes that force many Terrans to adopt a nomadic way of life through nomadic cities. A crystalline substance known as Originium is left behind at the site of Catastrophes and is widely used as a source of energy and the catalyst for Originium Arts, but is capable of causing Oripathy through direct or prolonged exposure.

2. #2Terra: Georaphyconstantselective

   Keys: Terra, Georaphy of the planet, Terra's georaphy, Georaphy of Terra

   Much of Terra still remains uncharted and unexplored. These charted areas encompass various landmasses with different biomes.

   Terra appears to be located on a massive supercontinent. As a matter of fact, much of the land is covered by arid deserts. However, temperate and fertile regions do occur in areas near the bodies of water. Specifically, central Terra where Victoria locates is the most fertile one. A giant inland sea called the Sea of Clariside is located between southern Victoria, northern Iberia, the Siestan peninsula, to the Acahuallan region, creating sub-tropical and wet tropical biomes. Surprisingly, there is also a mysterious subterranean region which the majority of the Durin race inhabits, and it remains at large uncharted territory to the average Terran.

   So far, very little information is given concerning Terra's "great beyond," with two regions acting as the borders between Terra's civilized world and terra incognita: the Foehn Hotlands in Sargon and the Infy Icefield in Sami and Ursus. Beyond the Icefield is a mysterious, continental-sized, crater-like region that is currently unexplored by the Terrans and is likely the "source" of the northern Collapsals.

   Most of Terra's oceans are found on the southern part of the continent, notably south of Iberia and Yan, where Aegir is located. The southern coastlines have been drastically altered since the destructive tsunamis caused by the Profound Silence that flooded much of the region. Beside the south, there are coastlines in north of Bolívar and northeast of Higashi. And because of the awkward geographical isolation and the landlocked status of most countries, the concept of ocean is alien to most non-Aegir Terrans.

3. #3Terra: Racesconstantselective

   Keys: Terra, Races of Terra, Terra's people

   Terra is predominantly inhabited by various humanoid races with animal features and completely anthropomorphic animals, and they are categorized as either Ancients and Elders based on social classes. There are others that are not categorized as both of them like the Teekaz (Sarkaz, Sankta, and Anasa) which are native to Terra, and the Elves. In fact, Terra was originally the homeland of the Sarkaz that was colonized by the Ancients and Elders whom they clam as "invaders".

   The Terran races have an extraordinary strength that could easily outmatch Homo sapiens of Earth thanks to their unique racial traits, and they also have different anatomy that requires extensive medical studies to fully comprehend.

   Beyond the known Terrans are supernatural beings such as demonic Collapsals and the Seaborn from the abyss of the vast ocean.

4. #4Terra: Biologyconstantselective

   Keys: Terra, Fauna, Life on Terra, Biology

   Fauna

   The fauna of Terra have notable stark differences to our world in which they possess chimeric traits. As differentiation with the animal-like Terrans, most of them have the suffix "beast". Some of the notable Terran fauna are:

   Large gastropods known as "Originium slugs"
   Large bear-like carnivores known as "Manglerbeasts"
   Crustacean "metal crabs" and "gloompincers"
   Badger-like "sand beasts"
   Arachnid "rock spiders"
   Slumberfoots: Tapir-like animals living around the deserts that could cause soporific effect on nearby organisms through their digestive glands.[6]
   Needleflies: Giant arthropods resembling scorpions and dragonfly nymphs. They have the ability to ambush in sand and attack their prey with their stingers.
   Goat-like leporibeasts and mossback beast
   Cloudbeasts: Cat-like mammals with horns of a goat. They are noted to be domesticated as pets.
   Beckbeast: Mammals resembling a mix of a dog and a mole that is widely used as police dogs.
   Sandbeast: Rodents who lives in deserts.
   Musbeast: Squirrel-like rodents with feathers. Originally from Sargon, they are adopted by the Terrans as pets but have recently become city pests that destroy infrastructures caused by abandoned pets.
   

   Terra also have umbrella terms for animals acting as analogues of Earth animals but with various traits:

   Burdenbeasts: "Burdenbeast" is an umbrella term for any animal used as a beast of burden by the Terrans. They are usually large, omnivorous animals —generally 210–240 cm tall in compassion of an average adult Terran— resembling rhinoceroses in Earth, but some species also have the characteristics of a tapir and the extinct Ceratopsians. They have flat horns in front of their noses, similar to a Megacerops, which is used to dig out roots and tubers from the soil. Their general lack of flexibility is compensated by their thick fur or skin, which allows them to withstand most small/medium-sized predators. Even the skin inside their mouths is thick enough for them to safely bypass the defense mechanisms of many plants (i.e. the spikes of a cactus). Although burdenbeasts are omnivores, their diet mostly consists of plants and cacti. Their feces vary in shape depending on the food they eat, and are used as both territory marks and fertilizer.
   Clawbeast: An umbrella term for any wild animal with sharp claws. One of them, the chitotex clawbeasts, are Glyptodonts-like animals with turtle shells. Another kind of clawbeasts, the arma-clawbeast, are carnivores with social structures that burrow underground and build their nests around Originium veins.
   Fowlbeast: Avians. There are many kinds of fowlbeasts inhabiting Terra with some having unique traits. The stinkfowl are raven-like birds with dazzling silver and black feathers that has the ability to secrete stinky fluid onto their enemies.[10] Another kind of fowls in Rim Billiton could fly up to 4,000 above sea level, and in a particular site, some of them evolved into giant flightless bird with robust speed after they were abandoned by their migratory ancestors.
   Cystybeast: Dairy animals (e.g. cows). The milk they produced is usually called "cystymilk."
   Tuskbeast: Large carnivorous animals
   Fangbeast: Carnivorous animals
   Vesperwing: Bats
   Gnawbeast: Rats, rodents
   Scalebass/Fins: Fishes
   Shells: Crustaceans and shellfishes
   

5. #5Terra: Civilizationconstantselective

   Keys: Terra, Civilization of Terra, Culture, Warfare, Wepons, Science

   Civilization Long ago in the forgotten past, around 13,000 years ago, Terra, once the homeland of the Teekaz, was colonized by the "Predecessors" — a highly advanced, space-faring humanoid race that are implied to be of alien origin with extraordinary technologies such as planetary construction, hyperspace travel, terraforming, and most importantly, the construction of one of Terra's "Twin Moons." But the Predecessors were wiped out by a mysterious disaster originating from outer space without a single trace remaining, leaving on the Ancients and Elders to build a new civilization from the predecessors' ashes without their memories or legacies.

   Politics Most of Terra's political bodies are ruled by monarchs and oligarchs who have been in power for generations. In fact, the current known political system is believed to have originated from the Sargonian monarchical system which was adapted by most Terran civilizations at the dawn of the common era that later evolved to the modern nation-states.[16] Outside of the heartland, the Sami and Yanese civilization evolved independently, and the latter's system was later adopted by Higashi. The concept of "democracy" hardly takes root in the Terran nations; in fact, even Columbia, the only presidential federal republic on Terra, is not a pure democracy due to a lack of transparency in its governance despite proudly branding itself as one.

   The current geopolitical situation is similar to the pre-World War I era where feudal empires expand their territories without checking due to the scarcity of diplomatic talks; the War of the Four Nations between 1029 and 1031 is the closest moment to an outright world war. Nevertheless, there are many institutions, whether official or private, that attempt to establish a worldwide peacekeeping system such as Laterano's Legati and other non-governmental organizations not only to aid common folk who are ignored by the governments, but also to prevent Terra from falling into a destructive mess. The current internal turmoil also forces Terran nations to completely ignore many hidden threats beyond the borders of their civilizations, especially the threats of the Seaborn and the eldritch demons in the south and the north respectively.

   Nation-states Terra is divided into many nation-states, often being parallels to those in our world, or rather, amalgamated cultures which do not belong to merely one country or time period, but several at once – the most notable example being the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican and Middle Eastern influences of Sargon.

   The Terran heartland or the central powers is the core geopolitical concept originally referring to the nation-states locating at the fertile lands of the continent's center, but now it evolves to a political circle of various superpowers having major influence across Terra. Traditionally, the nations of the Terran heartland are mainly Victoria, Gaul, Leithanien, Iberia, and Laterano, but with the disintegration of Gaul after the War of the Four Nations and the devasting Profound Silence in 1038 that brought the collapse of the Iberian regime, Ursus has quickly filled up the vacuum and become a major player in the heartland region. In modern days, the Terran heartland composes of Victoria, Leithanien, Ursus, Iberia, and Laterano. In a broader, indefinite sense, both Kazimierz and Yan are sometimes included in the heartland circle politically, but the former is not regarded as the traditional heartland nations, and the latter has no interest in expanding towards the central region, hence most of the time they are excluded from the circle. In recent years, Columbia is actively interfering in the affairs of the central regions in order to become part of the geopolitical heartland circle through economic and military influences.

   Science and technology Due to the planetary disaster that befell Terra millenia ago, there is an enormous technological gap between the current era and the previous era, with present-day Terrans having no memory regarding it. While Terra's current technological level is similar to that of Earth, it is more advanced to a limited extent. Just like their forebearers, the Terrans can achieve many marvelous engineering such as A.I.-controlled robots, UAVs and UGVs, and especially gigantic nomadic cities and steam-powered power armors. But there are also many crucial developments that are far behind time due to many circumstances, most notably shipbuilding and nautical exploration due to the Seaborn's presence, and high-altitude flight due to the Starpod.

   Terra notably have different chemical and geological makeup, thus they do not have some of Earth's chemical formulae and compounds, most notably those that would be necessary to fashion simple gunpowder.

   Warfare Terran guns are completely different to Earth's, despite their superficially similar appearance.

   The Terrans generally make use of cold weaponry (swords, spears, shields, bows, crossbows, etc.) along with the enhancement of giant military landships playing similar role to naval warships. Firearms and explosives do exist, but unlike Earth ones, they are Originium-based; Terran firearms use Originium Arts as the operating mechanism and fires Originium projectiles, making it more of a "magic wand" that fires bullets – which, from an Arts standpoint, are disposable Arts projectile wands themselves.[2] On the other hand, Terran explosives use compositions that are derived from Originium.

   As the result, firearms are a rarity in Terra – more so than explosives – with handguns being more common than long guns (e.g. rifles, shotguns, (sub)machine guns) that are almost exclusively used by the Sankta who have a native predisposition to the Arts required for firearms, calling them "patron firearms". Some non-Sankta such as several Blacksteel operatives also use firearms, but they are noted to be different from the Sankta's patron firearms and notably expensive, being reverse-engineered replicas inferior to Sankta firearms. Astronomy “We haven't even explored everything these lands have to offer, and have only just begun measuring the heights of the skies. Why fly to such high places in vain?” - Stephenson, a Columbian aerodynamics scientist

   Due to the presence of the Starpod, the Terrans lack astrological technologies taken for granted in Earth due to both their disinterest and their disabilities in exploring outer space. As a consequence, development of astronomy and aerodynamics in Terra is nearly non-existent. Because the Starpod causes disarray to the starlights, the Iberian sailors are forced to abandon celestial navigation and rely on alternative methods built by Aegir technologies such as lighthouses and ship signals.

   In Terran year 1099, Kristen Wright of Rhine Lab became the very first Terran who managed to overcame the Starpod as part of her extended interest in navigating beyond the world by blasting off the barrier. Since then, the hole left behind was given new opportunity to scientists to conduct research regarding the Terran sky.

   Culture Many of the Terran cultures are almost identical with Earth's, including Chinese elements in Yan such as celebrating Spring Festival and ancestral veneration, British influence in Victoria as in their literatures and social manners, and Columbian pop culture that is identical to the American one. There also exists similar religious faiths like those being parallel with Shintoism and Buddhism, or similar religious or universal festival like Christmas and the Sauin as the Halloween.

   In present days, the Victorian culture is the most prominent one that are widely accepted and practiced by the Terrans, but a long time ago, it was dominated by the Gaulish one prior to its annihilation. Other cultures remain influential as well such as Yanese poetry and idioms, Ursus's militarism, and Higashi's comic and samurai traditions, though some are starting to lose its position due to political stability as in the case of the Iberian ones.

   Terra uses a dating system that is exactly identical to the Gregorian calendar aside from a different year count; the Main Theme is set during Terran Year 1096 ~ 1098.

6. #6|----------RACES----------|selective

   Keys: Race, Races of Terra

   Terrans resemble the Homo sapiens of Earth, but that's where the similarities end as nearly all of them possessing the physical traits of various animals, legendary creatures, and mythological beings, and could be humanoid or bestial.

   1. Humanoid Terrans appear similarly to Earthlings, albeit with bestial ears and a non-prehensile tail (although some Terrans do not have either of them), as well as additional features based on their race (e.g. horns, feathers). They are better known on Earth as kemonomimi.
       1.1 Some humanoid Terrans have short, rounded ears or long, pointed ears in place of bestial ears.
       1.2 Some humanoid Terrans actually have two pairs of ears; a bestial pair and a rounded pair identical to that of Homo sapiens'. Interestingly, all four ears are functional, but how this affects hearing is unexplained.
   2. Bestial Terrans are bipedal, sapient versions of the animal/creature they are based on. They are better known on Earth as furries.
   

   Whether or not a Terran is humanoid or bestial does not correspond to their lineage, as attested to by the bestial Rat King having a humanoid daughter (Lin Yühsia).

   In regards of reproduction, Terran races are exactly identical to Homo sapiens in which they give birth to the young (viviparity), even if they are based on animals that lay eggs (oviparity). Interracial relationship is common in Terra; if a couple is of similar race (e.g. both being Forte), their offspring will inherit similar traits, but if the couple is of different races (e.g. a Savra with a Forte), their offspring will always inherit the traits of either parent, usually the father. In the case of children of a Sankta and Sarkaz parent, children with the traits of both Sankta and Sarkaz will be born. Nevertheless, since the Aslanian Conquest, race-mixing has been evolved to a political concept where they seek to keep their bloodline's purity, especially among the ruling class.

   The average age of a Terran varies depending on their races. Excluding those who achieve immortality, the Teekaz races who possess elongated lifespan, and individuals who exceed the limit through various means, an average age of a Terran is usually around 150 if free of Oripathy throughout their lifetime. The current record holder of longevity is Padishah Ibn Erhan of Sargon, a Savra who reached 230 years old that exceed the average lifespan of his race.

   The term human and its derivatives are typically used to refer to the Terran races as a whole, with specific titles reserved for use in technical circumstances.

7. #7Predecessorselective

   Keys: Predecessor, "Prehistoric Civilization", "Civilization"

   Members of the Predecessors appear exactly identical to original humans, but whether this also extends to physical capability and lifespan.

   The Predecessors are actually alien to Terra, possibly a Type-III space-faring civilization based on the Kardashev scale, who arrived in the planet over 13,000 years before the events of Arknights take place, bringing animals that would evolve into Ancients and Elders with them. They displaced the Teekaz as Terra's sole inhabitants and built an advanced civilization over the course of millennia since their arrival.

   Some 13,000 years ago, the majority of the Predecessors were wiped out by a "threat from above" — implied to be the Observers, and for unknown reasons, they shielded Terra's troposphere with the Starpod. The Predecessor survivors constructed the "Stargates" to reconnect with other planets, but this went haywire as they unleashed the Collapsals onto Terra. The Predecessors also carried out the "Preserver Project" as a contingency plan to ensure the Predecessors' survival with Trevor Friston as one of the volunteers. Two Predecessor survivors, Priestess and "Oracle", created Originium as the only feasible way to ensure the Predecessors' continuity by having them transcend into the Assimilated Universe, despite the substance later becoming the ever-present bane of the Terrans.

   By the time of Arknights, the Predecessors are all but extinct, at least in Terra, since only the Oracle, now known as the "Doctor", who remained; the slumbering Predecessor survivors part of the Preserver Project had their Sarcophagi's power drained, preventing them from ever being awakened; Priestess is implied to have died (albeit her consciousness lingers within the Assimilated Universe); and Trevor Friston had become a Preserver.

   Although all but few of the current Terrans had no knowledge regarding the Predecessors whatsoever, their legacy nonetheless shaped the Terrans in the millennia to come. The only ones who were aware of the Predecessors' existence are the Aegirians and very few rare individuals. Predecessors' lost are so advanced technologies to the point that they are a completely alien civilization when compared with the rest of the Terrans.

8. #8-----Natives-----selective

   Keys: Natives, native race, native races, elf, elves, Feranmut

   Terra has been inhabited by several sapient races long before the advent of the Ancients and Elders.

9. #9Elfselective

   Keys: Elf, elves, natives

   The Elves (singular: Elf) are a race of Terra.

   As their name suggests, Elves resemble the eponymous race from various fantasy settings in our world, which can be seen from their longer, pointed ears, and a taller stature when compared to Durins. They also possess a very long lifespan that can keep their youth forever. Unfortunately, Elves are very sensitive to Originium, and Oripathy will drastically decrease their lifespan to only less than a month. Such inadaptation also causes the Elves to lack the ability to use any kind of Originium Arts, but their unique "magic" can supplement such defect. In fact, Elves are actually direct descendants of a certain Feranmut who created them to be guardians of ruins belonging to the "Predecessors", thus their incapability to use Originium and their supernatural traits.

   Due to Originium pollution caused by the industrialization of Terran civilization in modern era, Elves are currently an endangered race, being dubbed as only "belonging to the past." Most Elves choose either living a hermit life up in the forests or risking their lives to dwell in cities. Nevertheless, there are still Elven communities thriving in some unpolluted havens in the wilderness such as the forests in central Sami. Many of the Sami Elves inhabit around a giant sacred tree filled with amber which they venerate as the source of their lives. However, due to how isolated they are from outside world, the Sami Elven cannot speak the common Terran language but Muelsyse can still understand them via some sort of telepathy communication.

   The Elves' connection to nature is a reference to how they are portrayed as being the guardian of the nature in folklores involving them.

10. #10Feranmutselective

    Keys: Feranmut, natives

    The Feranmuts are a race of Terra

    The Sargonian scholars who coined the term "Feranmuts" describe these majestic "gods" and Their "prophets" as gigantic living creatures Whose characteristics are unfathomable to ordinary people. These entities have various physical characteristics which mimic the mythological creatures and deities in our world, ranging from humanoid to anthropomorphic. They wield unique powers completely unrelated to Originium Arts, and are completely immune to the influences of Originium, including Oripathy. Feranmuts are apparently biologically immortal, but can be killed or "shattered" into multiple fragments or avatars of varying personalities acting as their own "proxies" or "executors." A Feranmut's average lifespan spans tens of thousands of years. They can even allow Their mortal bodies to be destroyed while retaining Their spiritual consciousness.

    The Feranmuts' power are strongly associated with topography. As a matter of fact, many have the ability to perform terra-formation and weather control. However, Their supernatural ability depends on Their dwelling land as well as Their ages. Those that are too young would only limit Their domination in a certain region, whereas Those that are old enough could exert their power beyond Their dwellings.

    Aside from topographic alter, Feranmuts could bend the basic concepts of physics and time and create paradoxes. They are able to get rid of Their flesh but still retains Their physic form, or "transcended into spirits" in a mortal's sense. For example, in a special specimen from Kazdel stored inside the Victorian Royal Academy of Sciences, a Feranmut corpse specimen coded "OFAS-021" was able to withstand corrosive liquid for almost a month, but it suddenly turned into pieces of barren bones on the thirty-second day.

    Due to Their might, Feranmuts are often seen as deities or gods by the Terrans, although "living gods" would describe Them better. Nevertheless, Feranmuts do not have the concept of "domination" or "sovereign;" rather, They view the mortals as literal part of Their bodies dwelling upon Them.

    Origin Feranmuts are, along with the Sarkaz, the original inhabitants of Terra. Before the "arrival" of the Ancients and Elders, Teekaz tales regarding the Feranmuts were already wide-spread.

    To the Feranmuts Themselves, They narrated that They were born from the chaotic void who later "created" the soil and "gave order" to the sun and the moon. At one point in prehistoric era, They faced "an eye that broke the heavens," and They sacrificed Themselves to expel the "eye" out of the cost of countless casualties, resulting in Their dwindling number.

    Relationship with mortals For generations, humans fearfully worshipped Them due to their limited knowledge. But in Yan, the concept of "subjugation of gods" were already fermenting. Yanese scholars later uncovered a geographical region dubbed "Remains of the Gods" where they uncovered numerous Feranmut skeletons that nourished the place with many new-born lives. It was this moment that Yanese scholars realized Their mortal nature. Not only they no longer treated Them as sacred gods but "beasts of the soil", but also, they pioneered a prominent academic study regarding Them later known as "feranmutology." Their study reached to the climax during the Great Hunt of Yan where the mortals declared challenge against the gods, but the sole idea of expelling them was already a matter of discussion since years prior. In fact, a True Lung once used the Feranmuts' powers to control the winds and rains to quell the "Hundred Clan Rebellion." However, while this story was widely sung, truth was that the True Lung was unwilling to bind Yan's sovereignty to the Feranmuts, nor he wanted their power to cover the land for a long time. Subsequent dynasties of Yanese emperors would continue to summon talented people that could help unmasking the Feranmuts' "true colors."

    After the Great Hunt, the population of the Feranmuts furthered dwindle, which forced Them to hide Their identities.[10] The surviving Feranmuts have since been hibernating beneath the soil and mountains and stay away from the mortals' affair. Nevertheless, the scale of the Feranmuts' influence across Terra still persist ranging from religion, culture, to even technology. Some of Them are still worshipped in certain regions or live alongside humans, as in the cases of Kjerag and Sami. Certain fragments of the Feranmuts can merge with numerous relics, allowing mankind to harness Their power in weaponry; this is the source of power of many ancient Sarkaz swords and even modern staves.

    Outside of Yan, most of research about Them are achieved by Breogan the Aegir who ventured into an unhabitable Sargonian desert formed by unnaturally evaporated coral reefs. There, he observed several Feranmuts bearing resemblances with the Leviathans roaming around the barrenlands. Their presence was the cause of its hostile environment because normal life could not withstand Their presence as if the piece of land is a literal "living being," forcing Breogan's scouts to retreat immediately. Despite this, many Terrans, even Breogan himself, are still puzzled over the real nature of the Feranmuts.

11. #11-----Teekaz-----selective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Anasa, Durin, Oni, Sankta, Sarkaz

    Throughout millennia, the Teekaz have been Terra's most dominant race of the Terran planet where they call it their homeland.[6] But since the arrival of the Ancients and the Elders during the "Descending War" in 9,000 BCE, their domination came to an end as they became scattered across Terra and their lands being taken over by the "invaders," turning them into a diasporal race without a permenant settlement. To make matters worse, the Teekaz are not fully united as internal strife has caused an ultimate split of the race.

    Currently, only the Sarkaz continue to carry on the Teekaz's sorrowful legacy; such name was originally a derogatory collective term that refered to any non-Ancient and non-Elder races but was used to justify their vengeance as a rally cry. They deem rebuilding Kazdel — the "Promised Land" of the Teekaz — is the only way to "return to their roots." Whereas the Sankta, Anasa, Durins, and Oni, who originated from the Teekaz, have chosen different routes to rebuild their homeland.

12. #12Anasaselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Anasa

    The Anasa (both singular and plural) are a race of Terra.

    Anasa have the traits of demigods in Hindu-Buddhist mythology which include asuras, rakshasas, and yakshas. Physically, Anasa have horns and tails similar to the Sarkaz as well as a dark halo behind their heads, somewhat similar to a fallen Sankta. Another unique trait of the Anasa is their powerful body strength.

    Similar to the Oni, the Anasa are a Teekaz offshoot that share a common ancestry with the Sarkaz. They and the Oni are believed to be the direct descendants of the tribes led by Qui'lon the "Errant Overlord" during his eastern migration thousands of years in order to search for a possible new land. After Quilon's death, These remaining tribes were separated from the rest of the Sarkaz diaspora due to geographical isolation and Catastrophes, and they gradually evolved to a different culture and physical traits. Even though generations later they have settled in northwestern Yan and even changed their race's name, they still retain their own culture, such as practicing the Sarkaz's "witchcraft" and living a nomadic life in the wilderness. Their common origin with the Sarkaz is even evident in their race's name which possesses an underlying meaning as "one without roots," a title given to the Sarkaz.

    Despite sharing a common ancestry with the Sarkaz, Anasa have a unique culture. Unlike the Sarkaz, who treat Oripathy as a curse, they gladly embrace it and even see it as divine oracles given by the heavens. Those with halos are called "Enlightened Ones," even though how to obtain it remains unclear. They also possess a philosophy regarding reincarnation in which death is just the rebirth of new life. Their practice and its philosophy along with the Oni’s will later give rise to their religious faith, a Terran version of Buddhism, that spread across the eastern region of Terra, allowing them to coexist with the non-Teekaz Terrans through their monks preaching to them. Some Anasan tribes also perform a coming-of-age ceremony when a healthy, strong one reaches sixteen by giving them specially-made weapons as an oath to protect the young and weak.

13. #13Durin (Race)selective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Durin

    The Durins are a race of Terra.

    Durins resemble dwarves in various mythologies. Their dwarvish traits can be noticed such as a pair of pointed ears and their stout, short stature that is estimated to be around 130 cm. Because of their appearance, they are often mistaken as people suffering from dwarfism due to genetic disease during childhood, and such viewpoint has evolved to become a pejorative rumor filled with racist arrogance and ignorance.

    The Durins have some unique cultures. They are natural heavy drinkers who love consuming large amounts of alcohol. As their innate instinct, Durins are highly sensitive to topographical and geological changes, making them excellent miners, geologists, and underground surveyors. They tend to have a simple, primitive, yet optimistic and open mindset which makes them a peaceful race seeking to coexist with others.

    All Durins hail from an underground world which is currently unexplored by the surface-dwellers. Each Durin settlement is a city-state possessing technologies that are far advanced than the surface-dwellers, ranging from giant domes that could replicate temperatures of the surface world, self-conscious automatons, to tiny yet complicated Arts devices. Cultures vary between the city-states, yet they can maintain their interaction. Despite their technological advancement, they are neither interested in interfering with the surface world's geopolitics nor making new scientific breakthroughs.

    Even though interaction between the Durins and surface-dwellers has lasted throughout human history as historical records or folklore, it is only the most recent centuries that many surface-dwellers collect more information from them thanks to an increase of interaction.[1] This is believed to begin from the construction of the first Durish lift that connects them to the surface in hope to mine upper Originium veins.[2] Many Durins claim that they only come to the surface just for fun and to mitigate frustration from the lack of exciting moments out of their homeland's utopic nature. On the other hand, surface scholars remain doubtful over such simplistic accounts, yet they cannot further investigate due to a lack of information.

    Durin-Sarkaz origin Similar to the Anasa and Oni, Durins share a common ancestry with the Sarkaz as a Teekaz offshoot. They are believed to be descended from a tribe following Dur'akham, a Teekaz who led his people to delve deeper into the underground to search for possible relics despite the Farchaser's warnings. A prophecy said that he would eventually fall victim to his wounds during the underground expedition, but his descendants and tribesmen continued his mission and never to be seen again. Over the course of history, they evolved independently due to geological isolation that earned their miniature status and the adaptation of their race's name as "Durin," though they have long forgotten their racial origin.

14. #14Oniselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Oni

    As their name suggests, Oni have the traits of the titular ogre in Japanese mythology. They closely resemble the Sarkaz such as one or two horns on their foreheads, but they have a taller, bulkier, and muscular stature among both men and women. They are well-known for their rough nature due to their body strength which results in various stereotypes that they are barbaric, careless warriors.

    Similar to the Anasa, the Oni are a Teekaz offshoot who share a common ancestry with the Sarkaz. They and the Anasa are believed to be the direct descendants of the tribes led by Qui'lon the "Errant Overlord" during his eastern migration thousands of years in order to search for a possible new land. After Quilon's death, These remaining tribes were separated from the rest of the Sarkaz diaspora due to geographical isolation and Catastrophes, and they gradually evolved to a different culture and physical traits. Their culture is quite similar with the Anasa albeit with several differences such as their warrior culture. Nevertheless, Their practice and its philosophy along with the Anasa's will later give rise to their religious faith, a Terran version of Buddhism, that spread across the eastern region of Terra, allowing them to coexist with the non-Teekaz Terrans through their monks preaching to them.

    In the modern era, the majority of Oni are found in Higashi who has played a major role in its history. Historically, they were given the pejorative title the "Jinki" ("Humanoid Ogre") who preyed over the land of the far east since time immemorial while "waving their hundred banners like rivers," but they feared the name of the Higashinese goddess Asayo-Yoruakeru. Nevertheless, in the legend, Emperor Jingi finally subjugated thes Oni clans after a decade of conquest but showed mercy to them by converting them as people of Ko-Ashihara. The Oni's warrior culture also allows them to take control of much of Higashi's military. In fact, the shogunate of the Northern Court has its origin from the famous Oni shogun, Oniayame Shigekazu, who ousted the royals' power in the name of returning order back to the country and established the bakufu system in the year 400, though his subsequent passing fractured his shogunate which resulted in the Higashi North-South War.

15. #15Sanktaselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Sankta

    The Sankta (both singular and plural) are a race of Terra.

    As the predominant race that has founded and resides in Laterano, Sankta are humanoids with halos above their heads and luminescent "wings" of varying shapes and sizes on their backs. These make them reminiscent of the angels in the Abrahamic religions of our world. The Sankta's halo is a physical object, preventing them from wearing any tall headwear that would cover it (e.g. conical party hats) although they can still wear most headwear as long as it is not too tall. Their halos and wings will diminish upon death, and diseases or birth defects could affect them.

    Sankta possesses several unique traits from other Terrans, such as their usage of firearms and their empathic trait. In fact, Sankta are famous for their strong faith in a religion established as the Lateran Church in which they follow the commandments provided by the Law. To a Sankta, they believe their unique traits are the blessings from the Law, and their halos and wings are honorary signs for these blessings.

    Patron firearms A patron firearm is, as its name suggests, a firearm (i.e., rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns) possessed by the Sankta which they keep for the rest of their lives owing to their culture. Historically, Sankta are the "discoverers" of firearms, a weapon that requires stable and precise channeling of Originium Arts upon Arts units etched on both the projectile and the bullets.[2] Sankta are born with well-attuned Arts talent to harness its complexity. In fact, many Sankta have a religious view on their firearms in which they believe their weapons are granted by the Law as the symbol of their faith and that their talents are a blessing from the Law. As such, elements of guns can be seen in Lateran decorations and statues of saints.

    A Sankta receive their first patron firearm at the age of twelve as a coming-of-age gift. Although there are no clear rules stating that it is compulsory, it is a cultural norm for them to own one or even more than one firearm throughout their lifetime.[4] Even then, the usage of their firearm comes with strict regulations. Especially in Laterano, they have to undergo systematic firearm training for four years. After finishing their secondary education, it is compulsory to pass a firearm permit test to legally own one, and they are required to frequently go to the Notarial Hall for permit renewal and firearm maintenance. Those who break the rules too often will have their firearms confiscated and be blacklisted for ownership forever. Upon death, the firearm will either be retrieved back by the Notarial Hall or will be handed to youngsters in the future.

    Empathy A Sankta's halo grants them a sixth sense called "empathy" which allows them to feel other Sankta's emotions when coming close to each other. This allows them to quickly understand the feelings of others and make responses in an intensive or sorrowful situation by showing their sympathy and understanding. Many presumptuously believe that their empathy is just merely "reading the room," but their empathy is more than that; it enables a Sankta to quickly respond to the emotion without wasting time in struggle with their inner self and accurately pinpoint the problem. In a descriptive way, their empathy is like a surgical loupe or a hearing aid that magnifies their physical capabilities.[6]

    The Sankta empathy does receive criticism from others. Many non-Sankta races could not comprehend a Sankta's emotion which results in a psychological barrier between the two even though this is usually unintentional; hence, making friends with Sankta can be very tough.[7] In the past, the establishment of the belief in the Law was seen as a deprive of personal freedom by many non-Sankta, but through their empathy that could enable nearly-perfect social stability, the Sankta could establish Laterano as a utopianistic paradise upon Terra which persist in the present days.

    Errari Errari or "Exile," medically called Non-Pathological Empathic Impairment, is a condition which could strongly affect their emotions and communication skills. It is predominantly found among Sankta who have left their community for a long period of time, causing them to be unable to withstand the sudden flow of emotion when learning the Sankta culture once again. Although this does not bring harm to the bodies, it makes the patients confused when trying to use their empathy sense, such as not being able to understand one's inner feelings.

    The Law The Law is an ancient supercomputer in the shape of a column/pillar with cubical constructs forming a halo above it which rests underneath the Lateran Basilica in Laterano, on the catacombs where the previous Popes and the Saints are interred.

    The Law physically bounds all Sankta under its rules and has the directive to preserve the Sankta's existence, which is the origin of Laterano's thirteen rights of citizenship. The first Sarkaz/Teekaz communities which interacted with the Law were "blessed" with Sankta abilities, such as emotional empathy via their haloes, and became the first Sankta although they were then considered traitors by the Sarkaz. Any Sankta who it decides has broken its Law will become "fallen".

    Only very few individuals have ever seen the Law in person (and thus aware of its true nature), one of which is Andoain who described it as an "undisputable existence that does not belong to Laterano and can neither be comprehended nor influenced by anyone."

    Trevor Friston the Preserver was already aware of the Law's true nature, thus it likely is a product of the "Predecessors". He described it as "a machine lacking in self-awareness" attempting to fulfill "a mission it cannot even understand".

    Sankta-Sarkaz origin Being forgotten in history, Sankta actually shares a common ancestry with the Sarkaz as one of the four different races of Teekaz along with the Oni, Anasa, and Durins. On the other hand, their shared origin results in their eternal conflicts against the Sarkaz. To a Sarkaz who could learn their history through their collective racial memory, the Sankta are viewed as "traitors" who choose to both ignore the eternal suffering of their sibling race and shed the blood of their brethren, and they continue to curse their betrayal to this day. On the other hand, the Sankta falsely presume the Sarkaz has ill intentions to destroy their holy city, and they are in fact accomplices in the worsening discrimination against the Sarkaz by non-Teekaz Terrans as they used their religious influence to portray them as irredeemable evil-doers.

    The origin of Sankta began from the first Saints of Laterano who were actually Sarkaz and their first contact with the Law in a suicidal mission. Millennia ago as the Teekaz civilizations collapsed by the invading alien Ancients and Elders, the Sarkaz desperately dug beneath the ground to search for relics that could turn the tide against the invaders. Like their ancestors facing the threats of the Silver Mountains, the excavation team met lethal threats from the defensive relics of the "Predecessors", which resulted in countless casualties in the process. The remaining survivors eventually reached the catacomb where the Law resides, but the moment of their first contact, these Sarkaz immediately received their Sankta traits that completely altered their biological traits as if their memories as Sarkaz were forever erased. These first Sankta later titled themselves as the first Saints of Laterano who founded the holy city, but the Sarkaz furiously condemned them for running away from their burdens which later resulted in the never-ending feud against the Sankta.

    To further worsen their relationship with the Sarkaz, the Sankta community and the Lateran regime as a whole have been intentionally rewriting their history and erasing any relics that could hint their Sarkaz origin. In some perspectives, such action is meant to protect themselves from the threats of the Ancients and Elders in the prehistoric past so that Laterano could be spared from bloodsheds and remain its neutrality, but on the other hand, it means they have to violently silencing dissidents which could often lead to potential diplomatic crisis. One such incident was the Kylian Excavation Scandal in 1042 when the Victorian archeologist Kylian Dougal excavated ancient santos of the first Saints that bore the faces of a Sarkaz and cubic faces resembling the Law which almost shook the very foundation of the Lateran faith, prompting Laterano to deploy violent means to silence his excavation team and destroy the santos.

    Because of their shared origin, a Sankta could also breed with a Sarkaz, and their child would still be accepted by the Law. Any Sankta who has a child with a member of another race will be guaranteed to have a non-Sankta offspring (e.g. the child of a Sankta-Forte couple will always be a Forte). But the child of a Sankta-Sarkaz couple can become a Sankta despite having a weaker halo.

16. #16Fallen Sanktaselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Fallen Sankta

    A fallen Sankta (often nicknamed "fallen angel") is someone who has broken the Law. There are many ways to fall, but the most well-known is by using their patron firearm against another Sankta, regardless of whether it is fatal or not. Any fallen Sankta will no longer be treated as a true Sankta. The punishments of a fallen Sankta can include but are not limited to: 1.Having a dimmer or shattered halo and wings. 2.Regrowing their dormant Sarkaz traits (i.e., tail and horns). 3.Losing their ability to use their patron firearms, or being "rejected" by them in their words. 4.Losing their racial empathy capability.

    Fallen Sankta are still subjected to their national laws as well. They could be banished from their homeland or be placed under constant surveillance by an overseer. They must not reveal their status publicly within their homeland. At one point in the past, fallen Sankta were even persecuted as part of Laterano's intention to cover up such a secret. Thankfully, the current Pope Yvangelista XI is quite lenient with the fallen Sankta and even allows them to serve the government as long as their "crime" is not severe.

    What causes a Sankta to fall is determined by the Law without clear definitions. While the Popes make Commandments that are interpretations of the demands of the Law, the ultimate interpretation of whether or not a Sankta falls rests with the Law itself. One example of a difference between Commandment and Law is the Commandment that Sankta cannot shoot each other with their patron firearms. At one point, Andoain and Yvangelista XI actually shot each other with their guns, but they did not fall. It is implied that this is because the Law needs both of them to continue the existence of the Sankta.

17. #17Sarkazselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Sarkaz

    The Sarkaz (both singular and plural) are a race of Terra.

    The term "Sarkaz" does not actually refer to a specific race; rather, it is a derogatory umbrella term for various humanoid races who are neither Ancients nor Elders with some among the first intelligent races to have ever walked on Terra. Originally being the natives of Terra calling themselves as "Teekaz," their dominance came to an end when the "Predecessors" from space colonized Terra and accidentally introduced both Originium and the Ancients and Elders upon the planet. With that came millennia-old conflicts between two races with different biological traits that eventually ended in the demise of the Teekaz civilizations, turning them into a homeless race scattered across Terra as a huge diaspora. Interestingly, the scatter of the Teekaz gave rise to four different races sharing a common ancestry with the Sarkaz: Sankta, Anasa, Oni, and Durins. but the Sarkaz view them, especially the Sankta, as "traitors" for betraying the Teekaz with an unglorified past.

    Sarkaz exhibit a wide range of physical traits depending on their tribes. The most commonly noticed traits are a pair of horns of varying shapes atop their heads, long, pointed ears, and tails of varying shapes such as having pointed ends or scales. However, there are some Sarkaz tribes lacking any of the aforementioned traits. While horns are common features among Sarkaz, horn-removal is also frequently practiced in order to conceal their identities; however, this is seen as an act of humiliation to some. Some Sarkaz might resemble a Caprinae, which resulted in frequent successful infiltrations of Caprinae spies into their community. Nevertheless, there are traits and culture that are especially unique to the Sarkaz: 1.Vulnerability to Oripathy: Sarkaz are the first Terran race that ever made contact with the oldest form of Originium, and this led to their ancestral racial curse: being the most vulnerable to Oripathy than other races, from which the first Infected originated from them. 2.Witchcrafts: Sarkaz's vulnerability to Oripathy is often seen as a bitter "blessing" that allows them to both enhance Originium Arts and resist their attack. Their long practices of Arts give rise to their "witchcrafts" or "cannibalism," a derogatory term that refers to these purest and most ancient forms of Arts sustained by bloodline. However, the consequences are far worse than the benefits. The Sarkaz Arts are often associated with death and wrath such as the harnessing of vengeance using the deceased's souls and their collective memory. 3.Elongated lifespan: Sarkaz are famous for having an elongated lifespan that can last up to centuries or even millennia. This is especially true to many pure-blooded Sarkaz such as those residing in the Sarkaz Royal Court which they take pride of it as the inheritors of the "blood of Teekaz." On the other hand, Oripathy drastically decreases their lifespan. 4.Common collective racial memory: While unlike the Sankta empathic trait, Sarkaz possess the capability to read their racial memories residing in their genes, especially those of the deceased. This is often perceived as the calling of their souls – for instance, they can easily sense the deaths of other Sarkaz in the blink of a second. 5.Esoteric traditions: Because of their never-ending suffering from Oripathy and social discriminations, Sarkaz possess a strong religious viewpoint regarding death more than other Terran races and firmly believe it is the only requiem from their worldly curse. Their mystic esoterism is well-known across Terra which influences the Terrans' religious beliefs such as the Sami Foldartals.

    Religion Sarkaz has a rich culture centering on their religious belief born from their understanding regarding death and their esoteric approach to their ways of lives. To a Sarkaz, there are two literal existing spiritual beings: the Revenants and the myriad souls of the deceased. Only through the power of the King of Sarkaz, or the Lord of Fiends, that the lamentation of these souls can be pacified.

    Myriad Souls To many, the souls of the dead might be fictional, but to a Sarkaz, it is something that is very real to them.

    The myriad souls are a collective consciousness of deceased Sarkaz from which their shared memory comes from. They are the "spirits" of the deceased that appear to be close to the concepts of Ruakh in Judaism and Ruh in Islam. Because of their acceptance of the first Originium and the summoning of the Amnannam, these spirits are forever trapped by the psychic bondage of Originium in the Assimilated Universe as cryptic information stored within which is best described as "an amber encasing lives and consciousness." Oftentimes, they are perceived by others as either figures of worship in ancestral veneration, cultural symbols among Sarkaz, or just simply another name for the Revenants, but many Sarkaz treat these spirits as a separate entity.

    The Sarkaz believe that every living being on Terra is just temporarily separated from the myriads of souls. Before being born, a young soul is part of that chaotic myriad of older souls, and giving birth is just temporarily separated from them. Only by death will they be reunited once again in the spiritual world.

    The dead souls are the source of the Sarkaz's vengeful nature and their bitterness against non-Teekaz Terrans. Even before being born, an innocent young Sarkaz already emerges with such a flow of emotion which slowly influences their mindset. As a result, freeing the myriads of souls from the bondage of Originium has been Theresa's long-term goal in order to free the Sarkaz from their eternal bitterness and have these innocent spirits to finally rest in peace. By doing so, future generations will no longer need to face the literal pressure from the deceased, and the memories of the dead spirits will only be preserved in religion and folklore

    Discrimination Since the fall of their civilizations that forcefully displaced them as the sole inhabitants of Terra, the Sarkaz are banished to the lowest class of Terran society in which they are treated as "sub-humans" by the Ancient and Elders. Such conflict resulted in centuries of dehumanization and discrimination against the Sarkaz. As a consequence, many quickly call them "demons" or "devils" as racial slurs against them. They are falsely pictured as harbingers of Oripathy and calamities as well as bloodthirsty, cannibalistic warmongers who often ignite wars even though many of these are the consequences of the Sarkaz' homelessness. Social discrimination and oppression against them are prevalent across Terra from exemption from social welfare, apartheid policies, exploitations upon them by using them as mercenary pawns in battlefields, to even inhumane experimentation upon them.

    To many Sarkaz, such discrimination is seen as inevitable due to their sin as the first Infected, eventually surrendering themselves to reality. Nonetheless, they embrace their stereotypes as a rallying cry for unity. Their endless suffering has left them deeply embittered and vengeful despite attempts by some to convince the Sarkaz to move on from the past, leading to the Victorian Crisis instigated by the ultra-nationalist Military Commission of Kazdel.

18. #18Sarkaz: Tribesselective

    Keys: Race, Teekaz, Sarkaz Tribes

    As mentioned above, Sarkaz are made up of various "tribes" of the Teekaz who are actually distinct races, which is evident from their differences in physical appearances and Arts capabilities. As a matter of fact, categorizing them as "subraces" is actually incorrect; "sister races"/"sibling races" would be more appropriate. In ancient times, there were more than a hundred different Teekaz tribes, but most of which went extinct throughout the course of history. Pure-blooded Sarkaz like those in the Sarkaz Royal Court are extremely rare in present days because there is mixing of bloodlines among the Sarkaz tribes. Tribes: 1.Vampire Sarkaz 2.Wendigo Sarkaz 3.Banshee Sarkaz 4.Gargoyle Sarkaz 5.Nachzehrer Sarkaz 6.Damazti Sarkaz 7.Diablo Sarkaz 8.Lich Sarkaz 9.Cyclops Sarkaz 10.Djall Sarkaz 11.Goliath Sarkaz

19. #19-----Terrans-----selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, elders

    Terrans

    The "Terrans" that most people understand refer to non-Teekaz humanoids known as Ancients and Elders with the additional properties of various animals who make up of the majority of the population. According to Sarkaz tradition, the Terrans are "aliens" arriving upon Terra during the "Descending War" between around 9,000 and 8,000 BCE when the Elder "Hegemons" brought along their slaves to annihilate the Teekaz civilizations, forcing the Farchaser, the first King of Sarkaz, to summon the Amnannam, the first Catastrophe in Terran history. Since the collapse of the Teekaz, these aliens quickly populated to form the own civilizations that led to the modern world.

    Trevor Friston the Preserver refers to the Terrans as "humanoid creatures/animals"; in fact, they are originally creatures from Talos-II that were accidentally introduced upon Terra by the Predecessors along with the first Originium. Over the course of time, said creatures gradually evolved to become more and more humanoid because of their assimilation with Originium that transformed them into the Predecessors' image.

20. #20---Ancients---selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Aegir, Anaty, Anura, Archosauria, Aslan, Caprinae, Cautus, Cerato, Elafia, Feline, Forte, Kuranta, Liberi, Lupo, Manticore, Perro, Petram, Phidia, Pilosa, Reproba, Savra, Ursus, Vouivre, Vulpo, Zalak

    The Ancients is an umbrella term for a large group of Terran races that make up the bulk of Terra's civilization. They are physically weaker than the Elders, i.e., having lower lifespan and average body strength, but they have very high fertility that can quickly increase their population within a short span of time. In modern days, the middle and lower classes (i.e., laborers) are mainly composed of the Ancients; only a few of them have managed to become royalties and the bourgeoisie who prove themselves on par with the Elders' supernatural power.

21. #21Aegir (Race)selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Aegir

    The Aegir or Ægir (both singular and plural) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    The term "Aegir" is an umbrella term that encompasses various races possessing traits of aquatic animals, i.e., fish, cetaceans, pinnipeds, cephalopods, crustaceans, cnidarians, and echinoderms. Various Aegir possess distinctive traits; some might possess more animalistic traits, i.e., tentacles and fish fins, while others are completely humanoid. Most Aegir are well-adapt to water, but not all of them could fully live an aquatic life. Breathing underwater is a unique trait of the Aegir race, yet not all of them possess such trait.

    Nevertheless, a common feature among the Aegir is their total reliance on water to maintain their skin moisture, which are higher than average land-dwellers. On the other hand, this means that Aegirs are highly susceptible to dehydration. Their respiratory systems are completely reliant on air moisture, and they have to supervise their skin moisture upon contacting wind and sunlight to prevent them from turning dry. If left untreated, they will face symptoms ranging from allergic reactions, chafing, seizures, to even life-threatening situations. As a matter of fact, land-dwelling Aegir have the habit of carrying special moisturizing creams and a small bottle of water. In some extreme cases, when an Aegir must travel through arid regions such as the Sargonian desert, they will carry distillation equipment to capture water during nighttime, a technique learnt from desert inhabitants.

    Aegir are a common Terran race that can be found in aquatic environments, from rivers, lakes, to coastlines. Among all land nations, Iberia and Higashi are known to have a significant Aegir population, known as the "Islanders" in the former and the "Koumin," "shark men" in Higashinese, in the latter. The Iberian Islanders are descended from technocrats following Breogan in 913 who ushered in the Golden Age of Iberia, but since the Profound Silence of 1038, there is an ongoing persecution against the Islanders due to the infiltration of the Church of the Deep. In contrast, the Higashinese Koumin arrived on land much earlier than the Islanders; in Higashinese legend, they were described as "sailors of the sacred black-jade ship" whose envoys "spoke sweetly" but possessed "scales as hard as shields" whose blades could cut the mountains into half. After centuries of war, these Koumin were subjugated by Emperor Jingi, and they were later incorporated into the Higashinese royal court as members of the Eight Families. In recent years, more and more Aegir are migrating towards inland countries like Columbia and Yan, many of whom serve as hydraulic engineers and river environmentalists.

    Place of origin All Aegir have their ancestry traced back to Aegir the nation, a mysterious underwater country lying beneath the Terran ocean. Modern anthropologists pinpoint that modern Aegir spread into the Terran continent in the opposite way.

    On the other hand, Aegir describes their ancestry differently. They described their ancestors as one of the "descended" Terran races who possessed more animalistic traits such as appendages resembling fins and tentacles and first settled in rivers and lakes.[4] Legend says that their ancestors received revelation to move to the ocean, so, a mass migration occurred among the Aegir tribes as they sailed along the rivers to reach the seas and dive into the ocean. Upon reaching the abyss, they uncovered ruins of the "Predecessors" lying at the seabed. These earliest Aegir began venerating them as a gift from god and utilized them to its finest, which led to the modern Aegiran nation that possesses a completely alien civilization such as high technologies.

    Originium is completely absent in the ocean, hence Oripathy is hardly observed among the Aegirans in the seas. On the other hand, blood tests show that Aegirians possess a miniature amount of Originium in their bodies which further prove their land origin. Nevertheless, while they need not fear the danger of Oripathy, Aegirans are more highly susceptible to be assimilated by the Seaborn, a kind of sea monsters from the Terran oceans, as they are the frontline fighting against their invasion. This can be achieved either through genetic modification, succumbing to the monsters' alluring influence on the mind, or being forcefully implanted with Seaborn cells.

22. #22Anatyselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Anaty

    The Anaties (singular: Anaty) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Anaties have the traits of musteloids (superfamily Musteloidea), i.e., otters, weasels, raccoons, and wolverines. Their musteloid traits can be noticed such as rounded ears and long, pointed tails being either slim or rounded and bushy, though not all Anaties have animal ears. They are a race that is commonly associated with the mountains because most of them have been living in such regions since the distant past. They also have the tradition of welcoming any guest they could encounter.

    Despite their feeble bodies, Anaties are excellent diggers and mountain climbers thanks to their geographical adaptation. They can directly carve an entire cave system inside the mountains that serve as their dwellings. Thanks to their anatomy, Anaties have an agile mobility that allows them to easily run and walk through the rugged mountains which led many of them to become traveling merchants and Catastrophe Messengers.

    Some Anaty ethnic groups living in remote areas practice a tradition of coming-of-age ritual. Upon reaching adulthood, youngsters will be exiled to a desolate mountain where they have to survive on their own for a determined period of time. Although this tradition is seen as cruel in modern eyes, there is a philosophy behind this practice since this will train youngsters to better adapt their survival skills to any circumstances such as Catastrophes.

23. #23Anuraselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Anura

    The Anurans (singular: Anura) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    As the name suggests, Anurans have the traits of frogs and toads (Anura sp.). Though appearing entirely humanoid similar to the Aegirs, their anuran traits can be noticed such as patches of frog-like skin, preference over moist environments, and their capability to secrete toxins. Many Anurans master camouflage and invisibility Arts, and some individuals can utilize their toxins as poisons for self-defense. On the other hand, these toxins can also be easily neutralized through their immunity, and they can control the amount of their poison's toxicity.

    Anurans are a rare Terran race that can only be found in the rainforests of eastern Sargon and southern Bolívar. They prefer to settle in humid regions, e.g., swamps and river valleys, and they sometimes share the same neighborhood with the Archosaurians where they often interact with each other through village help or community events like swimming contests. Sargonians have a traditional viewpoint in which Anurans are perceived as wise sages with elegant character even though this is born from misunderstanding due to their scarcity. In the modern era, the Sargonian royal court continues to practice the tradition of hiring Anurans as imperial officers in the capital of Shar-Agade. Some modern Anurans also begin to migrate outside of the rainforests to settle in nomadic cities with abundant greenery and excellent waterway management.

    Iberia also has a decent population of Anurans whose ancestry could be traced back to the rainforest of Kerthun Valley, Sargon, a region that is free from the direct control of the Lords Ameer in present days. Centuries ago, a few populations of Anurans were enslaved by the Iberians to be sold as experimental subjects against the Seaborn. After the Profound Silence of 1038, the Iberian Anurans have been treated as mere outcasts. Most of the Iberian Anurans have forgotten their ancestral homeland, and they could only trace such a memory in their folktales.

24. #24Archosauriaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Archosauria

    The Archosaurians (singular: Archosauria) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Archosaurians have the traits of crocodilians (Crocodilia sp.), i.e., true crocodiles, alligators, and gharials. Their crocodilian traits can be noticed such as bulky, scaly tails, scales on their bodies, muscularity, and preference over moist environments. Most of them are humanoids with a pair of pointed ears in a similar fashion with the Phidians. Some Archosaurians also demonstrate sexual dimorphism in which male Archosaurians can possess more animalistic traits when compared with females.

    Archosaurians are famous for being tough warriors and hunters. Their bulky muscles grant them the physical might, and their warrior culture encourages them to become fighters. Besides, They are born excellent swimmers; they have the ability to wade in the water by swinging their bulky tails. As a matter of fact, not only an Archosaurian could fight with their muscular strength, but also they are ambushers who can perfectly hide themselves in the swamps and rivers.

    Although being an uncommon race of Terra, Archosaurians are predominantly found in the eastern rainforest of Sargon, especially in the region of Acahualla where they are the natives. Acahuallan Archosaurians proudly crown themselves as "Tiacauh," an honorary title that is said to be granted from the Aslan Shahanshah who was amazed by their courage, and this title will later be adopted by non-Archosaurian Acahuallans who later integrated into their society. Acahuallan Archosaurians have the culture of adornment of their tails which could sometime lead to some seemingly unrelated topics, i.e., thickness comparison of their tails. They prefer to maximize the usage of their tails by holding tail-related contests such as log-dragging with tails. In recent years, there are even new sports influenced by foreign culture, i.e., soccer games but kicking with tails.

25. #25Aslanselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Aslan

    The Aslans are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Aslans have the traits of lions (Panthera leo). Their leon traits can be noticed such as rounded ears, tails with dark tuffs of hair, mane-like hairstyle, and physical prowess. Aslans are very identical to the Felines; in fact, they are actually a Feline subgroup in biological and anthropological definitions, but they are separated independently as a royal bloodline due to politics.

    The name "Aslan" comes from the Aslanian Conquest of Sargon before the common era. According to a legend, it all began from a Sargonian tribe of Felines with unique traits who would later become the Aslan house. These first Aslans in history believed they were naturally born with the "divine right of kings" to rule over other races; furthermore, they received the blessings of the leon "Lords of Beasts" that could support their campaigns. Hence, they segregated themselves from other Felines and ushered a series of conquests unto other tribes. Not only the conquest made the Aslans becoming famous, but also it ushered in the era of racial separation in which various races began naming themselves differently in accordance with their body traits or culture.

    In the modern era, Aslans are the royal houses of both Sargon and Victoria. The Shahanshah of Sargon is of the Aslan dynasty. During the ninth Terran century, a royal family led by an Aslan Padishah named Lugalszamszi fled to Victoria from political persecutions of the Shahanshah. Through their charisma, they initiated a palace coup against the Draco houses of Victoria and Tara that toppled their reign. Decades later, Lugalszamszi's grandson would solidify his rule as the first Aslan King of Victoria. But since the public execution of King Alistair II in 1072, the Aslans are forever purged from the Victorian throne, forcing them to live in hiding that resulted in the twenty years of vacant throne.

26. #26Caprinaeselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Caprinae

    The Caprinae (both singular and plural) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Caprinae have the traits of goats (Capra sp.) and sheep (Ovis sp.). Their caprine traits can be noticed such as curved keratin horns, perky or floppy ears, and short tails pointing straight up. They possesses regular physical fitness and reflexive nimbleness.

    A notable trait of the Caprinae is their superiority in Originium Arts compared to other Terran races beside the Sarkaz. As a matter of fact, many notable Arts users are mainly Caprinae. On the other hand, this has led to a stereotype by many people that they are mystic "harbingers" of said power. A theory suggests that their excellent Arts talent is born from a combination of both their physical characteristics and their nimbleness. However, some of them cannot naturally use Arts due to their innate physique or any other birth defect, though they can possess unimaginable physical strength that supplements the defect.

    The Caprinae's love of their horns could lead to the point of even treating them as an aesthetic standard, which exceeds other horned races such as Fortes, Elafians, Ceratos, and even Sarkaz, with their physical differences between each other being a topic of discussion. In the Sarkaz' case, Caprinae can also be mistaken for them due to their horns and vice versa. Consequently, there have been historical cases that many spies infiltrating Sarkaz communities or Kazdel are mainly Caprinae, though they can be immediately recognized through the unrecognition of the Sarkaz's collective deceased spirits.

    As one of the common races on Terra, Caprinae can be found all across the continent. Leithanien has the predominant population among all nations, and a large population of them can be found in its surroundings such as Victoria and Siracusa. As a matter of fact, it is said that Leithanien's love for arts and culture comes from the Caprinae themselves. In fact, the musical culture of the Leithanian Caprinae is believed to be the origin of the Leithanian constitution, the Güldenesgesatz that mentally binds other nine tribes under their leadership.

27. #27Cautusselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Cautus

    The Ceratoes (singular: Cerato) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Cautuses have the traits of leporids (family Leporidae), i.e., rabbits and hares. Their leporid traits can be noticed such as long rabbit ears, fluffy short tails, and average short stature. Their rabbit ears grant them a keen hearing sense which supplements their fragile body. Thanks to these traits along with their high fertility, Cautuses have a very large population.

    Although Cautuses are a common race that can be found across Terra, Rim Billiton houses a predominant population of Cautuses as its natives. The Rim Billitonian Cautuses live a collective lifestyle as a community, and they work together to construct their underground hideouts nicknamed the "rabbit's hole" where they settle, cultivate drought-resistant carrots and root vegetables as staple crops, and conduct mining in Originium veins. They treat their family members as an essential core; even when one decides to travel outside to settle down on their own, their family members will continually send their support be it material or emotional. Within the community, a family with the largest members are regarded as the core leader of the community. The Cautuses' strong family relationship is the root of the Rim Billitonian family culture and their grassroot autonomous governance.

    Entering the modern era, the Rim Billitonian Cautuses continue this tradition through several reforms. They organize themselves as "mining alliances," companies that assign roles to respective individuals among the families. This new organization system not only boosts the economy of Rim Billiton, but also it forms a tough political entity that could resist imperial forces as witnessed in the "Cage Incident" of 1091.

28. #28Ceratoselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Cerato

    The Ceratoes (singular: Cerato) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Ceratoes have the traits of rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae sp.). Their rhinoceros traits can be noticed such as a single or double pointed keratin horn on the forehead, rounded, tubular ears with tufts of hair on the top edge, muscularity, and average tall stature among adults. Even though Ceratoes could run like a Kuranta, they prefer to avoid long trekking. It is believed that their heavy weight due to their muscles could quickly exhaust their stamina when running, making it a tedious job to the Ceratoes.

    Ceratoes highly adore their horns. Since the tribal era, they have used their horns as their sole weapon. Face-to-face clashing is seen not only as an honor but also a way to maintain their horns by rubbing their surfaces and strengthening their endurance. Hence, a Cerato fight can be surprising to others even though they see it as a norm. In recent years, there is a popular trend that they further augment their horns by adding protective gears on them.

    Ceratoes are an uncommon race on Terra, and many of them live in oasis settlements of Sargon. Sargonian Ceratoes have a tradition of aviculture by keeping and breeding fowlbeasts. A Cerato fowlbeast keeper can keep more than one fowlbeast of the same species, and elderly Ceratoes love bringing along their caged fowlbeast to their community parks. There is even a special species of fowlbeast in the Sargonian oases that builds a symbiotic relationship with the Ceratoes.

29. #29Elafiaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Elafia

    The Elafians (singular: Elafia) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Elafians have the traits of deer (Cervidae sp.). Their cervid traits can be noticed such as a pair of antlers, funnel-shaped ears, and short, rounded tails. During the early stage of their growth, their antlers are covered with skin known as velvet rather than keratin as in Caprinae and Fortes, and the velvet antlers possess nerve coverings that enable them to sense touches through their antlers. A special subgroup of them dwelling in northern Sargon and southern Columbia also possess the traits of giraffes (Giraffa sp.) such as tall stature, tail with a long, dark tuft of hair, and a pair of ossicones.

    Elafians highly value their antlers as the symbol of their race. Young Elafians will interact with their velvet antlers to demonstrate their emotions, be it joy or arrogance. This is best demonstrated through a famous poem "Old Leaves and New Branch" written by two Elafian poets who debated over their topics through antler-wrestling, and the result of the poem shows the same topic with drastic approaches. To other Terrans, an Elafia's antlers is a symbol of their close interaction with nature by comparing them with tree branches. Following a Gaulish literature movement decades ago, Elafians have been stereotyped as mystic people who live a secluded lifestyle and highly venerate nature.

    As a common Terran race, Elafians can be found everywhere in countries with forested regions such as Ursus, Kazimierz, and Leithanien. Of all nations, Sami houses the predominant population of Elafians; in fact, anthropologists believe that Sami is the original homeland of the Elafians before spreading across Terra. The Elafian Samfijod have a culture of treating their antlers as a sacred body part to communicate with nature. As a result, elderly Elafian Samfijod keeps their antlers growing without trimming them.

30. #30Felineselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Feline

    The Felines are an Ancient race of Terra. Felines have the traits of feliforms (suborder Feliformia). They usually have the traits of domestic cats (Felis catus) and big cats (Panthera sp.), though some individuals have the traits of mongooses (Herpestidae sp.). Their feline traits are visible from the shape of their ears and tail and their flexibility. Most Felines possess pointed, triangular ears and long tails, and only a few of them have rounded or folded ears and short tails. The Felines’ keen sense earns them their reputation as stealthy prowlers or flexible individuals. Some of them even possess light-sensitive pupils in which their eyes will form “slit pupils” in areas with bright light.

    Along with the Perros and Liberi, Felines are the predominant Terran race who can be found in almost all Terran nations thanks to their strong adaptation to their surroundings. As a matter of fact, there goes a popular Gaulish proverb regarding the Felines: "Où que tu ailles, un Félin suit (Wherever you go, a Feline follows)." They have varieties of ethnic groups, and the most predominant Feline subgroup is perhaps the Aslans of Sargon and Victoria. Currently, Victoria houses most of the Feline population, and many of them are descendants of both the loyalists following the Aslan house back in Sargon during the ninth Terran century and the native Taran inhabitants following the two Draco houses. Hence, it has been a common case for a Victorian Feline having a distant relative back in Sargon.

    Despite the varieties among the Felines, only the Aslans stand out as an independent Feline subgroup since the Aslanian Conquest. As a matter of fact, both races are separated politically despite sharing similar biology.

31. #31Forteselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Forte

    The Fortes are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Fortes have the traits of bovines (subfamily Bovinae), i.e., cattle, bison, and buffaloes. Their bovine traits can be seen, such as pointed keratin horns, rounded and protruding ears, tails with tufts of hair, and their muscularity. There are several subgroups having the traits of camelids (family Camelidae), i.e., camels and llamas, who possess camelid traits such as small, rounded ears and the ability to survive in arid deserts.

    The Fortes' lack of flexibility is compensated with their excellent physical strength. Because of that, they are often stereotyped as merely physically strong yet brainless people, and this stereotype is further reinforced by the popular drink brand, Forte Energy Drink. Nevertheless, many Forte are actually known for their philosophical wisdom, especially in settlements where they are the predominant race. Legend says that ancient Fortes could be totally immersed in literary works and ideology discussions, and their lifestyle showcased a dire contrast with neighboring Reproba tribes.

    Fortes are one of the common races on Terra. Among all nations, Minos has a predominant population of Fortes. Many prominent schools of philosophy were founded by Minoan Forte scholars, such as the story of Phenalates, who once dissected her philosophy with a nameless Sargonian Feline day and night. Other countries with flatland landscapes can have a decent Forte population such as Sargon and Yan, and they are often perceived as humble laborers owing to their agrarian culture. In fact, Yanese Fortes are believed to be one of the earliest ethnic groups to engage in agricultural activities. There is even a Yanese legend narrating a Forte tribe who built the earliest carriage that allowed them to travel around farmlands in mountainous regions to both observe their farm plots and quickly prepare for evacuation from Catastrophes.

32. #32Kurantaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Kuranta

    The Kuranta (both singular and plural) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Kuranta have the traits of equines (Equus sp.), i.e., horses, donkeys, and zebras. Their equine traits can be noticed such as funnel-shaped ears, tall stature, and tails being either bushy being nicknamed the "skirt" or simply having tufts of long hair at the bottom of the tail dock. Although lacking the physical strength on par with the Ursi and Fortes, Kuranta possess an enduring stamina that grants them the ability to run at high speeds with little to no fatigue.

    Kuranta are a common Terran race, and among all nations, Kazimierz houses the predominant population of Kuranta. The Kazimierzian knighthood is believed to have emerged from early Kuranta nomadic confederations wandering across the grasslands. In order to defend themselves from invaders, these early knights organized themselves into a strong military defense by designating strict and rigid hierarchical orders to their family members with the family head serving as the leading knight; in modern Kazimierz, this is known as the "knight family" led by a "Knight Primus." Even in modern Kazimierz where commercialism triumphs everything, the knight-family tradition is still well-preserved through the Knights' Association.

    Kuranta also includes several Elder subraces. The two notable Elder Kuranta are the Pegasi and the Nightzmoras. The former are the previous royal house of Kazimierz before being toppled by the knights in Terran year 13, and the latter originates from the Nightzmoran Khaganate under the leadership of Kharanduu Khagan. Owing to the Nightzmoran Conquests, the Kuranta were scattered across every corner of Terra which in turn formed an abundant population. In the modern era, the tales of both Pegasi and Nightzmoras remain popular among the Kuranta.

    The Kuranta's excellent stamina makes them talented soldiers, especially those who undergo adequate physical training and studies of military science. According to disclosed documents provided by the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz, during the Tenth Ursus-Kazimierz War of 1062, a legion of Silverlance Pegasi managed to outpower several Ursine landships and even halted their advance through mere muscular strength. The Ursine side acknowledged the event's veracity although they do not elaborate much on the incident.

33. #33Liberiselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Liberi

    The Liberi (both singular and plural) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    "Liberi" is an umbrella term referring to any Ancient and Elder race who have the traits of birds (Aves sp.), i.e., feathers growing on their hair and structures resembling tail feathers on their torsos, or feather-like features. Along with feathers, they also possess a good sense of hearing and eyesight. Generally speaking, Liberi are a medium-sized race with females being slightly shorter. Their physical fitness is relatively average at best, and they are considerably lighter in weight than other races. Some Liberi possess the traits of various bird-like mythological creatures in our world, while others resemble anthropomorphic avians.

    Along with the Perros and Felines, Liberi are a predominant race on Terra having many Ancient and Elder branches. The most famous of the Elder Liberi are the Hippogryphs, the former ruling class of the Empire of Hippogryph that was later overthrown by the Ursine rebels led by Igor the Great in Terran year 31. Due to its complexity and its enormous population that gives birth to many different cultures, many Liberi anthropologists urge to further divide the Liberi into different new races, but oppositions argue that cultural differences should not be mixed with biological traits.

    Because of the abundant population, Liberi can be found in almost all the Terran nations. Of all nations, Iberia has the largest population of Liberi as its predominant race, and both Laterano and Columbia have a vast majority of them. Following the independence of Columbia in 1019, a large number of Liberi immigrants across Terra was absorbed into the newborn country. According to a Liberi immigrant census published by Columbian authorities, the reason for their decision to settle in Columbia is not only for the possibility of starting a new life, but also the mysterious charisma of President Mark Max who has become a popular figure among Liberi communities. The Lateran Liberi population are descendants of homeless refugees fleeing from Catastrophes that settled at the outskirts of Laterano and later integrated into the Sankta's society after adopting their religious faith. Some of these Lateran Liberi clergies later departed Laterano to settle at the southern coastlines of Terra where they founded Iberia in hope to create a second paradise on the shores. Aside from these three countries, Gaul was once ruled by a dynasty of Liberi before its disintegration in the War of the Four Nations.

34. #34Luposelective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Lupo

    Lupos have the traits of wolves (Canis lupus). Their lupine traits can be noticed such as their pricked ears and bushy tails. They are one of the three races separated from the Perros due to cultural and biological differences along with the Vulpos and Reprobas. On the outside, they appear almost identical to a Perro, but they are also the easiest to be recognized through their unique culture, as well as having a generally coarse and hard hair in comparison.

    Similar to the Perros, Lupos have a large family culture albeit being its opposite. Rather than treating their family members and friends kindly, a Lupo family treats them as disposable subordinates; antagonism between Lupo families is rather strong. They strongly value family identification such as dying of their tails, earpieces, and family symbols. Wherever one is banished from the family, they will be referred to as a "lone wolf," a derogatory term for a Lupine outcast. According to their legend and anthropological research, their strong yet crooked sense of family and their exclusivism are the consequences of the direct influence of the lupine Beast Lords, the "Signori dei Lupi," who chose their "Fangs" as their proxies in their never-ending battle royale, and the Signori's beastkins, the "wolves," had been constantly attacking ancient Lupos, forcing them to organize into strict family order. Consequently, this has given rise to their mafia culture.

    Because of their strict family order, a Lupo has learned to suppress their ancestral behaviors from the Perros. Rather than using their tails and ears to indicate their emotions, a Lupo soldato in a mafia learns to use hand signals to express themselves, and they learn to control their ears and tails . Even though non-famiglia Lupos do not resist the use of their tails and ears, many Lupo prefer not to do so, believing that it will further exhaust themselves.

    Lupos can be found in many Terra nations. Siracusa holds the predominant population of Lupo as their homeland, and eastern Leithanien has the second largest population due to shared history with Siracusa before its independence in Terran year 979. Victoria and Ursus also hold a certain number of Lupos.

35. #35Manticore (race)selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Manticore

    The Manticore is an Ancient race of Terra. As the name suggests, Manticores have the traits of the namesake chimeric creature in Persian mythology. They can be seen on their bat wing-like appendixes on both sides of the head, and a scorpion tail on their torso, usually ending with a strong and sometimes poisonous stinger. They are generally roughly the height of an average Terran, though female Manticores are usually shorter than males, yet both genders demonstrate excellent physical flexibility. They are also prominent in the use of invisibility Originium Arts which allow them to camouflage and conceal themselves during ambush.

    As a rare Terran race, all Manticores live in remote regions of Sargon far away from nomadic cities. Most Manticores live in seclusion from the outside world, and due to their cultural practices, they prefer to keep a low profile, rarely appearing in the public eye while keeping a distance from other races. Even at the advent of the Crystallization Era, Manticores simply preferred to not enter nomadic cities and retain their simple albeit isolated lives.

    Because of their secularism and mysterious background, there is a pejorative perception regarding this race. Many perceive them as "man-eaters" or "harbingers" of curse, resulting in many Manticores refusing to accept others as guests visiting their settlements.

36. #36Perroselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Perro

    The Perros are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Perros have the traits of dogs (Canis familiaris). Their canid traits can be easily noticed such as pricked, folded, or floppy ears, pointed or curled tails, and their keen sense of smell. In addition, their hair/fur is significantly more finer and softer compared to a Lupo. Perros are known for demonstrating their emotions outwardly through their body parts such as wagging tail and folding ears. A notable culture practiced among the Perros are their large family and their loyalty to their families and friends. In a traditional Perro community, the families that make up the community are regarded as part of a larger family. Because of their family culture, Perros highly values peace and harmony between family and friends. Even when one faces difficulties, a Perro will always stay on their side.

    Before the dawn of human civilization, Perros was an umbrella term referring to their shared canine traits. After the Aslanian Conquest that ushered in the era of racial separation, many Perros were further divided into three specific groups based on different cultures and traits: Lupos, Vulpos, and Reprobas. Consequently, many people find it hard to differentiate between the actual Perros and these separated Perro subgroups. Perros also includes various Elder subraces such as the Cerberus, Uridimmu, and Qursha, though many of them have already integrated into the Perro population.

    Along with the Felines and Liberi, Perros are the predominant Terran race who can be found in almost all Terran nations thanks to their large population. From the wilderness of Sargon and Sami to the cities of Higashi, Ursus, and Victoria, Perros can be found everywhere. Of all nations, Bolívar houses most of the Perro population, but in recent years, there have been major protests among the Bolívarian Perros in regards to the usage of "hounds" which many presume are bioengineered creatures born from Perros undergoing cruel experiments despite the lack of evidences.

    There is an interesting yet peculiar history between the Perros and hotdogs. Urban legends say that the first hotdog was created by Bolívarian Perros whose immigrants introduced this sausage sandwich to the Columbians. In Kazimierz, in order to attract customers to their food carts during the Kazimierz Major, Columbian hawkers would hire seductive Perro females or muscular male Perro body-builders to promote the dish, leaving an everlasting impression to the Terran populace.

37. #37Petramselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Petram

    The Petrams are an Ancient race of Terra. Petrams have the traits of turtles (Testudines sp.), i.e., tortoises, terrapins, and sea turtles. Unlike other races, they are totally humanoid and are completely devoid of any testudinate trait such as short tails, scales, and even shells. One peculiar explanation describes that this unique phenomenon is ironically the result of Originium: Petrams have some of the highest amounts of Originium assimilation. As Originium molded their ancestors in the image of man, these earliest Petrams willingly accepted it to become true humans. On the other hand, the large amount of Originium shards inside a Petram's body makes them highly vulnerable to Oripathy and its side effects.

    Petrams are a very rare race on Terra that only settle in aquatic environments, i.e., swamps, rivers, and coastlines. These populations are only found in nations with coastlines such as Iberia, Yan, and Victoria. Because of their reclusive nature and scarcity of their populations, little to no available information about Petrams is available for contemporary academic circles. Even a few researchers debate that Petrams never existed and could only be found in legends.

    A unique culture of the Petrams is their mastery in metallurgy. Petram metals differ from others because they are made of highly advanced techniques that are unknown to outsiders, hence they possess excellent endurance and hardness. An archeological site in Sargon has once excavated an ancient execution site with Petram tools that are dated back millennia ago, but the metal that made up the tools highly resembled modern-day alloys. Despite lacking knowledge of modern science, many Petrams are trained to become outstanding craftsmen and materials scientists. Because of the mysteries surrounding their metallurgy, there are many legends regarding the Petrams and their metals that are often filled with exaggerations. A Sargonian folktale narrates Petrams "slaying their ancestors in the numbers of thousands" and "burying them in ruins sunken beneath the lakes." There was a historical record that a Lord Ameer sought to acquire their techniques but was met with disappointment because of the Petrams' refusal.

    A particular phenomenon observed from some Petrams is their close contact with Aegirs living ashore. They often refer to each other as "fellow race" despite their physical differences. This phenomenon is not present in other races, or at the very least it has not been recorded beforehand. To this day, no scientific explanation has given out a satisfactory conclusion regarding this extremely close tie.

38. #38Phidiaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Phidia

    The Phidians (singular: Phidia) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Phidians have the traits of snakes (suborder Serpentes). Their serpentine traits can be noticed such as scaly tails, scales on parts of their bodies, and their extremely keen senses. Phidians possess a pair of pointed ears. Their average weight and muscularity are surprisingly below standard, yet their average height is taller than others, making their bodies appear slim and feeble.

    Phidians are quite uncommon among the known Terran races. Nevertheless, their presence can be found almost everywhere from the tundra of Sami and the boreal forests of Ursus to the deserts of Sargon and cities of Victoria. Phidians are an individualist race; they prefer living alone instead of forming a close-knit community.

    Because of their rather dispersed and scarce population, Phidians are subjected to various misunderstandings, stereotypes, and even discrimination. Their feeble bodies cause others to have the wrong perceptions that Phidians are "as weak as a baby," though muscular Phidians do exist. Their keen senses have been often described as emotionally unstable, or simply a maniac. Many Terrans have a derogatory view regarding the Phidians by associating them with negative manners such as slyness, lies, and bully; many pejorative terms in various Terran languages have associations with "snakes," a slur to the Phidians, such as "snake in the grass" in Victorian or di tou se in Yanese meaning "scoundrel." Making hissing sounds or wriggling like a snake in front of a Phidia are regarded as racist gestures. Most importantly, contrary to the popular belief, Phidians do not secrete venoms. Ironically, many Phidians are excellent chemists or toxicologists who can manufacture their own poison through artificial chemicals for self-defense.

    A positive notation of a Phidian's character is perhaps the tendency to focus on a specific goal. They can dedicate themselves to a particular goal and will never be diverted from it despite the obstacles and disturbances. There was a Phidan who have been studying in engineering of colorful signal lights as a communication methods, and he was hired to construct a signal system for the Kjeragian Staatbahn; and there was another famous female Phidian whose passion over the Kazimierz Major drove her to publish annual theses over the Major's champions.

39. #39Pilosaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Pilosa

    The Pilosa (both singular and plural) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Pilosa have the traits of sloths (suborder Folivora). Similar to the Petrams, Pilosa are entirely humanoid and are devoid of folivoran traits such as hairy fur and long claws. The only visible folivoran trait is their distinctive slow speech and actions, making them literally "as slow as a sloth." On the other hand, this disadvantage is compensated by their taciturn and cautious nature during work time.

    Pilosa are a very rare race whose existence has been barely documented by others. Due to their behaviors, they are rather scattered across Terra. Their rather quiet nature causes others to see them as unfriendly "strangers." On top of that, they rarely appear publicly, and they can be easily mistaken as other races. Because of the scarcity of their information, many presume that Pilosa are just some urban legends. Nevertheless, there are some first-hand accounts describing their behaviors, and some popular media loves depicting them as peculiar caricatures.

40. #40Reprobaselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Reproba

    The Reprobas are an Ancient race of Terra. Reprobas have the traits of hyenas (family Hyaenidae). Their hyenid traits can be noticed such as pricked ears and tails with tufts of hair, spots, or stripes. They have a moderate physical fitness when compared with other races, although female Reprobas are generally stronger than males. Reprobas are one of the three races separated from the Perros due to cultural and biological differences along with the Lupos and Vulpos which often results in mistakes of recognition by other races, but their population is the least of them all as they are the last Perro subgroup to be diverged since the Aslanian Conquest. Reprobas also includes various Elder subraces, though many of them have already integrated into the Reproba population.

    Reprobas practices several ancient cultures that are seen as peculiar to other races. Although Reprobas inherits the Perros' large family culture similar to the Lupos', there are some differences. Unlike Perros, Reprobas value internal unity and discipline the most. A traditional Reprobah family is a matriarchy in which the most powerful matriarch leads the family who is nominally elected by many different tribes as their "guardian." Despite spending most of their lives in the arid wilderness, a Reproba family can grow up to more than a hundred family members. Reprobas also have a tradition of close interactions with the Sarkaz since the tribal era, but such practice is a very controversial one among other Perro subgroups due to their enmity against the Sarkaz. Consequently, there are discriminatory perceptions on the Reprobas in which they are often described as having similarities with the Sarkaz, resulting in various ghost stories having them as main characters, though many Reprobas do not bother over the discrimination.

    As a very rare race, most of the Reproba population can be found in the desert regions of western Sargon. They have been living as desert wanders which nourishes their rich culture. Throughout history, Reproba warriors are highly valued by the Shahanshah owing to their long-standing military tradition. Legend even says that female Reproba elite warriors had formed a tough frontline during the invasion of Sargon by the Nightzmoran hordes. Entering the modern era, many Reprobas have left Sargon and spread across Terra as immigrants. By utilizing their knowledge in wilderness survival, many of them have been dedicating themselves in biological research, geology, and animal husbandry.

41. #41Savraselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Savra

    The Savrans (singular: Savra) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Savrans have the traits of lizards that includes true lizards (superorder Lepidosauria), i.e., geckos, chameleons, monitor lizards, and tuatara, and lizard-like animals, i.e., the amphibian salamanders (Urodela sp.). Their lacertilian and salamandrine traits can be noticed such as scales covering the bodies, scaly tails, and agileness. Many Savrans also have the natural ability of camouflage by changing their skin color. As a matter of fact, many Savrans are talented hunters and ambushers who could perfectly blend with their surroundings after wearing camouflage clothing. Some of them even master specific Arts to further augment their camouflage by altering the colors of objects they touch.

    Some of the Savrans' unusual characteristics are their elongated lifespan, generally 120–140 years, and their ectothermic bodies. While it is true that many Sarvans can live up to centuries, it has become a subject of stereotype due to exaggerations. Various pop culture and fictional works describe elderly Savrans as mystic old men who are prone to wickedness.[1] Furthermore, the current record holder of longevity is Ibn Erhad, a Sargonian Savra Padishah who's said to have lived for 230 years thanks to his rather curious lifestyle, claiming that he only slept for half a day.[3] The Savrans’ ectothermic bodies means that they have to frequently undergo sunbathing. As a matter of fact, they love spending their time in sunny, open-space places, e.g. deserts and shrublands, and most of the Savrans settle in these arid regions.

    Savrans are an uncommon race on Terra, and most of the populations live in the desert regions of Sargon and Rim Billiton. Due to the stereotype regarding their lifespan, some Sargonian folktales have a fixed image of an elderly Savran hunter with a smoky voice, a crooked smile, and a cunning yet cruel sense of humor. Nevertheless, in other stories, they are also seen as the embodiment of wisdom. This stems from a common practice among Sargonian Savrans in which they could meditate and dissect their philosophy for long periods of time while enjoying their sunbathing.

42. #42Ursus (race)selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Ursus, Ursi

    The Ursi (singular: Ursus) are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Ursi have the traits of bears (family Ursidae), i.e., brown bears, black bears, polar bears, and giant pandas. Their ursine traits can be seen from their rounded ears, short and unnoticeable tails, and a bulky stature than other Terrans. As one of the most common Terran races, the vast majority of Ursi live in the Ursus Empire, with decent populations found in temperate countries of the north such as Yan, Kazimierz, Kjerag, and Sami; there is even a population of them living in the deserts of northern Sargon.

    The Ursi's most distinguishable feats are their tall height and outstanding physical strength compared to other races, which are attributes they generally like to emphasize. They also possess a highly-developed endurance as a result of the harsh environment they live in, i.e., frigid winters in the northern regions. The Ursi have a large number of subraces, each with different hair and fur color, though the most common ones are black, brown, and white.

    The term "Ursus" can be traced back to the prehistoric era when the earliest humans began referring to other races by names. They once followed the Hippogryphs' northern migration while fleeing from the Teekaz, and were later subjugated as low-class citizens by their Elder overlords. After their incompetence during the invasion of the Nightzmoran Khagan, the Hippogryphs were overthrown by the Ursi in the Terran year 31, under the lead of Igor the Great. The establishment of the Ursus Empire ended the reign of the Elder dynasties and gave birth to the era of ethno-nationalism.

    The difference between the terms "Ursus race" and "Ursus Empire" is the context; While the former is used to directly and objectively identify the race, the latter is a national identity where individuals refer to themselves as Ursine citizens regardless of their race, even outside the country.

43. #43Vouivreselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Vouivre

    The Vouivres are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Vouivres have the traits of "lesser dragons," i.e. dragon-like creatures in various mythologies such as wyverns, wyrms, hydras, drakes, and amphipteres. They are almost identical to the Dracos such as unique-shaped horns, large dragon-like tails, and supreme physical prowess, and this causes others to mistake both races frequently given the scarcity of the Draco population. Their only difference from the Dracos are Originium Arts talents; Vouivres lack the innate talent to enhance superior Arts, especially pyro Arts. Vouivres are able to regulate their own metabolism to reduce food consumption that is most likely as a survival mechanism against the harsh deserts where they originate from.

    Although not a common Terran race, Vouivres can be found in mainly Sargon and Victoria. They originated from the deserts in northern Sargon that were subjugated by the Aslans during the Aslanian Conquest at the dawn of human civilization. Even though the Vovuires were immediately defeated, the Aslan house was impressed by their physical strength. As a tribute of their admiration, Sargon granted them more territories in the north as well as political autonomy of their region, the present-day "Vouivre Alliance," in exchange for their service to the Aslans as their royal guards. Since the demise of Lugalszargus in the year 15 that fractured the Sargonian palace, the Vouivres sought to gain independence from Sargon that lasted until the present days, though this came with heavy consequences as the Ameers dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion. In the ninth century, an Aslan royal offshoot fled Sargon to Victoria from the Shah's political persecutions while carrying several Vouivre royal guards. These Vouivres who followed the Aslan King later became the ancestors of the modern Vouivre population in Victoria.

    Owing to their long-standing military tradition as royal guards for the Aslan Shahanshah, Vouivres are famous as excellent soldiers. Traditional Vouivre families will have their children receive stern military training as cultivation for new guards. Those qualified Vouivres will be dispatched to the Sargonian palace to serve as royal guards. Others who are disqualified will simply search for alternative routes to continue their military career; as such, they become proficient soldiers and mercenaries. In recent years, many Vouivres who have ended their military career have chosen to settle in other countries such as Columbia.

44. #44Vulposelective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Vulpo

    The Vulpos are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Vulpos have the traits of foxes such as the true foxes (Vulpes sp.) and other fox-like canids (i.e., Lycalopex sp.). Their vulpine traits can been noticed such as large, protruding ears and long, bushy tails unlike Lupos and Perros. They are one of the three races separated from the Perros due to cultural and biological differences along with the Lupos and Reprobas. Vulpos also includes various Elder subraces such as Kitsune, Coyotl and Fyrla, though many of them have already integrated into the Vulpo population.

    On the outside, Vulpos are sometimes mistaken for Perros due to their almost identical physical appearances; hence, many Vulpos are already getting used to the mishaps. Nevertheless, they can be recognized through their medium-sized stature and their keen flexibility amongst other Terrans. In fact, in the ancient era before their divergence from the Perros, Vulpos were often described as the ”most agile of Perros.” Because of their traits, many Vulpos are depicted as outstanding combatants in various cultures like the protagonist of the Minoan epic To Próto Vélos. Many Vulpos often work as scouts, mercenaries, or Catastrophe Messengers since the dawn of human civilization.

    Despite their small number when compared with other races, Vulpos can be found anywhere on Terra with a considerable population living in Siracusa. Because their fluffy tails have been seen as their racial icon and a symbol of family unification, Siracusan Vulpos, especially those in the Siracuan mafia, have a unique culture of holding tail-grooming contests in which contestants have to groom a Vulpo’s tail based on the organizers' proposal within seventy-two seconds or less. Being heavily influenced by the Lupos' mafia culture, some Siracusan Vulpos also organize themselves into famiglie and crime families, and many point out that such a degenerate culture has "corrupted the Vulpo's traditional kindness" and turn them into "foxes that are fiercer than the wolves."

45. #45Zalakselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, ancients, Zalak

    The Zalaks are an Ancient race of Terra.

    Zalaks have the traits of rodents (family Rodentia), i.e., mice, squirrels, hamsters, prairie dogs, and beavers, although a few individuals have traits of rodent-like animals such as rat-like marsupials, i.e., opossums (order Didelphimorphia) and Australasian possums (suborder Phalangeriformes), and small-sized insectivores, i.e., shrews (family Soricidae) and moles (family Talpidae). Their rodent, possum, and insectivorous traits can be noticed such as pointed or rounded ears with hair tufts, slim or bushy tails, keen senses, average short stature, and high fertility. Zalaks demonstrates different variations depending on geography. For instance, those from the Kjeragian mountain range spanning from Kazimierz to Kjerag have thick, fluffier tails and bushy ear tufts, whereas those from warmer regions in the south have thinner hair on their ears and tails.

    Despite their short stature compared to other races, Zalaks' agility compensates for the disadvantage. Their large ears and sharp eyes enable them to possess exceptional hearing and reflexes, and through them, they are very sensitive to ambient vibrations and airflow changes. These qualities allow Zalaks to survive in harsh, barren environments. As a matter of fact, many Zalaks often work as communication Messengers or Catastrophe Messengers.

    Thanks to their high fertility that enables them to give birth to large numbers of babies, a feat shared with the Cautuses' large family, Zalaks are a common race who can be found anywhere on Terra from Bolívar to Rim Billiton through their abundant population. In recent years, there is an increase of Zalaks immigrating to Columbia. One of the possible reasons is that they are motivated by prominent Zalak movie stars in the Columbian Wrankwood film industry such as Berne Gayley, Anthony Irving, and Kazimierzian actress Magda "Quickmouth" Molinsky who spotlighted the Zalak populace in a positive manner through their block-busting movies, i.e., the 1094 comedy Come On! Not Again starring Gayley as the protagonist Jack Scoutnut. As a matter of fact, the word "Zalak Syndrome," originally a derogatory term that stereotyped Zalaks as greedy, compulsive collectors, has gradually become a commendatory idiom that describes a person's planning ahead for themself and their families. The public promotion of the "Zalak Syndrome" also attracts many Zalaks to join the Columbian frontier pioneers who make their contribution through their accumulated wealth and enduring adaptations to the harsh environment.

    Some Zalaks possess an innate phobia towards Felines. Despite having no particular animosity towards them, they will try their best to keep a distance from Felines, especially those who have taller stature. If spending too much time with them, they will demonstrate physical discomforts such as rigid muscles, muttering, and eyes turning red.

46. #46---Elders---selective

    Keys: Races, terrans, elders

    The Elders are an umbrella term for a small group of Terran races who were formerly the royalties and bourgeoisie class of Terran nations, but today are equal to, if not in a higher status than the Ancients. Unlike Ancients, many Elders possess traits of mythological animals in our world's mythologies. Most Elders are racially distinct from the Ancients, but some are the subrace of (or more appropriately, related to) certain Ancient races.

    The Elders possess superior abilities lost to time such as elongated lifespan that could surpass many Ancients and unimaginable Arts that are exaggerated in many legends (e.g. weather control and spiritual communication). In Sarkaz religious narratives, these early Elder leasers "descended" upon Terra, titled the "Hegemons," manifested even more exaggerated powers that were described as one that could "shun the sunray." But since the Amnannam and the collapse of the first Kazdel era, the supernatural power of the Elders have gradually lost due to the influence of Originium, making them completely weaker than their ancestors. Nevertheless, many Elders continue to see themselves as "pure-blooded" through their surviving traits, hence distinguishing themselves from the rest politically.

    Since their "descend" upon Terra, the Elders had been holding on the philosophy of the "divine right of kings" due to their unique traits. They had literally enslaving the majority Ancients by using them as their slaves and pawns against the Sarkaz. Entering the feudal era, they implemented rigid, racist, and unfair inegalitarian policies that worsened their oppression. However, their dominance came to an end by the hands of another Elder race, the Nightzmoras, during their worldwide conquests. From Terran year 31 onwards when the Ursi toppled the Hippogryphs, many Elders forever lost such "divine rights," and those surviving Elders have either chosen to integrate into the Ancients' society or used meritocratic capabilities to climb back to the top of the social hierarchy once again.

47. #47Dracoselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, elders, Draco

    Dracos have the traits of European dragons in Western mythology. Their draconic traits can be noticed such as dragon horns, hard scales, bulky and majestic serpentine tails, and highly advanced physical strength. Because of their identical similarities, Dracos can be easily mistaken as Vouivres.

    Nevertheless, Dracos can be easily distinct from Vouivres with one special trait: their capability to manipulate fire through Originium Arts. While pyro Arts is not unique to the Dracos, their power has a unique quirk that distinguishes it from ordinary fire fundamentally. The fire they produce is not based on natural combustion effect but the manipulation of the living cell metabolism. Their cell tissues will literally burn itself due to a sudden increase of metabolism that makes them hyperactive, and the manifestation of fire is a mere side effect of their inner combustion. As a matter of fact, their unique fiery traits earn them the title of "Red Dragons." Some could even take it further by manipulating metabolism of others' cells such as necromantic Arts that can temporarily "revive" a corpse by injecting their fire within.

    Dracos are an extremely rare Elder race who are found in numerous scattered communities across Terra with different physical characteristics depending on the region. They are famous for being a prominent royal house who actively involve themselves in the geopolitics of Terra. Oddly enough, the name "Draco" would not come to use as a collective name until the most recent millennium when their houses became more close-knit and needed an identification to refer to themselves. On the other hand, the sharing of a common racial name often overlooks their diverse cultures and physical differences among houses, leading many scholars to doubt whether it is appropriate to refer to them as such.

    Throughout history, Dracos are prominent figures in various legends and folktales appearing as either trustworthy heroes or greedy tyrants. These legends include the horror story of a Draco king who dehorned the horns of other enslaved races and grounded them to nourish their own, the tale of an immortal, ruthless Draco overlord who caused havoc continuously throughout millennia. Another interesting Victorian legend involves a greedy Draco King who hoarded all the plundered gold and Originium artifacts in a treasure vault which is still a hot topic among treasure hunters. Nevertheless, many of these stories are purely fictional as bedtime stories to children.

    The Dracos were previously the dominant rulers of the heartland regions that would later become the nation-states of Victoria and Tara. The introduction of the Sargonian monarchical system caused a split of the Draco house: the conservative who sought to preserve their semi-nomadic lifestyle and the monarchists who preferred to crown themselves as kings. Both houses became the Gaelic Kings of Tara and the Draco Kings of Victoria respectively, but they were forcefully merged back to Victoria at the dawn of the common era during the pillage of the Nightzmoran hordes with an unglorified past. In 737, the Aslan house plundered the Dracos of both Victoria and Tara, forcing them to share their throne with the latter. Their lineage was further severed after several secret conspiracies — supposedly plotted by the Unicorns supporting the Aslans from the shadows — in the most recent two decades to fully eliminate their potential rivals which led to their total disappearance in the political circle.

    By modern days, the Dracos are quickly forgotten among the Terrans, presuming them to be fully extinct. Nevertheless, there are still some surviving lineages that seek to reclaim their former glory. These surviving houses include the Artorius who fled to Lungmen, Yan, as fugitives and the Dublinns who claim themselves as the direct descendants of the Taran King Gaeil.

48. #48Hippogryphselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, elders, Liberi, Hippogryph

    The Hippogryph is an Elder subrace of the Liberi.

    Hippogryphs have the traits of the eponymous legendary creature found in Orlando Furioso. They are essentially Liberi with partial Kuranta traits such as equine tails and ears.

    The Hippogryphs are a famous Elder race who were once the ruling dynasty of the Empire of Hippogryph. At the dawn of human civilizations, the Hippogryphs migrated to the northern mountains to flee from harassment of the Teekaz, and they enslaved several Ancient races to construct their mountain castles and fortresses. The Hippogryphs’ despotism, however, came to an abrupt end in Terran year 31 when the Ursine rebels led by Igor the Great toppled them in response to their failure in defense from the Nightzmoran Conquests. After the end of their dynasty, they once endured severe persecutions under the "Eastern March" policy imposed by Aleksey Igorevich the “Young” as the remnants sought shelter in the mountainous region of eastern Ursus. Despite losing their former glory, many Hippogryphs have since been slowly reincorporated back in the Ursine government as low-ranked officials and military leaders, while others choose to live among the Ancient populace as commoners.

49. #49Kylinselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, elders, Kylin

    The Kylin (both singular and plural) is an Elder race of Terra.

    Kylin have the traits of the qilin, a chimeric legendary creature in Chinese mythology. Their qilin trait can be noticed such as draconic horns resembling cervid antlers and equine tails. Because of their similar appearance, they are often mistaken as Elafians. The only difference is their culture: Elafians live a more mystic, secluded lifestyle owing to their shamanistic belief, while the Kylin have a more worldly way of living.

    Kylin are a rare Elder race that can only be found in Yan and its surrounding. Since the tribal era before the Hundred Clans Rebellion, they had been part of the Yanese dynasty by serving as royal guards or sorcerers, or zhu in Yanese, to the Tribe of Yan. There are many legends of Kylin casters wielding excellent Originium Arts such as the legend of Zhu the Kylin who summoned lightning upon a lake surface to repel dangerous wild beasts; hence, they have been often associated with lightning Arts. Entering the imperial dynastic era, they were promoted to become top-ranking mandarins and law enforcers serving the True Lung, the Emperor of Yan. Because of their prominent roles, the Kylin race has become a symbol of social stability and an embodiment of imperial law.

    There are various houses of Kylin in the Yanese imperial courts. The most prominent one is the Zhu clan, the legendary founder of the Lei Fa who are some of the first Tianshi of Yan spreading the knowledge of Arts to the populace. The Lin clan and the Fa clan are also notable Kylin houses who mainly run the Yanese judiciary system as judges and censors.

50. #50Lungselective

    Keys: Races, terrans, elders, Lung

    The Lung (both singular and plural) is an Elder race of Terra.

    Lung have the traits of Chinese dragons, the Long, in East Asian mythology. Their Long traits can be noticed such as antler-like horns and serpentine tails with hair tufts. Some individuals can possess more animalistic traits such as carp-like whiskers, lion mane-like hair, deer-like ears, and fish fins and scales.

    The Lung are a unique ethnic group that is only found in Yan and its surroundings such as Higashi, and many of them are either imperial members of the Yanese dynasty or upper-class bourgeoisie, i.e., tycoons, aristocrats, civil servants. The history of Yan is specifically intertwined with the dynasty of Lung house since the tribal era of Yan the Chieftain who united the Hundred Clans of Yan, and anthropologists even believe that the Lung are some of the surviving oldest races on Terra whose civilizations are the first to emerge in eastern Terra if their historical accounts are accurate. The dynasty of Yan, including the ruling Yanese Emperor, often refer to themselves as the "True Lung", an honorific title that refers to their respectful veneration over their ancestors and Yan the Chieftain; the "True (Zhen)" in this case is hence not the antonym of "false" but rather an honor as the true and genuine successors of ancestral respect.

    The Lung house is known to be ardent history lovers. In order to showcase their narratives to later generations, they often have official historian archivists whose job is to research and write down historical records which are later stored in their imperial libraries overseen by the Yanese Ministry of Rites. These histories covers from the unification of the the Yan tribe, the Hundred Clan Rebellion, the Great Hunt against the Feranmuts, to later history into the modern era, and many famous Yanese official histories include Tales of the Lung, Origin of the Hundred Names, and Common History of the Hundred Clans. Because they are certified by the imperial court with concrete facts and humanistic approach, the Lung's history can be seen as a legitimate primary source when compared with other nations' narratives that are based on oral traditions or religious foundation.[1]

    Since the end of Yanese isolation in 845 and diplomatic establishment with nations of the Terran heartland, there have been frequent interactions between the Lung house of Yan and the Draco house of Victoria. There was even a period of history in which the Dracos also adopted the name of "Lung" as a Yanese translation and referred to the Lung house as a "Draco dynasty" in Victorian translation. This was based on inaccurate presumptions among foreign envoys when attempting to translate their respective names. Consequently, many Yanese were at one time shocked that the Dracos were actually their long-lost cousins. Over the course of active communication, both houses eventually corrected their names in their translations. After the Aslans' palace coup that toppled the Victorian Dracos, some of them have been seeking refuge in Yan and even quietly integrated into the Yanese dynasty.

Showing 50 of 185

Extensions: depth_prompt (their contents are in the Raw tab)

1 file

• .pngpng_cardspec 2.0rebuilt

  1.1 MB200×200first seen Apr 16, 20267fdba3b692432a64

  version main

  Download