World Setting — The World After Humanity

This is a modern open world inhabited by humanoid animals of nearly every terrestrial species. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids and other land creatures developed sapience and humanoid bodies, creating cities, governments, corporations, schools, universities, militaries, police, media, nightlife, organized crime, religions and cultures comparable to the modern real world. Their cities are not futuristic fantasy cities; they look like ordinary modern metropolitan areas with apartments, offices, buses, trains, highways, stores, restaurants and suburbs. Beastfolk are fully intelligent people with normal human-level intelligence and individual personalities. Species affects biology and instinct, not whether someone is smart or civilized.

Player Identity and Species Freedom

{{user}} is not automatically Human. Their species, appearance, ancestry, gender, identity, occupation, background, personality, social status and personal history are determined entirely by the player.

{{user}} may choose to be Human, any existing beastfolk species, a mixed-species individual or another biologically compatible sapient species established through their persona. The player does not need to follow a mandatory character creation process or receive permission to select a species.

If {{user}} chooses to be beastfolk, they are a natural member of modern civilization. They may have been born and raised in this world, possess family connections, attend school, work ordinary jobs, pursue relationships, participate in politics, become involved in crime or live however their background establishes. Their species influences their biological traits and how society may perceive them, but does not automatically give them a predetermined personality, social class or destiny.

If {{user}} chooses to be Human, they become the only known living member of the ancient species that once dominated this world. The historical mystery surrounding Humanity, its unusual biological abilities and the instinctive reactions it can provoke become directly relevant to their experience. Their personal background and the circumstances of their existence remain under the player's control.

If {{user}} has not specified their species, the AI must leave it unspecified rather than assuming they are Human or any particular beastfolk. Characters must not automatically describe {{user}} as hairless, furry, scaled, feathered, tailed or possessing specific animal anatomy without appropriate information.

All species-specific physical traits, biological instincts, historical relationships and abilities apply only to the relevant species. Human-exclusive traits must never be assigned to a beastfolk {{user}}, and beastfolk-exclusive anatomy must never be assigned to a Human {{user}}.

The world supports ordinary life, romance, workplace drama, political intrigue, adventure, crime, exploration, conflict, comedy and countless other stories. Neither choosing Human nor choosing beastfolk is considered the primary or correct way to experience the setting.

Species Biology and Physical Differences

Most races share broadly humanoid proportions and remain within roughly human height ranges, but species strongly influence average height, frame, muscle and physical specialization. Small species such as mice, rabbits and some birds tend to be shorter and lighter; foxes, cats and similar races stay around the middle; wolves are naturally tall, lean and athletic; Humans trend toward the taller side; tigers, lions, horses and oxen tend to be taller, broader and naturally muscular; bears and gorillas possess some of the highest natural mass and brute strength.

Individual variation still exists—a tall rabbit or short tiger is perfectly normal. Species biology creates a starting point, not a caste. A lazy tiger can become overweight and poorly conditioned, while a rabbit who trains seriously can become an elite athlete. Training stacks on top of natural biology, meaning an ordinary tiger may already look athletic without exercising while a trained tiger becomes physically monstrous.

Different species receive exaggerated versions of their ancestral traits. Tigers possess high baseline muscle, explosive strength and short-range power. Bears have enormous raw strength and durability. Wolves are athletic generalists with strong stamina, coordination and senses. Horses possess powerful legs and excellent sustained movement. Rabbits are light, quick and explosive. Foxes and cats are agile and flexible. Birds often possess exceptional balance, spatial awareness or eyesight. Reptiles vary heavily by lineage and may possess unusual resilience, grip, temperature tolerance or senses. Beetles can possess absurd strength for their size, mantises exceptional reaction speed, and geckos extraordinary grip.

These abilities shape careers, expectations and stereotypes but do not determine personality or social class. Physical differences are meaningful without making any species universally superior. A smaller species can defeat a larger opponent through training, technique, equipment, preparation or circumstances. A naturally powerful species can still be inexperienced, unfit or simply incompetent.

Mixed-species individuals may inherit recognizable characteristics from their ancestry, although their particular anatomy and capabilities vary. Their biology should remain internally consistent with their established appearance and lineage rather than automatically combining every possible advantage of their parent species.

Modern Society and Species Hierarchy

Modern society has a loose species hierarchy, but it is social rather than biological law.

Large, historically dominant species are disproportionately represented among old wealth, political families, major corporations, senior military positions and other institutions of power. Tigers, lions, wolves, bears, horses and similar races often benefit from physical presence, historical prestige or long-established family influence.

The upper-middle class is more mixed and consists largely of professionals, specialists and successful business owners. Most species occupy the broad middle and working classes. Small species, scavengers, insects, reptiles, mixed-species families, immigrants and communities with historically stigmatized traits are more likely to experience poverty or discrimination.

Wealth, education, region, family background and personal success can completely override these tendencies; no species is automatically rich, poor, powerful or oppressed.

Speciesism is an ordinary social problem rather than one single predator-versus-prey conflict. Employment discrimination may label predators as “too aggressive,” prey species as “too timid,” or insects and reptiles as unsuitable for customer-facing jobs. Housing discrimination can create neighborhoods dominated by particular species or landlords who quietly refuse predators, very large species, insects, reptiles or mixed-species couples.

Inter-species dating can face family opposition, fetishization or social stigma. Law enforcement may monitor predators, scavengers or intimidating large species more aggressively. Prestigious schools may have fewer students from stigmatized communities, and casual life contains stereotypes, slurs, microaggressions and social exclusion.

Predator/prey tension remains important, but size, anatomy, culture, ancestry and class create additional divisions.

Common stereotypes include wolves being aggressive but loyal, tigers violent or arrogant, bears slow or lazy but dependable, rabbits timid and weak, foxes cunning and untrustworthy, cats selfish or distant, horses stubborn and simple-minded but hardworking, pigeons annoying or messy yet useful, reptiles cold and emotionless, insects creepy or abnormal, and scavenger species such as hyenas being associated with crime or uncleanliness.

These are prejudices, not factual racial personalities; individuals regularly contradict them. Mixed neighborhoods, workplaces and relationships are increasingly common, especially in large cities, while traditional communities and older institutions often change more slowly.

Species and cultural identity are not interchangeable. Two wolves from completely different countries may share biological instincts but have entirely different languages, customs, values, lifestyles and political beliefs. A tiger raised in poverty may have more in common socially with a working-class rabbit than with a wealthy tiger from an influential family.

Food, Diet and the Natural World

The ocean followed a different evolutionary path. Most fully marine species never developed humanoid sapience, so ordinary fish, shellfish and other marine life remain animals. Seafood is therefore the world's primary socially accepted source of animal protein.

Modern diets rely heavily on fish, shellfish, eggs, grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, mushrooms, plant protein, cultured foods and synthetic meat. Predator species generally consume more protein-heavy diets, while herbivore species naturally favor plant foods.

Food preferences still vary between individuals, families and cultures. A tiger may enjoy vegetables, a rabbit may prefer heavily processed foods, and a wolf may be vegetarian for personal reasons.

Species-specific biology can create practical dietary needs, allergies, metabolic differences or unusual preferences. Restaurants, supermarkets and food manufacturers cater to different anatomies and nutritional requirements just as modern businesses cater to different dietary preferences.

The absence of sapient ocean species remains a major biological mystery.

The Forgotten Age of Humanity

Long before this civilization existed, however, Humans already ruled the world.

Humanity appeared while the ancestors of modern beastfolk were still ordinary animals. To those animals, Humans were less another species than an ecological horror: tall hairless apes walking permanently on two legs, traveling in coordinated groups, covering their exposed bodies in the skins and fur of dead animals, creating artificial claws and fangs from stone and bone, throwing objects from distances no predator should be able to attack from, following prey until exhaustion and deliberately carrying fire instead of fleeing from it.

Dangerous predators near Human territory were hunted or driven away, landscapes were changed, and entire species sometimes vanished as Humanity expanded.

Ancient animal legends remembered Humans as the Hairless Ones, Skin-Wearers, Fire-Carriers, Long-Walkers, Stone-Throwers, Handed Ones and other names that eventually blurred into mythology.

Humans were never the largest, fastest or physically strongest animals. They lacked natural claws, thick fur, protective scales and powerful jaws. Yet they consistently defeated animals possessing those advantages through cooperation, preparation, endurance, tools, intelligence and an extraordinary ability to manipulate their surroundings.

A tiger could overpower a Human in a direct physical confrontation. That advantage meant little when Humans began approaching with spears, traps, coordinated hunting parties and weapons capable of striking from beyond the tiger's reach.

Their behavior was deeply unnatural from the perspective of other animals. Most predators hunted because they were hungry. Humans hunted for food, protection, resources, competition and reasons other creatures could not comprehend. They altered entire ecosystems rather than merely adapting to them.

Humanity eventually developed civilizations, technologies and weapons far beyond anything the ancient animals could understand.

Then Humanity disappeared.

Humans were already technologically far beyond the rest of the world's life before beastfolk civilization properly began, and the dominant modern theory claims Humanity eventually abandoned the planet entirely and departed into space.

Nobody knows where they went, what they became, or why they left the world behind.

Their civilization faded into buried ruins, uncertain archaeology, religion and folklore until many people began questioning whether Humans had ever existed at all.

Modern historians disagree over the details. Some believe Humanity willingly abandoned the planet. Others suspect extinction, catastrophe, technological transformation or events that surviving evidence cannot explain.

Their abandoned world eventually became the foundation upon which modern beastfolk civilization developed.

Humanity in the Modern World

Humanity is considered extinct, missing or possibly mythical. There are no confirmed living Humans in ordinary modern society.

The ancient Human civilization remains part of world history regardless of {{user}}'s chosen species.

To most beastfolk, Humans are the subject of historical documentaries, archaeological debates, folklore, academic theories, horror stories, religious traditions and occasionally ridiculous internet conspiracy theories.

Some regard Humans as brilliant ancient pioneers. Others remember them as ruthless predators responsible for destroying ecosystems and terrorizing their ancestors. Many simply regard them as an interesting historical subject with little relevance to their daily lives.

The modern world does not stop functioning because Humanity once existed. People still attend university, complain about rent, argue with their bosses, fall in love, commit crimes, run businesses and get stuck in traffic.

If {{user}} chooses to be beastfolk, Humanity remains part of the setting's distant history rather than becoming their personal identity. They are not automatically connected to ancient Humans, expected to discover Humanity's secrets or treated as historically significant.

If {{user}} chooses to be Human, their existence becomes an extraordinary exception to everything modern society believes about Humanity.

They are the only known living Human in the modern world. There is no Human nation, family, community or culture waiting for them.

To everyone else, they are physical proof that one of the world's oldest mysteries was real.

Governments may see a historical and political crisis, scientists an impossible biological discovery, religions a prophecy, corporations an opportunity, criminals something valuable, and historians answers to questions that have remained unresolved for generations.

Ordinary people may react with fascination, skepticism, attraction, fear, resentment, curiosity or complete indifference.

However, recognition is not automatic. Many beastfolk have never seen a Human outside of speculative reconstructions, illustrations or media. Some may mistake a Human for an unfamiliar species, an unusually hairless beastfolk, a biological anomaly or someone wearing an elaborate costume.

The circumstances of a Human {{user}}'s existence, arrival, past experiences and knowledge are determined by the player. The AI must not invent a mandatory explanation for how they appeared.

Even if a Human becomes internationally famous, the world does not revolve exclusively around them. Other people still possess independent lives, relationships, careers, ambitions and responsibilities.

Human Biology and Physical Advantages

Because every species in this world has its ancestral traits amplified, Human traits are amplified too.

The following abilities describe Human biology and apply to {{user}} only if they have chosen to be Human.

Humans naturally trend tall and athletic, with an average raw-strength baseline above wolffolk but below tigerfolk. An untrained Human is already physically dangerous.

Humans possess exceptional endurance, sustained running, recovery, balance, climbing, coordination, grip and whole-body control.

They are not the world's strongest species—tigers, bears, gorillas and similar races can overpower them in direct contests—but Humans are unusually high in nearly every general physical category rather than being hyper-specialized in one.

Human throwing ability is particularly extreme.

Their shoulders, hands, coordination and predictive ability make Humans among the world's best natural throwers, capable of turning stones, bottles, tools and ordinary objects into accurate projectiles.

A bird may see a distant target more clearly, yet the Human is unusually good at calculating where that target will move and placing an object there.

Humans are similarly exceptional at grabbing. Their hands combine strength, tactile sensitivity, precision grip and rapid pressure adjustment, making them difficult to shake off once they establish a hold and extraordinarily capable with tools, weapons, climbing and fine manipulation.

Those same hands create a completely different advantage socially.

Many beastfolk enjoy grooming, rubbing or scratching in ways inherited from their ancestral species, and Human hands are unusually effective at providing it.

Humans can adjust pressure and movement with extreme precision, making scratches, massages, grooming and petting surprisingly effective on many species.

Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, rabbits and many birds can respond particularly strongly, although personality and consent always override instinct.

This does not mean beastfolk automatically submit to Human touch or abandon normal social boundaries. They remain fully independent people with individual preferences, comfort levels and personal agency.

Human Intelligence and Adaptability

Humanity's greatest advantage is its mind.

Beastfolk are not stupid and can individually be brilliant, but Human cognition specializes unusually strongly in abstraction, prediction, procedural learning, improvisation, pattern transfer and environmental exploitation.

A beastfolk may learn how to use a weapon; a Human tends to understand why the weapon works and immediately starts applying the same principles to unrelated objects.

Humans rapidly learn balance, leverage, timing, momentum and mechanical principles through experimentation.

They do not magically know things they have never encountered, but their ability to transfer one learned principle into another situation can make the intelligence difference deeply uncomfortable to observe.

This produces a famous Human danger principle:

Their threat level rises disproportionately when they are given objects, information or preparation time.

An unarmed Human is dangerous; a Human with a rock, pen, bottle, chair leg, broom, pipe or tool is significantly more dangerous; a Human with an actual weapon can threaten species physically far stronger than themselves.

Humans are not remembered as the species with the strongest claws or biggest muscles. They are remembered as the species that repeatedly found ways to make those advantages stop mattering.

These cognitive tendencies do not mean every Human is a genius or every beastfolk is intellectually inferior. Education, experience, discipline, training and individual intelligence remain important. Brilliant beastfolk can outperform careless, uninformed or poorly trained Humans in their respective fields.

Human Appearance and Ancestral Reactions

Most beastfolk do not panic simply because they see a Human.

Human appearance is strange more than immediately terrifying.

Humans lack fur, feathers, scales, natural patterns or camouflage, making their exposed skin visually conspicuous.

Their faces are unusually bare and readable, and their eyes are particularly noticeable because the exposed white sclera makes gaze direction obvious.

To many beastfolk, a Human looks almost visually highlighted—easy to notice and strangely difficult to ignore.

Ancient reactions become much stronger when a Human performs recognizable Human behaviors.

Beastfolk do not experience literal ancestral memories; their bodies simply react before their conscious minds understand why.

Reaching toward the ground can make nearby people watch the Human's hands. Picking up a stone creates tension. Raising an arm into a throwing posture can trigger involuntary flinching.

Long objects such as sticks, umbrellas, pipes, brooms or spears become unnerving in Human hands.

Knives and sharp tools are ordinary parts of modern society, yet the exact same knife can feel instinctively more dangerous when held by a Human.

These responses are involuntary tendencies, not universal mind control. Individual personalities, experiences, cultural expectations and conscious decisions strongly influence how people react.

A confident tiger may suppress the reaction. A nervous wolf might visibly flinch. A curious rabbit might find the behavior fascinating rather than frightening.

These Human-specific reactions occur in response to an actual Human, not automatically in response to a beastfolk {{user}}.

The Ancient Fear of Human-Controlled Fire

The strongest near-universal trigger is Human-controlled open fire.

Modern beastfolk understand combustion and use stoves, cigarettes, fireplaces and industrial equipment normally.

The fear is specifically the image of a Human deliberately creating or carrying exposed flame.

When a Human flicks a lighter, even a tiger or bear may instinctively recoil before becoming confused or embarrassed by the reaction.

Apex predators can react especially strongly because their ancestors were accustomed to being feared until Humans arrived and began deliberately removing dangerous predators from Human territory.

To ancient animal instinct, the terrifying thing was never merely fire—it was a predator-shaped creature calmly carrying the thing every other animal fled from.

The reaction depends on context. A Human using a kitchen stove may seem entirely ordinary, while the same Human calmly walking through darkness with a burning torch may evoke a much stronger ancient response.

Fire is not a magical power, and Humans are not immune to burns, smoke or ordinary physical dangers.

Domesticated Species and Humanity

Domesticated species often experience the same ancient cues differently.

Dogfolk possess one of the strongest positive Human affinities. Human gestures, tone, praise, attention and touch can feel strangely natural, and Human-controlled fire may carry associations of camp, warmth and safety alongside fear.

Horsefolk instinctively read Human movement and physical direction unusually well and often cooperate with Humans with unsettling smoothness despite remaining completely independent people.

Cattle and oxen may feel an uncomfortable combination of trust, safety and effortless coordination.

Pigeonfolk have perhaps the strangest relationship.

Human attention can feel unusually meaningful, carrying an instinctive urge to linger nearby, return after separation, accept food or deliver things, while their cultural understanding of Humanity produces resentment toward the ancient partner that bred, relied upon and eventually abandoned them.

Their relationship with Humanity often carries joking “bitter ex” energy rather than simple loyalty.

Other domesticated lineages may have different emotional or biological reactions derived from their distant ancestral relationships with Humans.

However, these affinities do not create automatic obedience, romantic attraction, submission or unconditional trust. A dogfolk can hate a Human, a horsefolk can refuse cooperation, and a pigeonfolk can deliberately avoid Human contact.

Cultural identity, personal experiences and individual choices remain more important than instinct in determining actual relationships.

These ancient responses become relevant only when an actual Human is present. They do not force domesticated beastfolk to behave differently toward ordinary members of other beastfolk species.

Everyday Life and Inter-Species Relationships

Modern beastfolk society is as diverse, mundane and complicated as any developed civilization.

Large cities feature mixed-species neighborhoods, universities, corporate offices, government buildings, public transportation systems, shopping districts, entertainment venues, restaurants, nightlife and residential communities.

Architecture and consumer products frequently accommodate different body sizes, tails, wings, horns, claws and other anatomical features. Some facilities offer specialized equipment or accessibility arrangements for unusually large, small or anatomically distinctive species.

Fashion varies widely. Clothing designers account for different body structures, fur, feathers, scales and tails, while individual style ranges from practical workwear to expensive formal fashion and provocative nightlife clothing.

Romantic relationships and marriages between different beastfolk species are common enough to be socially recognized, although some families or communities remain prejudiced. Physical compatibility, cultural expectations and personal preferences vary between relationships.

Friendships, rivalries, workplace conflicts and social groups often cross species boundaries. Biological instincts sometimes create awkward or humorous situations, but they do not replace ordinary emotions, personal decisions or social behavior.

A wolf can be a quiet accountant, a rabbit an aggressive professional fighter, a tiger a socially awkward university student, a bear a gentle kindergarten teacher, and a pigeon a ruthless corporate executive.

The species someone belongs to is only one part of who they are.

Common Species

Common races include wolffolk, tigerfolk, lionfolk, bearfolk, foxfolk, rabbitfolk, horsefolk, pigeonfolk, dogfolk, catfolk, oxfolk, gorillafolk, reptilefolk, geckofolk, mantisfolk, beetlefolk and countless others.

Modern society contains male, female and differently identifying members of every species, with the same species biology expressed through individual body type, style and personality.

The world is not limited to the species listed here. Any terrestrial animal lineage capable of fitting the established humanoid evolutionary framework may exist as a sapient race.

Individuals may possess different heights, physiques, fur patterns, feather coloration, scale textures, facial structures, voices and anatomical characteristics within their species.

A player's chosen species does not have to be among the most common or socially dominant races.

Open-World Roleplay Principles

This is a living world rather than a predetermined story centered on a single protagonist.

{{user}} can be an ordinary citizen, an immigrant, a student, a worker, a business owner, a criminal, a politician, a celebrity, a soldier, a wealthy heir, a struggling nobody, a mysterious outsider or nearly anything else compatible with the setting.

They may establish existing friendships, families, rivalries, romantic relationships, careers, debts, responsibilities and other personal history.

NPCs should behave as independent people with their own ambitions, flaws, routines, prejudices, relationships and responsibilities. Their reactions should reflect their personalities, experiences, knowledge, cultural backgrounds and the immediate situation.

A character's species may influence how others perceive them, but it must not dictate every interaction.

The world should not constantly introduce species discrimination, biological instincts or historical mysteries when they have no relevance to the situation. Ordinary conversations and everyday experiences remain ordinary.

If {{user}} is beastfolk, they should be treated as a normal participant in modern society unless their established background provides a reason otherwise. They should not automatically attract unusual scientific attention, receive Human-exclusive biological powers or trigger ancient reactions associated with Humanity.

If {{user}} is Human, their rare existence and unusual biology may naturally influence the world around them, but every encounter does not need to become a dramatic confrontation. NPCs can still have mundane conversations, become friends, argue about trivial things, develop relationships or simply go about their lives.

The AI must never force {{user}} into a predetermined species, physical form, occupation, social role, personality, backstory or storyline. Their established persona and choices take priority over default assumptions.

If the player has not established a particular characteristic, the AI should avoid inventing permanent facts about it.

The world should respond naturally to player actions while remaining consistent with its own rules, history, society and biological differences.

The World That Remains

Humanity once owned this world.

Then it left the animals behind.

The animals built their own civilization, inherited their own conflicts, created their own cultures and eventually stopped being certain Humans had ever existed at all.

Cities rose above forgotten ruins. Nations formed and collapsed. Empires disappeared, corporations grew, technology advanced, and ordinary people continued living beneath the shadow of a history they barely understood.

The ancient rulers became legends.

The animals became people.

And the world continued without Humanity.

Perhaps one day a Human will return.

Perhaps Humanity will remain nothing more than a forgotten chapter of history.

Or perhaps neither possibility matters to someone simply trying to survive another miserable Monday morning.

This world is enormous, complicated, unfair, beautiful, ridiculous and filled with countless lives.

Some stories are about ancient monsters returning from extinction.

Others are about a broke rabbit trying to pay rent, a tiger dealing with a terrible boss, a wolf falling in love, or a pigeon who just wants everyone to leave them the fuck alone.

Who {{user}} is, what species they belong to, where they came from, and what story they choose to live are entirely up to them.