- Author’s Note: I’ve always wondered why humans have never argued against their divine origins, given their general distaste for higher beings. Perhaps it is seen as having overcome their creator and risen above him, though it seems more likely that this assumption is simply too ingrained to be questioned. Not to say my own kind are any better, to be clear.
The issues with terminology aside, hominids and their categories seem to be understood by most people. Of course, foreign cultures are still commonly misunderstood and demonized; a trend I hope to lessen with this book. Despite this common knowledge, I feel the need to explain each category (or evolutionary path, as they are sometimes called) before presenting each race in more detail.
Cancorum: This category is a strange case compared to the other two, as it is the only one out of the three to have been originally created by a god. The races under this path are also commonly feared or reviled by others, though that is somewhat unrelated. They are generally identified by bearing traits shared by crustaceans. (shell plating, external sensory antennae, durability, etc.) Despite these similarities and assumed shared origins, each species varies dramatically from each other.
- Pāpaka: The earliest point in this path, the pāpaka are thought to be the only hominid race to have evolved naturally. There has not been much study done on this assumption, due to issues in communication, and most scholars have decided to dismiss them as underdeveloped and only technically qualifying as hominids. For what it’s worth, my own discussions with pāpaka have confirmed their lack of both connection to higher beings and formalized culture.
- Kālai: My people’s legends state that we were all once pāpaka, though were risen to our current forms by the goddess Kinohi. Sacrificing our ancestor’s raw strength and durability for increased dexterity and the ability to cooperate on a societal level. Our bodies seemed to be modeled after a parody of humanity, though this may be a coincidence due to our creator choosing physical traits that encourage better tool use and survival. Whatever the truth may be, it is traditionally understood that we are a designed improvement over all other races and thus stand above them.
- Ufezela: Due to their isolationist tendencies, this species is somewhat difficult to analyze. They are said to resemble kālai in many ways, and their worship of the earth deities does line up with some of my people’s legends. I theorize that they were once kālai that left āina Hānau for the southern continent and were later evolved into a new race, but this theory is untested. The origins of the ufezela are otherwise unknown.
Tigris: At the time of this writing, most of my information on this category was hearsay and rumors and is likely biased in some way. That said, their physical traits and origins are easy to understand and seem to have experienced minimal misinterpretation. The Tigris species are known for primarily resembling feline beasts contorted to bipedal forms made for tool use. This has led them to be associated with more uncivilized, savage traits which lead many humans to underestimate their intelligence. Despite their fangs and claws, any merchant who has traded with the Tigris could tell you that they are no less intelligent than a human, and may even have sharper instincts in some specific categories.
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- Sabin: Said to have been formed from an ancient species of panther, the sabin have maintained their nomadic lifestyle despite the northern continent’s human domination. This is partially due to their connection to their patron deity, whose name is unknown but is commonly referred to as “The Wanderer.” Not much more can be said until I am able to make direct contact.
- Ikati: This species is said to have developed from sabin that traveled to the southern continent and were changed by The Wanderer (or Isephepho as their language refers to them) to better suit their new home. Their forms became far less feral, shifting to short, compact bodies better suited to life in barren lands. Their culture also changed to be more sedentary, preferring to remain near large bodies of water.
Simiae: The origins of this category is a bit of a mystery. Its species were most certainly created by deities, but the species they were formed from seem to lack any modern equivalents. They share the most features with apes and monkeys (which dwell in the jungle borders between the two major continents), but developed in the far north. There are legends of large apes that once dwelled in the Tenlac mountain range, but a lack of physical evidence makes this theory a dead end. Despite their unclear origins, it is undeniable that the Simiae have been the most successful in spreading their lands and culture throughout the world.
- Sasqal: While they claim to be the first race to gain sapience, the empire’s lack of contact with their homeland makes this difficult to confirm. They were created by Adhepa, the god of souls, and are thought to be the last link to the extinct mountain apes. Humans acknowledge the sasqal as their ancestors, though this is often phrased in a way that affirms human superiority.
- Human: At first glance, humans seem like an odd development. Once sasqals that were changed by Aeon, the god of time, their physical weakness is comparable to the Ikati without any of the benefits to speed and agility. Their only clear strength is their rapid rate of reproduction and ability to adapt to any environment. As someone who would struggle to survive in any non-tropical environment without the help of the Ideals, I can’t help but be envious of that last trait. Regardless, that does help to explain how far the human population has spread.