Theya

Species

Theya, Species and noteworthy creatures

This also lists suggested ancestries (which as the name implies are a suggestion!).

Humans

"The predominant species of Theya, even more so after the atrocities of the Thearchy. Humans rule every empire - aside from the Pharic League - and form the majority population of more or less all settlements.

I will skip on a more detailed descriptions of humans, trusting in my readers ability to use a mirror."

--from A history of Theya and its Species, a well-known history book the possession of which is punishable by death in most Pharic league cities

Suggested Ancestry:: Human, to no surprise. For individuals of special growth you could argue any of the Common Ancestries (none of which are found in Theya)

Askari

"The Askari are, by all we know, not only an ancient species, but a species with a long and wild history. For I believe they are travelers between worlds, stranded here over a millenia ago. They built their cities in remote locations and have mostly avoided initiating conflicts throughout history - much in opposite to humanity.

After observing what we know about early Askari history on Theya, I am certain they did not arrive with a means to resume their journey, nor with a means to 'reinforce' from their kin out wandering the universe. Maybe it was lost, maybe they fled something - the details were likely lost in the destruction wrought by the Thearchy.

Askari today are a secluded people, typically found in communities in Pharic or princedom cities, and strewn over the Raellyan empire - the only place that has notable Askari populations outside larger cities.

What do we definitely know about the Askari? Their society is structured in a way alien to us humans. They do not know families or clans; it seems that Askari have no desire to be part of some smaller social unit than 'the Askari'.

They do not reproduce like humans - in fact, they do not reproduce biologically at all, which is what feeds the prejudice so commonly found among the princedoms. New members of the Askari are created by one of their famous rituals, called 'birthsong' in a very bad attempt at translating their language. From what we know, some substance or material is required for this ritual; commonly it is believed to be a small gemstone or precious ore. This was the basis of the Thearchy's claim that the Askari were 'plundering Theya'.

Their bodies are nothing like ours, as well; [..]"

--from A history of Theya and its Species, a well-known history book the possession of which is punishable by death in most Pharic league cities

Suggested Ancestry:: Crystalborn or Planarbeing.

Myriae

"The Myriae have been around since the beginning of written history. They have always kept to the edges of society, travelling in their small family clans, often vanishing into the wilds for months. As such, they have mostly passed by the turbulent history of the last millenium, with the notable exception of the Thearchy's persecution of them - but then, no one was exempt from the idiocy and savagery of the Thearchy.

The Myriae are often mentioned in connection with Myrania's Mark - Myrania being an ancient goddess of the wild not widely worshipped any more today; modern scholars believe her to be more of a great spirit than a goddess, but that debate seems largely academic to me.

The Myriae are mostly human in appearance, with some unmistakable parts resembling some beast or - rarer - plant. The fact that the beast part can look a bit like our common beasts - sheep, bulls, bears, what have you - has given substance to the peasant superstition that Myriae are made by coupling with beasts, and reproduce likewise. This is utter nonsense.

From what this author could discover, 'Myrianas Mark' seems to have been a real, though rare, occurence were human children either turned into Myriae or, indeed, Myriae children were born to humans. No such occurences are reported since the Thearchy's time, so today the mark is mostly a folk tale.

Among scholars, it is well-known that Myriae reproduce not much different then humans, though few scholars have of course witnessed such events in person. The Myriae interrogated by the Thearchy have hinted that something more is involved, and this author believes that the species is sharing its body with a small nature spirit that also determines its 'non-human appearance'.

On death, Myriae are said to turn into whatever part of nature gave them their distinct form. There are even several reports of Myriae imprisoned by the Thearchy for decades slowly turning into trees, though these may have been propaganda.

Either way, the Myriae clans can be very helpful in finding your way around the vast wilderness in the more remote princedoms, as well as some way beyond."

--from A history of Theya and its Species, a well-known history book the possession of which is punishable by death in most Pharic league cities

Suggested Ancestry:: Dryad/Shroomling, Minotaur/Beastfolk, Ratling or Turtlefolk.

Pharic Rulers

"What is known about the true rulers of the Pharic cities? Yes, the families there are human on the outside; it is humans jealously guarding their secrets and lineage. But the true power is at the core of the shipowner families, and this power has managed to retain its secrets throughout centuries.

The evidence that the the ruling families are non-human at their core is as overwhelming as it is scattered, and as vague as it is convincing. Sorry, dear reader, but this author has no hard facts on the question that probably interests you most, and is not about to join the wild speculations so popular in theater plays throughout Raellia and the princedoms.