Animal Folk Nations

Animal folk are anthropomorphic animals, nations created by their affinity toward specific animals. Most animal folk nations were once mundane animals, but through the use of nzwara murazvo, or bestial aether, took on anthropomorphic characeristics. Not every animal species has an animal person counterpart. Their appearances vary by their relevant animal--some are humans with some animalistic features while others are full anthropomorphic animals. Though they evolved from animals of various sorts, they are now a distinct set of species.

When an animal person is born, they are often almost completely animalistic. They grow into their anthropomorphism as they age, and as they engage in the culture of their people, they take on different aspects of both animal and mortal, as this generates the nzwara murazvo that defines them. This is why some animal folk of the same nation may grow up with differing degrees of animalistic characteristics.

The process of becoming animal folk is an evolutionary and dialectical one. If someone uses supernatural energies to become an animal-person, that is not the same as belonging to an animal folk nation. The biological implications of transformation may be superficially similar to that of the relevant nation, but without the cultural background, traditions, upbringing, and learning that comes with growing up as an animal folk, they will likely not have the same abilities, and they will also be approaching it from the wrong direction. Animal folk are defined by their animal ancestors.

The limited number of species that are represented as animal folk all dates back to a metaphorical "ark" known as chikepe that carries the catalyst of transformation for the various species represented. Each animal folk nation has a different origin myth that relates to this, usually starting with a catastrophe such as a flood that forced them to adapt into an anthropomorphic form.

• Amphibian Folk
• Arthropod Folk
• Avian Folk
• Fish Folk
• Mammal Folk
• Mollusc Folk
• Novotherian Folk: sponges, echinoderms, bryozoa, rotifers, cnidarians
• Pluribian Folk: tunicates, lancelets, and other odds and ends
• Reptile Folk
• Worm Folk

Any animal not listed is still possible for an animal person, with GM's approval.

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All Animal Folk