THE BREEDS OF MANKIND
Earth of Under the Green Moon is shared by something like 20+ artificially created Breeds of Humanity, some created from the altered Old Humanity, and others from uplifted animals. The Lifemakers were most famous for this, but other long-dead civilizations made their own contributions in creating breeds for various reasons, such as warriors and bodyguards, as slaves, even as companions. As such, there is a great diversity in appearances and characteristics.
One important thing to bear in mind though is that culture trumps breed. Examples of nearly all of these races can be found in all the major cultures and environment, and while some physical attributes may restrict the possibilities open to the general members of a race in a given society, there are still exceptions to be found. Two people from different breeds and the same social class in one of the empires will likely have more in common than members of the same breed from different societies.
That said, here's some of the breeds I'm dealing with:
Note, the names are hardly set in stone, since I'm terrible at naming things. In fact, some of these names I actively hate.
Old Humanity: They've risen to the heights of power multiple times, only to have their glorious empires and world-spanning civilizations vanish due to wars, singularities, ascensions and collapses. Now Old Humanity are a largely fading elder race that is fading in importance. Largely considered to have lost much of their drive and vigor, the majority of old humanity has retired to enclaves and rural villages to live quietly. As always though there are exceptions; small populations of humans can be found in any culture, and scattered ambitious humans may strike out on their own for wealth, power or knowledge. Many cultures treat old humans with a mixture of suspicion and superstition, regarding the true descendants of the Lifemakers as a race full of mystical wisdom. Others wonder what secrets they may be hiding in their ancient cities and refuges.
Daemons: One of the dominant breeds or the world, Daemons form the upper class of the three major empires, and are most common there. They can be found everywhere though. They are tall but slight and elegant of build, with innate grace and delicate features. Their eyes range from green to violet, and their hair tends to be thick and straight, in bright colors, ranging from golden to blues and greens and even purples and metallic shades. Some scholars theorize these color combinations were deliberate, to designate different work classes or bloodlines.
It is believed that they were designed to be generally attractive, and they definitely have an aptitude for magic: the majority of Daemons have at least one talent. This is why many Daemon nobles consider themselves the true heirs of the Lifemakers.
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Night People/Beastkin)Very distinctive in that they appear to have a mélange of animal features, such as: hair more like manes, deer-like ears, fangs, goat-like eyes. Their skin varies from light yellow, to dark brown
They are believed to have been bred for combat, labor, or possibly wilderness work, since they are stronger and tougher than base humans, and naturally athletic. They also have excellent senses.
They end to be thought as of as direct and unsubtle, with a reputation (only partially deserved) for violence and bad tempers. Those who hold contempt for this breed say they were unfinished, and are still more animal than human.
They are also stereotyped as guardians of the great forests the Lifemakers left behind, but many have taken up positions in the lower and middle classes in the empires, usually in positions where their strength is a help. Still, thee are exceptions.
(Greenskins): Have chloroplasts in skin, and are able to manufacture part of their food. Thus they need much less food and drink, and are a particularly healthy and vigorous race. their skins are green, ranging from light spring green to a deeper evergreen shade, and their hair is universally pure white. They are commonly found in plains and deserts, and in warm climates wear as little clothing as necessary. They can be found everywhere though, as they are one of the more populous races. They are stereotyped as nomads, sailors and other occupations that work outdoors, with some basis in fact; they almost universally love being out in the sun
Brutes They are widely believed to have been created as laborers and shock troopers. Large (7'-8') and very strong, they are tougher as well, and have irregular horny plates in their skin and fangs that protrude past their lips. Their bulk tends to make them slower than other breeds, and they have a reputation of being slow of thought and speech as well. In the Empires they are often discriminated against and stereotyped as mindless brutes, whereas in other societies they are actively sought out for the military or heavy labor. And again, there are exceptions to these stereotypes.
Wargs Are uplifted wolves, who seem to have much more of the animal about them than other uplifts. Furred, they can walk either on all fours (quickly) or on two legs (slowly), and their front paws have been modified to become crude “hand-paws”, that still retain claws . Their senses are almost as sharp as regular wolves, and they are stereotyped as being much more instinct driven that other breeds. They are known to have a strong pack mentality, and they tend to shy away from other races, in favor of groups their own breed. Many of them disdain more complicated levels of technology, and they are often found as nomads in rural and wild areas.
Racca Uplifted raccoons. Smaller than humans, they are fully bipedal, have a light covering of fur brown to black fur, and raccoon features. They are often still nocturnal, and have excellent night vision. Highly dexterous, they tend to be good with technology and delicate craftsmanship.
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Selkie) One of the few water tribes, they appear to be a mix between otters and humans, with short legs, a long torso, and webbed hands. They are covered by thick plush fur that acts as insulation, and it is common for them to spend much time grooming, or in civilized areas styling it. they are excellent swimmers, and can hold their breath for amazingly long times. They tend to gravitate toward occupations that have water nearby, and are stereotyped as excellent fishermen and undersea resource gatherers.
Legends that are widely believed have them having knowledge of ancient technologies and mysteries below the sea.
Windwalkers: The only breed that can actually fly! Appearing as a mix between bat, bird and lizard, they are smaller than humans, with hollow bones, and so are even lighter than their fragile appearance.
Their arms are very long, reaching almost as long as their legs. Their hands have extra fingers, and three of them are greatly extended, with leathery webbing between them. the webbing also stretches down to legs. They have long necks, and a beaklike face, and excellent eyesight.
They prefer to glide, but can take off from ground. Only the young fliers or aged need the assistance of a cliff.
Sages: one of the most bizarre of the Breeds, they appear vaguely like humans crossed with insects, made from polished wood and mother of pearl. A mysterious race, they claim to be the oldest of the created Breeds, seem to subsist only on alcohols and syrups, and no child of theirs has ever been seen. They are quite durable, precise in movement, and very intelligent. Stereotypes as calm and peaceful, they tend to exist outside of society, acting as traders, scholars and teachers.
Chimps: they also claim to be the oldest race, with some good reason. Taller than monkeys, and bipedal, they are still squat and hairy, with long arms. They are stronger and more agile than they look, and can branchiate as fast as they can run. Their houses and communities tend to be laid out vertically as well as horizontally. They are stereotyped as pranksters, and many of them seem to have something to prove to humanity at large, though personalities vary as widely as any other breed.
Baboons: it is widely thought that if they were intentionally uplifted to be intelligent at all, and if so, it was a mistake. Though they can go bipedal, and they have opposable thumbs, baboons are still very animal-like in appearance, disdaining clothes and many weapons in favor of claws and their sharp teeth. they have an actually well deserved reputation for having a hair-trigger temper and ruthlessness. They usually congregate in nomadic packs, and engage in raiding as much as trading. they may not be the mindless savages that the stories say they are, but one should exercise caution in dealing with them.
Fen: The other major water tribe, consisting of uplifted dolphins.
They have redesigned brains for language skill, and lengthened front fins, with hands and webbed fingers. Completely water-born, they primarily live in free-roaming gangs and often have contentious relationships with the other Breeds, particularly sailors or ocean nomads.
Even fen groups that have managed to establish firm trading and cooperative relationships with “two-leggers”
have a reputation for constant testing of boundaries and potentially lethal practical jokes.
Catgirl Ninjas
Because it’s a requirement. But what fit of insanity would lead to someone uplifiting a cat?
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