Evolution of Intelligent Species
by Exelis Grafeas
This text is translated from a document written by the Agryeni scholar Exelis Grafeas, who lived c. 567 GET (c. 13 in the HCD of Caudian IV). Grafeas was tutored in the Marble Tower by highly educated scholars. He was himself one quarter jihweros, so the issue of evolution and the relationship between humans and beasts was of particular relevance to him. His maternal grandmother was an avian jihweros with prevailing elements of the giant owl. In his daily life, Grafeas was much the absent-minded professor: quite intelligent but very scattered. His notes were difficult to compile and organize, though he was a brilliant thinker and writer.
While Agryen as a whole tended to express pro-jihweros views, there were groups of humans that tried to persecute the people that they described as “animistic” and “bestial.” Grafeas spoke widely against this prejudice and was one of the most well-researched and reasoned voices against such discrimination. He was so pro-jihweros, in fact, that he was known to paint them in an over-glorified light, presenting them as perhaps holier than they actually were.
-Eleida Arisainus
After water, sky, and sea were separated, animals sprang forth from all corners and all environments of the earth. All living things are believed to contain a degree of spiritual energy: the more complex the organism, the more spiritual energy they have. Plants and insects, for example, are less spiritually inclined than wolves and lions, which are less inclined than the magnificent griffons and dragons.
The Allfather was much pleased at the more complex creatures, as they were able to transcend mundane existence and worship Him with a degree of self-awareness. He desired a greater level of connection with His creations, so with the help of the angels and spirits, he created a new breed of animals. They looked similar to the other beasts in many ways, but also had unique characteristics unlike that of any race previously seen.
They walked erect on two legs, and had less fur or feathers than their beastly brothers. They were known as the jihweros. The jihweros were, in effect, what one might describe as half-human and half-beast. Virtually every combination of species could be found among the jihweros: canine-humans, avian-humans, feline-humans, ursine-humans, bovine-humans, equestro-humans, porkine-humans, piscine-humans, insecta-humans, arachno-humans, lacertilian-humans… the list goes on and on. These were seen, for many centuries, as the highest form of life imaginable.
For an Age, the jihweros populated the land of Ethra. In the sunset of this Age, the Allfather deemed it prudent to create another unique form of spiritual/physical beings. Great Lekah took the aspects of all the jihweros that were not shared by any other animal, and from these aspects he created a new animal: the human.
Man and jihweros dwelt together for many years, and Lekah was so enamored of His creation of Man that He wished to physically dwell among them. However, He was scorned by his own creation, for He had given them the will to embrace Him or reject Him. In the Sundering of the Earth, humankind destroyed his physical presence, an act that ripped apart the land and forever changed the face of the world.
Over millennia, humans and jihweros interbred, resulting in several different distinct races. The original jihweros are greatly diminished now, though their legacy lives on in these races distinct from mankind. So far as I am aware, the greatest populations of true jihweros still alive today reside in the lands of Agryen and Taenland to the east.
Editor’s note: there are also true-blooded Jiwheros in the continent of Erjios, which Agryen and Mutreysil established trade with in the 11th Century GET.
The way that the new races emerged is a rather complex matter, as they generally share few traits of their ancestor jihweros. To put it in crude terms, imagine if a human and a deer-person begat a human-deerperson. Now imagine if another human and a wolf-person begat a human-wolfperson. Now, imagine that the human-deerperson and the human- wolfperson begat a human-deerwolfperson. The defining characteristics of wolf and deer begin to bleed into one another, each getting muddied in the other, and human characteristics begin to show more prominently than the other two, though not without obvious tells of the other two. Now imagine that this happens over and over for many generations until you are finally left with a creature that looks a bit wolfish, a bit hawkish, and a bit deerlike, but primarily looks reminiscent of a human.
Such is the case for the Kanim, the Soltis, and the Ruks. These three races evolved so thoroughly that they are completely distinct from humans and from jihweros and must be thought of as entirely unique.
Kanim
The Kanim (kanēm) are a stout race that tends to stand more than a foot short of their human counterparts, though some reach humanlike stature. Many of them feel most at home in mountainous or desert environments, and their skin and hair show all range of natural, earthen hues. This includes the whole human range of skin as well as tints of blue and purple. They are descended from humans and primarily from burrowing jihweros, such as people reminiscent of moles, gophers, and lizards.
Kanim tend to be excellent miners, builders, and sculptors. They have a natural affinity towards earth and fire and forge some of the strongest iron in the known world. Kanim tend to be family-oriented and dutiful citizens. They can be a bit stubborn in their way of thinking, and this can make them deeply passionate and stalwart allies, or vicious and unrelenting enemies. This tendency is perhaps worsened by the fact that kanim tend to live well over a hundred and fifty years before they die, some reaching two hundred or more. As kanim hold earth and fire in such high esteem, some choose to be buried or embalmed in stone when they die, and others choose to be cremated.
Kanim live in Agryen, in Yettrioth to the northeast, and famously in Glienletull. To my knowledge, kanim are rare or nonexistent in Taenland or Gryhirel, though there may kanim communities in these regions that I am unaware of. I know very little about Koten and the other lands beyond Glidescarth, so will not attempt to speak on their behalf.
Editor’s note: Kanim also populate the empire of Mutreysil and the kingdoms of Western Koten. Though vastly the minority, there are kanim in the kingdoms of Eastern Koten.
Soltis
The Soltis (sōltis) are a race of people that tend to stand between the short kanim and the humans, though a few rare individuals are actually taller than the average human or shorter than the typical kanim. They are lean, spritely folk descended from deer, elk, moose, squirrels, rabbits, wolves, owls, hawks, and many other forest creatures. A few of them are rumored to even be descended from trees and plants, though this seems biologically questionable.
The soltis have been known to war among themselves, often keeping to people that share their own animalian bloodline heritage. However, to a non-soltis, many soltis seem to have similar characteristics. They often have youthful or ageless faces and slim or sharp features. In addition to human coloration, they might have skin or hair ranging in shades of green, blue, and grey. Some of the soltis even have skin with undertones of multicolored flowers.
It is impossible to stereotype a soltis, because as soon as I say that a soltis is gentle like a deer or fierce like a hawk, I am proven wrong by a dozen other examples. Soltis are as diverse, wild, tranquil, peaceful, and warlike as the forest itself. They are skilled fighters, arcanists, builders, artisans, hunters, farmers, and leaders. Whatever a soltis does, he will commit to wholeheartedly, and will become a master of whatever it might be.
Some soltis - generally those that claim to be descended from tree-peoples - tend to live as long as the oldest kanim. Most others have lifespans only slightly longer than the average human’s, and many more fall in between the two extremes of the spectrum.
The soltis populate Taenland, Agryen, and Yettrioth all three. They usually prefer rural environments to urban ones, though of course there are numerous exceptions to this generalization as well.
Editor’s Note: Soltis also live in the kingdoms of Koten, especially the Eastern Kingdoms.
Ruks
The Ruks are a brutish people descended from wild boars, canines, ursines, and crocodilians. They tend to be taller and stronger than humans, though some of the shorter ones barely top kanim in height. Most ruks live in self-governing clans that remain isolated from the outside world except when they embark on raids. Though there are occasionally individual ruks that avoid battle, most ruk tribes and clans are militaristic in nature.
Though most ruks tend not to be artistic, it would be a grave mistake to think of them as simple or uncivilized. Many ruks are very intelligent strategists, tacticians, and engineers. Ruks are well-versed in metallurgy and stonemasonry as well as carpentry, hunting, and shamanistic herbology. Most ruks prefer not to ride mounts, though some train dire wolves and clydesdale horses, which comprise a deadly cavalry. Ruks are hardy, strong, and ruthless in battle.
Because of their warlike nature, ruk clans have a long and bloody history of clashing with the civilized kingdoms of man, kanim, and soltis. Their militarism has historically caused other races to view them with a great deal of prejudice and persecution, which has perpetuated xenophobic views among ruk societies.
Ruks can live about as long as humans, though most die earlier of combat-related injuries. The largest population of ruks on Glidescarth is in the Skilakon Forest in western Yettrioth, though some ruk clans live in the Badlands and in northern Agryen. Legend has it that vast ruk clans also live in northern Koten.
Soltis, Kanim, and Ruks are the most common humanoid races in Ethra, aside from humans. However, there are several other minorities that should not go unmentioned.
Lonwelas
Commonly called dragonbloods, the lonwelas are a phenomenon that I still have not fully wrapped my head around, even with the amount of research that I have dedicated to them and conversations that I have had with lonwela people. As far as I understand, the lonwelas were once crocodilian jihweros. At some point relatively early in their lineage, these jihweros were somehow magically transformed with draconic blood.
(Though this is outside the realm of my expertise, my understanding is that there are some geographical locations in Ethra that are supersaturated with the magical energy of Lyftour. In these locations, supernatural events are commonplace compared to the rest of the world. It is my theory that draconic blood, or at least the essence of a dragon as a warm-blooded reptile, comingled with the lonwela clan as it was and created the lonwel clan as it is now.)
Once draconic energy infused the lonwelas through whatever means it actually transpired, the lonwelas continued to develop and evolve. Over the generations, they took on more draconic qualities, gaining height a head or more superior to humans and other jihweros and the remarkable ability to exhale fire as their draconic ancestors could. Unlike true dragons, however, lonwelas do not have wings, and they walk erect as humans do.
Editor’s Note: We now know more about dragonbloods than Grafeas did at the time of his research. See the Editorial Commentary below for a full account of the lonwelas.
Rimisoltis
The rimisoltis are a further evolution of the soltis, though they are now so different a subspecies that they could be considered their own race. My understanding is that the rimisoltis evolved much the same way as the lonweras; that is, various groups of soltis independently lived in geographical regions charged with arcane energy, which gradually transformed the soltis.
Rimisoltis share many characteristics with their counterparts, though they tend to have complexions reflective of their elemental tendencies. What sets rimisoltis apart from soltis most dramatically is their ability to exert mild control over a particular element. This element might be earth, water, air, or fire, or a specific manifestation of one of these four primal elements such as lightning or sand.
My research indicates that rimisoltis are able to exert this power because of their ancestral link to the arcane power of lyftour, even if they are not in a region particularly attuned to it.
Nefa’al
Little is known about the fabled nefa’al. Seafaring traders claim that the nefa’al live in the distant lands of Koten. Assuming that the rumors are true, nefa’al are beings of humanish proportions, yet have enormous strength and stature. While I am skeptical of these claims, I have heard tale of nefa’al warriors standing as tall as trees, wielding swords the size of ship masts and shields as big as rooftops.
My theory is that nefa’al evolved from jihweros that have ties to large animals such as bovines, equines, and elephants, rhinoceri, and the like. However, this stands in some contrast to the tales that the nefa’al are a people that hail from snowy plains, rather than hot climates.
Editor’s Note: I have met a nefa’al. He was as tall as two humans, and he was far taller than most of his kind. They tend to stand as tall as a human and then half of that again. Quite tall for any humanoid race, though not gargantuan as the sailors’ tales would have it.
Ilhuitis and Enhosas
The Ilhuitis and Enhosas confuse me nearly as much as the lonweras, and they have about as much scholastic credibility as the nefa’al. Any account of the ilhuitis and enhosas are several degrees removed. Sailors and merchants hailing from Eastern Koten claim that Mutreysila merchants say that in West Koten there are many ilhuitis and enhosas. According to hearsay, they are descended from angels and demons, respectively. In both cases, they look like humans aside from unusual skin, iris, and hair coloration. The enhosas might have horns, claws, or a forked tongue, as well as a tail.
The opinions of ilhuitis and enhosas vary wildly. Some view them as exceedingly lucky, as they were favored by a supernatural force. Whether the entity was good or evil, such favor from higher powers is almost certain to work near-miraculous wonders for a person. Contrarily, some believe that ilhuitis and enhosas should be shunned and avoided at all costs; that any meddling in the supernatural is bound to end in strife.
Sentient Non-Jihwerosoids
In addition to all of the races that I just described, it should be noted that there are many bestial species that could be considered sentient. The most obvious and noble of these creatures would of course be the dragons. Though increasingly rare, some dragons have been known to be able to learn a human or jihweros language, though draconic vocal cords often have trouble producing the exact sounds necessary to communicate the language fully.
Furthermore, such creatures as griffons and unicorns should be considered sentient, if less so than dragons. Apex predators such as dire wolves, lions, and eagles, as well as highly evolved herbivores such as mammoths and stags, might also be considered sentient by some. This is a highly debated topic among humans, but most jihweros tend towards the mindset that all highly developed animals have some level of sentience, even if they cannot speak or communicate with humans and jihwerosoids effectively.
Editorial Commentary
Eleida Arisanius’s notes on Exelis Grafeas’s work
Grafeas was a prolific scholar for his time, though he did get several details wrong. In general, his commentary on jihweros, kanim, soltis, and ruk is sound. His explanation of the rimisoltis, though crude, is sound enough in its essence. He did not have a firm understanding of arcane energy in the world, nor did he have reliable sources when discussing the nefa’al, ilhuitis, or enhosas.
The race that he did the least justice to was the dragon-blooded lonwelas. The lonwelas were never jihweros. The lonwelas were originally bipedal, reptilian predators that hunted in packs. They had small forearms and large claws on their feet; the second claw on each foot was a particularly large, sickle-like weapon. They could run remarkably fast and communicate with even greater efficiency than wolf packs, bringing down prey of remarkable size, such as the wooly mammoths that dominated the north for centuries.
These creatures, called dhuanin, gradually developed a sophisticated language and created small communities. Though cold-blooded, many of them lived in wintery environments and survived by creating large campfires and weatherproof shelters. This is just one example of their brilliance that rivals the intelligence of human and jihweros alike.
What happened next in their evolution is really quite revolting, but must be documented here. Dragons were common back in ancient times, before the rise of empires. As the cunning dhuanin developed bows, spears, nets, and other basic weapons and tools, they began to hunt dragons. As dragons are also intelligent creatures - some, myself included, would call them sentient - they quickly struck out against the dhuanin. This led to a war between the two races. I, along with many other scholars, believe this to be the first organized war on Ethra.
During the war, both the dhuanin and the dragons suffered heavy losses and won brutal victories. After a battle, the victorious often violated their victims. Dhuanin and dragons are both reptilian and closely related biologically. What resulted, over the course of the horrific war, was hundreds of dragon-blooded creatures that walk erect like humans, but look like dhuanin and can breathe fire like dragons. These are the lonwelas.
This text is translated from a document written by the Agryeni scholar Exelis Grafeas, who lived c. 567 GET (c. 13 in the HCD of Caudian IV). Grafeas was tutored in the Marble Tower by highly educated scholars. He was himself one quarter jihweros, so the issue of evolution and the relationship between humans and beasts was of particular relevance to him. His maternal grandmother was an avian jihweros with prevailing elements of the giant owl. In his daily life, Grafeas was much the absent-minded professor: quite intelligent but very scattered. His notes were difficult to compile and organize, though he was a brilliant thinker and writer.
While Agryen as a whole tended to express pro-jihweros views, there were groups of humans that tried to persecute the people that they described as “animistic” and “bestial.” Grafeas spoke widely against this prejudice and was one of the most well-researched and reasoned voices against such discrimination. He was so pro-jihweros, in fact, that he was known to paint them in an over-glorified light, presenting them as perhaps holier than they actually were.
-Eleida Arisainus
After water, sky, and sea were separated, animals sprang forth from all corners and all environments of the earth. All living things are believed to contain a degree of spiritual energy: the more complex the organism, the more spiritual energy they have. Plants and insects, for example, are less spiritually inclined than wolves and lions, which are less inclined than the magnificent griffons and dragons.
The Allfather was much pleased at the more complex creatures, as they were able to transcend mundane existence and worship Him with a degree of self-awareness. He desired a greater level of connection with His creations, so with the help of the angels and spirits, he created a new breed of animals. They looked similar to the other beasts in many ways, but also had unique characteristics unlike that of any race previously seen.
They walked erect on two legs, and had less fur or feathers than their beastly brothers. They were known as the jihweros. The jihweros were, in effect, what one might describe as half-human and half-beast. Virtually every combination of species could be found among the jihweros: canine-humans, avian-humans, feline-humans, ursine-humans, bovine-humans, equestro-humans, porkine-humans, piscine-humans, insecta-humans, arachno-humans, lacertilian-humans… the list goes on and on. These were seen, for many centuries, as the highest form of life imaginable.
For an Age, the jihweros populated the land of Ethra. In the sunset of this Age, the Allfather deemed it prudent to create another unique form of spiritual/physical beings. Great Lekah took the aspects of all the jihweros that were not shared by any other animal, and from these aspects he created a new animal: the human.
Man and jihweros dwelt together for many years, and Lekah was so enamored of His creation of Man that He wished to physically dwell among them. However, He was scorned by his own creation, for He had given them the will to embrace Him or reject Him. In the Sundering of the Earth, humankind destroyed his physical presence, an act that ripped apart the land and forever changed the face of the world.
Over millennia, humans and jihweros interbred, resulting in several different distinct races. The original jihweros are greatly diminished now, though their legacy lives on in these races distinct from mankind. So far as I am aware, the greatest populations of true jihweros still alive today reside in the lands of Agryen and Taenland to the east.
Editor’s note: there are also true-blooded Jiwheros in the continent of Erjios, which Agryen and Mutreysil established trade with in the 11th Century GET.
The way that the new races emerged is a rather complex matter, as they generally share few traits of their ancestor jihweros. To put it in crude terms, imagine if a human and a deer-person begat a human-deerperson. Now imagine if another human and a wolf-person begat a human-wolfperson. Now, imagine that the human-deerperson and the human- wolfperson begat a human-deerwolfperson. The defining characteristics of wolf and deer begin to bleed into one another, each getting muddied in the other, and human characteristics begin to show more prominently than the other two, though not without obvious tells of the other two. Now imagine that this happens over and over for many generations until you are finally left with a creature that looks a bit wolfish, a bit hawkish, and a bit deerlike, but primarily looks reminiscent of a human.
Such is the case for the Kanim, the Soltis, and the Ruks. These three races evolved so thoroughly that they are completely distinct from humans and from jihweros and must be thought of as entirely unique.
Kanim
The Kanim (kanēm) are a stout race that tends to stand more than a foot short of their human counterparts, though some reach humanlike stature. Many of them feel most at home in mountainous or desert environments, and their skin and hair show all range of natural, earthen hues. This includes the whole human range of skin as well as tints of blue and purple. They are descended from humans and primarily from burrowing jihweros, such as people reminiscent of moles, gophers, and lizards.
Kanim tend to be excellent miners, builders, and sculptors. They have a natural affinity towards earth and fire and forge some of the strongest iron in the known world. Kanim tend to be family-oriented and dutiful citizens. They can be a bit stubborn in their way of thinking, and this can make them deeply passionate and stalwart allies, or vicious and unrelenting enemies. This tendency is perhaps worsened by the fact that kanim tend to live well over a hundred and fifty years before they die, some reaching two hundred or more. As kanim hold earth and fire in such high esteem, some choose to be buried or embalmed in stone when they die, and others choose to be cremated.
Kanim live in Agryen, in Yettrioth to the northeast, and famously in Glienletull. To my knowledge, kanim are rare or nonexistent in Taenland or Gryhirel, though there may kanim communities in these regions that I am unaware of. I know very little about Koten and the other lands beyond Glidescarth, so will not attempt to speak on their behalf.
Editor’s note: Kanim also populate the empire of Mutreysil and the kingdoms of Western Koten. Though vastly the minority, there are kanim in the kingdoms of Eastern Koten.
Soltis
The Soltis (sōltis) are a race of people that tend to stand between the short kanim and the humans, though a few rare individuals are actually taller than the average human or shorter than the typical kanim. They are lean, spritely folk descended from deer, elk, moose, squirrels, rabbits, wolves, owls, hawks, and many other forest creatures. A few of them are rumored to even be descended from trees and plants, though this seems biologically questionable.
The soltis have been known to war among themselves, often keeping to people that share their own animalian bloodline heritage. However, to a non-soltis, many soltis seem to have similar characteristics. They often have youthful or ageless faces and slim or sharp features. In addition to human coloration, they might have skin or hair ranging in shades of green, blue, and grey. Some of the soltis even have skin with undertones of multicolored flowers.
It is impossible to stereotype a soltis, because as soon as I say that a soltis is gentle like a deer or fierce like a hawk, I am proven wrong by a dozen other examples. Soltis are as diverse, wild, tranquil, peaceful, and warlike as the forest itself. They are skilled fighters, arcanists, builders, artisans, hunters, farmers, and leaders. Whatever a soltis does, he will commit to wholeheartedly, and will become a master of whatever it might be.
Some soltis - generally those that claim to be descended from tree-peoples - tend to live as long as the oldest kanim. Most others have lifespans only slightly longer than the average human’s, and many more fall in between the two extremes of the spectrum.
The soltis populate Taenland, Agryen, and Yettrioth all three. They usually prefer rural environments to urban ones, though of course there are numerous exceptions to this generalization as well.
Editor’s Note: Soltis also live in the kingdoms of Koten, especially the Eastern Kingdoms.
Ruks
The Ruks are a brutish people descended from wild boars, canines, ursines, and crocodilians. They tend to be taller and stronger than humans, though some of the shorter ones barely top kanim in height. Most ruks live in self-governing clans that remain isolated from the outside world except when they embark on raids. Though there are occasionally individual ruks that avoid battle, most ruk tribes and clans are militaristic in nature.
Though most ruks tend not to be artistic, it would be a grave mistake to think of them as simple or uncivilized. Many ruks are very intelligent strategists, tacticians, and engineers. Ruks are well-versed in metallurgy and stonemasonry as well as carpentry, hunting, and shamanistic herbology. Most ruks prefer not to ride mounts, though some train dire wolves and clydesdale horses, which comprise a deadly cavalry. Ruks are hardy, strong, and ruthless in battle.
Because of their warlike nature, ruk clans have a long and bloody history of clashing with the civilized kingdoms of man, kanim, and soltis. Their militarism has historically caused other races to view them with a great deal of prejudice and persecution, which has perpetuated xenophobic views among ruk societies.
Ruks can live about as long as humans, though most die earlier of combat-related injuries. The largest population of ruks on Glidescarth is in the Skilakon Forest in western Yettrioth, though some ruk clans live in the Badlands and in northern Agryen. Legend has it that vast ruk clans also live in northern Koten.
Soltis, Kanim, and Ruks are the most common humanoid races in Ethra, aside from humans. However, there are several other minorities that should not go unmentioned.
Lonwelas
Commonly called dragonbloods, the lonwelas are a phenomenon that I still have not fully wrapped my head around, even with the amount of research that I have dedicated to them and conversations that I have had with lonwela people. As far as I understand, the lonwelas were once crocodilian jihweros. At some point relatively early in their lineage, these jihweros were somehow magically transformed with draconic blood.
(Though this is outside the realm of my expertise, my understanding is that there are some geographical locations in Ethra that are supersaturated with the magical energy of Lyftour. In these locations, supernatural events are commonplace compared to the rest of the world. It is my theory that draconic blood, or at least the essence of a dragon as a warm-blooded reptile, comingled with the lonwela clan as it was and created the lonwel clan as it is now.)
Once draconic energy infused the lonwelas through whatever means it actually transpired, the lonwelas continued to develop and evolve. Over the generations, they took on more draconic qualities, gaining height a head or more superior to humans and other jihweros and the remarkable ability to exhale fire as their draconic ancestors could. Unlike true dragons, however, lonwelas do not have wings, and they walk erect as humans do.
Editor’s Note: We now know more about dragonbloods than Grafeas did at the time of his research. See the Editorial Commentary below for a full account of the lonwelas.
Rimisoltis
The rimisoltis are a further evolution of the soltis, though they are now so different a subspecies that they could be considered their own race. My understanding is that the rimisoltis evolved much the same way as the lonweras; that is, various groups of soltis independently lived in geographical regions charged with arcane energy, which gradually transformed the soltis.
Rimisoltis share many characteristics with their counterparts, though they tend to have complexions reflective of their elemental tendencies. What sets rimisoltis apart from soltis most dramatically is their ability to exert mild control over a particular element. This element might be earth, water, air, or fire, or a specific manifestation of one of these four primal elements such as lightning or sand.
My research indicates that rimisoltis are able to exert this power because of their ancestral link to the arcane power of lyftour, even if they are not in a region particularly attuned to it.
Nefa’al
Little is known about the fabled nefa’al. Seafaring traders claim that the nefa’al live in the distant lands of Koten. Assuming that the rumors are true, nefa’al are beings of humanish proportions, yet have enormous strength and stature. While I am skeptical of these claims, I have heard tale of nefa’al warriors standing as tall as trees, wielding swords the size of ship masts and shields as big as rooftops.
My theory is that nefa’al evolved from jihweros that have ties to large animals such as bovines, equines, and elephants, rhinoceri, and the like. However, this stands in some contrast to the tales that the nefa’al are a people that hail from snowy plains, rather than hot climates.
Editor’s Note: I have met a nefa’al. He was as tall as two humans, and he was far taller than most of his kind. They tend to stand as tall as a human and then half of that again. Quite tall for any humanoid race, though not gargantuan as the sailors’ tales would have it.
Ilhuitis and Enhosas
The Ilhuitis and Enhosas confuse me nearly as much as the lonweras, and they have about as much scholastic credibility as the nefa’al. Any account of the ilhuitis and enhosas are several degrees removed. Sailors and merchants hailing from Eastern Koten claim that Mutreysila merchants say that in West Koten there are many ilhuitis and enhosas. According to hearsay, they are descended from angels and demons, respectively. In both cases, they look like humans aside from unusual skin, iris, and hair coloration. The enhosas might have horns, claws, or a forked tongue, as well as a tail.
The opinions of ilhuitis and enhosas vary wildly. Some view them as exceedingly lucky, as they were favored by a supernatural force. Whether the entity was good or evil, such favor from higher powers is almost certain to work near-miraculous wonders for a person. Contrarily, some believe that ilhuitis and enhosas should be shunned and avoided at all costs; that any meddling in the supernatural is bound to end in strife.
Sentient Non-Jihwerosoids
In addition to all of the races that I just described, it should be noted that there are many bestial species that could be considered sentient. The most obvious and noble of these creatures would of course be the dragons. Though increasingly rare, some dragons have been known to be able to learn a human or jihweros language, though draconic vocal cords often have trouble producing the exact sounds necessary to communicate the language fully.
Furthermore, such creatures as griffons and unicorns should be considered sentient, if less so than dragons. Apex predators such as dire wolves, lions, and eagles, as well as highly evolved herbivores such as mammoths and stags, might also be considered sentient by some. This is a highly debated topic among humans, but most jihweros tend towards the mindset that all highly developed animals have some level of sentience, even if they cannot speak or communicate with humans and jihwerosoids effectively.
Editorial Commentary
Eleida Arisanius’s notes on Exelis Grafeas’s work
Grafeas was a prolific scholar for his time, though he did get several details wrong. In general, his commentary on jihweros, kanim, soltis, and ruk is sound. His explanation of the rimisoltis, though crude, is sound enough in its essence. He did not have a firm understanding of arcane energy in the world, nor did he have reliable sources when discussing the nefa’al, ilhuitis, or enhosas.
The race that he did the least justice to was the dragon-blooded lonwelas. The lonwelas were never jihweros. The lonwelas were originally bipedal, reptilian predators that hunted in packs. They had small forearms and large claws on their feet; the second claw on each foot was a particularly large, sickle-like weapon. They could run remarkably fast and communicate with even greater efficiency than wolf packs, bringing down prey of remarkable size, such as the wooly mammoths that dominated the north for centuries.
These creatures, called dhuanin, gradually developed a sophisticated language and created small communities. Though cold-blooded, many of them lived in wintery environments and survived by creating large campfires and weatherproof shelters. This is just one example of their brilliance that rivals the intelligence of human and jihweros alike.
What happened next in their evolution is really quite revolting, but must be documented here. Dragons were common back in ancient times, before the rise of empires. As the cunning dhuanin developed bows, spears, nets, and other basic weapons and tools, they began to hunt dragons. As dragons are also intelligent creatures - some, myself included, would call them sentient - they quickly struck out against the dhuanin. This led to a war between the two races. I, along with many other scholars, believe this to be the first organized war on Ethra.
During the war, both the dhuanin and the dragons suffered heavy losses and won brutal victories. After a battle, the victorious often violated their victims. Dhuanin and dragons are both reptilian and closely related biologically. What resulted, over the course of the horrific war, was hundreds of dragon-blooded creatures that walk erect like humans, but look like dhuanin and can breathe fire like dragons. These are the lonwelas.
