Races & Peoples of Drak

ELDER RACIAL GENOTYPES

The races of Drak are descended from one ancestral line, and are therefore genetically compatible as one very diverse species.

DRAKATOJ

(Extinct) The prototype of all the races of Drak, the Drakatoj have been described in mythological works as "large dragons with the body of a feline, and wings and face of a bat". Archaeological evidence indicates that their wing structure often extended over 8 feet, and stood 4 feet high, and 8 feet long. They were four-legged, with a shape like a very large panther, but their bone structure was hollow, like that of birds. Wings were ribbed, as a bat's wings are, attached to the upper forearm. Human-like hands were fully functional, although the fingers were especially thin and long, and there is evidence of webbing. Brain-size seems as large, on average, as modern people. Color has mythologically been attributed as black, white, and various shades of brown and gray.

KATOJ

(Extinct) Appearing gradually, soon after the Drakatoj began migrating away from Chielio, the first major evolutionary step saw a reconfiguration of the body to a two-legged creature. The wing-structure moved up to the upper arms with a massive enlarging of the muscle and bone structure in the shoulders and back. Evidence of webbing of the fingers was no longer apparent. Average height in the upright posture appears to have been about 6 feet. Facial muscles and bones suggest a more feline facial configuration was evolving. Brain size was not significantly changed. Mythological descriptions indicate that colors did not radically change, but that fur was heavier, reflecting the colder environmental period they lived in. Aerodynamic analysis hints that the Katoj were a less efficient flying machine, with heavier bone and stronger musculature in the back and lower part of the body, and were likely to have been less capable of lengthy flight.

VESPERS

An alternative evolutionary step to the Katoj which was far more common on Zuracio and Vesperio than on other continents, the Vespers maintained the ability to fly long distances by evolving into substantially smaller beings. Their wing structure and connections remained as in their Drakotoj ancestors, as did their bat-like facial structure. Although their average height decreased to 3 feet, with 6 foot wingspans, their cranial size did not decrease. The Vespers thrived in those areas of Drak where small isolated islands made up the primary land mass, as compared with the Katoj who were most populous on the larger continents. Color began its move to the browns, tans, and mahogany shades most common today. Vespers live a relatively short lifespan, on average about 60 years.

LYNXEN

(Extinct) Virtually identical to their ancestral Katoj, Lynxen differed only in the loss of usable wings, which shrunk to a somewhat colorful but only decorative series of bony protrusions extending outward like a curved comb from both shoulder blades, with the average protrusion approximately 4 inches in length. Evidence of regrowth of broken or damaged protrusions exists in most extant skeletons. This evolution occurred predominantly on the three major land masses, Arkramio, Felinio, and Gaiavio.

SPIRITS

A more radical alternative evolutionary step to the Lynxen, the Spirits evolved primarily on the continent of Spiritio. Retaining, and indeed extending the flight capabilities of their ancestral Katoj, the average Spirit increased body height to an average of 7 feet, but evolved a far lighter bone structure, a very thin, almost gaunt appearance, and a virtually furless body. Facial structure began to take on the classic Spirit features: a long narrow nose, large oval eyes with a longer vertical axis than horizontal, and the elongated and pointed ears. The color evolution gives the Spirit the almost ethereal appearance still present today. The skin coloration ranges from a nearly perfect white to a misty creme, with the opaque, but nearly transparent white-blond hair on the head and eyebrows, but appearing nowhere else on the body.

The color of the Spirit skin surfaces is due to the pigment that protects the skin from the sun in the climate where they evolved. Spiritio, for reasons scientists have not yet determined, has a very intense sunlight, that increases the temperature on that continent considerably higher that would be expected in its latitude. The skin of a Spirit can be exposed to sunlight for virtually limitless time without damage. The wings, requiring less heft to lift the spare body, reduced to a 4-foot span, and into a more rounded, butterfly-like shape, connected to the shoulders and attaining the ability to fold for protection against the back. They also took on the decorative silver, gold, and copper phosphorescence seen today, thought by some to be a further protective coating that reflects sunlight. Brain size has remained constant, and purported evidence of higher levels of brain function have never proven to be true, although the minimal telepathic abilities and the ethereal nature of the race tends to make them seem more intelligent than they actually are.

Spirits live a relatively long lifespan of 150 years naturally, but few Spirits die naturally. Their especially fragile body structure causes many to die by accident at far younger ages. In addition, a strong cultural/religious/psychological bias exists among many Spirits that defines death as "when all flying is done". Thus, any permanent damage to the ability to fly odten induces such severe depression in even the youngest Spirits, that suicide can supercede all other life goals. Death by one's own hand is indeed a leading cause of death among this group.

FELINES

Nearly identical to their predecessor Lynxen, the Felines have lost the external vestigial wing structure, although it continues within the skin of the back as a protection to the back, serving as a second set of ribs providing protection of the spinal column, and the spaces between the normal rib spaces. This bone structure, when combined with the rib cage and particularly tough yet plastic bone construction makes the Feline genotype the least susceptible to injury, especially by falling. The Feline brain structure, with a barely significant increase in size is the only race that appears to have a marginal advantage in intelligence. Only in this race do we notice the mottling effect of patchwork color not seen in their solid-colored ancestors. The lifespan of felines is about 130 years.

HUMANS

Although placed by some paleontologists into the Spirit ancestral line, body structure is too similar to the Lynxen and Felines, although notably missing the wing remnants, the human genotype has taken on its own set of facial characteristics, with the reduced muzzle, small, stubby nose, rounded ears, and small oval eyes, wider than they are high. Unlike the Spirits, hair appears on the head, face, and in many individuals, all over the body, although it bears greater similarity to the Spirit hair than the Feline fur. Musculature is substantially greater in the arms and upper body, although somewhat less resistant to strain than their feline cousins. The skin lacks the protective pigment of the Spirits, reflecting the colder climates in which they evolved, resulting in a range of color from light creme to deep black. The dental structure also seems to have changed in response to the more mixed diet favored by humans. The average lifespan for a human is about 90 years.

DERIVATIVE RACIAL GENOTYPES

ELVES

A derivative of Humans and Spirits, Elves tend to be tall, ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 feet, with slender body styles, characteristic Spirit (pointed) ears and eyes, but with a variety of coloration ranging from creme-colored to dark bronze. Having inherited strength from their Human genes and an efficient body style from their Spirit genes, they are the swiftest, most athletic of the races. Many also consider them the most attractive. One of the longer-lived race on Drak, elves have an average lifespan of 200 years.

DWARVES

A derivative of Humans and Vespers, Dwarves tend to be short, ranging from 3 to 5 feet, with the vast majority in the shorter heights. They most often have very powerful, dense body structures, with human-like features, although somewhat coarser than the average human. Large noses, ears, and mouths are common, with proportionally larger heads and hands. They are unquestionably the strongest of the races, with intelligence comparable to humans. Their coloration has the same range as humans, but are quite sensitive to the sun, burn easily, and darken noticeably if exposed for long periods. Their eyes are somewhat more sensitive to the sun as well. The lifespan of dwarves is about 80 years.

ORCS

A derivative of Felines and Vespers, Orcs tend to be comparable in size to dwarves. Lacking the extremely powerful body structure of dwarves, they are generally of medium build, have short, most frequently black or deep brown fur over much of their bodies, although the skin underneath is more likely to be a lighter shade. Facial features tend toward a coarse feline or batlike look, although there is normally no trace of a muzzle, and the large noses, ears, and mouths found in dwarves also appear in Orcs. Their hands, showing their feline roots, tend to be claw-like, and their feet are large and also clawed. Vestigial wings usually only a foot or so long, normally lay flat against the back, but tend to unfold during severe anger or sexual arousal. Their eyes are also sensitive to bright light, but they have the feline ability to control the amount of light their eyes receive. The average lifespan of orcs is about 100 years.

CATLINGS

Also known in some societies as "Halflings" or "Hobbits", Catlings, derivatives of Felines and Humans, tend to more closely resemble very short humans than they do their feline ancestors. Their height usually ranges from 3 to 5 feet, and their body type is stocky. Their facial features are pleasant, mostly human, with large eyes, noses, mouths, and ears. Their hands and feet are especially large and noticeably furry. Despite the size of the feet, they have generally inherited extraordinary agility and stealth from their feline genes. They are, in general, a bit more intelligent than their human counterpart. The average lifespan of catlings is about 100 years.

PHANTOMS

The rarest of the Drakian races, Phantoms, the derivative of Spirits and Vespers, are universally tall (over 7 foot), very spare with gnarled hands, fierce bat-like facial features, dark fur on head, eyebrows, cheeks, chin, hands, and feet. They are skilled flyers with 6-foot wingspans, and a shoulder strength that allows them to carry articles of their own weight in flight. A number of respected Drakian academicians feel strongly that they are indeed genetic throwbacks to the original Drakatoj, a theory that is hotly disputed by religious leaders who have evolved a much more "pleasing" mythical picture of their Gods. Phantoms live an average lifespan of 120 years. They have also been known as "Gargoyles" in earlier periods of history. That term is now consider derogatory.

FELESPRITS

(Fell' Es Spreets) Nearly as rare as the Phantoms, they are the derivatives of Spirits and Felines, and are on average about 6 feet in height, with creme-colored to light-bronze coloration, feline-like facial features, with the rounded, butter-fly shaped wings of the Spirit genes. The wings, however, lack the phosphorescence, and instead have an almost suede-like texture. They can fly but only short distances. The same paleontologists who compare the Phantoms with the Drakatoj tend to consider the Felesprits as modern-day Katoj. This is far less annoying to religious leaders, as their traditional pictures of Katoj Gods differ only in the shape and size of the wings. Longest lived of Drakian races, Felesprits live, on average, about 250 years. The oldest recorded lifespan was a Felesprit female who lived in excess of 420 years.

DRAKIAN GENETIC RULES

Drakian racial genotypes are self-identifying. As all races create fertile offspring with each other, racial difference do tend to appear in different degrees in members of a family, although genotypes do generally breed true. There are cases where the characteristics tend to appear in unusual combinations, but this is rare.

ELDER GENOTYPES

In most cases of parenting by mixed pairs of the 4 "elder" races, for example, a human and a vesper, the child has a 50% chance of most resembling the derivative genotype (in that example, a dwarf), and a 25% chance of most resembling the elder genotype of either parent. Each racial genotype has a range of particular characteristics, and that range is influenced by the amount of genetic complement a particular person has of collateral races.

DERIVATIVE GENOTYPES

Approximately half of the children of mixed elder race parents clearly exhibit the derivative genotype. The derivative genotypes breed true with each other, e.g., a dwarf-dwarf couple will produce all dwarf children.

Pairing of two parents of unrelated derivative genotypes will result in a 50% - 50% mix of parental genotypes in the children. This means that the children of a dwarf (human-vesper) and a felesprit (feline-spirit) will result in only dwarf and felesprit children.

Pairing of two parents of related derivative genotypes will result in a 20% - 40% - 40% mix of parental genotypes in the children, with the 20% going to the related elder genotype. For example, the children of a dwarf (human-vesper) and an elf (human-spirit) will, on average, produce 40% dwarf, 40% elf, and 20% human children.

Pairing of a parent of a derivative genotype with a parent of an unrelated elder genotype will produce children in 25% - 25% - 25% - 25% proportions. If the parents are dwarf (human-vesper) and feline, the average result will be 25% feline, 25% dwarf, 25% catling, and 25% orc.

Pairing of a parent of a derivative genotype with a parent of a related elder genotype will produce children in 75% - 25% proportion with the larger percentage going to the elder. Hence, the offspring of a human - dwarf (human-vesper) coupling will result in 25% dwarf and 75% human children.

"THIRD GENERATION" DERIVATIVES

A very controversial subject among Drakian geneticists is that of alleged "3rd generation derivatives". Traditionalists simply deny their existance as a misinterpretation of natural differences in 2nd generation individuals. However, given the increasing numbers of births, more open-minded geneticists are speculating that three additional 3rd generation derivative races are evolving, although their characteristics are not yet clearly enough defined to confidently predict detailed consistant racial characteristics.

HALF-ELVES

The most common of the proposed 3rd Generation Derivatives, they appear to have characteristics very much midway between those of elves and humans. In general, they have a sturdier, more powerful body structure, but retain the facial features of their elven ancestors. Expected longevity tends to be about midway between that of elves and humans, about 150 years, but the degree of variation makes this unpredictable, and most half-elves have no clue as to how long they will live.. Because they appear far too frequently to be considered a random genetic variation, but too infrequently to form a substantial population group, they are often rejected by both parents, and subject to much discrimination in both the Elven and Human communities. Scholars who consider half-elves to be a separate racial derivative agree that the resulting children, on average, from an elf-human coupling will be 20% elf, 25% half-elf, and 55% human. Interestingly enough, these are approximately the same proportions among the children of a half-elf and half-elf coupling, but both human and elf offspring tend to carry mixed-race traits, often unrecognized until much later in life. Beings with half-elf ancestry, regardless of how far back, are somewhat subject to having occasional offspring that most closely meet the definition of half-elf.

PIXIES

Generally considered a derogatory term, along with other terms such as "Brownies" and "Fairies", the term "Pixie" is generally applied to a genetic variation in the Felesprits that results in an occasional individual born with an exceedingly diminuative stature, often as small as 3 feet tall. The smallest recorded surviving "Pixie" was measured at 1.92 feet in height. Because they tend to breed true between themselves, scholars are beginning to consider them a 3rd Generation Derivative. But their numbers are exceedingly small, and occur most often in isolated, interbred island populations. The only place where they seem to exist in greater numbers is the island of Pix, hence their name. They are virtually unknown on the larger continents. What few studies have been undertaken, their lifespans parallel those of the felesprits.

TROLLS

Very much a derogatory term, the reference is generally made to occasional dwarves who inherit abnormally tall stature from their human ancestry, and very bat-like facial features from their vesperian parentage. There is also some indication of mental disability in these beings, and from what scanty evidence exists, they do not appear to breed true nor are they widely considered a true 3rd Generation derivative, but rather a likely genetic mutation. A related, and even rarer form of the same genetic condition, where the individual is exceedingly small, but with relatively twisted human facial features, is normally referred to as GNOMISM. But in general parliance, the term GNOME is more commonly used to refer to populations of especially short dwarves, and is not related to this genetic syndrome. Their lifespan tends to be about 50-60 years.

Races of Drak, Their Derivation, and Estimated % of Total Drakian Population
(Parenthesized Information Takes 3rd Generation Derivatives Into Account)

SPIRITHUMANVESPERFELINE
SPIRITSPIRIT - 4%


HUMANELF - 10% (9%)
(HALF-ELF - 3%)		HUMAN - 30% (28%)

VESPERPHANTOM - 1%DWARF - 10%
(TROLL - <1%)		VESPER - 4%
FELINEFELISPRIT - 1%
(PIXIE - <1%)		CATLING - 5%ORC - 5%FELINE - 30%


OTHER FACTORS IN CROSS-BREEDING

Such simplistic genetics might be expected to produce somewhat even numbers of all races in Drak society. However, this is not the case. Some of the factors are:

The resulting percentages of the total Drakian population are as follows. While this represents an average for the world as a whole, the relative frequencies in a population of any particular island or continent can vary greatly. Smaller islands with homogenous populations are frequent.

SPECIAL POWERS & TALENTS

The elder races have tendencies toward particular powers and talents, as do the derivative races, although the latter tend to share, albeit to a lesser extent, in the powers and talents of their ancestral elder races. These powers and talents can range from quite powerful to none at all for individuals.