Mortals

Mortals are the primary inhabitants of the Realm of Materials. Mortals are divided into two types: People and beasts, and each type is further divided into races. The only consistent difference between people and beasts is that people are sapient and can typically speak, while beasts are/can not.

There are no official and legal definitions of personhood in Astrea or Miasmia, so most of the time it's a completely arbitrary decision by the authorities of each nation (or the lack thereof in the case of post-invasion Miasmia), and the above-mentioned "consistent difference" is just an accidental pattern.

## Races of People

People in the Realm of Materials resemble "anthropomorphic" versions of various animals, from tigers to geckos to hummingbirds. Normal humans do not exist. Being "anthropomorphic" in this context does not always mean standing on two legs or having hands (such as with Astrea's House Forleg), but does imply a capacity for higher thought and consistent communication, as mentioned above.

People are divided into races based on the animal species they resemble, and named after said species as well. For example, an anthropomorphic bat would be part of a race known as "batfolks," and an anthropomorphic wolf would be part of a race known as "wolfkins." Whether the name of a race ends in -folk or -kin does not matter, and the two suffixes are commonly interchangeable depending on which version a speaker finds easier to pronounce.

People in the Realm of Materials also do not have as much specifications in their racial naming as their Earth counterparts. In other words, instead of there being Indochinese tigerfolks, Bengal tigerfolks, Siberian tigerfolks, and more, there are simply "tigerfolks" who can resemble all types of tigers found on Earth. Reptilian people are particularly affected by this, because the term "lizardfolks" covers anything from chameleons to komodo dragons, but does not include amphibians such as frogs or skinks, both of whom are classified as their own races.

This strange level of ambiguity surrounding the naming of races is commonly attributed to Astreans and Miasmians both trying to create a system for racial classifications at the same time, and never agreeing on whose idea to use.

## Races of Beasts

All animals commonly found on Earth, including and perhaps especially those who resemble races of people, can be found in the Realm of Materials, living in biomes and climates they would typically live in on Earth. Whether these animals or their corresponding races of people are named first is a mystery that no one cares enough about solving.

## Mythical Creatures

"Mythical" beings such as dragons and griffons exist in the Realm of Materials as both people and beasts, and their origins are unknown. Astreans interpret these creatures as unexpected errors in the Sovereign's laws, and often treat them with disdain, while Miasmians are much more accepting of their existence.

## Kobolds

Kobolds are a race bred by Astrean nobles for the sole purpose of being slaves. Legend has it that the first kobolds were given to the Astrean royal family as a gift by the Sovereign, and passed along to the noble houses over the years. They resemble small, wingless dragonfolks who cannot grow to be taller than 4 feet in height, but can live for up to 200 years.

Kobolds lay 5-10 eggs per clutch after spending 3 months in gestation, and the eggs hatch into young kobolds within 30 days. Kobold eggs do not need attention while they are incubating, and are highly durable, though seemingly not from the inside. Kobolds who are newly hatched can already walk, and develop into "adults" within 7 to 10 years. Kobolds are capable of reproduction all year round, and House Crown of Astrea is known for facilitating a business in which kobold slaves are bred and traded.

## Trivia

* As their name implies, mortals die when they are killed, but they have undying souls that travel to other realms after their physical bodies expire.
	+ These souls are the source of Essence.
* Despite their resemblance to animals, people in the Realm of Materials live as long as humans do.
* If a mortal is born from parents of different races, they will always resemble the race of their mother over their father.
* Mortals who resemble mythical creatures also tend to have longer lifespans than their peers, which further adds to the discrimination and intrigue surrounding them.