Chimera

"Chimera" is a catch-all term that refers to the sapient, hybrid species created from combining the blood of humans and demonic species. Because of the many different species of demons used in the creation of the original Chimeras, the Chimera race (if it can even be considered a race) is extremely diverse, with Chimeras from differing lineages and clans often bear little to no resemblance to each other. For this reason, grouping all the Chimera Clans into one, term has sometimes been disputed by both humans and Chimeras alike.

## History

### Early History and PROJECT:CHIMERA

Chimeras were originally an artificially created species that were developed during the Demonic Invasion. The Ancient Humans, who were losing the fight against the demons, had experimented with demon war prisoners in order to harness the magic power of their enemies on their own side. In desperation, PROJECT: CHIMERA was greenlit, and human researchers began attempting to create a hybrid species between humans and the demonic races.

The project was initially unsuccessful, with many of the original children created dying at an early age, or being birthed as a degenerate species, incapable of rational thought. The latter children became the ancestors of the Mutants, which saw use as a slave race by the Ancients, but their low intelligence rendered them incapable on the battlefield, their brutish nature being more of a liability than an advantage. It was not until 2 years that Erebus IV, an esteemed researcher on the project, had created the first successful Chimera, which was able to think just as intelligently as a human, but also able to use the frightful power of a demon. This first Chimera was a hybrid between a human and a Griffin, a half eagle, half lion demon that inhabited the abyss.

The Griffin hybrid that the researchers had created became an almost unstoppable force against the demons, proudly serving his masters to protect the mortal world. In response the success, researchers had attempted to find more successful combinations of hybrids, with many other chimera races being invented, such as the Basilisks, Devourers, and Bull Kings. However, many among the human citizenry became disgusted with the actions of PROJECT: CHIMERA. Though it was winning them the war, and saving their realm, the union between man and demon was viewed as nothing if not unholy, and the act of creating new races of sapient hominids was seen as an irresponsible way of playing God.

### Modern History

After the war between the humans and the demons had ended in a human victory, Many Chimeras were able to retire from service and move on with their lives. Many years after the Invasion, it was found that the Chimeras were in fact fertile, and they were able to birth their own children, even with humans. These families made from the Chimeras became the Chimera Clans, or Demon Clans. Public response to the formation of the Demon Clans varied. Some clans were able to rise to prominence, while others more or less integrated into human society. However, across all of Uriah, the public display of the Chimera's demonic power was declared illegal by the Global Peace Forum, as it was considered disruptive and dangerous.

Almost all of the Demon clans had rallied against these laws against using their power, and they demanded justice for their people, who defended Uriah from invasion so long ago. To reconcile, The Urian King signed what is now known as the Third Revision, as it was the third time that the law on Chimeras was to be adjusted. The Third Revision allowed Demonic Power to be used only in situations where it would be beneficial to the public or government to do so. It was under this pretense that the Erebus School of Demons was founded, to train a new generation of Chimeras to be a mercenary force that could be hired by anyone to do any odd job that they desired.

## Trivia

* Chimeras were originally called "Cambions", a term for half-demon half human people. However, as the characters' demonic traits more resembled animal traits rather than stereotypically infernal traits, along with the inspiration for the demon clans stemming more from animal hybrids rather than what people usually consider to be demons.