Piquits

**Piquits** [ *pɪkˈwɪt* ] are a humanoid race similar to humans, with heavy animalistic characteristics.

Piquits arose alongside humans on the continent of Akilos, most often agreed to be from within the Western Wastes. Piquits’ fur, scales, or feathers further protects them from weather, bugs, and injury, which befitted their usual nomadic lifestyle. However, due to the increased progression of the rest of the continent, many piquits leave this lifestyle and find their biology uncomfortable, superfluous, or even disgusting. Despite this willingness to adapt and physical closeness to humans, piquits are often the targets of discrimination in rural, intolerant, and isolated areas within Akilos. The Republic of Easthaven, Reisen, Ts'ilvka, Ugova, and Kilae are often the best places for these people to reside.

Piquits live the standard lifetime of humans, which amounts to an average of seventy years.

## History

Ancient piquits arose from the Western Wastes around the same time as ancient humans, approximately 360 million years from the present day. The etymology of the word *piquit* itself derives from the word self-attributed to the piquits from their proto-language, *pycŵyt* (pronounced *[ pɨkˈwɨt ]*), which was encountered and then adopted by many pre-modern human communities. Although specifics have been lost to time, there are a few notable, pertinent details of early piquit life, which eventually led to their unique evolutionary traits. Due to the difficult terrain and unique problems encountered in the Western Wastes, such as limited sunlight and food, many creatures simply could not survive the Wastes. The few animals which were not seasonal to the Western Wastes would be highly adapted to the harsh conditions in the region. Archaeology undertaken in ancient piquits' former range display their propensity to travel nomadically, essentially following food, water, and better weather conditions as needed for their tribes. As the population of piquits grew, nomadic lifestyles seemed to be eroded over time as conflict between interpersonal groups began to increase. Wars both large and small threatened to fracture piquit society, and, coupled with the already cruel natural world around them, pushed remaining tribes of piquits to resettle around the Western Wastes, which then allowed their species to once again proliferate. With this unique history and lineage of the modern-day piquits, it is commonly assumed that their animalistic traits are a direct effect of the living conditions, environment, and culture at the time, such as increases in body hair being a result of the colder weather of the Western Wastes, or their noses being specially adapted to sweating when bipedalism evolved before hair loss could occur.

There are two theories that are most commonly debated on the origin of the piquits. The first, and most accepted theory, is that piquits are a distinct, separate lineage from humans, and that their humanoid shape is simply a result of convergent evolution seeing this body plan as being the most effective. The second, less accepted theory, is that piquits are the result of either magickal or natural influence in ancient humans' stock, and became separate due to thousands of years of isolation. Whichever the case, piquits have become a dominant race in Siira, nearly being as prolific as humans, elves, goblins, or beastmen.

In spite of the fact that piquits make a large percentage of sentient races today, piquits are often the targets of discrimination in certain nations, such as those who deem one species to be more important than others (such as the case in Nostland, Ts'ilvka, or Qi'ella). In direct contrast to this, places where discrimination against other species is largely a forgotten relic of the past, piquits enjoy equal standing with humans, such as in the case of events like the Sistan Crusades, piquits were considered equal to humans in the Luscus Estasteras' eyes in their war to purge non-humans from Northwest Akilos.

Each piquit subspecies and territory has their own culture and language, which can be classified under the umbrella term of "Piquitic Languages". The most common and readily understood in the modern era is the official language of Cymryddas Pycŵyt, *Pycŵytisafys.*

## Description

Piquits generally harbor large ears, bodies covered in fur, feathers, or scales, claws, black-tipped noses, and tails. Contrary to popular belief, piquits do not have snouts, hocks, or paws (with the only exception being the aven subspecies). Some piquits will forgo a majority of these characteristics, shaving their fur or using some subspecies' latent magical abilities to alter their entire physical appearance to appear more human.

## Subspecies

There are uncountable subspecies of piquits. Depending on their environment, piquits can have wildly different physiology between each other, even in communities that are geographically nearby.

Piquit subspecies can be divided into three major categories, which are further broken down into individual subspecies. Further still, subspecies can be identified as sister subspecies if they show sufficient common genetic heritage.

Please note that many piquit subspecies' names derive from Classical Sistan in order to simplify nomenclature. Each subspecies usually has an easier, more commonplace name used in their respective territories throughout Siira. When Classical Sistan is not used, Standard Havener is used instead.

### Woodlands

Woodland piquits are piquits who evolved to live in woodland environments. These include deciduous woodlands, plains, and tropical forests.

Subspecies of the woodland piquits include:

* Badgarins (badger-like piquits)
	+ Screars (otter-like piquits)
	+ Pollscrears (polecat-like piquits)
	+ Snowscrears (wolverine-like piquits)
* Wolvenarins (wolf-like piquits)
* Barnarins (bear-like piquits)
* Rattenarins (rat-like piquits)
	+ Iuserattenarins (mouse-like piquits)

### Mountainous

Woodland piquits are piquits who evolved to live in mountainous or otherwise high-altitude environments. These are not categorized by climate, and so, they can be from any temperament of mountainous terrain.

Subspecies of the mountain piquits include:

* Avens
	+ Noc (nightingale-like piquits)
	+ Voculuoarins (parrot-like piquits)
	+ Cricirarins (crow and raven-like piquits)
	+ Ixtovixisarins (three toed [or passerine]-like piquits)

## Relationship to Magicks

Although not all piquits have the same latent magickal connection, it is notable that some subspecies and isolated populations appear to develop a natural, albeit limited, affinity for various Magicks.

## Notable Piquits

* Aimela of Majkso
* St. Ecryn of Cymryd