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species:start

Species

There are many species to be found on avishraa - and, for that matter, beyond it.

Enenkalar

The known intelligent species of Avishraa are generally loath to be grouped with each other at all, even when they are in fact not all that different. That said, some takma sages have sometimes found it useful to be able to refer to all thinking beings.

While there is in Imperial a word tharka, which approximates the English word 'person', the word is somewhat loaded as it carries a strong suggestion of 'someone who can be understood/reasoned with'; an Imperial-speaking takma with a particularly vicious grudge may not even universally apply the term to all members of their own species. It would take a relatively broad-minded one to apply it to a member of another species entirely, considering the frequent lack of understanding between them.

Instead, the term generally used is enenkalar (sing. enenkal); the literal meaning is 'speaking ones', but can be more freely translated as 'sophonts'. At the present time, three species of enenkalar are known to be native to Avishraa:

None of them are yet formally aware of enenkalar other than these three, either on Avishraa itself or from beyond it; however, the development of Writing will almost certainly change this, sooner or later.

Extrinsics

The Extrinsics might technically be considered enenkalar, in that they are intelligent and capable of communication, but are more appropriately classed separately as 1. they are not organic beings and, indeed, have no inherent physical existence; 2. they are either not known to the enenkalar or, if they are, are treated as gods; 3. they are in many respects much further above enenkalar than the latter are above other organic life.

The Extrinsics derive their powers, and their natures, from residing mostly outside mortal reality, though their influence is to be found even in everyday life.

Animals

Fungi

Plants

species/start.txt · Last modified: by shyriath