Talking Animals

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According to legends, there was a time log ago when animals, men, gods and genies were equal, and lived in all the realms together. But Fate decreed that lots should be drawn for the roles in the universe, and the animals drew the worst lot, that of servitor, prey and sustainer of all the others. But, as detailed in the legend of How the Jackal gained his Freedom, some animals rebelled against the this order of the universe, and acquired the gift of speech. These animals live in their own hidden realm, beyond the keen of humans and their kin.

But some talking animals were still discontent with their lot in life. They did not want to live like savages on remote islands, they wanted to travel all the lands of men. They left their ancestral home, but discovered that the judgment of Fate was still upon them; if they would not be content to be animals, they would instead become men, and walk the earth in the guise of men.

Their descendants now live in hiding among the humans of Zakhara. Afraid of being caught, for man resents when his gifts are taken by trickery, they hide themselves among humans, passing for normal men. A few animals have even achieved this status on their own merit, learning to talk by studying humans. But deep in their heart of hearts, they remain animals, with animal instincts and powers, tempered by a human intellect.

Talking Animals in the Game

Talking Animals play much like Transformed Animals in the standard Feng Shui setting; they appear like men, but are secretly animals, and have access to Transformed Animal schticks. In a world where all races have access to race schticks, this is not such a great benefit, and Transformed Animals do not have the human's special ability to learn any race schtick.

Talking Animals are not subject to reversion, and do not fear magic. Indeed, many of them are sorcerers. They can be discovered through Divination, and public opinion is very hostile to talking animals.

All types of animals can be talking animals, and the wide variety possible is bewildering. Check ut the Transformed Animals chapter.