Dungeon Fantasy: Beastmen

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The beastmen are creatures that are humanoid animals. Some say that they evolved in the mundane realm yet others say the animal spirits created them. Scholars say that the animal spirits guided the evolution of beastmen. The mundane realm was said to be created for humanity and the animal spirits were jealous and created rivals for humanity. Fishmen, lizardmen, reptilemen, dinosaurmen, catfolk, frogmen, ratmen, serpentmen, coleopterans, and numerous other animal humanoids were the result. Many of these creatures lived long before humanity and developed civilizations that lasted eons. But eventually humanity evolved and soon displaced the older races.

Once humanity was established, the animal spirits tried once again to influence the world. They began giving gifts to the early humans and the humans worshipped them and built totems in their honor. The animal spirits granted powers to allow the early humans to turn into animals, often with animal skins to help with the magic. Later, no skins were needed as the animal spirits had grafted onto the human DNA. These became the lycanthropes of legend. Many of the early lycanthropes were nature lovers and they lived in harmony.

It is said that at one time the faery realm was ripped apart and part of it was cast into Hell. Many nature spirits lived in the faery realm and were cast into Hell as well. These spirits became corrupted by the evil and they began to change into wicked creatures. Some of the lycanthrope line were affected, particularly the aggressive hunting animal spirits. These became evil werewolves, weresharks, wererats, wereleopards, werecrocodiles, werejackles and many others.