Semihumans are a racial group whose members possess an almost entirely human body while displaying a limited number of animal traits.
Their appearance can sometimes cause confusion with Beastkin or certain Devilhumans, but the three classifications are fundamentally different.
Overview
Semihumans retain a fundamentally human anatomy.
Their visible animal characteristics are generally limited to features such as animal ears and an animal tail.
Aside from these traits, their face, torso, arms, hands, legs, feet, and overall skeletal structure remain human in appearance.
Classification
Semihumans form their own racial group and should not be confused with Beastkin or Devilhumans.
Their classification is not determined simply by how animal-like they appear.
A race may possess strong animal characteristics and still belong to a completely different racial group.
Appearance
A typical Semihuman possesses a human face, human limbs, human hands, human feet, and a human body structure.
Their animal traits are limited compared to those of Beastkin.
Depending on the specific Semihuman lineage, these traits may include:
- Animal ears.
- An animal tail.
They do not normally possess strongly bestial anatomical features such as animal muzzles, animal-shaped legs, full-body fur, claws, hooves, or heavily altered skeletal structures.
Semihumans and Beastkin
Beastkin possess a much deeper mixture of humanoid and animal anatomy.
While a Semihuman may resemble a Human with animal ears and a tail, a Beastkin can display far more extensive physical traits from the animal associated with its race.
These may include altered faces, muzzles, fur, animal-like limbs, claws, hooves, digitigrade legs, or other pronounced bestial features.
The distinction is therefore anatomical as well as racial.
Cow and Buffalo Example
A Cow or Buffalo Semihuman retains a human body and face while displaying bovine ears and a bovine tail.
A Cow or Buffalo Beastkin, by contrast, may possess far more extensive bovine anatomy and appear considerably more bestial even while standing upright.
This makes bovine races a useful example for understanding the difference between the two groups.
Semihumans and Devilhumans
Semihumans should also not be confused with Devilhumans.
Devilhumans are a separate racial classification whose members can possess extremely varied bodies and appearances.
Some Devilhumans may resemble humanoid animals much more strongly than Semihumans do, but this does not make them Beastkin or Semihumans.
Pigman Example
Pigmen are a clear example of this distinction.
Pigmen possess pronounced porcine characteristics and can appear much more animal-like than many Semihumans.
However, Pigmen are classified as Devilhumans.
Their appearance does not change their racial classification.
Comparison
| Example | Classification | Core Anatomy | Animal Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cow / Buffalo Semihuman | Semihuman | Human | Mainly animal ears and tail |
| Cow / Buffalo Beastkin | Beastkin | Human-beast hybrid anatomy | Extensive bestial traits |
| Pigman | Devilhuman | Distinct racial anatomy | Pronounced porcine traits |
Common Misconceptions
“Semihuman means half Human and half animal.”
This is incorrect.
Semihuman is the name of a racial classification. It does not automatically describe ancestry between Humans and animals.
“Any humanoid with animal traits is a Semihuman.”
This is also incorrect.
Beastkin and many Devilhuman races may possess animal characteristics while belonging to completely different racial classifications.
“The most animal-looking race must be Beastkin.”
Physical appearance alone cannot determine racial classification.
A Pigman, for example, can possess much stronger animal characteristics than a Semihuman while still being a Devilhuman rather than a Beastkin.
General Traits
- Semihumans possess fundamentally human anatomy.
- Their visible animal traits are generally limited to animal ears and a tail.
- They do not normally possess heavily bestial faces, limbs, or skeletal structures.
- Semihumans are a separate racial classification from Beastkin.
- Semihumans are also separate from Devilhumans.
- Their classification is not determined simply by how animal-like an individual appears.
Trivia
- Cow and Buffalo lineages provide an easy visual comparison between Semihumans and Beastkin.
- Pigmen are useful examples of why an animal-like appearance does not automatically indicate Beastkin or Semihuman classification.
- Semihumans possess one of the most human-like body structures among races with visible animal characteristics.