Races

[Revvy]

Human

Humans are bipedal primates belonging to the species Homo sapiens. They are the only surviving members of the genus Homo. Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the arms for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species.

Humans are social by nature. However, humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from families to nations. Social interactions between humans have established an extremely wide variety of values, social norms, and rituals, which together form the basis of human society. Humans have a marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which, combined with the human desire for self-expression, has led to cultural innovations such as art, literature and music.

Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate natural phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down culturally; humans are the only species known to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, and use numerous other technologies.

Hanyou

Hanyou (half-demon) is a mix between a human and a youkai.

Description
There are two types of hanyou. One is born when one of the parents is a youkai who is often the father, and one a human who is typically the mother. The other is a human with an unfulfilled desire who merged with many demons. A hanyou typically possess the ability to become a youkai if under a considerable amount of pain, suffering, or loss, or with the power of the Shikon no Tama have the ability to become a full-blooded youkai.

Power
While a hanyou can never be as strong as the demonic parent without becoming a full youkai, most hanyou seem to be powerful enough to not only deal with any human hostilities, but also to easily dispatch most youkai if their will and aggression is very strong. It seems as if the only demons that have hanyou spawn are the youkai powerful enough to diluting their power with human blood would still leave them better of than the majority of demons. InuYasha is the prime example of this.

Impurity
As people, half-demons are often outcast by their human brethren because of their demon heritage, deeming them monsters while their demon kin rejects them due to their human blood, considering them weak. In effect, half-demons are outcast for belonging to neither race. All of the half-demons that have appeared throughout the story have sought to remedy their 'impurity' by using the Shikon no Tama to either become a full-demon or a full human.

Youkai

Youkai are a class of preternatural creatures ranging from the evil oni (ogre) to the mischievous kitsune (fox) or snow woman Yuki-onna. Some possess part animal and part human features. Youkai generally have a sort of spiritual or supernatural powers. Youkai that have the ability to shape-shift are called obake.

Shapeshifting Animals
A good number of animals that are thought to have magic of their own can be found in Japan. Most of these are henge, shapeshifters, which often imitate humans, mostly women. Some of the better known animal youkai include the following:

• Tanuki (raccoon dog)
  
• Kitsune (foxes)
  
• Hebi (snakes)
  
• Mujina (badgers)
  
• Bakeneko (cats)
  
• Ookami (wolves)
  
• Tsuchigumo and jorougumo (spiders)
  
• Inugami (dogs)

Oni
The oni is a sort of mountain-dwelling ogre, usually depicted with red, blue, brown or black skin, two horns on its head, a wide mouth filled with fangs, and wearing nothing but a tigerskin loincloth. It often carries an iron club or a giant sword. Oni are mostly depicted as evil, but can occasionally be the embodiment of an ambivalent natural force. They are, like many obake, associated with the direction northeast.