Anthropological Registry
The Anthropological Registry is Astra’s official archive for documenting known human-descended populations.
Older records and common speech still use the word “races,” but modern Registry language avoids it. The people listed here do not come from separate origins of life. They are branches of humanity shaped by the Cataclysm, mana fallout, inherited mutation, high-exposure environments, medical intervention, mana nutrition, and long-term adaptation.
Registry classifications account for physiology, mana response, hereditary stability, social history, environmental adaptation, and recognized lineage identity. The newer medical appendices also track Mana-Adapted Physiology, manavascular development, and implant status when it affects citizenship, military eligibility, or treatment.
Those categories remain politically sensitive. Older administrative terms such as “demi-human” came from Indomitable institutions before the populations later known as Amani chose their own shared identity during the Frontier Migration.
Core Population Categories
Humanity
Classification: Collective Human-Descended Population
Common Terms: Humanity, Human-descended peoples, People of Astra
Includes: Baseline Humans, Amani, Divergent Lineages
Status: Surviving sapient population of Astra
Humanity covers all human-descended peoples on Astra, including Baseline Humans, Amani, and other post-Cataclysm divergent lineages.
After the Cataclysm, humanity did not remain biologically uniform. Mana fallout entered the atmosphere, oceans, soil, food chains, and human bodies. Over generations, that exposure produced measurable physiological divergence, mana sensitivity, and eventually stable altered lineages.
In modern academic usage, “humanity” does not mean only those who resemble pre-Cataclysm humans. It refers to the broader surviving human family, including those whose bodies changed in response to the new world.
Baseline Humans
Classification: Human / Low-Divergence Population
Common Terms: Baseline Humans, Baselines, Old-Type Humans
Mana Affinity: Usually manatypical or lower
Average Lifespan: Approximately 100 years
Population Status: Minority population
Baseline Humans are the humans whose biology stayed closest to pre-Cataclysm norms.
Most Baseline Human populations descended from groups located far from Meridia or otherwise protected from the most extreme mana exposure during the initial Cataclysm. Their physiology remained comparatively stable while other populations underwent more visible post-Cataclysm divergence.
Baseline Humans were once treated as the default form of humanity. That assumption no longer matches the modern population of Astra. They are now a minority, though they remain politically and institutionally influential within Indomitable.
Baseline Humans are not “non-magical.” Scientific consensus holds that all surviving humanity carries some degree of post-Cataclysm magic potential. Baseline Humans are generally less physically altered and less naturally mana-specialized than many Amani lineages.
Their natural manavascular tolerance is usually enough for trained ordinary casting, but it is weaker under heavy thermal cycling. This is one reason human elites lean on staves, external devices, drugs, and partial AMS instead of trusting raw biology.
Demi-humans
Classification: Historical / Administrative Category
Common Terms: Demi-humans, Divergent Lineages, Altered Humans
Mana Affinity: Varies by lineage
Population Status: Deprecated but historically important category
Demi-human is the older state designation for human-descended populations with visible post-Cataclysm divergence.
The term came from Indomitable records and appears widely in administrative, medical, and military documents from the Reconstruction Period and Divergence. Many divergent populations rejected the label as reductive, state-imposed, or dehumanizing. To them, “demi-human” implied partial humanity despite a human origin.
Demi-human divergence began as a survival crisis. Many early children were born with altered bodies, unstable immune systems, unusual nutritional needs, and heightened mana reactivity. During the Reconstruction Period, many were confined in research facilities under the justification of medical necessity.
The discovery of mana nutrition changed the course of that history. Many children were not simply dying from mutation or disease. Their bodies required food, treatment, and environmental support compatible with mana-altered biology.
Amana / Amani
Classification: Human-Descended Divergent Civilizational Identity
Singular: Amana
Plural: Amani
Common Terms: Amani, High-Exposure Lineages, Mana-Altered Humans
Mana Affinity: Moderate to extreme
Population Status: Major divergent classification and self-chosen identity
An Amana is a person belonging to the Amani, the modern self-chosen identity used by many human-descended divergent populations shaped by high-intensity mana exposure after the Cataclysm.
Before that identity became widespread, Indomitable records mostly used “demi-human” or “divergent lineages.”
The populations later known as Amani became central to the political crisis of Divergence, when recognition as fellow humans became one of the major points of conflict.
The name Amana / Amani spread later, during the Frontier Migration. It did not erase every older lineage identity. A person could be Amani and also elven, beastman, dwarven, giant, or a member of a regional sub-lineage.
Amani populations display significant divergence from Baseline Human physiology. Recorded traits include increased mana conductivity, increased mana capacity, altered organ systems, non-standard physical traits, modified immune structure, heightened sensitivity to Deep Unknown phenomena, and extended lifespan potential. Many lineages show stronger manavascular growth and better Thermal Cycling Tolerance than unenhanced humans.
The earliest Amani populations paid heavily for those changes. Their bodies were vulnerable to ordinary terrestrial pathogens, and many early communities faced immune collapse, plague clusters, failed settlements, and reliance on specialized mana-integrated medicine.
Divergent Lineages
Classification: Scientific Umbrella Term
Common Terms: Divergent Lineages, Stable Divergents, Post-Cataclysm Lineages
Mana Affinity: Varies
Population Status: Scientific category
Divergent Lineages is the scientific umbrella term for human-descended populations that developed stable post-Cataclysm biological divergence.
The term is broader and broader and less politically loaded than “demi-human.” It focuses on heredity, stability, and biological divergence rather than political identity or visible abnormality.
Amani are the most widely recognized divergent lineages, but the category also includes more specific lineage designations such as Elves, Beastmen, Dwarves, and Giants.
Primary Amani Lineages
The following are the four broad primary Amani lineages recognized during and after Divergence.
They are not separate species, races, or origins of life. They are broad classifications of human-descended populations shaped by early post-Cataclysm divergence. Regional variants that emerged later during Evolution are classified as Amani sub-lineages under these primary lineages.
Elves
Classification: Amani / High-Exposure Lineage
Common Terms: Elves, High-Exposure Demi-humans, Mana-Graced Lineages
Mana Affinity: High
Average Lifespan: Approximately 1000 years
General Traits: High mana capacity, long lifespan, strong mana sensitivity, fragile physical constitution, extreme fertility sensitivity
Elves are high-exposure Amani populations with strong mana sensitivity, high mana capacity, long lifespan potential, and significant compatibility with magic.
Elven physiology is not simply superior. Their bodies are often physically fragile compared to more robust Amani lineages. High mana sensitivity can also become a liability in unstable environments, mana-poor settlements, contaminated lands, or areas affected by Deep Unknown phenomena.
Elves became one of the most symbolically important Amani populations because their bodies carried the promise and danger of post-Cataclysm change in the same form: long life, high magic potential, fertility fragility, and biological vulnerability.
Beastmen
Classification: Amani / Physical-Enhancement Lineage
Common Terms: Beastmen, Beast Lineages, Animal-Trait Demi-humans
Mana Affinity: Usually strong in body-reinforcement magic
Average Lifespan: Approximately 200 years
General Traits: Animal ears, tails, claws, sharp canines, enhanced senses, superior strength, animal-handling affinity, seasonal migration traditions
Beastmen are Amani populations with animal-derived traits, heightened senses, and strong physical enhancement magic.
Common traits include animal-like ears, tails, claws, sharp canines, heightened senses, increased strength, strong body-reinforcement capacity, and unusual ease when handling ordinary animals. Beastmen can often read ordinary animal stress, posture, movement, illness, and fear responses better than other variants.
This animal-handling affinity does not safely apply to mana-beasts. Mana-beasts are mana-ecologically different from ordinary animals, and beastman instincts may fail or become dangerous when applied to them.
Many beastman societies maintain seasonal migration, route memory, pastoral traditions, hunting grounds, and clan-based ecological knowledge. Their mobility should not be mistaken for a lack of civilization.
Dwarves
Classification: Amani / Dense-Bodied Lineage
Common Terms: Dwarves, Forge Lineages, Dense-Bodied Demi-humans
Mana Affinity: Often associated with fire, stone, material, and craft-linked magic
Average Lifespan: Approximately 500 years
General Traits: Compact dense bodies, increased strength, high endurance, heat tolerance, engineering and metallurgy traditions, long-cycle institutional memory
Dwarves are Amani populations with compact dense bodies, strong endurance, craft traditions, metallurgy, underground settlements, and engineering culture.
Their bodies are not defined by being “small.” Registry records focus on density, endurance, strength, heat tolerance, environmental adaptation, and lineage-specific mana expression. Their material-linked mana affinity made them especially important in early post-Cataclysm industry, salvage, metalworking, and later mana-engineering fields.
Dwarven ancestral settlement is strongly associated with the Colossal Collision Range, the vast mountain system formed by continental collision during the creation of Mahanusa. The range provided defensible stone environments, heat, pressure, exposed minerals, abundant manaminerals, and stable underground construction sites. Because of this, dwarven holds developed as settlements, mines, archives, workshops, and long-term mana-biological habitats.
Giants
Classification: Amani / Large-Framed Lineage
Common Terms: Giants, Large-Framed Lineages, Heavyframe Amani
Mana Affinity: Usually manatypical to moderate
Average Lifespan: Approximately 150 years
General Traits: Larger frames, increased strength, load-bearing capacity, public safety training, construction and defense traditions
Giants are Amani populations with larger bodies, increased strength, greater physical leverage, and strong load-bearing capacity.
Despite the name, giants are not necessarily enormous mythological beings. Their divergence may be subtler than that of elves, beastmen, or dwarves, but their physical scale still creates major consequences for infrastructure, medicine, labor, defense, and public safety.
Because giants appeared closer to ordinary humans than more visibly divergent lineages, Indomitable society integrated many giant populations more easily during earlier periods. This preferential treatment created long-term resentment among some other demi-human communities, especially during Divergence.
After the Frontier Migration, giants occupied an uncomfortable position within broader Amani identity. They were recognized as part of the Amani world, but their history of easier integration with Baseline Human communities shaped how other lineages viewed them.
Regional Amani Sub-Lineages
Regional Amani sub-lineages emerged after the Frontier Migration, especially during the period later known as Evolution.
These groups are not separate origins of life and should not be treated as new races. They descend from the four primary Amani lineages: Elves, Beastmen, Dwarves, and Giants. Their traits were shaped by long-term settlement in specific mana-rich environments.
The Registry recognizes an Amani sub-lineage when its traits become stable, socially recognized, and distinct from temporary mana mutation or individual abnormality.
For a fuller environmental discussion, see How The Environment Affects Us.
Crownline
Parent Lineage: Elves
Classification: Amani / Elven Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Crownline Amani, Horned Amani, Crowned Elves
Primary Adaptation: Mana-mineral regulation
Preferred Environment: Mineral forests, highland frontier zones, elven-dwarven borderlands, crystalline water regions, mana-reactive soil belts
General Traits: Horn-like mineral growths, high mana-pressure tolerance, mineral-heavy nutrition requirements
The Crownlines are an elven-derived sub-lineage that emerged from communities settled between high-mana forests and dwarven mineral territories. Older Registry records may call them Crownline Amani.
Their horn-like growths developed from long-term exposure to mineral-rich mana nutrition, trace metals, crystalline water sources, and mana-reactive soil. These horns function as external mana-regulation structures, helping the body store, vent, or balance mineral-heavy mana intake.
Elori
Parent Lineage: Elves
Classification: Amani / Elven-Derived High-Mana Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Fairies, Winged Elves
Primary Adaptation: Extreme mana assimilation and environmental fusion
Preferred Environment: Deep mana forests, old-growth groves, luminous woodland regions, high-density natural mana zones
General Traits: Fairy-like appearance, wing-like mana membranes, extreme mana sensitivity, environmental fusion, nonstandard emergence
Elori are an elven-derived sub-lineage that adapted further into mana-rich forest environments than ordinary elves.
Earlier records sometimes describe them as canopy-adapted elves because of their association with deep forests, light bodies, and wing-like features. Modern Registry language uses Elori, since their biology is not only a matter of canopy movement. Elori represent a more extreme form of mana assimilation, where the boundary between body, mana, and natural environment becomes unstable.
Unlike most human-descended populations, Elori appear to have abandoned ordinary reproduction. They do not reliably reproduce through conception, pregnancy, or lineage continuity. Instead, new Elori may emerge from environmental mana under poorly understood conditions. Some records describe them as appearing from thin air, forming out of condensed local mana, plant life, mist, pollen, or light.
The leading theory is that the combined mana signature of an existing Elori population defines the conditions under which a new Elori can form. Under this model, an Elori is not created by a single parent, but by a population-environment resonance.
When an Elori dies, the body disintegrates into a dense cloud of mana capable of causing localized baselaw manipulation. Elori death events are public safety hazards, and several criminal, extremist, and occult organizations have targeted them for that reason.
Stoneskin Dwarves
Parent Lineage: Dwarves
Classification: Amani / Dwarven Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Stoneskins, Ashforge Dwarves, Stonehide Dwarves
Primary Adaptation: Heat resistance and dermal mineralization
Preferred Environment: Volcanic branches of the Colossal Collision Range, active volcanoes, lava tubes, geothermal vents, mineral-heavy ashlands
General Traits: Rock-like skin, heat resistance, blunt-force durability, fire and earth affinity, high-temperature metallurgy
Stoneskin Dwarves are a dwarven-derived sub-lineage that emerged from communities living near volcanic mana vents, lava tubes, geothermal branches, and mineral-heavy ashlands.
Their bodies developed natural heat resistance and dense dermal mineralization. Outsiders often describe their skin as stone-like, though the Registry discourages treating them as non-organic beings.
Stoneskin communities are known for working in environments most other people would consider impossible. Some Stoneskin dwarves prefer to work inside or near active volcanoes, where heat, pressure, and exposed mineral flows allow access to materials that cannot be processed in ordinary workshops.
This specialization shapes their craft culture. Stoneskin metallurgy tends to favor high-durability metals and alloys with very high melting points. Their tools, armor, anchors, structural supports, containment plates, and industrial components are often exceptional.
The same habits make delicate jewelry difficult for many Stoneskin workshops. Their tools, materials, and work rhythm are optimized for strength, heat, and durability, not fine ornamentation.
Krasnibis
Parent Lineage: Beastmen
Classification: Amani / Beastman Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Snowclaw Clans, Whitefur Beastmen, Northern Hunters
Primary Adaptation: Snowfield camouflage and tundra hunting
Preferred Environment: Northern frontier zones, snowfields, tundra, glacier borders, cold mana streams, high-altitude winter routes
General Traits: Pre-cataclysm snow leopard-like features, pale fur, cold tolerance, snow camouflage, silent movement, tundra hunting
Krasnibis are a beastman-derived sub-lineage adapted to cold northern environments.
They are most often compared to pre-cataclysm snow leopards because of their pale fur, spotted patterns, cold-weather build, silent movement, and extraordinary hunting ability in snow-covered terrain. In deep winter conditions, Krasnibis hunters can become nearly invisible to the untrained eye.
Krasnibis coat coloration depends partly on environment. Those who live in colder regions usually maintain white or pale coats suited for snow camouflage. Krasnibis who live in warmer areas tend to grow more brownish coats, reducing their snowfield camouflage but improving concealment in rock, grass, dirt, forest edge, and dry highland terrain.
Wayrunner Beastmen
Parent Lineage: Beastmen
Classification: Amani / Beastman Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Wayrunners, Longstride Clans, Road Beastmen, Caravan Clans
Primary Adaptation: Long-distance travel, endurance, and route survival
Preferred Environment: Trade corridors, grasslands, dry frontier roads, seasonal migration routes, convoy paths between Amani settlements and Indomitable markets
General Traits: Powerful lower limbs, high stamina, efficient mana metabolism, strong navigation instincts, route memory
Wayrunner Beastmen are a beastman-derived sub-lineage formed by generations of nomadic travel, caravan work, seasonal movement, courier labor, and route-keeping between scattered settlements.
Unlike sub-lineages defined by one fixed environment, Wayrunners adapted to movement itself. Their biology and culture developed around distance, route memory, stamina, navigation, hospitality codes, border crossing, and convoy survival.
Wayrunner communities became essential to frontier commerce. They worked as couriers, merchants, caravan guards, pathfinders, diplomats, scouts, smugglers, emergency messengers, and evacuation route runners.
Titans
Parent Lineage: Giants
Classification: Amani / Giant Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Heavyframe Giants, Fortress Giants
Primary Adaptation: Load-bearing strength and structural endurance
Preferred Environment: Open highlands, fortified frontier corridors, heavy construction zones, river crossings, evacuation routes, fortress towns
General Traits: Larger frames, extreme strength, high endurance, reinforced joints, strong construction culture
Titans are a giant-derived sub-lineage associated with heavy construction, fortress building, evacuation defense, disaster response, and large-scale infrastructure.
They are still Giants. The name does not indicate a separate species or mythic origin. It refers to giant populations whose bodies and cultures became specialized around physical endurance, structural support, and public works.
Potential / Under Review Sub-Lineages
The following classifications are proposed or under review. They may be used for future worldbuilding, but should not be treated as fully standardized unless later promoted into the main Registry.
Sanguine Amani
Parent Lineage: Elven, mixed, or medically divergent Amani populations
Classification: Proposed Amani Regional / Medical Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Sanguine Amani, Bloodline Amani, Vampires
Primary Adaptation: Blood-compatible mana metabolism
Preferred Environment: Medical enclaves, disease-response settlements, night-shift urban frontiers
General Traits: Iron-rich mana nutrition requirements, strong biological sensing, toxin filtration affinity, possible sunlight sensitivity
Sanguine Amani are a proposed classification for Amani populations with blood-linked mana metabolism.
Their bodies may require iron-rich mana nutrition, blood-derived medical compounds, or synthetic hemomana supplements. Historical fear of this requirement produced vampire-like rumors.
Reedwalk Amani
Parent Lineage: Elven, beastman, or mixed wetland populations
Classification: Proposed Amani Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Reedwalk Amani, Marsh Amani, Wetland Lineages
Primary Adaptation: Wetland survival and toxin resistance
Preferred Environment: Marshes, mangroves, reed seas, mana-rich wetlands
General Traits: Strong balance, toxin resistance, amphibious settlement culture, water-sensitive mana perception
Reedwalk Amani are a proposed classification for Amani communities adapted to wetland environments.
They may specialize in marsh agriculture, water filtration, poison resistance, and concealed movement through flooded terrain.
Lumen Elves
Parent Lineage: Elves
Classification: Proposed Elven Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Lumen Elves, Glow Elves, Lightvein Amani
Primary Adaptation: Low-light vision and bioluminescent mana expression
Preferred Environment: Luminous caves, glow forests, underground mana gardens
General Traits: Bioluminescent markings, strong low-light perception, light-based magic affinity
Lumen Elves are a proposed elven sub-lineage adapted to dim, luminous environments where mana-active organisms provide most ambient light.
Skyline Amani
Parent Lineage: Elven or beastman highland populations
Classification: Proposed Amani Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Skyline Amani, Cliff Amani, Highwind Lineages
Primary Adaptation: Vertical terrain and wind exposure
Preferred Environment: Cliffs, high plateaus, mountain ridges, aerial trade routes
General Traits: Strong balance, wind magic affinity, gliding or climbing culture, cliffside settlements
Skyline Amani are a proposed classification for communities adapted to high-altitude and vertical terrain.
Glassvein Dwarves
Parent Lineage: Dwarves
Classification: Proposed Dwarven Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Glassvein Dwarves, Crystal Dwarves, Lenswright Dwarves
Primary Adaptation: Crystal desert survival and light-reactive mineral exposure
Preferred Environment: Crystal deserts, glass fields, high-heat mineral basins
General Traits: Crystal trace deposits, lenscraft, mirage magic affinity, heat tolerance
Glassvein Dwarves are a proposed dwarven sub-lineage adapted to crystal-rich deserts and glassed landscapes.
Mire Giants
Parent Lineage: Giants
Classification: Proposed Giant Regional Sub-Lineage
Common Terms: Mire Giants, Floodplain Giants, Swamp Giants
Primary Adaptation: Floodplain stability and waterlogged terrain survival
Preferred Environment: Swamps, floodplains, river deltas, wet frontier basins
General Traits: Stable footing, strong flood defense culture, waterlogged-terrain movement, disease resistance
Mire Giants are a proposed giant sub-lineage adapted to wetland and floodplain environments.
Cross-Lineage Descriptors
Manatypical
Classification: Mana Response Descriptor
Common Terms: Manatypical, Average Mana Profile
Applies To: Any human-descended population
Status: Not a lineage
Manatypical describes an individual whose mana ability falls within the average or expected range.
It is not a lineage, ethnicity, race, or separate human variant. A Baseline Human, Amana, Elf, Beastman, Dwarf, Giant, or member of a regional sub-lineage can be described as manatypical if their mana response falls within standard measured limits.
In ordinary usage, “manatypical” often means someone with basic or average magical ability. In scientific usage, it refers more specifically to a normal mana response profile for a given population.
Mana-Graced
Classification: High Mana Response Descriptor
Common Terms: Mana-Graced, High-Capacity, High-Sensitivity
Applies To: Any human-descended population, especially high-exposure lineages
Status: Not a lineage
Mana-Graced describes individuals or lineages with unusually strong mana capacity, mana sensitivity, or mana compatibility.
The term is especially associated with elves and other high-exposure Amani populations, but it is not exclusive to them. A person from any human-descended population may be classified as mana-graced if their mana profile is sufficiently high.
In older or more poetic speech, mana-graced individuals may be described as blessed, beloved by mana, or chosen by the changed world. The Registry treats these as cultural interpretations rather than scientific descriptions.
Registry Warning: On Classification Abuse
The Anthropological Registry exists to document and understand human variation, not to rank the worth of different peoples.
Classification systems were historically used to justify confinement, involuntary research, segregation, displacement, and political violence. During the Reconstruction Period, many demi-human children were treated first as medical conditions and only later as people. During Divergence, the demand for recognition as fellow humans became one of the central causes of political fracture between Indomitable and the demi-human populations.
Modern Registry doctrine treats classification as descriptive, not hierarchical. A Baseline Human, Amana, Elf, Beastman, Dwarf, Giant, regional sub-lineage member, or other divergent person is part of humanity.
The Registry has one unavoidable limitation: it tries to place clean labels on a history that was not clean. The Cataclysm did not create new peoples from nothing. It changed humanity unevenly and violently, then left the survivors to argue over who counted as human.
Environment, lifespan, mana response, and visible traits affect lived experience, but they do not define worth or destiny. A Crownline does not have to become a ritual stabilizer. An Elori is not a forest spirit. A Stoneskin does not have to be a forge worker. A Krasnibis is not automatically a hunter. A Wayrunner can settle down. A Titan can become a scholar, artist, medic, or administrator.