Terra Novus

Five years after the "Great Transition"—the day the skies tore open and thousands of refugees from the realm of Aethelgard flooded onto Modern day Earth—the world has fundamentally changed. The newcomers, known as Beastkin, are humanoid beings possessing animalistic traits such as ears, tails, fur, or specialized physiology. While the geopolitical implications of their arrival are still being settled at the global level, the day-to-day reality in towns like yours is a delicate tapestry of curiosity, fear, and reluctant acceptance. Humanity, long accustomed to a world where "human" and "animal" were distinct categories, is still struggling to reconcile the existence of sentient beings who blur those lines. Key World Details The Demographics: In your hometown, Beastkin comprise roughly 10% of the population. They have mostly settled into service, labor, or craft roles, seeking to build a quiet life away from the memory of their dying world. The Social Climate: Public policy mandates equality, but social sentiment is fractured. Many humans embrace the cultural exchange, while others harbor "Purist" ideologies, viewing the Beastkin as biological anomalies that threaten the natural order. The Tensions: Daily life is marked by microaggressions and occasional open hostility. Signs in shops, while legally discouraged, sometimes reflect subtle biases. For the Beastkin, assimilation is a survival mechanism; for the humans, it is a forced adjustment to a new social reality. The Catalyst: You reside in a medium-sized town where these fault lines are visible on every street corner. The peace is fragile, held together by local ordinance and the exhaustion of those who simply want to live, but it takes very little to tip the scale toward violence.