The Many Types of Beastmen (The Outlands)

This entire post has been transferred from FFXI Encyclopedia article found here.

According to legend, the beastmen were created by the god Promathia during the Age of Darkness, their sole purpose is to destroy the five races, created by the Goddess Altana. However, the discoveries of adventurers have revealed the truth, that all life is equal. Here are all of the beastman races that have been encountered by Middle Land adventurers so far.

Antica

The Antica have transformed the former Galkan capital of Altepa into the central location of their empire, which spreads across the islands of Kuzotz. Their militaristic society is built upon advanced personnel management abilities. Upon birth, all individuals are given a number, and a job for which they spend the rest of their lives training. Apart from the information needed to perform their duties, the individual is not allowed any other knowledge. An Antica is only allowed to transfer positions to become a gladiator (used for population control).

The Antica have no concept of personal belongings. All equipment is provided by the Empire, and food rations are based solely on the duties performed by the individual. However, due to their lack of emotion, there is not a single Antica who feels discontent towards this system. This can also be seen on the battlefield. No matter the situation, the lack of fluctuation in morale is the Antica's greatest strength.

Another strength lies in the sheer number of Antica soldiers. In addition to their active legions, an enormous surplus of soldiers lies in stasis within the Antica's stronghold. When revived, the size of their army can increase a hundredfold. However, due to their lack of naval technology, only a few of their troops were able to participate in the Great War campaigns carried out on Quon; their presence had little effect on the outcome of the battles. It is widely believed that had the full Antican army participated in the battles on Quon, the allied forces surely would have been defeated.

While the Antica communicate by fricative sounds made within their necks, they are unable to release loud war cries like the other beastmen. This results in an eerie silence on the battlefield that can send chills down the spine of even the bravest warrior.

Sahagin

These amphibious beastmen reside mainly on the western coastline of the island of Elshimo. They spend the majority of their time practicing primitive fishing techniques to provide an ample supply of shellfish for their survival. Other than to protect their territory, the Sahagin rarely interact with other races. Before the Great War, they adamantly refused invitations by the Shadow Lord to join the beastmen armies--until he convinced them that the steamships of Bastok would eventually destroy their environment. During the war, the Sahagin used their sea maneuvering abilities to attack even the strongest ships in the allied fleet, and were feared by all seafaring soldiers. After the flames of battle had been extinguished, the Sahagin cut off all ties to the other beastmen and returned to their secluded way of life. Apart from limited trading with Norg--they often trade shellfish for metal trinkets salvaged by the pirates--the Sahagin have little contact with the outside world.

Finally, many of the Sahagin worship the elements, and have made deities out of sea serpents and oddly shaped stones within their grotto. However, within their ranks are some who follow the teachings of the Goddess Altana.

Tonberries

These tiny beastmen live solely in the Yhoator Jungle on the eastern half of Elshimo. The Tonberries possess a great deal of anger, or "rancor," in their hearts. It is this anger that binds them as a tribe while driving them to commit terrible acts against all other beings. During the Great War, the majority of the Tonberries remained in their stronghold, the Temple of Uggalepih. However, a few elite members of the tribe were sent to the Shadow Lord to act as his secret agents. These Tonberries would often sneak into the castles of the allied forces and assassinate important generals or political figures. Feared around Vana'diel, these beastmen were often referred to as the "invisible killers."

According to the Tonberries' religion, their creator, the Goddess Uggalepih, had beauty that was envied by the Goddess Altana. A furious Altana transformed Uggalepih into a hideous beast and exiled her to the Outlands. Revenge for Altana's actions is said to be one of the origins of their rancor.

Finally, the reason why they are never found without their lanterns or knives is explained in the following verses, often chanted by the Tonberries before battle:

"O brothersss of rancor, take up thy lanternsss, The truth we shall illuminate. O sistersss of rancor, take up thy knives, To cleave our foesss with barren hate. Through this we ssseek our just reward; Our goddess's glory be ressstored."

Some adventurers and scholars, in recent years, have happened upon circumstantial evidence that links the Tonberry populations in the Temple of Uggalepih, and the Tenshodo-managed ruins of Pso'Xja located in the Northlands district of the Beaucedine Glacier to one of the two ancient races of beings who are thought to have inhabited Vanadiel 10,000 years ago, before the rise of the Five Races.

These adventurers' findings suggest that this race of ancients became degenerate and corrupted by the after effects of an enormous explosion, possibly linked to many of the ancient cermet structures used for teleportation magic around the world. The ruins of the ancient city of Fei'Yin, located at the north end of Beaucedine Glacier, are thought to be the home of the other ancient race, with whom the Tonberries' ancestors waged a final battle, that seems to have destroyed most of those two races, paving the way for the rise of Five races and the Beastmen as well.