Thiren

Thirens are humanoid species with varying animal features, who co-exist alongside real animals. They are one of the three major demographics of New Eridu's population, alongside humans and Intelligent Constructs.

Description

Biology

Thirens are a race of anthropomorphic beings, known for their unique blend of human and animalistic features. Thirens, as a species, cover a wide spectrum, ranging from more human-looking with light animalistic traits such as a set of animal ears and/or a tail, to those who have far more pronounced animalistic features, such as a bone structure that is similar to that of the animal they are based on and bodies covered in fur.

Thirens have a naturally high resistance to Ether. However, this aptitude functions like a bell curve, where if they undergo Corruption, it overtakes them faster than humans, and often damages their fur given corruption's tendency to affect hair quite quickly.^[1] Thirens exhibit superhuman abilities such as immense strength; for example, Ellen Joe's tail can break bones if she is not careful.^[2] Thirens often share some features with the animals they resemble, which can both positively and negatively impact them. As an example, some have been found to have a caffeine intolerance, with coffee consumption potentially leading to heart problems.^[3]

Based on the Inter-Knot Post "Have you got any recommendations for Thiren hair products?", more animalistic Thirens may be referred to as "beast Thirens," while in other cases, those who have a body covered in fur are simply called "furry Thirens."^[4]

History

While the origins of Thirens are unknown, they have existed since before the founding of Eridu, as when space exploration was prevalant, bear Thirens were noted to have been among those cosmonauts who ventured in to space. Multiple Thiren became part of the city's population upon its founding, such the Void Hunter "Swordmaster" along with the rest of the Hoshimi Family, and the giant panda Thiren Big Pan, while other groups such as the tiger Thirens chose to establish their own civilizations and live seperately from Eridu. Thiren have always made significant contributions to society, with multiple instances of high profile Thirens as part of the upper eschelons of society and in scientific fields.

In New Eridu, Thirens are recognized as citizens by default, and are found in all walks of life. While some Thiren groups such as bear and feline Thirens are common, others are quite rare, such as tiger, giant panda and turtle Thirens, as not all Thiren groups have equal populations to one another. Though Thirens are capable of being incorporated in to human families, this seems to be a rare occurence, as Komano Manato's adoptive siblings, A-Yuet and A-Cing, were noteworthy enough that Manato had to explain the situation to Phaethon when they first encountered them.^[5] Currently, almost all known families with Thirens in them are entirely made up of Thirens, and all of the same type.

It is considered rude to touch the tail of a tailed Thiren, unless the person is a close companion. This cultural taboo is known both in New Eridu and the Outer Ring.^[6]

Thiren Types

Thirens are grouped by the animal they resemble.

For organizational purposes, this wiki lists Thirens per the taxonomic family of the animal they resemble (with the exception of winged Thirens, for whom this cannot be applied), where applicable in-game terminology is used.

Boar
Bovid (Bovine, Goat)
Canine (Dog, Fox, Wolf)
Feline (Cat, Lion, Lynx, Tiger)
Horse
Octopus
Orangutan
Rat
Rabbit
Red Panda
Turtle
Shark
Snake
Ursine (Brown Bear, Giant Panda, Polar Bear)
Winged

Boar Thiren

Boar Thirens are currently only known to appear in more animalistic forms, and are red-skinned rather than having the natural skin tones or fur colors of pig species.

There are 4 Boar Thiren:

Bovid Thiren

Bovid Thirens currently appear exclusively in more human-like forms. There are two known types of bovid Thiren: bovine (cow) Thirens and goat Thirens.

Lucia Elowen

Lucia

There are 4 Bovid Thiren:

Goat Thiren

Goat Thirens have furred ears and curling horns on the top of their head. While most known goat Thirens have eyes identical to humans, at least one (Lucia Elowen) has rectangular, horizontal pupils. The majority of known goat Thirens known have been members of the Nightwatchers, though it is unknown if this tribe is specific to goat Thirens.

Feline Thiren

Feline Thirens appear in both animalistic and human-like forms. When a Feline Thiren gets positive reinforcement from aggressive behavior, their latent animalistic tendencies emerge; these tendencies are, however, temporary.^[7] Cats show a higher degree of friendliness towards Feline Thirens than other people.^[8]

There are four known types of feline Thiren: cat (which further has Maine Coon and Siamese varieties),^[9] lion, lynx, and tiger.

Ju Fufu

Nekomiya Mana

Nekomata

Pulchra Fellini

Pulchra

Seth Lowell

Seth

There are 9 Feline Thiren:

Cat Thiren

Cat Thirens are sensitive to catnip, which makes them purr uncontrollably.^[10] They like fish^[11] and have a few dietary restrictions, such as teamilk due to its high sugar content, noodles for its oiliness, and any wheat product for how quickly they would digest it.^[12]

They enjoy basking in the sun^[13] and the scent of grass,^[14] though cat Thirens also have allergies to particular kinds of flowers, such as lilies.^[15]

They have strong predatory instincts, enjoying gacha boxes for their resemblance to prey in a trap,^[16] and games like hide-and-seek.^[17]

Tiger Thiren

Tiger Thirens once dwelled in their own settlement in the mountains outside of Eridu, having their own cultural heritage and artifacts. One such artifact is the W-Engine known as the "Tigerbane Bell," which was created as a weapon that could stand on par with Void Hunter Weapons, though it was flawed in its creation, causing it to only work by sacrificing another tiger Thiren, whose ether energies would then empower the wielder, as long as they themselves were a tiger Thiren. Other users of the bell would simply become corrupted.

During the Fall of the Old Capital, the tiger Thirens' settlement was consumed by a companion Hollow of Hollow Zero. An incredibly powerful Ethereal rampaged through the settlement, killing all in its path. The resulting catastrophe led to 98% of the registered tiger Thiren population being killed, with the survivors mostly being the young, elderly or sick.^[18] It is currently estimated by Fairy that only 20 individual tiger Thirens are alive today.

The Tigerbane Bell was believed to be lost in this event, but was later recovered by Master Tiger who used it multiple times to devour his own kin. Shortly after Phaethon joined Yunkui Summit, Ju Fufu apprehended him and he was handed over to Public Security.

Tiger Thirens tend to talk at a higher volume than an average person would.^[19] They are said to have a preference for meat in their diet.^[20]

Canine Thiren

Canine Thirens appear in both animalistic and human-like forms. They have excellent sense of smell and hearing. There are three known types of canine Thiren: dog (which further has the Pekingese variety),^[21] fox, and wolf.

Hoshimi Miyabi

Miyabi

Komano Manato

Manato

Von Lycaon

Lycaon

There are 6 Canine Thiren:

Fox Thiren

A known Fox Thiren family is the Hoshimi Family, who have long fox ears. Though "Swordmaster" is shown to have multiple tails, Hoshimi Miyabi and her mother both do not have tails.

Wolf Thiren

Wolf Thirens are sensitive to moon phases, especially the full moon.^[22] Currently, all known wolf Thirens have been animalistic in form.

Horse Thiren

Horse Thirens are currently only known to appear in human-like forms.

Sigrid de L'Azur

Sigrid

Orangutan Thiren

Orangutan Thirens are currently only known to appear in more animalistic forms. They share the same sexual dimorphism as orangutans, with males have wide cheek pads.

There are 1 Orangutan Thiren:

Bellum

Rabbit Thiren

Rabbit Thirens appear in both animalistic and human-like forms. They are noted for having good eyesight. They are also prone to shedding their fur, which can make it difficult for them to keep furry pets.^[23]

Alice Thymefield

Alice

Zhao

There are 2 Rabbit Thiren:

Rat Thiren

Rat Thirens currently only appear in more human-like forms. They are known for versatility and survival skills, but they are also sometimes sterotyped as having an inclination for rooting through trash.^[24]^[25]

Jane Doe

Jane

Octopus Thiren

Octopus Thirens have variable forms, with some having four octupus arm-like appendages on their back, resembling tails, bringing their total number of limbs up to eight. Others have octopus arms coming out of their head, resembling hair. Each arm has a form of autonomy, described as acting upon the Thiren's true inner desires.^[26]

Yidhari Murphy

Yidhari

There are 2 Octopus Thiren:

Shark Thiren

A Shark Thiren's tail is strong to the point they might accidentally break someone's bones by simply swaying or wiggling it.^[2]

Ellen Joe

Ellen

Snake Thiren

Snake Thirens are "cold-blooded," making them sensitive to heat changes in the environment. They are particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures, but can also get heatstroke when temperatures are too hot for them.^[27] They are incredibly agile and flexible, and are capable of both walking upright and slithering across surfaces. They have an extremely strong sense of smell and also have the ability to see and track the Ether traces left behind by living things.^[28]

Cissia

Turtle Thiren

Turtle Thirens have yet to appear in-game, and are noted as being as rare as Panda Thirens.^[29]

Ursine Thiren

Bear Thirens are one of the more common Thiren types found in New Eridu.^[30] There are three known types of ursine Thiren: Brown Bear, Giant Panda, and Polar Bear. All types are collectively all known as bear Thirens.

Currently, no human-like bear Thirens are known, as all examples of bear Thirens that have appeared so far are more animalistic in form. While Thirens in general have naturally high Ether aptitude, bear Thirens' aptitude is exceptional.^[31] This attribute allows them to excel in Hollow-related jobs and activities, explaining why they are a top-pick for in-Hollow construction projects, with Bear Thirens making up around 80% of Belobog Heavy Industries' staff.^[32]

Bear Thirens have made significant contributions to New Eridu, notably in the field of space exploration. Historical records reveal that there were Bear Thiren cosmonauts who ventured into space, showcasing their resilience and adaptability.^[33] Despite this, their impressive size and intimidating presence leads to Bear Thirens being considered dangerous by some people, with some falsely assuming they eat intelligent lifeforms.^[34]

Bear Thirens are known for their calm demeanor and resistance to stress.^[35] They maintain their composure under pressure, a trait that sets them apart from many other species. Despite this, they are known for being impatient when found in combat situations.^[36]

Ben Bigger

Ben

Pan Yinhu

There are 14 Bear Thiren:

Giant Panda Thiren

Giant Panda Thirens are a rare sight in New Eridu. ^[37] Despite this, they maintain positive relations with other kinds of bear Thirens.^[38] They also have thick skin that lets them handle a variety of temperatures with ease, and are omnivores rather than complete herbivores.^[39]

Winged Thiren

Winged Thirens have a third pair of limbs in the form of wings, but otherwise lack any discernable animal features. The only known example of a winged Thiren has feathered wings, but it is unknown if this is true for all winged Thirens. In a similar manner to how most Thiren do not like their tails being touched except by close friends, winged Thirens are selective in who they allow to touch their wings. They also have to deal with the hassle of cleaning up shed feathers and sea salt sticking to their feathers, causing them to become sticky and uncomfortable.^[40]

Remielle Dan

Remielle

Unknown Thirens

Some characters are confirmed to be Thirens, but there is lacking information to identify them under specific types.

Unknown/Unclassified
- Holly
- Matt
- Mira
- Nangong Yu
- Sienna
- Tomiya
- Ye Shiyuan
- Ye Shunguang
- Zandra
- Zeppelin

Trivia

The Beaverson Beauty Salon specializes in Thiren hair and fur care.^[41]
Vitamin deficiency is the most likely cause of Thiren fur getting easily tangled.^[42]
Some Thirens can turn their head up to 270 degrees.^[43]

Etymology

The term "Thiren" derives from the Ancient Greek term θήρ thḗr, "beast"; it is possible it acts as a portmanteau of the Greek θήρ thḗr (beast) and the Chinese 人 rén (person) "beast person," since the Chinese version is a compound of phonetic 希 xī and 人 rén, "human, person".
- The choice of 希 xī as a phonetic equivalent of θήρ thḗr might be given by the Modern Greek pronunciation, where η is read the same way as the Chinese i in 希 xī.
- Thiren shares its etymological root with Theria, a subclass of mammals, which could also be an inspiration for the term.

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Thiren
Chinese (Simplified)	希人 Xīrén
Chinese (Traditional)	希人 Xīrén
Japanese	シリオン Shirion
Korean	시렌 Siren
Spanish	Semihumano
French	Thirien
Russian	Тирен Tiren
Thai	มนุษย์สัตว์
Vietnamese	Người Thú
German	Thiren
Indonesian	Thiren
Portuguese	Tireno