Furries

Furries, known as the "furrman (furmen)" by the Norsemen or "Kegawa" (literally "fur") by the Japanese, are humanoids with eccentric but oddly likable personalities with animal characteristics and bodies.

They're often persecuted and hated by the Crusaders, especially in Europe.

They are found around the world.

Origin
It is believed furries came into existence when a colossal group of regular humans went to colder regions. One group went north to Scandinavia, and soon turned into the Norsemen. Another went east in search of rare animals to eat. This group found the animals but were so amazed by their intelligence and looks that they began to tame them, then mate with them, and eventually worship them. Soon, due to the odd chance of cross-breeding and adaptation to the cold lands, the group began to grow fur and look more like the animals they loved and mated. These people became the first furries.

Later, once furries were common, animal worship declined somewhat (though came back in full-force later), mostly by those who would migrate west, and many furries migrated from what would one day be known as Russia, which would be known as the "home" of the furries. Some went around the world while others stayed, but a majority went west to discover what would soon be their ultimate rivals; the Crusaders.

When the furries first met the Crusaders, they immediately got off on a terrible start: at the time, some brutal Crusader lords discovered that they could force others to do their work for them (slavery). When these lords found immigrant furries, they actually thought them to be gifts from God and/or the Bread Boys to help with slavery. The reasoning, while stupid now, wasn't that incorrect at the time; animals were great for farm labor, and men could also be used for labor. Many Crusaders reasoned that when you combine them, you could essentially have a double-slave.

The furries, while not having weapons, fought with tooth and nail against swords and pitchforks. This lead to the heated conflict between them, which lead to claims that furries were children of Satan and lovers of sin, further creating conflict.

In some parts of Europe, furry slavery is still allowed, and in others, accepted or even expected.

Areas
The Furries are found across the globe, but don't usually own any areas of land, mainly being subjugated by the stronger and more unified Crusaders. They do, however, have a few areas of "pure furry" control.

Russia
Russia is the "home" of furries, and while most of the first group of furries migrated across the globe, a large portion stayed in Russia. Due to the ability to mate with common animals, the furries in Russia began to multiply at a staggering rate, though at the expense of having slightly more eccentric offspring. After the population grew, the furries spread throughout Russia, making settlements and villages to live in, which they made based on Crusader design. As they grew bigger, the villages began to find other settlements and other furries. But unlike Crusaders- who would usually try and take over the other village to become powerful- the villages welcomed each other's company, and lived in peaceful harmony. Furry on furry wars rarely happened, and they usually occurred only when it was because one furry chief or ruler decided to test Crusader ideals of conquering stuff. As they grew, they made bigger cities and towns, and began building temples and castles in honor of good furry leaders and gods. Russia, while not truly unified by the furries, remains the central hub of furry control, and the most fortified.

Japan
In Hokkaido, Kegawa (furries) and Kegawa clans are very common. While in most parts of Japan, the average weeb outnumbers the furry 18 to 1, in Hokkaido, the furries outnumber the weebs 3 to 1, due to migrating from Russia in both old and recent years. The furries there range from actual samurai furries (Furubushiddo) to furry bandit groups to savages who worship the oldest Russian furry gods and live in the wild.

Americas
The Furries that migrated to America before the world got warmer ended up adopting Native American cultures and practices, and worshipped "gods" such as Sin'Ka'Lip and the Great Spirit Chief rather than their native Russian gods. Due to no one but other Natives being in America, the furries there are mainly unaffected by specific prejudice or slavery, like their European and Eurasian brethren.

Russian Beliefs
Despite the worship of animals having declined and many furries leaving west, in Russia, animal worship steadily rose once again, and eventually, worship of animals wasn't just common practice- it was life itself for the Russian furries. There is no centralized god in furry Russia; when one furry tells another his animal of worship, it is immediately accepted by the furry being told. While one would expect that meat be forbidden, many furries worship carnivorous animals, and thus see eating meat as a form of thanks to their deities. Around Russia, wooden houses showing statues of animals- usually made from wood- are common, and are the equivalent of a Crusader Church in furry eyes.

Japanese Beliefs
In Japan, the Kegawa beliefs vary, but many have adapted to worship the Japanese Shinto gods, most notably Inari, who they believe takes the form of the fox and uses foxes as his messengers (though many priests have debunked the theory that Inari is a fox and is actually humanoid in form, most Kegawa- as well as non-furry citizens of Japan- believe they take the form of a fox after their messengers).

American Beliefs
The beliefs of American furries ranges for each tribe they inhabit; some tribes still follow the Russian beliefs of animal's being gods, while others belief their human-founded tribe's beliefs.