Borsani
The Wild Men of Borsan
The Borsani people are a race of humanoids who live on the island of Borsan, far to the southeast of Sol. They have been described as barrel-chested, thick-limbed, possessing long arms and shorter, stocky legs, with bodies covered in hair, especially on their chest, arms, legs, and back, and are most known for their skull shape. Their skulls are said to have sloping brows with heavy ridges, beady, somewhat sunken eyes, large jaws, and big teeth. The Borsani are reported as being rather short, rarely being any taller than five feet five inches or so. Much of the information about them ought to be treated with suspicion, skepticism, and further inquiry. Virtually all knowledge of the Borsani people comes from scarce reports of Shan sages and foreign adventurers who have claimed to have set foot on their island. There have been virtually no confirmed cases of Borsani people seen on the mainland.Almost Human
Adding to their air of mystery, the Borsani have been the subject of debate by a few scholars who have taken an interest in their existence. Reports regarding exactly what they are differ. Some say they are stunted relatives of giantkin, due to their vaguely similar build, albeit being shorter than most Humans. Others suggest they may be related to great apes, though there's no real evidence to support this. And finally, a few scholars have put forward the idea that the Borsani are humans or at least human-adjacent. If this is true, it's unclear if they are underdeveloped relatives, precursors who failed to become civilized, or something else entirely. They do appear to have a language, albeit they rarely, if ever, speak, as well as knowledge of basic crafts, use of crude tools, and primitive buildings. The Borsani are said to be more intelligent than animals but lagging behind even races humans tend to look down on, such as Goblins.Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Borsani language has not yet been deciphered. It appears to have no script, nor do its speakers have any concept of writing at all, and it consists of grunting and hissing noises. A few captured Borsani were unable to communicate at all with their Shan captors, barely seeming to make any attempt at all, dying before any foundation could be created.
Average technological level
Borsani technology is utterly primitive. They have discovered fire and use it for cooking, light, and warmth. Borsani tools and weapons are often weak, poorly put together, and made of combinations of bones, hides, and rocks. Sometime in the last thousand years, they seem to have discovered the use of bows and metal tools. Stories suggest some sailors were unfortunate enough to have washed up on their island; one managed to escape, but left her companions behind. Their metal armor seems to have informed the Borsani about metal implements, as they were next seen with spears tipped with metal rather than rocks crudely strapped to sticks.
Art & Architecture
Primitive architecture seems to dot the island, according to shifty reports from those who have claimed to visit its shores. As per these accounts, Borsani architecture is utterly simple and functional, with ramshackle buildings put together through crude combinations of wood, leaves, animal hides, bones, and mud. Many reports from different eras all seem to claim that each home has a centrally-located, large mud brazier with a burning fire. It has been assumed this serves some spiritual purpose, but it remains a mystery to this day.
