This is an explanation as to why there are sentient, humanoid animal pirates in the early 18th century.

Daestia (derived from Latin daemon: demon and bestia: beast) are special animals that have been effected by enra (one of the forms of magical energy that flow around and through this world) which if stimulated within an infant animal at birth will cause the animals to change in intellect and form. Said stimulation can rarely happen on its own but it can also happen if someone provokes it or if the magical balance in area has been thrown out of whack (in Pirate Tails this was done when Edward Teach preformed his curse).

They have been feared or rejected by most human societies as freaks (hence the name) but some cultures like the Egyptians have excepted them calling them things like “gifted ones” or “creatures of the gods”.

There are three known forms of daestia.
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Basic Daestia
These are animals with an anthropomorphic body structure, increased vocabulary and intelligence as well as a lengthened lifespan.

Other effects specific to curtain species

Skunks spray is just replaced with foul smelling flatulence that can be produced by the skunk whenever it wants.

Some of the legs on certain arthropods are converted into arms
Honey bees and other bees with barbed stingers lose the barbs so they can sting over and over again.

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If both of an infant animals parents are daestia then it will be as well but if only one is then there is a 30% chance of it being a daestia, 40% chance of it being a semi- daestia and a 30% chance of it being a normal animal.
A daestia can be born into a family of non-daestia.

Some animals can’t handle the stress of a anthropomorphic mutation and die at birth.

When a daestia dies the enra leaves its body and its structure slowly reverts to its natural form.
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Semi-Daestia
Like a basic daestia but without the anthropomorphic structure.

Other effects specific to curtain species

Honey bees and other bees with barbed stingers lose the barbs so they can sting over and over again.

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If both of an infant animals parents are semi-daestia then there is a 30% chance of it being a daestia, 50% chance of it being a semi-daestia and a 20% chance of it being a normal animal but if only one is then there is a 20% chance of it being a daestia, 30% chance of it being a semi-daestia and a 50% chance of it being a normal animal.
A daestia can be born into a family of non-daestia.
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Advanced-Daestia

These animals were once daestia but their species have been daestia for so long that evolution has locked them into that form.

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The only known advanced-daestia species is the homo sapien (human).