Shinvaqi

Shinvaqi is a general term for the inhabitants of T'vaqi that existed before the island's First Unification period (prior to 3400 TT). It is commonly used to refer to a hypothetical prehistoric race that could have been the direct predecessor to the T'vaqi race. The modern T'vaqi race ranges in skin coloration from pale to dark gray, generally accepted to be due to the influence of the Perpetual Storm; this has raised the possibility that prehistoric denizens of T'vaqi could have had a radically different appearance. The precise physical characteristics of the Shinvaqi are impossible to verify, prompting the creation of several theories as to what they looked like. Many of these theories emerged post-Calming.

Theories

Eastern Model

The Eastern Model posits that the Shinvaqi were green or green-gray in skin coloration before gradually losing their pigmentation due to an encroaching Storm. This theory is based on the several eastern islands whose native races are entirely or partly green-skinned (including Akaria, Siô eee, Hapšâw, and Kelelemi). The assumption is made that, since T'vaqi is a part of this "eastern belt", its original inhabitants may have been green-skinned.

Northern Model

The Northern Model claims that the Shinvaqi were initially pale white, and that the Storm gradually withdrew from the island over millennia, causing those inland to receive more sunlight and develop a darker skin tone over time. The Northern Model is named so because it places T'vaqi on the end of a "northern belt" consisting of Spyron and the Isles of Joy. This theory existed pre-Calming, but knowledge of pale northern races provided it with stronger credibility.

Diverse Model

The Diverse Model may refer to any model which claims the Shinvaqi to have been more than one race. These theories state that the many constituent Shinvaqi races simply homogenized over millennia.

Singular Model

The Singular Model argues that the Shinvaqi were mostly identical to the modern T'vaqi race. This is usually coupled with the assumption that humans have lived on T'vaqi for many thousands of years longer than can be verified.