Lapiths

From Turtledove

Lapiths, also known as mans, were a fully humanoid species which appeared one day in the interior of eastern Europe and the Tin Isle. Their bodies seemed to be a pure expression of the template which the gods had mixed with parts of animals in all other intelligent creatures. They were also possessed of a tremendous intellectual curiosity. Most of all, they were distinguished by a sense of tremendous self-assurance, believing themselves inherently superior to all other mortal beings. They also believed that they were entitled by right to whatever they wanted to take from less formidable creatures, such as Nuggies, vampires, and centaurs.

On the Tin Isle, Lapiths took possession of the land from the Nuggies, who promptly began to die of shame when they came into contact with the Lapiths, whom they knew as mans. In eastern Europe, the Lapiths had no difficulty passing through the territory of the vampires and into the centaurs' homeland. The centaurs offered the Lapiths battle, but were soundly defeated and most of their population was killed. The few centaurs who survived wandered about the territories surrounding the Inner Sea while the Lapiths inhabited their homeland merely because they believed they deserved to do so.