Hefili are the chosen species of Xuanbao. Hefili were incarnated on the Yystra and Fi islands in the Skebein Ocean, and sailed from there to settle much of the world. They live predominantly along coasts, but some prefer lakeshores, riverbanks, or even marshes.
Early hefili were the first of the chosen species to develop sailing. As intrepid adventurers, they quickly started exploring the shores of Lamaris, meeting other species, and joining their settlements. Settlements exclusively inhabited by hefili are quite rare, even island towns often have some Zorrah influence to them. Ancient hefili culture and architecture is probably best represented by the statues and shrines built to honor their ancestors.
Many other species regard hefili as passionate and adventerous folk who know how to celebrate. Hefili are often the first to invoke positive memories and inspire others to carry on during times of great hardship. Hefili funerals are rarely a somber event, but rather a celebration of the deceased's life. Some people are not as fond of their constant cheerfulness, and interpret it as disrespectful or naive.
Hefili physiology is similar in most aspects to humans. The hefili body consists of a head, neck, and torso, with two arms and two legs. Hefili have a similar hair density to humans, but hefili hair is thicker and darker, especially on their back, legs, and feet. Hefili have broader and flatter facial features than humans. Hefili are sexually dimorphic: males generally have greater body strength and females have a higher body fat percentage. Most adult hefili are between 92-120 cm (3'0"-3'11") tall, with little variation between males and females. Hefili reach sexual maturity at around 19 years old and have an average lifespan of 82 years.
Hefili are omnivorous, capable of eating a wide variety of plant and animal material with their molars and a few short canine teeth, and can survive for up to four weeks without food and three days without water. Hefili are generally vespertine, meaning they are most active around dusk. For most hefili the ideal sleep pattern begins in the middle of the night and ends well past sunrise, usually lasting around nine to ten hours. Childbirth is dangerous, with a high risk of complications and death. Hefili children are raised communally, spend much of their time with children of similar ages, and are offered a great amount of freedom to learn and explore.
Like all creatures, genes and the environment influence biological variation in visible characteristics, physiology, disease susceptibility, mental abilities, body size, and life span. Though hefili vary in many traits, any two hefili are at least 99% genetically similar.