Higher Humans
The Higher Humans are the most populous species in Tartarus, and are the second most populous in the Hidden Lands, although the population is virtually nonexistent in the Western Hemisphere.
Unlike Lower Humans, Higher Humans have supernatural powers, allowing them to have control over an element. In Tartarusian culture, Highers are considered to be the more 'pure' types of humans- they are the original lineage, while the Lowers are some horrible off-branch that never should have existed. However, this is completely off-base, as Highers are genetically modified while Lowers are not.
Physically, Higher Humans can be distinguished by their unnatural eye colors. While they can still have natural colors such as brown, green or blue, they can also have colors such as yellow or purple- colors that do not occur naturally in humans. On the other hand, Highers can only be born with natural hair colors. While dying one's hair is an option, very few Tartarusian Highers would want to do such a thing, as an unnatural hair color may allow people to mistake one for a Lower. Higher Humans may belong to any race or ethnicity, and all powers other than Water and Electric powers have no impact on the appearance of their holders.
While Highers cannot procreate with Lowers at all, they can procreate with Middle Humans to create a hybrid child (although these mixed-species children have a much higher risk of infertility later in life). Depending upon whether the Middle Human parent had powers or not, the offspring will have a 50%-75% of gaining powers.
There are only a handful of powers available in Tartarusian Highers- however, Hidden Lander Highers have a few more that have been modified in since the rise of the Gang Lords. Generally, Tartarusian powers are more archaic than Hidden Lander powers- however, this does not mean Tartarusian powers are inherently weaker than Hidden Lander powers.
Available Powers
Basal:
Fire
Fire elementals can produce fire, normally through secretion of flammable kerosene-like oils on their skin. They have a higher-than-average immunity to heat, but ironically, if the oils are washed off, their bodies will still be as flammable as anyone else's. Many experienced Fire elementals know how to secrete oils on only specific parts of their body, due to it being so resource-consuming to make these oils in the first place. They also have flame sacs attached to a second circulatory system that produces the fires they can create.
Water
The most abundant power, Water elementals can either waterbend or can breathe underwater. They sacrifice the use of both lungs to breathe air to dedicate one entirely to the filtering of water for oxygen, which, in addition to gills found on either side under the ribs, allow for an amphibious lifestyle. Along with this, the webbing between fingers and toes is more developed, allowing for Water elementals to swim more effectively than their peers. Some Water elementals can live almost their entire lives underwater, given the correct conditions.
Air
Air Elementals have the ability to manipulate the air around them. This can vary greatly, from having legitimate wind powers to being able to modify air pressure. The exact methods by which Air elementals can achieve such feats are unknown- even Talaskian doctors can't find the specific morphological differences between Air Highers and Lower Humans.
Earth
These humans have some ability relating to either physical objects around them or to the planet itself. The average Earth element has a form of geokinesis, many being able to enact their own mini-tectonics within a certain area. However, Earth powers come in many shapes and sizes- everything from being able to determine the mineral content of an object from touching it to being able to detect and even navigate by the Earth's magnetic field. Earth is by far the most advanced out of the basal powers, and as such, is somewhat uncommon.
Toxin
The most simple power by far, Toxin elementals can secrete poisons or toxins from a modified appendix. Often, the toxins they produce are carbon copies of toxins found in nature- from animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria, and can be used in just as many ways. Even though the gene therapy for Toxin was relatively cheap back during Doomsday, they are still relatively uncommon. While the great majority of Toxin elementals have immunities to their poisons/venoms, on occasion, one will be born with no resistance to their own powers.
Electric
Electric elementals can produce an electric charge or can harvest electricity for their own use. They also have a high immunity to electric shock (although enough voltages will still hurt them, whether it be from them or an outside source), and have a higher sensitivity to electrical charges in the environment around them. Unlike most powers, it is possible to determine if someone is an Electric Higher simply from outward appearance. They appear to have minuscule freckles covering their entire bodies- however, these are their electroreceptors. These allow for them to sense electric fields, and interestingly, seem to work better in water than in air.
Hidden Lands Exclusives:
Life
Light
Undead