On the Origin of Races

I've never bothered recruiting Shryke, but I've found a clue to the lore in her dialogue package. Upon entering Vain with Shryke in the party, she (a Scorchlander) will ruminate on Hive trade culture. If you have any Hivers in your party, they'll get into a dispute about it, highlighted in blue in the image. If you also have a Skeleton in your party, they will blurt out the green text.

I don't know if this is still implemented in the final version of the game, but if so, this plainly states that, not only are Hivers the result of genetic experimentation, but so are Scorchlanders. I've played for years and didn't know this information was out there all along.