Races

"So many people. So many colors. So many cultures. Sometimes, I still can't believe how vibrant the world is." 
-me 
The Races are a set of eight classifications used to categorize the different peoples of Earth, Arkon, and the wider Mastaar Galaxy. These are split into the humanoid, arcane, ogroid, dragonoid, beastial, other, divine, and alien races, each distinguished in some way from each other by appearance, breeding capability, and ancestry. 
== The Humanoid Races ==
Terran Human (Teh-Rrahn Hue-Mahn): 
The original inhabitants of Earth. Their affinity for magic is the lowest of all the races, but despite that; no, because of it, they have managed to shape a unique world that could never be replicated anywhere else. Terrans are known to replace their limbs with cybernetic parts or the limbs of others after accidents, something that often makes the other races uncomfortable. 
Arkonic Human (Ahr-Koh-Nik Hue-Mahn): The Arkonic counterparts of the terran humans. Their patron deity is Saphira the Just, an aeon known as the goddess of water, justice, and heroism. Since coming to Earth, the arkonic humans have intermarried with terrans, causing the arkonic gene pool to become assimilated over time. Similarly, Arkonic humans are considered the "template race" of Arkon, and the only race (alongside terran humans) that can produce offspring with all other races. 
Elf (Ehlf): 
One of the most ancient of the Arkonic races, these peoples have a high affinity for magic. They are a rapidly evolving people who can over the course of a single generation adapt into a new subtype, like how the tan’rayy became the is’rayy after the Convergence. 
Giant (Jai-Ahnt): 
Giants are the tallest of the races, commonly growing to be about 10-12 meters in height. Most terran giants reside in Chile, the nation most like their arid and mountainous homeland on the Halphath continent. 
Demi-Human (Deh-Mee Hue-M-N): 
The demi-human race is highly varied, and is considered by some to not be a single race, or even one at all. They have no home of their own, often being considered outcasts on Arkon. If a demi-human has a child, the child’s type is dependent on the parents’ races. 
Dwarf (Dworf): 
These small but strong people are native to the mountains of the continent Halphath. Although their culture is more similar to that of China, they have chosen to reside in the Alpine nations of Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. In the last one, they make up about 75% of the population, the highest non-human population percentage of any sovereign overworld country. 
Husk (Husk): 
An artificial race created by Wilstrom Industries. They are humans with no soul, grown in laboratories. Perfectly obedient and entirely without emotion, these nigh-robotic beings are looked down upon as blasphemous and wrong by all races, the automata especially. They make the perfect grunts, barring the fact they cannot perform magic due to the lack of a soul, and are blocked from having high intelligence to prevent rebellion. 
== The Arcane Races ==
Angel (Ayn-Jjehl): 
This race considers itself to be the guardian race of Arkon. Many angels seek out gods to serve, acting as their apostles and voices. Angels actually have two bodies: their true form, which resides in the angel realm of Iln-axa, and an artificial form, which they use to interact with the mortal world. Due to the fact that an angel's true form is far too large and power-needy, they can only briefly appear in the mortal plane, and thus pilot the artificial form from their real form. 
Demon (Dee-Mn): 
A race as ancient as Arkon itself, these people have a long history of being oppressors, and being the oppressed. They hail from the continent of Kondrakis, and have an affinity for dark magic. The forms of demons are dependent on what lunar phase they are born under, resulting in 8 different types. This variety is said to come from the fact that demons are born of the Ancient Abyss, the primordial crucible of all life. When demons were first created, it was from the refuse left behind in the crucible. 
Aviaa (Ah-Vee-Ah): 
Aviaa are a hybrid angel-human race native to the rocky mountain peaks in and along the sea between the continents Magai and Sanna’ah. They are beings of the light and air, created by Geruin the Highlord, the god of the sky and wind. 
Tyfer (Tie-Fer): 
Also known as tieflings, the tyfer are a hybrid race was born from humans and demons, with an affinity for illusion magic. Originally a servant caste to demons, these peoples have fought to earn their place as equals in the dark. Alphathos, the god of wine and debauchery, is their patron. 
Vaephelian (Vae-Fel-Ean): 
A powerful demon-angel hybrid race that serves Girond the Underking. They act as the guardians of the paths between realms, and are wardens of Tartarus, the god prison run by Girond’s aeon son, also named Tartarus. The term Vaenusian is used to refer to the females of the race, while the term Nephalem is used to refer to the males. 
Cursed One (Cur-Sd Won): 
Mortals afflicted with some form of curse, be it lichdom, vampyrism, lycanthropy, wightdom, or some other form of corruption. Though the name has negative connotations, cursed ones do not have to be evil. People like the dew-eaters of Akathra are also considered cursed ones. 
Dor’katha (Dor-Kahth-Ah): 
A race of undead created from the souls of dying heroes who swore eternal loyalty to their creator. When their original master won a bet against Sanalana the Kind, goddess of death, she allowed their souls to be called from their afterlife home to the waking realms, at expense of the summoner’s mana. While summonable and creatable by any with the power, it is said the first only answer to their true master, who remains locked away somewhere in Tartarus’s prison. 
Dor’kari (Dor-Kar-Ee): 
The opposite of the dor’katha, these beings were created in opposition to them back when both were just tools. The dor’kari are beings made of pure divine magic, and were created at the order of Axios the Divine, the lord of light. Though free from compelled service, many of them still serve and revere their former master. They act as his voices, and can be summoned by worthy magi, to whom they will appear clad in golden-white armor. 
Forgeborn (Forj Born): 
The servants of Lethae Margon the Smith, sister to Angra and ruler of the ancient forges of Nulzad-Dol. They are sentient constructs that can range from the simple stone statues that guard the catacombs of the dead, to vast guardians employed to watch over the gates between the divine realms themselves. These constructs were also the inspiration for the automata. 
== The Dragonoid Races ==
Dragon (Dra-GN): 
A powerful race native to the island chains in the seas to the west and south of Arkon’s Magai continent. Their numbers have been in decline because of low fertility rates, and because they are considered monsters by some, and are thus hunted for sport. 
Alpiran (Al-Peer-N): 
A human-dragon hybrid race, these people are commonly distrusted by others. They are one of the physically strongest peoples, and on Earth they have made their home around the Strait of Gibraltar. On Arkon, many claim the lost continent of Alpira (now known as the Keydraan islands) as their home. 
Wyvern (Y-Vern): 
Similar to a dragon, but with wings on their arms rather than their backs. They are known for their love of riches, and their greed makes them more deserving of the distrust other races hold for dragonoids. 
Amphiptere (Am-fip-ter): 
Winged snakes. These beasts are common throughout Eideria, where they are considered guides and interpreters of the divine by the elves. 
Wyrm (Werm): 
Large snakes. Just large snakes. No leg. Just snek and big mouth. And venom. Lots. 
Lindwurm (Lind-Wurm): 
These passive dragonoids are the higher form of the wyrm, being more passive-aggressive than aggressive-aggressive, and with two arms. They are no longer venomous, but their words might as well be. 
Lung Dragon (Lung Dra-Gon): 
These serpentines are known for closely resembling Chinese dragons, and are commonly worshiped as gods by dwarves throughout the Halphath continent. Their patron god is also said to appear to them as a lung dragon. Some people in China have also taken to worshiping lung dragons, mainly in the southern Guizhou, Hunan, and Jiangxi Provinces. 
Drake (Drake): 
These dragonoids are similar in demeanor and skeletal shape to lions, and are often ridden by alpirans as mounts. One should never underestimate a drake’s intelligence though. Alpiran riders should always be referred to with their drake partner in mind, for these peoples are known for short tempers, bites, and extreme sass. 
Balharaan (Bal-Ha-Rahn): 
Balharaan are large creatures formed by the splicing of dragon DNA with that of monsters and demons. They have faces that resemble skulls, with massive horns and glowing red eyes. These massive mounds of muscle and death have the personalities of tigers, and while many can understand human languages, they should be avoided at all costs. If one can gain a balharaan’s trust however, many will find them to be almost endearing, like a cat strapped with chainsaws. Much like the dor'katha, my research has indicated them to be the creations of the House of Kath. 
== The Ogroid Races ==
Orc (Orc):
A race of tall, muscular, green humanoids native to the western reaches of Kondrakis. On Earth, many call the Gulf of Guinea region their home. Terran orcs are split between the tusks and the hands. Tusk orcs are more traditional, family oriented, and focus on physical strength. Hand orcs focus on the mind, technology, and prefer more structured, hygienic lifestyles. 
Ogre (Oh-Ger): 
Bulky beings with bluish-gray skin and tusks. Some say this race of beings began as a servant caste to the larger orcs, but branched off and became an independent peoples after some form of divine intervention. They are smaller and significantly more populous than orcs, and thus are more commonly known. This is why orc-like races are referred to as ogroids. 
Onyxian (O-niks-ian): 
A race of black-skinned, ground dwelling ogres known for their love of gems. They are said to have branched off after getting driven underground and subsequently worshiping the crystal god as their divine. They also often sport crystal growths on their bodies. 
Oni (Oh-Nee): 
A demon-ogre hybrid race found on the island of Hokkaido on Earth. They have the tusks and bulkiness of ogres, but also the horns and claws of demons. Their demeanors also match, with oni being known for both the kindness as ogres, but also the wiles of demons. Most oni are red at birth, but many change skin color to match their environment over time. 
Vylkian (Vil-Kee-An): 
Vylkians are an offshoot of oni, known for being bigger, stronger, and all-around more powerful. They are also known for having four arms and a tail. Some say they were bred for war by the god Angra, and their appearance matches this myth. On Earth, most vylkians reside in the Gulf of Guinea region, where they have a fierce competitive rivalry with the tusk orcs. 
Troll (Trol): 
These hunched, hulking beings are known for their pale skin and low minds, and are considered to be a bastard race created by ogres and elves. Both races despise trolls, and on Arkon they are often enslaved for menial labor that is too low-class for elves and not worth the workout for orcs and ogres. On Earth they are seen more with pity than disgust, and often have trouble finding proper employment and respect outside of their new home in East Africa, the only place where they are seen as true equals. 
== The Beastial Races ==
Kaaz (Kahz): 
A cat-like beastfolk native to the great deserts of southern and eastern Eideria. On Earth, they commonly reside in either Myanmar or Namibia. The first because of the similar culture, and the second, because the desert climate reminds them of their home. 
Rutheyn (Roo-They-N): 
Though these peoples are native to the continent of Maurya, they are generally nomadic. On Earth, most reside in various roosts across the Pacific. Their patron is Huizil the Swift, the hummingbird god of speed, war, and the arts. These people have a deep rivalry with the sazaire, and often hold artistic competitions with them. 
Sazaire (Sah-Zae-R): 
A reptilian people with no true territory or region to call their own. On Earth most reside in Australia, lands that many sazaire have come to consider their first true homeland. Their patron deity is Quetzal the Great Serpent, god of storms, wind, and the arts. 
High Insectra (Hai Insek-Trah): 
The high insectra may not appear like a single race due to their variations. What type of insect they are depends on local insect populations, making it possible for two wasps to produce a monarch butterfly in regions where they are common, Mexico for example. Insecrtra tend to live in Central and South America, with most living in the Insectra-Amazonas Territory of Brazil. 
Lesser Insectra (Leh-Ser In-Sek-Tra): 
When a high insectra lays its eggs, it produces hundreds. Only between one and five of these will become another high insectra. Those that don't become low insektra, sterile worker drones that tend to the high insectra. Though it is common that these are considered “lesser” due to their name, the lesser insectra are equally as intelligent and equally as sapient as their higher counterparts. Though they are sterile, they still often create families through adoption. 
Caenian (Kae-Nee-An): 
The caenians are a race of beings similar to the kaaz, but are canines instead of felines. An old myth states that they were created when Ava the One-Eyed, patron of the kaaz, stole the Cloak of Balance from Axios. The cloak demanded she split into three smaller pieces to make up an imbalance in the world, one being the caenian patron god Lycarus the Loyal. 
Magana (mah-gah-nah): 
A race of human-ape hybrids. These freedom-loving people are known for their love of martial arts and dance, and are native to the Maurya continent. On Earth they make their home in Shangri-La City, a Chinese prefecture between the Yunnan Federation and Tibet. 
Ocarari (oh-kah-rar-ee): 
Semi-aquatic beings resembling dolphins, whales, and other heavy sea mammals. They are a very strong, large, and intelligent peoples who have a fiercely competitive rivalry with the undyne. While the undyne tend to live in Pacific regions on Earth, the ocarari tend to live around the Atlantic. They are also known for being amazing singers, a trait inherited from their patron, Gebluga Ai. 
== The Other Races ==
Automata (Au-Toh-Mah-Tah):  
Not quite machine and not quite alive, these sentient constructs are humanoid AIs designed by the company HearthTech. Commonly mistaken with golems because of their magicule powered cores, these beings have yet to figure out their place in the world, and if they have one at all. Though they began as a servant caste to humans, a large number have since left their posts to travel the world in search of a purpose. Though they have a patron god in the form of the unborn God of Cyber, most adhere to a religion known as Clockwork Buddhism instead. 
Undyne (Uhn-Dine): 
Also called the triton or the merfolk, these human-fish hybrids are native to the Seas of Titania, and are the youngest of the Arkonic races. Though they are fish-like, they are not considered a beastial race due to defying many of the rules used to classify races as beastial. Some have proposed a new subtype for this race and others like it, the mosteroid category. Their patron god is Vaeleoux the Adventerous. 
Goblin (Gohb-Linn): 
Most goblins tend to be nothing more than highly intelligent monsters. One subspecies though, known as higher goblins, are sapient, with a rich and vibrant culture centered around magic and tinkering. On Earth, these higher goblins tend to reside in the maritime regions of Canada and the Great Lakes region. They often have tinkering competitions in Chicago and Toronto. 
Salakatan (Sah-Lah-Kah-Tan): 
A race of shape-shifting beings that sprang from Kari, the divine beast of chameleons, and either Angra, Tartarus, or both, depending on which historian one asks. Feared for their abilities, they were exterminated long ago. All but their divine beast. 
== The Alien Races ==
Auroran/Raia (Au-Rohr-Ahn/Rai-Ah): 
Known in their native language as the aravaraisothankalasi and known as aurorans to terrans and as the raia to others, these amphibian people are one of the few non-arkonic, non-human races residing on Earth. Instead their homeland is the planet Aravaraia. Those residing on Earth have come with the Fleet-13 as refugees fleeing a war that is ravaging their empire. They have a pathological fear of scarring, stating it is unnatural, and an affront to their deity. 
Harva (Hahr-Vah): 
The harva come from beyond the stars as well, specifically the desert world Harvath. The few that reside on Earth were all prisoners of war of the aurorans, or travelers whose presence is kept hidden by the World Government. The harva are a large, quadrupedal, cat-like species with bulky bodies, digitigrade feet, and carapace, though most of them tend to adopt entirely cybernetic, bipedal bodies by adulthood. They are obsessively afraid of death, causing them to react aggressively to anything they deem harmful to them. Their babies are known as harva larva. 
Dantali (Dahn-Tahl-E): 
The Dantalians are a race of featureless, black-and-white patterned humanoid aliens native to the Miranda System, the first inhabited world discovered by humans. They possess a sharp-toothed mouth to feed with, but all other senses are spread out over their skin rather than contained in singular organs. Dantalians can also float, due to their bodies containing controllable bladders of gas. Their world orbits closely to a blue star, causing it to be hot and bright. Due to this they often struggle with temperature differences offworld. As a result they have developed a keen interest in human culture, clothing in particular. Their home is also smaller than Earth, meaning that travelers have to undergo rigorous strength training before leaving due to gravity. These fine folk are also a creation of Abraxas the Overlord (and yours truely). 
Trayari (Tray-Ar-E): 
The trayari are a tall, skeletal, and frankly intimidating race resembling mantises, with sharp blades and incredible power and speed. However, they are actually a nature-loving pacifist race. The trayari are native to the Crowns of Trae, an inhabited star cluster on the far southern frontier of the Aravaraia Empire. They were the first to catalog Earth in a non-terran star map, naming it and the habitable star cluster around it the ‘Sol Stars’ (they were however, convinced not to publish by the terrans, in exchange for a lifetime supply of pizza). 
Quainaa (Quai-Nah): 
The quainaa are a single-celled, ameboid race native to the planet Quainaar, the frozen jungle. They are intelligent but weak creatures with little to no combat ability, forcing them to be one of the galaxy’s best diplomat races. Because of this, they have managed to secure their homeworld’s independence as a planet-state, an incredibly rare occurrence in the empire-dominated southern sector. They do, however, constantly pester to have their single colony, Quaintrae, returned to them from the Harva and Aravaraia Empires, which treat it as a war-zone and no-man’s-land. 
== The Divine Races ==
Demi-God/Demigod (Deh-Mi Gohd): 
Born of mortals and gods, this powerful hybrid race is known for producing champions and kings. Many royal families on Arkon can trace their lineage to a demi-god of some kind. Many demigods are often the subjects of prophecies, tales, and myths. 
Empyrean (Em-Pi-Ri-An): 
Empyreans are perhaps one of the most mysterious of the divine races. What even makes an empyrean is unknown. Some say they are the paragon form of demigods, ones whose mortal half was shed in some way, leaving only the divine half. Alas, one half of a divine soul is still not a full divine soul, so they are still mortal. 
Familiar (Fah-Mil-Yar): 
Similar in rank to demigods, familiars are the champions of the divine beasts. After death they join their masters in the Eternal Glades, the afterlife for all fauna. They can be called as allies by tamers and magi. 
Divine Beast (Di-Vine Beast):
Animal deities. Powerful nature spirits created at the beginning of time to help Ometeotl bring balance to chaos, and give each creature a voice in his congress. 
Titan (Tai-Tan): 
The most common race of immortal beings. Titanhood is gained when a mortal breaks the limits allowed to them by reality and ascends to immortality. They lose most of their power during this, and once immortality is gained, they are often weaker than they were before. Though it is technically still possible to kill a titan, the extremity of the measures needed cause people to generally prefer banishing them to Tartarus. 
Aeon (Ae-On):
Aeons are a mysterious race similar to titans. The difference is that they are fully divine, have their own divine realms, and have their own places in the respective Reverent, Venerate, and Terran Pantheons. One can only become an aeon by the will of one of Arkon’s four main primordial gods. Aeons are often simply called gods, as the distinction between the two is irrelevant to most. Aeons, like gods, are subject to the Law of Gaia, which prevents direct intervention on the mortal plane. 
God (Gohd): 
The creator race of Arkon. Each god as an aspect of another, with all being part of the Concept of Everything. Though they are all omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, they are bound by the Law of Gaia to not directly use their powers in the mortal world. 
Primordial (Prai-Mor-Di-Al): 
Only few primordials exist, and they are the creators of the world itself. Reality simply would not exist without them. The most well-known and often-worshiped is Gaia the Worldmother, the dead god known as she who speaks no words but cares for all. 
Outer God (Ow-Ter Gohd): 
Outer gods are divine beings that exist outside the bounds of reality. They are not part of it nor did they take part in its creation. They exist between worlds, and are not bound by the constraints of sanity and morality. Influence of the outer gods is next to none on Arkon due to the immense defenses placed by Ometeotl… but Earth? Well, I’m here, aren’t I?