Portal:Creatures

Creatures are the beings that inhabit the universe, both sentient and not. Within these, races are defined as creatures with sentience. Of the races, humanoids specifically are defined as having language and culture, few (if any) innate magical abilities, and a typically bipedal form.
==Humanoids==
Most of the peoples of the world belong to a collection of species known collectively as humanoids. Below is a brief list of such peoples; a more exhaustive list may be found in the article Humanoids.
=== The Common Peoples ===
The Common Peoples are the most common members of the civilizations of the world. Most adventurers derive their ancestry from one or more of these peoples as well.
* Dwarves: The history of Dwarvenkind is one thoroughly saturated with blood and beer, the two principal liquids of Dwarven society (water is a close third).
* Elves: Elves are largely graceful, aloof, and distant. With an otherworldly bearing, Elves walk half in the world, and half outside of it.
* Gnomes: A happy, joyful, and furtive race that cherishes good-natured fun and enjoyment above all else. Highly intelligent, many gnomes become eccentric artificers and wizards both refined and mischievous. 
* Halflings: A quiet and quaint race, Halflings, also known as Hobbits, live a quiet, pastoral existence in the fringes of civilization.
* Half-Elves: Naturally charming and diplomatic, Half-Elves have created their own culture from human and elven elements.
* Half-Orcs: Often feared and kept at arm's length, Half-Orcs share human and orc ancestry.
* Humans: An incredibly diverse people, humans have spread far and wide in the world and serve every nation, creed, and organization imaginable.
=== The Uncommon Peoples ===
The uncommon peoples are equally numerous, if not more so, than the common peoples; that said, they are not as prominent throughout civilized areas in the majority of the world.
* Coldbloods: Occasionally known as Scalefolk, Coldbloods--Saurians, Skinks, and Testudians--are native to the jungles of the world, especially in Vantion and Uxalon.
* Draconids: Tiny Kobolds and mighty Dragonborn are both descended of the Dragons.
* Goblinoids: Goblins, Bugbears and Hobgoblins often live in the fringes of civilization. The raiders and looters among them have given the goblinoids a poor reputation in much of the civilized and even the uncivilized world, and thus they
* Orcs: Tall, powerful, and almost-universally barbaric, the infamous Orcs are hated and feared throughout the civilized world. The "greenskins" are most often raiders and vandals.
There are many other peoples in the world. For a a full list of Humanoids, go to the respective article.
=== The Soulbound Peoples ===
* Dragonborn: The humanoid offspring of a Human and a polymorphed Dragon, Dragonborn are associated with the Tyranny of the Fifth Age and hated wherever they go. Most Dragonborn keep to their own clans and families, which they ceremonially call Bonds, forming their own quarters in cities and villages in the frontier.
* Heavenborn (Aasimar): The descendants of Humans and the Higher Divines, Heavenborn are known as such because of their relationship with Celestials, both real and presumed.
* Hellborn (Tieflings): The descendants of Humans and the Lower Divines, Hellborn are thus known for their relationship with Infernals, both real and presumed.
* Khem (Yuan-Ti): The offspring of the God-Pharaoh, Amon-Sekh, the Khem resemble humans with animal or monstrous heads. These theriocephalic humanoids consider these aspects to be gifts. The "deprived" among them (i.e. Yuan-Ti Purebloods) compose the lowest strata of society.
* Lycanthropes: Humanoids afflicted with lycanthropy bear the blood of the beast. Some consider this a curse, but many consider it a blessing. Lycanthropes are incredibly varied, espousing a broad range of morals and ethics (or a lack thereof).
* Vampires: Vampires, who usually refer to themselves as Sanguines, are the most powerful of the undead. Archvampires, the strongest of all undead, are far stronger than even Archliches (they are considered less dangerous, however, because they are reasonable and honorable without exception). Honor is everything to a Vampire; most Vampires that threaten the ordinary world are rogue minor vampires, who betray honor for the sake of personal advancement or sheer bloodlust.
== Creatures by Type ==
In order to ease classification, creatures are categorized into types. Below is an index of all such types. In parentheses are marked other or additional names such creatures types may have:
* Aberrations: These alien and incomprehensible beings were believed to have been hunted to extinction in the First Age. This belief was false.
* Animals (Beasts): Animals are nonhumanoid creatures that are a natural part of the world's ecology. Some have magical powers or abilities, but most by far are unintelligent, lacking society and language.
* Celestials: Celestials are beings or entities native to the Higher Planes, as well as the souls of the mortal dead who lived and died by the principles thereof, or worshipped the Gods native to those planes.
* Constructs (Animates): Constructs are beings who were made rather than born, usually by artificers and wizards.
* Dragons: Large creatures of ancient origin and incredible power, Dragons are amidst the most intelligent and magically-gifted of all creatures. 
* Elementals: Native to the Elemental Planes, these creatures are either collections of elemental energy or creatures infused with it.
* Giants: Ancient beings, of incredible lifespans, giants tower over humanoids and maintain rule over ancient mountains, buried realms of fire, and 
* Humanoids: The peoples and races of the world, humanoids are civilized and savage, good and evil, and lawful and chaotic.
* Infernals (Fiends): Native to the Lower Planes, infernals are also known as devils and demons depending on their predisposition. Many are the servants of the Gods of the lower planes.
* Monstrosities: Are, strictly speaking, monstrous beings of no more specific origin. 
* Oozes: Oozes are gelatinous creatures with no fixed shape. They generally leave in dark and cavernous places, feeding on much and refuse. They are prevalent in many city sewers.
* Plants: Some plants, like treants (ents) and animated plants, are capable of movement and even some intelligence, acting like fauna rather than flora.
* Primordials: The original offspring of Creation, and very closely related to Elementals.
* Sylvans (Fey): Creatures native to or descended from Sylvania,
* Undead: These are once-living creatures now brought to a renewed animated state, primarily through necromantic magic or as a result of a terrible curse. These include walking corpses, vampires, and ghosts.