Races Of Covidian Isles

## Elves

The elves previously had more land than they do currently, but some treaties that they were strongarmed into signing meant they gave away an entire strip of land, removing the land connections to the other islands. Thus sailing has become an increasingly important part of the elvish way.

They also have a sacred forest and mountains, very much keeping with their nature ties. A key strategic holding for them is the Pointed Spire, which they use as border control to try and stop the pushing of the Humans even further into their region. As a collective the elves are surprisingly unified, in part due to the recognition that any division would be immediately exploited by the humans to take what little land they have left.

## Dwarves

The dwarves have largely kept to their mountains and Balaur’s Bounty that they share with the Halflings. They largely survive on trades for hard to acquire materials - their smithing and mining is far beyond that achieved by other races. The dwarves and halflings have lived in harmony for generations, with the dwarven lifespans meaning they are valuable in helping the halflings with their knowledge, alongside doing the hard work not suited for halflings. In return they get surface land and help in shipping products across the realm.

The major points of friction within the Dwarvish clans are rights to different mining regions, and relationships with Orcs and Goblins who occupy the Isle of Inorog. Halflings The halfings occupy the Northern forested region of Balaur, alongside sharing the agricultural flatlands of Balaur’s Bounty with the Dwarves. The two groups have a strong alliance formed over centuries that allowed them to keep the humans at bay for a while, to a greater degree than has happened on the other islands. With the humans still largely occupying the marginal areas of the island away from the Halfling and Dwarven settlements.

They largely try to keep people on their good side, and this has been exploited by the Humans who are rapidly pushing up into their region and destroying the nature there.

## Tieflings

The tieflings largely occupied the area to the north of Seven Devils mountains. Creating small settlements that have largely been displaced by human activity causing the clans to find new homes across the isles where possible. This has caused some friction in certain regions with limited space and resources, further cemented by myths about the region of Inorog which was occupied largely by goblinoid and less humanoid races/species.

The natural history of the Tieflings as corrupted descendants of Humans is the major cause of tension, and thought to be part of the reason the human cleanse of other races emerged. They wanted to remove their ‘corrupted’ cousins, and then realised the value of taking land over for themselves and removing the native populations. This can best be seen in the way the Northern region of Inorog has essentially been converted into an extension of Leu, with the Tieflings being pushed back to marginal areas of the island or displaced to the edges of urban areas.

## Orcs

The history of the Orcish groups in Covidian is an odd one - whilst they began as raiding tribes on the Isle of Inorog, the settlement of Tieflings into regions of Inorog changed the fundamental dynamics. There began to be recognition that outside groups were a greater threat than inter-clan conflict and so a viable system of government started to emerge offering solidarity, called the Inorog Committee, which later accepted Tieflings in recognition that a unified front was important in resisting the Human influx - obviously there’s still mad tension because in some circles it’s thought that all of this is the Tielfing’s fault - whilst others recognise the Tiefling’s are just scapegoated.. This emerged into an agricultural and mercenary system where Orcs are expected to perform civic duties for a decade before being allowed to live out the rest of their lives.

## Goblins

Goblins in Covidian are largely displaced from other realms, smuggling their way to the island on shipping vessels. They are largely met with suspicion and scorn by the populations of the isles. With Inorog being the most welcoming region in part due to the support of Tieflings who recognise kinship with the group, and the Orcs who have a similar relationship with them. Small pockets can be found across Inorog, largely occupying the mountainous region of Seven Devils.

## Dragonborn

Dragonborn are a relatively unknown group within the Isles, being very rarely born they do not form populations due to their scarcity but insead exist as unique elements within the isles. Due to the nature of their births all end up being adopted by other races or groups, bringing them up within unique traditions.

## Humans

For centuries humans existed on their area of the Isle of Leu, occasionally trading or getting into minor scuffles with the other races, but largely instead focusing on trading with further off regions. However the great corruption took place and led to the formation of Tieflings, and the resulting revulsion, war, and supposed ‘threat to the human way of life’, which was really just an excuse to get all imperialist on the Isles.

Human society is largely feudal, with a strong class system and urbanisation.