Races

Below is common knowledge about the civilized races that inhabit Ardthra.

## Beastkin

Beastkin, known amongst themselves as the Kin, are the unfortunate side effect of beastmen raids on human settlements. Much like half-orcs, beastkin are seen as abominations. There are a few settlements in the plains and forests east of Krat made up almost entirely of beastkin, and beastkin are always welcome to Zurini as long as they pay the Tax. Beastkin are similar to humans except they have animalistic features like cat-like noses or wolfish snouts. It can also be as minor as ragged claws or extremely thick body hair. They tend to be restless, so many take up the adventuring life, though they usually fall prey to racism if the other dangers of adventuring don't get them first. There are even stories of some beastkin being so deformed that they ran off to find a place among the beastmen hordes.

## Dwarves

### Hill Dwarves

Hill dwarves are the free spirits within dwarven society who do not adhere to the set-in-stone work ethic of their mountain kin. They find the mountainholds stifling, and they are generally not accepted as useful members of mountainhold communities. Hill dwarves are much more welcoming and easygoing. They are sometimes mistook as halflings by those who don't know better because they are so carefree. Some hill dwarves live outside of the mountainholds because they were exiled for one reason or another, usually breaking laws. Though they of course worship Moradin, the majority of hill dwarf reverence is given to Hanseath. The hill dwarves identify with this deity's focus on revelry and nonconformity. Hill dwarves have tan skin and black or brown hair.

### Mountain Dwarves

The dwarves of the mountainholds can seem dour to outsiders, but that is because they work with a single-minded obsession on whatever task is before them. Dwarves cannot find rest or a peaceful moment while a task remains unfinished. However, when their work is done, they celebrate with unmatched revelry. This follows to military endeavors as well. Dwarves marching toward combat are rather quiet and focused on the task at hand, but after blood has been shed they sing and drink heartily. They are typically wary of all elves because of their encounters with the drow. Mountain dwarves are usually taller and more physically strong than their hill kin. Their skin is pale, and they ten to have lighter colored blond or red hair.

## Elves

### High Elves (Doth) (Summer/Moon Elves)

The high elves inhabit the lands of Dothraynma around the capital of Vesperyn. They are an aloof people who are obsessed with their own legacy. Since the high elves worship their ancestors, it is the greatest want of every high elf to be worthy of reverence upon death. Because they are so focused on this legacy, they are extremely risk adverse people, and they abhor taking unnecessary chances. Art is also important in Doth culture. Since they are so long-lived, they can truly become masters of their crafts. Elven smiths can easily compete with the mastery of the dwarves because they have spent so long becoming experts. Many libraries exist in high elf society, and a great importance is placed on education. Most elves are life-long learners and never consider their education done. Living outside of the forest has lessened their connection with the fey, and as such they are not as in tune with nature as their wood elf kin. Summer elves are Doth who are born in the summer or spring months. They have golden-hued skin and blond, brown, or red hair. Moon elves are born in the winter or autumn months, and they have pale, almost blue skin. Their hair is either white or gray and tinged with purple or blue.

### Sea Elves

The sea elves are generally encountered on the coasts where they patrol and prevent evil creatures from the depths from encroaching upon land. They originally started out as wood elves, but they pledged themselves to Vestilus, the massive purple shark god, and went into the seas. Vestilus changed their bodies so that they could live underwater, and it is said that they have sprawling empires under the waters.

### Wood Elves

The wood elves still live in the sprawling Dothraynma forests. They pay no heed to the outside world and choose to simply tend to their personal groves and commune with nature. They are very much in tune with nature and the way of the fey creatures. Though they tend to not leave the forest, some will choose to adventurer in the world, hoping to learn something that will help them protect their homelands. Most wood elves are martially focused because of the many dangers that lurk within the forests. Wood elves have tan skin that almost looks green, and they have brown hair.

## Gnomes

### Rock Gnomes

The most common gnomes one might encounter, they live side by side with the dwarves. They are incredibly quick-witted and intelligent, which leads to their usefulness with arcane arts and more mundane tasks like accounting. However, gnomes must be careful as they can sometimes become lost in their own minds when figuring out a problem or thinking of a complex matter. This can lead to them overextending their minds and entering a fugue state where they simply sit and stare at the wall from mental exhaustion. Rock gnomes have pale skin and blonde or light brown hair.

### Forest Gnomes

Forest gnomes are at home in dense forests and like to keep well out of site as much as possible. As such, they are experts at hiding. They also have a deep connection with nature and are sometimes able to speak with the denizens of the forest. They have tan skin and brown or black hair.

## Goliaths

In the northeastern corner of Revelin the frozen peaks of the Cloudbreak Mountains are home to a strong and incredibly durable peoples: the goliaths. This race's origin is shrouded in mystery. Some would say they are all descended from a clan of stunted stone giants. Others say they are descended from denizens of the plane of earth who became stranded on Ardthra. If asked themselves, goliaths generally tell the same story of their history. The first goliaths were humans who traveled to the highest peaks of the Cloudbreaks and prayed to Teztine, god of mountains. He gave these humans his boon, making them hardy enough to survive the unforgiving mountain ranges. Regardless of origins, goliaths typically stand between seven and eight feet tall. Their skin is usually gray or a mottled shade of gray or olive. On their skin are stripes of darker color that tend to be vertical. Goliath shamans read the stripes of goliaths to tell their futures. Goliaths have incredibly strong skin that features bone-like growths about the size of a silver coin. Goliaths tend to be hyper competitive, and any who cannot contribute to the tribe are exiled to survive on their own. Each personal achievement of the goliath is savored only shortly, as they must always up the ante. Killing a dragon is a great feat, but then a larger dragon must be found and destroyed. This constant attempt to one up themselves leads to goliaths have relatively short lives. Most goliaths go by their birth name only when around family or close companions. To outsiders they will give a clan name or they will use their nickname. A goliaths nickname is based upon the last great feat that they accomplished, and it is always shifting.

## Half-Elves

Half-elves are the descendants of humans and elves. They are generally rather beautiful, owing to their elven blood, and their lifespan is longer than that of humans. They are generally only found in and around Krat on the continent of Telmara. In this area, humans and elves regularly interact with one another. They tend to become bards as their natural good looks and longer lives lend itself toward the profession. Also, most half-elves have eyes of a purple hue.

## Half-Orcs

In any place but Zurini, half-orcs are seen as despicable monsters to be slain like any other beast. In Zurini, they are seen as the unfortunate side effects of war with the orcs. Any half-orc who worships the Eater of Sand is treated fairly in Zurini, and there are even respected merchants and nobles of half-orc blood in the city-state. Despite their best intentions, sometimes the natural bloodlust from their orcish side shows itself and they will give in to their bloodlust. They are larger than humans and typically have greenish, mottled skin. Most have tusks though they can range from barely noticeable to always protruding.

## Halflings

Halflings are carefree folks who love to live their lives in their comfortable homes which are usually dug into hillsides. They are masterful brewers and chefs, and many of them are great storytellers as well. Leisure is of the utmost importance in halfling society, and keeping someone away from their leisure is seen as sinful. Though most halflings prefer to stay home and enjoy their creature comforts, some feel the call to adventure in their blood and simply must travel the far-flung roads of the world. These halfling adventurers make stalwart companions who are loyal to the end and will do anything to make sure their friends arrive home safely. Most halflings live within the Golden Dale in the Kingdom of Navelorn, though a few adventurous spirits can be found all over Ardthra. They are generally tan with blonde, brown, or red hair.

## Hobgoblins

The first civilized race on the continent of Revelin, the hobgoblins were building fortresses while the humans still cowered in caves. Hobgoblins are a stern people with a strict hierarchy built into their society. Honor is the highest currency in hobgoblin villages, and losing honor is a worse fate than death to a hobgoblin. As such, duels are extremely common within their settlements, as a challenge is a common response to perceived slights. Death in battle is never mourned by hobgoblins, and the only true heroes in hobgoblin society all died in battle. Martial prowess is second only to honor for them, so every hobgoblin takes part in military training, regardless of their profession. Unlike their smaller cousins, hobgoblins live highly regimented lives. They have strict schedules and they keep to them if at all possible. Hobgoblins are much less populous than they once were, as they were hunted nearly to extinction by humans and their reproduction rate is not nearly as high as that of goblins. They have been mainly pushed to the fringes of the Icespear Forest and the southwestern reaches of Revelin. Most hobgoblins are only encountered as mercenaries, and there is still a high degree of animosity between hobgoblins and humans.

## Humans

Humans form cultures that are incredibly diverse as they are adaptable to any land. No matter where they travel, they seem to thrive. That is basically the only thing humans have in common.

### Kratians

Fiercely independent and proud, the Kratians are a people who live close to the dwarves and elves. As such, they have adopted many customs from those races as their own. The majority of the citizens are Olorists, but some still practice the ways of the Old Gods. Others still worship the Elven or Dwarven pantheons. Most Kratians have a rebellious streak, so they tend to chaff under rules or rulers they find disagreeable. Their variation of the common tongue has a sing-songy quality, and their bards are highly respected in all human lands for their beautiful Kratian songs. They tend to be tan with brown or red hair.

### Navelornians

Navelornians were once part of the grandest kingdom in the world, but now they are in the declining age of the realm. However, they refuse to give up hope as they are a resilient and faithful people. Most are deeply religious and staunch Olorists. The Three Virtues are a way of life for most Navelornians. Navelornian society is based upon a strict hierarchy, with the nobility, especially the Bannermen, high above the rest of society. Many see the noble families as marked for ascendance by Olor, and so the system just reinforces the teachings of the priests. The Navelornians are a highly equitable people, as any who can follow the Three Virtues can aspire to be whatever they want. Women are found alongside men in pretty much every endeavor, even in the military if they so wish. They tend to be tan with blonde, brown, or black hair.

### Zurinis

The people of Zurini are a people who live in constant fear. The magi, priests of the Eater of Sand, keep a lookout for any who would break a commandment from the Tablet of Laws. Despite this, they are a land of diversity that welcomes all, no matter their past. Zurinis do not judge others as long as they keep to the tablet laws. They are a scholarly people, as the blessings of the Eater of Sand have given them a closer connection to the arcane. Many sorcerers are born here, and the Magi Observatory is a world renowned academic institution. They tend to have deeply tanned skin with black or dark brown hair.

### Vluds

The Vluds are a people made strong by an icy crucible. Life in the frozen north is not easy, but they have thrived since the dawn of humanity. Their pride can seem like arrogance, as they call the other humans from distant lands weak, but they have been through a lot as a people. In the earliest tales of humanity, they fought against the hobgoblin invasion that nearly wiped out the humans. Even in current times, they war against the giants that surround them. These proud and hardy people do not give up, as they see failure as the ultimate sin. The Vluds are the only ones who truly hold to the worship of the Old Gods still. Their rulers listen to the omens of shamans before making decisions about nearly everything. They tend to be pale and have blonde or light brown hair.

## Satyrs

Satyrs love to party. Originating in the Dothraynma Forest, these fey creatures traveled to Ardthra from the Feywild much like the elves did in days long past. They make their homes in small groves that are protected by faerie magics, as most fey creatures of the Dothraynma tend to stick together. Satyrs love to travel and absorb as much about the world as they possibly can. However, their hedonism can be excessive and their overwhelming good cheer can grate on the nerves of others. Regardless, satyrs never let the negativity of others affect them, and they will ignore a bad situation to find a good time if need be. Though they gravitate towards being good, some satyrs find trickery and deviousness too delicious of a past time to pass up. Though they are always simply looking for a bit of revelry, they can be extremely stalwart companions as they are highly protective of people whose company they find enjoyable.