Races in Albion

## Races of Albion

While hugely populated by Humans there are a wide variety of other exotic or magical races that are generally seen as "people" in the eyes of the common folk (although begrudgingly to some) the following have links to said races, and the majority of them are playable.

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### Humans

The most populous of the Races, Humans are rivaled only by Orcs for how quickly they can populate an area. Overall well at adapting to a variety of situations due to their all round abilities. Humans do have a penchant for civilization, building, and teamwork however making them the best all around culturally to dominate the globe. On Albion many groups and civilizations primarily home to humans exist, with their own moralities and prejudices.

### Elves

Etheral, all powerful, long living and yet all dead. Elves left their mark the world over thousands of years ago and now only their ruins remain. Noone has truly discovered what happened to them, if it was a singular event or an eventual decline but their remnants are still filled with magical tomes and secrets there for the taking.

### Half-Elves

While their ancestors may be gone their bloodlines still continue to this day. Showing up in the odd human every now and then as small quirks or longevity, every now and then an individual is born who is unmistakenly of elven decent, granted many gifts from beauty, to gracefulness, to innate talent with magic. Half Elves as they are referred to normally, or Lithians as they would be referred to in elven are treated with mixed feelings from most communities. Both enchanting and threatening being a half elf marks you out for potential, and what that potential is only time will tell. This is much less of a Concern in Noritha or Lantell due to their high concentration of Half-Elves, but elsewhere will certainly draw eyes. The other unfortunate side effective of said elven blood are the feyish dreams and nightmares that can haunt even during waking hours.

### Dwarves

Foreigners to the Islands, Dwarves have been migrating over and fleeing issues in their traditional homes across the sea. Many have sought out the new Mountain Home of Eredvey, an arduous and dangerous process, settle down in human towns, or the lucky few who bring their wealth become merchants and travel from place to place never truly settling down. Dwarves themselves are generally about chest height to humans, but much stockier built like brick walls. Hairstyles are quite important to Dwarves, helping to differentiate family ties and rank/accomplishments. Dwarven males put quite a bit of importance into their Beard designs, denoting their abilities and skills while female Dwarves similarly braid and grow out their sideburns turning them into long elaborate styles.

### Orcs

From the far off lands filled with sand and sun, Orcs similar to dwarves are visitors to Albion yet they do not come for the same reason of finding a new home. Orcs while seen in most places as barbaric savages are no more stupid or inherently evil than Humans. Instead Orcs suffer from a combination of growing up normally in Warlike Tribes traditionally, having a naturally short fuse that tends to end in fists, and worst of all a severe case of what any Orc will call "The Drive". Orcs are constant thrill seekers, trying to find a new height to climb, and new cave to explore, a new enemy to slay. There is an innate need within every born orc to continue pushing the limit any way they can, while with proper guidance this can lead to something truly amazing such as a master orcish craftsman, combined with their societal disadvantage most Orcs simply fall into the bandit or mercenary life, or brought into vast armies by a truly daring warlord. Due to this in most places that Orcs originate from they are regarded quite poorly, but in Albion they are simply treated like any other foreigner, with suspicion. This is helped by the fact that any Orc trying to reach the Island has to have had some means to get there to start with, and as such most that make it are much more interested in being sellswords or adventurers than anything else.

### Half-Orcs

Where Orcs go there offspring show up, Half-Orcs do not suffer the same amount of drive that full blooded orcs do but they unfortunately run into the situation of not truly belonging to either Humans or Orcs. Both are untrusting inherently to them, and Half-Orcs cannot keep up with Full-Bloods in the Strength department regardless. On the plus side, due to their lesser drive Half-Orcs are much better at harnessing a beserkers rage than full blooded Orcs, and also have the tendency to be better coordinated instead of stronger.

### Trolls

Some of the earliest native inhabitants of Albion, Trolls are a marvel of Magic in and of themselves. Consisting largely of Stone and Earth meeting Flesh and Blood, Trolls are slow and steady but very large and can be quite strong because of it. Long lived, and easy to feed Trolls can eat normal food but also have quite the hankering for stones especially gemstones. Difficult to fit with armor, heavy handed, and very slow to rise Trolls are usually calm when dealing with other people, yet when angered by their foes they charge like a rampaging bull. Humans are on the unfortunate end of the charge often, do to their fright and dislike of Trolls normally.

### Halflings

Where there are Humans, there are Halflings. Distant Cousins to Humans but calm gardeners and heavy party fiends Halflings always know the best way to throw a gig. Humans are generally happy to have them around, as the pint sized Halflings tend to get mistaken for kids quite often, but also are genuinely happy to help out their larger cousins. There are those few halflings however that use their innocent looks and quick reflexes to take advantage of the bigger humans, much to the chagrin of the population at large.

### Bauchan

Hobgoblins of a sort, much more organized than the norm elsewhere in the islands Baucen are short folks, with Greyish Skin, Small Goats horns and Goats Eyes to boot. Making their home in the mountain ranges Bauchen often come into conflict with the settling Dwarves, having a tendency to steal their supplies and set fire to their caravans. Bauchen have an innate love of fire but are also usually simple minded. Some towns and cities put up with them, as they are agile and good at fullfilling certain tasks if they are satisfied with their payments. As such they are much more accepted in small towns where it truly matters, but Bauchen are as close to Fey as civilized society is willing to get.

### Beast Men

The Wild men of the north, those who delved deep into its ancients forest and returned.... changed. Beastmen are man mixed with beast, typically Wolves, Bears, and Wildcats. Many have sprung up in various places on the island, as the local magic and its effects can be quite unpredictable. Most folks of the island consider them little more than animals, or rabid reflections of what they used to be. While many do have much more beast like thoughts and natures, they do still carry their previous personality and thoughts. Most end up heading north to the tip of the Isle in Luthic, the forged from steel and blood home of Beastman Clans banding together.

### Aven

Another group of original Islanders, the Aven are Birdlike folk with beaked heads and feathered arms capable of flight. Aven run the gamut of various birds from Eagles to Raven, and are quite hostile to most who land on their shores, a small collection of rocks off the norther coast called the Langley Isles. While they are not fond of Humans in the slightest they do tolerate Beastmen within their borders. Few Aven leave the nest for adventure, those who do are usually trying to find great riches and power back to the nest.

### Merfolk

Making their home on coasts all throughout the world, the Islands amphibious inhabitants do well within the rocky depths that they make their homes. Usually much more primitive than the other inhabitants of the islands, merfolk are relatively commonly found in coastal cities but rarely tread further inland due to their habit of drying out. Blueish skin and webbed toes help them in their environment, as they are best suited for life underwater despite their ability to do fine on land.