Races of Io

This page details all the races present in the world of Io, both those available to players and exclusive to NPCs.

## Races from Io

### Sapient

#### Dwarves

Dwarves are a rare sight in Io, as their species was nearly exterminated due to the twisted experimentation of the gnomes. Skilled artisans, dwarves often band together and create business that make the best use of their skills.

#### Dragons

Dragons were once proud and powerful beasts that swore fealty to the gods DIV and VOID. However, the death of the gods resulted in all but the very strongest of their species dying with their deities. Those that lived are completely insane and beyond any salvation.

#### Elves

Elves are famed for their graceful builds and longevity. Though not common in Io, elves come in four known varieties; High Elf, Wood Elf, Dark Elf and Sea Elf. Each of these subspecies have their own cultures and preferred environments.

#### Flumphkin

A recently made race, Flumphkin are a symbiotic union of Flumph and host made possible by the machinations of some Qethosian adventurers. Flumphs are driven by their radiant origins to smite all things VOID, though their host may not be so inclined. In addition to Radiant energies, Flumphkin hosts are forced to hear the melodious song of the Flumphs ceaselessly in their head.

#### Gnomes

Gnomes are known to be cunning and crafty and generally considered to have a certain lack of empathy. Their species is infamous for the horrid experimentation carried out by the Deep Gnomes, which lead to the near-extinction of the dwarves among other things. Whether all gnomes are of this unsavory caliber is yet to be determined.

#### Goblins

These small green humanoids are known for their penchant for chaos and violence, with some exceptions. While Goblins have always been present in Io, there has recently been a surge in Goblin population in the Ishtar Highlands, where a new form of Goblin has come to be.

#### Hags

A race of malevolent beings which appear in the form of unsightly old women.

#### Half-Elves

Half-elves are typically the product of the union of elf and human. They possess some of their elven parent's heritage, including some measure of their longevity, but also the versatility of their human side as well. Like elves, they are somewhat uncommon sights.

#### Half-Giant

Half-Giants are extremely rare in Io, as are giants. However, those that do roam Io are large, strong and inhumanly durable.

#### Halflings

Halflings tend to keep to themselves, forming their own groups away from the rest of society in the forms of shires and clans. Their diminutiveness tends to get them mistake for children, though they are nonetheless as capable as the other races they share the planet with.

#### Half-Orcs

Half-Orcs appear as brutish and menacing as their Orcish parents. However, Half-Orcs, like Half-Elves, have the capacity to eschew stereotypes and fill whatever niche they put their minds to, regardless of their appearance.

#### Hobgoblins

The larger red cousin of the Goblin, Hobgoblins are stern and prideful warriors with a rigid social system that honors strength and order.

#### Humans

The most populous race upon Io, humans closely resemble the ancestors of the Auroran people and serve as the template for most of the sapient races that exist on Io. While humans can adopt any lifestyle, most humans are aligned with the multifarious civilizations that rise and fall across Io.

#### Kitsune

A species of human with fox-like features, Kitsune are magically gifted and have the innate ability to transform into a fox at will. Living in isolate and sheltered communities, Kitsune were closely aligned with the gods DIV and VOID, and tensions between the two groups are still present in the absence of the gods.

#### Kobolds

Small, scaly and sneaky, kobolds are nonetheless larger than life. Often living on the fringes of society, they tend to flock around powerful leaders as tagalongs, hoping to reap the reward for siding with the strongest. Those that reject this form of servitude are often eccentric, but underestimating a kobold for any reason is always a mistake.

#### Lizardfolk

Native to jungle regions such as Imothan, lizardfolk are reptilian humanoids that live in tribes. They are usually not hostile to outsiders that venture into their verdant homeland. They are natural born hunters and trackers.

#### Loxodons

Gentle giants, Loxodons rarely leave their serene communities. These elephantine people are known to be wise and calm and appreciate the finer things in life.

#### Orcs

Orcs are a hardy green-skinned people that are famed for being savage warriors. Orcs tend to live in harsh climates that most civilizations can't tolerate. Though they might appear brutish to some, orcs tend to both honorable and loyal to all people who earn it.

#### Tabaxi

Tabaxi are a feline people that are quick on their feet and agile beyond compare. On Io, there are two types of Tabaxi. One is the classic human-sized variant while the others are as short as halflings. These shorter Tabaxi, known as Talicos, are usually found in the continent of Etropa.

#### Tortles

Naturally drawn to wanderlust, tortles need just the shell on their back to get by. A rare sight, tortles come and go as they please and live life at their own pace, free to follow wherever their whims lead them.

#### Warforged

Hailing from the Island of Seek, a conglomerated mass of metal in the middle of the Great Journey, Warforged come into being fully formed. Their origins uncertain and their future even more so, Warforged go out into the world to find purpose in whatever way they can, learning more about Io and their people's place in it.

### Non-Sapient

#### Aberrations

* **Aboleths**: a type of aquatic monster in service to the Clan of Kaasma.
* **Flumphs**: a medusae-like parasite born from the blood of the dead god Div. They are a hive mind with a singular purpose; to purge the Void in all its forms.

#### Beasts

* **Bears**: A large carnivorous mammal often found dwelling in forests.
* **Foxes**: A small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammal often found throughout forests. They are often seen as familiars.
* **Horses**: A common animal that is often used by humanoid races for riding, the pulling of carts and wagons or other forms of work.
* **Worgs**: A canine magical beast which resembles a large wolf sometimes used by orcs, goblins, and other such creatures to act as mounts or attack dogs.

#### Constructs

* **Golems**: A type of magically created construct often focused around a specific element. They often are mindless servants which fulfill the orders of their creators though it is possible for a Golem to gain sapience.
* **Homunculi**: A type of small construct created by a spellcaster often to act as a spy and servant.

#### Monstrosities

* **Ankhegs**: a type of insectoid creature.
* **Hydras**: a type of many-headed monster.
* **Krakens**: massive ocean dwelling aquatic creatures.
* **Voidstars**: creatures born from fragments of the god Void splintered from him after his clash with Div.
* **Yeti**: large, white-furred humanoid creatures that can be found in arctic climates.

#### Plants

* **Myconids**: a race of fungus creatures.

#### Undead

* **Banshees**: a type of often malevolent undead phantom.
* **Liches**: a type of undead spellcaster that embraces undeath in an attempt to live forever.
* **Skeletons**: the animated bones of a once living being. While normally not sapient, its said to be possible for one to have sapience via magic.
* **Spirits**: the soul or essence of a once living being.

## Races from the Astral Veil

### Sapient

#### Astari

The original denizens of Io, the Astari were subject to a great tragedy that wiped out their civilization. Fragments of their souls were sent into the nascent Astral Veil to be reborn as new beings. Some were reformed into husks of their former selves, mindlessly wandering and clinging to their memories of life. Of the many splintered souls, only one was reborn as a true Astari, a scholarly gentleman by the name of Levin.

#### Changelings

Changelings are made, not born. Designed as the perfect infiltrators by the Clan of Kaasma, they have the ability to shapeshift at will, transforming their bodies into whatever they desire. Only one Changeling has been currently identified as such, a young wizard called Zehani.

#### Genasi

Birthed from the elements, Genasi come into being as human-like people that populate the Astral. Genasi typically come in four different flavor dependent on the element that birthed them; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Though they mostly remain in the Astral, some Genasi venture out into the Prime Plane for their own reasons.

#### Gith

A tall and lithe people with yellowish skin, Gith are a common sight in the Astral. They normally are divided into two distinct groups. The Githyanki are a simple folk that like to congregate in small collectives, passing on traditions from one generation to the next. Meanwhile, Githzerai are drawn to knowledge and understanding the great mysteries of their home. One particular institution of learning that exists in the Astral is known as The Spire.

#### Greckos

A race of short humanoids, the Grecko might be confused for a type of Lizardfolk. They resemble chameleons and possess some of their attributes such as wall climbing and changing the color of their skin. Grecko communities collect an assortment of objects on their travels and gather them in piles. The piles are divided into sharp piles and soft piles. Grecko children are thrown into either pile when they come of age and whatever they come out with is what they are to pursue as part of their life's goal.

#### Jaksu

Jaksu are a fish-like people that have an affinity for the element of water. They do not typically use names and communicate with each other through emotion and thought, though they have no issue in conventional conversation with other races. There is some slim evidence to suggest that Jaksu have visited Io in the form of the Jaksu Academy in Southern Qethos.

## Races from the Elemental Veils

### Sapient

#### Djinn

Djinn are a race of powerful chaotic elementals. They sometimes act as warlock patrons and may have the powerful ability to grant wishes.

#### Elementals

Elementals are entities comprised entirely of basic or complex elements. They can be intelligent and self-aware. They are often summoned by spellcasters to assist with specific tasks.

## Races from the Nova

### Sapient

#### Ashen Astari

The Astari are an ancient race native to Io and the former planet of Jupiter. They were once studious and spiritual, keepers of a sacred magic known as "The Memory". Now, scarred from the Jupiter Incident, these descendants of the Astari have traded knowledge for martial prowess, pushing themselves to survive. The Ashen Astari, now with reddish skin, have a more toned body than their Native Astri counterparts. They are bred for strength and survival and this they are typically taller as well.

#### Auroran Tieflings

The Aurorans are humanoids that originated from an ancient planet long since extinct. The Tiefling subrace are descendants of the Aurorans who were transformed during the Jupiter Incident. Their offspring now have skin of purple and red, with horns made of bone protruding from within the forehead. Auroran Tieflings will often have sharp nails or claws, some with fangs to match. Their blank eyes lack an iris or pupil and are typically solid white, orange or red. Auroran Tieflings come in multiple subspecies similar to those found on Io; Human, Gnomish, Elvish, Dwarfish and Goliath.

#### Jackalfolk

A predatory race, the Jackalfolk claim themselves to be noble hunters. However, their reputation suggests them as desperate scavengers that will take and eat anything they need to ensure their survival. The Jackalfolk's fur is typically mangled, as the heat of the Nova Hellscape causes them to tear at their own skin in a fury. Their eyes are pale and sunken, hunger and desperation evident in their blank gaze. They are often visibly snarling as they live their day to day in the unforgiving scorched land.

#### Kaasmanites

Humanoids born from Kaasma in their image, these light purple individuals have oval-like heads. Their eyes are pitch as black, with a pinpoint star in the depth of their gaze. Some say that if you stare into them, the birth and destruction of galaxies that Kaasma witness can be seen. Runes inscribed in black are often etched into their foreheads - an ancient mark of Kaasma that is unfamiliar to the current age. Their bodies are hunched with bloated stomachs as they devour all who stand in their way, thought their skeletal spine protrudes outwards from their backs. Kaasmanites are birthed as adults from mysterious sacks in a place called the Charred Carcinoma. They live for about 60 years before undergoing a transformation into Kaasma Flayers, vampiric beings that use their Kaasma Drain ability to survive.

#### Kindled

A humanoid race long forgotten - or never created. The Kindled were a former race who bore witness to the Blackstar - a single frozen point within the universe that coexists with the existence of all different possibilities in reality. It is a point where time both exists and doesn't. The Kindled illuminate with a white radiance that swallows their dark energy-like bodies. Originally featureless, the Kindled create their own form to individualize themselves. They speak for all Kindled when identifying themselves, with personalities that blend into their entire race. Kindled either flicker into existence, or have always existed. Their age is limitless but also uncertain. They notably have to capacity to peer into the future, though they cannot be sure if it is the reality they currently inhabit or a different one entirely.

#### Minotaurs

The minotaurs are a tribalistic people that aim to conquer and subdue the other scavengers of the Hellscape. While they appear of towering stoic figures of tremendous strength, there is a keen intelligence about them that most overlook, to their peril. The minotaurs are led by a group of seers, who are masters of magic. These seers can manipulate the minds of those they enslave to better suit their needs, and some have the ability to tap into the power of the mystifying Dreamscape.

#### Mammowraths

A race resembling that of a humanoid elephant, the Mammowarth's tusks are sharpened with blood-like gore. Their skin is charred and darkened from the Nova's heat, with cracks running along their flesh like deep scars. The Mammowrath believe in the survival of the fittest, with a culture that rewards aggression and strength. Their tribes engage in bloodthirsty combat to handle disputes, as they actively seek the glory of battle.

## Races from The Shadow

### Sapient

#### Devils

Devils are a race of beings born when a Shadow possess a body.

#### Shadows

No-one is born a Shadow. To be a Shadow is to be cursed, to have the Shadow Veil lay claim to your soul and body and twist it beyond comprehension. The longer one is trapped there, the worse the transfiguration gets, and the more the mental state of the individual deteriorates. Most Shadows are the suffering souls of the Astari, imprisoned after the Jupiter Incident obliterated their home. However, there are several other unfortunates that have become just as ensnared by this dark plane, and they are forever changed once the Shadow seeps into their soul.

## Spacefaring Races

### Non-Sapient

* **Neothelids**: an interplanar monster resembling a large purple worm.