Races in the Realm

**High elves**

Traditionally high elves have been considered the most powerful entity in the realm. They rule over large spans of land and great, structured cities with a strong political system whcih is lead by the high king and the royal families. They are not native to the continent but seized land as their own when they settled several generations ago. After this time their rule has expanded dramatically, taking settlements from the dark elves in the name of the greater good with their advanced civilisation and strong magical proficiency. They head the prestigious Grand Paladin Order who now serve to protect the realm. The elves are rich due to their ability to collect taxes from their people and their strong trade relations.

**Dark elves**

The dark elves once held land from the northern mountains to the southern swamps but lost the majority of their territory to high elf settlers over the years. There remain some isolated settlements in the northern mountains but their population is densely concentrated to the swamps. Their surface cities have vast networks of tunnels below ground level. Few remain in high or base elven settlements as they are often discriminated against.

**Wood elves**

Preferring the embrace of the forest compared to the bustle of cities, the wood elves live to the east in small, woodland settlements. They are native to the realm and hold neutral relations to most other entities. Their generally kind and fair deminer as well as their proficiency in defending their natural environment has meant that they have not made many enemies over time. Historically, they shared the realm with the dark elves and consequently they do not hold the same distaste for the dark elves as the high or baseborn elves do.

**Elves**

Baseborn elves hold less of a political structure than the other elven races. They hold their own settlements lead by individual families and lords but they are generally subordinate to the high elves. Many will follow whichever leader offers them the greatest power or are politically unengaged. Many baseborn elves live among and hold their allegiance to other elven races.

**Dwarves**

Dwarves are native to the land and hold territory in the northern mountains. Many of their current day relations stem from the Iron Accords peace agreement with the high elves which leaves them free to rule under their own king and historically presented a more peaceful relationship than with the dark elves. They hold a grasp over many resources of the land however the resulting wealth is not spread equally, and much of it is passed to the elves in trade. Dwarves are welcomed to the grand paladin order.

**Humans**

It is said that humans love to be ruled. While they have a great population, their settlements are generally either small or spawling in nature. Their towns in the north and east are unorganised left to their own accord. While historically weaker than elves, many joined the high elves in their conquest in search of power and as a result humans are common in elven towns. Interhuman relations are fractures and they will often play selfishly to benefit themselves.

**Half-elf**

The close relationship between humans and elves has resulted in the half-elf who share similar qualities to a baseborn elf. Taking the elves political skills they are often leaders of towns and settlements in the centre of the realm. The proudest high elves look down in half-elves as inferior beings.

**Gnome**

The north easterly gnome cities favour technology to politics. They remain politically neutral and their intelligence has helped them build great, practical cities. Their intelligence also makes them consider themselves superior to others despite their physical and magical inferiority. They do not hold much land and their cities are not suited for larger beings, combining this with their picky nature has meant there has been no desire for any other races to conquer them. Although the are generally uninterested in interrace politics, they love to compete over status in their own world. They are often contracted to build ships for others which has helped build them a great deal of wealth. While they used to hold a strong relationship with the high elves, some are beginning to question the ethics and benefits of this relationship.

**Orcs**

Live in small western settlements, surrounded by staked wooden fences. They are tribalistic in nature and are often concerned with internal conflict. While very physically strong, an organised settlement with strong magical proficiency are able to conquer small settlements and this has been shown to happen. However, enemies have to be careful with their moves to take estranged tribes, as the risk of an aligned orc army is a terrifying prospect for any civilisation.

**Tabaxi**

Primarily residents of the desert lands in the south their population in the realm lies mainly in the southern peninsula or the coastal trading towns. Many bring wine, fabrics, spices and less desirable substances from the south to trade and accrue great wealth. Otherwise, they are scattered as traveling merchant caravans. Politically they have no motivation for land in the comparatively cold and green realm.

**Leonin**

Fellow natives of the southern lands they are rarely seen in the realm. In their homelands there as constant conflicts with he tabaxi and this tension carries over to the more northerly lands.

**Tieflings**

Often shoed, distrusted and mistreated by the elves. Tieflings often live in shame or take to a life in the east where there is greater diversity and less judgement.

**Fairy**

Mischievous beings that live in the mushroom forests of the swamp.

**Halfling**

Spread far and wide from each other, the few halfling in the realm are generally affable and do not concern the more populus races.

**Haregon**

The Haregon live off the land in colonies in the eastern forests

**Kobold**

Animalistic creatures that favour caves to houses. They are hostile and feral to others, both of their own and other races. There are so many versions of their dialect that it cannot be counted and very few understand their speak.

**Goblin**

Shunned as dirty thieves by most in the realm. Others’ hatred for goblins has lead to them justifying their reputation as thieves as why would they offer any respect to those who treat them with such disgust.

**Sand elves**

Originating from the south of the southern lands, sand elves are ill suited to the cold climate of the contient and are very rarely seen crossing the southern sea. They are renowned for being exceptional horse riders.