HUMAN: Humans are the most adaptable, flexible, and ambitious of all races and often have a diverse array of tastes, morals, customs and habits. They are often the descendants of pioneers, conquerors, traders, explorers and refuges who found themselves on the move from a forgotten ancient land across the sea. Because of this, human lands tend to be a varied mix of people, having many physical, cultural, religious and political differences, often in the same area. Other races often accuse humans of a disrespect for history because of their commonly fickle nature and shorter life spans than others. Despite all of this, they are by far the most numerous race in Oarth, having spread out to all corners of the world. Seemingly consumed by an instinctual drive to explore, spread and conquer the wild and mysterious places of the mortal world. Their taste for war and expansion has resulted in glorious empires, many of which rise and fall. Even the one thousand year old unified kingdom is on the verge of war.
SYLVAN: Long before Humans arrived on the eastern shores of the continent of thakar, the native Sylvan lived off the land, one with nature. Sylvans, also called elves, are an ancient and stoic tribal people, native to the continent. Split into five separate tribes, the Sun Elves of the Scarlet Sands, Dark Elves of the Felands, Wood Elves of Greenwood, High Elves of the Arrow Mountains and the Frost Elves of the Frozen North. They enjoy youth and health for most of their lives and don't begin to feel the effects of age until the beginning of their second century. Often living up to three hundred years old. Even then, they suffer few of the infirmities of old age. In addition to this, they don't sleep but find their rest in a meditative state called “Reverie”, a four hour long meditative rest where they remain conscious of their surroundings and can regenerate from minor or moderate wounds. Although the five Sylvan tribes are fierce rivals with each other, they all have a shared distaste for the humans who forced them off their ancient ancestral lands.
DRUGAR: Also called Dwarves, or Grey Folk, Durgar are an ancient and stoic race of cave dwellers. According to their own mythologies, the four Drugar clans were forged from the breath of Behemoth, primordial beast of elemental earth. Others say they were carved out of a shard of the heart of the world. No one knows for sure, but it is known that the four clans of the Drugar race have been around almost as long as mankind. Drugar are a tough, tradition abiding folk known for their strong martial traditions and beautiful craftsmanship. Many Drugar are difficult to like and lack the charm of many other smaller races. Drugar friendship is hard to earn, but is strong once won. Naturally dour and suspicious, the stout folk are slow to trust others, specifically towards those outside their family, suspecting the worst of an individual until the outsider proves many times their good will. Drugar highly value the ties between family members and friends, weaving tightly knit clans. Drugar particularly respect elders, from whom they expect sound leadership and the wisdom of experience. The four Drugar clans are each made up of numerous families, however each clan is represented by a Clan Consular who are members of the high council. This Clan Consular is elected by the people, typically the oldest and wisest among them. These clans are the The Blod, The Guld, The Svart and The Brun. The dwarven king is in charge of the protection of their city and is the 5th member of the high council. While the Drugar have had multiple glorious kingdoms throughout history, the only one that remains is Errondur, guarding the way into the Frozen North. Often living up to two hundred years old.
GNOME: Their origins are as mysterious as their seemingly boundless curiosity. Always enthralled by the many wonders and mysteries of the world. By far the least common of the mortal races. No one knows where they came from or even how long they have been around. Most if not all of their histories were hunted down and burned during the last great war one thousand years ago. Gnomes, often called Halflings by other races, are welcome everywhere as technicians, alchemists, engineers and inventors. Despite the demand for their skills, most gnomes prefer to remain among their own kind, living in comfortable burrows beneath rolling highland and forested communities. They have no kingdoms or lands to call their own, instead living at the feet of Human and Drugar civilization. Gnomes adore animals, beautiful gems, and jokes of all kinds. Members of this race have a great sense of humor, and while they love puns, jokes, and games, they relish tricks, the more intricate the better. They apply the same dedication to more practical arts, such as engineering and construction. Often living up to one hundred fifty years old.
BRUTAN: Many thousands of years ago in an age long passed, an nomadic 6th tribe of unknown sylvan migrated into the valley of bones, outcasts banished by the other five tribes and all knowledge of them wiped from their histories. These outcast elves established a small community and for a time they thrived. But there came a time when a great evil overshadowed this 6th tribe. The chaos god known as Kyros corrupted this secretive tribe using his dark magic. Forcibly breeding them with goblins in a desperate attempt to create a hybrid creature. Transforming them into a hideous version of their former selves, the perfect warrior race. Thus the infamous Orc race was born. A race of barbarians who eventually came into their own as a species. Called Brutans by their own kind, but often nicknamed Brutes or Orcs by other races. The Brutan are dark haired, often having green, red or grey skin with large tusks on their lower jaw. They are extremely athletic, capable of running and fighting for hours without breaking a sweat. Their Orcish traditions teach them at a young age to respect the struggle of life. It is pain that sharpens the mind and strengthens the soul. Their religion is one of pure survival and the pursuit of strength is paramount. Only the strongest may lead, only the strongest will live, fear is weakness and death is a gift that only great warriors can truly appreciate. They don't believe in an afterlife, death is not an evil force to the tribes of the Brute. Death is simply an old friend, an eternal dreamless rest from all the troubles of life. Orcs have only recently been accepted and integrated into the empire over the past century or so. However because of past wars and rivalries against Humans, Sylvan and Drugar, they are often treated with suspicion. Often forced to live on the fringes of the empire, some towns being more accepting then others. Many Brutan are sought out as mercenaries, powerful swords for hire. Having a similar lifespan to that of humans.