Landsoftheblacksea:Main Page/races

Races

Humans: Subdivided into several ethnic variations:

·         Tuaths: the original stock for both the Vulkuls and the Athernians.  Tuathans have assimilated with other ethnicities in the current time to the point where there are virtually no pure Tuathans left.

·         Vulkuls: Essentially Germanic/Norman Caucasian archetype. Somewhat barbaric, roughly equivalent to dark ages Vikings.  Decendents of Tuathans who settled in the Northlands.

·         Athernians: European Caucasian archetype.  Decendents of Tuathans who settled the temperate and southern regions of the Athernian peninsula.

·         Ugarians: An African archtype. The Issyrians typify the Ugarian people, and Issyrian is sometimes (incorrectly) used to describe the race. Very dark skin, very little body hair.

·         Jhonians: Mediteranian/Middle-Eastern Archetype.  Tend towards olive/tan skin and darker hair, but a wide variety can be found across the wide area of lands settled by the Jhonians.

·         Niharians: Essentially oriental archetype. Civilized, cultured, roughly equivalent of medieval japan (iron age). Single major kingdom (Nihar) controlling surrounding islands.  Niharians are generally reserved and view other cultures with either pity or suspicion, but are not warlike by nature.  They are not explorers or settlers by nature, and few settle outside their homeland; those that do tend to have reasons for leaving, or are decedents of ancestors who had reasons for leaving.

·         Maharanese: An (East) Indian Archtype.  Primarily reside in the Eastern lands of Chandrahaar, but expatriots can be found throughout the Lands in small numbers.

Elves: Subdivided into several ethnic variations:  The original Elven stock is the Grey Elf, but the Elves are explorers, and have spread the length and breadth of the Lands.  The Elves arrived long ago, long enough that the enclaves have had time to develop distinct ethic sub-types defined primarily by culture, and secondarily by variations in average appearance.

·         Grey Elves: The most ancient of the Elven bloodline, the Grey Elves are few in number, and live on an isolated island in the east, far beyond any settlement of humans.  They consider themselves the highest form of Elven culture, and observers are hard-pressed not to agree with them.  They are the most adept and powerful magic users among Elves, but tend to be less physically strong than many of the other ethnicities.

·         Mist Elves: Mist Elves have several strongholds in the foothills of the mountain chain between Chandrahaar and Jhon.  Mist Elves tend towards dark hair and dark skin, but other complexions can be found.  They are secretive and retiring with respect to other races, but amongst themselves are somewhat more jovial and carefree than the Grey Elves.  They tend towards bright colored clothing, jewelry, and tatoos and other forms of body adornment are common, typically associated with a particular clan.

·         Sun Elves: Sun Elves live in the deep deserts of Issyria and the Sea of Sand, as well as having scattered strongholds across the Forbidden Isles.  They are very dark of complexion and hair, and eyes tend to black and brown, though greens, hazel, and amber are not unheard of.    Little is known about them, as they rarely interact with humans.

·         Snow Elves: Inhabit the cold foothills of the Grey Mountains where they meet the forest of Thornwood, North of Athervon.  Tend towards pale/light hair.  They are stouter and stronger than many elves, and most likely to be taken for human save for their ears.  They are generally good-natured and enjoy wine and song, but they are also powerful fighters.  Their magic use, while impressive, is not at the same level as other Elves.

·         Wood Elves: Rule over the vast area known only as the Great Western Forest, in the South-Western portion of the Athernian peninsula.  Very typical for standard AD&D wood elves.

Dwarves: Dwarves of the Lands live in extended family/clan structures that can comprise 1000’s of individuals.  The Dwarves create settlements wherever there are metals, gems, or other minerals of value to them.  These settlements can range from fortified structures built into cliff walls housing scouting groups looking for new deposits, to the vast underground Dwarven cities – the Udhrms – where the leaders of each clan are found, each trying to out-do the others in terms of the grandeur and splendor to be found within.  Dwarves in general tend to be highly suspect of other races, and limit the interactions they have.  When they do interact, they prefer to do it in the lands of others – they are very careful about who is allowed inside their settlements, worrying about theft, spying, and sabotage.  Of course, their history makes such beliefs well-founded – when not fighting amongst themselves, the Dwarves fight continual battles against humans, demi-humans, humanoids, and even have had to repel the occasional Dragon.

Gnomes: Gnomes call their people the Zradkin.  Many Gnomes live in wandering clans or family units, travelling in caravans from town to town, where they provide services, sell their art & jewelry, and entertain using their natural talents augmented with magic.  There are large populations that have taken up residence is the cities of humans and halflings, but they are viewed as outsiders.  The only place Gnomes have built their own settlements is nearby the major Dwarven Udhrms – there one will usually find one, and sometimes multiple, Gnomish towns outside the gates.  Many of these gnomes are migrant workers within the Dwarven cities, entering to work during the day, and leaving in the evening to return to their homes.

Halflings: The Halflings of the Lands have settled virtually all of the major land areas, although the tend to avoid extreme environments (e.g. deserts, tundra) and prefer to live in places where they can farm the land and/or where foraging is easy.  They mix easily with humans in most places, and generally adopt the customs and culture of the governing human realms or lands that they live within.  In some areas, Halflings have the greater percentage of the population, and generally humans allow them to participate in governance & politics, although some places bar them from military occupations.

Half-Orcs: More or less AD&D standard.