Races of the Vale

There are four dominant races in the Vale, each of which includes at least two subraces: gnomes, halflings, goblins and kobolds. For the most part, the four races live in peace; while there may be instances of racial stereotyping and mild intolerance in some communities, outright bigotry is rare. Each race is seen as filling an important role in the overall functioning of the Vale; these roles are not absolute, but are generally expected. For instance, most farmers are halflings; a kobold could pursue a life of farming if they wished, but this would be seen as mildly unusual.

Gnomes

The builders and warriors of the vale, the city-folk. Many gnomes become engineers or town guards, joining local militias, or hunting down bandits and dangerous wildlife. Gnomes are also found in jobs pertaining to knowledge, such as scholars, librarians, alchemists, and judges. Many craftsmen are gnomes, favoring work with stone, metal, and gems.

Halflings

They favor a more pastoral life, with many being farmers or animal-tenders. A great many halflings are craftsmen, often working with wood, leather, and textiles. While some halflings live in cities, they tend to prefer quiet country life.

Goblins More rustic than halflings, many goblins pursue lives as hunters and herbalists. Many are merchants, traveling from town to town and trading their wares; and like gnomes, not a few goblins are warriors of one sort or another. They have a strong tradition as healers, and some are alchemists.

Kobolds

The most comfortable with life underground, and many work as miners. They also have a natural affinity for magic, and by extension arcane lore; many kobolds work as hedge wizards, teachers, and sages. Their knack for mechanics often leads kobolds to work with devices of all sorts, building and repairing them; the best crossbows are kobold-made. Finally, kobolds have a natural knack for bureaucracy, rivalled only by the gnomes.

The races rarely interbreed, although there is no particular stigma against this in most communities. They are not cross-fertile; a gnome and a goblin may choose to marry, but they cannot produce offspring.