Races

Various races live in Aldmeer, both in the surface and underground. Some of them are more commonly seen in cultures and realms of humans while others less so. Of course, everywhere where civilization exists, people are right behind be it humans, elves, dwarves, half-medusas, halflings, merfolk, gnomes, lenavi, slimespawn, dragonborn or tieflings.

Below is a list of numerous races of Aldmeer.

*These are the races that are automatically playable in the setting*

Human
Humans are one of the most adaptable races and also one of the most diverse. They are the most widespread and have developed many different cultures albeit with a mix of other races. The humans have fought the majorities of wars in modern history, so let none declare that humans are not a race that is aggressive and bloodthirsty. Like all races that ever existed, they have their ups and downs in their history and various members can be atrocious while others can be kind. Humans have touched every corner of Aldmeer, so there is rarely a place in the world where a single human won’t be seen.

Lenavi
One of the most ancient native races in Aldmeer, the Lenavi are people that had once colonized the entire world. However, after the race was cursed by the goddess Ansephal, their civilizations and legacy came to a great decline. In present time the Lenavi seldom have a certain realm or country they call home. There are Lenavi cities here and there but many Lenavi prefer travelling around.

Halfling
Halflings are one of the races that aren’t natives of Aldmeer. They came to Aldmeer untold eons ago from outside Aldspace using Spelljammers. This is a myth some halflings pass on, that their people ‘’descended from the stars’’ but none of them knows how or what even Spelljammers are. Most think of it as just another story among many and nothing more.

Elf
Also one of the most ancient races native on this planet, Elves occupy it for many a millennia. Elves of Aldmeer exceed the adaptable capabilities of humans as elves possess great adaptation mechanisms in their biology. Elves have evolved to adapt to other environs besides dry land such as the sea, forests and even to other Planes of Existence such as the Feywild and the Shadow Plane.

Dwarf
Drwarves are one of the many races found in the surface of Aldmeer. Some dwarves are experts on fields like blacksmithing and crafting, however there are many others that excel in other areas like spellcasting. Their counterparts, the Duergar, live underground in close knit communities rarely opening to outsiders, and one could say that these so called pale dwarves are the ancestors of the surface dwarves.

Half-Elf
A race that is the result of the union of an elf and a member of another race. Usually adaptable, smart and charismatic, half-elves are a people that have a knack to solve problems, or create them. Like all half-breeds, the majority of them cannot produce an offspring and for that and their mixed heritage some people tend to shun them.

Half-Orc
A race that is the result of the union of an orc and a member of another race. Most half-orcs are strong, tall, tough and resilient and have a resemblance to orcs that gives away their heritage. Like all half-breeds, the majority of them cannot produce an offspring and for that and their mixed heritage some people tend to shun them.

Half-Dwarf
A race that is the result of the union of a dwarf and a member of another race. Half-dwarves have a height that is somewhere between a dwarf and a human but the size varies in most members of the race. They are never taller than their human parent and never shorter than their dwarf parent. Many mistake half-dwarves for tall dwarves or short humans but those who do learn to recognize them do so with ease. Like all half-breeds, the majority of them cannot produce an offspring and for that and their mixed heritage some people tend to shun them.

Half-Medusa
The offspring of a Medusa, half-medusa come from eggs a medusa lays. That said, there are no records of any medusa giving birth except Queen Qazali of Lacrienta who some call the First Medusa or the True Medusa. There have not been an instance of half-medusa native not of Lacrienta and the race is extremely rarely seen outside Rythalion. Even those seen then all trace their roots from Qazali. Half-medusas have snake hair but otherwise look like humans. Like all half-breeds, the majority of them cannot produce an offspring.

Gnome
Many call gnomes the race with the nimblest fingers and brightest minds. Many gnomes have a knack for inventions and are thus becoming artificers. However, for each of them there are many more who pursue other fields that have nothing to do with inventing.

Dragonborn
A race born from a ritual that dragons performed to create servants, dragonborn have the magic and the constitution of dragons in their blood. They look draconic in appearance, with dragonlike heads and scales but don’t have tails.

Tiefling
Tieflings are one of the most shunned and feared races in the world as their heritage comes from the hells, the abyss or generally the lower planes. Their appearance betrays that heritage; horns protruding from their head, a tail and usually a skin that is red, blue or another color that draws the attention of the eye.

Aasimar
Aasimars have a celestial heritage and many say that they are placed in the world by the gods themselves to fulfil a prophecy or a divine task. Some say that they are the opposite of Tieflings but that’s not exactly true. Much smaller in numbers than Tieflings, Aasimar can be told apart by other races as they always have one angelic trait be it glowing eyes, small wings on their heads, feathers on their face or somewhere else. Because of that many hide their faces or other parts to avoid attention.

Loxodon
A race of elephant people that is strong and stout. They mostly thrive in deserts and their communities are relatively peaceful while compared with human or mixed societies. Many Loxodons worship Garnasia, their patron deity who is believed to have created them and thus value kindness and valor a lot.

Firbolg
Tall humanoids that are in sync with nature, many Firbolgs are nature’s caretakers that loathe violence. They don’t have a certain homeland as they see all of nature as their home. Of course there are Firbolgs that are born in a city which while still have powers close to nature, find city life better suited to them like any other person that lives in a city.

Goliath
People that are kin with the giants, Goliaths are tall and can take the cold’s punishments head on. Many of them hail from the Goliath homeland Kertov’atola. A lot of Goliaths are stout warriors as their size and way of living in their clans makes it easier.

Kobold
Kobolds are small reptilian humanoids that are mostly seen as pests. Many live in clans away from other races like humans. However, there are Kobolds that choose to go in cities and make a living there but in some places are picked on and seen as a joke. Although there are cultures that view them as equals spme see them as cave crawlers that have come out to the proper and civilized world. A great many Kobolds idolize dragons to the point of worship and do anything to prove themselves to the dragons.

Hobgoblin
A goblinoid race, Hobgoblins seem like tall and muscular goblins, and some would say smarter too. While the last bit is not necessarily true, Hobgoblins have managed to be at the top of goblin hierarchy being bigger and all and most goblins see them as leader figures. A great example of that is the kingdom of Heikkon in Rythalion, where Hobgoblins and Goblins have built a civilized kingdom with the Hobgoblins on top as superior citizens.

Goblin
Like Kobolds, Goblins are seen as pests; a small race that lives in caves and forests without a culture. While many goblins prefer the life they have on their lairs, many leave and seek to see what the world has to offer. Some are even born on other cities and grow up a stranger to the wilds.

Orc
Tall and muscular, Orcs have a terrifying visage that many people are scared of. While clans of barbaric and bloodthirsty Orcs exist in numbers, not all Orcs follow that example. In fact there are Orc settlements that don’t want anything to do with their aggressive counterparts.

Bugbear
Hairy and bigger than hobgoblins, Bugbears are one of the goblinoid races. Most Bugbears actually loathe Hobgoblins and other Goblins because of an ancient slight in the days of the Great Clan. Not all bugbears bear this grudge though. Like all races that look more monstrous to the eyes of humans, elves, lenavi etc, Bugbears tend to be feared and shunned in some communities.

Tabaxi
Also known as Jaguarmen or Leopardfolk, Tabaxi are a feline race that is dexterous and agile. Their appearance has jaguarlike or leopardlike characteristics and they also have retractable claws. Tabaxi hail from Aseldis and many love to travel.

Aarakocra
The race known as Aarakocra is a humanoid race that bears traits of avians. They have bird heads, talons, bird tails and wings as well as feathers. All Aarakocra look like eagles and hawks with some features of parrots. Their homeland is in the continent of Yetaza.

Merfolk
Merfolks are a race that lives on water as well as land. They are very beautiful to look upon as their colorful fins glitter as sunlight passes through the membranes. Their hands and feet are webbed in order for them to swim better. They can be found mostly in the sea of course and also on coastal regions. They also dwell in rivers and lakes as well and in forests where water flows through. Many Merfolk, after a life in the sea, decide to travel the land and see what it has to offer. Many merfolk call Yetaza home.

Kenku
A birdlike race that look like crows, Kenku all lack the ability to talk and instead communicate through mimicry and through sign language. They don't really belong somewhere as they always were drifters. Many Kenku make a living as bards and artists who utilize their mimicry in order to entertain. Some turn into thieving, although the same can be said for all the other races in existence.

Genasi
A more uncommon race than tieflings, Genasi trace their ancestry to genies and the Elemental Planes. There are four kinds of Genasi, Fire Genasi, Water Genasi, Air Genasi and Earth Genasi. Genasi always have traits of the element that spawned them be it flaming hair for a fire genasi or a skin layered with stones for an earth genasi.

Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk choose to live near water as it does good to their livelihood. Also, since their mostly greenish scales blend well with leafage and swamps they tend to prefer living in places that contain water and flora. Of course, no one can really tell if they opted to live in such places because they suited them because of these traits or if they evolved to be able to live in such places.

Tortle
A well-liked race known for its peaceful and relaxed ways, Tortles are a race that is welcome in most communities. Their big shells offer protection and while they don’t prefer violence they can learn to defend themselves and dish out hits rather effectively. While the Tortles have that peaceful reputation there have been many Tortles that gave the rest a bad name.

Centaur
Centaurs have the upper body that is reminiscent of a human or an elf and a lower body of a horse. They are athletic because of that nature; however they have trouble climbing ladders. Many say that Centaurs are descended from the Fey.

Snailtaur
Like the centaurs, Snailtaurs have a humanoid upper body reminiscent of a human albeit with soft skin and the same color as the lower body which is that of a snail’s. Of course, their lower body has a snail shell which the Snailtaur uses to hide in and protect from harm. They are slow, but can climb most surfaces with ease and can stick to one place and not be easily moved if they want to. Stories say that the Snailtaurs are children of the goddess Heglyt, meaning to say that being so similar to the slimy snails; they are repulsive enough to be children of the goddess of repulsion.

Changeling
Changelings have the ability to change their appearance to look like any humanoid they choose. A great few have ever seen a changeling in its true form or rather; a great few know when a Changeling is in its true form at any given time. Some changelings adapt different personas to each form and some do not.

Shifter
A Shifter is a humanoid who has traits in their heritage that come from a union of humans and lycanthropes. They can't fully change shape but can temporarily enhance their animalistic traits and take visages closer to wild animals and beasts.

Thri-kreen
The mantis-people or, as some wrongfully call them, antmen, Thri-kreen thrive in deserts and rough environments. They look like a human sized mantis with four arms and some also possess psionic abilities.

Slimespawn
The Slimespawn are a race of intelligent slime people born from experiments of the Illithids. They too have psionic abilities and their slime bodies do not have bones or blood. They can alter their general shapes and are the most flexible race out of all the others.

Yuan-ti Pureblood
The Yuan-ti are the Snakefolk that worship the malevolent god Zehir. The Purebloods are those of the race that look the most like humans or half-elves. The Yuan-ti use them to infiltrate other societies in order to spy and extend their influence. They say Zehir made the Yuan-ti and controls their actions. While no one can be certain about their origin, the last part is a myth and nothing more, as there are Purebloods that aren’t what Zehir wants them to be, and are kind souls if raised in kind environments that is.

Neryli
The Neryli are descendants of the humans of the ancient Neryl Empire that descended to the Gloomdeep. Thousands of years in the Gloomdeep have changed them to be better suited to a life there. Effectively, they are a race of deep humans that also uses magic to modify their bodies. The magical alterations they perform on themselves are a dead giveaway that someone is a Neryli. Of course, Neryli are extremely rarely seen in the surface and when they are people are either terrified or amazed.

Hybrid
This race is a top secret experiment performed by the Unravelers in Eolda and funded by Emperor Virius di Eolda. They are called hybrids because the Unravelers fuse tissues of living humanoid subjects with parts of various animals in order to create soldiers that can adapt to most if not all terrains. The project is still not concluded and yet many Hybrids have been created. Some have even escaped and are hunted.

Grung
These small frog-looking amphibians live in water or near it since their lives depend on it. They are mostly found in jungles and rainforests of Yohssalu and Tejar or in the jungles in the continents Yetaza and Aseldis. Their coloration can be green, blue, purple, red, orange, or gold, and each grung has unique patterns of black in their skin. They need to immerse themselves in water for at least one hour during a day or they will dehydrate and get sick.

Leonin
These distant cousins of the tabaxi are also called Lionfolk. Mostly prefer living in savannas and various plains, they form communities called Prides much as lions do. Some of these Prides are nomadic although most settle for good. Their roars are majestic and terrifying at the same time, and anyone who hears their roar would think twice before messing with them.

Locathah
A race of fishfolk that live across coasts and in areas under the sea such as trenches and coral reefs. They have a limited amphibiousness meaning that they can both breathe air and water but need to be submerged in water at least once every four hours to avoid suffocating.

Satyr
Fey creatures that are not native to Aldmeer but visit it frequently from the Feywild as it interests them. They are almost always in a good mood, are great for company, and love revelry. Most satyrs that visit Aldmeer are driven by two simple desires; to see this mortal world and to sample all of its pleasures.

Gith
The tall and gaunt Gith are a race of extraplanar people not of this world. They are split into two people, the Githyanki that dwell in the Astral Plane and the Githzerai that live in Limbo. The two are sworn enemies and sometimes enter Aldmeer in order to hunt each other or slay the hated enemies of all Gith, the Illithids. While the rarest race to be seen in Aldmeer, some githyanki or githzerai do live in this world and go about their businesses; most of the time away from prying eyes of natives or even their own races.