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Age:
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Class/Order: (if applicable)
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Alignment: (Good, Neutral, Evil)
History: (if you decide to give us some background, it doesn't have to be anything much, but it helps to flesh out a character)
Race Descriptions:
Humans: The most populous race in all of Arsencia, humanity dwells far and wide across the land, but primarily in one of their numerous kingdoms and duchies. The greatest achievement of the humans is the Maughold, a towering fortress built into the side of a colossal mountain, reckoned to be the most defensible city in all of Arsencia. Physically, humans vary between 5 and 7 feet tall, stick-thin to sturdy as an oak and with skin pale as fresh linen or dark as a moonless night. Humans are usually physically capable between the ages of about 16 and 70, though magical potential lasts until death, which occurs naturally at about the age of 80.
Most humans have no magic, but some students of the thaumaturgic arts can excel, more powerful even than the High Elves. Human military preference is generally 'strength through numbers', though some choose to fight alone. Humans are seen by the rest of Arsencia as a sort of 'all-purpose' race, good at everything but with no particular speciality.
Vyre: The Vyre are a mysterious race native to the far north-west of Arsencia, a densely jungle-bound island. Little is known to Arsencia of the Vyre, save that they feed on blood and are immune to most physical hurt. Swords and bows serve only to slow them down, though removing the head will kill them, as will magical attacks. Their thirst for blood seems to be preferential rather than biological; a choice rather than a necessity. The Vyre have an innate magical potential, but it is realised in their physical form, preventing them from physical harm and keeping them alive for centuries. Average life-span is unknown. Due to recent magical activity, they have become fully sentient, such that some even wear clothing and carry weapons now.
Elves: Elves are found all across Arsencia, but hidden away in their homes; the Harrows. The only Harrow known to the other races is Elmharrow, so named for the trees of the surrounding forest. Elmharrow is home to nearly five thousand Elfkin. Physically, the Elves are tall, slender beings with almond-shaped eyes and pale white skin, which glows almost golden under the light of the sun, silver under the moon. True Elfkin are immortal, but dwindling numbers have forced many to seek out human partners. Average life span for a half-breed is between 120 and 250 years.
The Elves each have beautiful singing voices, which they use to tap into the vital force of nature, allowing them to alter the world around them in times of need. Elves are swift and fleet of foot, but physically weaker than most humans. It is for this reason that many Elfkin turn to the bow for battle. Their virtue in combat is their speed.
Drow: Though of shared ancestry with the Elves, Drow have dark purple-hued skin. They are traditionally seen as masterful strategists, both in terms of military prowess and personal quests. Drow are also known as Night Elves, as they rarely venture above ground or out of the shadows during the hours of daylight. Those that do cover themselves head to toe in robes, with only slits for the eyes. Like the Elves, true Drow are immortal.
Minotaur: Gargantuan half-bull, half-man monsters from the northern plains of Arsencia, the Minotaur are a fearsome breed, generally left alone by humanity out of respect and terror. Minotaur stand between 10 and 12 feet tall and traditionally carry heavy double-bladed axes, as large as a man. They can run for days at a time without slowing. Their average life span is around 40 years, and they grow to maturity at only 8 years of age. Minotaur have no magical potential whatsoever, but make up for it with a thick-skinned resistance to most low-end magical attacks.
Dwarves: Dwarves are underground creatures, mainly venturing above ground in the hours of darkness. Their mountain homes are thought to range end to end across the Helveti mountains, bordering the human realms of Imbara and the Valentine Mark. The dwarves are fine smiths, and arms and armour from Dwarven mines is much sought after above ground. Dwarves stand around 4-5 feet high, and live for around 150 years, as a good run.
Though they are slow, Dwarves are tough and resilient. They have their own peculiar brand of magic, used through runes engraved on their weapons. If a dwarf loses his weapon he will generally commit suicide, as this will destroy the weapon in question.
Gnomes: The shortest race of Arsencia, and also recognised as the ugliest. Gnomes live inside hollowed out hills, pretending to be dwarves. Though their weapons are far inferior to those of the Dwarves, they are a great deal more innovative, so much so that they have engineered clockwork crossbows and spring-loaded cannon, among other minor mechanical devices.
Gnomes tend to be clumsy, angry creatures, resentful at being born to a pathetic, ugly race, and they try to take this out on the rest of the world, which is difficult at 3 feet tall. It almost seems that their technological advancements are simply to allow them revenge on the world for not being hideous tiny monsters.
The exception is the psychic gnomes of the Maughold, who rule in conjunction with humans, and are largely peaceable creatures and more concerned with mental harmony than feats of engineering.
Furya: The Furya are a race from the far south-western corner of Arsencia, known to be strong both magically and physically. However, they are generally reclusive, which is seen as a thoroughly good and necessary thing by most of Arsencia. Their life span ranges as high as 180 years. Physically, they are stronger than all races apart from the Minotaurs, surprising given their deathly skeletal frames, and magically the equal of any but the most highly trained humans and elves. The disadvantages of the Furya are that their magic is drawn from within, so every time they use magic they shorten their own lives, and that they are rarely welcomed by any outside their own commune in the south of the Miledan Peninsula. Their public image is not one which lends itself to their being welcomed. It has been known for Furya to destroy entire battlefields, and themselves in the process.
Deathknelve: The Deathknelve have only recently become recognised as a race in their own right, after their King Rethalar Daggerweave claimed the right to a kingdom of his own and re-established the ancient fortress of Shadowfang Keep as their home.
The first Deathknelve were born as hybrids between elves and Drow, with skin half-dark and half-light, generally in bizarre, mystical-seeming swirls, often replicated as tattoos by humans. The Deathknelve are some of the fiercest and most skilled warriors in all Arsencia, and pride themselves on this reputation of absolute fearlessness.
Each Deathknelf is a member of one of four houses, though many of the Deathknelven trueborn (those with two Deathknelf parents) are now descended from more than one house. Deathknelve, like their parent races, are immortal.
The Deathknelve have magic which is unique to them; a form of elfsong called Ebrion is worked as battle magic. Each of the houses was formed due to an inherent ability to weave a certain form of magic.
Lizardmen: Brought to Arsencia as the slave race to the invading Embaru, they stand between five and six feet tall, heavily built and extremely thick-skinned. In the three years since their arrival, some have escaped from captivity in Imbara and made homes where possible. They tend to favour short, heavy weaponry such as clubs and axes when they use it at all; weaponry of any form is considered unnecessary by many as they are born with extremely sharp talons on hands and feet and lethal poisons in the stingers on their tails. Contrary to common Arsencian opinion, they are fully sentient, but kept subdued mentally and emotionally by their Embaru masters in order to preserve their servility. No evidence of magical ability has yet been discovered among lizardmen. They refer to their own kind as ‘Ssadjin’. Standard lifespan is unknown.
Melds: Half-man, half-beast, these beings were magically created by the Dark Lord Vayu some years ago. They achieved full sentience through the same magical activity as granted the condition to the Vyre, upon which the majority fled to Minotaur lands. Melds stand between eight and twelve feet tall. Known hybrid animals used in their creation include bears, wolves, lions and jackals. They are incredibly strong and resistant to basic magical assaults, but, like the Minotaur, do not have any ability to wield magic themselves. Average lifespan is, as yet, unknown.
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Weapons/Spells: There is little in the way of standard weaponry in Arsencia. For types of magic see the Tome of Librera.
Edited by Vortigern, 02 June 2010 - 10:07 AM.
