Humans are the most common race in the Empire, by far. The human race has no "sub-races," only cultural and ethnic divisions—of which most humans unfortunately make far too much of a difference. Most humans of Viridistan are a mix of a number of bloodlines, with the most common being a mix of Viridian, Tharbrian and Ghinoran, though some may have Skandik, Avalonian, Altanian or even Amazonian blood.
ALRYAN
This is the name applied to the city folk of the large cities of the northeastern Empire, such as the City State of the Invincible Overlord, Warwik and Modron. They are in fact a mix of Tharbrian and Altanian blood, but they consider themselves “civilized.” Most Alryans have disdain for the uncivilized barbarian Altanians to the south, and would be appalled if they knew of their actual close kinship. Wise city dwellers, Alryans have keen eyesight and are sensitive to the body language of many races. They consider a highly developed sense of humour is the prerequisite to civilized conduct.
Description: Skin color ranging from fair to olive to reddish skin (due to the Altanian influence), brown hair, brown eyes, 5 ft. 8 in., 170 lbs, average build, typically Neutral.
ALTANIAN
The “barbarian” Altanians occupy the portion of the Pazidan Peninsula south of the City State of the Invincible Overlord known as Barbarian Altanis. Families are organized into animal totem clans within each tribe. Some clans remain completely nomadic in nature, while most have settled into a semi-nomadic way of life, settling in small ramshackle villages. Clans include Grizzly Bear (the largest tribe), Mountain Lion, Forest Ape, Tusked Boar, Gray Wolf, and Spotted Wolverine. Altanians are among the
most renowned trackers in the world. Altaninians maintain their youth and vigor through old age, and then continue with a mature physique until the day that they die—though few ever live to reach the natural end of their life.
Altanian society (non-nomadic tribes) is dominated by the women, who own all chattel and property, save the weapons wielded by the warrior men. The men follow the Way of the Sword, which is a quasi-religious cult led by Sword Knights—Altanians that have earned the right to carry Ancestral Swords. Most women stay at home, tending to gardens, while the men go hunting and raiding, or form mercenary bands and adventure in other regions.
There are reputedly some pureblooded Altanians, with the darkest blood red skin, who claim descent from various Chaos Lords—powerful inhuman creatures from the Chaos Planes of the Netherworld.
Description: Copper to reddish brown to blood red (purebloods) skin, sandy to black (pure bloods) hair, hazel eyes, 5 ft. 6 in., 180 lbs, average to stocky build, typically Neutral or Chaotic.
AMAZON
Known in the northern lands as “Shield-Maidens” due to their disdain for armor other than shields, the Amazons are dominated by the female. They are said to have originated in the Ament Lands, far to the south, and over millennia migrated, pillaged, and battled their way north. In the north, Amazons can be found in their castle near Sea Rune on the Pagan coast north of Ossary. They can also be found in the southern lands in and around the city of Rallu and near Ghinor and the Ament Tundra.
Mercenary Amazons can be found in nearly every fighting force in the Empire. Friendly with most forest dwelling races, they often unite to protect an area endangered by woodsmen or some natural calamity. Amazons frequently have trained animal companions. The Amazons near Sea Rune are rumored to use trained lions as pets. Highly dexterous and very well toned, they are noted for preferring little or no armor in combat. In grouped combat, they fight in unison as if telepathically linked with their sisters. They often anticipate the tactics of opponents.
Amazons take their captives as slaves, though only the female slaves are put to work. Male slaves (including male Amazons) are used solely for reproductive purposes and sport. Pure lineage Amazon males are often traded between queens of different tribes. Male Amazons are not pampered as are the female concubines of other races, they are instead expected to maintain themselves in top athletic condition, though not to learn the ways of war.
Description: Fair to light brown skin, blonde or red hair, green eyes, 5 ft. 6 in., 110 lbs., lithe to voluptuous build, typically Lawful.
ANTILLIAN
Antillians, centered on the city of Antil, are a further admixture of Alryan with more Orichalan, Tharbrian, elven, and (now extinct) Antili blood. Where Alryans are wise and wryly humorous, Antillians are cunning and disarmingly vicious. Antillians are terrifying merchants, willing and able to swindle at the drop of a copper; they are also a proud people, and they have taken the tradition of vendetta to hitherto unknown heights. Antillians are graceful, with very lithe features and slightly pointed ears, though to mistake one for a half-elf is to ask for a duel.
Antillians wear rich, colourful clothing, the more ostentatious the better, and prefer light, quick weapons, such as rapiers and stilettos. Antillians consider women to be chattel, to be used to further political and mercantile relationships. Antillians are notorious slavers, considering other races
destined only for servitude. They despise Amazons, and believe them to be fit only for concubinage.
Description: Swarthy olive skin, black hair, brown eyes, 5 ft. 6 in., 150 lbs, light build, typically Neutral.
AVALONIAN
The Avalonians are the noblest of people, in their own minds if nowhere else. The tall, thin Avalonians dress in wealthy clothing, for all their clans are of noble blood, and all Avalonians hold a noble title, even the least citizen. They are also merchants by profession and control nearly all trade in the Uther Pentwegern Sea and southward to the Sea's Edge.
Their city, Valon, is built right upon the sea, and consists of gold and silver tower-girt islands divided by stone-lined canals which freeze over in winter. Swimming is natural to these folk. They are also superlative sailors and shipwrights. Most Avalonians have some sort of magical training, typically cold, water, and/or ice magic. The wizards and sorcerers of this race are unsurpassed in the North, rivaled only by the wizards of distant legendary Tula.
Some claim to be descended from an ancient admixture of merfolk and an unknown extra-planar folk from the Elemental Plane of Water or Ice. Sage comparisons between the Avalonians and the green-skinned Viridians cause violence to erupt most unexpectedly from this otherwise peaceful folk. Some few Avalonians have gills and can breathe in the water as if on land, although this is a rarity outside their homeland.
Description: Commoner Avalonians have pale skin with light blue tints, hair of any color, but body hair such as eyebrows and beards are usually tinted with platinum, gray or black eyes, 6 ft, 200 lbs, sleek and muscular build, typically Neutral. Higher-ranked nobles have pale blue skin, platinum blonde hair, silver eyes, 6 ft. 4 in., 200 lbs, sleek and muscular build, typically Lawful.
DUNAEL
Dunael Woods-Folk originated in the Dearthwood, where most can still be found, locked in eternal struggle against the wild beasts of the forest, and clans of barbaric wild elves like the Purple Claw. The Dunael are descended from an ancient alliance of Orichalan, Tharbriana, Amazon, and Altanian clans, with a bit of elven blood, blended centuries ago into a single culture. Today they are few in numbers and remain hard-pressed by their enemies. The Dunael, though semi-barbaric today, once had a great culture, and claim to be descended from the ancient Orichalans that inhabited a lost city where now stands the City State. The Dunael no longer have a king, but are ruled by the Captain of the Rangers, an ally of the Invincible Overlord.
Description: Bronzed tan skin, coal black hair, blue or green eyes, 5 ft. 8 in., 170 lbs, average build, typically Chaotic or Neutral.
GHINORAN
Ghinorans are the remnants of the Ghinoran Successor States from the ancient Kelnoran Empire, which fell thousands upon thousands of years ago. They occupy the lands of the southwestern crescent of the Sea of Five Winds from Lenap to Tlan and across to Chim, as well as the regions to the south approaching the Demon Empires and north above Lenap. Though some vestige of civilization is returning to these areas (or has maintained itself over many years), the people are mostly tribal and warlike.
Description: Various skin colors ranging from bronzed near the deserts to olive in Tlan and dusky in Chim, brown or tawny hair, brown or green eyes, 5 ft. 10 in., 150 lbs, average build, typically Neutral.
ORICHALAN
There are few of these folk left, as most people with Orichalan blood have been hunted down by the Altanians. Most that still exist either live in isolated communities (such as the Moonraker Moor Folk or the Roglo River Folk) or live in areas where they are not persecuted (such as in the city of Malikarr or in southern Oricha). Nevertheless, some remain in various regions of the Empire. Each share the same racial traits and description.
They are descended from the merchants of the long-fallen Dragon Empire. These merchants plied their trade up and down the Great Estuary of Roglaroon, as well as along the seacoast and other nearby river systems, though they maintained their homes in the cities, and mingled with other races. When the Dragon Empire fell millennia ago, their descendants remained on the waters, as it was the safest place during the terrible barbaric anarchy that followed that time.
Description: Slight purple cast to skin, some of which may also have patches of slight scales like snakeskin; dark hair, often black or with purplish highlights; amber or grey eyes; 6 ft., 180 lbs, lean build, typically Neutral.
SKANDIK
The Skandik Sea Wolves are a well-muscled water-loving race. They are ritually birthed in the water and spend most of their youth learning the ways of the sea. They build their towns only along coastlines and their longships raid the surrounding areas. They pay homage to Jarls and organize themselves into clan villages. Only true warriors are allowed to wear beards, which are a sign of manhood. They are renowned swimmers and sailors. Many, strangely, have webbed toes. They traditionally worship the gods Odin, Thor and the Norse pantheon. They inhabit the northern coast above the City State west of Warwik as well as the southern stretch of the Pagan Coast and a number of the isles in that region of the Winedark Sea.
Description: Pale skin, blonde or strawberry blonde hair, blue or green eyes, 5 ft. 9 in., 180 lbs., stocky build, typically Neutral.
THARBRIAN
Tharbrians are eternal nomads of the central Empire, having migrated from the far West. Their ancestors, the Tharbrian Wild-Men are responsible for many invasions into the lands of Viridistan and the City State. Though still primarily nomadic and warlike, some have settled into more permanent villages and have become accepted in cities throughout the region. The city of Modron was founded ages ago by less nomadic Tharbrians in honor of the goddess Modron, whom the Tharbrians freed from ancient captivity.
Most Tharbrian nomads are men and women of honor and battle. They believe in a strict warrior code that forbids the slaughter of innocents or the murder of those that have fought valiantly. Among some, this code seems to be a disdain for all things not dealing with war. The conquered are kept as slaves to tend to the herds and perform other labor that is beneath the warriors of this society. Women are equal to men in Tharbrian society. Tharbrian smiths are renown for their sword making skills, and the Tharbrian saber is infamous in battle, more so when wielded by a Tharbrian warrior.
Description: Ruddy tan skin, tawny brown, or raven black hair, blue or green eyes, 5 ft. 7 in., 160 lbs., light build, typically Chaotic.
VIRIDIAN
The basal population of the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Emerald City of Viridistan. Their primary stock is Tharbrian, dominated for thousands of years by the True Viridians (of which the Green Emperor and his Empress-wife are thankfully the last), and intermixed with a dollop of True Viridian blood. Common Viridians make up the bulk of the farmers, artisans, craftsmen, and merchants of the Empire. The green tinge to their skin is usually looked down upon in the east, while the greener the skin, the better, in the west near Viridistan.
Description: Pale skin with varying tints of green, tawny or blonde hair, green eyes, 5 ft. 6 in., 150 lbs, average build, typically Lawful.
