Races of the Middle World (N to Z)
And here are the rest of the races that I'm going to look at for now. This list may get bigger over time, but we'll see.
Races of the Middle World (N to Z)
Ogres are large humanoids that are known for their great strength and for their remarkably small intellect. It is actually common for ogres to work with orcs, though in almost all these cases ogres are the hired help, making sieges significantly easier for their smaller compatriots. Shockingly, they aren’t truly paid for such endeavours; they seem to enjoy the carnage and destruction these ventures cause rather than the plunder they could claim. The Stone Barrens is the ideal homeland for many ogres, but they are found in many places throughout the middle world, most often living in foothills or mountains. Most ogres don’t think enough to really ponder religious issues, but those who do often worship Gruumsh.
Orcs live in many places throughout the world and are despised and hated in all of those lands. Their bloodthirst is legendary, but the evidence of it is unfortunately much more common, particularly along Varellia’s western border. Orcs live in tribes and clans, their place within that structure being a function of their own physical prowess and ruthlessness. In some ways, an orc clan is as pure a meritocracy as exists, though strength of arms and magic are the only merits that count. When not in hilly, mountainous regions, orcs live in villages and towns that they have previously ransacked and built upon.
Shadar-kai are rarely found in the middle world, being a form of humanity that was changed by living in the Shadowfell. They still appear mostly human, but the emotional wear of living in the dreary realm of shadow has meant that most shadar-kai indulge in activities meant to enliven themselves and spur them to emotional highs. These activities could be martial arts, mastery of hard-to-imagine weaponry, socially unconventional sexual activities, branding, tattooing and any combination of these. They are almost universally worshippers of the Raven Queen, some hoping to be reborn as sorrowsworn, but more importantly the majority of shadar-kai have little to no fear of death.
Shifters come in many different varieties, but the most common are longtooth shifters, who come from a lineage pointing back to werewolves, and razorclaw shifters, who claim weretigers as ancestors. Longtooth shifters are commonly found roaming the Northern Plains around Immeral and north of Lathelrae, where they have pacts with the different principalities allowing them space to range. Razorclaw shifters are more common in the south, a number living the old cities of Maru-Qet and around Nocturnus. Rumours abound of razorclaw settlements in the far south, but nothing has been confirmed. Regardless, their distance from their ancestors in both character and deed mean that shifters live without a great deal of open ostracism.
Tieflings are one of the newest races of the world, having appeared during the reign of Bael Turath. Turath himself was a human wizard who became changed while he ventured into the realm of Avernus. His pacts became the foundation of modern warlocks, but once he returned to his kingdom the other nobles were quick to join his path and become allied with the Nine Hells. Unfortunately for their children and children’s children, that pact had the lasting consequence of forever marking their line with horns, non-prehensile tails and sharp teeth. This has led to many tieflings feeling like outsiders even in their own cities and towns. Varellia stands atop the ruins of Bael Turath, yet tieflings aren’t common and have no proper city within it. Only Immeral in the Northern Principalities is tiefling-dominated and that is often tenuous at best.
Warforged are commonly thought of as a myth, their origin lost to historians. These metal-and-wood beings have no gender and cannot reproduce, yet are remarkably durable, their steel never rusting (at least significantly) and their wood never rotting (The actual text is missing due to me foiling eyebeams' curiosity).
Yuan-ti are a race of serpent-like humanoids that are the remnants of a civilization that existed before Dukkharan and was centred in the jungles southeast of the Draconic Mountains. Legend holds that Zehir created this tyrannical race, but some speculate that the rituals the yuan-ti use to create their snaketongue slaves from human stock are mere shadows of the ritual used by the snake-god to create the yuan-ti. There are many different types of yuan-ti, their magical heritage obvious in the extreme differences in morphology that exists within their society. Their caste system includes malisons, who make up 90% of their numbers, abominations who act as shock troops and the extremely rare and dangerous anathemas, who are locked away from the rest of the population due to their evil appetites.
Races of the Middle World (N to Z)
Ogres are large humanoids that are known for their great strength and for their remarkably small intellect. It is actually common for ogres to work with orcs, though in almost all these cases ogres are the hired help, making sieges significantly easier for their smaller compatriots. Shockingly, they aren’t truly paid for such endeavours; they seem to enjoy the carnage and destruction these ventures cause rather than the plunder they could claim. The Stone Barrens is the ideal homeland for many ogres, but they are found in many places throughout the middle world, most often living in foothills or mountains. Most ogres don’t think enough to really ponder religious issues, but those who do often worship Gruumsh.
Orcs live in many places throughout the world and are despised and hated in all of those lands. Their bloodthirst is legendary, but the evidence of it is unfortunately much more common, particularly along Varellia’s western border. Orcs live in tribes and clans, their place within that structure being a function of their own physical prowess and ruthlessness. In some ways, an orc clan is as pure a meritocracy as exists, though strength of arms and magic are the only merits that count. When not in hilly, mountainous regions, orcs live in villages and towns that they have previously ransacked and built upon.
Shadar-kai are rarely found in the middle world, being a form of humanity that was changed by living in the Shadowfell. They still appear mostly human, but the emotional wear of living in the dreary realm of shadow has meant that most shadar-kai indulge in activities meant to enliven themselves and spur them to emotional highs. These activities could be martial arts, mastery of hard-to-imagine weaponry, socially unconventional sexual activities, branding, tattooing and any combination of these. They are almost universally worshippers of the Raven Queen, some hoping to be reborn as sorrowsworn, but more importantly the majority of shadar-kai have little to no fear of death.
Shifters come in many different varieties, but the most common are longtooth shifters, who come from a lineage pointing back to werewolves, and razorclaw shifters, who claim weretigers as ancestors. Longtooth shifters are commonly found roaming the Northern Plains around Immeral and north of Lathelrae, where they have pacts with the different principalities allowing them space to range. Razorclaw shifters are more common in the south, a number living the old cities of Maru-Qet and around Nocturnus. Rumours abound of razorclaw settlements in the far south, but nothing has been confirmed. Regardless, their distance from their ancestors in both character and deed mean that shifters live without a great deal of open ostracism.
Tieflings are one of the newest races of the world, having appeared during the reign of Bael Turath. Turath himself was a human wizard who became changed while he ventured into the realm of Avernus. His pacts became the foundation of modern warlocks, but once he returned to his kingdom the other nobles were quick to join his path and become allied with the Nine Hells. Unfortunately for their children and children’s children, that pact had the lasting consequence of forever marking their line with horns, non-prehensile tails and sharp teeth. This has led to many tieflings feeling like outsiders even in their own cities and towns. Varellia stands atop the ruins of Bael Turath, yet tieflings aren’t common and have no proper city within it. Only Immeral in the Northern Principalities is tiefling-dominated and that is often tenuous at best.
Warforged are commonly thought of as a myth, their origin lost to historians. These metal-and-wood beings have no gender and cannot reproduce, yet are remarkably durable, their steel never rusting (at least significantly) and their wood never rotting (The actual text is missing due to me foiling eyebeams' curiosity).
Yuan-ti are a race of serpent-like humanoids that are the remnants of a civilization that existed before Dukkharan and was centred in the jungles southeast of the Draconic Mountains. Legend holds that Zehir created this tyrannical race, but some speculate that the rituals the yuan-ti use to create their snaketongue slaves from human stock are mere shadows of the ritual used by the snake-god to create the yuan-ti. There are many different types of yuan-ti, their magical heritage obvious in the extreme differences in morphology that exists within their society. Their caste system includes malisons, who make up 90% of their numbers, abominations who act as shock troops and the extremely rare and dangerous anathemas, who are locked away from the rest of the population due to their evil appetites.