Races:
Human
Your average humans. Same as Earth human but can channel magic and are a bit tougher, Altor's a dangerous place. They are the most shot lived of all the races but they have been blessed by all the Gods and so unlike most other races they can channel any kind of magic. Humans may be one of the weaker races physically and only have a life of 70 at most with the average being around 50 but they have almost unlimited potential in the realms of the mind and only Elves really equal them when it comes to the Art. Humans are the best magic users, arcane or divine bar fey and have the most opportunities when it comes to character development but are physically weaker and short-lived than most other races without the aid of powerful magic or a God. Humans could be good at any profession though.
Elves
Look almost identical to humans a skilled observer may notice slightly pointed ears and the more rugby ball shaped eyes. The main difference comes when they speak Elvish voices are amongst some of the most beautiful voices in all of Altor and the fact they can not die of old age. They tend to have bodies that match the beauty of their voices only the Fey are more beautiful. They stand about the height of a man and are very strong the weak of their race could easily defeat some of the strongest humans in physical pursuits and they often prove very good at the Art as well but a trained human could beat them hands down. The elves are also very enduring race only dwarves could be more enduring. They are strong of mind and body and spirit. The elves are an all-round race really they are best at being warriors or bards though with training and the elves have a lot of time for that, they can become very powerful wizards or priests. Once again no real limits on what an elf could do for a profession.
Dwarves
Look like humans but they are short at four foot, five-foot is considered tall and anything over freakishly tall. They have a close friendship with the gnomes, this is unusual for dwarves are known for their reclusive habits and inability to trust most other races especially orcs and elves. They are strong and enduring, they are said to be the most enduring race, but they are a stubborn race and as a result they are bad at channelling any magic bar Earth magic (because they were created by Danagaia or Lady Earth in Common tongue). They are a good race for someone who wants a walking tank but Earth magic should not be overlooked it, at the higher levels, can be very, very powerful.
Orcs
Orcs in this Nes are not so much a race but a group of races that are bound together by the fact they are not wanted anywhere else. A human could become an orc, wild elves (note subraces will be listed in a bit. This is WIP) are often called orcs and then of course you have the usual greenskins (orcs, goblins, lizardmen, odd troll etc.), the traditional orcs. Orcs are tough, strong and stupid. Magic is not their strong point normally but some lucky tribes may have a human or wild elf shaman in them. Orcs are tough and strong and evil, they are good for a player who want a challenge as most people hate them in the Nes but if you prove yourself you may become excepted.
Little Folk
Fay
Players can play as three types of fey pixies, nymphs and daylan. These all have strengths and weaknesses but here are the ones that apply to all fey: They are all very magical, they are all charming, they all hate metals iron the most, they are all physically weak. All fey live long lives nymphs live forever like elves never dying of old age, pixies live to around a few hundred years old, typically 400 years old, and Daylan tend to live for 70 years to 100 years old.
Pixies
Small creatures often two ½ foot in height upwards of three foot in height. They are one of the smallest of all the races and thus the weakest but they have other strengths. They learn to use magic when they are babies and are very powerful in a way. They tend to use enchantments and illusions over powerful spells of destruction and at these they are very good. If they did turn to something darker though they would be truly formidable, luckily for the others races of Altor pixies are a peaceful folk who hate war. If you wish to meet a pixie travel to a battle field and you will find them there tending both sides without any discrimination. Pixies are good for a player who wishes to be powerful but in a slightly different way. Could be very good as a spy but the one disadvantage would be it is hard to carry documents when your two ½ foot tall.
Nymphs
One of the largest of all fey standing at four-five foot tall, nymphs look like very beautiful humans or elves and can be male or female. Nymphs tend to guard a place in the wilderness; it may be a grove, a stream, a small part of the great plains. No one but the nymphs know why they do this and the nymphs are not offering any explanations. The magic they wield is quite powerful enchantments and defensive spells plus good healing magic. They also tend to be very good at communicating with animals and tend to have large amounts of animals with wherever they go. Not as hard to play, as a pixie would be nymphs could be quite interesting to play but they will be confined to a supporting role like pixies are.
Daylan
This race seems to only be three foot tall no other height has been observed. They look like small animals such as foxes, badgers etc. What kind of animal I will let the player decide. They have sharp teeth and tend to have claws. They are the strongest race of fey and could overpower an unsuspecting gnome or halfling quite easily. They are better at destructive magic than other races of fey but they are not as good at channelling magic as other fey. Daylan are still peaceful but if you make one angry get ready to start ducking fireballs. Good for a player who wants destructive magic, which is quite powerful, and some fighting ability. Daylan should not be on the front line at all. They are also quite stealthy so they could be good as a ranger or thief.
Gnomes
Gnomes are short at three to four foot. They look like humans but are far shorter and tend to be bald if male. Gnomes are a very intelligent, inquisitive race and quite hardy but they are not as strong as dwarves or elves often they only just match a human or daylan in strength. This race would be good for an alchemist or inventor. Gnomes also make good wizards as they are the best race at illusions and a gnome wielding Earth magic is a sight to behold!
Halfings
Halfings are around four foot tall (note if they were half the average human’s height they would be around two and a ½ foot tall!). They look human but a bit more feral this is because Halfings are fairly new on the scene as far as being civilised goes. They are nomadic and very dextrous but they do lack a bit in intelligence. They would make good spies or anything else involving stealth not so good with magic as it is a very new concept to them.
Wereanimals
I am not going to list them all as any mammal or reptile could be used as a base for a wereanimal. I am not allowing birds, fish or amphibians as these could get messy but if you really want them then I will lift the ban with serve restrictions. Wereanimals tend to be strong, fast and dangerous. Lycanthropes often look like the animal they transform into when in human form eg. a werebear in human form would be large, hairy and quite strong. The more you transform the more you look like the animal. Some lycanthropes have transformed so much they do not have the strength of will to transform back. Lycanthropy is a genetic disease that can strike down a member of any race. No one knows where it came from bar the fact it must either have been created by the One or must be coming from a different plane of this dimension. The gene is rare and wereanimals are few and far between. They are beginning to band together and if a lycanthrope player is successful enough to be given land they will begin to form nations.
Dragons
Dragons are not to be confused with Wyrms or Greater Dragons. The dragons players can play are about 10 to 12 foot long, twice the height of a human. They cannot breathe fire but they are naturally very, very good at fire magic, Wyrms can breathe fire. Dragons are scaly, winded creatures with sharp elongated faces and jaws. They have sharp teeth and claws and can fly but not very well! They have the best eyesight of all the races with elves coming a close second and are quite powerful creatures. Being big and lacking the ability to walk on two legs though like bears they can rear up onto their back legs they cannot use amour, unless in is made specially or wield weapons. They would make good offensive mages with fire magic or frontline fighters with their claws and teeth and scales all being good for hand to hand combat. Don’t try and sneak around unless you know invisibility, globe of silence and you know there are no animals in the area, dragons tend to smell a bit.
Vampires
Vampires are not undead but they are instead an ancient race, some say older than the elves, different line of creation to humans. Vampires feed off the blood of sentient creature, though the blood of animals can sustain them for a short time. The way they feed they absorb the life energy or Fiezarr from the Rardaquque or blood of a creature and as only sentient creatures posses Fiezarr. Animals have a different type of life energy but back to vampires. Vampires appear human but are very strong and fast. They cannot change shape and they can die of old age around about 500 years old though. Vampires are fast, strong but cannot perform magic at ALL this is because they lack Fiezarr that’s why they need to drink blood. Good for a player who wishes to have no connections with magic at all, this does bring benefits.
Note: All subraces and half elves etc are still to come I will sort them later. If you think I have missed out a significant fantasy just say and I will or will not amend as I see fit. Remember you can design your own races eventually.
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