species

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Humanoids

Humans

The most populous and widespread humanoid race. Are considered to be pretty average across the board in strength, height, build, and magical capabilities, so are considered to be the "generic" that other races are judged against for comparisons. Ironically though, they tend to have the biggest diversity in all these categories.

Humans have the least distinct overarching culture or ideals, being highly personal and individualistic people, but this is something that tends to make others look down on them as being flakey or unprincipled. However, they are more able to adapt to new situations and swiftly take over new roles as needed compared to other races, making them good all-arounders that create the backbone of everything from adventuring teams to political systems.

Elves

A group of people that is physically frail and has a smaller build than most other races, but makes up for it with strong magical ability. Their sharp, slim faces and builds appear highly attractive to some people, and uncomfortably uncanny to others. Every elf has the capability to be a sorcerer, and some become wizards on top of it. When it comes to physical weapons, bow and arrows are the top choice, followed by lightweight blades.

One of the most reclusive species that is that way out of choice. They don't get along with most other species, looking down on them, with feelings ranging from pity to disgust, depending on the individual and specific community. Everything from their ways of dealing with “outsiders” to their mythology centres around how they are above everyone else. This, along with how infrequently they show up in mixed settlements, leads to high tensions on both sides when they do show up. Often they end up getting mocked in sarcastic ways.

Since they ignore outsiders and their culture so much, they instead focus heavily on their own community drama that no one else particularly understands. This leads to shunning, community splitting, and other intricacies that leads to confusion about how many elven groups there actually are. There are only two notable species of elves though, plain elves (the majority of them) and high elves.

High elves live longer and are stronger, but live even more secluded lives than plain elves, often staying away from their more common brethren, let alone be seen around “common races”. The exact mythology around them and their separation is kept secret, though various rumours exist. High elves themselves are sometimes considered rumoured and not actually real by outsiders, particularly in older times.

The only outsiders they tend to respect are those that match or exceed their capabilities for magic and lifespan, hence many actually respect dragons as opposed to most races hating them.

They have a scientology-esque belief of being from another world and being trapped on this one. Whether there is some truth to this (they are quite different than most other races), or it's just because they despise other races so much they can't believe they came from the same place as them, is up to debate.

Half-Elves

The only known half-elves are half-human. They are looked down on by elves as being pretty much defective, while humans tend to not trust them and assume their loyalty lies with the "superior" side. As the two races are usually put off by each other (elves thinking of humans as lesser beings, humans thinking of elves as pretentious and dangerous), for most of history half-elves were usually the result of war, one could say. Therefore, most either ended up being left to die young, or stuck in one community or the other as a hated outcast. Of course, individual circumstances vary, and some get accepted into families or communities regardless. As society modernizes, there's less overt hatred between the races, and so more happy interracial couplings happen.

Physically, they tend to be between elves and humans in build and strength. All can access magic, but many are not taught how to use it at all, so come across as weak in it. They tend to get mistaken as being full-elves, as most people don't see elves enough to be able to tell the difference.

In older times, most half-elves usually ended up being elven slaves, as elves don't like to deal with outside races, but would still like to get access to forced labour, of course!

Halflings

Dragonkin

Dragons

A very rare and long-lived species, rumoured to be created by a singular god that wanted to create chaos in the world. They are intelligent, powerful, and have strong magical capabilities. While most focus on physical prowess, this makes dragon blood very sought after. Dragons are also able to disguise themselves, particularly as humans, though this is very rarely done as it is considered to be deeply shameful to "reduce" oneself down to such a form.

They generally have egotistic and greedy natures, and serve only themselves, though rarely will also consider one close to them. Powerful dragons sometimes take retainers that will have to serve them without question. Since dragons spend a lot of time hibernating, especially when older, it can be a low-demanding job.

Dragons themselves are sought after in the black market, though generally only the weaker, lesser-blooded, and/or very young dragons get caught up in this. Despite this, they still sell for insane amounts. Anyone who rides a dragon would be considered a top powerful being. Some people become dragon shamans, perform rites, or worship dragons in order to gain their power or avoid their wrath.

Since dragons have such a negative rep, anything or anyone connected to them also tends to be disliked or feared.

Dragonborn

Very rare humanoids with draconic blood in some way or another, either being half-dragons themselves or being descendents of half-dragon groups. Their exact abilities and looks very greatly, ranging from simply being stronger humanoids with dragon blood, to being able to transform into something similar to a true dragon with enough magical ability. They all appear to be mostly human, but have obvious draconic aspects to them that cannot be fully hidden, like true dragons can do.

While they do look more human than dragon overall, they have more draconic biology (scales, horns, being born from eggs) and temperament (egotistical and proud). However, like with true dragons, they can have varying personalities, and can be tamed, particularly if gotten ahold of when young.

Being a dragonborn is essentially a class in itself, though they could fit into the category of "sorcerer" if they particularly enjoy magic.

Beasts

Kobold

A race of lizardpeople who live in the hot and arid regions of the world that other races don't want to, or can't, live in. Whether or not they're distantly related to dragons, or are descended from a separate reptile race, is debated. They don't have any particular dragon-like abilities, but dragons are the only other intelligent reptile species. Dragon(born) would say kobold are not related, kobold would say they are.

Their strength lies between humans and dragonborn, and have slightly more aptitude for natural magic than humans. As they are clever, they tend to get more use out of magical artifacts, traps, and other "tricky" fighting styles than being relying on pure offense. They have no disguise or transformation abilities.

While also having proud tendencies, they are more grounded than the other draconic species and will get along with other races when required or convenient. However, they do prefer independence when possible, as their settlements are generally out in inhospitable areas making alliances or trade difficult.

Some kobold groups worship dragons or desire to "return" to being dragons. Others are aware of how dangerous dragons are and wish to stop them from causing more chaos. Traditionally, many of the kobolds who would leave their settlements would be those seeking to become dragon knights. If not interested in that path, many fit into the classes of being rogues, rangers, fighters, or sorcerers.

Catlings

A race of felines who can be found around the world, and are one of the races that enjoys living in densely populated areas. They have a wide variety of builds and appearances, but are generally slim and fit, and all have cat ears, tails, whiskers, and claws. It is said they were created by a trickster goddess who took the form of a cat and wanted a race that took after her image, so in the past the catlings had a much stronger feline appearance. There are rumours such a "purebred" group of catlings still exists in the world, but have never been found.

They are stereotyped by many as being thieves and troublemakers thanks to their quiet and agile abilities, and curious and cunning personalities. Many catlings do take these sorts of blackmarket jobs, and take advantage of their cute appearance to get away with as much as they can. Though others find great work as rangers or bards, or if not the adventuring type, as performers, locksmiths, and other great varieties of jobs. Any work that relies on smooth and precise work, or alternatively, song and dance, is fit for a catling.

Those from catling specific areas tend to form clans and be highly competitive with other clans, for resources, land, and ego. Those from diverse or urban areas channel this competitive energy into more individualistic or familial-based rivalries. In the end though, there is a great variety of catlings, rivalling humans in diversity of culture and genetics. Some groups prefer the set-location clan lifestyle, others prefer to travel and live in roaming communities. The main innate binding goal is to seek to uncover secrets, treasure, and have the most unique story to tell.

As for magic, catlings are a specific with bloodline magic, though only about 50% are able to use it innately, and it is often on the weaker side. Those with good control over their magic traditionally become bards, healers, or seers. Depending on the community, those with strong magic are either seen as blessed or cursed.

Avisians

Will write more about later, but like catlings, they can take on the appearance of various bird species. They tend to be highly observant and have good memories. However they are physically frail, and the vast majority avoid physical conflict. Some communities have become very isolated due to issues with other races in the past, but most prefer scouting and exploring lifestyles. Many, especially swans, have been mistaken as angelic beings in the past... and still sometimes are in modern times, by the particularly drunk or schizophrenic.