Dwarves are an ancient race, almost as ancient as the Fey.  They stand only four to five feet tall, but are compact and extremely sturdy. They generally weigh as much as humans. Although not immortal, Dwarves are extremely long-lived.

Dwarves are extremely hardy, and make fierce warriors when provoked.  Dwarves have adjusted well to living underground, and never become lost if the tunnels are familiar.  Their underground cities are usually quite large and can go deep within the earth.

Dwarves regularly trade with humans, and can be found in almost any large human city.

Physical Character

• Build: Short & stocky.  Males average 140-160 lbs.  Females average 110-130 lbs.
• Coloring: Medium white skin to tan, with ruddy cheeks.  Dark hair and eyes.
• Endurance: Hardy (Can go quite a while without rest).
• Height: Both sexes tend to fall between 4’ and 5’
• Lifespan: Dwarves tend to live 350 to 500 years.
• Resistance: Exceptional resistance to toxic substances.  Some dwarves also tend to exhibit a resistance to magic.
• Scale: 0

• Faults: Fear of open water, greed, unable to ride standard horse, -1 when using very large weapons.
• Gifts: 60’ Infravision, +1 vs. Poison
• Average stats: good strength, good damage class, mediocre agility, mediocre ego
• Bonus Skills: +1 mining, smithing and appraisal

• Clothing & Decoration: Beards, sometimes braided.  Even females sport beards.  Heavy garb with colorful hooded cloaks.  Crenellated trimwork is popular.
• Fears & Inabilities: Open water.
• Lifestyle: Dwarves are superb miners, smiths and unsurpassed stoneworkers.  They live in tightly knit groups and favor underground cities which are usually cut into rugged hills or mountains.  Dwarven culture uses a klan & house system as their form of social order.  This paves the way for many political marriages.
• Marriage Pattern: Polygamous.  Line traced through male.
• Demeanor: Sober, quiet, possessive, suspicious, pugnacious, introspective and often very greedy.
• Languages: Dwarvish, Gobish (Terrible) + 1 Human Tongue (Mediocre).
• Prejudices: Goblins & Orcs.  Many are wary of elves also.

Example Racial Gifts

• Magic resistance, absolute direction sense underground, detect slope, detect stonework traps, pits and deadfalls

Elves are an ancient race, one that ages so slowly that elves are practically immortal. Elves tend to be taller and more willowy than humans; this makes them quicker, but weaker combatants.

Elves are divided into two sub-races: the Wood Elves and the High (sea) Elves. Wood Elves are creatures of the forest; they travel through the forest effortlessly and defend it fiercely. Given the activities of loggers and human hunters, Wood Elves and humans can come into conflict. Wood Elves are master trackers and archers, and can be found whenever men need an expert woods-man.

High Elves are the noble elves; they tower over humans and Wood Elves alike. High Elves are an extremely ancient race, and are actually immortal. Having plenty of time, High Elves usually study art, and are considered skilled song-writers or painters. They are also fearsome fighters and excellent sailors. Most High Elves tend to live in cities near the sea or on islands.  They like to sail the seas and see the world.  High Elves have no special feelings for Wood Elves, and Wood Elves consider High Elves to be aloof and unrealistic.

Physical Character

• Build: Elves tend to be slight of build, and all are thin by mannish standards.  Males average 150 lbs. and females about 125 lbs.
• Coloring: Ruddy of complexion, with blondish hair and blue or green eyes. Generalizations are hard to set down because there is a wide variance.
• Endurance: Elves don’t carry much but can travel great distances with little rest.  They only need 4 hours of sleep every day.
• Height: Males around 6’, Females around 5’10” (wood elf).
• Lifespan: Very Long if not Forever
• Resistance: They do not become sick or scarred, and are totally immune to disease.
• Scale: 0

• Faults: Elf aura (very hard to disguise)
• Gifts: Ultraviolet vision, Immune to disease, Light sleep, Doesn’t scar
• Average stats: Good Agility, Good Intelligence, Mediocre Damage Class
• Bonus skills: +1 Stealth, Woodlore (wood elf), “Bow” skill, Seamanship (high elf)

• Clothing and Decoration: “Sea” elves tend to favor human adornments with a little bit more fanciful expressions.  “Wild” elves tend to like forest green, greys and browns; and clothing that is functional.
• Fears & Inabilities: None.
• Lifestyle: “Sea” elves live much like men only with more grace.  “Wild” elves lives tend to be relatively unstructured, but rich & lively when compared to men.  Elves are masters of song and dance, and woodlore.
• Marriage Pattern: Monogamous and for life.  Some elves marry humans which produce Half-elves.
• Demeanor: Fun loving but guarded folk.  Outward mirth often hides grim intentions.
• Languages: Low Elven (Easy), High Elven,  + 1 Human Tongue (Mediocre).
• Prejudices: They hate Goblin-kind and dislike Dwarves.  “Wild” elves distrust men, unless shown otherwise.

Example Racial Gifts

• Affinity for magic (+1 magic skills)

Fey refers to Fairy Kin, a magic race that doesn’t conform to natural laws.  There are many “fairy races”, elves, brownies, satyr, pixies, gnomes and trolls are some examples and most of the time they breed true, but not always.  Once in a blue moon a gnome with a tail is born or a child of pixies grows into what would be called an elf.

While unknown to the mundane races, humans, halflings, dwarves, hobgoblins etc. this fact is given little significance to elves and the other fey. Many of their race see the Fay influenced as “special needs”, most have a knack for some odd ability, and many respect them for that.

For game purposes you will probably be the child of Elven or Gnomic parents.  You would have to have a really good concept for the GM to think otherwise.

Physical Character

• Build: Varies according to racial norms.  But not all the time.
• Coloring: Generalizations are hard to set down because there is a wide variance.
• Endurance: Depends on your parents.
• Height: Varies according to racial norms.  But not all the time.
• Lifespan: Follow your parent’s norms.
• Resistance: Use your parent default.
• Scale: Varies -3 to +2

• Faults: Oversized Hands/Feet, Bearded, Oversized Nose, Hooves, Horns, Stout, Tall, Wings, Diminished Strength (-1 scale).  You must have one of these.
• Gifts: Immunity to Cold or Fire, Great Speed, Magic Resistance or Susceptibility, Great Strength (+ 1 scale), Ultraviolet vision, +1 MP that can only be used to effect yourself or is harmless (e.g. regenerate, change shape, cause sleep) this of course is subject to GM approval., Immune to disease, Light sleep, Doesn’t scar.  You must choose one of these or have a good (GM approved) substitution.
• Average stats: Use parent default.
• Bonus skills: Use parent default.

• Clothing and Decoration: Usually whatever your parents wear.
• Fears & Inabilities: None.
• Lifestyle: Depends on parent race.
• Marriage Pattern: Monogamous and for life.
• Demeanor: Usually affected by your parents race.
• Languages: Parents default.
• Prejudices: What ever your parents don’t like usually you don’t like.

Example Racial Gifts

• Affinity for magic (+1 magic skills)
• Susceptibility to Magic (-1 to EGO vs. Magic)

Gnomes prefer to live in areas of rolling, rocky hills, wooded and uninhabited by humans.  They are sly and furtive with those they do not know or trust, and somewhat reserved even under the best of circumstances.  Gnomes tend to live in above ground structures, though those that live in the woods may live in a burrow, usually these tend to be elaborate.  Many also live with or in proximity to Dwarves.  They also have a great love for all living things.  But they are most well known for their ability to invent.  They love contraptions and the inventiveness and the problem solving that comes with it.

The gnomic culture is going through a realignment currently (the last 500 years), it used to be the norm to live like and with the Dwarves but there currently is a move away from this lifestyle and back to their Fay roots.  The transition isn’t a easy one; many have gone into farming nearby Halfling settlements.  Halflings have been most generous to the newcomers and have done a great service to the emigrating Gnomes by teaching them how to till the land.

Physical Character

• Build: Gnomes are considerably short and stocky, Males and females average 50-65 lbs.
• Coloring: Variations of tan to brown skin, all have white hair and large rounded noses. Eye colors tend to be light.  Most men sport short beards or goatees.
• Endurance: Rugged, but they don’t carry a lot.
• Height: Both male & female: Around 3’
• Lifespan: 400-600 years.
• Resistance: Animal venom/poison.

• Faults: -2 scale, overly inquisitive, -1 medium or bigger weapons, unable to ride animal bigger than a dog (German Shepherd size).
• Gifts: 60’ Infravision, earth walking (use 1 ego to walk through earth, each time), +1 to resist animal venom/poisons.
• Average stats: good intelligence, good perception, mediocre damage class
• Bonus skills: +1 to Inventor (tinkering), Sky Watching and hiding (self).

• Clothing & Decoration: all wear large pointed hats, mostly red, remainder of clothing is simple and in whites and earth tones.
• Fears and inabilities: none
• Lifestyle: Gnomes are inquisitive by nature and love to tinker with “stuff.”  They prefer to live in small communities  uninhabited by “bigger folk”  usually in small communities of mated couples but they can be found in cities and towns.  Those gnomes that live near dwarves mine also.
• Marriage Pattern: monogamous and for life.
• Demeanor: inquisitive, reserved around “bigger folk”
• Languages: Gnomic, Fay (mediocre), Dwarvish (mediocre), +1 human tongue (mediocre)
• Prejudices: They don’t seem to hold any bad feelings, but many are wary of goblin kind.

•    Absolute directional sense underground, magic resistance, detect traps

Half elves are derived from the mating of elf and human.  Half elves are usually like their elven parent in appearance and of the same gender.  They mingle freely with either race.  Half elves do not form communities among themselves, rather they can be found living in both human and elf communities.

Half elf males have facial and body hair, half elven females also have body hair.

Physical Character

• Build: Most are of elvish build, but not all.  Males average 160 lbs., Females average 125 lbs.
• Coloring: Generally much like elves.
• Endurance: Average
• Height: Males around 6’, Females about 5’10”
• Lifespan: approximately 700 years
• Resistance: Normal
• Scale: 0

• Faults: None
• Gifts: Ultraviolet vision
• Average stats: Normal
• Bonus skills: None

• Clothing and Decoration: Dress similar to the society in which they reside.
• Fears and Inabilities: None
• Lifestyle: Blend in with the society in which they reside.
• Marriage Pattern: As their parents.
• Demeanor: Most half-elves tend to get both of their parents good qualities.
• Languages: Low Elvish, many will know High Elvish , +1 Human Tongue (fair)
• Prejudices: Whatever or whoever their parents harbored ill feelings for.

•    Half-elves can choose from their elvish parents gifts

Halflings are a small folk, smaller even than the Dwarves. Unlike the Dwarves, Halflings are not very combative, and usually prefer a quiet life to one of strife and warfare. This peaceful nature should not be taken as a sign of cowardice, and Halflings fiercely defend anything they hold dear. They have exceptionally keen senses, and are usually very accurate with thrown weapons.

Halflings typically live in pastoral villages that may or may not be organized into a larger government. Many halflings farm the land and are fairly common in human cities, where they work as innkeepers, craftsmen, and the like.
 

Physical Character

• Build: Small, Males average 50-60 lbs.  Females average 40-55 lbs.
• Coloring: Medium white skin to tan, dark hair and eyes
• Endurance: Relatively tough for such a soft exterior.
• Height: Both genders fall between 2.5’ to 4’
• Lifespan: approximately 150 years
• Resistance: Halflings seem to have a resistance to magic spells.
• Special Abilities: None

• Faults: -2 Scale, can’t ride standard horses, very cautious.
• Gifts: Hands & Feet are resistant to extremes of temperature, magic resistance (+1 to resist spells.
• Average Stats: Good Agility, Good Health & Mediocre Ego.
• Bonus Skills: +1 to Plant Lore, Stealth, Slight of Hand and Hiding (self).

• Clothing and Decoration: Halflings tend to dress much like men, they enjoy a little more color though.  They very rarely wear much jewelry.
• Fears and Inabilites: They tend to shy away from the bizarre & unusual.  Most don’t swim.
• Lifestyle: Capable craftsmen, but are not friends to complex machine and magic.  They usually eat six meals a day.  Regardless, halflings steady approach to life has proven successful in the face of wars, plague and famine.  Halflings tend to live in underearth dwellings (smails), but do build above ground just not above the first story.  All halflings enjoy the simple life of farmers, millers and craftsmen.
• Marriage Pattern: Monogamous, line traced through the male.
• Demeanor: They basically are cheery, conservative, unassuming, and peaceful folk. Ambition is not part of their make up.  Most are conformists who avoid the unknown and shun adventure, preferring to  stay within the comforts of neat, humble villages.
• Languages: Halfling, +1 Human Tongue (Hard-Mediocre).
• Prejudices: Halflings tend to be wary of the “big folk”.

Example Racial Gifts

•    Infravision, Green Thumb.

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