Neko Koneko
July 30th, 2009, 09:17 pm
[Guide] Races
A character's race is one of their most defining characteristics. Each race has its own unique strengths and weaknesses; your choice will affect virtually everything you do in the world of Rael.
Humans
Humans make up a large portion of Rael's population. They are very practical-minded beings and they tend to place a great deal of importance on material wealth. Humans are not particularly strong but they typically have a high level of intelligence. Some humans have been instructed in the use of magic but the majority shun the arcane arts and prefer to place their trust in science. Without a doubt they are the most technologically advanced race on Rael.
Humans come in all shapes and sizes - Fat, thin, blue-eyed, red-eyed, blonde, brunette, bald. They are quite tolerant of other races but they can sometimes be rather xenophobic towards Elves and half-Elves. Most Humans dislike magic and virtually all Humans have an irrational hatred for alchemy. People caught practicing alchemy in North Zoshnel can be imprisoned for life.
Elf
Elves are the most spiritually advanced race in Rael. They are in complete harmony with the forces of nature and they are skilled at using elemental magic. Elves have very long lifespans; one possible explanation for this is the fact that they rarely succumb to serious illness. Most Elves live in small villages scattered around the small continent of Basaar. They have an innate desire for order and authority so these towns are almost always structured along hierarchical lines. Village elders are treated with a great deal of respect by their followers.
These introverted beings are similar to Humans in appearance apart from their pointed ears and their sharp facial features. Elves are enamoured with all living creatures but they have a special affinity with trees. They believe every life form is important within the great cycle of nature so they try to avoid killing unless there is absolutely no alternative.
Elves dislike change, especially rapid change, and they secretly long for a society in which things never change. Their extended lifespan means they sometimes lack the motivation and determination of their shorter-lived cousins. After all, why bother risking your life to slay that fierce monster when you can simply wait a hundred years and watch it die from old age? Although Elves are fairly broad-minded creatures they have a strong prejudice against half-Elf/half-Humans.
Vampire
Vampires are creatures of the night. They cannot stand sunlight so they normally sleep through the daylight hours. (Rumours that Vampires sleep in coffins are greatly exaggerated.) As soon as the sun sinks beneath the horizon they leave their beds to hunt for blood. Vampires must have a regular intake of blood to survive - Evil Vampires ruthlessly attack people in order to drain their blood whereas their good counterparts are far more likely to rely on their local butcher for a regular supply of animal blood.
They have excellent night vision and they can elect to transform into a bat whenever they wish. Their bat form is much more instinctive than their Vampire form. Vampires rarely grow tired and their intelligence is above average. However they can be reduced to quivering wrecks by the touch of silver, the smell of garlic or the sight of sunlight. Low level vampires cannot travel over open water, like seas or lakes, unless they travel in a coffin. High level vampires are not limited by water, although the touch of water feels like burning acid on a vampires' skin.
Most Vampires are charming, erudite individuals who have a definite preference for red, blue or black clothing. Without exception they have shining black hair. Vampires are not undead creatures; neither are they immortal. The most painful way to kill a vampire is to stab him or her through the heart with a sharpened wooden stake but decapitation is equally as effective.
Darkanian
Little is known about the race of Darkanians. They are said to be the survivors of a once-mighty civilisation that worshipped the god of darkness but only a handful of them remain alive today so this rumour is impossible to verify. Darkanians are very similar to Humans in appearance; however they are extremely aggressive and their bodies are usually quite well-developed physically. A careful program of genetic manipulation and selective breeding has made the Darkanians one of the strongest races on Rael.
Darkanians normally have dark-red eyes and their blood is thick, hot and slightly acidic. Vampires who go for a Darkanian's throat are in for a nasty surprise. Their level of intelligence is comparable with that of Humans and they are proficient at using dark-aligned magic.
Darkanians tend to avoid the company of others, especially creatures of different races. They rarely work in groups and they never fight by the book. Darkanians prefer solitude and have a ruthless mentality. They don't give a damn whether their actions are fair or unfair so long as they get their own way.
Aerinthians
Aerinthians are the ideological opposites of the Darkanians, although both races are descended from the same group of ancestors. Whereas Darkanians idolise the spirits of darkness and have a selfish attitude towards life, Aerinthians worship the spirits of light and endeavour to assist those in need of help. They are equally capable of wielding sacred weapons or holy magic in their valiant battle against the forces of evil.
After many years of conflict between the two races the Aerinthians were brought to the brink of destruction in a war of mutual extinction. They have slowly recovered from this unholy genocide thanks to a policy that encouraged interbreeding with other races. Because of this there are few pureblood Aerinthians left on Rael today. Some Aerinthians have forgiven and forgotten the Darkanians for their actions during the war however the majority remain prejudiced against their dark cousins. Aerinthian warriors relentlessly hunt down the few remaining Darkanians and they celebrate every reported death with an impromptu public holiday.
Aerinthians have an innate respect for the rule of law. They love stability and certainty but their placid temperament means they are ill-equipped to deal with unexpected surprises.
Levians
The Leviasis have mastered the complex art of shape-shifting. Originally these quiet folk lived upon the land as ordinary Humans however their unusual diet eventually caused their bodies to develop unusual characteristics. Over time, entire villages on the Grazus coastline began to transform into leviathans in accordance with the lunar cycle.
Both Humans and Orcs reacted violently to this unexpected evolution. Humans abandoned their cousins in the mistaken belief that the Leviasis were planning to enslave them. Bloodthirsty Orcs then methodically persecuted the defenceless Leviasis until very few were left alive. Most of the survivors disappeared from the land in order to lead lives of solitude in a secret location. However several courageous Leviasis remained in their seaside villages - One day they hope to turn back the tide of Orcs and return to their ancestral lands.
Leviasis can be differentiated from Humans by their slightly lighter eyes and their fair, light hair. They have strange tribalistic markings upon their bodies. A few hours before they transform from their human form into their leviathan form their skin ripples and changes colour to prepare their internal organs for the change. The colours on their bodies have been known to change depending on the temperature of the water.
Note: The Leviasis have the burden of changing into Leviathan form according to the lunar cycle.
Orcs
Orcs are an aggressive, warlike race. They thrive on battle and they enjoy causing conflict whenever and wherever possible. Orcs rarely work together unless they are under the command of a leader ruthless enough to bully them into obeying his or her will. A male Orc's social status is dependent on his body size, his fighting ability and the loudness of his shout. A female Orc's social status is dependent on the number of children she had successfully reared.
Physically, Orcs are very strong. Upon reaching their third birthday all Orken children are abandoned in the middle of a forest filled with wild beasts. If they make it out of the forest alive they are accepted into the wider community; if they do not escape from the forest they are left to die. Many children are killed each year because of this barbaric ritual but Orcs are prolific breeders so these 'weaklings' are rarely missed.
Orcs have spread like a plague across the continent of Grazus. They have no formal system of leadership however they are roughly divided into different clans. Clan-Chiefs are generally the largest, toughest, meanest Orcs in the entire clan. Intelligence and creative thought are not highly prized virtues in Orken society. Any Orc showing too much initiative is likely to end up with an axe implanted in the back of his or her skull.
Werewolfs
Werewolves are Humans who have become infected with a rare disease known as lycanthropy. This causes them to involuntarily transform into a monstrous wolf whenever a certain event occurs. Their new body is extremely fast and exceedingly vicious but they lose their self-control and become creatures driven by instinct. The transformation usually lasts for ten minutes then they return to their Human form.
This process is extremely draining on the Werewolf's body. If they attempt to transform more than twice per day they will almost certainly lapse into unconsciousness. Many Werewolves try to control their bestial transformation through magic but few are successful.
These much-maligned creatures reside primarily on the island of Fohrenfeit and parts of North Zoshnel. Werewolves are treated with suspicion by the general populace so they try to pass themselves off as ordinary Humans whenever they can. They hate the touch of silver because it amplifies their lycanthropy and causes them to feel weak.
Some of the most common triggers for the Werewolf transformation are:
A full moon.
The Werewolf becoming enraged.
The Werewolf catching sight of himself/herself in a mirror.
The Werewolf being close to death.
A character's race is one of their most defining characteristics. Each race has its own unique strengths and weaknesses; your choice will affect virtually everything you do in the world of Rael.
Humans
Humans make up a large portion of Rael's population. They are very practical-minded beings and they tend to place a great deal of importance on material wealth. Humans are not particularly strong but they typically have a high level of intelligence. Some humans have been instructed in the use of magic but the majority shun the arcane arts and prefer to place their trust in science. Without a doubt they are the most technologically advanced race on Rael.
Humans come in all shapes and sizes - Fat, thin, blue-eyed, red-eyed, blonde, brunette, bald. They are quite tolerant of other races but they can sometimes be rather xenophobic towards Elves and half-Elves. Most Humans dislike magic and virtually all Humans have an irrational hatred for alchemy. People caught practicing alchemy in North Zoshnel can be imprisoned for life.
Elf
Elves are the most spiritually advanced race in Rael. They are in complete harmony with the forces of nature and they are skilled at using elemental magic. Elves have very long lifespans; one possible explanation for this is the fact that they rarely succumb to serious illness. Most Elves live in small villages scattered around the small continent of Basaar. They have an innate desire for order and authority so these towns are almost always structured along hierarchical lines. Village elders are treated with a great deal of respect by their followers.
These introverted beings are similar to Humans in appearance apart from their pointed ears and their sharp facial features. Elves are enamoured with all living creatures but they have a special affinity with trees. They believe every life form is important within the great cycle of nature so they try to avoid killing unless there is absolutely no alternative.
Elves dislike change, especially rapid change, and they secretly long for a society in which things never change. Their extended lifespan means they sometimes lack the motivation and determination of their shorter-lived cousins. After all, why bother risking your life to slay that fierce monster when you can simply wait a hundred years and watch it die from old age? Although Elves are fairly broad-minded creatures they have a strong prejudice against half-Elf/half-Humans.
Vampire
Vampires are creatures of the night. They cannot stand sunlight so they normally sleep through the daylight hours. (Rumours that Vampires sleep in coffins are greatly exaggerated.) As soon as the sun sinks beneath the horizon they leave their beds to hunt for blood. Vampires must have a regular intake of blood to survive - Evil Vampires ruthlessly attack people in order to drain their blood whereas their good counterparts are far more likely to rely on their local butcher for a regular supply of animal blood.
They have excellent night vision and they can elect to transform into a bat whenever they wish. Their bat form is much more instinctive than their Vampire form. Vampires rarely grow tired and their intelligence is above average. However they can be reduced to quivering wrecks by the touch of silver, the smell of garlic or the sight of sunlight. Low level vampires cannot travel over open water, like seas or lakes, unless they travel in a coffin. High level vampires are not limited by water, although the touch of water feels like burning acid on a vampires' skin.
Most Vampires are charming, erudite individuals who have a definite preference for red, blue or black clothing. Without exception they have shining black hair. Vampires are not undead creatures; neither are they immortal. The most painful way to kill a vampire is to stab him or her through the heart with a sharpened wooden stake but decapitation is equally as effective.
Darkanian
Little is known about the race of Darkanians. They are said to be the survivors of a once-mighty civilisation that worshipped the god of darkness but only a handful of them remain alive today so this rumour is impossible to verify. Darkanians are very similar to Humans in appearance; however they are extremely aggressive and their bodies are usually quite well-developed physically. A careful program of genetic manipulation and selective breeding has made the Darkanians one of the strongest races on Rael.
Darkanians normally have dark-red eyes and their blood is thick, hot and slightly acidic. Vampires who go for a Darkanian's throat are in for a nasty surprise. Their level of intelligence is comparable with that of Humans and they are proficient at using dark-aligned magic.
Darkanians tend to avoid the company of others, especially creatures of different races. They rarely work in groups and they never fight by the book. Darkanians prefer solitude and have a ruthless mentality. They don't give a damn whether their actions are fair or unfair so long as they get their own way.
Aerinthians
Aerinthians are the ideological opposites of the Darkanians, although both races are descended from the same group of ancestors. Whereas Darkanians idolise the spirits of darkness and have a selfish attitude towards life, Aerinthians worship the spirits of light and endeavour to assist those in need of help. They are equally capable of wielding sacred weapons or holy magic in their valiant battle against the forces of evil.
After many years of conflict between the two races the Aerinthians were brought to the brink of destruction in a war of mutual extinction. They have slowly recovered from this unholy genocide thanks to a policy that encouraged interbreeding with other races. Because of this there are few pureblood Aerinthians left on Rael today. Some Aerinthians have forgiven and forgotten the Darkanians for their actions during the war however the majority remain prejudiced against their dark cousins. Aerinthian warriors relentlessly hunt down the few remaining Darkanians and they celebrate every reported death with an impromptu public holiday.
Aerinthians have an innate respect for the rule of law. They love stability and certainty but their placid temperament means they are ill-equipped to deal with unexpected surprises.
Levians
The Leviasis have mastered the complex art of shape-shifting. Originally these quiet folk lived upon the land as ordinary Humans however their unusual diet eventually caused their bodies to develop unusual characteristics. Over time, entire villages on the Grazus coastline began to transform into leviathans in accordance with the lunar cycle.
Both Humans and Orcs reacted violently to this unexpected evolution. Humans abandoned their cousins in the mistaken belief that the Leviasis were planning to enslave them. Bloodthirsty Orcs then methodically persecuted the defenceless Leviasis until very few were left alive. Most of the survivors disappeared from the land in order to lead lives of solitude in a secret location. However several courageous Leviasis remained in their seaside villages - One day they hope to turn back the tide of Orcs and return to their ancestral lands.
Leviasis can be differentiated from Humans by their slightly lighter eyes and their fair, light hair. They have strange tribalistic markings upon their bodies. A few hours before they transform from their human form into their leviathan form their skin ripples and changes colour to prepare their internal organs for the change. The colours on their bodies have been known to change depending on the temperature of the water.
Note: The Leviasis have the burden of changing into Leviathan form according to the lunar cycle.
Orcs
Orcs are an aggressive, warlike race. They thrive on battle and they enjoy causing conflict whenever and wherever possible. Orcs rarely work together unless they are under the command of a leader ruthless enough to bully them into obeying his or her will. A male Orc's social status is dependent on his body size, his fighting ability and the loudness of his shout. A female Orc's social status is dependent on the number of children she had successfully reared.
Physically, Orcs are very strong. Upon reaching their third birthday all Orken children are abandoned in the middle of a forest filled with wild beasts. If they make it out of the forest alive they are accepted into the wider community; if they do not escape from the forest they are left to die. Many children are killed each year because of this barbaric ritual but Orcs are prolific breeders so these 'weaklings' are rarely missed.
Orcs have spread like a plague across the continent of Grazus. They have no formal system of leadership however they are roughly divided into different clans. Clan-Chiefs are generally the largest, toughest, meanest Orcs in the entire clan. Intelligence and creative thought are not highly prized virtues in Orken society. Any Orc showing too much initiative is likely to end up with an axe implanted in the back of his or her skull.
Werewolfs
Werewolves are Humans who have become infected with a rare disease known as lycanthropy. This causes them to involuntarily transform into a monstrous wolf whenever a certain event occurs. Their new body is extremely fast and exceedingly vicious but they lose their self-control and become creatures driven by instinct. The transformation usually lasts for ten minutes then they return to their Human form.
This process is extremely draining on the Werewolf's body. If they attempt to transform more than twice per day they will almost certainly lapse into unconsciousness. Many Werewolves try to control their bestial transformation through magic but few are successful.
These much-maligned creatures reside primarily on the island of Fohrenfeit and parts of North Zoshnel. Werewolves are treated with suspicion by the general populace so they try to pass themselves off as ordinary Humans whenever they can. They hate the touch of silver because it amplifies their lycanthropy and causes them to feel weak.
Some of the most common triggers for the Werewolf transformation are:
A full moon.
The Werewolf becoming enraged.
The Werewolf catching sight of himself/herself in a mirror.
The Werewolf being close to death.