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In addition to the many human ethnic groups, there are several "demi-human" groups worth discussing. Many scholars believe that these near-human races are relations to Humans, and indeed both Orcs and Elves are inter-fertile with humans. Most "right-thinking" folk find such unions suspicious at best, abominations at worst. The demi-humans are divided primarily into "small folk" and "elves".
The Small Folk
Dwarves (40pts): Aestas Dwarves live up to all of the expected tropes and stereotypes... they usually live in mountains, and are expert craftsmen, gruff and clannish. The Dwarves of the Known World make their primary homes in the northern regions of the FarSpar Mountains, Durham, and the Northlands. Living underground most of the time, they are not bothered by the inhospitable climates of the surface world. Dwarves often trade with the humans around them, but rarely concern themselves with human religion or politics. "Durma" is the language of the Dwarven people. It is a difficult tongue (M/H) for humans. It is a harsh but noble sounding tongue, especially when spoken by Dwarves. It is almost never spoken in the presence of non-Dwarves. The written language uses a series of complex ideographs, like Chinese, but more complex. Despite their clannishness, the Dwarves will react favorably to a successful attempt to speak Durma. Dwarves are 1 1/2 feet shorter than human average for their ST, but weigh 50 lbs. more than a human of that height. Usually this extra weight is solid muscle.Attribute Modifiers: ST+2 [20]; HT+1[10].Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: FP+3 [9]; Basic Move-1 [-5].Advantages: Artificer 1 [10]; Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%)[3]; Extended Lifespan 1 [2];Lifting ST+2 [6]; Longevity [2]; Night Vision +5 (5); Resistant to Poison (+3) [5];Signature Gear [1].Disadvantages: Greed (12) [-15];Intolerance (Racial enemies) [-5];Miserliness (15) [-5]; Stubbornness[-5].Quirks: Expects male dwarves to have long beards; Prefers gold to other precious metals [-2].
Racial Skills: Axe/Mace (A) DX [2]-10;Merchant (A) IQ [2]-10.
Features: Taboo Traits (Jumping,Running skills).
Gnomes (3pts) : Gnomes are a somewhat smaller, surface-dwelling sub-race of the Aestas dwarves. They are so rare as to be thought non-existent by most humans. They are usually mistaken for Dwarves in the Known World, due to their similar appearances. Gnomes are smaller and thinner, and live above-ground in isolated forest communities in the valleys of Dwarf territories. Gnome culture is inseparably centered on nature and the natural world, and their clerics are nearly always druids. Aestan gnomes speak a variety of Durma that is mostly mutually intelligible with Dwarves. Attribute Modifiers: ST-2 [-20]; DX+1 [20];Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: FP+1 [3]; Basic Move-1 [-5].Advantages: Animal Empathy [5]; Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Green Thumb 1 [5]; Honest Face [1]; Longevity [2]; Plant Empathy [5].
Disadvantages: Sense of Duty (Nature) [-15].
Quirks: Doesn’t like to live underground. [-1]
Halflings: Usually considered "Lowlander Dwarves" by humans, Aestan Halflings are no exception to the tropes... they are agricultural, bucolic and mild-mannered. When humans think of them at all, Halflings are considered good neighbors by most communities. Halfling lands usually are self-governing, with a protective relationship to a neighboring human power. They are few in number in the Known World, but oddly quite common in the islands of the Savage Lands. Halflings nearly always use the local human dialect for their own languages, altered to fit their cultures more closely.Attribute Modifiers: ST-3 [-30]; DX+1 [20]; HT+1 [10].Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM -1; HP+1 [2]; Basic Move-1 [-5].Advantages: Halfling Ranged Weapon Talent 2 [10]; Silence 1 [5]; Social Regard 1 (Good Neighbor) [5].Disadvantages: Chummy [-5]; Code of Honor (Halfling) [-5]; Gluttony (12) [-5].Quirks: Dislike large bodies of water; Staid. [-2].
The Elves
Elves (64pts): Former masters of Aestas, the immortal Elves have been reduced to small, isolated communities and a handful of extremely ancient and powerful individuals. In all cases, Elves are innately magical creatures, requiring the presence of magic to exist. Elves are regarded with superstition and fear by most humans in the Known World - reactions might range from worship to violent attack by a mob. It is possible for an Elf to live for a time among humans, especially in more enlightened regions. Elves are by nature somewhat detached and aloof, having little concern for the lives and priorities of most mortal races. There are several varieties of Elves on Aestas, but none are known to exist in large numbers. The language of the elven people is an extremely difficult language to master, due to its astounding subtlety and richness of information. "Enden" is what humans call it. Sentences tend to be phonetically quite short while still conveying large amounts of knowledge, especially aesthetic or philosophical subjects. The written language is a flowing cursive script that is nearly as difficult as the spoken language. Like Durma, Enden is rarely spoken in the presence of non-Elves, and attempts to speak the language will be met with derision and contempt in many cases. Attribute Modifiers: ST-1 [-10]; DX+2 [40]; IQ+2 [40].Advantages: Attractive [4]; Eidetic Memory [10]; Magery 0 [5]; Social Regard 2 [10]; Unaging [15].Disadvantages: Callous [-5]; Code of Honor (Elven) [-10]; Dependency (Mana, Very Common, Hourly) [-20];High Elves (299pts) - Some individual elves are quite ancient, having lived many thousands of years (at least). Elves this ancient are feared and respected even among other elves, as they are some of the oldest and most powerful beings in existence. It is the inability of mortal races to distinguish between these terrifying beings and more conventional elves that causes the reaction that most communities have to the presence of an elf. Nobody outside of the elven world knows for certain how many of these High Elves remain on Aestas, but most human sages estimate no more than a dozen or so. Attribute Modifiers: ST-1 [-10]; DX+2 [40]; IQ+2 [40].Advantages: Attractive [4]; Eidetic Memory [10]; Magery 0 [5]; Social Regard 5 [25]; Unaging [15]; Illuminated [15], Racial Memory [40], Unkillable 3 [150], Weapon Master (All) [45]Disadvantages: Callous [-5]; Code of Honor (Elven) [-10]; Dependency (Mana, Very Common, Constant) [-25];
Half-Elves (17pts): A product of a union of an Elf and a human, Half-Elves are rare in most parts of the Known World. Unions like this might occur for a variety of reasons. Most races find elves compelling and attractive, while elves may find themselves drawn to the comparatively impulsive and energetic lifestyles of the younger mortal races, especially humans. The elven parent is usually a younger elf, less than a millennium old; elder elves are usually so detached from the mortal world that such a union would never cross their mind. Offspring resulting from these unions are nearly always left in the care of the mortal member of the tryst, to be raised in human society. Half-elves are regarded with superstitious apprehension just like their Elven parent, but not nearly so extreme... they are likely to receive attention both positive and negative, but usually not assaulted or worshiped as sometimes happens with elves. Attribute Modifiers: IQ+1 [20]. Advantages: Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; Magery 0 [5].Disadvantages: Social Stigma (Minority Group) [-10]
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