Races of the Middle World (E to G)
Yeah, it seems like I haven't done much to get only E, F and G done. Well, shut up. There's a lot of races with names in those three letters.
Races of the Middle World (E to G)
Eladrin are offshoots of the original creations of Corellon, the Springlord’s attempt to make a perfect being. They are native to the Feywild, the branch of their species that kept to their homeland and clove to Corellon’s teachings and arcane penchant closest. Many eladrin adventurers become wizards, warlocks, and swordmages, though some become clerics or rangers as well. Their cities dot the Feywild, but many venture through portals to the middle world or ride cities that worldfall such as Shinaelestra or Astrazalian. Sometimes it is curiosity that drives them, but too often it is need that calls eladrin to seek out allies to aid their beleaguered cities in the Feywild. It is strongly believed that eladrin were the nobility of the original fey, hence the existence of their many Courts and Houses. The greatest of the eladrin become archfey, transcending mortal boundaries and becoming an intrinsic portion of the Feywild, though not all archfey are eladrin originally. On the road to becoming an archfey, an eladrin passes through several ranks, some of which are within the Court structure of the eladrin cities. These inclue the bralani, who embody a facet of the natural world such as spring rains or autumn winds, and the most advanced of the bralani can attain the rank of ghaele, who embody an entire season, though they have not yet become archfey like Tiandra, Oran or the Prince of Frost.
Elves are the branch of Corellon’s original fey who fell in love with nature more than the arcane power that flowed throughout the Feywild. They often crossed from the Feywild into the middle world and resided in Corellon’s forests, which were both dimmer and yet brighter than the gargantuan forests of the Feywild. Their love of the natural world was not limited to the forest, but that was their initial reason for leaving their first home. Also the battles that had rocked the Feywild when the drow rose up had killed so many elves and eladrin that many elves felt like refugees seeking a better, less bloodthirsty homeland. Elves have resided in the middle world for long enough that they have spread throughout the land, developing great nations like that of the Great Elven Forest, living in hidden portions of southern jungles and, uniquely, wandering the wastes of the Edar’loex Kepesk, the least forested area found in the middle world. They tend to worship Melora, Corellon and Sehanine.
Genasi either have a history that is well-hidden by the gods or one that history itself has forgotten. Theories involving sha’ir (elemental-pact warlocks), genie-human dalliances and even roles as agents of the primordials have all been put forward, but it is well-known that almost no one has solid evidence that any theory is more correct than another. It is known that these people have strong connections to the elements, manifesting one or more of earth-, fire-, water-, wind- or storm-like qualities. In the past, when Maru-Qet and Dukkharan were both prominent, genasi controlled city-states that ranged from the mountains in the south to the islands even farther north than the Northern Principalities. Rumours even persist of genasi cities south of the Draconic Mountains, though few have visited such unknown lands. In general, genasi live in varied places across the middle world, but they are best known in the Southern Principalites.
Githyanki are only rarely encountered in the middle world, though they were once a race that lived close enough to illithid caverns that they were enslaved. The gith race were slaves for millennia, long enough that no records exist of their previous villages or cities. They escaped from their mindflayer overlords and fled as far as they could, the gith heading far into the Astral Sea. Soon enough, their society split along political lines, the more militaristic and despotic gith remaining in the Astral Sea while the rest fled into the Elemental Chaos. Most githyanki live in cadres instead of families, their militaristic society leading to the rejection of traditional family units in favour of bonding individuals more strongly to their military units nearly from birth. The centre of the broad collection of githyanki cities is Tu’narath, which is a city resting on the corpse of a long-dead god floating in the Astral Sea. Some githyanki even have pact dragons that they use to travel the Astral Sea, though they have a small armada of astral skiffs and planar dromonds ready for a large enough portal to invade the world and take whatever they want. Most githyanki revere their lich-queen, Tiamat, or Bane and those encountered are often fighters, psychics or wizards.
Githzerai are the portion of the gith that rejected a militaristic society and left for the Elemental Chaos. Some of their isolated monasteries reside in the middle world, though the majority of them exist in strangely calm earthmotes in the Elemental Chaos. Most sages agree that the introspective nature of the githzerai help them keep the mutability of the chaotic plane in check. Many githzerai learn martial arts as a method for mental focus and self-defence, those who mix it with arcane training becoming known as zerths. Githzerai hunt down mindflayers when they can and avoid their githyanki kin if they can, though more often than not githyanki come to a githzerai monastery looking for a fight.
Gnolls are among the few races that are considered to be more feral than orcs. These hyena-like humanoids rove in packs that attack and kill or enslave nearly anything that they can get their claws on. They are rapacious carnivores that are nomadic, roaming the plains and foothills south of Nocturnus and east of the Southern Principalities, though many packs have been found roaming the Desert of Storms between the southern city-states and a few have been sighted north of Nocturnus, harrying those who travel the roads east of the Goblin Marsh and south of the Bay of Wyrms. Gnolls generally worship Yeenoghu, a demon lord also known as the Ruler of Ruin and the Beast of Butchery, though some break from his demonic rule and generally become servants of the middle worlds spirits as shaman, druids, rangers or wardens.
Gnomes, like dwarves in the middle world, were enslaved by the former servants of the primordials, though gnomes fled from captivity using their innate manipulation of the arcane and their devious natures as opposed to an armed uprising. Many gnomes regret their ancestors’ decision about this, since many believe that those gnomes who could not flee became the chaotic korred or the cruel spriggans. Most gnomes live in the Feywild, though many gnomish communities moved to the middle world to avoid fomorian and cyclops slavers. They tend to live near communities of other fey creatures like elves and eladrin, the familiarity of those familiar features being one of the few comforts that the generally curious and adventurous people indulge in. Their culture encourages stealth and subterfuge, their settlements often hidden from all but the most attentive woodsman. Gnomes are well known as illusionists and in some circles are even less trusted than known thieves.
Goblins are the weakest of the goblinoid species, but by far the most plentiful. Like bugbears, it is commonly believed that goblins were magically engineered by hobgoblins for use as servants, scouts, infiltrators and cannon fodder. Most goblins are easily intimidated and their tactics involve a combination of stealth and overwhelming numbers, which has worked more effectively than the civilized races would like to admit. These small humanoids have yellowish-green skin and are generally lazy when their hobgoblin cousins aren’t forcing them to work or fight. Goblins are found in most places that humanoids can live in, but they are by far the most prominent race that lives in the marsh that is named for them. The god worshipped by most goblins is Bane and many of his exarches are known to be goblins, such as Maglubiyet and Hruggek.
Goliaths live in the mountainous lands of the middle world and have statures to match their homelands, even the shortest of adult goliaths topping 7 feet. Their communities are not often large, but most goliaths live in the Draconic and Platinum Mountains, though some live in the northern branch of the Dark Mountains and a few scattered tribes live in the Iron Mountains that loom over Dukkharan. The fearless athleticism of the average goliath means that the role of adventurer comes fairly easily to them, but their strong connection to the wilderness means that many of them favour classes that tap into the primal spirits of the middle world, such as wardens, barbarians and shaman. Some goliath tribes are nomadic, while others settle into comfortable areas that supply plentiful game and available water sources. There are few if any permanent settlements larger than small villages that were built by goliaths.
More to come later. I might even make it to somewhere past H by the next post. Tomorrow is our Easter celebration, which entails a trip to Georgetown, ON. Fun fun.
Races of the Middle World (E to G)
Eladrin are offshoots of the original creations of Corellon, the Springlord’s attempt to make a perfect being. They are native to the Feywild, the branch of their species that kept to their homeland and clove to Corellon’s teachings and arcane penchant closest. Many eladrin adventurers become wizards, warlocks, and swordmages, though some become clerics or rangers as well. Their cities dot the Feywild, but many venture through portals to the middle world or ride cities that worldfall such as Shinaelestra or Astrazalian. Sometimes it is curiosity that drives them, but too often it is need that calls eladrin to seek out allies to aid their beleaguered cities in the Feywild. It is strongly believed that eladrin were the nobility of the original fey, hence the existence of their many Courts and Houses. The greatest of the eladrin become archfey, transcending mortal boundaries and becoming an intrinsic portion of the Feywild, though not all archfey are eladrin originally. On the road to becoming an archfey, an eladrin passes through several ranks, some of which are within the Court structure of the eladrin cities. These inclue the bralani, who embody a facet of the natural world such as spring rains or autumn winds, and the most advanced of the bralani can attain the rank of ghaele, who embody an entire season, though they have not yet become archfey like Tiandra, Oran or the Prince of Frost.
Elves are the branch of Corellon’s original fey who fell in love with nature more than the arcane power that flowed throughout the Feywild. They often crossed from the Feywild into the middle world and resided in Corellon’s forests, which were both dimmer and yet brighter than the gargantuan forests of the Feywild. Their love of the natural world was not limited to the forest, but that was their initial reason for leaving their first home. Also the battles that had rocked the Feywild when the drow rose up had killed so many elves and eladrin that many elves felt like refugees seeking a better, less bloodthirsty homeland. Elves have resided in the middle world for long enough that they have spread throughout the land, developing great nations like that of the Great Elven Forest, living in hidden portions of southern jungles and, uniquely, wandering the wastes of the Edar’loex Kepesk, the least forested area found in the middle world. They tend to worship Melora, Corellon and Sehanine.
Genasi either have a history that is well-hidden by the gods or one that history itself has forgotten. Theories involving sha’ir (elemental-pact warlocks), genie-human dalliances and even roles as agents of the primordials have all been put forward, but it is well-known that almost no one has solid evidence that any theory is more correct than another. It is known that these people have strong connections to the elements, manifesting one or more of earth-, fire-, water-, wind- or storm-like qualities. In the past, when Maru-Qet and Dukkharan were both prominent, genasi controlled city-states that ranged from the mountains in the south to the islands even farther north than the Northern Principalities. Rumours even persist of genasi cities south of the Draconic Mountains, though few have visited such unknown lands. In general, genasi live in varied places across the middle world, but they are best known in the Southern Principalites.
Githyanki are only rarely encountered in the middle world, though they were once a race that lived close enough to illithid caverns that they were enslaved. The gith race were slaves for millennia, long enough that no records exist of their previous villages or cities. They escaped from their mindflayer overlords and fled as far as they could, the gith heading far into the Astral Sea. Soon enough, their society split along political lines, the more militaristic and despotic gith remaining in the Astral Sea while the rest fled into the Elemental Chaos. Most githyanki live in cadres instead of families, their militaristic society leading to the rejection of traditional family units in favour of bonding individuals more strongly to their military units nearly from birth. The centre of the broad collection of githyanki cities is Tu’narath, which is a city resting on the corpse of a long-dead god floating in the Astral Sea. Some githyanki even have pact dragons that they use to travel the Astral Sea, though they have a small armada of astral skiffs and planar dromonds ready for a large enough portal to invade the world and take whatever they want. Most githyanki revere their lich-queen, Tiamat, or Bane and those encountered are often fighters, psychics or wizards.
Githzerai are the portion of the gith that rejected a militaristic society and left for the Elemental Chaos. Some of their isolated monasteries reside in the middle world, though the majority of them exist in strangely calm earthmotes in the Elemental Chaos. Most sages agree that the introspective nature of the githzerai help them keep the mutability of the chaotic plane in check. Many githzerai learn martial arts as a method for mental focus and self-defence, those who mix it with arcane training becoming known as zerths. Githzerai hunt down mindflayers when they can and avoid their githyanki kin if they can, though more often than not githyanki come to a githzerai monastery looking for a fight.
Gnolls are among the few races that are considered to be more feral than orcs. These hyena-like humanoids rove in packs that attack and kill or enslave nearly anything that they can get their claws on. They are rapacious carnivores that are nomadic, roaming the plains and foothills south of Nocturnus and east of the Southern Principalities, though many packs have been found roaming the Desert of Storms between the southern city-states and a few have been sighted north of Nocturnus, harrying those who travel the roads east of the Goblin Marsh and south of the Bay of Wyrms. Gnolls generally worship Yeenoghu, a demon lord also known as the Ruler of Ruin and the Beast of Butchery, though some break from his demonic rule and generally become servants of the middle worlds spirits as shaman, druids, rangers or wardens.
Gnomes, like dwarves in the middle world, were enslaved by the former servants of the primordials, though gnomes fled from captivity using their innate manipulation of the arcane and their devious natures as opposed to an armed uprising. Many gnomes regret their ancestors’ decision about this, since many believe that those gnomes who could not flee became the chaotic korred or the cruel spriggans. Most gnomes live in the Feywild, though many gnomish communities moved to the middle world to avoid fomorian and cyclops slavers. They tend to live near communities of other fey creatures like elves and eladrin, the familiarity of those familiar features being one of the few comforts that the generally curious and adventurous people indulge in. Their culture encourages stealth and subterfuge, their settlements often hidden from all but the most attentive woodsman. Gnomes are well known as illusionists and in some circles are even less trusted than known thieves.
Goblins are the weakest of the goblinoid species, but by far the most plentiful. Like bugbears, it is commonly believed that goblins were magically engineered by hobgoblins for use as servants, scouts, infiltrators and cannon fodder. Most goblins are easily intimidated and their tactics involve a combination of stealth and overwhelming numbers, which has worked more effectively than the civilized races would like to admit. These small humanoids have yellowish-green skin and are generally lazy when their hobgoblin cousins aren’t forcing them to work or fight. Goblins are found in most places that humanoids can live in, but they are by far the most prominent race that lives in the marsh that is named for them. The god worshipped by most goblins is Bane and many of his exarches are known to be goblins, such as Maglubiyet and Hruggek.
Goliaths live in the mountainous lands of the middle world and have statures to match their homelands, even the shortest of adult goliaths topping 7 feet. Their communities are not often large, but most goliaths live in the Draconic and Platinum Mountains, though some live in the northern branch of the Dark Mountains and a few scattered tribes live in the Iron Mountains that loom over Dukkharan. The fearless athleticism of the average goliath means that the role of adventurer comes fairly easily to them, but their strong connection to the wilderness means that many of them favour classes that tap into the primal spirits of the middle world, such as wardens, barbarians and shaman. Some goliath tribes are nomadic, while others settle into comfortable areas that supply plentiful game and available water sources. There are few if any permanent settlements larger than small villages that were built by goliaths.
More to come later. I might even make it to somewhere past H by the next post. Tomorrow is our Easter celebration, which entails a trip to Georgetown, ON. Fun fun.