Back to Character Themes
Here you’ll be deciding something about your lineage. There are various provinces in the Known Lands, and if you’re starting out in the Old World or the New World (which is recommended), you can be of any province, or have mixed blood of people from different provinces. Here’s a listing of common races in the Known Lands. If you choose a pure race, it is likely that you still were born on the Old World or New, because many pureblood families have been here for many generations, and have kept their bloodlines pure.
It is also recommended that you research in the Library about your native land. Even if you just have a hint of Shavay blood and were born in the Old World, people will still probably ask you about Shavay. Learning a little about your roots, as well as about the province in which you live, will add tremendously to game play.
Finally, note that there are no ability score bonuses or penalties associated with race. If you are part Sereg, for example, simply choose a higher strength when determining your characteristics.
Once you've determined your Race, write it on your Character Sheet and go on to Appearance.
Old and New Worlders –
These people are crossbreeds, most of whom trace their origins to mixed Masallan, Moraithian, and Northern stock. Hair can be of any color, and build of any type. Eye color is diverse, as well. Ninety percent of people who dwell in the Old and New Worlds have this mixed background, and can’t trace their lineage to any particular pure race.
Maelmuirian –
Black of hair and milky white of skin, Maelmuirians are an old race which traces its roots to a long-ago blending of Eldritch and Masallan blood. As Maelmuire is a closed port and is considered a political enemy of most of the world, Maelmuirians have a difficult time in the outside world, especially in the New World, and to some extent in the Old World. Often they meet with suspicion and harassment. Nevertheless, many of them are fleeing Maelmuire and its rigid, traditional ways, and attempting to make a life for themselves in other lands. If you choose to be Maelmuirian, you’ll likely find trouble wherever you go, especially among the less educated folk. Aranor has officially opened her doors to Maelmuirian immigrants, so you’ll probably do best there. You’ll likely have a slighter build, but a strength that seems too much for your size and a high level of agility.
Shavay –
Hailing from the distant savannahs of Shavay, you’ll have chocolate-colored skin, from a smooth light color to deep walnut. Thick, dark hair, dark eyes (with occasional greens), and a well-proportioned body are your birthrights. Men tend toward a sharp "V" form, while women are well graced with curves and tend not to be heavy-bodied. Fuller lips and wide, large eyes are the norm.
You’ll find yourself welcome in all lands, especially Moraithe, and will be rather popular, not only on account of your beautiful skin and passionate features, but because of the skills people will assume you have (even if you don’t), such as dancing, drumming, and acrobatics.
Jeddan—
Refined of features, with smooth, tawny skin and dark, slightly turned eyes, the Jeddans come from a very old and very refined culture. Jeddans typically dress neatly and keep a fine appearance – if they don’t they are looked down upon in Jeddan communities. Most Jeddans, even natives of the Old World or New World, grow up learning both the Jeddan tongue and Caradorian. You’ll have silky smooth black hair that grows quickly, a finely sculpted and proportioned body, and will be attractive by most people’s standards. You’ll find yourself welcome almost everywhere, but you’ll always be expected to be cultured and intelligent.
Northern—
If a man, you are taller and broadly built, and if you are a woman, you’ll be fuller boned and usually full-figured. You’ll enjoy a flawless complexion with a tendency toward black or brown hair and green or brown eyes. Blonde hair is occasionally found, but never blue eyes. Your people were the native human inhabitants of the Old World, but now most of your people have adopted the peasanting life. Few people know much about your native culture, and it’s possible that you don’t either. Many people mistake you for just another Old or New Worlder. The only prejudice you’ll encounter is from higher noble folk who are used to dealing with your people as peasants. Your race has a reputation of being friendly, adept at wood lore, and ferocious in battle. But overall you’ll be viewed as an individual more than a race.
Tirané – Your shining red hair and fair skin will mark you as Tirané wherever you go, and people might be curious to know about your culture, for only a few of you leave the mother isle, and fewer still can claim to be second or third generation. Broad and powerfully built if you are a man and lithe and well-proportioned with a tendency toward buxomness if you are a woman, you’ll often get looks wherever you go, for your hair will make you stand out in a crowd. Your people are known as ferocious tribal people who have little civilization and are fond of raiding and taking what they want, but you are known as well for your intricate and high-quality artwork. You’ll attract attention as a Tirané, but you probably won’t see trouble unless you run afoul of someone slighted by Tirané raiders (this is most likely to happen in Moraithe, Lantrielle, or Masalla).
Masallan-- Your people are considered the forerunners of most of the world’s civilizations, and you will be instantly considered as moralistic, noble of bearing, and quite civilized. You’ll have glossy black or chestnut hair, olive skin, dark eyes, and a medium type of build. You’ll tend toward finer features which usually possess more beauty than prettiness, sex appeal, or cuteness. You’ll be welcome in most lands, as people will assume that you are a person of some importance until you show them otherwise.
Lantrielle— You will be fair of skin and blond to golden of hair, with a tendency toward blue eyes that range, occasionally, into greens. Your people are considered beautiful, intelligent, wealthy, noble, and rather arrogant, so although you may command respect because of your race, you won’t necessarily be liked. Your build will tend toward medium or slight.
Part Fae or Sereg – The passionate creatures of fae and the raiding Sereg are responsible for putting a good deal of blood into human stock. If you have fae blood, you’ll tend toward extreme cuteness or beauty, with a shining complexion and large eyes. Your hair and eyes may be of any color, as will your flesh. You’ll tend toward a lithe body; panther-like if you’re a man, and often full-breasted and long-legged if you’re a woman (nymph blood). Some fae blood also creates shortness and thinness. Note that there is a distinct possibility of glamouric capabilities being passed down to half-fae.
If you have Sereg blood you’ll have a light flesh tone and dark hair and eyes, with your features reflecting a savage, passionate beauty, with full, dark lips and clear features. If a man, you’ll be largely built and heavily muscled, and if a female, you’ll have a killer figure that tends toward a narrow waist, full, firm breasts, and well-turned hips.
If you have blood of this type, you may be crossed with any of the human races. This, of course, makes for a wide range of variation. People generally won't recognize that you have fae blood, and if they do, it usually won't change their reaction to you overly much. The exception is Sereg blood. Anyone familiar with the Sereg will recognize their race in your features, and you'll likely as not meet with some amount of hostility, especially if you're a man.
Also note that trolls often breed with human females, and though the result is always a full-blooded troll, some of these trolls manage to learn the ways of humans and stay within their society. These men will be huge, ruggedly handsome, and immensely strong -- visibly larger than humans. Many people will probably suspect your lineage, and fear you or treat you with hostility because of it.
Moraithian—With hair that tends toward sun blond to golden, tanned skin and eyes of almost any color, Moraithians are known for being free-spirited and loose in their morals. You’ll be expected to be fun-loving, slightly irresponsible, and at least a little wild. You are known as travelers, and so you won’t have trouble in any of the common provinces, except that some people won’t take you very seriously.
Rel Mordian—Because the population is low, seeing people from Rel Morde is rare, and most people won’t be able to identify your race. If they can, they won’t know much about your people. Those who do know a little about you will consider you mystical and mysterious, and will probably ask you about Rel Morde steel. (Since the process of making it is secret, you likely won’t know much about it.)
Other than that, you may be mistaken for being Masallan, though your people tend toward a slightly fuller build and will have lighter skin. Violet colored eyes are common with pure Rel Morde blood.
Japuran—Only a few people have left the province of Japura. If you’re one of them, you’ll be unmistakable with your dark olive skin, almond eyes the color of jet, shining raven hair and lithe build. Because your people are violent toward outsiders, you might expect to be viewed harshly, but the truth is that the rest of the world sees your lands as exceedingly exotic and mysterious, and you’ll likely be hounded by sages and others desperate to know about your untouchable province.
Gypsy-- From the southern areas of Masalla originally, your people have spread out to the New and Old Worlds. You are a sub-race of Masallan, with much darker skin, black hair, and dark eyes. You are known as travelers, cheats, magicians, entertainers, and mischief-makers with loose morals. Nevertheless, you’ll be popular almost everywhere you go, because people will assume that you mean fun. If you’re not part of a gypsy caravan, living in a wagon and traveling from place to place, you will encounter some problems with your own people, who will consider you "gone civilized", and somehow betraying your inner spirit. For a gypsy to live in a house would be considered sacrilege.
Whatever your race, take the time to research your province of origin in the Library and any other treatises which relate to your people -- you'll end up with a much more in-depth character.
Now go to Appearance to decide more about what you look like.