MankindDistinguishing Features: non-pointed ears, 5-6 feet in height.
Average age: 40-75
Biology: Reach Maturity at around 16-20 years old, Males can grow Facial Hair, Gestation period is 9 months (basically, they are identical to real-world humans, except for superficial differences, such as hair colour)
Cultures:
THE NOBILITY: anyone with wealth or high social standing, as well as the higher ups in the religous order. They live in The Keep.
THE COMMONERS: Peasant farmers and labourers, living in the settlements surrounding the Keep. These settlements have substantial non-human populations as well.
Mountain DwarvesDistinguishing Features: rounded ears, around 4 feet in height.
Average age: 185-400
Biology: Dwarves Reach Maturity at age 12, no younger, no older. Both genders grow facial hair. A male dwarf's ascent into maturity is marked by the loss of all the hair on his scalp; females do not lose this hair. Gestation period is 10 months. Dwarves have a high tolerance to alcohol, only getting an invigourating buzz from ammounts that would bring any man to a drunken stupor. To actually get drunk, a dwarf must drink an amount of alcohol that would be fatal if ingested by a human. Dwarves are naturally sturdier and more durable than humans, their bones being comparable to stone in terms of hardness. They also have very strong muscles, necessary to move their heavy bones. The consitency of these muscles, however, tends to restrict most dwarves' flexibility. Dwarves have very high pain tolerance.
Culture: The culture of the Mt. Bakar Dwarves is currently in a period of stagnation. There are no great warriors or brilliant craftsmen, such as there were during the ages of peace and war. What they have now seems only like a frail imitation of their once-mighty society.
Hill Dwarves (Dwarrow)Distinguishing Features: rounded ears, 4-5 feet in height.
Average age: 165-250
Biology: Hill Dwarves Reach Maturity at around age 15. Both genders can grow facial hair, thought it is not uncommon for women to shave. Hill Dwarves do not lose their scalp hair upon reaching maturity. Gestation period is 10 months. Dwarves have a high tolerance to alcohol, only getting an invigourating buzz from ammounts that would bring any man to a drunken stupor. To actually get drunk, a dwarf must drink an amount of alcohol that would be fatal if ingested by a human. Dwarves are naturally sturdier and more durable than humans, their bones being comparable to stone in terms of hardness. Hill Dwarves are more flexible but less durable than Mountain Dwarves.
Culture: The culture of the Hill Dwarves is very much the same as human commoners. They work all day and sleep all night, and share many of the same religous holidays.
Wood Elves (Trowe)Distinguishing Features: pointed ears, around 6 feet in height, red blood.
Average age: believed to be immortal
Biology: Wood elves reach maturity at age 18. Males can grow facial hair, though this is very uncommon. Gestation period is 7 months. Elves' bodies can only derive sustenance from fruits, vegetables, and starches, thought they have been known to consume meat for its flavour, and the Trowe consume Milk and Cheeses for their calcium benefits. The muscles and bones of elves are light, built for speed and dexterity rather than strength or endurance. Elves have low pain tolerance, but are immune to most natural toxins.
Culture: The Trowe have a militaristic culture, which is somewhat out of place in the Age of Reason. They seek to counteract the innate weaknesses of the elven race with rigid training, excercise, and a calcium-rich diet to build more durable bones. Their cultural emphasis on combat has alienated them from their elven cousins, the Sylvans.
Wood Elves (Sylvan)Distinguishing Features: pointed ears, 5-7 feet in height, green blood.
Average age: believed to be immortal
Biology: Wood elves reach maturity at age 18. Males cannot grow facial hair. Gestation period is 7 months, though breeding only takes place every few decades. Elves' bodies can only derive sustenance from fruits, vegetables, and starches. Sylvans do not think meat tastes very good. The muscles and bones of elves are light, built for speed and dexterity rather than strength or endurance. Elves have low pain tolerance, but are immune to most natural toxins.
Culture: The Sylvan culture renevates peace and nature worship. Their territories do not contain buildings, they seem to live in harmony with nature (this is believed to be due to the sylvan bloodline being interbred with nymphs and satyrs, the pagan nature spirits). They have also been known to smoke a peculiar herb, which they believe allows them to better commune with nature.
Half-Elves (Tuatha)Distinguishing Features: pointed ears, 5-7 feet in height, red blood.
Average age: 165-270
Biology: virtually identical to humans, although tending to be slimmer and more athletic
Culture: The tuatha have no culture of their own, simply adapting to whatever social group they happen to be part of.
KoboldsDistinguishing Features: vermine and reptilian features, pointed ears, 3-4 feet in height, red blood.
Average age: 20-45
Biology: Reaches maturity at age 2, gestation period is 3 months (multiple litters are very common). Kobolds are Voracious omnivores and scavengers. Kobold's bodies are very inefficient at storing fat energy, due to this they are posessed of a near constant hunger. Kobolds are physically weak, but are quite fast and often travel in packs. Kobolds are believed to produce a weak form of venom, as adventurers have sometimes reported feeling exhaustion after being bitten by kobolds.
Culture: Kobolds are very primitive, having a tribal hunter-gatherer culture. Kobolds have a penchant for stealing weapons and tools from more advanced races (they have also been known to steal gold, but this is more to due with it being shiny than with kobolds having any sense of monetary value). Their physical weakness and treasure-hoarding tendencies make kobolds a popular target for greedy adventurers and hunters.