What do people generally like to know when picking races? Which aspects of their cultures should be defined? I got a few races, where I describe their origins and looks a bit but nothing clear regarding their culture.
For example I got this on a paper about elfs and dryads (2 of the 9 or so races): (Keep in mind that this is still a heavy WIP)
Elfs & Dryads
The appearance of the elfs starts with the tale of a lesser goddess. The goddess of nature,life and earth, Gaeia. Whilst gods usually don't meddle with mortal affairs as long as it doesn’t endanger them, Gaeia loved to interact with the world. She did so in subtle ways taking on the appearance of humans, plants or other creatures. She started loving the world for how it once again bloomed with life and how peace once again ruled the land after the war caused by men and demon.
After the war, many areas were left desecrated by the continuous fighting but over time they recovered. All but one area. Those lands were quickly named by the survivors as “The tainted lands”. Desolate lands, with infertile lands, blazingly hot sun and sparse supplies of water made it inhospitable to all but the toughest of life.
While the fighting may have stopped, the war left behind many artifacts. One of these, buried deep beneath the tainted lands, sprung into life and started affecting its surroundings.
The ground started cracking, spewing forth black ooze which gave life to demon plants. That which touched the ooze was corrupted by it, deformed by it and gained demon-like traits. Unbeknownst to the races, the lands grew more corrupted every year until Gaeia intervened.
Gaeia knew that if this were to continue, that eventually demons would find their way here once again. Sparking the next and final war, in which the races would not emerge victorious given their current state.
As a young goddess, her love for this world made her do what many gods considered as inconceivable. Some pleaded that she should let it go, for the ignorance of the mortals should be punished by their destruction. Gaeia took no heed to their plea’s and used herself to seal away the source of the black goo, returning the fertility back to the lands. At the very heart of the tainted lands, a tree grew. One so big that it towered above the clouds in height and bordered large cities in width. Around it, a lush forest grew. Giving home to many creatures which lost theirs in the war.
With the rebirth of the tainted lands, also 2 new races came to be. The Dryads came first then the elves. Gaeia modeled the dryads after the humans as they were the most common race and interaction between the races would be crucial to prevent a catastrophe like this from happening.
Dryads
The Dryads are an all humanoid female race with characteristics of plants and trees. While all being different, they are all vibrant in different colors and share traits with plants or trees from around the forest. They all have unnatural hair, in the form of leaves, or branches twisted in different shapes. At night they also shine light in the color of their skin from the crevices in the branches, veins of the leaves or freckles on their skin. The light is slightly brighter than their skin color.
Dryads are born in pods from the great tree. The times they open at are random, but depending on which time of the day they open. The personality of the dryad is influenced.
At night, the dryad tends to be secretive and mysterious in nature, hard to approach but once you get to know them they are very caring.
At day, the dryad tends to be curious, headstrong and bold. Their thirst for adventure and exploring is never ending, as companions they will never let you down.
At dawn, the dryad tends to be understanding and friendly. They are naturals at conversing with the other races and make for excellent diplomats.
At dusk, the dryad tends to be intellectually gifted. Preferring puzzles or studies over physical activities. They teach the young dryads or become skilled artisans.
Dryads physically age to an adult state in 14 years and then cease to age until the moment they die. They live up to 700 years. Dryads physiologically mature at the age of 40. Dryads emerge from pods as young teens, both physically and psychologically.
Dryads are unusually durable, heal faster and are able to regrow lost limbs at a very slow rate. Regular animals do not attack dryads or the companions the dryad is travelling with unless provoked. Their direct connection with Gaeia grants dryads journeyman nature magic.
However dryads are more prone to fire damage and regular healing magic has no effect on them due to their unique physique.
Elves
The elves came second. Naturally the emergence of a new lush environment attracted many which sought to rebuild their lives.Some of the people that ventured out into the ‘Tainted lands’ were surprised to find that they weren’t as desolate as they taught them to be. In the forest they met the dryads. Fascinated by the magical forest and the power of Gaeia, they relinquished themselves partially of their humanity to live with the dryads and follow the teachings of Gaeia. As a reward for their self-sacrifice, the tree granted them increased lifespans, attunement with the nature and pointy ears resembling pointy leaves.
The elves are an all humanoid race, where males and females are both common. They have exceptionally long life spans, pointy ears, natural beauty and attunement with nature.
Elves are born like humans. They live up to 600 years. They reach physical maturity at 21 years and retain it until they are 200 years old. Then they physically age at a rate of 1 year for every 10 human years. They reach physiological maturity at the age of 60.
Elves are highly agile, smart and charming. They are very skilled in the use of ranged weaponry have a good grasp of nature,light or water magic. They all also have good knowledge of wilderness survival and herbalism besides their own area of expertise they practice.
However elves are not very strong, nor enduring and need to heal longer than other races.
I compressed it into a page like this. Disregard the bear picture, that's for another race.
Dryads are incomplete but I was wondering how I should structure these things so that people get a good grasp of what it would mean to roll up an elf character or w/e and integrate that into their background story.
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Topic: Roller's Block (RTD Brainstorming Thread) (HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY) (Derm is 5k) (Read 744596 times)