Nemori's Biological Guide to the Species
Nemori, proud Sidhe of Northstar, has finally finished her treatise on the various species of Alyria and the Faerie Plane. You can obtain for yourself the lovely, thick, leatherbound first edition of the work here. Or, enjoy the electronic chapters of this great work in their more bare form below.
Nemori's Biological Guide to the Species
By Nemori: Sidhe, Explorer, and Amateur Scientist
Introduction
To those that have been lucky enough to stumble upon this treatise of mine prepare to be astounded by the wide range of thinking and comprehending species in Alyria.
True, there are many things that make us the same. Those that support a more integrated society might tell you to ignore that Minotaur’s horns or to look past the stupidity of that Ogre. However, you being a discerning and curious individual that has decided to pick up this edifying volume I am sure you will recognize there are important differences between all beasts and that only in better understanding them can we better understand ourselves.
Do not consider this a complete work, but instead a collection of points from my own observation that I give to the research world in general in hopes of furthering biological study.
I. Humans
Perhaps the dullest of the species to study humans are just about average in every single way possible. They are also by default responsible for most of the miseries in Alyria. I will explain.
Human history is long and varied. Like a virus they spread quickly and ignorantly to all the land masses available to them. At some point they “discovered” something they called Magick which smarter people later would call magic. At this point the magicians separated themselves into the White, the Grey, and the Black. While Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, Gnomes and of course Sidhes and Feys already existed, these magicians decided to fiddle with the natural order and make new races. Druids of the Gray Wizards made Minotaurs, Black Wizards made the Dracons, and the White Wizards opened the portals to the Faerie Plane.
Physical Characteristics
The average human is five foot six inches tall. They walk upright, on two legs, and have varying hair and eye color with skin ranging from pale to dark brown. They are neither terribly strong nor very weak. Their eyesight is nothing in the way of impressive and they tend to speak in the unembellished Alyrian dialect from which they originated.
Human Society
Humans live in cities and engage in commerce. They are usually diurnal in nature and tend to sleep in their homes at night. They have used their discovery of magic to build many of the cities, roads and boats that exist today. They excel in very little though are by no means poor performers and tend to be represented in most every kind of profession. They form elaborate systems of government and bureaucracy and establish themselves wherever they can. They are excellent capitalists and focus most of their time, whether by legitimate or insidious means, on obtaining the most gold, property and loot that they can obtain. They adapt decently well to the sea and make okay pirates in as well as they do averagely at most professions.
Basic Habits
Humans bathe in water, usually tubs or (where available) mechanized shower units. They prefer to clean themselves indoors, either in their own home or in public baths.
They are omnivores and subsist on a diet that is a combination of meat and vegetables. Because of their affinity to cities and organized society they often purchase their foods from stores, drink from public fountains, and enjoy the occasional meal or drink at an inn, restaurant, or bar.
Mating and Child Rearing Habits
Humans mate in a flesh-meets-flesh male and female combination that result in a fetus and nine month gestation period before the female gives birth to a miniature human.
Typically the human child is then raised in some kind of home or family atmosphere, consisting of one or two parents or foster parents who may not be genetically related to the child but look after it and care for its well being until it becomes of an old enough age to fend for itself. This age can vary from child to child, but usually between the ages of 12 to 17 the child will begin to take on more and more responsibilities. Typical first assignments for a human child might be an apprenticeship in a local specialty so that it can earn its own wage to buy its own home or homes in the manner of humans before it. Human children also may become discoverers or explorers and break out of human society in one way or another to ‘tame the untamed world’ as they see it.
II. Gnomes
Gnomes are small, wiry little creatures who are the ancestral cousins of Dwarves and twice as devious. Their curiosity has both helped them to be innovative in a world that is a bit too big for them as well as get them in over their heads in many situations. Though they are very clever and have developed many useful things they can probably be considered a race to be overlooked and not worried about very much. They are not known for having tempers and can probably be distracted by tossing some gear or mechanical toy in the other direction and slowly sauntering off as they play with it.
Physical Characteristics
Gnomes are a fair bit shorter than most races, though still strong and durable despite their size. Mention of them might conjure up images of little men with beards and pointy red hats. You might remember them being on someone’s lawn or giving travel advice. As far as we can tell all of this is true. Their clothing choices are usually questionable, bright, and mismatching, and their hair usually a brown or red and then white after age. Their cheeks are red and rosy with natural dimples.
Gnome Society
Gnomes prefer to live near natural sources of energy (i.e., waterfalls, rivers, volcanoes, and geothermal springs). They also take advantage of other natural occurrences such as sunlight, heat, cold, forests and fossil fuels in many ingenious ways. They are intelligent and quick, though not as naturally predisposed to be excellent fighters. They have strong inclinations in the way of mechanics, kinetics and machines. Most of the machinery that has advanced our modern world can be attributed to their inventions. They are the sole proprietors of many fancy new transportation devices that can send you across Alyria without use of powerful magic as other devices have relied upon.
Basic Habits
Gnomes are slightly secluded from the rest of society and therefore can sometimes be more nocturnal than diurnal but this depends on how much the Gnome has integrated with human society or whether it lives by itself.
Gnomes bathe infrequently as they prefer to spend their time tinkering with some odd contraption and usually don’t notice the interesting smell that begins to surround them. True, some gnomes can be fastidiously clean and invent groundbreaking new methods of cleanliness and organization, but most are unclean and disorganized. When they do remember they are comfortable with using either modern indoor inventions or their natural surroundings, whichever suits them at the time.
They are born omnivores, able to digest both meat and vegetables but prefer to eat what is handiest and are not the cleverest of cooks. Whatever odd or easily accessible snack item might be available to them is what they will eat so often their diet is not the most nutritionally sound but high in sugar or caffeine content to keep them going longer and keep their minds the most agile for the research and tinkering they so enjoy.
Mating and Child Rearing Habits
While Gnomes are able to mate in the disgusting and disorganized way Humans are known to, they are always searching for some mechanical solution which will take away all the person to person contact and allow a gnome female to simply have children when she wants without actually needing to meet the gnome father.
Gnome families are much like human families in society with mothers, fathers and foster parents who raise the child and care for its well being, gnomes tend to live in larger family groups outside of the cities where the children would all be raised by a much larger, somewhat disorganized family group. In both cases Gnome parents, while not the best caregivers or having the best memory, are very good at teaching their children useful skills and hopefully passing on their mechanical aptitudes to their children. If a Gnome parent specializes in a certain industry or field of development it is expected that the eldest Gnome son will take on this work after his father has passed and work with him as an apprentice while both are alive. Because of this, Gnome families tend to stay intact longer than Human families, though some Gnome children may decide their knowledge and fascination of new ideas requires them to travel beyond the family bounds and apply that knowledge to new and untouched lands.
III. Dwarves
Dwarves are short, stocky foul-tempered humanoids. They are not as clever as their ancestral cousins the Gnomes, but are stronger and hard working. Unfortunately they are also known to be decent warriors so their temper is probably something to be aware of at a minimum.
Physical Characteristics
Dwarves are quite short. They are also stout. And interestingly enough, both males and females are quite hairy as both typically sport beards and the females let hair grow where it would not be acceptable to females in other races. They possess impressive strength, especially for their size, and decent stamina and resistance to the elements that serves them both for long hours of hard labor or long fighting campaigns. They have an incredibly long life span.
Dwarven Society
Dwarves prefer to live with one another in subterranean societies. They are excellent at mining and can become almost obsessive about obtaining the minerals and gems of the earth. They also can work stone, caves and mountains into impressive underground cities where they enjoy a quiet uninterrupted from the outside world.
They make excellent weapon smiths and blacksmiths which fits well into their warrior society. In fact, many old Dwarves are still discussing with some fondness and some strong political convictions the ancient Battle of Istani which went on for over a century in the great Race Wars between Dwarves and Humans and might have continued to go on if it weren’t for the interruption of mysterious magic. Dwarves are usually distrusting of many kinds of magic and this was yet another reason to further withdraw into their subterranean locations. Foul weather, thunderstorms, and their matching foul tempers are more good reasons they like to remain below ground.
Basic Habits
Dwarves are usually diurnal if they have situated themselves in a human society, but otherwise function very well without the cycle of an Alyrian day and due to their stamina and hardworking attitudes have a typical day lasting much longer and a shorter sleep period in between than the typical human.
They are known as being one of the dirtier and smellier races, partially as a result of all the work they are usually at, the long days, and the naturally smelly corridors and cramped quarters they dwell in underneath the earth. They bathe usually once a month, whether they need to or not, as a part of their habitual lifestyle. They aren’t very fond of soap and don’t always have access to the best smelling of water but might use spring water in underwater falls or underwater pools as they need to.
Dwarves like most other races are omnivores but prefer a diet heavy in meat, protein and alcohol. Unlike their Gnome cousins who look to food as a stimulant, Dwarves prefer alcohol to dull their senses as they work long hours and make their days more enjoyable. Any kind of tasty meat and bread they can prepare in mass quantities is also well received as they eat usually two to three large meals a day, but treat each meal as a properly scheduled feast.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Dwarves typically mate in the same way as humans, au natural. This can get confusing when many Dwarven females also wear beards but they seem very skilled at recognizing the opposite gender in their own species. Many Dwarves prefer never to mate or settle down but instead to keep working or keep waging wars and campaigns. Those that do decide to pair up usually do so monogamously and then begin a well scheduled Dwarven courtship of innuendo and flirtation before finally settling down for final pairing and child bearing.
Dwarven society is mostly traditionalist in that the women who bear children are usually not laborers or warriors, so many Dwarven women who prefer to keep an active lifestyle never settle down with one male Dwarf, either pairing off for a childless relationship with another race or by merely carrying on a series of flirtatious relationships while remaining single.
While most Dwarven children are raised in specifically Dwarven societies by one male and one female they benefit from the larger family and culture they are surrounded by. They are typically put to hard labor at a very young age and later on may specialize in a particular craft to serve Dwarves as whole, venture off to try their skills in a Human or multi-racial society, or go off adventuring in search of loot and glory. This is a typical pursuit for Dwarves as they seek payment and success in a similar way as a Human does but seek to achieve it by hard work in labor in mines or by many repeated adventuring trips in search of treasure and rare goods. Above all, Dwarves feel a hard day’s work (or night’s) always pays off.
IV. Halflings
Furry and quick moving little humanoids, Halflings are about as tall as their attention span. They are not quite so hardy as many of their short cousins but make up for it with a much better speed and agility. Thankfully they keep to themselves and have a fondness for nature rivaled only by the elves.
Physical Characteristics
Halflings are covered in fur from head to toe. The females are likewise covered in fur, but it is usually less thick and matted and their female shape is fairly easy to distinguish from the male. Halflings average a mere four feet high and move extremely quickly. They are very agile to make up for their lack of strength and hardy character and have an innate quickness that is advantageous in battle. All this make them formidable opponents with the only clear advantage that they have no attention span.
Halfling Society
Halflings live secluded from society, preferring to immerse themselves in nature. Though they usually love in societies amongst their own species they are more solitary than many of the other races. Each has its own idea about how to get something done the quickest or most efficiently and so where interaction gets in their way they often prefer to spend most of their days alone in pursuit of their own tasks.
Their societies do not rely on very many amenities or modern inventions but are instead immersed with nature. Because of their closeness with nature they have a natural ability to resist magical attacks. Because of these advantages they often consider themselves to be superior to the other races and remain aloof and arrogant despite being very short and often moving too quickly to catch the attention of the other, more important races.
Basic Habits
Halflings do not restrict their activities to the typical diurnal or nocturnal societies around them. They may periodically nap during either the day or the night and are often running around madly in such a flurry to get things done that sleep is really a last consideration for them. However when their energy is completely used up they will often collapse from exhaustion into a deep sleep that lasts only exactly as long as they need it to before they awake to return to their usual activities.
Halflings are usually very clean. If they let their fur get too dirty it can get so matted and disgusting as to slow them down or require its removal, so Halflings are usually very particular about keeping themselves clean. They prefer the fresh and natural springs and water that nature provides, but keep bathing time at a minimum so they can return quickly to their other tasks.
Halflings are not known for eating very much. Because they are small they require little, and most do not desire the dulling effects of alcohol either. Caffeine is almost entirely wasted on them due to their speed and energy, but it is a favorite along with sugary treats and snacks which can be quickly consumed to leave them on to their tasks. While protein is an occasional requirement, meat takes too much time to eat and can often leave them feeling too full or tired after a meal so when protein can be derived from plants it is their preference.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Halflings mate in the natural way but it is very quick and not the looked forward to event it is for many other races. Halflings prefer to be solitary, even those who are in relationships, and so mating is passed over as quickly as possible with the desired effect of producing a child.
Halflings are usually raised by their parents or one or two main caregivers. They are not as exposed to the rest of Halfling society until later on and are usually left to care for themselves as often as possible in nature’s warm embrace. Because of this they become self sufficient rather quickly and appreciate the solitude of living alone amongst nature. Even those that choose to venture into society or become warriors, adventurers, or explorers often remain loners at heart and look forward to the times they can be left to themselves amongst their peaceful nature surroundings.
Halfling children are very quick to pick up on things without verbal or formal direction and often take most of their cues and life lessons from nature. While they usually do not seek out society and distrust a lot of the modern inventions of cities they are quick to adapt to it even if they often think too highly of themselves to learn too much as well as being usually too engrossed in many other things to pay much attention to a society.
V. Elves
Elves are instinctively good creatures, though slightly aloof and distant. They are generally smart than many of the other races but unfortunately often let it get to their heads. It is an example of their good character that they usually strive to do good but are often so in tune with their forests and trees that their ideas of good may not be that of the greater good.
Physical Characteristics
Elves are slightly shorter than humans, usually slightly under five feet. They have pointy ears, large round eyes, and are usually slightly pale. They are agile and lacking in much strength but have a greater share of intelligence, reasoning and magical abilities. Their senses are heightened as a result of their being in tune with nature and they can see in the dark and sense auras so they can quickly judge the alignment of creatures and persons whom they meet. They are one of the more relatively attractive species, if only slightly odd for their ears, and live extremely long lives bordering on immortality.
Elven Society
Elves live in hierarchical societies defined by age and rank. They usually live secluded from mixed societies deep in the forest. However, they are more willing than many races to mix with human societies and many Elves frequently journey out from their home societies after they have achieved the age of reason. Because of their long life spans time with family and childhood time in the home lasts longer than that of other races. They are usually given a strong dose of Elven pride along with allegiance to their particular Elven family. After which they are left to choose between becoming an elder or person of importance in their own society, or venturing out into mixed society. They take on a number of professions, usually of a higher nature choosing to be important in whatever way they can. Many choose to be religious and work their lives in pursuit of the powers.
Basic Habits
Elves are mostly diurnal but require less sleep than humans and therefore may often still be active at night, though to a lesser degree than during the day. Their senses allow them to be equally proficient in any situation of day or night and their adeptness at magic let them be powerful at both times as well.
They are very clean, and bathe in natural streams for the sport of it but otherwise enjoy very luxurious baths either in their Elven societies or in mixed societies.
While Elves can eat meat and do occasionally enjoy the hunt, most find eating animals repulsive and choose to subsist mostly off plants and vegetables. They have a very close relationship with nature and many see animals as an equal life form to any other and therefore choose not to use their advantages against them merely for food unless it is absolutely necessary. This advantage is not extended to other humanoid life forms in combat or challenge. In fact, Elves often think more highly of nature’s beasts than they do of the other sentient races.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Elves mate very infrequently due to their having such long life spans and not needing to repopulate as well as lacking the passion for it. It is suspected they have found some magical method of procreation amongst their own species but the details of this are unknown. Elves are one of the few species that can successfully produce offspring with another race; humans. This union creates half-elves who have some of the strengths of both races.
Elven children are not numerous in any particular Elven society so each is brought up with special care and effort for its education and skills. They are taught especially good morals and left to use them in their own judgment after leaving the care and attentiveness of their parents and their society. They are exposed to the best mentors and scholars that nearly any society possesses as Elves are especially devoted to education and use of magic. While all these great advantages make them indeed a powerful race it is tarnished only by their arrogance and seclusion.
VI. Half-Elves
Half-Elves are the offspring of Humans and Elves, and stealing many of the better qualities of both with some improvement in hardiness from their genetic diversity. They are healthier than both without quite as much arrogance as an Elf and without the dumb, doddering qualities of a Human. Beyond all this they are not a perfect specimen and suffer being an impure breed and therefore not entirely attractive in appearance.
Physical Characteristics
Half-Elves represent the halfway point in height between an Elf and a Human, averaging just over five feet. They are not quite as thin as an elf with a bit more of the strength and roundness of a Human. Their ears, while slightly pointed, are also not quite as pronounced as an Elf’s ears are. Their skin is slightly paler than a Human’s but tanner than an Elf’s and they can be very diverse in appearance, depending upon the general appearance of the Humans they are descended from.
Half-Elven Society
Half-Elves have no particular society of their own. Instead they may longer in either Elven society or Human society. While they are for the most part accepted in either society, they usually do not have full the full respect. Elves see their bloodline as greatly tarnished and being no longer immortal they are rarely allowed to participate as a full member in Elven society. Similarly, Humans look upon them with a similar idea of bias and while they may be generally preferred to other races they are still not fully trusted but looked upon as belonging to Elven culture and society. Despite this, they are one of the more adaptable races in mixing in almost any society or culture or prefer to stay in large cities, usually those of mixed races. They are adept at learning almost any skill or trade as well as being excellent adventurers and explorers.
Basic Habits
Half-Elves follow their human heritage in being truly diurnal creatures. Their day is usually guided by the regular activities of a city, though they can work into the night if they need to.
Half-Elves are not very attentive to being clean but can use either natural streams and rivers or the showers and baths of a city to clean when they need it, usually as frequently as humans. Because of this they are often a bit more stinky than their Elf relatives but blend in well with the usual smell of Humans and cities.
They consume both meat and vegetables as well as a healthy amount of alcohol. They don’t eat quite as much as Humans but take a greater joy in feasting than do Elves and definitely like to sit down to enjoy their meals in an organized fashion three times a day.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Half-Elves are well known to be the whores of Alyria. Because they are already the result of an interracial pair they frequently choose to court both Humans and Elves and as a result of being a half-breed they can not produce offspring, even with other Half-Elves. This means they rarely form any kind of family unit (except on the rare occasion of fostering or adopting a child) and often have connections with many suitors at once, using them all to their own advantage.
While the Half-Elf may occasionally be forced to adopt or foster some Half-Elf, Elf, or Human child they usually despise caring for any small, helpless creature of any kind. They prefer to live their lives adventurously and in the pursuit of their own enjoyment. While the occasional Half-Elf may fall in love and settle into a monogamous relationship, this will often continue to the mutual satisfaction of both parties without the need of establishing any kind of family relationship, but instead being two pleasure seekers now united in tasting the spice of life. Overall, Half-Elves are not to be trusted unless you are looking for a one-night stand or maybe some wild friends to invite to a party.
VII. Drow
Drow are dark Elves who have been cast out from Elven society for their involvement with evil powers. Almost in the same way Dwarves greedily seek gems and treasures buried deep, Drow are obsessive in studying after darker and darker spells to increase their power and magical abilities.
Physical Characteristics
Drow are about the same height as Elves; slightly under five feet. They have considerably darker skin and usually darker hair. Otherwise they are almost identical to Elves. They have the same round eyes, are very delicate and thin, and have the same pointy ears. As well they live long, near immortal lives. They have heightened senses and are very intelligent though their obsession with evil makes them vulnerable to and distasteful of anything good or holy.
Drow Society
Drow live in secluded societies either in deep, dark forests or underground. While they tend to live with other Drow for necessity they are mostly solitary creatures working away with evil and with magic and their designs at this often make them distrustful of one another’s company. It also negatively impacts their disposition and many Drow are not only cruel and without sympathies or morals it also tends to make them very cranky overall and they shun most large societies. As a result, most cities shun them in return which is natural as a Drow’s foul temper is well known and most good people and normal races prefer to avoid putting up with it when they can. Drow have an especial dislike of Elves and here especially can both races get very nasty with one another and disputes can become violent.
While Drow have similar noble bloodlines in the same way Elves do, it does not control their societies nor limit any upstart Drow youth from achieving glory and upsetting the whole balance of his or her home society. Drow ancestry is not as glorious nor does it go back quite as long as the Elves due to the fact that the competitive and evil natured Drow are often killing one another off all the time and destroying entire bloodlines needlessly.
Basic Habits
Drow are nocturnal. They usually work long hours into the night and like much else despise the day time. They are not so much weakened by the sun as just intolerant of its intruding on their work.
While Drow usually keep themselves very clean and despise any among their society who do not have the same levels of cleanliness, their natural evilness often thwarts any attempt at smelling nice. While say an Orc’s nasty stench is obvious from far away, a Drow’s is more subtle and flows directly from their own evil, cold, black hearts.
Drow eat both meat and plants and while they don’t take much joy in food they have no qualms about eating anything that will satisfy their hunger. They are a race unique in that they are able to tolerate both water and blood in order to quench their thirst or hunger, whatever they most prefer.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
While the real mating habits of Drow are unknown to the outside world it is suspected to be a dark ritual that they feel will empower them in the dark arts. It follows that it is most likely so disgusting the rest of the world is better off not knowing the details.
Drow are not very attentive parents, but each child is trained in the dark arts the same as its parents. Children are used mostly as slaves, apprentices, and assistants to follow in the footsteps of their parents or mentors and treated cruelly and harshly in pursuit of achievement in their field. This generally makes them cranky adults who then re-inflict this pain on their own children if they have any. They tend to have even less respect for anyone outside their own race, especially Elves, and are generally bad mannered and tactless.
VIII. Ogres
Ogres are not the sharpest creatures in Alyria. Their communication and language skills are pretty poor but they are generally jovial and have good dispositions. If you meet one on the street they’ll usually grunt at you a few times and maybe try to play a game with you. They prefer games that test their strength rather than intelligence, as otherwise they would very likely lose any challenge.
Physical Characteristics
Ogres are pretty ugly, bald, large and hairless. They have tremendous physical strength and average near seven feet in height. They tend to be slightly pale, or of kind of a greenish tint. It is unknown whether the female ogres have natural hair on their heads or just wear wigs for the appearance of it. All ogres have pretty nasty teeth and even those that are quite muscular or in shape have fat little bellies. They have pretty large eyes and always look slightly clueless. This is most likely because they usually are very clueless.
Ogre Society
Ogres tend to live by themselves in ogre-only societies. They prefer quiet little villages nestled among light forests and rivers. They shun outsiders and are quick to distrust a stranger. They speak a different language, called “ogrish,” that mostly sounds like a botched up common language. Little is known about their customs or what goes on in a traditional village but it is suspected the community just hangs about in an attempt to have some fun. They enjoy playing games, fishing, and impressing one another with great feats of strength.
A few of the Ogres take up necessary professions to keep their village complete and therefore not needing help or trade from the outside world. The occasional Ogre may get it into his or her not so bright head to go adventuring. They have the advantages of strength in these adventures but unfortunately can be easily tricked or fooled by another player’s cunning.
Basic Habits
Ogres are very much diurnal creatures. In fact, they enjoy getting all their chores down out of the way in the early morning so that they can devote the afternoon to pleasant napping. With their minds very little occupied it is very easy for them to fall asleep.
Ogres are not very clean. While they enjoy the occasional plunge into a river they do not stop to see if the river is very clean. The complexities of bathing and showering elude their small powers of mind and so usually they have a very strong smell about them. In their own villages, these stinky auras are more a badge of honor than any shortcoming.
Ogres eat mostly meat, but will eat other things if they are tasty or easy to make. They aren’t so much picky as put off by plants and vegetables and therefore the succulent taste of fresh (even raw) meat is very appealing to them.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
An Ogre mating is a very confusing ritual. Many Ogres still believe storks deliver their children so it is a wonder that they produce children at all. Every now and then though a few Ogres stumble upon the right method and everyone is reminded how to start their families.
Ogres like to have plenty of children and raise very large and very happy families. They have no talent for naming their children in a clever sort of way but it least it can be said that Ogre names are unique. The children are taken care of very fondly when the parents can remember their children’s names and they are usually taught nothing useful but maybe how to fish or have fun. Ogre children do revel in their games and when they grow to be adults their pursuit of fun and mischief is not very much changed.
IX. Dracons
Dracons can be distinguished by their scaly skin and tails flopping about as they cough up various sorts of elemental magic whenever they’ve got a case of the sniffles. They were a magically created race; created originally by the Black Wizards. Their natural enemy is the Minotaur. They have some unique abilities but are certainly an odd creature. One does not walk past a Dracon child lightly without wondering how ugly it is and how its parents could have possibly raised such an ugly little thing. But then it is easy to remember a Dracon’s parents are just as ugly as the Dracon child.
Physical Characteristics
Dracons share some genetic material with their cousins; the mighty dragons. However, to see one on the street is far less awe inspiring than the site of a real dragon. They tend to resemble humanoid lizards and though their fire breathe is surprising it is nothing that would not trouble the challenger to go drop the Dracon into an icy river and leave it to freeze. Being reptilian they take their strength from the sun and so when ever it is cold can become instantly weakened as a result. You might even feel sorry for them with their little spiky heads and body covered in greenish scales, but they are probably not the ugliest race in Alyria and therefore quite capable of blending in with the population. They average about five feet in height, and are not terribly bright. They have adorable little wings that are completely useless in the pursuit of flight.
Dracon Society
Dracons don’t tend to live in any organized society. While they recognize their kinsmen they tend to live in the mixed cities of other races. This might be because they are a magically created race and therefore have no real history to reflect upon. The biggest thing that binds them together is their hatred of Minotaurs. They don’t have any particular custom but those of habit. They are satisfied living in large cities and occasionally climbing out onto a rock or city street to sleep and soak up the sun.
Dracons choose to pursue a number of occupations but tend to be best at adventuring. They are not terribly bright but strong and resistant to bashing therefore do better at combat than many educated professions. However, their breathes may make life a little easier in heating food, chilling drinks, or zapping pesky house pests.
Basic Habits
Dracons are diurnal as a result of their strong attachment to the sun. While they do not rely on it, it is a great comfort for them. Night time usually brings cold which they dislike so they prefer to be warm within their homes or warm within a deep mountain cave somewhere.
Dracons are not terribly clean. They don’t really understand the concept of bathing and therefore do not do so very often. They don’t even really enjoy swimming so if they are cleaned it is usually by mistake of stepping underneath a waterfall or falling into a pool of water. Otherwise they are mildly stinky as large lizards would be expected to be.
Dracons eat mostly meat. Plant life is not on their diet plan. They are not too picky about the meat, enjoying either a nice juicy haunch of some very tasty and chewy beast, either raw or cooked (depending on their mood) or even large insects can be to their fancy. Their taste buds are about as well defined as their powers of intellect and so they are not picky eaters.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Dracons mate similarly to Dragons, though in a less impressive sort of way. Eventually the female Dracon will lay an egg, and watch over it sometime before it hatches and becomes a child. Dracons can only lay the egg of one child at a time, and can not lay eggs very many times in their lives, which is why Dracons are very rare. In these troubling times it is also difficult for a female Dracon to protect her egg as often other male Dracons who are not the father will try to destroy it before it hatches.
Dracon children being few are often very well loved by their parents. Each little spit of smoke as a young child is cheered and encouraged until they grow and can actually breathe fire, acid, lightning, and frost. While Dracons can never fly, they can kind of float around and this ability is encouraged too by the Dracon parents. Dracon fathers are not always around so Dracons tend to be raised by their mothers and taught to defend themselves from a very early age. Other intellectual pursuits or specific job abilities are not so important to the Dracon parent to pass on to her children.
X. Minotaurs
What can what say about Minotaurs but ‘moo?’ Created by the Grey Wizards of the Druids they are part humanoid and part bull. Large, hairy, and arrogant with tempers as foul as their cud chewing breath, they are the natural enemies of Dracons. They also whine a lot about anything having to do with fire or flames. What can one say to that but ‘moo-hoo?’
Physical Characteristics
Like cattle across the planes of Avros these supposedly fierce bovines wander around with a bull’s head and tail and thick hair covering their large bodies. Almost in balance with their natural enemies they can stay warm but are vulnerable to fire-based attacks, such as the favorite breathe of a Dracon. They tower over other races at nearly seven feet in height and resist many of the poisons and diseases that grip so many in Alyria these days. Despite their heads being very large their brains are not quite as large as they could be.
Minotaur Society
Minotaurs enjoy forming and getting involved in very well organized societies. For instance, the town of Templeton is almost completely overrun by Minotaur bureaucrats. Here they work excellently with Humans in that both revel in putting together governments, setting laws, and dictating things. They differ from Humans in that they do not have the same pursuit of profit or marketplace mentality. Their obsession with government is more an arrogance that their race is the best to handle such a difficult task. Humans are perhaps the only other race they semi-tolerate, perhaps in that Human Druids were their original creators, but they despise Dracons especially and look down on many other races barring them from many of the establishments of Templeton and preventing them from participating in government.
They are very arrogant despite being little different from the cattle herded on other continents. They like to live in the northern parts of Avros where they are well protected against the cold climates. They are not as hard working as their cow-cousins, though they put in long hours at their profession a lot of it is arrogant mismanagement rather than any real accomplishment of work done.
Basic Habits
Minotaurs are mostly diurnal, preferring to work and plan their days in a similar way to Humans, and also enjoying the structure of a work day falling within the sunset and sunrise of a particular day.
Minotaurs bathe about as frequently as humans. However, being hairier, larger and generally more stinky they often smell of livestock whether they would want to or not. They enjoy luxurious baths in the city if they can get it but will bathe maybe once a month whether they need it or not.
Minotaurs do not eat meat. Eating meat is similar in their eyes to a kind of cannibalism. Like cows they have four compartments in their stomach making it very easy to digest grass or hay. While Minotaurs see themselves as above eating straight hay or grass from the ground, they will often eat herbs, plans or vegetables that are little more improved from the grass growing straight out of the ground.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Minotaurs mate in the same disgusting way as two cows do. This does not require further detail. They generally raise one calf at a time until it has reached the age of being a young adult and may then have a few more calves in their lifetime. Following to their Human heritage they tend to raise their children in cities with often one or two parents or foster parents caring for the Minotaur child. Minotaur children are raised to be just as arrogant and foolhardy as their parents are and often look forward to getting involved in the same branch of government or bureaucratic arm that their parents are involved in as government positions are passed down in a very autocratic sort of way. Minotaurs are very stubborn and have a strong distaste for almost every other race than their own and Human. In fact, just mention how tasty a Minotaur’s flank is or how wonderful a few Minotaur burgers would be and their nostrils will flare up as if they are ready to charge you down.
XI. Fey
The most stinky, ugly and horrid of all races are the Fey. They hearken from the Faerie Plane, more specifically the Castle of Unseelie and all bow to the ugly Queen Tirona. Their dispositions and power grubbing ways are even worse than their most horrifying appearance. They came to Alyria from the Faerie Plane seeking total domination in the name of their Queen but being little more than bloodsucking annoyances that plague the land until perhaps some day in the future they are properly exterminated.
Physical Characteristics
Fey are faeries. They have gross bat-like little wings, are slightly shorter than Sidhes, usually under five fight in height. This might be because they hunch over a lot, probably under the horrid weight of their own evilness and ugliness. They have dark, off-color skin, dark eyes, pointy fangs for teeth, dark or non-natural colored hair, and skinny limbs. They are very weak to the sun of Alyria which is not as powerful on their own Faerie Plane and despise and are vulnerable to water of any type. They also, like other faeries, do not use anything made of iron. They have resistances to things like poison, disease, and charms or magical control. Also like other faeries they have the ability to shift, but only after the sun has set and before it has risen. This is a great relief since at least during the night they can appear as anything that is less ugly than their own usual form.
Fey Society
Fey come from Unseelie Castle on the Faerie Plane. Here they participate in all sorts of trades. The ones who make it to Alyria are mostly the adventuring, power hungry, curious, or foolish of those from Unseelie. They have been warring with Sidhe since long before Humans ever inhabited Alyria and the differences and grievances that go on between them are worse than their frustrations with any of the other races of Alyria. Most faeries have a difficult time blending in with Alyrian society as they are wholly from another plane. When they do visit they are forced to mingle in society for most of their needs. Fey are always devious and seeking ways in which they can take over the whole Alyrian plane. Evil and war are always on their dark little minds and most of the skills they learn or classes they practice at are done so only in the pursuit of becoming more powerful.
Basic Habits
While at home, Fey require little sleep and Unseelie Castle is often busy during both day and night. However, on the Alyrian plane due to their weakness under the sun they prefer to be nocturnal creatures.
Fey can not shower or bathe as other creatures might. The only liquid they find acceptable (other than the occasional alcohol drink) is blood and so this is often what they bathe in; the blood of their enemies. This lends them to being pretty stinky most times.
Fey prefer to eat raw meat or feast on blood. They can not drink water at all and so they have made blood fountains available all over Alyria and when this is not to be found they will often sneak a little bite from an unsuspecting victim.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Fey are believed to mate in some ritual that is suspected to involve trading blood between the two Feys involved. While the details of this are unknown (thank goodness) it is most likely a very gross and messy process. They are not known for being the best nurturers. Faerie children rarely have good parents and Fey children are not the exception to that. They often wander about untended to until they become bitter, defensive, and aggressive and this is the stage at which it is understood they have reached full adulthood. Only when they have lost all points of good behavior or even respect for their fellow Fey are they truly adults. The children often learn fighting young in the wild and tumultuous courts of Unseelie and then often choose to test these abilities on the unsuspecting denizens of Alyria.
XII. Sidhe
Alyria’s most attractive species the Sidhe are a breathtaking example of perfect breeding, extraordinary beauty, splendid manners and egalitarian attitudes. Hailing from the Seelie Castle and from King Sandoval’s Court they are gorgeous specimens capable of seducing even the most cynical of species. While they despise the Fey, their natural enemies, they prefer to use diplomacy rather than war where it is possible and take great care in not only their physical appearance but also in being polite and even-handed with even the most despicable of creatures.
Physical Characteristics
Sidhe are absolutely gorgeous. They are just so shockingly beautiful it will take your breath away. On top of that they have the ability to cast a glamour spell on themselves and appear even more fabulous. They are tall, averaging over six feet in height, thin, and have the deceptively youthful appearance that near immortality gives many races. Like the Fey, they are weak to the rays of the sun in Alyria, vulnerable to iron, but resistance to poisons and diseases. Also like the Fey they can change their shape at night. However, to them this is more a game or a splendid and courtly masquerade rather than any need to cover up their natural appearance as no other creature can compare to a Sidhe’s natural beauty. They have large gorgeous wings, varying from that of an Angel’s delicate wings to that of a butterfly’s uniquely patterned masterpieces, depending on where the Sidhe hails from and what their bloodline is.
Sidhe Society
Sidhe hail from Seelie Castle, under the benevolent rule of King Sandoval on the Faerie Plane. While they are not perfect, they strive for the forces of good unlike their nasty Fey cousins. They have fought and warred with the Fey for countless generations before portals were ever in existence between the Faerie Plane and Alyria. In Seelie they take on many professions as they choose. Music and becoming a bard is a common one; no Sidhe is ever a thief, at least not by choice. Many things have sent them to the Alyrian plane; adventure, selflessness, a passion and a curiosity for new things, or maybe even the desire to help and unite with all the races of Alyria. While they do see themselves as the most superior race around they do not take that power for granted but instead try to use it where it will be of the most benefit.
Basic Habits
In the Faerie Plane Sidhe may prefer the daylight hours to toil away but in Alyria, harmed by the sun’s rays, they are forced to become nocturnal when their magic is strongest. However, even under moonlight they are still most delightful creatures.
Sidhe keep themselves very clean indeed. While they have no particular aversion to water, they tend to lick themselves clean as cats might do, often several times a day and showering once a day or once every other day. But don’t worry, a Sidhe’s tongue is cleaner than most towels or wash towels.
Sidhe eat both meat and plants, whatever most appeals to them at the time. They have a great enjoyment of eating delectable treats. Anything especially rare or a delicacy; good coffee, exquisite chocolate, choice seafood, or an excellent array of alcoholic beverages.
Child Rearing and Mating Habits
Sidhe have possible the most unique mating ritual of any species. Owing to the disgusting flesh on flesh habits of other races they have worked out a magical method where the male and female stand precisely twenty feet apart from one another and sneeze simultaneously. A few months later that Sidhe female will lay an egg. She usually lays the egg out in the wilds as most Sidhe females do not make good mothers and most Sidhe males do not even know or realize when they have conceived a child. Sidhe women of the court may take special care of their first or second child, but because Sidhe are nearly immortal they do not need to reproduce very often. The eggs they are laid in the wild often produce packs of lonely Sidhe children who band together in the dangerous wilds of the Faerie Plane for survival. Only the strongest survive and make it back to Seelie as adults, and this weeds out the more unacceptable Sidhe making most Sidhe the choice intelligent ones born of their society. Unique but perfect, the Sidhe society awes and impresses nearly as well as their stunning beauty.