Races of Seldorak

Introduction and History

The races of Seldorak form a rich mosaic of beings, each shaped by the planet's cosmic pulls, arcane mysteries, and historical cycles. Drawing from classic archetypes, these races—humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, halflings, gnomes, and dragonborn—exhibit unique physiologies, cultures, and societal roles that interweave across continents. Humans, adaptable and ambitious, boast versatile builds suited for diverse environments; elves, graceful and long-lived, possess keen senses attuned to magic; dwarves, sturdy and enduring, excel in craftsmanship with innate resilience to toxins; orcs, powerful and resilient, wield raw strength in harsh lands; halflings, nimble and lucky, thrive in communal stealth; gnomes, inventive and curious, harness illusions and tinkering; dragonborn, scaled and breath-wielding, embody elemental affinities tied to ancestral dragons. Beyond these core races, lesser NPS (non-player species) races and monster types add layers of intrigue, serving as allies, adversaries, or enigmatic forces in campaigns.

Historically, racial diversity emerged millions of years ago, but awareness of racial differences didn't truly impact individual behaviors until the Age of Awakening 10,000 years ago on Draxilon, where primordial tribes evolved amid fateful storms, birthing dragonborn from draconic infusions and elves from ethereal groves. The Expansion Era (8,000 years ago) spread races northward to Fynthar and Mornvex, southward to Ixorath and Tuvaryn, and outward to archipelagos like Faelrix and badlands like Cyndorak. Dwarves tunneled from highlands, gnomes innovated in workshops, and orcs forged in exiles. The Medieval Cycles saw integrations through accords and schisms, like the Great Schism fracturing dragonborn empires, fostering multicultural alliances amid wars. Lesser races and monsters arose from curses or arcane anomalies, populating shadows as NPS elements for adventures.

Culturally, races blend in harmonious tensions: prophetic dragonborn lead fates, scholarly elves guard secrets, crafting dwarves build legacies, warrior orcs endure trials, communal halflings mediate, inventive gnomes tinker wonders, and ambitious humans bridge all. Global distribution varies—dragonborn dominate equatorials, elves forests, dwarves mountains—yet interminglings enrich societies. Economies and politics reflect this: racial specialties drive trades, while tensions spark intrigues like border skirmishes. Lesser NPS races and monsters add depth, serving as rare allies or horrors in campaigns, enhancing Seldorak's narrative tapestry.

In contemporary Seldorak, racial coexistence fuels epic tales, with core races driving destinies while lesser beings lurk in mysteries, ready for heroes to encounter.

Core Races

The primary playable races of Seldorak form the foundation of its societies.

• Dragonborn: Fate-bound descendants of dragons, dragonborn rule equatorial and badland domains on Draxilon and Cyndorak. Masters of dragon breeding and cycle-forged armor, they uphold prophetic legacies, leading to elite military dynamics and global oracle consultations, though internal schisms create vulnerabilities.
• Dwarf: Sturdy craftsmen and miners, dwarves inhabit mountainous and icy regions such as Tuvaryn and Ethoril. Renowned for rune-craft and engineering, they produce vigilance crystals and fortified structures, bolstering alliances through trade pacts but clashing with orcs over mining rights.
• Elf: Graceful guardians of arcane secrets, elves thrive in forested and ethereal realms like Fynthar and Faelrix. Their longevity fosters scholarly pursuits and druidism, contributing unique ethereal herbs and enchantments to the economy. They often ally with humans but rival dwarves over resource extraction in shared territories.
• Gnome: Inventive tinkerers, gnomes innovate gadgets and navigation tools in highland and archipelago settings like Tuvaryn and Faelrix. They contribute wind-harnessing and enchantment weaving, fostering tech-sharing pacts but sparking espionage over proprietary inventions.
• Halfling: Resourceful and communal, halflings excel in nomadic trade and agriculture on plains and islands, such as Mornvex and Faelrix. Their adaptive crop engineering and community festivals promote food security treaties, making them key mediators in interracial diplomacy despite occasional smuggling tensions.
• Human: Adaptable and ambitious, humans dominate trade and governance across Seldorak, particularly on Mornvex and Draxilon. They excel in agriculture and exploration, forming the backbone of feudal hierarchies. Culturally, they value heroism and renewal, with notable populations in Challengehold where they lead prophetic quests.
• Orc: Resilient warriors with a cyclical worldview, orcs are prominent in volcanic and desert areas like Cindoril and Ixorath. They specialize in lava-forged weapons and curse-warding, forming strong clans that engage in rebirth rituals. Orcs coexist through military alliances but fuel rivalries with elves over territorial expansions.

Lesser NPS Races and Monster Types

Beyond the core races, Seldorak hosts lesser-known non-player species (NPS) races, as well as monster types, adding depth to campaigns through rare encounters, allies, or antagonists. These often dwell in shadows, ruins, or wilds, influencing lore without dominating societies.

Lesser NPS Races

• Aasimar: Celestial-touched beings with radiant auras, aasimar serve as divine emissaries in highland temples like those on Tuvaryn. Rare and prophetic, they guide quests against darkness but struggle with inner conflicts from their holy heritage.
• Goliath: Towering nomads of stone-like endurance, goliaths roam badlands like Cyndorak, competing in strength trials. As NPS mercenaries, they bolster defenses but clash over territorial rites with orc clans.
• Tabaxi: Agile feline wanderers with curiosity-driven pursuits, tabaxi explore forests like Fynthar. As elusive scouts or thieves, they uncover secrets but evade commitments in nomadic lifestyles.
• Tiefling: Infernal descendants with horns and tails, tieflings lurk in cursed deserts like Ixorath. Shunned as harbingers, they excel in infernal pacts and intrigue, serving as enigmatic NPS allies or villains.
• Triton: Aquatic guardians from coastal depths, tritons patrol archipelagos like Faelrix. With water mastery, they ward underwater ruins but surface rarely, aiding in maritime quests.

Monster Types

• Aberrations: Eldritch horrors like beholders and mind flayers infest subterranea under Tuvaryn, twisting minds with psionic assaults. They embody cosmic anomalies, challenging heroes in psychic battles.
• Beasts: Mutated creatures such as displacer beasts prowl forests like Fynthar, using illusions for hunts. As wild threats, they test survival in thorny wilds.
• Dragons: Ancient wyrms, chromatic or metallic, lair in mountains or badlands like Cyndorak, hoarding treasures and influencing fates. They serve as epic foes or fateful allies.
• Fiends: Demons and devils emerge from cursed ruins in Ixorath, tempting with infernal bargains. As corruptors, they fuel intrigues and moral dilemmas.
• Undead: Spectral entities like liches and vampires haunt tundras like Ethoril, guarding frozen tombs. They represent eternal curses, rising in necromantic plots.