I’ve been spending some time planning out the Fantasy setting for Those Who Play and I am confident enough with the current playable races that I am willing to share them. As mentioned in my previous update, I mentioned that I am loathe to completely abandon the elf and dwarf archetypes. So, what I have done is redesign them to a point where I feel they are unique enough to be fresh whilst also being familiar enough to not feel alien.
So far I have created two “elf” races, a “dwarf” race and a “halfling” race. Each with their own unique powers and traits that should make them feel unique and, most importantly, balanced.
Aeador
The Aeador (A-a door) are the most graceful race of the land, standing at almost seven feet but incredibly slender. They are very similar to mankind except for an unnatural slimness that makes them appear almost emaciated but their appearance is due to smaller and more efficient organs. Most other races fear them for they are long lived, some old enough to remember the beginning of some races.
Commonly they have hair in shades of white or silver, cutting this hair is only done when one wishes to forget a tragic experience. Strangely, this seems to work. Their hair does not grow fast (10 centimetres per year) so unless an Aeador lives a long and happy life, their hair rarely becomes a problem. Ponytails, pleats and knots are common amongst the Aeador, turbans and head wraps are commonly worn to keep longer hair practical.
Aeador share little in common with the other races and are encouraged to keep it this way, their closest kin Sylfa act as mediators between the Aeador and the other races.
The greatest power of the Aeador is their ability to see beyond mortal perception. Depending on their lineage (See Aeador: Beginnings) they can see the realms of magic or the dead. Although this ability cause’s great strain on most as the power has waned through the generations, leaving most Aeador unable to perform this feat more than once per day and even then only for a few minutes at most.
Sylfa
Close cousins to the Aeador, the Sylfa (Seal-fa) are denizens of the forests instead of cities. They craft homes amongst the branches, not out of them.
Standing at only five feet, the Sylfa are much shorter than their cousins but have speed and strength to rival the Aeador. In order to stay hidden amongst the trees, the Sylfa match their forest in garb and appearance as such dyed hair is common amongst the Sylfa.
Whilst being relatives of the Aeador, the Sylfa are much closer to humans in appearance except that they are leaner and smaller and have longer hands and feet. The most startling difference are their elongated canines which resemble those of an ape and have enough power to tear a human’s throat out.
The Sylfa live in small groups, no more than twenty to a clan and tend to be very territorial though nomadic clans do exist.
With their natural ability to blend into the forest and incredibly light step, the Sylfa are exceptional at going undetected.
Durann
With bones infused with precious ores and crystal growths protruding from their arms. The Durann (Du-ran) are a hardy race with many natural traits that make them masters at war, craft and mining. Standing at barely four foot the Durann are stout creatures akin to dwarves in all manners except for their more earthy roots.
The colour of a Durann’s crystals shows their heritage, though as the colours have mixed throughout the generations, only the pure-blooded can properly trace their heritage back to the first families. The intensity of a Durann’s crystals also display their emotions with a dull crystal marking a Durann as depressed and a glowing crystal showing happiness or another powerful emotion. Because of this, Durann miners are often chosen for their cheery disposition which helps to illuminate the vast tunnels of their homeland.
Durann are social creatures and as such like to look impressive, often this takes the form of jewellery, tattoos or impressive hair and facial hair. To most these appear to be simple tribal designs but there is a deeper meaning to every design, usually denoting skills, family trees, positions, titles and feats they have performed.
Durann are exceptionally tough and are able to illuminate up to ten feet around themselves if they focus on their crystals.
Piak
The Piak (Pea-ak) are a peculiar race in that they are so unlike their neighbours. Standing at a meagre two foot and being clad in a bark like substance, these spritely farmers often go unnoticed or even forgotten. The Piak wear a full body suit of bark made from the trees of the forests in order to hide what they look like, this has gone on for so long even the Piak don’t know why they do it.
Underneath the bark the Piak are a pale blue and have the physique of a toddler but with enough strength to keep their symbiotic partners under control. Piak appear to have amphibious heritage as they have webbing between their three fingers and toes and rudimentary gills on their neck.
The Piak are farmers, but they are also nomadic loners, to get the best of both worlds the Piak have formed a symbiotic relationship with the Kip.
The Kip are a species of giant tortoise that has a dip in the top of its shell that the Piak fill with soil and use as farmland. In repayment the Kip are fed some of the produce and any copper that the Piak makes from trade.
Kip can range from anywhere between four foot to six foot long with the dip in their shell taking up almost half their length and width. To utilise the space, Piak plant small, quick growing vegetables or will grow one fruit bush.
Piak have a knack for agriculture, an unnatural knack it would seem as the Piak are able to sing to the flora and make it grow in 1/10th the time. They also have a gift for languages as Piak are able to attune their vocal chords to mimic any spoken language as long as the target holds the same note for a few seconds. They may only hold one language at a time.
Back to the point
These are only the first four with many more to come. Tell me what you think in the comments, put forth your own ideas if you want. If I like it, I’ll put it in and credit you.
Thanks for reading and if you like what you just read, follow for more.
dannynat20 