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This is a quick and easy guide to any and everything you would ever need to know when creating or playing a character!
Nationalites
Each nation has a general "norm" in its denizens. Here is a brief rundown of those norms, grouped by nation, alphabetically!
Carthan
Carthan is, by definition, a trade nation and its citizens reflect that. Unlike most of the other nations, there is no real norm in appearance. The small population of native born Carthians tend to have olive skin, auburn to dark brown hair and eyes ranging from deep browns to vibrant greens. Otherwise, Carthan in general, and Kalimshere in particular, is the proverbial melting pot of the Known World. Individuals from every corner can be seen in Carthan and it is the only place in the Known World to find members of the dying race of the Mari'Riatin. In recent years, only vampires have been ban from the country's borders due to their connection to Lord Vlad of Karash. Two factions hold bases in the capital of Kalimshere, the Guild and the Council, and many of the denizens have chosen to join forces with one or the other. Those who remain apart from them are generally merchants, sailors and fishermen who make their living off of Carthan's vast coastline and incredible trade.
Darya
Darya is the lost land of the elves. It is only open to members of that race. Any visitors from outside the borders must have a tree-speaking elvin guide. Very few of the denizens have ever left the country for more than acting as a before-mentioned guide, so very little is known about their people. It is generally assumed that they are all very fair skinned, have light hair and eyes and slightly pointed ears. Daryans can be a bit snobbish, but can be friendly to welcome guests or deadly to intruders.
Eystra
The people of Eystra are dark skinned and generally dark haired, though their eye colors vary across the rainbow due to the nearly constant proximity to raw aahna. They have a quiet manner, though known as a bit "rough around the edges" and sharp traders. The country is largely undeveloped, mostly small, modest villages, centering around refining the aahna brought from Gnard. Their walled and wealthy capital city is the only place open to non-citizens, giving the appearance of far more exotic wealth than prevail throughout the rest of the country. Women are respected in the culture, but are expected to be modest and silent in the presence of men, unless expressly necessary. Though subservient, they are considered precious and should be treated with kindness. Those who do not conform under the current dynasty's strictures will be expelled from the country for radicalism and seeding dissent.
Gao
Gaoins are descendants of the ancient Wanderers who searched the world to find the finest place to live. They found it in Gao. Darker skin, eyes and hair, are due to the climate they live in. As a society, the Gaoins are a friendly, happy people. They openly welcome people from every race, culture or nationality to their borders. The extreme wealth of the country allows for an easy life style throughout and an angry Gaion is considered an oxymoron. They secretly despise the Semhari due to a once president who tried to establish slave labor in their country.
Gnard
Gnardians are generally of a medium-dark complexion (darkly tanned) from their constant exposure to the desert sun. Unlike denizens of the other nations with similar sun exposure (Eystra, Gao, Semhar), they are light of hair and eyes. Gnard is completely closed to trade except through Eystra. Though the country has significant coastlines along the Mungan, Gnardians are afraid of any large body of water. This is a direct result of the desolate landscape of the desert, where a small pool is a rarity. The country and its people are considered by the other nations to be savage and uncivilized. Gnardians add to this image by their mode of dress which largely consists of natural items such as furs, leathers, shells and feathers. A common notion is that "nothing comes out of Gnard but aanah."
Karash
Karash is the only place in the Known World where the races that thrive in the absence of light can be found with any form of regularity. The general population is made up of vampires under their leader, Lord Vlad, but there are also large numbers of goblins, orcs, ogres and other shadow creatures. They must one and all bend knee to Vlad or be eradicated. A very small population of humans survive as slaves and eventual fodder for the vampire hordes.
Kostroma
The people of Kostroma are generally cold, brooding and just a bit barbaric. They have rough manners and a rough language. Physically they vary between dark hair and skin, mainly near the border with Semhar, to pale skinned with hair and eyes in a wide variety from blacks and browns to blonde and blue or green. Within Kostroma, there is also a population of cat anthros in at least one clan. Whether there are more areas for this particular race is unknown. Within the culture, only first born males are considered important. Women are expected to be subservient and silent under their fathers and brothers and later their husbands. Second or later born sons are a burden and a curse and are usually little better than slave to their families. They are not taught to read or write and never expected to marry. There have been few exceptions.
Nyston
No one remains that can claim ties to Nyston. The country was ripped apart by civil wars between the years 543 and 551 of this New Age. The country is in ruins, save for a handful of villages that have sprouted up in very recent years. Most people of Nyston now have migrated there via Carthan or Terra and so come from differing culture bases and appearances. Before its fall, those who could claim true Nystonian lineage tend to be fair skinned and light eyed with hair ranging from dark to lighter browns. All land that once belonged to Nyston is considered bad luck due to the stigmata surrounding it's fall.
Semhar
The Semhari upper class members are one and all dark of skin, hair and eye, though lighter than the populations of to the South (Eystra and Semhar). Their clothing consists namely of Kostroman bought silks, dyed in vibrant colors and accented by ridiculous amounts of gold in jewelry and other accessories. The lower classes are denied any finery in clothing or jewelry and are largely forced into servitude of the upper classes. The unacknowledged rank of slaves in Semhar vary in appearance as they are often taken from different parts of the world.
Shiranai
Very little is known about the Shiranai beyond the fact that they came from somewhere beyond the "Land of Dragons," past the Known World border of Kostroma, with enslaved mages and nearly conquered the entire world. Since their defeat in 1184 NA, few true blood Shiranai have remained alive in the Known World, though their once slaves are numerous. The few that remain under clemency are pale skinned with black hair and eyes.
Terra
Terrans are a hardy people of the plains and mountains. They have fair skin and by and large are light of hair and eye as well. From the children barely old enough to walk to the oldest grandmother, every Terran knows how to wield a weapon of some form or another. Living on the Karashi border is no place for the soft or the weak. Most Terrans strive to be soldiers in the army or blacksmiths that craft the world renown Terran steel into armor and weapons. Their royal line is kin to that of Carthan's and so the countries have nearly always been allies. In exchange for protection from Karash, Carthan trades with Terra at a lower rate than other countries.
Zacapa
Zacapa is the prototypical utopian society and its people are primarily concerned with only two things: farming and eating, both of which they do with exuberant passion. Politics are considered a waste of time and so they have no national government and no national currency. There are small councils made of a number of well respected farmers spread throughout the land without any form of regularity and everything is bought and sold on a barter system. The world's spices come from the Zacapan fields and salt from their mines. Generally traders bring other necessities like cloth, literature and iron works to Zacapan markets, but the highest bids always go to whomever has brought a new plant or seed.
Warning: Any characters from Outlands must be run by admins!
Isle of the Fae
Land of Dragons
Land of Giants
Land of Snow
Western Lands
Please be aware that several races are location specific. Races not on this list will be considered by admins, so feel free to come up with something interesting!
Humans
By far the most populace and diverse race in the world. Humans can be of nearly ever nationality (save for Daryan) and vary in appearance vastly. Their hair can be blonde, brunette, red, black, grey or white. They come in every color and size, which is somewhat dictated by their country of birth. They are audacious, daring, adaptable, ambitious, and unique. Humans typically stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. They can live up to 100 years.
Dragons
Dragons are a gigantic reptile that breaths fire and has a lion's claws, the tail of a serpent, bat wings, four strong legs and scaly skin like a snake. They have both a long neck and tail. Their scales are thick and hard to penetrate. Their skulls are protected by a large bony plate and are wedge-shaped. A dragon generally has bright yellow or green eyes that glow in the dark and can come in a variety of colors: Green, yellow, red, brown, grey, purple, black, orange, white and blue. A dragon can reach up to 30 feet long and usually weigh around 1 ton. Their life span can reach up to 1,200 years. Most dragons are greedy and full of themselves. They live only in the mythical Land of Dragons, beyond Kostroma, and are believed to be a myth by the rest of the world. Only Kostromans have ever had any contact with them in known history and that has always been to slay them for one reason or another.
Elves
Elves are almost never born outside the forests of Darya. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than avaricious. With such a long life span, they tend to keep a broad perspective on events, remaining aloof and unfazed by superficial events. When pursuing a goal, however, whether an adventurous mission or learning a new skill or art, they can be focused and relentless. Elves live up to 1,000 yrs.
Demons
Demons are magical creatures from other planes. They can be of any alignment, usually evil, and usually appear human. Most however, have wings, claws, horns, tails, or simply "something different" about their eyes. They live to the age of 700.
Vampires
Vampires are dead once-humans that live off the blood of others and have great strength and agility...especially after feeding. They have pale skin as they are unable to receive sunlight. They can be killed like any other humanoid, by starvation or a lack of sustenance (blood), by beheading, by fire (depending on the circumstance there is a chance of survival), by the sun, or by cutting out the heart. They are slim and flexible, usually weighing only 100-145 pounds, standing from 5-6 feet tall. Vampires can turn others into vampires by a process of reciprocal blood drinking. Vampires are undead and do not have a life span. All vampires swear allegiance to their Lord Vlad, ruler of Karash. All vampires are from Karash but recently they have moved to other nations to conquer them and return their race to their Golden Age of rule.
Centaurs
A race of creatures composed of part human and part horse that can only be found in the uncharted forests in Carthan and Darya. Centaurs are noble, loyal, and brave. They study the stars and planets, and can also sometimes see the future. They are a bright and hard working race. Most centaurs are friendly and get along with Elves and Humans well enough when they come into contact with them. Though friendly, they tend to be very reclusive and untrusting of outsiders. Centaurs generally are between 7-9 feet tall and weigh 290-400 pounds. Their Hair usually matches the color of their horse counterpart which can be white, grey, black, brown, or painted. Their eyes range from blue, brown, green, grey and hazel. Centaurs can live up to 100 years.
3:58 AM Nov 8
