Races

Alfen: The Immaculate

Main article: Alfen

The Alfen are the first of the Anthro races of Edenfell; “the firstborn of Adam,” and as such consider themselves divine deities among the races of the continent. As a race, they are extremely proud of their heritage and make a concerted effort to maintain their genetic lineage. Their name translates from the Alfen tongue as “The Immaculate.”

For their part, the Alfen argue that they are the first true culture, and still the most civilized race, an argument that even Gaian scholars find difficult to refute.

The Elves are the most gifted in the arcane arts of all the races, possessing through their firstborn power, incredible amounts of mana. They exercise great elemental prowess, intellect, prudence and weapon-smithing. Alfen are tall, quick, lithe, limber and can live up to a thousand years.

As famed weapon-smiths, they have great skill in the use of arms, particularly archery, which when combined with their immense arcane endowment, can be devastating. They have a high affinity for nature and its beasts, making them great tamers, second only to the Nords. Alfen combat is very fluid, dynamic and sorcery-inclined. They tend to wield combat relics with fatal ferocity and the elegance of a dancer. With so much mana at their disposal, they rain down barrages of elemental attacks on opponents, swiftly dishing out AOEs. Their fighting style while fundamentally the same is unique to each individual Elf. To the watcher, Alfen in combat are an even combination of lethal and incredibly graceful.

Typically worn by Alfheim soldiers, for millennia the secret of making Elven armour was a closely guarded secret of the Alfen. Elven Armor is the lightest armour in Edenfell, consisting of brightly coloured, overlapping plates of metal, foot-long hexagonal shields and face-shielding helmets that leave only enough room for the eyes to see through and the ears to protrude out from the sides.

As a race, the Alfen strive to maintain the pure-blood appearance of their ancestor race, primarily through highly selective traditions surrounding marriage and reproduction. They are the tallest race among the Anthros, standing at a scale of 2.4m, taller than most Nords and humans. Their skin maintains a very pale gold hue, not quite the pale white of the northern Nords, but far lighter than the Gaian.

They are slender, with prominently pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes that can be violet, green, blue or amber. Alfen are among the most intelligent and magically-inclined races in Edenfell, surpassing even the Gaian and the Mer in magical aptitude. Elves are well known for their noble countenance, and most are arrogant or disdainful more often than not when addressing other races.

The Elves were the original settlers of Edenfell and credit themselves with the creation of the common tongue used throughout the continent today. They consider themselves descended from the gods, and superior to all other mortals. Elegant and sophisticated, many Alfen, as they're known, are naturally proficient with magic.

They are a highly cultured people, known for their breathtaking architecture and a massive library of histories and creative works. Alfen possess a noble, often condescending countenance, smooth, fair skin, an effeminate, almost androgynous appearance and a lack of hair anywhere else on their bodies besides their heads.

Gaian: The Reds

Main article: Gaian

Also called reds, these sons of Adam are a powerful race that call The Kingdom of Summerwind home. There is no known continent or a region in Edenfell the Gaian originated from. There are no known Elven records on this subject and the Gaian learned writing relatively late, meaning that there are no early records written anywhere. Some Imperial scholars believe that the reds could have evolved from the Alfen before moving to their present home, Summerwind. However, that theory is highly unlikely since the Gaian and the Alfen have many differences.

The most significant difference between Gaians, Elves and Nords is their lifespan. Unlike the centuries-old Elves and Nords, Gaians usually live no more than one hundred years. The oldest Gaian to be recorded was over 200 years old during the events of Ironhold. Reds also have various physical differences from the other races, as they are more muscular than most Alfen but much smaller than the Nords. Another easily noticeable feature of Elven kind is their pointy ears, which reds do not have. Most elves, even the women, stand at twelve inches or more over most Gaians. Gaians often have dark skin, a trait that earned them the moniker, "redskins" or "reds" for short.

They do not have the magical potency of the Alfen but have enough to make them a force to be reckoned with in combat. They can be lithe and limber or brute and powerful. Their mana is considerable and with sufficient training and creativity, their sorcery can become deadlier than any other in Edenfell. They are fast on their feet and crafty with their heads, being the trickiest of all the races. Gaians possess great raw mystical energy which can be crafted as projections or channelled as transportation sorcery.

Like Elves, reds incorporate sorcery into their combat in a stylish, fluid manner and given their ability to move objects as well as project them, they are able to make multiple moves look like one fell swoop. A successful, magic-wielding Gaian fighter knows how to minimize the use of his mana while increasing the efficacy of attacks. They are strong, stubborn, fast and astute. In combat, a skilled Gaian is nothing short of a whirling dervish that would do whatever it takes to win.

For better or worse, the Gaian sons of Adam are led by an array of emotions-lust, greed, fear, love, compassion, hope and will. As ugly as it can make them, it is also the thing that makes them beautiful. With resolve, nothing has been known to be able to stand in their way. Standing on average, shorter than all other Anthros and being the least physically resilient as well, it should go without saying that their odds of survival in this world are slim and they have no right to dominate and prosper, yet they stand proudly among the races as kings, warriors and leaders.

Reds are blessed with considerable amounts of mana and an even greater craftiness required to wield it. They have a propensity for cruelty, wickedness, trickery and betrayal as well as empathy, love, fortitude, loyalty and resolution. It is said that of all the creatures of Edenfell, Gaians have the largest hearts and nothing speaks to the hearts of Gaians more than music, an art in which they are second only to the Centaurs.

They dispute the title of most intelligent race in Edenfell with the Alfen, and with good reason. They are inventive, innovative and welcome to change. Above all else, Gaians adapt, multiply and with time, conquer.

Sometimes, the actions of Gaians can be questionable, stupid or even wicked. They are led by an overwhelming, inherent spirit of self-preservation, like an animal by its instincts. However, honour, fortitude, loyalty and compassion are seen as virtues among them. They are skilled hunters and trap-makers and place as much value on intellect as they do on strength. In appearance, reds are a cross between Elves and Nords, having long facial and body hair, more effeminate faces than the Nords, more pronounced muscles than the Elves and a variety of darker skin colours.

Nords: The War-Born

Main article: Nords

Nords are a race of Nephilim that inhabit the frost-bitten lands of Vanaheim. They are tall (standing at a scale of 2.1m), fair-haired and pale skinned Anthros who are known for their superior strength and incredible resistance to cold and even magical frost.

They are enthusiastic warriors and act as soldiers, mercenaries, merchants and blacksmiths all over Edenfell. Eager to augment their martial skills beyond traditional methods, they excel in all manner of warfare. Greatly skilled in handling nature's beasts, it is no surprise they possess vast summoning and conjuring sorcery. Above all else in Nordic culture is the quest for honour and glory, and a great emphasis is placed on family values. They thrive in the cold of their native Vanaheim and are known as a militant people by their neighbours.

Nords are also naturally superior at sea and have benefited from nautical trade since their first migrations across the sea. They captain and crew the merchant fleets of many regions, and may be found all along Edenfell's coasts. The Nords are excellent with arms. They are quick to anger, boisterous, and strong. They are natural-born warriors who fight with an ecstatic ferocity that terrifies their enemies.

As notoriously rugged stalwarts, the Nords are gifted with an unnatural expertise in two-handed weapon combat, unbelievable strength and outrageous willpower. They prosper in the vast, cold tundra having made all frost and beasts, natural and arcane, their allies. Standing incredibly tall and muscular, they are often referred to as the War-born or Nephilim. The Nords are skilled at sea and as such nautical tasks such as trading and Viking are their domain. Nordic armour is made of a mix of toughened leather and furs over chain mail, adorned with small iron plates and distinct war paint. Each Nord has a distinct helmet design, from a plain mask over the eyes to a standard open-faced horned helmet to a full-protection horned helmet.

Of all the races in Edenfell, the Nords are the least mystically endowed. They possess very little mana and as a result, depend less on flashy sorcery and gimmicks in combat. They tend to lean towards their overwhelming brute strength and melee prowess, reverting to spell-casting only when necessary; a fighting style often referred to as "might over magic".

The Nords are blessed with natural mana that easily endears them to the beasts of Edenfell and grants them the ability to cast projections of creatures around them as well as conjure or summon beasts from the mystic realm.

Nords value loyalty, cultural integrity, honour, family and respect. Battle scars, well-braided hair, tribal body paint, game skin and a bushy beard are all features of Nordic appearance and ways to earn respect among the ferocious citizens of Vanaheim.

Mer: The Triton

Main article: Mer

Mer, Merfolk or Triton are aquatic Anthros. Since there is no known record of their origins nor is there a way to estimate the race's age, due mostly to the fact that they lived in seclusion underwater for centuries, it is speculated that Merfolk are Gaians that adapted to the ocean while Merfolk speculate that Gaians are Merfolk that have adapted to live on land. These speculations are mostly because of the similar height, physical prowess and lifespans of the two races as well as the Merfolks' lack of Elven or Nordic semblance.

Merfolk are one of the major races of Edenfell. They have ruled the oceans since the dawn of the races and dwelt below the tides in the flamboyant kingdom of Orm. Through years of evolution, they lost their once completely aquatic respiration as well as their long-term tolerance for salty waters and now the Mer can be found among the Nords in Vanaheim. It is believed that the Nords were taught to navigate the seas by the Merfolk who seldom travel on boats but are devastating when they do go viking with their Nordic allies. Mer believes it is their duty to protect all water and the life it nurtures. They hold the ocean spirit, Titane, as their prime deity and will go to extreme lengths to protect the water as they would their allies. Triton now primarily call the shining city of Viridi, that floats on the great blue lake, their home.

The Merfolk are visually striking. Their fins are colourful and bright like tropical freshwater fish, often (not always) with a large one that protrudes from the back of their heads (often larger among males) and they bear jade jewellery, weapons, and armour. They have become a freshwater species, distasteful of the sea's salt, being only able to cope with the salinity for a short period of time. Mer are known for meditating, with techniques based on heartbeats rather than breath, as they need to stay focused both above and underwater.

Merfolk are diplomatic and cultured with a noble countenance similar to the Alfen but they are also strong, powerful and ruthless warriors and defenders when the occasion demands it.

Mer seldom sport armour on their bodies and prefer to don only helmets crafted from carved shells and coated with layers of metal and gold. On a rare occasion, when seen in body armour, the few plates they bear are contrived in the same manner as the helmets and if they carry shields, the shells display sharp-horned spikes that make the shields as good for the offence as they are for defence.

Mer fundamentally wield the same weapon in stylistic and often colourful variations. They brandish multi-pronged forks, inspired by the tridents of their ancestors, with the lethality of a skilled Bō-staff combatant, primed to kill. Their weapons are coated with gold or silver and are as sharp as razors, from the tip to the tail of the prongs.

The Triton are skilled warriors, fast learners, mediators, scholars and leaders. In water, they find their confidence, their domain. They swim at immense speeds and with great power, owing to their amphibian physiology that grants them webbed feet and fingers which spread out underwater to propel them forward and manoeuvre swiftly. They have a high mystical acumen, higher than the Gaians and the Orcs, second only to Elves.

Mer are clever, graceful, fast and deadly with a great sense of navigation and a love for nature. They are able to survive on land, breathing the air like other Anthros but their powers wane slowly as their time away from the water increases.

Like Gaians, Mer can be big and brutish or slender and nimble but they are stronger and more resilient to physical damage and as such, Triton combat is a cross between a lithe and nimble Elven warrior and a rugged, powerful Nordic berserker. Merfolk possess vast mana which rivals and sometimes matches that of the Alfen.

They are blessed with a great prowess in the mystic arts and a command of the element of life itself, water. The Triton are the only race capable of wielding aquatic sorcery. They are able to command large amounts of water, creating incredible tides and floods when close to a source and can summon an array of mystical, aquatic beasts all collectively known as Kraken. With magic well incorporated into their fighting style and tridents doubling as relics, it is no wonder the Mer command great respect among the races of Edenfell.

Orcs: The Blood-Born

Main article: Orcs

The Orcs were wrongly considered to be a barbarian people by most of the other races and were originally from the volcanic and forest regions of Edenfell. They are centrally located in Summerwind, but are common in other locations in Edenfell.

Orcs are of Elven blood, but this heritage is not recognized by either the Elves or the Orcs due to the bad blood it bears. Having been slaves of the Alfen for generations before gaining freedom through battle with the help of Men, the brutish blood born have no love left for Elves but are reliable comrades of Gaians and have lived in harmony with them for centuries.

With skin tones ranging from light green to dark brown and sometimes even white, a heavily muscular frame, and considerable stature, the Orcs stand apart among all. They are as tall as Alfen, as big as Nords and as crafty as reds. They also are the only race to display tusks. Born with far less magical affinity than their Elven cousins, the Orcs have developed a strong warrior culture that makes them highly valuable in hand-to-hand combat and elemental sorcery despite this weakness. They often excel as adventurers and legionnaires in the Imperial Order.

Most Orcs hold Urv as their chief deity, as he is believed to be involved in the creation of the race from the Alfen. Orcs are smart, great blacksmiths, scholars and sorcerers but above all, they thrive the most in battle and they know it.

Like Nords, Orcs are war-born and rugged. They are very resistant to heat and flames and have great resilience. Orcs are skilled melee warriors, wielders of elemental magic, hunters, blacksmiths, traders and teachers. They are quick to anger, do not tolerate infidelity or betrayal but can also be prudent, wise and patient. Orcs are guileful but also trustworthy and reliable allies. It is said that in all of Edenfell, the best friend to have is an Orc because you can trust that they will always have your back.

Like Elves, Orcish combat depends greatly on relics and a combination of deft hand-to-hand combat manoeuvres, brutish melee strikes and elemental sorcery. Orcs believe attacking from afar is a sign of weakness and that an honourable Orc should give his opponent the chance to defend himself, as such, they care little for ranged attacks or weapons such as bows. Their magic has been adapted for close quarters combat, brawling and mowing down multiple attackers. They may not look as slick as Gaians or Elves in combat but they deal incredible damage and are arguably the most effective, heavy-hitters.

Orcs are stalwarts, religious, strong-headed and powerful. They love to display battle scars, tribal paint and exchange war stories. They live as long as Alfen and value their homes and heritage above all else. They are not always as tough as they like to look, having a weak spot for children, weak, sick and innocent creatures. Orcs, like reds, value friendship and allies and eschew betrayal and disrespect. Their eyes and hair have as many colours as those of Alfen and although the Elves will never admit it, the Orcs are a noble race and a very beautiful one.

Centaurs: The Equine

Main article: Centaurs

The Centaurian sons of Adam are a four-legged race of warlike creatures whose features combine equine and Human elements. The Centaurs in Edenfell dwell in Alfenheim. Centaurs have the head (sometimes horned), arms, and torso of a man, but the body of a horse (sometimes two-legged like Fauns). They are often noted for their ferociousness and speed in battle. Centaurs can be very long-lived if allowed to age naturally, living longer than their Gaian counterparts (up to 300 years).

Centaurs are incredible arcane warriors. Every bit as sly and creative as the Gaians. They are intimidating, powerful and above all, have eyes with the ability to see clearly for very great distances. They wield their bows and arrows as gracefully as they wield their projection sorcery and their lyres.

They are great teachers and scholars as well as musicians. In battle, they are almost unbeatable and they will trample on an enemy without hesitation or remorse. The Centaurs claim to be the best archers in all of Edenfell. The Alfen do not refute this.

Ferocity and speed, that is what sets the Centaurs apart from the rest. There is no mistaking the intent in every blow they deal. They shoot to kill and strike to end the battle before it even begins. With the aid of powerful projection sorcery, like their older Gaian cousins, they decimate battlefields in a dumbfounding manner now a signature of the merciless Centaurian combat.

Centaurian family bonds increased in importance after the great war. They have defined family roles: in short, the males hunt and protect the tribe's borders while the females aggressively defend Centaurian civilians while administering the day to day operation of encampments. Males used to be more common on the battlefield, but after the conflict that drove them to Alfenheim, more and more females joined the military forces of the Centaur.

The Centaurs are generally a very spiritual people that combine nature worship with ancestor worship.

Centaurs have a deep reverence for their nature spirit, whom they vehemently deny is an aspect of the Gaian goddess Gaya. Centaurs love meat and value a good, roasted boar as much as they do their weapons.

Centaurs have pointy Elf-like ears and sometimes display horns. Their hair, eyes and skin colours vary like those of the reds.

Fey: The Sprites

Main article: Fey

Formerly believed to be cryptids, the Sprites, Fey or Fey Alfen (also derogatorily called Fairies) are a quiet race of Elven heritage that previously lived deep in the woods of Edenfell, high up among the trees. They are the youngest of the Anthro races that dwell on the continent. The Sprites can reveal hidden wings that grant them short altitude flight for a very short period of time. They are fast, lithe and nimble as well as skilled builders and tinkerers.

Fey look just like Alfen and without wings, can hardly be distinguished from them; this has helped them remain hidden for years. Fey possess strong natural sorcery that enables them to interact with and coax the forces of nature to their will as well as shrink down to shocking sizes (as small as 18cm tall -- average size of an Alpine Marmot). Unlike their Elven cousins, the Fey do not live very long, their days being only as long as those of the Gaian.

They can be found in Alfenheim and Summerwind and love to live in tree-houses and wooden cabins above the ground. The Fey are often called the wardens of the trees and will go to extreme lengths to preserve wildlife and nature

The Fey wield bows, an assortment of bladed weapons and staffs with great skill and prowess gotten from years of specialized training and culture. Feyrie armour, like their clothing, is scanty and thin, consisting of leaves, branches and other plant parts sewed together to form their colourful, exotic attire and light battle gear.

Sprites are great builders, tinkerers and inventors. They also possess an uncanny mastery of agriculture and are the greatest farmers, wine and honey merchants and tailors in Edenfell. Fey have colourful, insectlike wings that can grant them short flight which they combine with their speedy and swift motion to great effect. Their wings (and sometimes skins) glow faintly under the light of the moon, making them appear ethereal and is perhaps the reason they were believed to be spirits by the first beings that laid eyes on them.

Sprites are great archers, swordsmen and all round combatants but thrive in peace, brotherhood and amity.

Sprites, like Elves, have large amounts of mana. They wield this magic through their ability to bend plants and trees around them to their will. They are also able to shrink their sizes for periods of time depending on their mana. Combined with skilled marksmanship and swordsmanship, their magic is devastating, making the Fey a force to be reckoned with in Edenfell.

Sprites are the only race in Edenfell that possess the ability to "bless" others. An act that transfers mana from the Sprite to the blessed individual. This makes them great allies and a must have for any group in combat.

Sprites look just like Elves, with hairless, feminine faces and features, thin bodies and smooth skin. Their hair and eyes, however, are more colourful, sometimes even being a mix of different colours. Feyrie wings are even more colourful than their eyes and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, only sharing the trait of being insectlike and four in number. Sprites are peace-loving people. They are ambiverts, party-lovers and pet enthusiasts (with their ability to alter their size, they can often be seen riding corgis and cats).

The Sprites are not very religious but value a spirit of amity, abnegation and honesty. Fey can often be aggressive when provoked and are generally not quick to forgive once offended. There is a belief among the Elves that of all the other races in Edenfell, the Fey are the most admirable. Of course, this might just be Elvish arrogance.