Races |
| Drow are the darker, more
evil cousins of Elves. They were once part of the happy community of Elves which roam the
forests today, but have long since moved under the ground, building vast subterranean
cities and complex networks of caves. Drow have black skin and white hair, and are moderately weaker and have a more slight constitution than average humans. Still, like all Elves, they have a slightly higher dexterity than men. Members of this race specialize in spell casting, and have thus developed a very high intelligence. Being creatures of darkness the Drow tend to fight more proficiently in the darkness, and have innate infravision with which to discern objects and living things in the absence of light. Drow gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.08 |
| Dwarves are relatively
short (in Human terms), stocky and powerfully-built creatures. Long-lived and extremely
sturdy, they are known equally as well for their hardiness as for their cantankerous
personalities. Their thick, stout frames lend them poor dexterity, but high strength and
stamina. This race has produced some of the most renowned fighters. Dwarves possess the
inherent ability to see in the dark with infravision. Dwarves average from four foot five inches and five feet tall, with dusky complexions and thick, fur-covered torsos and limbs. Both men and women proudly wear and take pride in their beards. Dwarves gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 0.97. |
| Tall, slender creatures
with an affinity for the woods and nature, Elves are distant cousins to the Pixies and
share the intelligence and dexterity of that winged race to a lesser degree. With a
lighter frame than Humans, what they lack in strength and stamina is made up for with
their superior agility - both in thought and movement. Elves are capable in all classes,
though they function poorest in the role of pure fighter. Most Elves will prefer to stay
close to nature, and many become druids. All Elves have the inherent ability to detect
magic. The average Elf stands taller than most Humans, being well over six feet. Most have fair skin and long, straight hair, though there are individual Elves who chose a darker life reflected in their outward appearance. Elves gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.1. |
| The Gith are a race
descended from humans. Once long ago, they were a peaceful civilization of humans that
were captured by mind flayers and tormented for centuries. Eventually, a savior named Gith
led them to freedom, yet their bodies had been flayed by the mental powers of the
illithids. The Gith found themselves, stronger, quicker, luckier and smarter than average
humans, yet they had lost much of their faith, wisdom, stamina and charisma. They had yellowed skin and were very long of limb. Sunken eyes peered from yellowed sockets, now strangely capable of naturally detecting invisible things. The Gith race has split into three distinct groups recently. The good, the Githzerai, the selfish neutral, the Pirates of Gith, and the evil, the Githyanki. Gith gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.06. |
| Gnomes are a quirky
demi-human race. Though not the mightiest of races, they are well versed in their studies
of knowledges, magics and religions. Additionally, due to their familiarity with such
lore, they tend to be more resistant to magics. They can, though, suffer tremendously from
physical attacks. Gnomes usually focus in the magical or clerical arts, though a few rogues have ventured into the arts of thieving (albeit often not very well.) Gnomes are a short, stocky race, similar to their dwarven cousins. Most often prefer an evening at home with a magical tome, a loaf of pipeweed bread and a cup of ale over venturing out to battle. Gnomes gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.2. |
| These beautiful creatures
are the result of the mixing of human and Elven blood. Though the resulting Half-Elf is
not as intelligent as the pure-blooded Elf, nor as hardy as the full-blooded Human, this
mix serves quite well in a variety of classes which require the standards of both mental
and physical prowess. Their beautiful almond eyes enable them to discern objects in the
darkness. Not as tall as the pure Elf, they range from five feet six inches to six feet five inches, with a heavier musculature than their ancestors. Half-Elves gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.04. |
| Stout, round, open-minded
and very elusive the Hobbit has a level of dexterity which is only equal to his wit. Many
enjoy the thrill of reading a good book, or telling stories by the fire. Many halflings,
because of this, tend to avoid adventuring, though some rare hobbits choose the path of
the Bard, or storyteller, for their keen intellect serves them well. This intelligence,
coupled by a surprising determination makes them a curious (though somewhat underpowered)
ally. Halflings have compact bodies and thick, long limbs, and usually have very hairy feet. Eye color range from blue, brown, green, and any shade inbetween. Halflings gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.02. |
| The Half-Ogre is a result
of breeding during the dark days with humans, when pure-blooded Ogres were known for
raping and looting Human villages. As a result of this, the Half-Ogre stands from six to
nine feet tall in height and is known for its muscle-packed body that can weigh from three
to four hundred pounds. Most are relatively hairless, their bodies are covered with small,
boney growths, and their disproportionately long limbs gives them a somewhat simian
appearance. This offspring of humans and Ogres has inherited great physical abilities: an aptitude for aggression from its Ogre lineage, inherent infravision to assist in traversing darkness, and though slightly smaller than pure-bred Ogres it nevertheless boasts an awesome strength. Being territorial, most Half-Ogres will readily engage in battle to establish superiority over any it encounters. All in all a race best suited for the role of pure fighter. Half-Ogres gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 0.92. |
| A recent mingling of
Orcish and Human blood arising as the darker races have encroached further upon the
remaining settled areas, most members of this half-blooded race are distinctly more Orcish
than Human in both appearance and behavior. Large and dull of wit, with short but broad
bodies, their poor mental and physical dexterity is offset by an iron constitution. Though
some have dabbled in the sorcerous arts due to their human influence, brute combat is
still the natural call which stirs in the soul of the Half-Orc. All Half-Orcs possess
infravision. Though not as broad nor powerful as full-blood Orcs, Half-Orcs usually retain their wider bodies, longer, bowed limbs and heavier musculature. A ridged brow crowned by bushy eyebrows conceals small, squinting eyes; below a snout-like noses opens a maw filled with crooked fangs; dark skin emanating a rancid odor; their presence disgusts civilized races. Standing from five to seven feet tall and averaging two hundred pounds, an altogether fearsome race. Half-Orc's gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 0.94. |
| An intermingling (carried
out in the darker lands of the Realms) of the blood of the Troll with that of Humans, the
Half-troll is as deadly as it is hideous. Though considerably smaller than full-blood
Trolls, the Half-troll often stands well over eight feet in height and carries over three
hundred pounds on its heavily-muscled frame. Though naturally of low wisdom, the race was
sorcerously imbued with a wicked intelligence and the ability to see naturally in the
darkness. Half-trolls usually make poor pure magic users, and suffer from an unusually low
dexterity. Yet their boundless energy and high intellect create one of the most cunning
physical beasts of the Realms in experienced hands. Owing in part to the black blood which courses through their heavy veins, the heavily-scaled skin of the Half-troll ranges in color from a charcoal grey to a deep, blackish green. Half-trolls revel in the fright of their appearance, often wearing their hair in battle-braids and emblazoning themselves with brands and tattoos to accentuate the effect. Half-Trolls gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 0.90. |
| In the beginning there
were Humans, Elves and Ogres. Humans are the most numerous and the plainest race in the
Realms. Although possessing no special abilities or bonuses, they are the most adaptable
and flexible race and are able to assume any class. Humans are bipedal creatures with two
arms and a roundish head. Their height, weight, eye and hair color vary greatly. It
is rare to find any two who look exactly alike. In dark times Humans and Elves mated
creating a new race, called HALF-ELVES and Humans and Ogres mated created the Half-Ogre
Race. Humans gain experience on a scale of normal rate. |
| Lizardmen are
semi-aquatic, breathing air but often dwelling totally underwater. They are often noted to
use underwater caves as their lair, and are typically found in swamps, marshes, and
similar places. Members of this race band together in rough tribal form; they are
omnivores, and are likely to prefer human flesh to other foods. Due to this taste for
humans, they suffer if their alignment strays too much towards the honorable side of the
spectrum. This race, of course, has the innate ability to breath under water. Lizard men gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 0.91. |
| Pixies are small Elven
creatures with gossamer wings. They are very much more intelligent than most other races,
but their strength and constitution suffers from their small size. Because of this, the
Pixie often choose the calling of magic and excels especially in the arts of the Mage; the
mind of the Pixie knows no equal. Pixies possess the obvious ability of flight. Pixies are slight of stature, standing less than five feet in height. Both their skin and hair color varies from among all the colors of the rainbow. Pixies gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.08. |
| Also called Aquatic Elves,
they are akin to mermen as land elves are akin to men. Found almost exclusively among
heavy weed beds in quiet, sheltered, salty waters, they are great friends of the dolphins.
The race historically prefers to fashion caverns in lagoon bottoms and reefs in which to
live and work, but the reality of the today's Realms has forced them into the general
populace. The race is humanoid in appearance, with gill slits on the throat and greenish-silver skin and green or blue-green hair. Sea elves have an innate ability to notice magical auras as well as breathe underwater. Sea-elves gain experience on a scale of normal rate * 1.12. |