(Playable) Species
Humans:
On average, humans stand anywhere from 4'11" to 6'8" tall. They have hair colors often likened to the tones of animal hide, skin tones in shades of pinks and browns, and relatively muted eye colors. On this continent, humans tend to have darker skin, hair, and eye tones. They are capable of growing facial hair, and do not tend to gain or lose muscle or fat in extremes. Distinctive features include variable hair growth across the population, and susceptibility to lycanthropy. On this continent, any variation of expression of gender or lack thereof is commonplace. Humans can have children with dwarves, elves, and nymphs.
Werewolves:
Lycanthropy is a genetic disease spread by infected wild wolves, werewolves, and hereditarily. Only humans, human/dwarf individuals, and orcs can be affected. Being exposed to moonlight or certain magical items will cause a werewolf to gain "wolf-like" features and renewed stamina. They cannot survive on vegetarian diets, and there are no mental effects. It is rare in many regions of the continent where wolves are not present. Wounds caused by silver will result in blistering and burns.
Dwarves:
On average, dwarves stand anywhere from 2'11" to 5'5" tall. They have hair colors often likened to the tones of animal hide, skin tones in shades of pinks and browns, and relatively muted eye colors. On this continent, dwarves tend to have darker skin, hair, and eye tones. They are capable of growing facial hair, and tend to store muscle and fat in extremes. Distinctive features include consistent, rapid hair growth across the population, and strong immunity to toxins. On this continent, they do not ascribe to classically human expressions of gender. Dwarves can have children with humans, elves, and nymphs.
Elves:
On average, elves stand anywhere from 5'4" to 7'0" tall. They have hair colors in deep blacks, platinum blondes, and silvers, skin tones in purples or drained and "corpse-like" tones, and vibrant or "metallic" eye colors with black scelera. Elves have very distinct appearances based on region. In this region of the continent, elves tend to have muddled lavender skin, silver hair, and long, pointed and nocked ears. They are not at all capable of growing facial hair, and tend to lose muscle and fat in extremes. Distinctive features include consistent, limited facial/body hair growth and consistent scalp hair growth across the population, and large, diversely shaped ears based on region. On this continent, they do not ascribe to classically human expressions of gender. Elves can have children with humans, dwarves, and nymphs.
Orcs:
On average, orcs stand anywhere from 5'9" to 7'5" tall. They have hair colors often likened to the tones of animal hide excluding blondes, skin tones in shades of greens and blues, and relatively muted eye colors alongside red. They are capable of growing facial hair, and tend to store muscle and fat in extremes. Distinctive features include semi-consistent hair growth across the population, large lower canines which protrude from the mouth and constantly grow, either lightly pointed or unpointed ears, and susceptibility to lycanthropy. On this continent, they do not ascribe to classically human expressions of gender, and often consider themselves genderless. Orcs cannot have children with any other species.
Werewolves:
Lycanthropy is a genetic disease spread by infected wild wolves, werewolves, and hereditarily. Only humans, human/dwarf individuals, and orcs can be affected. Being exposed to moonlight or certain magical items will cause a werewolf to gain "wolf-like" features and renewed stamina. Orcs tend to grow far thicker hair than humans, and especially prominent fangs. They cannot survive on vegetarian diets, and there are no mental effects. It is rare in many regions of the continent where wolves are not present. Wounds caused by silver will result in blistering and burns.
Skeletons:
Skeletons are the only naturally occurring undead beings. Undestroyed skeletons of humans, dwarves, elves, and orcs can become living, retaining all their memories in life. Though gaining a new resilience, they can be "killed" through the destruction of their skull. They can vaguely possess clothing and armor to fulfill a more lively shape. No flesh stays on their bones, and they are evidently immortal if not "killed." Skeletons have no means of having children.
Anthritilians:
On average, anthritilians stand anywhere from 4'10" to 6'5" tall. They bear resemblance to non-turtle/non-tortoise/non-dragon reptiles, being entirely bipedal, occasionally having tails, and often possessing hands/feet similar to the reptile they resemble (those resembling snakes have clawed talons). Those native to a region typically resemble the reptiles of the region. They do not tend to gain or lose muscle or fat in extremes. Distinctive features include occasionally venomous capabilities. On this continent, they do not ascribe to classically human expressions of gender, and often consider themselves genderless (modelled off classically orcish fashion). Anthritilians can have children with anthravians.
Anthravians:
On average, anthravians stand anywhere from 4'9" to 6'0" tall. They bear resemblance to non-flightless avians, being entirely bipedal, occasionally having tails, and often possessing hands/feet similar to the talons of the avians they resemble (often having greater feather growth on their arms). Those native to a region typically resemble the avians of the region. They do not tend to gain or lose muscle or fat in extremes. On this continent, they do not ascribe to classically human expressions of gender. Anthravians can have children with anthritilians.
Anthridelphi:
On average, anthridelphi stand anywhere from 3'2" to 4'10" tall. They bear resemblance to opossums, being entirely bipedal, having two prehensile tails, and possessing opossum-like hands and feet, with their hands possessing two thumbs. They do not tend to gain or lose muscle in extremes, but they do tend to gain fat in extremes. Distinctive features include complex fur patterns (especially on the face) not seen in opossums. On this continent, any variation of expression of gender or lack thereof is commonplace. Anthridelphi cannot have children with other species.
Nymphs:
On average, nymphs stand anywhere from 4'11" to 6'8" tall. Their hair, skin, and eye colors vary wildly, but often reflect what element/natural source they were born from. Nymphs are the only elementals which fit into modern society. They are born from naturally occurring sources (such as trees, fire, ice, specific gemstones, etc.) and have appearances and magical abilities which reflect this source. First born as formless elementals, they eventually grow into an adult individual, resembling any age from roughly 20-75. It is believed they can reform through enough magical focus, but it is unrecorded. Nymphs are immortal, never aging or dying naturally, but can be killed in similar manners to other species. They are sometimes capable of growing facial hair, and do not tend to gain or lose muscle or fat in extremes. Distinctive features
may include elf-like ears regardless of region, and somewhat prominent canines. Nymphs were once widely considered to all be "female," but large populations represent a differing gender or manner of expression. Nymphs can have children with dwarves, elves, and humans, but have no way of having children with other nymphs (though adoption of formless ones is commonplace).
Merrow:
On average, merrow stand anywhere from 6'5" to 8'10" tall. When in water, however, their tails can slightly more than triple their body length. Merrow are exclusively creatures of saltwater, but can survive for durations on land. In saltwater, they possess the long tails of their natural state, but on land magically conjure legs and possess the ability to walk. Their hair and skin/scale tones widely vary, though their eyes are often slightly tinted, shiny, and pupiless. Merrow is a catch-all term in the way "land dwellers" would be, and there are numerous species within the group. While a few live on land, most live in their societies below the sea. Distinctive features include lanky, disproportionately long limbs, gills on the neck and below the ribs, entirely sharp teeth, fins in the place of ears, and much more. Expression or consideration of gender greatly varies among merrow, but often clothing (beyond accessories) is completely forgone. On land, wearing skirts or sashes alone for decency is commonplace. Merrow likely cannot have children with other species, for some including other species of merrow.