Races of Conliah

KAITO THE HALFLING: Tell me, friends, were the laws written by an Agathos or by a mortal?

ASEM THE WOOD ELF: An Agathos, Kaito, but I do not know which one. Among us Wood Elves we say Iazus made the laws, but High Elves like Sitarophilus say Burrue did it. Is that right, Sitarophilus?

SITAROPHILUS THE HIGH ELF: You are right we do, Asem, but I also do not really know.

-- The Thirty-Third Cloudruled Dialogue: The Warlords

Landschaft nach einem Gewitter by Joseph Anton Koch

There are eight major races in Conliah, each hailing from one of the eight provinces. There are also less numerous races across the provinces, who answer to the provincial government they hail from.

Humans

Human portrait
  • Physical Description: Humans are highly varied in their physical appearance.
  • Homeland: They hail from the temperate coast of Eastgardia, which has a variety of mountains, hills, forests, and wetlands.
  • Culture: Human society is defined by pragmatism, diplomacy, and political aptitude.
  • Disposition: As the ruling race of the Yargyez Empire, Humans seek to maintain its continuity in Conliah, restore its former glory, and broker agreement between the other provinces.
  • Language: Humans speak Common, the official language of the Yargyez Empire.
  • Names:
    • Male: Lale, Kite, Rothik, Barap, Satip, Guthin
    • Female: Giha, Basitra, Resha, Kata, Sapitha, Valeta

Dwarves

Dwarf portrait
  • Physical Description: Dwarves are stout, standing at about 4 feet tall. They are generally broad and strong.
  • Homeland: Their homeland is the icy mountain province of Helscar.
  • Culture: Dwarven society emphasizes stoicism, artisanry, military reverence.
  • Disposition: The mountain Dwarves of western Helscar tend towards demanding greater autonomy from the Yargyez Empire, whereas the foothill Dwarves of eastern Helscar tend towards loyalty and integration with the Empire.
  • Language: Dwarves speak Dwarvish and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Yurz, Frang, Wolfhan, Horik, Yarel, Karik
    • Female: Heigrid, Inya, Sonti, Elya, Godhi, Bagrid

Halflings

Halfling portrait
  • Physical Description: Halflings are small, standing between 3 and 4 feet tall. They are skinnier and frailer than Dwarves.
  • Homeland: They hail from Middlestone, which consists of three regions: rolling hills and valleys to the north, a massive fertile prarie in the center, and forested hills to the south.
  • Culture: Halfling society values chivalry, formal etiquette, humility, and piety.
  • Disposition: As a central and agriculturally productive region, Middlestone was under constant attacks from adjacent regions during the interregnum. As a result, Halflings are among the most fervent supporters of the Yargyez Empire as protectors.
  • Language: Halflings speak Halfling and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Ashiko, Yokashi, Takira, Kiriko, Shishito, Katako
    • Female: Fuho, Miho, Shiko, Niko, Kiko, Tato

Dark Elves

Dark Elf portrait
  • Physical Description: Dark Elves are of average height, slender, with dark gray to bluish purple skin.
  • Homeland: Their homeland is the volcanic taiga province of Valorgale.
  • Culture: Dark Elven culture is steeped in secrecy and clan loyalty.
  • Disposition: Perspectives on the Yargyez Empire vary widely across clans: some are loyal to the Yargyez, and others are outright Archon worshipping revivalists.
  • Language: Dark Elves speak Dark Elvish and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Azong, Taiguda, Tiyun, Gozing, Yongtin, Gaiti
    • Female: Bumjer, Erbutai, Jerdeni, Umbani, Erjer, Jerutai

Wood Elves

Wood Elf portrait
  • Physical Description: Wood Elves are short and slender, with olive-toned to brown skin.
  • Homeland: They hail from the mountainous forests of Westerwood.
  • Culture: Wood Elven culture values ecological spirituality, resourcefulness, and a strong hunting tradition.
  • Disposition: Having historically suffered under High Elf domination, Wood Elves see the Empire as a stabilizing buffer preserving their autonomy. However, there are secret factions in Westerwood who side with High Elven revivalists.
  • Language: Wood Elves speak Wood Elvish and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Takhildin, Turlandel, Akhsunal, Lursukhil, Tamirnal, Mirlakhil
    • Female: Nazhan, Ainura, Dilima, Gizhan, Zhanura, Linira

High Elves

High Elf portrait
  • Physical Description: High Elves are tall and slender, with radiant golden skin.
  • Homeland: They hail from the arid mountains of Fair Island.
  • Culture: High Elven society upholds religious dogma, the arcane arts, and a hierarchy based on lineage.
  • Disposition: High Elves are nostalgic for the Magellian Empire, which prioritized High Elf superiority. Many High Elves view the Yargyez Empire as having strayed from the original form of Agathos worship practiced in the Magellian Empire.
  • Language: High Elves speak High Elvish and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Achos, Taleas, Diacrates, Lenysis, Goreas, Homias
    • Female: Astera, Zedara, Ozia, Elaria, Dorela, Soria

Catfolk

Catfolk portrait
  • Physical Description: Catfolk are feline humanoids with sandy brown fur, upright ears, sharp claws, and long tails.
  • Homeland: They hail from Wuthelark, which consists of three regions: a jungle to the south, a desert to the north, and a mountain range dividing them.
  • Culture: Catfolk culture centers celestial spirituality, clan loyalty, and libertinism.
  • Disposition: Perspectives on the Yargyez Empire are split geographically between jungle and desert Catfolk. The northern nomads resist the Yargyez Empire's encroachment due to its unwillingness to recognize nomadic land rights.
  • Language: Catfolk speak Catfolk and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Golni, Pundi, Dadiya, Tunnad, Samuha, Dvariya
    • Female: Bangu, Binan, Enduk, Konis, Kalis, Untam

Lizardfolk

Lizardfolk portrait
  • Physical Description: Lizardfolk are reptilian humanoids with red or greenish brown scales and sharp claws.
  • Homeland: They hail from the marsh province of Nightglade.
  • Culture: Lizardfolk culture emphasizes ecological spirituality, ancestor veneration, and clan loyalty.
  • Disposition: Lizardfolk are, on the whole, enemies of the Yargyez Empire. The Lizardfolk rulers who agreed to peacefully cede their lands to the Yargyez Empire in exchange for continuous rule are viewed as traitors to their own race. Factions of Lizardfolk across Nightglade actively resist Yargyez presence in the province. Many rebels have taken to underground caves across Nightglade and Eastgardia to stage attacks on Imperial outposts.
  • Language: Lizardfolk speak Lizardfolk and Common.
  • Names:
    • Male: Yengtan, Hobuing, Dongok, Toavan, Kuyet, Sontan
    • Female: Bithui, Nuwan, Natlan, Thiho, Tangko, Trinku

Orcs

Orc portrait
  • Physical Description: Orcs are tall and strong. Their faces are somewhat warthog-like, with straight medium-length tusks, elongated snouts and small lower jaws, pronounced cheekbones, and short pointy ears. Their skin is primarily green with a tinge of gray, and their fur covers their entire body with a mix of black and brown hues.
  • Homeland: The Orcs are one of the Lodumpan races.
  • Culture: Orcish culture upholds religious dogma, hereditary hierarchy, and reverence for military service.
  • Disposition: They see the Yargyez Empire as decadent and corrupt, and view the incursion of the Uzvu as a divinely sanctioned civilizing mission.
  • Language: Orcs speak Orcish.

Goblins

Goblin portrait
  • Physical Description: Goblins are small humanoids. Their faces are somewhat babirusa-like, with long curved tusks long pointy ears, medium-length snouts and medium-size lower jaws. They are mostly hairless, with a skin tone halfway between green and gray.
  • Homeland: The Goblins are one of the Lodumpan races.
  • Culture: Goblin culture values commerce, technological inventiveness, and pragmatism.
  • Disposition: Goblins view the Yargyez Empire as a repository of riches, ripe for extraction and development.
  • Language: Goblins speak Goblin and Orcish.

Ogres

Ogre portrait
  • Physical Description: Ogres are large and broad humanoids. Their faces are somewhat boar-like, with flat snouts, heavy jowls, small tusks, and large lower jaws. Their skin is primarily gray with a tinge of green, and their fur covers their entire body with hues of beige and gray.
  • Homeland: The Ogres are one of the Lodumpan races.
  • Culture: Ogre culture highlights disciplined work ethic, economic individualism, and a desire for recognition.
  • Disposition: They view the Yargyez Empire as an opportunity to raise their social status by acquiring underdeveloped tracts of land in exchange for serving as settler soldiers of the frontier.
  • Language: Ogres speak Ogre and Orcish.

Multiple Race Heritage

Although their exact origins are unknown, most races of Conliah share a common lineage which allows full interbreeding between them. This is true for Humans, Dwarves, Halflings, High Elves, Dark Elves, and Wood Elves. Their offspring have traits which are the average of the multiple racial backgrounds. Catfolk and Lizardfolk are exceptions, as biologically distinct species. The possibility of offspring between the races of Conliah and the races of the Uzvu Confederation are unknown at this point. Sentient beings of Cthonic origin are also incapable of producing offspring with mundane sentient beings.