Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay, here's how things work. I'll need characters with talent. Their talent may not be combat, but that's alright. As we all know, fighting alone solves nothing. The story begins in Akkanor, the capital city of the Republic of Thalos. I'll outline each of the races and their traits when I've arranged the profile skeleton. Oh, and just so you know:

1. I would really appreciate it if you made things look like a challenge. I get really tired of "Joe Schmoe waved his hand and defeated four giant creatures without breaking a sweat." Okay, so that may have been an exaggeration, but you get the point. If it were easy, then it would be done already.

2. I think we all know about Gaia's rules and regulations, so please try your best not to violate them.

3. I don't mind mild swearing, as long as it doesn't get to the point that people ask if your character has tourettes syndrome. While I'm at it, romance is okay. Wooing of others is perfectly fine. Public indecency is not. Please don't let me see it happen.

4. I'm not very demanding when it comes to consistently posting. I understand that people have lives. I understand that things happen. I understand that some days are just bad. If you happen to be absent for an extended period of time, contact me as soon as time allows and tell me what's up, I'll try to work with you.

5. I reserve the right to alter or add to these rules at any time. Don't worry though, if you've already joined I'll try to give you a heads-up.

This will be where I explain the races. I didn't want to clutter up my previous post. Here goes nothing! Oh, and I understand that people differ. I'm not looking for cookie-cutter characters, but try to keep it somewhat close to these descriptions.

Elves: Elves are very cliche when it comes to fantasy stories. They are light on their feet, have quick reflexes, and enhanced supportive magic capabilities. I thought I would change it up a bit. The elves of Thalos are still tall and thin, but are all about physical combat, armed with all manner of swords and bows. While they mostly rely on speed, accuracy, and finesse to win in an altercation, they have an ace up their sleeves. If enough elves gather themselves together, they can summon an ancestral spirit that will dominate nearly any single opponent. It is quite a handy tactic if utilized properly. They retain their ridiculously long lifespans.

Dwarves: These aren't the stocky midgets you're used to, these are bulky men who tend to have fiery personalities and stubborn attitudes. They do have a small shortage in stature, but it's not as pronounced as others would have you believe, although they still take great offense to short jokes. Their might makes them masters of armored combat and their work in the forge gives them lots of stamina. Dwarves only live a short time longer than the humans.

Merfolk: The waters of this world run deep. Within this realm dwell the merfolk, a race gifted with technological advances that many would think of as impossible. As a race they tend to be rather secretive, although some of their young maidens have been known to cause trouble among the land-dwelling races. They physically mature rather quickly, becoming full-grown in about four years. Their lifespans are shorter than human lives, lasting only about sixty years. Their scales are richly decorated and only get more elaborate with time. They have a generally humanoid build, apart from the webbed hands and feet, the fin running from their neck to the tip of their tails, and their fin-like ears. Their teeth are razor-sharp and they can dilate their eyes very quickly, allowing them to see far more than the average person. They must stay moist or their blood will thicken in their veins, but they generally don't have a problem with that. They are an immensely gifted and intelligent race, despite their shortcomings.

Humans: The most populous of the land dwellers, the humans act as the glue that holds the allied races together. They regulate trade and settle disputes that the races have with one another. They tend to be well-liked among all the races. Humans are incredibly varied. They differ in skin tone, eye color, hair color, skill and talent focus, and demeanor. You can hardly go anywhere without running into them. The humans get the standard hundred-year lifespan.

Draega: Akin to the dragons of old, the draega are the last of the old races. They are the creations of Zarquis, the Eternal, the one old god still in existence. They have great life spans and the ability to fly, but they are tied to the land and their god, so they dwell mainly in the wilderness, a ring of impossibly dense forestry verging upon uncharted domain. They don't use maps and tend to live only in small groups. They communicate over long distances with a thing called resonance. They have a special bone plate in their throat that amplifies a hum so it can be heard for miles. Once a year the Draega all call out to Zarquis with resonance to tell him of their adventures. They wear mainly animal pelts and don't wield weapons. They are gifted with magic and animal instinct. They are as close to druidic people as the civilized races get. Their scale and eye colors are more assorted than the humans, but they all fit a uniform build.

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