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HUMAN
Humans are a resourceful and tenacious race with a high aptitude for learning and understanding. Though they are not exceptional in any one respect, they are a highly varied people that balance many fields well. Since they are the most numerous race across The Sphere, there is little to no discrimination towards them, hence they are most free to travel around.
Humans range greatly in height, weight, and other superficial features. They have incredible range as far as cultural diversity is concerned and are able to quickly adapt to changes in their environment. Younger humans are full of optimism, life, and are open to new ideas. As a human ages he becomes more jaded, set in his ways, and opposes new conventions in favor of familiarity.
If they have one weakness, it is their tendency towards rash action without forethought. Most humans don’t think a situation through entirely before acting, which usually ends badly for them. As a result, other races have long stereotyped humans as stubborn, pig-headed, and arrogant…and unfortunately, this stereotype is, in many cases, painfully true.

Nicknames: Humies, Apes (derogatory)
Disc of Origin: Lyonesse, Moribund, Shoukai
Stereotype: Resourceful, self-centered and independent
Appearance: A human’s hair is naturally black, white, brown, blonde, or red (though some people dye theirs unnatural
colors). Eyes are brown, hazel, green, blue, or gray. Some have very dark skin tones and some are very pale…but none have exotic skin colors like blue or green. Humans range in height from 5 to 7 feet tall with most males standing at around 6” and most females around 5”. A healthy weight for a human varies depending on height, age and gender…but generally, an average male in the prime of his life will weigh between 150 and 200 lbs. A female will weigh between 100 and 150 lbs.
Life: Humans give live birth and reproduce sexually. A baby takes 9 months to gestate inside the mother before she gives birth. After birth, humans live around 80 years on average, though some live to be 90 or 100 at most. A human is considered to be in his prime from 18-40 years of age.
Disadvantages: Compared to some other races, humans have a relatively short lifespan and a certain lack of magical aptitude. However, they have no true weakness just as they have no true strength.
Notes: Human behavior is a many varied thing that changes from culture to culture. Generally, most humans are happy to live until the end of their days as farmers, laborers or workers performing some other menial job. These individuals consider the greatest pursuits in life to be a home and a family. They are satisfied in a routine and do not question the order of the world or bother with politics until there is a crisis. Some others, unsatisfied by the thought of a mundane existence, become leaders and heroes. Regardless, all humans desire a secure social structure of some sort, but there is also a sort of restlessness in the human spirit that craves adventure and delights in risk-even if it’s only in hearing the stories of risks that others have taken. On that note, it should be known that humans are natural dreamers and story-tellers. They constantly share their exploits, whether exciting or humdrum, with one another. As men grow older they tend to become less prone to taking the risks that define them as a species.
Playing a Human: Humans are the most flexible and basic of all the races. They have a wide range of habits and beliefs that vary according to the culture they were brought up in; after all, humans do populate the majority of The Sphere. Their personalities are as varied as their worlds are and there are virtually no limits on human heroism or depravity. It is recommended that first-time players seriously consider playing a human as the thoughts and attitudes of a human character won’t be completely foreign from their own. This makes for an easier, less confusing and more fulfilling experience for a new player. However, human characters are an exceptional choice for any player due to their well-roundedness. In other words, don’t discount them simply because they’re “basic”.

Common Names (Male): Brandon, Daniel, David, Jack, James, John, Joseph, Paul, Samuel, Thomas, William
Common Names (Female): Alice, Anne, Carol, Catherine, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Jean, Mary, Rachel, Rose, Virginia
Common Family Names: Bailey, Davis, Harris, Hudson, Goodman, Nelson, Palmer, Shepherd, Simpson, Smith

Bonus
+3 Skill Points
+1 Will
+1 Luck

Racial Advantage
Guts: At 0 Life, the player must roll 1d10. If he rolls a number equal to or less than his Will stat, he hangs onto life, even in the face of death and the character recovers 1/3 of his maximum Life. If he fails, his character becomes incapacitated. This ability may be used once per real-world week and only if the killing blow isn’t something that would prevent a character from coming back to life (such as losing a head, falling in lava, etc.)

DROW
Unlike their cousins, the Elves, the Drow are not always so particularly striking in an aesthetically pleasing sense. They are usually hostile and unfriendly, but also reject the High Elves aristocratic attitude, which makes Drow more approachable and down to earth. They are certainly beautiful creatures as Elves tend to be, but telling one this would probably end in a fight.
They started their existence as High Elves, but became genetic cousins through centuries of isolated breeding and evolution in the darker parts of the forest and even underground. Many made their way to Lockheed during the Second Age and that Disc still houses a great many Drow to this day; at least 45% of the total population.
They are not as skilled with magic as their vain cousins, and prefer to deal with life’s little problems in a more “hands-on” sort of way…in other words, strangling the life out of said troubles. Though they are often mean-spirited, they are also incredibly loyal to whoever can win their trust. A Drow’s friendship is a thing to be treasured.

Nicknames: Dark Elves, Moraquendi, Goths (derogatory)
Disc of Origin: Arcadia (though the majority of the race dwells in underground cities on Lockheed)
Stereotype: Aggressive, mysterious, and solitary
Appearance: White, black, red, or dark brown hair with blue, purple, red, or yellow eyes. They can be anywhere from 5 ½ to 7 ½ feet tall, though most fall in the 6 ½ foot range. Their sharp, delicate features confess their Elven nature, but many mar their appearance with tattoos, piercings, scars, and strange haircuts out of angst or spite for wholesome things of beauty.
Life: Like their blue-blooded cousins, the Drow usually live in the neighborhood of 250 years after sexual reproduction and live birth. Some live to be 300. All the Drow consider 30-100 to be the prime of their lives and since they are not nearly as selective about their breeding, as High Elves, there are no royal Drow lines to speak of.
Disadvantages: Drow are often hostile and antagonistic, which leads to more than one fight that could have otherwise been avoided. They are ostracized greatly by other Elves and in some places, treated less than commoners. Drow will always be regarded with suspicion by an Elf. Even humans and several other races dislike and distrust them, much like they would an Orc or Fomorian. Any Social skill Feat that is not related to aggressive persuasion or bullying is made at a +3 difficulty.
Notes: The Drow are closely related to Elves genetically and are in fact, descended from High Elves. Though some say that Drow are High Elves twisted and perverted by Plague Lands, this simply is not true. The Dark Elves came about as a clan of Elves who had little talent for magic and even less tolerance for the flattery, social climbing, and pervasiveness of rank in Elven society. These early Drow moved far away, to the dark parts of the woods where they evolved and bred with one another to, over the course of many centuries, become the Drow; a name that was taken from the father of the original dark Elven clan. The clan eventually grew so large it fragmented into many smaller branches who extended their borders to include not only the swamps, fens, and darker areas of the great forest, but networks of underground caverns as well. During the Second Age, the majority of the clans moved to Lockheed, following the same spirit that had led them to seek solitude from their High Elven cousins during the First Age. The majority of Drow live there to this day and see its frozen tundra as a fine contrast to the sunny meadows of Arcadia, just as the dark Drow are a contrast to the High Elves. Drow are slightly xenophobic and dislike outsiders or strangers; even other Drow from a separate clan. They are very much loners who are conservative in their mindset and distrustful of change. Those who follow the old ways openly practice varying forms of paganism which center around ancestor worship and dabble (often unknowingly) in Necromancy. Like High Elves, they believe that the clan is more important that the individual (though their beliefs in personal freedom are reinforced rather than stymied by the family) and Drow naming patterns put the clan or family name after the name of the individual.
Playing a Drow: Drow fit well as fighters due to their aggressive nature. They can also make a decent mage though other races would be more suited to such a career. But the truest application of a Drow’s strengths is in the criminal pursuits of the more roguish templates. Their Visibility allows them to move freely in absolute darkness while others stumble around, looking for a light. Their Perception bonus keeps them alerted to danger or clues and their skills give them just the edge they need to strike quickly and escape. If you’re considering playing a thief, make sure you keep the Drow at the front of your list for racial picks. As far as role-playing goes, be sure to live up to the Drow’s solitary and aggressive nature. They don’t want friends…or at least they won’t admit that they want friends. Once he’s been won over (which is no easy task), a Drow is an ally for life and will do anything for those he’s befriended. They tend to overreact harshly and can be temperamental, moody and selfish…then again, this isn’t true across the board. Just know that, generally speaking, Drow aren’t the nicest folks around.

Common Names (Male): Absalom, Ash, Duvik, Kabel, Kane, Malak, Maverick, Nivuk, Nodred, Ozdale, Ys, Zee
Common Names (Female): Biké, Dalia, Eva, Frida, Mare, Nala, Nespa, Noke, Ovelia, Sha, Tarir, Unundova, Viralyn
Common Family Names: Anatiru, Avery, Caviori, Faegrim, Inibook, Koto, Lenid, Orkel, Riddel, Rosadex, Sidone

Bonus
+3 Skill Points
+1 Agility
+1 Perception

Racial Advantage
Visibility: The Drow are blessed with a very acute sense of sight. Their eyes adapt to see with 100% clarity in even pitch black. They are capable of seeing through fog, smoke and other translucent obstructions with a successful Perception Feat. Penalties regarding vision should not be assigned to a Drow save in the most extreme of circumstances.

DWARF
The Dwarves are an industrious and hard-bodied race; practical and tactless, preferring a good lager to a good conversation. Their talent as blacksmiths, miners, engineers, and inventors is renown throughout The Sphere and the truth is that Dwarves truly are simply the best at making things. One would think that a race with their disposition would be unconcerned about beauty and fine details, but Dwarven pieces rival the aesthetics of even the Elves.
Your typical dwarf is fairly short and stocky, but incredibly durable. Males tend to be hairy, and the older ones grow long, braided beards to show their status and age. The growing of a beard is considered a rite of passage into manhood and the loss of said beard is a mark of deep shame.
While loyal, resolute, brave, and uncomplicated, Dwarves are also stubborn, blunt, traditional and are noted for having short tempers. Some dabble in magic, but most have no skill for it…not that a respectable Dwarf cares about such frivolous pursuits anyway.

Nicknames: Oafs, Moles, Dolts (all derogatory…unless said by another Dwarf)
Disc of Origin: Midgard
Stereotype: Straightforward, obstinate and coarse
Appearance: Dwarves almost always have black or brown hair (some have red) and brown, hazel or gray eyes. They are always 3 ½ -5 feet tall, though there have been a few exceptional Dwarves who reached the unthinkable height of 5 ½ feet. They air stout, thickset, and the older males have long, braided beards and more than a few tattoos.
Life: Dwarves reproduce sexually and gestate for a whole year before being born. The average Dwarf lives for 300 years. Very rarely will a Dwarf live longer than this. The prime of a Dwarfs life is from 30-75. Men are considered an adult at 40, and worthy for consideration of manhood at 60. Only adults who undergo the rites of passage where the Dwarf must survive on his own away from the rest of the town for 5 days can become men.
Disadvantages: Dwarves are terrible swimmers and avoid the water if they can help it (that’s not to say they don’t bathe, though some would debate this point…) Dwarves feel uneasy on boats and some won’t even cross bridges. When he must swim, the Dwarf receives only 1d20 to make the required Athletics roll at +5 difficulty…so you can see that his fears of the water are quite justified. Dwarves are also very short, which can be a hindrance at times when height is needed.
Notes: The Dwarven people prefer to build their cities beneath the ground where they feel most comfortable. On their home Disc of Midgard, great cavernous cities are carved straight into the mountains and Dwarven settlements are often built alongside ore-laden mines. These cities are more vast and intricate than most towns above ground, and are carved into the very rock itself. Of course, they are much fewer in number as a great deal more effort is required to build and maintain such structures. These metropoli tend to grow quite large as none are within reasonable proximity to one another. Because of their spaced out nature, the subterranean cities develop to enormous size as they draw in droves of permanent residents who become merchants, artisans, and miners. Dwarves place a great emphasis on tradition and honor. The rituals (such as rites of passage, holidays, and such) of yesteryear are those of this year and will be the same rituals followed for generations to come. Dwarves do not break oaths and they do not break tradition. To a Dwarf, honor and trustworthiness are very important. To lose one’s honor is worse than death. A Dwarf can lose his honor by betraying a friend or breaking a blood oath (the most sacred of promise in Dwarven culture, made when both parties cut the palm of their hand and shake). A dishonored Dwarf must shave his beard. Once shaved, a Dwarf’s beard will not re-grow; he is marked forever as one without honor and not to be trusted. The style of a Dwarven beard’s braiding is both a sign of one’s clan, status, and city and a literally hundreds of different styles exist in each community.
Playing a Dwarf: Obviously, Dwarves make excellent engineers and craftsman. Any player interested in exploring the merits of creating and maintaining his own equipment should definitely look into playing a Dwarf. Also, players who love to fight, drink and play their character a bit rough around the edges might also enjoy this race. If their stats are configured correctly (in other words, take full advantage of the Stamina), Dwarves can take brutal punishment and keep fighting where other races would literally fall to pieces. This paired with their capability to make excellent quality weapons makes the mature Dwarf a force to be reckoned with indeed. When role-playing a Dwarf, the player should always keep in mind the Dwarf’s belief in honor and tradition. Most Dwarves don’t give their trust away easily, but when they make a promise they would rather die than break it (and so many avoid making promises altogether). If you’re playing a dishonored Dwarf (who’s lost his beard) remember that these Dwarves have lost something very important to their people and are most likely an outcaste from their society. If you’re playing a young Dwarf who has not yet grown his beard, remember that he probably has a strong desire to do so and join the ranks of the men in his culture.

Common Names (Male): Albrecht, Baldur, Brandt, Gudmund, Hurin, Hoenheim, Karnath, Noldric, Ozmov, Valhun
Common Names (Female): Britta, Dagny, Disa, Cikka, Ellsif, Freya, Heidi, Helga, Hilda, Ingrid, Rory, Runa, Skade
Common Family Names: Earthcutter, Greyfell, Hardfoot, Ironhide, Norhawk, Redbeard, Rockjaw, Stonewall

Bonus
+3 Skill Points
+2 Stamina

Racial Advantage
Sturdy Hands & Body: When rolling any Feat on his Craft skill, his Stamina or Will, a Dwarf receives an extra 1d20 due to his tenacity and sturdiness. Because Dwarves are so meticulous and unrelenting, they can never botch such a Feat with a Critical Failure.

FOMORIAN
If Fomorian lore can be trusted, they claim to be the secret children of the demonic Raksha who, being equal in power to the gods, created a race of creatures to help them sow discord. This explains the Fomorians penchant for mellifluence and their tendency towards the less civil pursuits. Though a Fomorian can be as kind and upright as anyone, his heart is always going to draw him to the dark side…and those who assume that he’s up to no good are probably right to do so.
The race calls a twisting network of tunnels (affectionately called the Nethers) beneath the mountains of Helios home. Their subterranean cities are lit by the haunting light of luminescent mushrooms, lending them a twisting, sinister aesthetic. However, many have left the dark confines of these caves to live in the world of light, though they themselves remain creatures of darkness at heart.
Fomorians reputation precedes them as both laid back, unscrupulous, and supremely dangerous in a subtle way. They are manipulators, deceivers, and creatures born from darkness at heart, despite their best efforts to do otherwise.

Nicknames: Fiends, Infernals, Devils (none are truly derogatory…but all are slightly offensive).
Disc of Origin: None, but most call the Nethers of Helios home
Stereotype: Smug, devious, and corrupt
Appearance: Black, dark brown, blonde or red hair with red, yellow, purple, and sometimes black eyes. Fomorians are slender, athletic, and well formed, often with a reddish tint to their skin, long pointed ears, non-functioning bat-wings (some larger, some smaller), horns of varying size and design (all males have horns, females normally have small horns or no horns at all) and some even have a pointed tail. They stand anywhere from 5’1 to 6’10.
Life: Fomorians give live birth after sex and 13 months of pregnancy. Their wings, horns and tail (if they have such features) grow as they mature. Fomorians reach their prime from years 100-300 and live for a maximum of 1,000 years. None have ever lived longer.
Disadvantages: Whether they mean to be or not, Fomorians have a natural bent towards chaos. Perhaps they really do have demonic origins. Whatever the case may be, Fomorians feel an unexplainable compulsion to cause discord and chaos, even among their own allies. A fair comparison of this urge’s strength would be the urge of biological creatures to engage in sexual intercourse. Fomorians feel a primal need to create strife, even if doing so harms them. The desire can be denied, but not easily and certainly not forever.
Notes: Fomorians do not stick together like most other races do. They know their own basic nature as manipulators and fast talkers…so they are loathe to trust themselves, let alone someone else. This is perhaps one reason that cities in the Nethers don’t exist on the rare and grandiose scale that Dwarven cities do and aren’t populated by anyone but Infernals. This is also the reason for a lack of cohesive culture among Fomorians. Unlike other races, they do not have a great many customs, holidays, or other traditional social moors. Instead, there is a great deal of infighting between (and even inside of) clans and families. It is actually commonplace for a Fomorian to forsake her family’s name altogether. Their desire to cause dissension has for centuries prevented them from establishing a culture of their own and most “cities” in the Nether are rather small, poor, and run-down. All things considered, it’s no wonder that Devils seem to live happier lives among others outside their own species. They adapt their way of living to match that of the people around them and they love the modern world with its new ideas, new people and ever-changing way of life…plus, all the suckers live there. Fomorians often make a formidable living as conmen or thieves…however, there is a certain unwritten code of honor that Fomorians tend to follow…sure, they’re shiftless, deceptive and calculating…but catching a Fomorian in a lie or a trick is a surefire way to earn his respect (even if it is grudgingly given).
Playing a Fomorian: You don’t have to be rotten, but it helps. Fomorians are ideally suited to be Rogues and conmen, though there’s nothing like the cunning Warrior. Mage is also a very logical template choice for these schemers. It takes a certain panache to play a Fomorian well. You must play to their shrewdness and use their abilities in a subtle way. Don’t kick down that door yourself…have someone else do it for you. And make them think they’re doing themselves a favor; that’s the way to play a Fomorian. When considering a Fomorian’s Morality and Philosophy, be aware that their natural tendency is to be either Evil or Chaotic; neutral at best. Even though she may try to do good, she will be unable to stave off her hunger for chaos and friction for long.

Common Names (Male): Azimoff, Azriel, Betelgeuse, Berith, Deimos, Grigori, Koba, Malphas, Raiju, Samael, Xerxes
Common Names (Female): Allu, Bitru, Chaym, Desdemona, Eurynala, Jezebel, Lilith, Medea, Morgan, Nycora, Oro
Common Family Names: (most Fomorians either do not have a family name or do not include the family when giving out their name) Buer, Carden, Dantalion, Ekaseh, Eligos, Imflas, Murmur, Nyx, Sojobo

Bonus
+3 Power points
+1 Charisma
+1 Power

Racial Advantage
Dark Voice: Fomorians have a supernatural gift for persuasion. By speaking in a soft voice, looking a target in the eyes and rolling a Charisma+Influence Feat, the Fomorian may exert basic mind control over a target (so long as the target’s Will score is currently no more than 1 point above her own). She may issue commands, plant suggestions, extract information or tell convincing lies using this ability. Her requests/commands must play on a desire, emotion or circumstance that already exists. Thus, they cannot directly harm the target (“stab yourself”), endanger his livelihood (“give me all your money”) or go against the grain of what he strongly and truly believes in (“murder that child”) unless the target already has a desire to comply with such a command. The target must be able to hear the command and must be looking the Fomorian in the eyes in order for this ability to work.

KINDRE
If you took an animal and a human and somehow mixed them together, the end result would be a Kindre. These people call every corner of The Sphere home, though they are intrinsic to no one Disc. They were made by Festus, the joker-god, who thought it would be funny to sprinkle his race on every Disc throughout The Sphere during the age of creation. Very funny, Festus. Their very form which combined human and animal traits was a satire of Kibs’ humans.
A Kindre’s Tribe determines his animal form and each Tribe is an assimilation of various species with similar traits. A Kindre’s Tribe is very important to him and the community serves as family rather than the traditional mother/father arrangement.
As a result of Festus’s actions, they are incredibly widespread with certain Tribes living on worlds whose environments suit their bestial shape. Men everywhere are used to seeing Kindred around them. On most worlds, Kindred are regarded just the same as men…except they have fur and a tail. On other Discs, they aren’t as fortunate.

Nicknames: Beasts, Changelings, Mutts (derogatory)
Disc of Origin: None
Stereotype: Varies by Tribe and reflects animal shape (bulls are stubborn, rats are cunning, etc.)
Appearance: Varies by Tribe but all are a combination of human and animal traits.
Life: Kindred reproduce sexually. Pregnancies and litters vary by Tribe, but most have more than one pup at once. However, all Kindred can breed with one another. The general rule of thumb with inter-tribe breeding is that some children look like the mother, others look like the father…but none are a combination of two species’ traits. For example, if a Rabbit mated with a Fox, some of the children would be Rabbits and some would be Foxes, but none would be a Rox or a Fabbit. Kindred normally live somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-50 years depending on the species. Their prime is from 10-30/40.
Disadvantages: Kindred are color blind, regardless of species. While this may not be anything more than a minor annoyance at times, at others it can be a serious problem like when trying to spot a white target against the snow, identifying an enemy based on hair or eye color or when coordinating one’s wardrobe.
Notes: There are several hundred different Tribes of Kindre, each with their own customs and beliefs. Below is a short list of some of the more prevalent Tribes and their characteristics:

Callipa: The bovine Callipa are a generally peaceful tribe who call the open plains home. Here, they live simple lives as hunters, gatherers, and highly spiritual primitives.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Stamina, +1 Luck
Common Names: Alameda, Denali, Kiowa, Hewiova, Honani, Humita, Jolon, Lootah, Onida, Shada, Tiponi

Centauri: The nomadic Centauri roam the wild plains in small bands of hunters, living off what the land offers for a time before moving on. They are notoriously hostile to outsiders.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Strength, +1 Intellect
Common Names: Akando, Dasan, Enapay, Gaho, Hakan, Igasho, Mokado, Nakomis, Nigan, Paloma, Skah

Eku: Mice, rabbits, lemurs, squirrels, and other rodents are embodied in the quick-thinking, resourceful, mischevious, and generally well-liked (but mistrusted) Eku Tribe.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Agility, +1 Luck
Common Names: Aiko, Bae, Dewey, Eflina, Gilly, Jinx, Kemo, Mika, Risa, Satu, Viola, Zale

Felis: The spry, nimble Felis are a large tribe of cats who are smaller and less aggressive than their sister-Tribe, the Raza. Felis are cunning, sociable, and independent.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Agility, +1 Perception
Common Names: Ace, Ajax, Belladona, Calloway, Elwood, Emerson, Ferris, Jacomel, Keegan, Tyve

Gida: Lizards, turtles, toads, and salamanders. The Gida the most widespread of all the tribes, living in swamps, forests, cities, and deserts. They can be very shrewd and cynical.
Bonus: +3 Power Points, +1 Agility, +1 Will
Common Names: Anasi, Anderlees, Bakaru, Beylare, Ebitsu, Faruuq, Kotru, Libian, Mahari, Nephiz, Samiri

Hokur: This misunderstood tribe is comprised of bats, owls, snakes, and other animals associated with darkness or the night. Hokur are secretive and decidedly amoral.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Perception, +1 Agility
Common Names: Arves, Ather, Eko, Garuda, Gehreik, Hassan, Kantora, Makata

Issus: By combining marine animals like fish, whales, sharks, and dolphins with the forms of men, Festus created the adaptive, creative, and free-wheeling Issus Tribe.
Bonus: May breathe and move freely underwater. +1 Intellect.
Common Names: Amira, Atua, Hariki, Io, Kahu, Koro, Maitai, Naho, Omaka, Poto, Reka, Shiri, Tahu, Whiro

Kudar: The Kudar are fewest in number among the Kindre Tribes and combine the traits of dragons, wyrms, and wyverns with those of men. Though their strength is impressive, their candor, wisdom, and mental fortitude have earned them the respect of other Tribes.
Bonus: +3 Physical Armor, +1 Stamina, +1 Power
Common Names: Ataro, Braxus, Galeru, Jorumund, Kalser, Magellan, Nidhorr, Paidrag, Tiamat, Zula

Lau-Pau: This tribe of panda bears from Shoukai are a secretive, highly spiritual group who make their homes in high mountain convents where they practice the martial disciplines.
Bonus: +3 Power Points, +1 Power, +1 Strength
Common Names: Bai, Chin, Ensa, Feng-Po, Hu-to, Ijo, Isaka, Li-Mei, Manchu, Ping, Sha-Ning, Shu, Xiang

Navish: Navish are similar to humans superficially except for the pair of wings on their backs that enable them to fly short distances, a gullet, and their hollow bones.
Bonus: Can fly for up to 20 minutes before needing to land and rest. +1 Power.
Common Names: Anya, Avery, Elise, Fleur, Gavotte, Ixia, Kefir, Lamont, Noir, Reine, Sari, Sy, Zozo

Ortesus: Members of the family-oriented, stubborn Ortesus Tribe love nothing more than a good party. These pigs and boars may be hedonistic, but they also make solid warriors.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Stamina, +1 Charisma
Common Names: Alvis, Calhoun, Galtero, Gozo, Harlow, Hogan, Humbert, Magnus, Olaf, Osborne, Uso

Raza: The Raza are modeled after lions, tigers, and other predatory cats. They are powerful warriors with a deep sense of spirituality and surprising wisdom.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Strength, +1 Agility
Common Names: Antu, Arjuff, Banora, Biran, Dara, Kabul, Kafkat, Karnath, Musa, Rhamat, Simba, Sokoro

Rhodiran: Elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotami, and other large, thick skinned creatures compose the war-like, hard-minded Rhodiran who call Ishtar’s savannah’s home.
Bonus: +1 Skill Point, +2 Strength, +1 Stamina
Common Names: Banju, Dondo, Ghoba, Gunjur, Kurukulla, Kusuma, Ndari, Pongo, Roland, Sanji, Temba

Simi: Monkeys who are often gregarious, outgoing, and mischievous. Simi live among the other races primarily, though some clans make their homes in the tree-tops of jungle thickets.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Agility, +1 Intellect
Common Names: Alo, Bali, Faja, Jinpa, Ika, Leng, Modou, Rikka, Tashi, Yorro, Zi

Taven: Solitary, serious, and mercenary are the words that best describe members of the harsh, caste-based tribe of wolf-like Taven. Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Perception, +1 Strength
Common Names: Aldon, Darkas, Fenris, Kojak, Lubon, Merkur, Obelix, Remus, Seth, Silas, Vargas, Volsig

Tenrec: Moles, shrews, hedgehogs and others who prefer to make their homes under the earth. They are primitive traditionalists who segregate themselves from those outsiders.
Bonus: +3 Power Points, +1 Perception, +1 Intellect
Common Names: Andrik, Casimir, Chesna, Dita, Fedosia, Laszlo, Madge, Mischa, Nikolai, Rorik, Vladek

Tetsuda: The patient, hospitable, yet cautious Tetsuda tribe are all armored creatures of a sort; armadillos, turtles, and tortoises.
Bonus: +2 Skill Points, +3 Physical Armor, +1 Intellect
Common Names: Abbot, Adler, Benedict, Chadwick, Davenport, Fillmore, Gentry, Harper, Quincy, Saunders

Ulric: Members of the Ulric tribe are feared for their strength and short tempers, but revered for their mental fortitude. Physically, they resemble bears of all shapes and sizes.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Strength, +1 Stamina
Common Names: Aidan, Bellatrix, Elroy, Finnegan, Gavin, Hagan, Jago, Liam, Owyn, Urian, Weyland

Wodo: The dogs of the Wodo tribe are more benign and loyal than the war hounds and lone wolves of their sister-tribe, the Taven, though no less intelligent or capable.
Bonus: +3 Skill Points, +1 Perception, +1 Will
Common Names: Duran, Egon, Fidelio, Jada, Kiran, Lex, Maxus, Nando, Reinhart, Rocco, Sirus, Tobias

Yuribi: The wise, even-tempered, and religious Yuribi resemble goats, llamas, deer, antelope, and sheep. The Tribe has a gift for magic and many go on to become sages of a sort.
Bonus: +3 Power Points, +1 Intellect, +1 Power
Common Names: Atma, Batara, Buwono, Jabu, Lakshmi, Nori, Sosseh, Teshibbe, Ubu, Yahati

Note on Naming: In the case of Kindre, one’s Clan name is substituted for the family name and generally not given as a part of one’s name. When the Clan name is given, it is listed before the individual’s name (example: Simi Alo or Hokur Garuda). For all Clans, male and female names are completely interchangeable.

Racial Advantage
Instinct: Like most wild animals, Kindred have a preternatural sense that defies explanation. This sense alerts them when danger is near, even if all their other senses tell them that the coast is clear. A Kindre gains +1d20 to Perception Feats when looking for danger and only critical opposing Stealth rolls can catch them off-guard. Kindred don’t fall easily to ambush, even when magic is involved and Judges should give any Kindre a fair chance to perceive that something somewhere is not right before letting them walk into a trap

MISRAHI
The children of Ishtar, the world of endless sands and blazing suns, are a durable and thick-skinned race, having survived on their hostile world since its creation. Their Disc is brimming with peril; hidden sand traps, rainless lightning storms, days of blazing heat, nights of freezing cold, black desert scorpions the size of horses, drought, famine, and bands of demonic raiders. And yet the people of Ishtar have pressed on for countless centuries, building from the sands a magnificent empire of gold and ivory towers.
The Misrahi themselves are masters of science and magic, and are credited as the inventors of Alchemy. They are also skilled survivalists in Ishtar’s vast wilderness, fierce warrior poets, enchanters, and philosophers.
They are very secretive, however, and generally dislike non-Misrahi for no reason other than their status as outsiders. Perhaps this comes from the caste system of their religion, which the vast majority of Misrahi practice faithfully. Regardless, many people outside the Misrahi community view them as hostile and dangerous.

Nicknames: Lemurians, Sand Rats (derogatory).
Disc of Origin: Ishtar
Stereotype: Courteous, secretive and intellectual
Appearance: Misrahi have tan to very dark skin with red, blue, black or lightly colored hair. Their eyes are usually a light gray color though many also have red, white, or yellow eyes. Their lips are the same color as their eyes. All Misrahi have a great many tattoos on their bodies that symbolically portray their family, social caste, crimes and important achievements. On average, Misrahi are very tall and stand from 6-7½ feet tall. Men usually stand a few inches taller than women. They have long, pointed, pronounced noses and angled faces.
Life: The Misrahi live anywhere from 70-110 years of age, normally living a little longer than
the average human. They reach maturity at 20 and undergo various physical, mental and character trials (that vary according to caste) to obtain the rank of adulthood, which is commemorated in tattoo. These trials are exceedingly difficult and many Misrahi go their entire lives without ever officially becoming adults. Only adult men are allowed to marry more than one wife or own slaves and concubines. Pregnancies last for 9 months.
Disadvantages: Misrahi have a strange and strong metabolism that gives them more nourishment
from what they eat and drink. This metabolism sustains them in the sparse wilderness where food and water are scarce. While this is a great blessing, it can also be a great curse as everything that is ingested has more effect than it would on another creature. This means that poisons deal double damage to Misrahi, require two Stamina Feats to resist and the level of the poison is doubled for the purpose of treatment.
Notes: The attitudes of a Misrahi vary depending on his upbringing. Most are born and raised in one of the great, expansive cities of Ishtar. These Misrahi are likely to discriminate against non-Misrahi as they are regarded very lowly in the caste system and the majority of city dwellers are faithful practitioners of Ishtar’s official religion, Kabos. Those born and raised on one of the farms or ranches that occupy Ishtar’s few fertile steppes and savannahs will have a much more liberal viewpoint. Rather than adhering to caste or the tenants of ancient religions, these Misrahi believe in making their own way and that the only way to be sure of a person’s character is to measure their deeds. Those Misrahi who faithfully practice Kabos are certain to observe religious festivals, fasts, and will make pilgrimages to holy sights on Ishtar when they are able (this can serve as the starting point for many adventures for Misrahi characters). Those who do not practice Kabos on some level were most likely born and raised outside of Ishtar as even the non-city dwellers observe some of the religion’s holidays and customs. Unfortunately, due to their society’s intolerance of outsiders, Misrahi are often stereotyped as hot-headed, reactionary, religious zealots who are easily offended. Though this is certainly not always the case, Misrahi living outside of Ishtar often must unfairly deal with the consequences of their reclusive desert brother’s beliefs.
Playing an Misrahi: Misrahi are serious minded and conduct themselves courteously in front of others they deem important to them. This usually doesn’t apply to outsiders, as they holdno respect for such people at all. Of course, those born and raised in a city have different views than those born on the ranch or off-world. They hold strongly to their traditions, no matter their origin. Misrahi are frugal with their resources and, like humans, make a solid choice for any Template.

Common Names (Male): Abdul, Alu, Fakhir, Ghassan, Hakeem, Khadar, Mufalah, Qusay, Sa’ad, Sim, Wasil, Zayid
Common Names (Female): Aisha, Ashira, Balqis, Cala, Diya, Ermina, Jabira, Nadia, Safa, Sahn, Saralai, Yusri
Common Family Names: al Din, Babusa, Fadeelah, Gul, Hotept, Karida, Jabib, Mahfouza, Sarit, Shunti, Zabala

Bonus
+3 Power Points
+1 Stamina
+1 Power

Racial Advantage
Metabolism: The Misrahi have a heightened metabolism that allows them to get more out of what they ingest than other creatures would be able to. Misrahi need to eat and drink only once every few days. They also receive double the normal effect when taking potions or other medications. On the downside, poisons also have double effect.

ORC
The Orcs are brutal and violent Men with few redeeming qualities. They are warmongers who have a tendency to gravitate towards whatever conflict is brewing at the time. Most people on The Sphere do their best to avoid Orcs; there is a palpable and outright racism towards them on virtually every Disc (save for Helios, their home world). Not that this bothers most of them…Orcs seem to enjoy the idea of everyone hating them. It makes it all the more satisfying when your head is mounted on the end of their pike.
It is not uncommon for small groups of eight to fifteen Orcs to band together and hire themselves out as thugs to the highest bidder. Though they are the mercenaries in an army or the thugs in a local crime syndicate, an Orc is loyal to no one but himself. Even other Orcs that he calls brothers-in-arms become enemies when fortune is turned slightly. Their reputation fits them as an untrustworthy and dangerous race of hooligans.

Nicknames: Scum, Demons , Boogars (all derogatory unless said by another Orc…and even then, it’s borderline)
Disc of Origin: Helios
Stereotype: Vindictive, underhanded, and violent.
Appearance: Those with hair have it colored a greasy black, but many Orcs are bald or balding. Orc’s eyes are most often yellow, but some have red, white, and even black irises. Their skin ranges widely from shades of dark brown to a yellowish green. The common Orc stands at about 5½ feet tall and weigh around 160 lbs (of mostly muscle). The larger, more powerful Orcs (known as “Blood Orcs”) are 6 to even 7 ½ feet tall and have red skin. This rare breed is different from other Orcs in that they are born occasionally in pure family lines, are larger, more aggressive, and treated with more respect by common Orcs.
Life: Orcs reproduce through aplacental viviparity; In layman’s terms, anywhere from 3 to 12 fertilized embryos brew inside the mother Orc after sex. A month later, she gives birth to these protoplasmic sacks and buries them in mud or soft earth to grow and gestate. Some abandon their young at this point and let them fend for themselves, but most guard their children until they break from the gelatinous sacks 6 months later. Orcs learn to walk within hours of life and learn to fight just as quickly. If any Orc lived long enough to experience a natural death, he would be around for a good 50 years. As it stands, however, Orcs (on average) die from 25-30 due to their lifestyle. Their prime years are from ages 10-25.
Disadvantages: Orcs are hated wherever they go. And not just hated…hated and spit upon. Almost uniformly across The Sphere, people regard an Orc with fear and distrust due to misinformation, stories of Orcish encounters, their frightful appearance, and the reputation
they have earned for themselves. No matter how noble his deeds or true his character, an Orc will always be regarded with fear and disdain. It’s understandable why most Orcs say “to Hell with it. If you’re going to treat me like a criminal, I may as well act like one.” Any social Feat that is not related to intimidation is made at a +3 difficulty.
Notes: Orcs on Helios rarely live as anything but wandering Nomads. Occasionally, several hundred may serve as the crack troops of a Death Lord (one of Helios’ Necromancers) or the militia of a city. Elsewhere on The Sphere, Orcs live among other Men as outcasts or criminals. They have few standing traditions as fathers and mothers both abandon their children either before they are born or soon after either due to death or disinterest. Surprisingly, one of the few standing traditions in Orcish culture is reverence for elders and ancestors. However, when one considers that any Orc old enough to be considered an elder is probably one of the toughest, meanest bastards to still be alive considering his brutal lifestyle, it’s no wonder that other Orcs respect him out of fear rather than honor for his wisdom. Many Orcs honor their cultural ancestors as well – those who proved themselves as great warriors or leaders during life through their great and/or terrible deeds are worshipped after death. Each year, on the day of the iconic “hero’s” death, other Orcs (even those not related to him) will bring offerings to his grave as a sign of respect for the life of strength he lived. But no matter where an Orc lives, he spends his whole life as an outsider, feared and loathed by mainstream society. Orcs lead short, lonely lives that usually end in violence. They live off of their aptitude for war, serving as thugs and mercenaries for those too weak or too powerful to get their own hands dirty. Most trust no one and despise everyone, especially other Orcs.
Playing an Orc: Orcs are warriors, no question about it. While the small, wormy ones or the brainy, smart ones break away from the norm to become Rogues and Mages respectively, there should be no question in anyone’s mind that the Orc is best suited for killing. Their gift and racial bonuses make them ideal for dishing out punishment to anyone stupid enough to be on the wrong side of their sword. Of course, those who live by the sword will die by the sword as is evidenced by Orcish society. Coping with the Orc’s disadvantage should be a prime aspect of playing these strangely tragic creatures. Even Orcs who try to shake the stigma of being a merciless killer are sucked back into it as unmerited hatred is directed at them for crimes they’ve yet to commit. No matter how good an Orc’s intentions, he will inevitably be viewed as the bad-guy regardless of their outcome.

Common Names (Male): Bez, Bragg, Duzgok, Hiluk, Gar, Grashnak, Guzner, Monz, Pugduk, Rugar, Taz, Zezner
Common Names (Female): Argha, Bruagh, Carga, Dekgu, Eggha, Frug, Honuk, Krilge, Omegh, Slaugh, Vagabu
Common Family Names: Traditionally, Orcs do not have family names. Those who create their own are considered whipped dogs to new ways of thinking; traitors to their heritage of primal freedom.

Bonus
+2 Skill Points
+1 Strength
+1 Stamina
One extra weapon proficiency

Racial Advantage
Brutal: Orcs automatically succeed when the d20 displays a 19 or 20 for all combat related rolls. This bonus applies only to rolls made during combat or Feats that are relevant to inflicting damage on a target in some way (such as setting traps, poisoning, etc). Additionally, Orcs roll 2d12 when making a Dare roll on any combat related feat.