Races

Even though they may be able to speak and are part of society, not everyone you meet in Ruwar is a person.  Some are evil monsters and some are beings of goodness.  The difference is that people have choices.  Here's a list of some of the main Races of Ruwar.

Human

Humans are the dominant race of Ruwar.  They control over a dozen countries and over half the civilized world.  This is due mostly to the fact that before the Sundering, the evil Cheytagarothians viewed all races other than human as inverior and made war with them or kept them in bondage.  This treatment has resulted in humans outnumbering other races even though the Sorcerate Empire is long gone.

Human cultures vary greatly in type, but humans naturally build governments and appoint leaders.  They like to cluster into cities.  Other than this trait to organize, they're very diverse.  The desire to explore and leave a mark on the world is deep in the human race.  They're fantastic survivors and can be found just about anywhere, even in the most difficult places to live.

Humans characters have less trouble getting along culturally since many humans are racists and treat other races poorly.  They are accepted almost anywhere.

Bardo

The Bardo are found primarily in Blestith.  They also can be found in small groups and communities all around the world.  They are usually between five and six and a half feet tall.  Their skin is a purple hue ranging from violet to deep purple.  Their hair is blue to black and grows out in thick locks.  They're generally muscular and broad shouldered.  Their hands are encased in a thick coating of keratin (the stuff that fingernails are made of).  This prohibits them from wearing gloves or gauntlets, but provides a natural protection and allows them to handle hot materials without difficulty.

The Bardo are almost universally crafters to a degree.  They are not warlike and love to build and create things.  Many become smiths because of the ease of working in the forges.  They're practical and love to work.  A Bardo at work is a busy Bardo.  A Bardo at play is usually working on some side project.  They do not know how to relax at all.

Nobody knows why but, even though they can be found many places, the race seems to be dying off.

 Eluthair
 The Eluthair are a race of tall slender people with a very thin coat of fur.  They don't have long hair on their heads but have "tufts" on their elbows.  This hair often has speckled or stripped patterns.  They're typically seven to eight feet tall, but weigh no more than an average human.

The Eluthair are a woodland race that lives in forests all over Ruwar.  They're ruled by councils that govern small groups.  Living deep in the woods they survive by cultivating fruit trees, hunting, and fishing.  There are no Eluthair farms or gardens.  They plant throughout the woods and gather as needed.

The goal of the Eluthair is to live long and leave no mark on the world.  They build from wood, use wooden weapons, and very seldom create anything lasting.  They're neutral to a fault and will do everything they can to avoid being caught in the middle of a conflict.  If threatened themselves, they are viciously logical and will defend their forests mercilessly.

Some Eluthair have grown tired of isolated living and have taken up moving into human cities and exploring the world.

Vorshalkii

From the depths of the Hetkri Ocean come the Vorshalkii.  This amphibian race can live on land or in the water.  They have fins protruding from their heads, calves, and forearms.  Their skin is rubbery and can be colored anything from pale white to sea green-blue.  They have small gill slits under their ribs.  They can embed pearls and other smooth stones into their skin and wear these as jewelry.

Most of the vorshalkii live in cities in the heights of an underwater mountain range.  These mountains don't break the surface, but come close, creating a land of unseen reefs.  Even though they are aquatic they could not easily make the long swim to the mainland until the formation of the Caldignartian navy several hundred years ago.  With the ships came trade and many vorshalkii have moved inland to join with coastal communities.  With the exception of dry and arid regions they can now be found in many parts of Ruwar.

The are excellent merchants and fishermen.  They're generally good natured and get along well in society.

Tishka

The Tishka are a proud race of bird-like people from the Sikkomar Desert.  Bright crests of colored plumage grows from their heads like hair.  They also have decorative feathers growing from the backs of their arms.  Their eyes are piercing and shaped like a hawk or eagle.  They tend to be short, very few taller than five feet, and they weigh little due to their light bones.  Other than a golden tan color their skin is much like humans.

The society of Tishka has survived, and thrived, in the deep deserts of the ever shifting Sikkomar.  They're a very formal society and can be quite aggressive.  They are known for a code of honor that demands challenge for injustice or insult.  Tishka raised in the burning sands have very little sense of humor, they cannot afford it in the harsh conditions.  Tishka knights roam the desert on great noveho birds, seeking out danger and defending their borders.  To the Tishka, noveho birds are sacred.  When one dies they make weapons and armor from the remaining claws and beak.

Tishka have begun to move out of the desert into other parts of the world.  They tend to look at other races as having "had an easy time" of survival.  As a result, they're drawn to nations that have trouble and strife, where they're better able to relate to the people.  They see wealth and comfort as disgusting and wasteful.