Races of Erisa

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Races of Erisa

Erisa is the home to a wide variety of races the notable exception is the absence of the Elven race. Over 5,000 years ago a plague struck Erisa, and decimated the Elven Kingdoms. Since then Elves no longer exist on Erisa and those that find themselves there through either magical transport such as Spelljammers or portals tend to contract the disease in a matter of weeks. Once contracted the disease has a 100% fatality rate. No other races are apparently affected by the disease.

below is a Sampling of some of the choices players can make for their characters race.

Human

Dwarven

On Erisa Dwarves live beneath the mountains. Their strongholds are usually isolated and they have little contact with other races. Dwarves tend to like their privacy and actively discourage visitors to their strongholds. A typical Dwarf is, on average, 4' 2" tall and weighs about 170 pounds. Dwarves claim that they are the first Race on Erisa and all other races are descended from them. Dwarves are clannish and keep to themselves. The majority are of lawful good alignment.

Hobbit

Hobbits are found throughout lands that have been settled by humans. They live much as humans do but prefer rural settings and villages to towns and cities. Their crafts tend toward the ordinary and practical--farmers, millers, innkeepers, weavers, brewers, tailors, bakers, and merchants are common in Hobbit society.

Averaging about 3' in height, Hobbits are slightly stockier in build than is typical for humankind. Their complexions run the gamut from pale to very dark, with hair color correspondingly blond to black and eyes that are brown or hazel. They rarely wear shoes (only in bad weather and bitter cold) and can be easily distinguished by the thick patches of hair growing atop each foot. They have no facial hair (besides eyebrows and eyelashes, of course). They wear brightly-colored, comfortable clothes, such as trousers and shirts or dresses, with a vest, jacket, hat, sash, or bonnet added as a flourish. Their faces are round and very expressive, often appearing child-like to humans.

Hobbits are slightly longer-lived than humans, averaging 100 years--though a few patriarch and matriarchs have reached ages of 140 and beyond. Full adulthood is generally recognized at about 25 years of age.

Hobbits are only moderately industrious, but they tend to make up in talent for what they lack in drive. A Hobbit farmer may tend a small plot in the morning, for example, and spend the afternoon lying in the shade--yet his or her irrigation ditch will be so cleverly aligned that his or her field yields a crop equal to that of a much larger human-tended farm. A Hobbit-woven tunic will have a finer weave and be less scratchy than a similar human product, thus fetching a considerably higher price.

Hobbits are the non human race most closely integrated into human society. They will work for human employers or hire human laborers, and many a Hobbit merchant has made his or her fortune by appealing to the human elite of a city's population. While they will dwell in buildings in human neighborhoods, Hobbit do prefer to live among others of their own race when this is possible.

A Hobbit's preferred type of house is the combined above and below ground burrow. The upper portion is almost always wood-framed, with several doors and windows and a bright, airy feel--though the ceilings are typically no more than 5' above the floors. The lower portion will contain the fireplace and several small, cozy rooms. Lacking the time, property, or means to build a traditional home, however, a Hobbit will cheerfully occupy a human house, a sheltered cave, or even a shack or tent. Wherever he or she lives, a Hobbit will find a place to have a fire and gather for social conversation.

Gnome

Big of nose, quick with a laugh, cheerful, visionary, and industrious in their approach to life, the Rock Gnomes form the picture of the gnomish race as it is viewed by most of the larger folk who know them.

While not a populous race in comparison to humans or other demihumans, they are encountered in a wide variety of environments, showing no particular preference for any one type of climate. They do, however, tend to make their homes in areas with an abundance of natural rock (even if it's invisible under a layer of loam and forest).

The most distinctive physical characteristic of the Gnome is an enormous nose--a proboscis that is larger than that of any dwarf or human, despite the gnome's diminutive size. Indeed, the size of one's nose is a matter of some status among Gnomes, and more than one good-natured debate has resulted in actual comparisons being made. The true test of a mighty nose is the ability to poke it into your opponent's eye without having his nose do more than tickle the fringe of your beard (the use of the male pronoun is not generic here; females pride themselves on big noses too, but in addition to lacking beards they are less prone to such boisterous comparisons).

Gnomes average about 3 1/2 ' in height. Unlike the burly dwarves, who tend to weigh as much or more than the average human, Gnomes are lightly-built. Their small frame is deceptive, however, for despite their size these gnomes are as strong as most humans.

Only the males are bearded, with facial hair growing in near the beginning of the gnome's second century of life. Unlike dwarves, however, gnome males keep their beards neatly brushed and trimmed, with a maximum length of only about six inches. Sometimes the beard will be trimmed into fashionable shapes such as a goatee, or brushed into a long, curling point (or pair of points, in a real statement of high fashion).

While the average lifespan of a Gnome is in the area of four centuries, it is not uncommon to find an elder patriarch or matriarch who has been around for more than 600 years. The oldest of them have been known to approach the venerable age of 750 years.

The industrious nature of gnomes is well-documented, and probably represents their closest similarity to dwarves. Like dwarves, gnomes will organize for a task, with each individual lending his or her talents where they will be most useful. When digging a tunnel, for example, the strongest gnomes will work with picks to break up the rock in their path, while others--more nimble, if not so powerful--scamper among the flailing picks, scooping up the debris with shovels and pails. A third group of gnomes, those who are very hardy and capable of great endurance, will carry the crushed rock (often in wheelbarrows, but sometimes in leather sacks slung over the shoulder) out of the tunnel to the dumping grounds. In their pursuit of mining, gnomes are not so speedy to excavate as dwarves, but they are more careful with what they find. Indeed, many a vein of ore that has been "played out" by dwarven standards has been taken over by gnomes and continued to yield its riches to the more meticulous gnomish miners. Even while they work, however, these gnomes will pursue their tasks with high good humor, bawdy stories, and a succession of jokes of all types. Only rarely, however, will this frivolity interfere with the effectiveness of the group's work. Nowhere is Gnome precision more in evidence than in their stonecutting and gemwork. Their skill at cutting, polishing, and mounting gemstones is unsurpassed by any other race. They are also skilled enough metalworkers to make elaborate frames and mounts for jewelry. Indeed, gnomish metal-smiths work better with soft metals such as silver and gold than they do with iron and steel--another significant difference between them and their larger cousins, the dwarves. Gold chain belts, silver necklaces, and shining buttons are all proudly displayed by the well-accoutred gnome.

Gnomes typically make abysmal farmers, but they can be capable hunters and are excellent at gathering the bounty of their native woodlands, including nuts, fruits, grubs, mushrooms, and wild greens. A community will typically tend a small field of grain, which is used in about equal proportions to make bread and ale.

Gnomes are very social creatures, and generally live in thriving, active communities. Such communities are organized into up to a dozen clans, and all permanent residents are member of one or another of these families. Smaller outposts may consist of a single tight-knit family, with a patriarch, matriarch, or pair of elders providing benign leadership over three or four dozen gnomes. The typical upper limit of any one community is 400-500 gnomes, mainly due to limitations in the surrounding food supply--not due to any desire for isolation from their neighbors.

Gnomes travel frequently among their communities, and many of them will venture into human or demihuman cities out of curiosity. They mix well with Hobbits and find life in a Hobbit village quite pleasant. Unlike Hobbits, they have no particular compulsion that holds them to their own homes or locales, and their long lifespans afford them the time to indulge their curiosity about how other races live.

Centaur

Wemic

Orog

Orc

Gnoll

Goblin

Kobold

Ogre


	home Nations of Erisa \| Gods of Erisa \| Races of Erisa \| Hall of Heroes \| Tales of Erisa \| Links \| Odds and Ends \| Lands of Fate PBEM Races of Erisa Erisa is the home to a wide variety of races the notable exception is the absence of the Elven race. Over 5,000 years ago a plague struck Erisa, and decimated the Elven Kingdoms. Since then Elves no longer exist on Erisa and those that find themselves there through either magical transport such as Spelljammers or portals tend to contract the disease in a matter of weeks. Once contracted the disease has a 100% fatality rate. No other races are apparently affected by the disease. below is a Sampling of some of the choices players can make for their characters race. Human Dwarven On Erisa Dwarves live beneath the mountains. Their strongholds are usually isolated and they have little contact with other races. Dwarves tend to like their privacy and actively discourage visitors to their strongholds. A typical Dwarf is, on average, 4' 2" tall and weighs about 170 pounds. Dwarves claim that they are the first Race on Erisa and all other races are descended from them. Dwarves are clannish and keep to themselves. The majority are of lawful good alignment. Hobbit Hobbits are found throughout lands that have been settled by humans. They live much as humans do but prefer rural settings and villages to towns and cities. Their crafts tend toward the ordinary and practical--farmers, millers, innkeepers, weavers, brewers, tailors, bakers, and merchants are common in Hobbit society. Averaging about 3' in height, Hobbits are slightly stockier in build than is typical for humankind. Their complexions run the gamut from pale to very dark, with hair color correspondingly blond to black and eyes that are brown or hazel. They rarely wear shoes (only in bad weather and bitter cold) and can be easily distinguished by the thick patches of hair growing atop each foot. They have no facial hair (besides eyebrows and eyelashes, of course). They wear brightly-colored, comfortable clothes, such as trousers and shirts or dresses, with a vest, jacket, hat, sash, or bonnet added as a flourish. Their faces are round and very expressive, often appearing child-like to humans. Hobbits are slightly longer-lived than humans, averaging 100 years--though a few patriarch and matriarchs have reached ages of 140 and beyond. Full adulthood is generally recognized at about 25 years of age. Hobbits are only moderately industrious, but they tend to make up in talent for what they lack in drive. A Hobbit farmer may tend a small plot in the morning, for example, and spend the afternoon lying in the shade--yet his or her irrigation ditch will be so cleverly aligned that his or her field yields a crop equal to that of a much larger human-tended farm. A Hobbit-woven tunic will have a finer weave and be less scratchy than a similar human product, thus fetching a considerably higher price. Hobbits are the non human race most closely integrated into human society. They will work for human employers or hire human laborers, and many a Hobbit merchant has made his or her fortune by appealing to the human elite of a city's population. While they will dwell in buildings in human neighborhoods, Hobbit do prefer to live among others of their own race when this is possible. A Hobbit's preferred type of house is the combined above and below ground burrow. The upper portion is almost always wood-framed, with several doors and windows and a bright, airy feel--though the ceilings are typically no more than 5' above the floors. The lower portion will contain the fireplace and several small, cozy rooms. Lacking the time, property, or means to build a traditional home, however, a Hobbit will cheerfully occupy a human house, a sheltered cave, or even a shack or tent. Wherever he or she lives, a Hobbit will find a place to have a fire and gather for social conversation. Gnome Big of nose, quick with a laugh, cheerful, visionary, and industrious in their approach to life, the Rock Gnomes form the picture of the gnomish race as it is viewed by most of the larger folk who know them. While not a populous race in comparison to humans or other demihumans, they are encountered in a wide variety of environments, showing no particular preference for any one type of climate. They do, however, tend to make their homes in areas with an abundance of natural rock (even if it's invisible under a layer of loam and forest). The most distinctive physical characteristic of the Gnome is an enormous nose--a proboscis that is larger than that of any dwarf or human, despite the gnome's diminutive size. Indeed, the size of one's nose is a matter of some status among Gnomes, and more than one good-natured debate has resulted in actual comparisons being made. The true test of a mighty nose is the ability to poke it into your opponent's eye without having his nose do more than tickle the fringe of your beard (the use of the male pronoun is not generic here; females pride themselves on big noses too, but in addition to lacking beards they are less prone to such boisterous comparisons). Gnomes average about 3 1/2 ' in height. Unlike the burly dwarves, who tend to weigh as much or more than the average human, Gnomes are lightly-built. Their small frame is deceptive, however, for despite their size these gnomes are as strong as most humans. Only the males are bearded, with facial hair growing in near the beginning of the gnome's second century of life. Unlike dwarves, however, gnome males keep their beards neatly brushed and trimmed, with a maximum length of only about six inches. Sometimes the beard will be trimmed into fashionable shapes such as a goatee, or brushed into a long, curling point (or pair of points, in a real statement of high fashion). While the average lifespan of a Gnome is in the area of four centuries, it is not uncommon to find an elder patriarch or matriarch who has been around for more than 600 years. The oldest of them have been known to approach the venerable age of 750 years. The industrious nature of gnomes is well-documented, and probably represents their closest similarity to dwarves. Like dwarves, gnomes will organize for a task, with each individual lending his or her talents where they will be most useful. When digging a tunnel, for example, the strongest gnomes will work with picks to break up the rock in their path, while others--more nimble, if not so powerful--scamper among the flailing picks, scooping up the debris with shovels and pails. A third group of gnomes, those who are very hardy and capable of great endurance, will carry the crushed rock (often in wheelbarrows, but sometimes in leather sacks slung over the shoulder) out of the tunnel to the dumping grounds. In their pursuit of mining, gnomes are not so speedy to excavate as dwarves, but they are more careful with what they find. Indeed, many a vein of ore that has been "played out" by dwarven standards has been taken over by gnomes and continued to yield its riches to the more meticulous gnomish miners. Even while they work, however, these gnomes will pursue their tasks with high good humor, bawdy stories, and a succession of jokes of all types. Only rarely, however, will this frivolity interfere with the effectiveness of the group's work. Nowhere is Gnome precision more in evidence than in their stonecutting and gemwork. Their skill at cutting, polishing, and mounting gemstones is unsurpassed by any other race. They are also skilled enough metalworkers to make elaborate frames and mounts for jewelry. Indeed, gnomish metal-smiths work better with soft metals such as silver and gold than they do with iron and steel--another significant difference between them and their larger cousins, the dwarves. Gold chain belts, silver necklaces, and shining buttons are all proudly displayed by the well-accoutred gnome. Gnomes typically make abysmal farmers, but they can be capable hunters and are excellent at gathering the bounty of their native woodlands, including nuts, fruits, grubs, mushrooms, and wild greens. A community will typically tend a small field of grain, which is used in about equal proportions to make bread and ale. Gnomes are very social creatures, and generally live in thriving, active communities. Such communities are organized into up to a dozen clans, and all permanent residents are member of one or another of these families. Smaller outposts may consist of a single tight-knit family, with a patriarch, matriarch, or pair of elders providing benign leadership over three or four dozen gnomes. The typical upper limit of any one community is 400-500 gnomes, mainly due to limitations in the surrounding food supply--not due to any desire for isolation from their neighbors. Gnomes travel frequently among their communities, and many of them will venture into human or demihuman cities out of curiosity. They mix well with Hobbits and find life in a Hobbit village quite pleasant. Unlike Hobbits, they have no particular compulsion that holds them to their own homes or locales, and their long lifespans afford them the time to indulge their curiosity about how other races live. Centaur Wemic Orog Orc Gnoll Goblin Kobold Ogre