I like custom races! Here's a big mess of races from the Arnheim campaign I ran.
Dwarves – are a clannish, and warlike race that prefers to live underground. Dwarven social status is determined by clan membership and individual “honorâ€. Clans are typically structured like an autonomous military unit in which the leader rises due to their ability to lead the clan in battle. All of the “civilized†(AKA non-barbarian) dwarvish clans have a special relationship with the Orsennan empire, serving the emperor as special military units. While many consider the dwarves a conquered people, they manage a fairly autonomous existence and have kept their culture and faith intact – most still worshiping Cyriacus as a god in his own right. (Which means that dwarves are the only race whose civilized members are typically polytheist.)
- medium size, +2 str, -2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Cha
- Languages: Kyrga, (civilized) Avesti, (wild) Nhaz
- Chthonic (background/heritage) This character has a strong affiliation with earth and stone, and a yearning to be underground.
- Darkvision
- Weapon Proficiency All dwarves can use the Dwarven Waraxe.
- Hardiness vs Poisons +2 save vs Poison
- Resistant to Disease +2 save vs Disease
- Stable +2 racial bonus to Discipline.
- Offensive Training +1 on attacks vs Goblinoids and Scalykind
- Defensive Training +4 Dodge bonus vs Giants
- Favored class Fighter
Elves – are of mixed parentage, both fairy and human. All elves are raised by their fairy parent in the wilderness, taught the ways and ethos of nature, and thus all begin with a wild background. There is no “elf†society or species as elves are merely half humans adopted by the Fey. Their connection to Faerie and wilderness makes them outsiders in Arnheim due to the “civilizing†influence of Orsenna and its religions.
- medium size, -2 str, +2 dex, -2 con, +2 cha
- Languages: Sylvan, (possible bonus) Gnomish
- Fey Kinship (Background/Heritage) kinship with all Fey creatures.
- Lowlight Vision
- Keen Senses
- Skill Affinity +2 to Search, Spot, and Listen
- Hardiness vs. Enchantments +2 save vs Mind-affecting spells
- Weapon Proficiency All elves can use the Longbow, and Shortbow.
- Favored class Druid
Gnomes – are a magical race, with mild affiliation to the Earth element, and prefer to live underground. They live alone or in small family groups, and thus do not build cities or establish nations. Many maintain good relations with both Fairy and Goblin kind and move freely through Faerie realms. However due to their habits and appearance, in Arnheim’s civilized areas they are frequently confused with goblins and thus distrusted if not attacked on sight.
- small size, -2 str, +2 int
- Languages: Gnomish, (possible bonuses) Sylvan, Goblin
- Chthonic (background/heritage) This character has a strong affiliation with earth and stone, and a yearning to be underground.
- Darkvision
- Stonecunning +2 bonus on Search checks made in interior areas, and generally positive relations with free willed earth elementals.
- Skill Affinity +2 Concentration checks
- Hardiness vs. Illusions +2 save vs Mind-affecting spells
- Innate Spell Abilities 1/day Dancing Lights, and Faerie Fire
- Favored class Wizard
Pygmies – are a rare diminutive race of humans (standing about 3 feet tall). They refer to themselves as the Leshii, but Pygmy is what they are called by others, and the name has stuck. Once an independent and nomadic jungle people, they are now subjects of the empire, their jungle homeland raised and converted to farmland. To survive they have adapted new ways of life, filling whatever niches they find available, but typically taking the role of wandering mystic. This flexibility paired with their spiritual culture result in a remarkably resilient people. In fact, despite their low social status, much of the empire has begun to adopt their culture of religious tolerance. They enjoy natural good luck, long life spans (many living to see 150), and exude confidence. They have ruddy skin, straight dark hair, and brown or black eyes.
- small size, -2 str, +2 wis
- Languages: Avesti, (bonus for priests) Celestial or Infernal or Shadal
- Skill Affinity +2 Move Silently, Listen
- Lucky +1 to all saves
- Fearless +2 save vs Fear
- Good Aim +1 attack with thrown weapons
- Favored class Cleric
Feyborn – like elves are of mixed parentage, both fairy and human. The difference is that feyborn are raised amongst humans, and thus lacked the transformative influence of fairy magic in their childhood. Nevertheless they tend to be both beautiful and lucky, attributes traditionally attributed to fairies, and this is both a benefit and curse in their lives. Feyborn often face prejudice in Arnheim – distrusted by some due to their assumed association with Faerie beings, or desired by others who see the feyborn as naturally good, exotic and beautiful.
- medium size, +2 cha
- Fey Kinship (Background/Heritage) kinship with all Fey creatures.
- Lowlight Vision
- Lucky +1 to all saves
- Favored class any
Goblin-touched – are humans who began to express beastial traits shortly after they were born. The mere touch of a goblin is said to cause this disfiguration. In the city of Arnheim, association with goblins carries such a strong stigma that not only does society reject the goblin-touched child, but the family loses status as well. Thus the goblin-touched are typically outcasts of society and disowned by their very own families.
- medium size, -2 cha
- Magical Deformity The goblin-touched are still human albeit transformed by magic.
- Darkvision
- Resistant to Change immunity to Lycanthropy and the spell Baleful Polymorph.
- Spell Resistant +2 save vs Spells
- Favored class any
Humans – are ubiquitous and diverse. The dominant societies in the setting are human, which benefits human characters in these societies. The ruling dynasties of Orsenna have all been human as is the ruling house of Arnheim.
- medium size
- Quick to master +1 Feat at level 1
- Skilled +1 Skill (+4 skill points at level 1, +1 skill point thereafter)
- Favored class any
