Races of Dragons' Cove

The most prolific race by far on Dragons’ Cove are humans, bested only by bulk totals of native dragons.
 

Appearance Natives of Dragons’ Cove are Caucasian: slightly darker skin tones are found in the northern desert and paler tones are found in the eastern mountains and Ice plains. Many natives are tanned from labouring or agricultural work. Hair colour, eye colour, height and build vary widely; non-natural eye colours occur in some humans with magic. Height depends on both genes and health and upbringing; those in poorer settlements are typically shorter than others with rich lifestyles. The invading Surahnian Rebels have a much more uniform appearance than natives; all have black hair, blue eyes and milk-white skin. Typically they have a strong build and are very resilient to hardship and change.   Lifespan The average male lifespan is 50 to 60 years; females have a shorter lifespan due to childbearing. Those with especially potent magic may have extended or shortened lifespans, depending on the type of magic possessed. Typically, those with more dangerous magic die younger than those without any sort of magic. Magic and strengths Humans are relatively durable and can excel in many areas. They can also breed with most other races (the exceptions being dragons, Centaurs and goblins), so Dragons' Cove has plenty of people that have half-human half-alternate race genes. Native humans can learn a variety of magics; non-natives have much greater difficulties with learning magic however, and are extremely slow to grasp concepts. Humans are more flexible than some other races as they can learn multiple different types of magic. However, this is not a natural process, and it generally takes longer to learn magic than other, more gifted, races.   Major strongholds Humans are found in every corner of the whole of the isle fairly regularly, except those areas that are difficult to reach or are defended by Maledictus Eice. New Racksom is now a stronghold for the Surahnian Rebels.   History Settled on Dragons’ Cove for as long as history can remember, humans might be considered ‘natives’ of the isle. However, some beg to differ, namely Maledictus Eice… =WIP=

Appearance
Demons share their physical appearance with humans, coming in as many varied sizes and colours as humans do, but they age slower. The only things that can at times differentiate a demon’s appearance from that of an average human being are the eyes. Demons sometimes appear with eyes shaped like those of animals, though not every demon shares this particularity.

Some demons also have the ability to take on the form of their natural element (fire, water, earth, wind, lightning) but this ability is very rare and considered nothing more than a rumour – even by the demons themselves.

Lifespan
Demons can have a lifespan of around 100-120 years but most of them never reach that age as their magic tends to burn them out long before they even reach 70.

Magic and strengths
Demons are very proficient in magic, but in one kind only. Each demon has one element and is proficient in that element alone. A fire demon for instance could not use water magic, and a wind demon could not use earth magic.

Demons are very connected to nature in general and their element in particular. A water demon can always sense the vicinity of water. Demons have the power to call to their element in any form it can take even without its presence being required. A fire demon does not need a spark to create a fire.

Breeding
Demons do not breed, neither amongst themselves nor with any other race known on Dragons’ Cove. They can enjoy sexual activities but procreation is impossible for them.
The race itself is not born either but comes into existence when there is a particularly strong surge of a particular element at a particular moment in time, which explains why there are so few demons in existence. This event happens rarely and the mechanics thereof have never been fully understood by anyone who studied demons.

Culture
Demons exist in very limited numbers only with at best three of the same kind in existence at the same time. Therefore they do not have any particular cultural events or family ties they consider important or necessary even. They purely exist for the joys of existence.

They do however all meet up once a year in celebration of the elements. This occurs when the old year turns into a new one.

Appearance The most common type of avians are the brown-winged and brown-haired clans that live in Turich. However, avians are widely scattered around Dragons' Cove, and each pocket has their own unique traits. Most avians share their wing colors with native birds from around the isle, though there are more than a few deviants to this trend. In particular, natives of Shayenne are prone to wildly differing wing patterns. Lifespan 40-50, slightly shorter than a human’s lifespan on average. Avian children grow very fast, usually reaching their 'teen' stage at the age of 10. Species Traits All true avians have wings and possess the ability to fly. They require a huge amount of food, especially in the early years when growing their wings. Even though avians regularly eat feast-like proportions, they rarely leave leftovers. Avians are inherently a very magical species, but they largely cannot manifest their magic outwardly. It is theorized that their magic helps them fly and cannot be used for any other purpose. Breeding When avians cross-breed with other non-winged species, there is a chance that the half-bred children could still look and act like avians. All half-avians born with wings have hollow bones and can fly. However, those born without wings might also have hollow bones as well. Half-avians with or without wings often inherit their parent’s large appetites and quick metabolisms. Culture Avians are prone to flocking, much like their non-magical wild bird kin. They often live in large family groups or clans, and the bonds between members of these groups are very strong. Though not overly prone to gang-like feuding, it is not unheard of for this clan or that to have a grudge against another clan that can last for hundreds of years. Women and men both of avian culture prize the look of their wings, and having nice feathers is akin to having a nice pair of legs in human culture. Otherwise, avians are very much like humans in the way that they go about their daily lives.

Major Professions
Avians naturally have a large amount of upper body strength, but they are also very fragile because of their hollow bones. This combined with their ability to fly makes them good for light work that requires long distance travel, such as couriers.

Major strongholds
Turich, Shayenne

History
In Shayenne, the tale of the appearance of avians begins with the legend of magicians who could use blood-magic in such a way as to be able to alter the physical form of a human. It became a tend of sorts for those of Shayenne who could afford the luxury or reproduce it themselves to change, and so avians were created. The changes were not permanent or harmful in anyway, but fashionable fun. That all changed when something happened to the village, and overnight it seemed as if all of the residents had become avians. What was worse: No one could figure out how to undo the transformation. Children soon began being born with wings already attached, and so it was that the avian race came to be on the island.

Appearance Elves are physically very similar to humans, the only obvious difference being their famed pointed ears. Their hearing is much better than that of humans, and they are much more dependent on it; their other senses are no different from a human’s. All elves are noticeably stronger and faster than humans, but not insurmountably so; a fit, well-trained human would be able to overpower an inactive elf of the same age and gender. Due to the mountainous climate of the Isle Triad, most elves are fair-skinned, with blonde hair and blue eyes are common, although it is still entirely normal to have darker hair or eyes. Lifespan Elves tend to live for around 200-300 years, with 200 being unusually young to die and elves of 300 almost unheard of. They will generally hit puberty at about 20 years of age and will fully finishing maturing at about 30. Most elves will remain unchanging in their prime until they reach 100 or so. Magic All elves have some ability to perform magic; however, this may be restricted to something as basic as producing sparks or similar. Elves as a whole have no particular affinity to one magic type, but individuals may often find themselves more comfortable using a particular type. As with any other species however, practice is the main determining factor in skill level. Certain individuals or families may have great knowledge of a certain area of magic, as the high prevalence of magic in the population allows for a high level of accomplishment, but due to the pride and exclusivity of Elvish families they very rarely share their magical knowledge with other families, hindering general progress.

Elvish Families
The Elvish population is composed of approximately 30 large families, each generally having around 50 members, though this is obviously variable. These families live in large houses or clusters of buildings, with large communal areas as well as separate rooms or small buildings for individual. While intermarriage is obviously necessary, they are insular as far as is possible, usually confining their social interactions to just their family and a few other families which are close allies. Similarly, long-lasting and bitter rivalries exist between different families, though actual attacks are a social taboo. In the case of marriage, the woman is adopted into her husband’s family (if they are not already of the same family; marriages between second or third cousins are not at all uncommon) and becomes a member of that new family for all intents and purposes.

Elves are excessively proud and vain, tending to disdain all others, and there is great competition to produce the best fighters, mages or craftsmen as well as other things such as commercial goods or finely bred horses- regardless of whether or not these have any practical application. Some families may choose to focus on certain areas and become the best in those, while others may aim to have different members of the family focus on different disciplines to gain a wide variety of accomplishment within the family. Another effect of this pride and intense focus on accomplishment is that those who do not conform to their family’s expectations would likely be hidden away as a disappointment or, in extreme cases, cast out entirely.

Those few families which live on the more mountainous islands or in more remote areas of the southernmost island tend to conform less to this stereotype, often having the least wealth and influence, and performing somewhat more menial jobs, if not any entirely mundane work such as working as servants. They are very much looked down on by the other families, but interact quite happily and normally between themselves and also do not view humans as inferior in the same was as other elves. Disappointing children from the other families might often be married off into one of these lower class families, or indeed simply handed over to them. The same fate is not uncommon for half-elf children.

Professions and trading
As might be expected from such a proud race, it is practically unheard of for elves to perform mundane work such as a normal human might do. The abundance of magic in their society allows for great accomplishment in many areas from medicine to craftsmanship, with the latter providing the majority of income for elves through trading routes with wealthy merchants and nobles in Didienne. Because of the lack of fertile land on the islands, most food for the elves is provided for by this trading, with as little human money used as possible. Perishables which cannot be provided for by this method are supplied by the two families which practice some farming around the river on the southernmost island. An example of an export might be elaborate and expensive jewellery, crafted with stones found in the mountainous regions of the isle triad. Highly skilled magic is used to locate and extract the best quality jewels with minimal damage, making mining no work for a casual labourer. Needless to say, no practical mining such as coal mining is practised by elves.

Language
All elves speak and write Elvish as their first language; however, most of them know at least the basics of the common language of Dragons' Cove which is needed for trade with the mainland. Generally they will be much more fluent in writing than in speaking, not necessarily knowing how to transcribe the alphabet of the common language into sound as they primarily use the common language to write letters to trading contacts.

Religion
While some philosophical elves may develop their own religious beliefs, and those who travel may even be converted to a mainland religion, the population as a whole does not follow any one religion. However, they all accept the belief that some kind of spirit or soul exists separate to the body and lingers on earth for many years after death, due to the existence of necromancy; it is reasoned that if a soul can be called back from beyond the grave regardless of the body’s fate, it must be separate and, if not immortal, at least much longer-lived than a body. (Note that the majority of elves do not advocate necromancy any more than most of the population of Dragons' Cove, but simply acknowledge its existence).

Government and crime
Rather than resorting to crime, elves tend to use subtle manipulation and sabotage in order to get their way. Except for in extreme cases, violent action is avoided due to fear of retribution. This is fortunate as elves have no actual ruling system or leader and are not subject to the laws of the mainland of Dragons' Cove.

Major strongholds
While some elves do live elsewhere on Dragons' Cove, the vast majority of them live on the Isle Triad to the east of the island. Due partly to how disagreeable they are and partly to their small number, there is no real town or centre of civilization, with each family living in separate locations scattered mostly across the southernmost island, with just a few families located on the two entirely mountainous islands.

History
Little is known about the origin of elves; they would be horrified to learn that their ancestors were in fact simply magically-inclined humans whose population became more and more innately magical as they lived in a small community on the magical “hotspot” of the Isle Triad. Even since the creation of the five stones which restrict free magic on Dragons' Cove, the Isle Triad has been among the least affected locations due to its peripheral position.

Appearance The most striking feature of centaurs is, of course, their equine lower halves. They generally have powerful, heavy-set bodies, thick tails and large hooves, with or without feathered hocks. They can come in every colour a horse comes in, although dark colours are most common- brown, bay and black. White markings are not uncommon. The ‘human’ part of their bodies are the same colour as their horse part, or slightly lighter- most centaurs therefore, have dark skin. Women are more flat-chested than human women in general. Their hair and eyes are natural colours for horses, and their ears are slightly pointed, although not as much as an elf’s. Most centaurs stand around 6’0, and are well-built and strong. They tend to wear minimal clothing; natural jewellery or skins and feathers from prey animals is about the extent of most centaurs’ modesty. Lifespan Centaurs live to unusually short ages of about 40-45, less than humans due to enhanced childhood growth. Generally their old age is very short, with health declining rapidly in the last 5 years of their lives. Breeding Centaurs can only breed with other centaurs; half-breeds cannot occur. Some centaurs may choose to take partners from other species, but this is a dangerous choice, as those that do are shunned from centaur herds. Reduced prejudice against other races in recent years has increased the number of those that choose alternative partners, and a drastic decrease in centaur populations.

Magic
An innately magical race, dependent on Dragons’ Cove magic for survival, it is surprising that most centaurs are poor at using magic. They are not limited as to what types of magic can be learned, but it is a frustrating and often fruitless use of time.

Culture
Centaurs are a fiercely stoic race, and culture plays a huge part in daily life. Herds are reclusive, living in wild and isolated areas of Dragons’ Cove and rarely coming into contact with other races, especially not by choice. They live in harmony with the land, and lead a primarily nomadic lifestyle; centaurs do not make permanent homes, but move around their territories a lot. Centaurs are primarily herbivores, eating fruit, wild vegetables, herbs and grasses, but prey hunting occasionally occurs as well.
Centaurs have very low levels of modesty, and are very relaxed with what clothing is worn; often none, body paint or only jewellery is seen as covering enough. Centaurs may be persuaded to wear more in the company of other races or in settlements, although it is often a contested point and difficult to make centaurs comply.
Decoration is occasionally worn in hair and tails, although this varies between herds.
Men and women are regarded as equal within centaur society, and either can lead a herd.

Customs
Centaurs very rarely come into contact with other races, and are often extremely wary or outright aggressive towards them if they choose to. Those centaurs that choose to befriend humans, or even worse, take one as a partner, are immediately exiled from their herd. Once a centaur is on their own, it is very difficult for them to re-integrate themselves into a new herd, as most contact between different herds occurs when groups meet. Loners are regarded with utmost suspicion.

Major strongholds
Nusfar hills, wetlands and forest north of Volfiris

War
Skirmishes regularly occur between different herds along territory boundaries, although they rarely escalate to extreme violence. Each skirmish is regarded as an individual event, and grudges or long-standing violence does not occur. Herds just as regularly mingle and swap members as the occurrence of hostile encounters.

Religion
Centaurs have a very close relationship with the land; everything has a soul, and should be regarded with respect. The exception to this is the holly bush; this is seen as a soulless plant, and is to be destroyed at any opportunity. It is often a sign of centaurs passing, if every holly bush in an area has been hacked down and trampled underfoot. An old story tells of the origin of this; one night the ancient herd of Piriis decided to make their camp within a circle of holly bushes one night, thinking the trees a safe haven from all watchers. That night however, a Tribal Battle Blood flew over on a destructive flight, setting alight all vegetation in its path. The holly caught alight around them; a few centaurs managed to escape the blaze, but the rest were trapped inside. Any attempts at rescue were beaten back by the prickly leaves of the trees, and the way the wood spat cinders as it burned. From that day forward, holly has been regarded as a cursed plant.

History
I can’t remember this right now.

Appearance Despite their small numbers, almost no nighie looks similar to another. Even within families shared physical traits are not nearly as common as they are in other races. Eye colors especially vary within families as there seems to be no dominant eye color among their race, though typically, brown is a typical hair color, and is one of the most common colors in this incredibly diverse race. Physically, the race has parted ways with the wispy Elves that they are rumored to have descended from. They are not born with natural willowy grace, and in that manner act generally more like humans although their ears are still long and pointed downward at the tips. They are not especially tall, the members of their race typically standing between 5'5" and 5'10". They are not fair-skinned, but rather have a darker walnut complexion and have brown hair as the standard dominant color, though other colors like black, purple/blue, red and blonde do exist in small numbers. Their eye colors are greatly varying, encompassing all of the standard colors: green, brown, blue, and hazel. In addition, unusual or impossible colors also run rampant, like violet, yellows and amber, as well as colors like orange and red. A third set is what the nighie call 'magic' hues, because of their incredible brilliance that appear to almost glow. The 'magic' hues come in any color, and are not specifically rare. Lifespan They live to be around 200 years old. They grow very slowly in the beginning stages, and once they reach adulthood, their progression of physical age slows considerably. Around 150 however, the years catch up with them at a terrific speed and their advanced age becomes rapidly apparent. Breeding Though nighie are rare in Dragon's Cove, partnerships between their race and others have occurred, and offspring from such relations have surprisingly not adopted any traits of the nighie parent. A child born of a human and nighie for example wouldn't have 'magic' hued eyes, even if the nighie parent did, nor would they live the 200 year life-span that would be expected. In essence, they are simply humans, or elves, or whatever the partner was.

Culture
The nighie have very defined gender roles within their society. Because of the race’s inherent lack of ability to pass on traits with other races, it is very important to the nighie culture that they remain 'pure'. Women are considered the guardians of the new generations and are feverishly guarded by the men of their culture. Outsiders of different are treated well, but with great suspicion, while a nighie of another tribe is most likely to be welcomed with open arms.

Women with magic can expect to become shamanesses and rise to the top of their matriarchal society. They are largely in charge of creating laws and maintaining customs that have an impact on the familial and societal spheres of influence. When tribes meet and create bonds between themselves, it is always the head shamaness that does the negotiating. It is not uncommon for highly ranked women within the tribes to take multiple husbands, and their children are often looked after by lower-ranking women in the shamaness society.

Men take charge of protection of the tribe, and women have no technical influence on the decisions made by the council of warriors that protect the tribes. If the tribe is under direct and immediate threat, then the head of the guardsmen assumes total responsibility over the entire tribe, superseding the shamaness’ influence temporarily. Men are not accepted in the shamaness circle of influence, nor are women accepted in the guard’s circle of influence. Those nighie that do not fall into either category are typical villagers and hold common occupations such as smithing, baking, basket weaving, and etc.

Customs Their race is fairly secluded. Only a few groups of population exist on Dragons' Cove, most of which congregate in the north western forests of the Cove. A great congregation of nighie gather outside of Xanile once every ten years in a festival called The Gathering. At The Gathering, the various nighie tribes share stories, commune, and exchange lore with each other. The event lasts a full two weeks, and members of the different tribes are encouraged to interact. When the tribes part, it is not uncommon for young unwed nighie to join a different tribe. Most nighie are born with magic and those men with an aptitude for the destructive arts are recruited to become patrolmen and fighters for the tribes. Becoming a guard of the nighie is considered a great honor, and the individuals who pass the grueling training that it requires to become a guardsmen are rewarded with a Dragon Dog, an semi-intelligent canine that is specifically bred to hunt and kill dragons. Guardsmen are not only trained to be physically tough, but also possess a remarkable mental fortitude. This is because the Dragon Dogs have slight psychic abilities, and will influence their partners if they are weak. Religion The nighie are Polytheistic, and believe in a plethora of gods and goddesses ranging from the major deities of the major elements (earth, wind, water, fire), down the to most insignificant of spirits (trees, rocks, grass, hearths). The gods and goddesses are arranged into different 'houses' depending on their element and the god or goddess who birthed them. Earth House: Nysaelia has many gods in her house that range from the spirits of deer to the spirits of entire mountains. Anything that walks or burrows in the ground is sacred to Nysaelia and has a place in her hall. She has a few children, most notable to be Halakilo, god of harvests.

Wind House: Tyloliwi, the god of wind oversees all movements in the sky, and his many followers govern even the littlest of breezes. The two most notable minor-gods of his are Thyrdem, god of storms who is always misbehaved and enjoys antagonizing the god of water, and Tydiel, goddess of gales which is often tasked with keeping Thyrdem from staying in one place too long.

Water House: Yushi is the patron god of water, and often fights with Thyrdem, creating hurricanes as the gods battle. Yuhishi's minor spirits are attributed to every body of water including oceans, rivers and lakes. Yohani is the goddess of rain, a milder twin of Thyrdem and much more desirable for encouraging proper growth of crops.

Fire House: Furoyol is the god of fire, the greatest spirit associated with him being the sun. Dragons are usually associated with Furoyol as well, though not in the same way as most creatures of the earth are associated with Nysaelia.

Mixed House: The goddess of seasons, Aiealoa, is a far more harmonious minor-god that belongs both to Nysaelia and Tyloliwi, a medium between the two opposite elements that is the constant reliable flow of change.

The most central to their belief is the omnipotent force that controls life and death. The force has no name, but is called many things by various nighie, always with great respect. To invoke the name of the Creator with abandon is one of the greatest sins that can be invoked. The Creator can spare life as easily as it can take life, so the greatest respect is given to the Creator. In legend, the Creator breathed life into the stars and created the world, the land, and the core four gods. It also gave the gods the ability to create within their jurisdiction, and from there they spawned the rest of the gods and goddesses, major and minor. In this, all beings are indirect products of the Creator, and it therefore has jurisdiction over them all.

Afterlife
Dedication to a major god, or even the Creator, ensures that when a nighie dies that they become a sacred spirit among the house of their chosen deity. The level of importance that the nighie soul has in the pantheon depends on their dedication to their faith in life, and the especially pious are believed have the opportunity to become minor gods upon their passing.

Major Professions
Guardsmen (Men Only), Shamaness (Women Only)

Major Strongholds
Near Xanile

History
The nighie are a very old race and in legend, it is said that they were once members of the fair-skinned faerie race; the Elves. It is also said that the ancestors of the nighie were among the first to settle in the wild ranges of Dragons' Cove, arriving from across the wild untamed seas. The chaotic land of ancient Dragons' Cove was much to their liking, and instead of trying to find a way to control the raw power of the land, they sought to live within it and to change as the land did. The nighie became then the very embodiment of change, their race developing and growing at a terrific rate, each generation different from the previous.

Long ago when the nighie race had lost their connections with the forces of change and nature and were beginning to follow the industrialized movement of the other races of Dragons' Cove, a revolutionary by the name of Ryourdynn began criticizing the standing government for turning their backs on the old ways of the nighie and everything that made their race what it was. The nighie race is deeply tied to the land and had always worshiped multiple gods representing the various elements, including magic itself. He preached that by abandoning the Old Ways, the nighie would anger their gods and find no solace in the afterlife.

For his disobedience, Ryourdynn was quartered, a particularly painful method of execution where you are literally ripped in fourths by being hooked up to four different horses that pull you in four different directions. Before his execution, however, Ryourdynn had gathered many followers, and after his death, they rose up and changed the face of nighie society forever. In remembrance of Ryourdynn's sacrifice, many nighie wear a simple pendant that resembles an 'X'. Each corner represents an element: earth, wind, water and fire. Where the four intersect represents the chaotic forces of being: life, death, creation, destruction and energy. Those of the race who are especially pious are called Quarterlings, which has led to some misunderstandings about what the nighie race is actually called. Outside of their society, the names Quarterling and nighie are interchangeable to those that have heard of the race, and more often than not, a nighie won't correct the misuse of a label.