Not really a separate race by biological standards, they are nevertheless considered to be a sub-species of common elves due to their insular society and alien culture. Darkelves are not born as such, but are elves who turn away from the “good” gods and worship either Lilith or Sathonys. Not really distinguishable otherwise from an elf, darkelves tend to have paler skin due to their increased nightly activity. Shunned by the rest of elven society, darkelves are outcasts and hunted in most areas with stable governments and firm laws. It is unknown where the rituals are being held which turn an elf into this sinister creature, but rumours speak of an old temple within the area of Eal-Deliah, the ruined, ancient home of Elvenkind.
‘Here, child, take this cookie and begone… ouch! Darn, what the hell…’
‘Watch it, big one, or your knees will make some, say, more close acquaintance with my axe here! *mumble, grumble* stupid long-legged demi-brain…’
If you ever overheard a conversation like this, it is most likely you could have seen a small but presumably strong and sturdy figure if you only directed your gaze floorwards…. You could have had a personal encounter with a heavily armoured and armed dwarf. At approximately 110 to a maximum of 150 cm ‘tall'(including the beard), the typical dwarf, male or female is nonetheless a fighter one should never underestimate. As one of the native races in Forostar, they mainly inhabit the northern mountains, in subterranean dwellings as well as in villages above ground. Since the time they assisted the humans, elves and halflings in the war against a strange race from another continent, and the time they made the great dragons from the mountains of Giat extinct with the aid of the fierce tshahark warrior race, more and more dwarves can be seen around the human capital of Arborea. This doesn’t mean dwarves are flooding to Arborea all the time, but there are trade relations between a relatively hidden dwarven outpost in the mountains of Giat and the humans as well as the elves. Additionally, groups of adventurers stumble through the entrance of this outpost from time to time and enjoy the shelter the place provides in the harsh Giat mountain-climate. Having become acquainted with the not-so-tall folks, they spread stories about the hospitality of the dwarves inhabiting the old dwarven mining settlement. The most famous thing about the dwarves besides their wary nature is the strong dwarven beer (samples are often found carried the direction of Arborea, but they never seem to be able to reach their destination…), and the rather strange food the dwarves love to consume. Find out more by yourself, just pay a visit to them.
But be warned:
Dwarves are stubborn and at first encounter, they often seem repulsive. Just be patient and get to know them a little better, and you will see: you never had better friends in your whole life.
Elves are one of the oldest races in Forostar, second only to the dwarves. They were created by the god Taniel. Elves do not age or die naturally. However, they can be killed by violence, and sometimes, feeling the weight of their years heavy about their shoulders, can choose to end their lives. They are famous for their remarkable grace and beauty, and their fine craftsmanship. However, they can also be arrogant and haughty.
A half-elf is the offspring of a human father and an elven mother, with some of the advantages and disadvantages of both races. For example, half-elves do not have the ability to see in total darkness like elves, but they can see perfectly well when it is merely dark. Half-elves are stronger than elves but weaker than humans, but recover mana faster than humans but more slowly than elves. Half-elves are generally accepted by other races, except for certain fanatics who curse them for being hybrids. Elves tend to be more likely to be fanatical about pureblood lines than humans.
While not immortal like elves, half-elves can reach an age of several hundred years.
Halflings are named for their short size, but they generally have big hearts. They are nimble and dextrous, and have more curiosity than should have been able to fit into such a small package, giving rise to the common saying: ‘Curiosity killed the halfling’ – although many times that curiosity takes the form of a large warrior, whose ancestral blade has been ‘found’ once again by an inquisitive halfling. Halflings are natural thieves, although they would be shocked to be called that. How can they help it if, at the end of the day, they reach into their pockets and discover they have ‘found’ all manner of interesting items? The former owners should be more careful not to lose them! However, halflings are able to be serious, as well. During the Race Wars, they were a major ally of the Elven race, using their skills to cause chaos among their attackers. No one quite knows where the halfling homeland is. Although they speak of a ‘Halfling Empire,’ they are always vague about its specific size and location.
Your average human is… let’s put it this way… say… average… mostly in terms of physical attributes in comparison to the other races living in Forostar. This does not mean humans are boring in any way, it’s just an objective judgement of their empiric determinable features.
Being the race inhabiting the continent of Forostar the shortest period of time, they already have used this time to make an imprint on the land. Since their landing in 0 A.A. and the following horrible wars, first against the native inhabitants of Forostar, then, joining forces with the above, against a mysterious insect-like race of brutal warriors, they have lived through all states of the lifecycle of an average population of your average mammal.
They fled their homeland near extinction, settled on new land, drifted towards extinction once again, are now on the highest point of evolution they ever were. They are friend to all races on Forostar, having trade relations with most of the settlements around their capital Arborea and are occupied with enlarging their knowledge, wisdom, allies and numbers everyday… just in case – you never know – if the insects came back one day…
Xutra, adventurer and explorer of the wonders of living,
court of King Kondros II, 1062 AA
Welcome stranger!
You want to learn more about the proud race of tshahark? Well, here we go.
Once they were humans, but during a cruel war ages ago, when the allied races had been nearly defeated by a strange race, some mages tried to create a new creature that would possibly be the last chance for humanity to survive. So they started a magic ritual with the aim of creating a new race, that could withstand the threat and help mankind to overcome the insects. The result was the tshahark, who are the mightiest fighters in this realm. They are a combination of saurians and humans. Their saurian blood gives them strength and endurance while their human blood makes them somewhat (but not very) intelligent. Well, the tshahark expelled this strange, insect-like race from Geas and mankind survived the war. But due to the fact that tshaharks are different from the humans, they were feared and hated.
Generations after the war, mankind had forgotten the deeds of the tshaharks and started to hunt them down wherever they had been seen. Nearly exterminated but not yet beaten, the survivors fled into some mountains where they took an abandoned castle in possession. They restored the castle and made it their home. Now that their population is growing again and the human kind has forgotten their hatred of the tshahark, they are roaming the world again and can be found nearly everywhere. Still they return to the old castle at least one time every year.
Well, this is more or less a short overview over the history of this proud race. But if you are travelling through Forostar, you will surely find out more about the tshahark and its history.
