Crucible

The first Orcs wandered through the wilderness, foraging. As the elder gods began to take more notice of them, and newborn elves began raiding their bands, orcs cut their way to some defensible real estate and began agriculture, in order to maintain a dedicated warrior caste. These warriors allowed the orcs to define boundaries of what was to become the first orcish nation, and begin a maintained effort of kicking the elves out, along with any elder beings.<br>

The first Orcs wandered through the wilderness, foraging. As the elder gods began to take more notice of them, and newborn elves began raiding their bands, orcs cut their way to some defensible real estate and began agriculture, in order to maintain a dedicated warrior caste. These warriors allowed the orcs to define boundaries of what was to become the first orcish nation, and begin a maintained effort of kicking the elves out, along with any elder beings.<br>

While purging elves, orcs discovered kobold settlements. After the first few defeats by superior weaponry and tactics, orcs realized that they were up against an organized foe, and began trading with the kobolds instead. They developed ships in order to find new things that the kobolds did not have.<br>

While purging elves, orcs discovered kobold settlements. After the first few defeats by superior weaponry and tactics, orcs realized that they were up against an organized foe, and began trading with the kobolds instead. They developed ships in order to find new things that the kobolds did not have.<br>

At this point, enough wandering elves got together and realized that to survive, they would have to do a better job of this whole thing. They organized attacks on orcish patrols, stole their weapons and began a guerrilla campaign that forced the orcs to pull back in key areas as protecting them from the elves became too much of a chore. Some of the elves made peaceful contact with orc traders, gaining access to pigments and clays that they immediately began employing in crafts, which were also valuable to the kobolds. Because elves have very loose ideas of territory, they often just left these things around, and kobolds interpreted that as offers to trade. Some elves made a game of it, seeing what they could get back, and so now it is well known that if you find random crafts in the woods, take them and put something in their place, because an elf put it there to trade.<br>

At this point, enough wandering elves got together and realized that to survive, they would have to do a better job of this whole thing. They organized attacks on orcish patrols, stole their weapons and began a guerrilla campaign that forced the orcs to pull back in key areas as protecting them from the elves became too much of a chore. Some of the elves made peaceful contact with orc traders, gaining access to pigments and clays that they immediately began employing in crafts, which were also valuable to the kobolds. Because elves have very loose ideas of territory, they often just left these things around, and kobolds interpreted that as offers to trade. Some elves made a game of it, seeing what they could get back, and so now it is well known that if you find random crafts in the woods, take them and put something in their place, because an elf put it there to trade.<br>

As the humans began appearing, they did not have the community to resist either the orcish territoriality or the elven raiding. Survivors that managed to band together and formed clans turned nomadic, following wildlife away from known territories. On the fringes, they discovered the gnomes, who were beginning to appear. With their help, the humans gained enough of a respite from the hazards of the wild to pitch fledgling cities that were able to check orcish and elven expansion when it reaches that far. The gnomes helped broker a peace, and through these negotiations penetrated into the societies of the other races.<br>

As the humans began appearing, they did not have the community to resist either the orcish territoriality or the elven raiding. Survivors that managed to band together and formed clans turned nomadic, following wildlife away from known territories. On the fringes, they discovered the gnomes, who were beginning to appear. With their help, the humans gained enough of a respite from the hazards of the wild to pitch fledgling cities that were able to check orcish and elven expansion when it reaches that far. The gnomes helped broker a peace, and through these negotiations penetrated into the societies of the other races.<br>

The dwarves came in at an era of stability, and so avoided being destroyed by either the elder beings or warriors of other races. They took the land nobody else wanted and made it livable, and their technology made it possible to defend it with relatively small numbers. Dwarves are not well liked by other races because they tend to provoke the wrath of the elder beings more often than anyone else, but their technology makes them indispensable.

The dwarves came in at an era of stability, and so avoided being destroyed by either the elder beings or warriors of other races. They took the land nobody else wanted and made it livable, and their technology made it possible to defend it with relatively small numbers. Dwarves are not well liked by other races because they tend to provoke the wrath of the elder beings more often than anyone else, but their technology makes them indispensable.

First-born of the races, with not-quite-right proportions that bestow tremendous strength upon them, at the cost of a shorter life span than other races. Orcs are intrepid explorers that retain a wanderlust true to their savage origins, and make masterful sailors, skilled traders, and fearsome warlords. Basically, vikings. Orcs have low-light vision, and receive +2 to Strength.

First-born of the races, with not-quite-right proportions that bestow tremendous strength upon them, at the cost of a shorter life span than other races. Orcs are intrepid explorers that retain a wanderlust true to their savage origins, and make masterful sailors, skilled traders, and fearsome warlords. Basically, vikings. Orcs have low-light vision, and receive +2 to Strength.

Among the first-born as well, elves are spontaneously brought into the world as savage creatures, and slowly gain sentience through learning as they claw their way through life. Because they do not need to procreate or feed, elves rarely form cities, and devote much of their lives to hedonistic or introspective activities. Elves receive +2 to Wisdom and possess low-light vision.

Among the first-born as well, elves are spontaneously brought into the world as savage creatures, and slowly gain sentience through learning as they claw their way through life. Because they do not need to procreate or feed, elves rarely form cities, and devote much of their lives to hedonistic or introspective activities. Elves receive +2 to Wisdom and possess low-light vision.

It isn't certain when kobolds entered the picture, because they tend to stay away from the business of other races. The kobolds that are seen travelling are usually not doing so by choice. Kobolds have a vicious streak that manifests in their advanced weaponry. They are Small, gain +2 to Dexterity and possess Darkvision out to 60 feet.

It isn't certain when kobolds entered the picture, because they tend to stay away from the business of other races. The kobolds that are seen travelling are usually not doing so by choice. Kobolds have a vicious streak that manifests in their advanced weaponry. They are Small, gain +2 to Dexterity and possess Darkvision out to 60 feet.

Latecomers to the civilization party, humans are pragmatic no-nonsense survivalists by necessity, thrust as they were into a world already ruled by others and pushed to its edges to make a place for themselves. Like gnomes, they prefer to reside in communities of other races. Humans gain +2 Constitution.

Latecomers to the civilization party, humans are pragmatic no-nonsense survivalists by necessity, thrust as they were into a world already ruled by others and pushed to its edges to make a place for themselves. Like gnomes, they prefer to reside in communities of other races. Humans gain +2 Constitution.

Fey that made the conscious transition into the mortal realm, gnomes rarely form their own societies, but often make up a significant part of a dwarven, orcish or kobold city. They often serve as ambassadors between races, and between the two sides of the greater conflict of the world. Like elves, they are immortal. Gnomes are Small and have +2 to Charisma.

Fey that made the conscious transition into the mortal realm, gnomes rarely form their own societies, but often make up a significant part of a dwarven, orcish or kobold city. They often serve as ambassadors between races, and between the two sides of the greater conflict of the world. Like elves, they are immortal. Gnomes are Small and have +2 to Charisma.

The latest races to come into being, dwarves are methodical to a fault. They have carved out a niche for themselves with superior technology that brings life to barren lands, but their enmity with elder beings, combined with their natural pensiveness, prevents them from expanding too far. Dwarves gain Darkvision out to 60 feet and +2 to Intelligence.

The latest races to come into being, dwarves are methodical to a fault. They have carved out a niche for themselves with superior technology that brings life to barren lands, but their enmity with elder beings, combined with their natural pensiveness, prevents them from expanding too far. Dwarves gain Darkvision out to 60 feet and +2 to Intelligence.