Crucible

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.

[[Crucible:Kobolds|Main Article]]

[[Crucible:Kobolds|Main Article]]

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.

Plenty of races have come into being, but unlike the six, they have failed to thrive. They tend to live around the frontiers of civilized expansion, supplementing their hunting and gathering with raids on farms and towns when truly desperate. Rare individuals integrate into frontier societies, but almost never delve deeper into colonized lands.  

Plenty of races have come into being, but unlike the six, they have failed to thrive. They tend to live around the frontiers of civilized expansion, supplementing their hunting and gathering with raids on farms and towns when truly desperate. Rare individuals integrate into frontier societies, but almost never delve deeper into colonized lands.  

Giants are perhaps the best-known of the minor races. They inhabit the north continent, and often come in contact with humans and orcs. While they treat the orcs somewhat kindly, seeing them as annoying younger siblings, they are incredibly hostile towards humans. Due to their large size, it is difficult for giants to raid their island colonies, but many of them simply grab an oak tree and rely on its buoyancy and the currents to get them where they need to go. Giants have their own tongue, but a rare few speak Orc as well.

Giants are perhaps the best-known of the minor races. They inhabit the north continent, and often come in contact with humans and orcs. While they treat the orcs somewhat kindly, seeing them as annoying younger siblings, they are incredibly hostile towards humans. Due to their large size, it is difficult for giants to raid their island colonies, but many of them simply grab an oak tree and rely on its buoyancy and the currents to get them where they need to go. Giants have their own tongue, but a rare few speak Orc as well.

Goblins infest the mountains to the south of kobold and dwarven lands. They are mostly a cave-dwelling, bronze age culture. Physically weak and hated by their neighbours, goblins survive by stealth and scavenging. Some goblins teach themselves the common tongue and attempt to communicate with adventurers, offering to guide them through the frontier lands in exchange for money and goods. The more desperate goblins will turn on adventurers that refuse, either trying to steal something or attacking them outright.

Goblins infest the mountains to the south of kobold and dwarven lands. They are mostly a cave-dwelling, bronze age culture. Physically weak and hated by their neighbours, goblins survive by stealth and scavenging. Some goblins teach themselves the common tongue and attempt to communicate with adventurers, offering to guide them through the frontier lands in exchange for money and goods. The more desperate goblins will turn on adventurers that refuse, either trying to steal something or attacking them outright.

Sahuagin are tyrants of the Inner Sea, raiding human and orc colonies and shipping. They often use captive merrows as dumb muscle to attack especially well guarded vessels. While nobody knows what they do with the treasure, they usually eat everyone on a captured ship.

Sahuagin are tyrants of the Inner Sea, raiding human and orc colonies and shipping. They often use captive merrows as dumb muscle to attack especially well guarded vessels. While nobody knows what they do with the treasure, they usually eat everyone on a captured ship.

Life is young, and so is death, and sometimes they screw up. Undead can appear spontaneously, and there is no special stigma against them. People still don't like vampires, but that is because they drink blood and not because they don't have a pulse.

Life is young, and so is death, and sometimes they screw up. Undead can appear spontaneously, and there is no special stigma against them. People still don't like vampires, but that is because they drink blood and not because they don't have a pulse.

In a world teeming with spontaneously generating life, it is very appealing to try and make some yourself. Some dwarven inventors, usually teamed up with gnomes, attempt to craft hominid bodies from artificial materials and then imbue them with life, and sometimes the result doesn't blow up.

In a world teeming with spontaneously generating life, it is very appealing to try and make some yourself. Some dwarven inventors, usually teamed up with gnomes, attempt to craft hominid bodies from artificial materials and then imbue them with life, and sometimes the result doesn't blow up.

=Political Geography=

=Political Geography=

[[Crucible:Nations|Main Article]]

[[Crucible:Nations|Main Article]]