Species and Creature Categories

Species and Creature Categories

Within A'arde, there are many species of creature from many different origins. Each of these may have traits, inherent abilities or weaknesses specific to those origins. Additionally, certain types of magic may be amplified or inhibited when used on beings of certain classifications. As such, classification of the beings within A'arde became a monumental but incredibly important task for scholars, particularly those assigned to discover ways to defend against certain types of magic or creature. Over the years, these classifications changed as the Mortal understanding of the World expanded and developed, resulting in many beings or creatures being reclassified, or assigned to multiple classifications. As of the year 1488 of the 6th Age of A'arde, these complicated processes have resulted in the understanding shared below.

---

Overview of Currently Used Categories

Species within A'arde are divided into Categories based on a series of biological and magical factors. It is possible for creatures to be assigned to multiple categories, particularly if they are from another Plane of Existence, though many are instead issued Sub-Categories, with their primary Category denoting their most prominent features. These Categories include the following:

• Non-Magical Beasts
• Magical Beasts
• Fey
• Celestial
• Dragonkin
• Fiend
• Monstrous
• Aberrant
• Mortal-Sapient
• Demi-Sapient
• Undead
• Elementals
• Constructs
• Weave
• Shadow

---

Defunct Categories

Categories that are no longer used include:

• Spirits (this has now been implemented as a Sub-Category for other Categories)
• Arcane (this has now been renamed "Constructs")

---

Category Breakdown

Many Categories break down into Sub-Categories, which are used to classify beings for the purposes of identification and use of magic.

---

Non-Magical Beasts

Non-Magical Beasts, often simply known as “Beasts”, are creatures originating from the Material Plane that possess no magical abilities and can reproduce freely in natural circumstances. Most easily recognisable creatures within A'arde fall under this Category. Beasts can be further divided into Types: Mammals, Reptiles, Avians, Aquatics, Amphibians, Insects, and Chimeric. Non-Magical Beasts include the Arthylluan (Chimeric), Eirinnean Wut Bat (Mammal), and Tanystropheus (Reptile).

---

Magical Beasts

Magical Beasts are those defined as having magical qualities (such as the ability to heal or cast spells) and can freely reproduce in natural circumstances while originating from the Material Plane. While they are generally easily recogniable, they are not as common as Non-Magical Beasts. Like Non-Magical Beasts, Magical Beasts can be further divided into Mammals, Reptiles, Avians, Aquatics, Amphibians, Insects, and Chimeric. Magical Beasts include the Basan (Avian), Griffon (Chimeric), and Solifuge (Insect).

---

Fey

Fey are beings that originate from Tìr na Sìthe and, in some cases, the Border-Fey. Intrinsically bound by life and balance, Fey are the embodiment of everything that it means to be within the Circle of Nature, including death. There are three Types of Fey: Light, Shadow and Elemental, and each of these can be further divided into Fey Sapients, Fey Beasts, Monstrous Fey, and Fey Spirits. Most Fey beings are inherently magical and functionally immortal, though there are some exceptions. Fey beings include Dryads, Centaurs, and Cù-Sìth.

---

Celestial

Celestials tend to reside or originate from the Planes of Empyrean, and are immortal unless specific conditions are met. These beings can be further divided into the Sub-Categories of Gods, Demi-Sapients, Celestial Beasts and Celestial Spirits. Celestials are not always benevolent in nature, and are often influenced by the whims and desires of the God they ultimately serve. Some Celestials are unique to the lands of certain Pantheons (such as the Ellyllon of the Elven Gods) while others can be found across multiple Realms. Celestials include Unicorns, Sphinx, and Qilin.

---

Dragonkin

Dragonkin were brought to A'arde by the Draconic Gods early in the Age of Renewal, and played a huge part in the rebuilding of the world after the Primeval War. Dragonkin can be further categorised as Sapient and Non-Sapient. True Dragonkin tend to be long-lived, with some reaching ages that number in the thousands of years. However, Dragonkin are not considered immortal unless they are Ascended, at which point they are considered Draconic Gods and their Category changes to Celestial. Dragonkin include Dragons, Drakes and Wyverns.

---

Fiend

Fiends are beings that originate from the Planes of Navia, and are considered the polar opposites of Celestials, though like Celestials they are immortal unless specific conditions are met. The Category of Fiend includes two Types, Demons and Devils, which are grouped depending on which Plane of Navia they come from. These types can then be further divided into Higher Fiends (who are considered on par with Gods, though not Godly in nature), Demi-Sapients and Fiend-Beasts. Fiends include Navian Cerberus, Succubi, and Imps.

---

Monstrous

Monstrous creatures are beings that are created in this world, but cannot reproduce naturally, i.e. they are created by Mortal interference, magical accident or random acts of nature. Many monstrous creatures are literal monsters, though some are relatively harmless despite their strange visages. The majority of Monstrous creatures are non-sapient, though some show a leaning toward partial sapience. Monstrous creatures include Flesh Amalgams, Esurients, and Grindylows.

---

Aberrant

Aberrations are creatures from outside the Planes, often twisted and wholly unfamiliar in their appearance and behaviours. They are rare compared to naturally occurring beasts, and even monsters, but can become numerous in the right circumstances. No two are wholly the same, even if they are the same sort of creature or originate from the same place/set of circumstances. Aberrations include Bonemires, Arachni, and Corruption.

---

Mortal-Sapient

Mortal Sapient is a Category used for beings possessing intelligence or a high degree of self-awareness that are native to the Material Plane. These beings, otherwise known simply as Mortals, make up the civilisations of the world. Mortal-Sapients can possess long lives, but are vulnerable to the trappings of time and age. The Souls of Mortals are considered powerful currency amongst some echelons of other beings. Mortal-Sapients include Humans, Elves, and Dwarves.

---

Demi-Sapient

Demi-Sapients are beings with possessing intelligence or a high degree of self-awareness that originate from lineages that combine the bloodline with that of a Mortal with something else, usually Fiendish or Celestial, or the combination of bloodlines from two different Planes (such as Nephalem, who are half-Celestial, half-Fiend). The term "Demi-Sapient" originates from longer terms such as "Demi-Fiendish Mortal-Sapient" and "Demi-Celestial Mortal-Sapient", which were shortened over time. Most are functionally immortal, which is what separates them from Mortal-Sapients. Demi-Sapients can reproduce, but they tend to be less prolific than their Sapient counterparts, often resulting in highly diluted bloodlines that ultimately become classified as Mortal-Sapient. Demi-Sapients include Cambions, Gorgons, and Harpys.

---

Undead

Undead are once-living beings that have escaped the grasp of death in some way, be that mentally intact or in body only. Undead are further classified as Sapient Undead, Non-Sapient Undead and Undead Spirits. Some Undead occur naturally when specific conditions are met, but most are created through magical interference by a Sapient being. Undead are generally reviled by the living, and most Undead will seek to consume life wherever they find it. However, some forms of Sapient Undead are more in control of their faculties, having become their current forms through purposeful experimentation or ascension (Liches, Greater Vampires, etc). The Undead Category include Zombies, Bonedrinkers, and Echoes.

---

Elementals

Elementals are beings that originate within the Planes of the Elemental and Demi-Elemental within the Primordial Chaos. While individual Elementals can be "killed", their essence most often returns to the Elemental Planes to give rise to new life, offering a permanent cycle of rebirth and renewal. Elementals can be divided into Sapients, Non-Sapients and Spirits. Additionally, within the Elemental umbrella are the Djinn, who hold a unique position in that they occupy the only Type within the Category. This is in part due to the presence of Ghilan and Alhayawan Djinn, who do not technically inhabit a singular Elemental Plane, but are instead born directly of the Primordial Chaos.

---

Constructs

Constructs are beings that have been built for a specific purpose. most often through the efforts of a Sapient creature of any Category, or by magical machinations. Constructs can be semi-intelligent (capable of following instructions), intelligent (capable of thought and reason) or Sapient (capable of self-awareness). The most well-known members of the Construct Category are Graphiks, Golems and Animate Armour.

---

Weave

A rarely used Category, its only known occupants are the Satinka and Kachina, Spirits of the Arcane and Sylvan Weave.

---

Shadow

Shadow is a sparse Category of beings that exist alongside the Shadow Fey, but are not part of the Fey umbrella. Most Shadow beings are neutral to malicious in nature, though they rarely willingly make their way to the Material Plane. Shadows tend to reproduce only in Tìr nan Dubhar and the Border-Shades, but their rates of reproduction are dependant entirely on the saturation of negative emotions within those areas. Shadows include Shadowhounds, Remnants, and Sorrowwretches.

Contents