Folk of Aotra
Though Aotra's population is largely human, its people are still thoroughly diverse. Several major ethnicities of humans make up the majority segment of the population, while a variety of other heritages make up the rest. All non-human lineages descend from ancient humans touched by the Aotran Cosmology. For some, like elves and orcs, the influence is old; generations of these people have lived among humans, and while a rare few humans may hold superstitions towards them for their ancient ties to the Other, most humans accept those ties as just that: ancient history. But the touch of the Otherworld is much newer for some, like tieflings, genasi, and aasimar. For these folk, called Otherborn, the nature of their differences is far more likely to drive a wedge between them and human society.
Listed below are each of the heritages that exist in Aotra. Some heritages, like humans, elves, and orcs, are old and diverse enough to have distinctive ethnicities, and these ethnicities are detailed where applicable. Other heritages are rare enough that they may only exist within a single bloodline. Some have additional variant features available to reflect the unique nature of Aotran characters.
Common Heritages
While humans are by far the most populous folk of Aotra, certain other ancestries are well-established enough to have reached a tenuous peace with the human majority. These ancestries have distinctive ethnicities and cultures of their own, and they can settle in cities and towns comfortably.Humans
The oldest, most widespread, and most diverse race of Aotra, humans claim a vast and detailed history stretching all the way back to ancient mythos. Nearly 80% of Aotra's population is made up of humans, and all of the population can trace its origins back to them; they are the original people of Aotra. Humans run the gamut of all faiths and professions, and are present at all levels of society. Though most humans coexist peacefully with elves and orcs, many still distrust them for their ties to the Other, no matter how long those ties stretch back.Elves
The elves of Aotra are a long-living people, measuring their lifespans in centuries rather than decades. They have lived amongst humans for several thousand years, though their histories are not long enough that their origins are entirely forgotten. Elves bear the burdens of human opinion as much as any non-human race: many Aotrans believe elves to be sneaky, untrustworthy, and hedonistic. Furthermore, the popularity of bardic magic among high elves, the most common subrace of elves, cements them in public perception as abnormal; many Aotrans view bardic magic as the magic of tricksters and libertines, in opposition to the more distinguished arcane and divine magic. Of all the various ethnicities and lineages of elves in Aotra, there are three main subgroups: high elves are the most common, followed by dark elves, then wood elves. Wood elves are the wildest of the three, living in isolated tribes in the thick jungles and forests near the poles. Dark elves are largely nomadic peoples of the desert, known for being a deeply spiritual people, superstitious even by Aotran standards, with a reputation as excellent diviners. Most of the elves that live among human society are high elves. The largest population of high elves dwell in Kassaan. High elves are the most prolific practitioners of bardic magic, though bardic traditions are deeply important to dark elf culture as well. Rarely, elves manifest a stronger connection to the Otherworld, an inborn power flaring after generations of dormancy. Within their communities, these elves are viewed as having an unusual innate power, a power equally likely to drive them to good as to evil, but to humans they are unilaterally viewed as a dangerous omen of the coming of the Other. Though these elves are incredibly diverse, they generally take one of two forms, referred to as shadow elves and bright elves (shadar-kai and eladrin, respectively). Optional Variants. To reflect the traits of Aotran elves, the following variant features are available for elf characters:- Dark Elf. Instead of the Superior Darkvision trait, you can gain the following trait: Desert Born. You are acclimated to hot and dry temperatures, and suffer no ill effects from extended exposure to desert environments.
- Dark Elf. Instead of the Drow Magic trait, you can gain a variant Dark Elf Magic trait: You know the guidance cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the detect evil and good spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the augury spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for these spells is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice).
- Dark Elf. Aotran dark elves do not have the Sunlight Sensitivity trait.
- High Elf. Instead of choosing a cantrip from the wizard spell list for your Cantrip feature, you can choose a cantrip from the bard spell list. Your spellcasting ability for the cantrip is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice).
Orcs
While elves get stereotyped as libertines and opportunists, orcs receive the opposite stereotype. Orcs dwell in close-knit communities, most commonly in the savanna plains and jungles, and they are a spiritual people with a profound relationship with the land upon which they live. Orcs are prodigious hunters, traders, and trackers; their values of simplicity, austerity, and closeness with nature are in large part what shape humans' opinions that orcs lack grand, intellectual aspirations. It is true that orcs find less value in academic study, especially arcane study. But orcs do place great importance in some learning, like the cultivation of practical skills. Furthermore, orcs have a deep-rooted tradition of druidic magic; this, too, informs human perception, for while druidic magic isn't seen in a truly negative light, it is viewed as less contemporary, prestigious, and cutting-edge then arcane magic. The combination of a land-based way of life and a devotion to traditional magical practices means that most Aotrans see orcs as simple, conservative people that lack a human intellectual drive or aspirations. Like elves, orcs occasionally manifest stronger ties to the Otherworld, but for reasons still not completely understood, this is even rarer for orcs than it is for elves. Optional Variants. To reflect the traits of Aotran orcs, the following variant features are available for orc characters:- Orc. Instead of the Aggressive trait, you can gain one druid cantrip of your choice. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this cantrip.
- Half-Orc. Instead of the Savage Attacks trait, you can gain the following trait: Brave and Bold. You know the spell heroism, and can cast it a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all uses of the spell when you finish a long rest. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice) is your spellcasting ability for it.
Otherborn
The Otherborn are the rarest folk on Aotra. Isolated bloodlines of these races exist on the fringes of society, often shunned and feared by town- and city-folk. Even more anomalous are the Otherborn born to elf, orc, or even human families; for these families, the emergence of an Otherborn among their line is at best, an omen, and at worst, a curse. There are six well-identified varieties of Otherborn: fearsome tieflings, subtle aasimar, primal genasi, fey-touched firbolgs and changelings, and the aberrant kalashtar.Tieflings
Few sorts of folk see more wary stares and outright fear than the tiefling. Their heritage ties them to some of the most hateful of the Other, the terrible and numerous fiends. With vivid appearances, tieflings are easy to spot, and their powerful innate magic commands attention. For all the superstition surrounding them, it is rare to spot a tiefling in a town or city; most make their homes in places where there is little attention to be put upon them.Aasimar
The influence of celestials, a rare but powerful subset of Other thought of as manipulators, subversives, and false prophets, shines a grim light upon the Otherborn known as aasimar. In many ways aasimar have it easier than more immediately distinctive Otherborn, like tieflings, for many aasimar are not immediately recognizable as such, appearing only as particularly tall and attractive. The ability of aasimar to blend in among normal society stokes fear of them as demagogues for the more insidious aims of the Other. Optional Variant. To reflect the traits of Aotran aasimar, the following variant feature is available for aasimar characters:- Instead of the Light Bringer trait, you can gain the following trait: Visions of Beyond. You know the minor illusion cantrip. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice) is your spellcasting ability for it.
Genasi
Some Otherborn manifest potent elemental power, an affiliation obvious in their highly distinctive appearances. Though many recognize these folk are as Otherborn as much as any tiefling, there are a few small sects of the Old Faith that revere genasi as inheritors of the power of the primordial beasts. To the faithful who believe in this, the birth of a genasi is an affair to be celebrated, a holy event signifying intervention on behalf of the respective primordial beast. Genasi wield great power in these isolated communities. Optional Variant. To reflect the traits of Aotran genasi, this genasi variant is available as an ancestry for player characters.Firbolgs
Among the rarest sorts of Otherborn are those known as firbolgs, those for whom their ties to the Other are links to the wild fey. Only a handful of firbolgs have ever existed at once; among the orc societies in which they are born, firbolgs are watched with suspicion until they are old enough for their true selves to be actualized. Firbolgs that display the fickle, chaotic nature of the fey are outcast, while others that use their power for spiritual pursuits are allowed to stay. A rare few firbolgs serve as shamans and spiritual guides of their community. Optional Variant. To reflect the traits of Aotran firbolgs, the following variant feature is available for firbolg characters:- By nature of their orcish heritage, Aotran firbolgs have the orcs' Darkvision trait.
Changelings
A counterpart to the firbolgs, changelings are Otherborn with fey power descended from elves. Their ability to shapeshift with a simple thought allows them to blend in effortlessly among elven society, and, of course, within human society as well. For the most superstitious of human folk, changelings serve as the whispered foe lurking behind the upright front of elven communities: though elves have earned acceptance over time, the threat or promise that anyone could be a changeling in disguise strikes fear into many hearts. Though many changelings are simply trying to live their own lives, other changelings do live up to the fears that they are agents of the will of Other powers, hiding amongst mortal folk for devious ends. Optional Variant. To reflect the traits of Aotran changelings, the following variant feature is available for changeling characters:- By nature of their elvish heritage, Aotran changelings have the elves' Darkvision trait.
Kalashtar
Kalashtar are a mystery: perhaps the most intimately connected with the Other, likely the rarest sort of Otherborn, and unidentifiable from appearance alone. The influence of the Other upon a kalashtar is within the mind. A kalashtar is born with a mental link to some entity of the Other, a dual mind of mortal and incomprehensible nature, a link which grants psionic power and defense against magic. Only very few kalashtar have ever been identified as such. Optional Variant. To reflect the variable descent of Aotran kalashtar, the following variable traits are available for kalashtar characters. You can gain a feature of your choice from each of the following options:- (a) Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. OR (b) Skill. You gain proficiency with one skill of your choice.
- (c) Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift. OR (d) Skill. You gain proficiency with one skill of your choice.
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