Ancestries

The ancestries (races) of Ardunor are incredibly vast and diverse, from humans to gnomes, to dragonborn. Pretty much any intelligent creature can be a playable ancestry, with the right reasoning. Below is a list of just a few of the ancestries in my world, along with a short blurb about them and their main abilities. Each ancestry has a page of its own, and many ancestries have specific origins you can choose from to further define your character.

What's different compared to the official sources?

The game mechanics of the base ancestries are largely just copied and pasted, with a few notable exceptions: Half-orcs are now an origin of orc, rather than its own ancestry. The lore behind each ancestry is much different, especially regarding elves and gnomes.
Most of the origins (sub-races) in the official sources are still valid choices. The origins I included here are my creation and fitting for the world of Ardunor.

Dragonborn

One of the most steadfast and fierce of the different peoples of Ardunor are the dragonborn. It is unknown what the true origin of the dragonborn are, though the Ascomanni believe their dragon gods created them, just as any other ancestry. It might be more accurate to believe that ancient individual dragons created humanoid servants.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Strength, +1 Charisma, Draconic Ancestry, Breath Weapon, Damage Resistance

Origins

Ascomanni Origin, Dwarfkin

Dwarf

The hardiest and halest of the ancestries, dwarves are one of the oldest ancestries of Ardunor. They, like humans, can be found all across Ardunor, though the vast majority live within the United Dwarven Kingdoms, which hold the land in the center of Ardunor.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Constitution, Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Dwarven Combat Training, Stonecunning

Dwarf Clans

Clan Fleetblood, Clan Worldbright

Elf

Elves are not a playable race in Ardunor, except in rare occurrences. These are a rare and powerful people who don’t live typical lives. If you choose the elf ancestry, you are actually playing a non-pureblood elf (usually dominantly elven). As described in the half-elf section below, most people of this ancestry live in tree-top villages deep within the forests of Ardunor.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Dexterity, Darkvision, Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry, Trance

Origins

Elf of the Wode, Wood Elf, Drow

Gnome

Gnomes are a fey creature, hailing from the world of Arcadia. They are an odd sort, and many scholars believe they are descendants of dwarves who somehow found their way into the realm of the fey and got lost.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Intelligence, Darkvision, Gnome Cunning

Origins

Arcadian Gnome, Elder Gnome

Half-elf

The term half-elf is a derogatory term, used to describe any person with any amount of elven blood in their ancestry. Most of these consider themselves to be average citizens throughout the various cities of Ardunor, though a large number of them make their homes in tree-top villages deep within the forests.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Charisma, +1 to Two Other Ability Scores, Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Skill Versatility

Origins

Bracciano Origin, Shibetian Origin, Zanjanite Origin, Wood Elf

Halfling

Halflings are nearly as common as humans in most cities throughout Ardunor. They are a vibrant, fun-loving people as a whole. Halflings are generally a very kind people, never sparing a negative thought about those around them.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Dexterity, Lucky, Brave, Halfling Nimbleness

Origins

Bailiwick Halfling, Bracciano Origin, Shibetian Origin, Zanjanite Origin

Human

Humans are the most widespread and diverse ancestry of Ardunor. That being said, however, most modern thinkers believe that a nation or city whose vast majority is made up of humans (or any one specific ancestry) is backwards thinking and weaker for it. It is not uncommon to see cities where humans are the minority, especially in the Braccian League.

Ancestral Traits

+1 to All Ability Scores, Extra Language

Origins

Bracciano Origin, Shibetian Origin, Ütherreichian Human, Zanjanite Origin

Orc

A wild and bloodthirsty people, are the orcs. They can be found all over Ardunor, although their destructive and cruel nature usually means they band together in tribes in the wilderness, rather than integrating with the rest of society.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Strength, +1 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, Darkvision, Aggressive, Menacing, Powerful Build, Relentless Endurance, Savage Attacks

Origins

Half-orc, Scythian Orc

Tiefling

To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: that is the lot of the tiefling.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, Darkvision, Hellish Resistance, Infernal Legacy

Less Common Ancestries

Centaur

Much like humans, centaurs are a widespread, diverse people. Their nomadic tribes can be found all across Ardunor, and each tribe has its own customs. Even multiple tribes living in the same region can have vastly different cultures. As a whole, however, centaur societies are often very respectful towards nature, and do everything they can to coexist with it.

Ancestral Traits

+2 Strength, +1 Wisdom, Charge, Hooves, Equine Build, Survivor