Races of Bastion

The population of the city is relatively stable, although the Human population grows quicker than the others. When the city was founded they made up less than a quarter of the population, now they make up over half.
Dwarves believe their deeds in life will lead to an elevated status once they pass. As such they focus on great works of industry, architecture or military valour wherever possible. Family legacies and histories are of great importance to Dwarves. As such spoken and written histories, statues and art all play a part in Dwarven culture.
Elves focus on academic achievement, or societal change as a way to honour their predecessors. Elves assume they have a right to leadership and often look down on the shorter-lives races in the city. They collaborate with Dwarves out of necessity, as they lack the aptitude or interest in more practical affairs, but believe their place in the administration of the city places them above the other races.
Humans are looked upon as the lowest caste within the city, and are given the basest positions, often working in service industries, manufacturing and used as foot soldiers within the military. The lack of significant choices or representation within the city has led to some unrest and upheaval, but the last time there was open dissent was nearly two decades ago but this was swiftly crushed by the sudden deployment of the new Warforged.
Unbeknownst to most of the city, a small society of Changelings has slowly been integrating into the city, forming a secret subcommunity amongst the humans. Numbering in the hundreds, the Changeling race fear being discovered and expelled from the city at all costs. They support the goals of keeping Bastion safe as they know the horrors of the wasteland more than any others.
WIthin the last two decades the Dwarven Craghammer House have begun to produce martial marvels- magically powered Golems called Warforged. Primarily their purpose is to take on the more dangerous tasks that the citizens of the city would prefer to avoid, but they machines have proved to be so versatile they’ve begun to be used in Industry. Debate about the uses of the Warforged is rampant as should they prove as powerful as some speculate, there may be able to shift the balance of power within the city. Many humans in the city find these constructs unsettling as not only will they reinforce the power of the dwarves, but may also take away what little jobs and use they have in the city over time. The method of manufacturing the golems is a closely guarded secret that no-one outside the Craghammer family knows, but many believe that some new magic must have been discovered to power these marvels.
Outside of the city, a small encampment of halflings and gnomes has been established. The two groups found each other in the wilderness and have been wandering for centuries looking for a safe haven. Upon finding the city they thought they had been saved, and implored the Council to grant them asylum. That was ten years ago, and since then the population of the halflings and gnomes has continued to dwindle through attrition. The Council are not ones for swift decisions, and the perceived danger of bringing in a new racial dynamic to the city is not something they are likely to accept. While the refugees are desperate, they know their current circumstances and the small hope of sanctuary is better than what waits for them out in the wilderness. Occasionally envoys or representatives from the encampment are allowed within the City, but are always closely guarded and returned to their encampment by the end of the day.
Within the wilderness there are small wandering bands of the ‘lesser races’, including Goblins, Kobolds, Gnolls, Lizard-people, exiles from the city and many others. The centuries of harsh exposure and scarce resources have led to most of these groups to become feral and aggressive, but some members of these wandering bands retain the spark of civilisation. A few of these have found Bastion, and managed to smuggle themselves within for security and the chance at wealth. Many that attempt entry are killed by the security forces protecting the city. Detection would lead to exile, or death so many disguise their true nature or work in the underground, beneath official attention.