Beast Races

The Beast races is a blanket term used to describe most of the anthropomorphic creature races. This grouping includes but is not limited to Catfolk, Gnolls, Ratfolk, Minotaurs, Centaurs, and Tengu. The Beast races are the constant victims of slave raids from the Anrasha in the lands in which they are native, territory that is firmly controlled by the Anrasha. Those that have been taken as slaves then escaped or were set free from being sold to Ormirians find their way to Hammerock taking up lives among the freed Beast races as farmers for the Dwarves, they also make effective hunters and fur traders but are not limited on their professions. As a result of the cruelty at the hands of the Anrasha the older generations of Beast races have a hate and fear of elves, and depending on the parents this can extend to the offspring, but rarely lasts beyond the second or third generation or those that learn the differences between the elves.
The Beast races tend to enjoy the company of their own kind most but are for the most part fine with living among other types, they tend to have a strong sense of community in any case as they learned the need to work together once they were freed. With some exceptions most of the communities tend to keep to themselves resulting in rather strange towns with the various races living together each doing their own things until there is a need for more cooperation. These towns are often rather quiet with little interaction beyond what is needed before they go back to their own tasks. Once something occurs that requires the entire communities help, such as a flash flood, bandit attack, or other freak occurrence the town unites and defends itself fiercely.
Ranging from primitive leather armors and wooden shields to high quality steel and exotic metal weapons and armor. Each race tends to have their own favored, but Axes and Swords tend to be the most common weaponry. Those who find employ with the other races tend to have higher quality equipment and more than a few Beast race members apprentice with crafters from other races to try and improve their own people’s knowledge.

Additional Information

Social Structure

There are two major society types of the Beast races, starting with those labeled as the primal. These are the Beast races still in the lands under the rule of the Anrasha they are a very warlike culture that venerates their own ideas of the gods known as the ‘blood pack’ greatly as they fight against the elves with all they have. The Blood pack tends to more evil actions and followers, this has been adopted by the primal due to the constant threat of the Anrasha and the lack of help from the established pantheon, those scholars who have looked into the Blood Pack seem to think they are powerful outsiders, likely fiends managing to worm their way into the desperate Beast Races. These primal have a very nomadic society and are constantly on the move to try and keep the Anrasha from finding them. There are very few exceptions with those who decide to make hold outs and strongholds to stave off the Elves, their effectiveness is not well proven as there are still plenty of other targets for the slavers without the need to break down walls.
The free Beast races are those that have become adventurers or are living in the Dwarven lands or anywhere other than Etrisium, these are those closer to the old ways of their life. They have forsaken the nomadic nature of the primal and focus on farming and growing communities taking value in the strength in numbers and sense of community. Aside from a universal dislike of the elves, they are friendly beings for the most part with outliers proving to be exceptions rather than the rule. The normal pantheon is venerated by the free as they learn to live without all-encompassing hatred and a need to fight to survive. The hated of elves is felt more strongly in those who were slaves and their first or sometimes second generation of offspring, eventually the young of the Beast Races will have heard the stories of the Anrashan devils but are not prone to the same level of hate and distrust upon seeing pointed ears, it is a product of environment and who raises them.
The Beast races regardless if they are primal or free use Chieftains as their leaders. As well as having spiritual advisors to help sort out the will of the spirits and gods. The rule of a chieftain can be challenged by someone with support of at least half the village or the spiritual advisor. At that point the two are set to a task to benefit the town, this could be killing a local monster, or a feat of strength, skill, and or intelligence. The winner becomes/remains the chief.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Beast races tend towards being hostile to elves of any type, not always causing fights but they will be crass or refuse to speak to elves. They are however more tolerant of Humans, Gnomes, and Halflings if they see them. Dwarves are considered friends for giving them a home to live away from the hated Elves. The other more exotic races are a possible danger and avoided where they can. Many of the Beast Races have trust issues with other races due to either being seen as monsters, dumb animals, or slaves to be had.

Alignment & Religion: The Beast races can run the full spectrum of alignments but those who follow the Pantheon range from neutral to good in either chaotic or lawful fashion. The Blood Pack followers tend to be the opposite and many falls into the chaotic evil category.
Adventurers: A Beast race adventurer is most likely to be a descendant born in the Dwarven lands. The Anrasha own the seas around the primal home so there is no escape for them that way. It is possible that a slave could escape on way to being sold but such instances are rare. Those that were directly slaves prefer the safety of their new home, while their young have a natural curiosity and desire to explore that is a part of their nature. There can be some rather harsh divisions in a group that includes an Elf of any kind, more so if they are an Anrasha as many are raised to hate them most of all.