Races of Enos

Below are listed the adventuring races of Enos, listed alphabetically. The lifespan given is the expected lifespan for any given race. Any member of the race that lives beyond that is said to be an 'ancient' member, while members that live beyond two-and-a-half times the expected lifespan are known as 'immortal,' for they have found some other means of living. A race would regard a death as tragic if the person had lived forty percent or less of their life when they died.
The rarity of the race represents one of three categories. Common are those races most expected to be seen in an adventuring party or in any town or city. Minor are those races that either tend to be spread out widely or are extremely clustered, and rarer than the common races to be encountered outside their communities. Rare are the races that are seldom seen anywhere on Enos, or are so extremely clustered to specific areas as to be virtually nonexistent elsewhere.

Aasimar

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	700 years

Description
Varying wildly in appearance from person to person, aasimar are always marked at birth with an exceptional and obvious trait. While they may look like their parents, their skin may be metallic in tone, their eyes may glow when they are happy, or they may sing instead of cry. Aasimar are unable to bear or produce children of their own, and are only born on auspicious dates, as a result of prophecy, or because of celestial intervention. They rarely live normal lives, often called to a priesthood or other religious service, or find themselves possessed with a rabid desire to find their calling. They vary wildly in appearance, but are always striking to look at and possessed with an inner light. Some of the shrewdest diplomats on Enos are aasimar, and it is no mystery as to why.

Centurion

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	Unknown

Description
Created from metal and wood in an unknown process in the city of the same name, centurions occupy a unique place in Enos. Fabricated rather than born, centurions are assigned a purpose and are required to perform it in perpetuity until their bodies give out and are no longer needed. Seeing as how each of these beings possess a soul and the capacity for self-reflection and self-awareness, it isn't at all surprising that some of them yearn to break free from their assigned task. Those that do often find themselves on the lamb from the Centuri government, still considered property. While they often have trouble processing social queues or sarcasm, those that escape their birth city's confines find a way to blend into society's fabric. Many communities will gladly harbor a centurion on the run in return for their aid in the field or defense, and those communities that would sell a centurion back into work are readily avoided.

Changeling

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	90 years

Description
Those children born of the union of a fey and a mortal from Enos sometimes manifest as changelings, shapeshifting humanoids with incredible control over their appearance. While many tales exist of the fey swapping these changelings with mortal babies, the majority of these accounts are simply a cover-up of infidelity or ill-advised lust. Changelings tend to have a reputation of being untrustworthy and deceptive, which is a stereotype that often forces them into a life of deception and espionage. Those that wish to live close to a normal life hold a single form, but those that willingly embrace their powers can find themselves in the employ of cabals, courts, and crown.

Dragonborn

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	2100 years

Description
The origin of the dragonborn is a mystery to scholars the world over. Dragons are not capable of mating with any mortal creature, nor would they debase themselves in such a way. Crossbreeding genetic material to create life has been a staple of mad wizards for all time, but no such records ever speak of the dragonborn being made in this manner. The most widely-accepted theory is that the dragonborn are actually the distant decedents of the Apotheotheticals, a race of demigods that ruled Enos in the time before the Unmaking Ritual in 1QE. Whatever their origin, these creatures are as varied, rare, and mercurial as their namesake. Dragonborn always crystallize around an ideal or a code, and even the Dwarves are not as stubborn or stuck in their ways.

Dwarf

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	300 years

Description
One of the few races in Enos that are truly a monolith, the dwarves are known for their masterwork smithing, brewing, stonecutting, and crafting above all else. Able to innately understand the inner workings of the world, they tend to bounce between crafts in their childhood before settling on their craft by early adulthood. While there are those that eschew the system and find their way into a life not based on a craft, that talent is still there. This is so pervasive in their culture that the phrase "dwarven hobbyist," which is derisive among dwarvenkind and a compliment everywhere else, refers to someone that is extremely skilled at a craft that they do not do professionally.
Much like the elves, the dwarven people tend to group together in clusters across the plane, crafting beautiful and cavernous cities covered in rich iconography. Only the largest of Enos' cities able to support a healthy dwarven population, and each clan of dwarves is led by a hereditary clan leader. While the occasional clan is deposed or overthrown, clans like the Dagenstones of Dagenpeak have ruled for dozens of generations. Regardless of leadership, dwarves are a race determined to leave their mark on the world, often to spectacular effect.

Elf

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	2100 years

Description
No race in Enos has contributed as much to culture as the elves. A long-lived, gentle people with a lifespan that can surpass two millennia, the graceful elves take the long view of things. Almost every elf finds and masters several crafts during their lifetime, some alarmingly specific and niche. Though rarer than most races, there are a few elven cities that have nuanced societies rich in history and detail that dot the landscape, most notably the Twin T'vathi in Isilii, central Prenalia. The other elven strongholds on Enos are the sprawling cities of Mánnear (Elven for 'spirit place') in Madica and the drow of the continents of Valorus.
Regardless of their location, elves have left their indelible mark on Enos. The majority of the major contributions to magic have been made by the elven people, and the drow of Upper Valorus in particular are known for their fusion of magic and technological advancement. Many of the best practices in any craft were found and standardized by elves that spent centuries or longer on honing it, and aside from a few of the long-lived dragonborn, nearly all of the master crafters of magic-laced artifice still living are of elven heritage. Their sinnarntae storytellers keep rich and sometimes-painfully accurate oral histories, and the immortal elven weaponsmith Ithilhael is the only living being known that has ever forged a moonblade - the sentient symbol of elven status and power. No matter their skill, every elf wishes to leave their ambar taith, or mark on the world. So far, no member of their storied race that has lived into adulthood has failed to do so.

Firbolg

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	300 years

Description
Soft-spoken creatures of fur and kindness, the firbolg exemplify the virtues of patience, family, and long-term planning. These supremely tall, long-eared humanoids prefer to stay cloistered away in the middle of nature's serenity, enjoying their herbal teas and honeys, and tending to their legendary gardens. Their wisdom, passed down through a rich oral tradition, is sought after by many. The tales of farmers tripling their yield or kingdoms flourishing with bounty after speaking with a firbolg are many, and perhaps most astonishing is their truth. However, those that spark the ire of a firbolg clan likely end up fertilizer for next year's crops.

Genasi

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	160 years

Description
Creatures of the elements, the genasi are seen most-often in places that match their elemental parent. Fire genasi tend to favor the warmer climes of northern Enos, water genasi prefer shorelines and ships, earth genasi tend to make their homes in mountain dwellings, and the air genasi prefer the open and nomadic lifestyle. Long associated with Arnast's war effort, the genasi (and the fire genasi in particular) have a poor reputation among those opposed to the Queendom, which has led to several unfortunate prejudicial situations and events in the history books.
These elemental folk are capable of carrying and producing offspring from human and half-human partners, which has resulted in the genasi integrating fully with civilized society. Their unique affinities make them perfectly suited for specific trades in which they'd have an advantage, and their craftsmanship and attention to detail is legendary. The genasi bear their marks on history stretching back longer into the past than almost any other race, and are thought to have been the primary soldiers in the ranks of the Apotheotheticals during the Age of Kings. Their reputation has mended considerably since, but the unspoken resentment bred into blood still lingers in the smallest of ways.

Gnome

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	70 years

Description
Frenetic creatures of boundless imagination, the gnomes of Enos are said to possess the fire of creativity itself. While not every gnome is an inventor, there does seem to be a tendency for this small race to be tinkerers and makers. Many implements now thought commonplace in a home were invented by gnomes, and it isn't uncommon for a gnome to black out while focusing on a task only to wake up to it finished. This state is often called a "waking dream" among gnomes that experience it, as it is often described as feeling like a vivid hallucination tinged with a dull purple or blue hue, as if underwater.
While gnomes are found in any place large enough to accommodate them, there are no exclusive gnomeish societies known to exist on Enos. The rabid industrialists in Elken employ more gnomes than any other country, but even there they live and interact with the other races with no issue on either side. In fact, there are seldom-few societies that shun the gnomes outright, as their skills in any field tend to aid the communities they inhabit far more than harm them. Their feverish work ethic is a boon no matter their trade or lack thereof, and their problem-solving skills make them a welcome addition to any party of those traveling the world in search of gold and fame.

Goblin

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	35 years

Description
Often found working the unglamorous jobs in towns and other settlements, goblins are known throughout Enos as the scrappy underdogs that get things done. Their short lifespan makes them live life to the fullest, and often leads them to risky endeavors. The phrase that most represents this is "goblin's dare," which is any extremely high-risk, high reward scenario in which loss of life or limb is weighed against some perceived benefit. Aside from the risk-takers, goblins can often be found involved in crime or banditry to survive.
They have little regard for natural beauty, and even less regard for traditions, which leads them to dwell most commonly either in small enclaves in larger settlements or in large enclaves in the wilderness. Their small stature and risk-taking propensities sometimes lead goblins to the bleeding edge of technology, science, and magical advancement, and while most are the brave souls that test that at the border of understanding, there are the occasional brilliant goblin minds that help push civilization further into the wild unknowns of possibility.

Goliath

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	80 years

Description
Scattered as they are in tribes across Enos, goliaths are as varied as they are large. The mountain clans that guard the Glittering Garden in Avaritia are born with sections of crystalline skin, while others like those that roam the frigid wastes of Daklen's Hold in Valorus have a short, thick coat of fur that covers their entire bodies. Thought to be descended from the giants of The Ring of Elements, goliaths stand head and shoulders over most humanoid races. Their strength is the subject of many stories bandied by bards, but many serve as shamans, fortunetellers, seers, scholars, and diplomats. Children are usually born of two goliaths, but in extremely rare times, those same goliaths may produce a child that grows head and shoulders above even the tallest of their kin. These goliaths are called half-giants, and despite the name, share no immediate direct ancestry with their namesake. These half-giants often take positions at the head of a tribe or people, as they are often seen to be favored by the gods and Enos itself.

Grung

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	25 years

Description
Small, frog-like creatures with poisonous skin and a rich diversity of colors, the grung are a sight few see in their lifetime. Clustering together in small pods deep in swamps, these creatures live in a primitive harmony with nature. They prefer to avoid other sentient races, believing the 'bad juju' brought on by speaking to non-grung to far outweigh any benefits. Their societies are built around the veneration of local nature, and the few sightings of these elusive creatures were almost all by intrepid explorers that ventured too far into a pod's venerated space.

Halfling

Rarity	Lifespan
Common	180 years

Description
Halflings are known for the small stature and large appetite for adventure. They are fiercely independent, often striking out on their own by their teenage years, and are possessed of an innate and unexplainable luck. It is common to see them in adventuring parties, as scouts or spies for military forces, or as wandering bards and minstrels. In their later years when their bones begin to ache, they usually settle down with other halflings to have children.
Due to their size, many cultures have attempted to enslave halflings en masse, believing them to be easier to keep in check. Without fail, there is always a revolt within a fortnight, and not once in recorded history have the slavers come out on top. The few halfling communities that exist are known for their lively music, amazing food, and well-kept gardens. Several of Enos' leading slavery abolitionists are halflings, and Celestine seems to have a soft spot in their heart for this unfettered race of jovial misfits.

Half-Elf

Rarity	Lifespan
Common	300 years

Description
The half-elves are known above all else as a people both welcome and unwelcome, favored and unfavored, seen and unseen. Their parentage was at one point the unusual marriage of an aasimar, human, orc, or tiefling with an elf (with the human-elf pairing, known as nethpher, meaning "young half," being far and away the most common), but nowadays is almost always the union of two half-elves. Most elven communities take pity on the race, seeing them as a pale echo of their full potential. They make an exception to those with aasimar heritage (known as galadpher, meaning "light half" in Elven), entirely despise those with Orc heritage (thawpher, meaning "corrupt half" in Elven), and especially pity those with Tiefling heritage (dúrpher, meaning "dark half" in Elven).
Found in every corner of Enos, the earliest record of them dates back to 4473KE, when they were recorded by Myr'ei the Elder as being "the liminal Bridge Within and Between the Before and Melded." While there is fierce debate between scholars over what the characteristically-cryptic saying implies, there is little disagreement that the Half-elves have served as some of the greatest diplomats between Arnast and the rest of the Grand Alliances. They possess a charm common between them as a result of their navigation between the two worlds they lie between and all that society makes them to be. They are as varied in disposition and profession as any Human, but longer-lived and more wise for it. While there are many who see the Half-elves as lesser for 'lack of purity,' there are equally many who see them as greater for it.

Half-Orc

Rarity	Lifespan
Common	60 years

Description Less tribal than their orc kin and less welcome in polite society than humans, the half-orcs of Enos are known for being the youngest of the races. Every bit as headstrong as both of their parents, half-orcs have made themselves a reputation for being driven, hard-working individuals seeking to overcome what many see as their 'curse.' While the true curse is the stereotypical way in which they are derided for the circumstances of their birth, it is common superstition that most half-orcs are bastard children born out of wedlock or through non-consensual means. The only true curse the half-orcs bear is a shortened lifespan compared to humans, but this has not stopped them from finding themselves in every role in society.

Human

Rarity	Lifespan
Common	100 years

Description
From the cosmopolitan and debonair nobles to the humble farmer and all things in between, there is no race on Enos that has found a way into every facet of life quite like humans. As varied in complexion as they are occupation and temperament, humankind is more populous and widespread than any other humanoid, a fact backed up by the term 'humanoid' itself bearing this race's name.
Characterized by a force of will and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, humans have occupied leading posts in government and society since they first entered Enos sometime during the Dawning Age. Their influences on other races are obvious, and they act as a sociological glue that binds together otherwise-disparate races to allow advancement on a scale not seen until their arrival. Many volumes exist cataloging their extensive histories and contributions, and it is of little doubt to any scholar than humankind still has much to offer the world.

Kenku

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	55 years

Description
These avian, bipedal creatures are most notorious for their ability to only mimic speech they have previously heard. The kenku are often solitary creatures, as their curiosity towards literally everything leads them away from their mothers at an early age. While many of these birdfolk are born every year, most die after poking their beaks too far into places they shouldn't, making them one of Enos' rarest creatures. Those that have had dealings with the kenku always come away either amused, perplexed, or scarred, as these creatures are well-capable of defending themselves, often in exotic and unexpected ways. Their curiosity, after all, leads them to paths of knowledge seldom traveled.

Kobold

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	12 years

Description
No race is shorter-lived or more full of life than the kobold. With an expected lifespan of twelve years and a maximum of thirty, kobolds are known mostly for their draconic affinity and strong communal ties with one another. Born and fully mature by one month, kobolds are quickly assigned to a particular role within their community, which they serve until they die or take over another role after the death of an elder. Despite their short lifespan, the fact that they are born in litters of twenty to fifty at a time means communities of kobolds are capable of quickly expanding and crafting incredible works. Their generational knowledge is often preserved by a longer-lived patron, often a dragon, and these communities are known to be extremely dangerous if that is their intention. Kobolds are always found near other kobolds, even in cities in which they are far from the majority.

Lizardfolk

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	45 years

Description
The lizardfolk are primarily found on the wild jungle-continent of Tichozen, where they live among the canopies of deadly trees and sinister predatory creatures. Those that are found outside of their island home are often viewed with fear, as their bloody reputation has been built on generations of other races and governments that attempted to colonize their original home. Those that warm to the cold-blooded lizardfolk find them every bit as capable of anything a human can do, and often moreso. They are known for their ability to adapt quickly to change, a trait that lends itself well for their continued survival.

Minotaur

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	60 years

Description
Due to their inherently reclusive nature, the minotaur of Enos are seen as a reserved, stoic, and mystic people. They are stewards of the mountains, craggy canyons, and other stone-marked areas. They hold their own amidst a world that is very often hostile towards them, though the reason is often simply ignorance. While the tales of their people often involve mazes and sinister guardianship thereof, the race is a civilized decedent of the better known eponymous name of their monstrous ancestors. The minotaur stand tall with broad shoulders and a bull's head and hooves, and are an incredibly proud race. They group into clans known as 'families,' and until an outsider is accepted, that outsider would find themselves ignored and shunned. Once accepted by the suspicious race, records tell of the humble, reserved nature of these people, which are deeply connected to their family and the natural world.

Orc

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	60 years

Description
Primarily encountered amid the red wastes of Estell in center-east Prenalia, the orcs of Enos are known for their tribal nature and fearsome warrior mentality. While every orc has a role other than defender, there are few orcs that have not at least trained in the arts of war and combat. Each of the camps in Estell subscribe to a different central tenant, and are widely varied in beliefs. Most orcs are skeptical of outsiders, as most outsiders are wary of them. The history of the orc is closely tied to that of The Red King, as it was through the Red Sands of their homeland that Ascended carved a bloody swath that gave the sands their name. Despite this, those orc that strike out on their own are often able to overcome their history and forge a life for themselves, either with another orc, or with a human or (far more rarely) elf partner.

Tabaxi

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	40 years

Description
The tabaxi are comparatively the most common of all the so-called 'beast races' of Enos. Hailing originally from the lush jungle continent ofTichozen, these lithe catfolk are known for their fierce independence and wild spirit. Enterprising tabaxi are well-regarded as intrepid explorers, and are often employed by the wealthy to delve into long-forgotten places to recover lost artifice and relics. Others may find themselves in an adventuring party, solving the problems of any with coin. Still others find themselves embroiled in mercenary work. Those tabaxi that engage in thievery bring great frustration to the rest of their race, as they loathe the "cat-burglar" stereotype that some in Enos apply to them.
A stereotype that is wholeheartedly embraced by the tabaxi is their gregarious and boisterous nature. Many of Enos' greatest bards are tabaxi for this very reason, and catfolk chach (primordial for "orator") across the deserts of Arnast are famous for their entertaining and embellished oral histories and tall tales. While they are the target of hatred for their supposed predilection towards crime, the vast majority of those on Enos have never met a tabaxi that was caught in the act. While those that insist on bigotry would say this indicates how skilled the tabaxi are at the art of purloining goods, most people find them to be entertaining at best and frustrating at worst.

Tiefling

Rarity	Lifespan
Minor	600 years

Description
Tieflings are looked upon poorly in most of Enos, as they were for the longest time the elite shock troops of Arnast, after a deal was made for fiendish influence to bolster their armies. It's been two-thousand years since enough of them lived long enough outside Enos to begin to reproduce on their own. They can be born to non-tiefling parents, those tend to be the result of a deal of some sort. Most are born between at least one tiefling and one non-tiefling, and tieflings are incapable of carrying offspring on their own.
Those tieflings that are born vary wildly in appearance, color, and fiendish influence. Some barely look fiendish at all, perhaps only sporting jet-black eyes, while others can be born with tails, horns, and deep red skin. Each of them tend to be influenced by the sort of fiend that granted their lineage an infernal connection, and they tend to gravitate towards that particular vice almost naturally. Some are able to overcome and even overcorrect for this, leaning heavily into their heritage's opposing virtue, and there are few forces in Enos more powerful than a pious and virtuous tiefling seeking to atone for the perceived sins of their ancestors.

Tortle

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	400 years

Description
A largely calm and docile turtle-like people, the tortle number among the rarest and most reclusive of Enos' many races. They tend to be highly contemplative, preferring scholarly matters, and often strike out on their own once their shell fully hardens in early adulthood. The traveling tortle is thought the world over to be a sign of good luck, mostly owing to the academic boon they brought to developing societies during the Age of Six.
Tortles that brave the wide world tend to be wandering clerics, druids, and rangers, though the occasional ascetic tortle monk helms a hidden-away monastery where they dispense hidden wisdoms and strict tutelage. They are among the rarest of Enos' races, and no known tortle society exists. Their long life sees them grow only more withdrawn in their older years, as they often find the world moving faster than they care to keep up with.

Triton

Rarity	Lifespan
Rare	100 years

Description
Amid the deep and dreaming dark of the wildly dangerous oceans of Enos live the Tritons, a fearsome warrior people uniquely adapted to its largely-uncharted locales. While they are far from the only sentient race that lives below the open ocean, they are the sole race that has braved the land and integrated into parts of society. Those triton that choose to live most of their life on land are shunned by those that stayed beneath the waves, branded "traitors to the deep." Banishment to the land is a common punishment for serious crimes a triton commits, but reasons for leaving the brine are as varied as a triton's scales.
Though rare to see anywhere on Enos, triton are found plying every trade and craft. Most common is spearfishing and other nautical activities, and more than a few of the legendary seafaring pirates and naval captains have sported the gills and fins of this race. The subnautical sages of the triton and renowned for their knowledge of the Deep Black, the regions of Enos' oceans that lie largely unexplored, though they are often recalcitrant to part with such information for free. Regardless of the triton, interactions with them are always memorable, but few that have sought to take from their sunken riches have ever returned.