Summary of Minor Races in Estemor

Estemor is largely comprised of Humans, Elves or some crossbreed of the two. Many other races have settled the continent, but are uncommon enough that they do not yet merit their own articles and are instead coalesced here. Perhaps someday in the future, the scribe responsible for recounting all of this information shall provide them with proper articles, but that day is not today.

Dwarves

A subterranean race from the northern continent, Vinoska. Remarkably little has been written about them, but it is understood that most groups will embark on a forced journey to Estemor as the result of some sort of exile. Their political systems are complex and exiles come from many different kingdoms within the vast mountains of their homeland. Particularly patriotic dwarves believe they have no place in Estemor and often struggle to integrate. They are rumored to band together in an independent city known as Greypatch. Most dwarves attempt to continue their trades while others simply travel the lands and keep to themselves.

Orcs

Dwarves often warred with these green-skinned, warrior folk from the north. During the Dark Ages, they were said to cross the sea in great numbers and intermingled with human tribes, leading to the half-orcs that can be found in Estemor today. In the current era, warbands will attempt to raid coastal villages and then pour inward in large numbers, but these hasty attacks often lead to their forces suffering attrition and fragmenting. Stragglers are found across Estemor, often serving as roaming mercenaries.

Dragonborn

Yoran Cults of Zarnok believed that on rare occasions, the Beast-Father and his children would journey to the civilized lands in pursuit of human desires. The result of laying with such gods was a creature with the mind of a man, but a body that resembled a dragon. Many of these groups of dragonborn can trace their lineage back across times before the Saints' War, though they prefer to live in seclusion near the Great Basin. Similar stories

Halflings & Goblinoids

These diminutive human-like people called much of the Brunstam Forest their home during the time of Yore. However, the horrid sequence of events that lead to the depths of those woods becoming cursed also corrupted most of their kind into the creatures known as Goblinoids. Despite this, some Halfling clans managed to persist and now live contently in rural areas, though many others to developed wanderlust and settled in cities across Estemor. Many see them as an offshoot of humanity, though not all of their surviving traditions have been cast aside. 
Goblinoids have had minimal cultural development since their creation, but their physical changes were numerous. Goblins are driven to expand and exploit the resources of others rather than establish a settlement and government on their own. They reproduce quickly and after only a few generations can look and act wildly different from other Goblinoids. Some remain stunted and small while others are are taller and wider than most humans. Some disregard comfort and are motivated simply by the promise of wealth or power, while others dig deep into the mountains after studying ancient tomes of Yore. When multiple tribes seek the same goal, they do battle until a clear victor emerges, absorbing the surrendering tribe into the fold. 

Gnomes

The small folk such as these are thought to hail from Falida, a diverse land past the south sea. While accounts seem to vary wildly, Gnomes are known for their dedication to technology, devising many automated contraptions or tools. Those that come to Estemor do so to sell exotic wares or research the dormant devices of Yore. But every now and then, some wide-eyed youth claims they saw a massive flying machine in the clouds.

Goliath

The vast archipelago of Vamantau, off the coast of Falida is the home of a race likely descended from Giants. They are tightly divided into clans that defer to the wisdom of their ancient survivalist techniques. Some clans shun outsiders, preferring to remain completely self-sufficient and  independent while others see cooperation and exchange as a means to impress other cultures. The diverse ecology present in this region means that the Goliath are incredibly resilient in any environment and are often sought out as sailors or bodyguards by any business that relies on trade and connections with Falida.

Birdfolk

As varied in appearance as there are birds in the sky, birdfolk are a rare sight in Estemor outside of some Karelian enclaves. As a curiosity, they often participate circuses or other entertainment companies to earn coins from commoners and nobles alike. Others become roaming merchants who trade in curios and trinkets. Even in Falida, Birdfolk are not known to establish settlements larger than their flock. If they have any other ambitions or goals, they elude most humans.

Tieflings

There is no record of these demon-derived people existing in the times of Yora. It is believed that they first appeared some time during the Dark Ages when remote and disconnected tribes of humans turned to the worship of rogue deities. These groups persisted until eventually being driven away by the newly formed Empire of Amertus. Rumors abound that remote islands off of the coast of Estemor still shelter these tribes and multiple Holy Orders of the Principality are dedicated to seeking out and slaying any remnants of them.
Regardless of the lineage of those tribes, tieflings can still be found on the mainland of Estemor. Some are born with such a form, while others were who became transformed. Sometimes devil worship is the cause, while other times it seems completely random. The mysterious nature of this phenomenon is not yet understood and those who have not seen such transformation in their community are generally unaware of it.

Related Historical Events

• 673 AS
  Dwarf Deportations Begin
• 602 AS
  Return of the Greenskins