Selestya

The predominant races are derived from the four core ancestral sentient races, which were human, faerie, giant, and dragon. From the humans descended Men (ranging from Torgs to Druini to Southrons), Perrin (perrymen, or halflings (which is a pretty derogatory term)), and Barghest (wolfen, dog- or hyena-like humanoids). From the giants, Viellun (aka goblins or orcs after Orcus) and Dwarves. From the faerie: the Aes Sidhe and their fallen cousins the Baen Sidhe (don't call either of them elf if you know what's good for you). There are many others of course, including the lizardy Kobolds of dragon ancestry (lizardmen is also derogatory, they're not men), as well as actual giants, faerie creatures, and dragons, but these are far rarer, and shy away from civilization.   Selestya is a magic-rich fantasy world on the cusp of an industrial and social revolution. Magic is commonly practiced and only the most fog-headed lout doesn't know at least a cantrip or two his granny would have taught him. If you're well off enough or show enough talent to be sponsored, you could go to one of the universities and learn, or at least apprentice yourself to a wizard and learn the trade. For most though, magic is like eletricity - there's enough of it around to make it useful, but only a few know how it works (and when something using it breaks, you call the guy).   Selestya has five major religions with numerous cults, religions being based on the four forces, whereas the cults are based on anything from individual deities to elemental worship and witchcraft (Keltic druidism). Religion is superficial in some cases (help me find the keys to the barn), very practical in others (prevent Grandma's corpse from rising).   The focus of the world (i.e. civilization) is in the southern part of the main continent Selestya, where a number of small independent countries and city-states are bound into a commercial commonwealth. Most, but not all, adventures and stories have taken place here. Also on the continent is the great primeval forest of Nelfheim, where one can find the cities of the Aes Sidhe and other faerie creatures, assuming one doesn't get lost amongst the fairy circles and gallitraps. To the north of the Commonwealth across the Pellinore Mountains are the petty states that are the remnants of the old Torgish Empire. To the south and west of the Commonwealth, across the Riftwater Sea, upon the continent of Valay, is the originally named Valasian Empire, inhabited almost completely by Men, Barghest, and Kobolds. Also on Valay is the Great Forest of Ghosts, which was the southern part of Nelfheim back in the good old days when there was no Riftwater Sea.