Races of Tarien
Diversity and Balance
The races of Tarien are many and diverse. They vary from the patient, artistic Soulmeliti to the seemingly barbaric Ork. While many people are able to see that each race has unique qualities that express the wisdom of the gods, some only see the traits that have made many scholars wonder if the gods truly have the wisdom that is often attributed to them. The result of these differences is that many races do not appreciate the finer qualities of those different to themselves.
Regardless, as the Order of Shar'iish'ta preaches, each race is a blessing on Tarien. Each is required to maintain balance. While the information below describes the prevailing attitudes of each race, exceptional and unusual people, who do not conform to these standards, have repeatedly alter the history of Tarien
Vital Statistics
The following section describes each races height, weight, and aging characteristics. The numbers below provide standard ranges for each of the races. Each of the tables below contains random generation techniques for each of these statistics for ease of character creation. If you prefer, you may simply use them as guidelines and assign your character a height, weight, and age that you feel are appropriate.
Starting Ages
As different races have different lifespans, the begin to adventure at different ages. A Soulmeliti, for example, typically does not leave her home until she is as old as the oldest human. Different starting ages often lead to different perspectives in an adventuring party.
To determine a character’s starting age randomly, cross reference the character’s race with their class on the chart below. Roll the die or dice indicated, and add the number rolled to the “Adulthood” age for the race.
Starting Ages by Race
- Group 1 - Barbarian, Rogue, or Sorcerer
- Group 2 - Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, or Warlock
- Group 3 - Cleric, Druid, Monk, or Wizard
Lifespans
As characters get older, their bodies began to give out. They get slower, weaker, and slightly their health declines. Meanwhile, their experience gives them a mental edge. Their wit sharpens, they gain wisdom, and learn to better influence others. To represent this, each race’s lifespan is broken into their Middle Years, Old Age, and their Venerable Years. Each step affects a character’s ability scores, as noted on the table below.
In addition to ability scores, each race has a maximum age. When a character reaches the venerable age for their race, the game master rolls the maximum age modifier, as noted on the list below, and notes the result. The number rolled represents the number of years left until the character dies of old age. Note that most people in Tarien never make it to Old, let alone venerable or Maximum age. Life in Tarien is hard—and disease, war, and hunger kill the majority of the population.
Lifespan by Race
- At middle age: -1 to Str, Dex & Con. +1 to Int, Wis & Cha
- At old age: -2 to Str, Dex & Con. +1 to Int, Wis & Cha
- At venerable: -3 to Str, Dex & Con. +1 to Int, Wis & Cha
- All modifiers are cumulative
Physical Characteristics
Different races have different builds. Khadra are short, yet stout, while Elynthi are lean and graceful. Even within individual races, the builds of characters vary. Stronger, healthier characters tend to have more muscle mass, and are therefore often heavier and in many cases, taller. As a result, each gender has a separate chart. Additionally, for most races, males of the race are taller and heavier than females.
The charts below lists a base height and weight for each race, as well as a modifier. Use the chart to either randomly determine your character’s height and weight, or use them as guidelines to choose your character’s height and weight. Note that it is possible to have characters to have heights, weights, and builds outside the norm for their race.
Add the height modifier to the base height to determine the character’s height. Then multiply the height modifier by the result of the weight multiplier, and add the result to the base weight.
Female Heights and Weights by Race
Male Heights and Weights by RaceI vow, on the charred remains of Tyloma's sacred grove, that our people will swell with power and drown the dreams of those demons; just as they have torched the soul of our land.
The Fall of New Solarin, 495 AC
Racism on Tarien
Racism is indeed an unfortunate fact of life on Tarien. Since most races live in nation-states of their own kind, it rarely causes a disturbance in every day life. In larger cities, which tend to be more cosmopolitan, however, an undertone of tension often exists. This tension manifests itself in many forms, from subtle pricing variations at bazaars, to separate nation-states.
Racism comes in many forms – from those who merely dislike other races, to those that despise a specific race. Occasionally, some event in the person’s past has fueled their racism. More often, however, it is simply ignorance to blame.
When the characters encounter a new person, the DM may roll to see if they are racist. Roll a d20 and consult the chart below.
| Roll | Result |
|---|---|
| 1-6 | The person has no racist tendencies. |
| 7-9 | The person is mildly racist to one race in particular. He will charge members of that race 10% more for goods and characters of that race suffer a –2 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 10-12 | The person is mildly racist toward all races but his own. He will charge members of other race 10% more for goods and characters of other race suffer a –2 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 13-14 | The person is moderately racist to one race in particular. He will charge members of that race 25% more for goods and characters of that race suffer a –4 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 15-16 | The person is moderately racist toward all races but his own. He will charge members of other race 25% more for goods and characters of other race suffer a –4 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 17 | The person is exceptionally racist toward one race in particular. He will charge members of that race 50% more for goods and characters of that race suffer a –8 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 18 | The person is exceptionally racist toward all races but his own.). He will charge members of other races 50% more for goods and characters of that race suffer a –8 penalty to all Charisma related checks. |
| 19 | The person is vehemently racist toward one race in particular. He will have no dealings with people of that race. If pressed to interact, he may become violent. |
| 20 | The person is vehemently racist toward all races but his own. He will have no dealings with people of any other race. If pressed to interact, he may become violent. |