High Orcs

Art by Junewil Dael

On Primordus there was once only one kind of Orc. The usual warhungry pillaging type. But at some point the High Orcs were born as a result of divine guidance that led them away from that path. While they still greatly value strength, they value it as a tool to protect their cities.

The High Orcs now hail from the dessert kingdom of Waa'Deem on the continent of Azora. There capitol city of Gruwish is one of the two largest centers of trade in the world. Virtually anything imported from the continent of Aelcrestia passes through Waa'Deem before it reaches the kingdoms of the Oni or the High Elves.

High Orc merchants, smiths, priests, and warriors all practice their craft for the betterment of their society with the aid of the inventions of gnomes who they share their kingdom with.

High Orcs stand from 5-7 feet tall. Weigh between 200-300 pounds and are medium sized. The age at the same rate as humans.

Common Gods of Worship: Belenus, Oghma, The Bearded One, Heimdall, Vaasmoot, Zeus

5th Edition Rules
Ability Score Increase: Strength, Constitution, and Wisom all increase by 1

Speed: Base walking speed is 30 ft

Darkvision: 60 ft. Both their outward transformation and living in a desert has dulled this sense.

Martial Training: High Orcs are proficient in two martial weapons of their choice and light armor.

Relentless Endurance: When reduced to 0 hp but not killed, you can drop to 1 hp instead. Feature can not be used again until after a long rest.

Languages: All High Orcs know Common and Gnomish.

Oni

Art by boli nolasco

The Oni are a race of red skinned ogre-like humanoids who hail from the kingdom of Asawara on the continent of Azora. They share common ancestry with the ogres but have become more civilized through their spirituality and sense of honor.

Many Oni have taken up the way of the samurai or the disciplines of the monks as they try their best to protect the human farmers in their lands from the Savage Horde to the north. They also maintain peaceful relations with the neighboring high elves and high orcs as there is no time for squabbles among those who face a common enemy.

The Oni realize those unfamiliar with them may be afraid of them, thinking them to be monsters or demons. They may find this hurtful but do not hate others for it. Their clans value the concept of honor highly and believe firmly in protecting those weaker then themselves.

All Oni are red skinned and tend to have black or brown hair. They stand between 7-9 feet tall. They weight between 300-400 pounds.

Common Gods of Worship: Belenus, Demeter, Quetzalcoatl, Heimdall, Ptah, Thoth

5th Edition Rules
Ability score modifiers: Strength increases by 2. Constitution increased by 1.

Speed: Natural walking speed is 35

Powerful Build: Oni are medium size but count as large for carrying capacity as well as what they can push, drag, or lift.

Martial Training: Oni are proficient in two martial weapons of their choice and light armor.

Imposing Visage: All Oni are proficient in the intimidation skill.

Iron Wall: Oni consider themselves the wall between themselves and their "weaker" allies. As such they strive to never fail in front of those they protect for fear of reducing morale. If you miss with an attack roll or fail an ability check or a saving throw, you can gain a bonus to the roll equal to the number of allies you can see within 30 feet of you (maximum bonus of +5). Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Body and Mind: As a reaction to an enemy attack, the Oni may exert themselves raise their AC by their proficiency bonus for the remainder of the current round. This ability can not be used again until you finish a long rest.

Languages: Can speak, read, and write Common as well as Giant.

Silver Elves

Art by Boli Nolasco

 

Art by Jacob K. Gratchyk

Silver elves live in the kingdom of Nelsegroth in the northern region of the continent of Aelcrestia. They live secluded from most of the other civilized races as their kingdom is among a region that has otherwise been overrun by demons. Demons that the silver elves have formed an alliance with.

Silver elves view all the non elf mortal races as less then people. They see others as beings only fit for slavery or death. Thus they have no qualms serving in the names of their dark gods as they attempt to help a horde of demons destroy civilizations.

The silver elves also have many heavy practitioners of necromancy. More then happily they will add the corpses of their enemies to their undead labor force and army. However it is forbidden to ever turn another elf into any form of undead other then a vampire as it is considered blasphemy to turn a being as beautiful as an elf into nothing more then a walking rotting corpse. It should come as no surprise that all of their deceased are cremated to avoid the horrible fate of rotting away.

Silver elves all have pale white skin but their hair can vary from black, white, and a very metallic looking silver. Their eye colors are as various as one can imagine. Their eyes tend to naturally be blue, green, or black. However the tainted land that they reside in has led to the magic around them giving them all kinds of eye color variations, some silver elves are even born with glowing eyes.

Common Gods of Worship: Loki, Morrigan, Sharzek, Viccus

Roleplaying Notes: Anyone who wants to play a good silver elf will need to come up with a very good reason for why they have turned against their own kind. Even as a good silver elf who believes that their brethren are wrong, they should still be roleplayed with a bit of condescension towards other races. Someone doesn't unlearn thinking that they're better then everyone else overnight.

5th Edition Rules
For 5th Edition, Silver Elves function as a sub race of elf with the following extra traits.

Ability Score Modifier: Rather then the usual bonus to Dexterity all other elves receive. Silver elves gain a plus 2 to Intelligence and a plus 1 to Wisdom. This is due to them all living rather privileged lifestyles with no care for nature.

Cunning Mind: All silver elves are proficient in the Arcana and Investigation skills.

Magical Prodigy: All silver elves gain 1 wizard or cleric cantrip even if they are a non magical class.

Snow Elves

Art by Jacob K. Gratchyk

Snow Elves come from the Land of Ice, a continent in the southern regions of Primordus. They live in nomadic tribes that move about the land constantly as their needs require. They have no central city they call home but they do frequently visit the Mountain Dwarves to trade materials and food with them.

Snow Elves are roughly the same size as your average elf race but they all have light blue skin. Their hair varies from dark green, dark blue, or white depending on which tribe they come from. While it isn't that they can't use bows, due to their environment they tend to be trained in the use of spears instead of bows unlike most elves.

They have also evolved a unique form of special vision from other demi-human races. They lack dark vision but they have what has become known as weather vision. Their senses and magical nature have led them to be able to see better in snow or rain then your average person. This can give them a valuable advantage when battling foes in unexpected weather conditions.

Common Gods of Worship: Artemis, Bastet, Flondell, Sif, The Many Eyed One, Zelarell

5th Edition Rules
For 5th Edition, Snow Elves function as a subrace of elf. With the following extra traits.

Ability Score Increase: Snow Elves Constitution score increases by 1.

Snow Elf Weapon Training: Snow Elves have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, and spear.

Cold Resistance: Snow Elves only take half damage from all cold and ice based attacks.

Harsh Environment Training: Snow Elves are proficient in the Survival skill.

Weather Vision: Replaces Darkvision. Snow Elves can see relatively clearly up to 60 feet in heavy rain, fog, or snow.