Races

Borost and the surrounding areas are inhabited by a number of different races, which is a general term to refer to sapient creatures. In a certain sense, nearly all races claim to have sprung in or near Borost, with the exception of the Dwaerkar, who first arrived in Borost from a land to the east.

Dwaerkar
The Dwaerkar (d-WAER-kar), pejoratively known by some as the dwarves on account of their comparatively short stature, are a race that inhabits Borost. Legend says that the Dwaerkar first arrived in Borost after the hero, Ouwe the Founder, sailed into the land and founded Ouwestad in the year +3. Since then, the Dwaerkar have achieved supremacy of the land through the Rise of the Dwaerkar. They primarily inhabit sovereign and independent realms known as Dwaerkar freeholds, which span Borost. The Dwaerkar primarily speak Aalderdwaer, a standard language created in +510, but this is only one of many Dwaerkar languages.

Chtzuler
The Chtzuler (c-TZHU-lehr), singular Chtzul, known as Kzuelkar by the Dwaerkar, and often pejoratively as orcs, are a race that inhabits the Izlenteft and Drusseberg mountains and the adjacent areas to the immediate North of Borost. They live in loose clans and chiefdoms, and survive of subsistence farming in the glacial valleys and hunting the plentiful game of the mountainous forest.

Chlatzler
The Chlatzler (c-LAETZ-lehr), singular Chlatz, known as Klatzkar by the Dwaerkar, and often pejoratively as goblins, are a race that inhabits the Izlenteft and Drusseberg mountains and the adjacent areas to the immediate North of Borost. They are the vassals of the Chtzuler, and have adopted their language, religion, and many of their customs.

Mankind
Mankind, known as Maenkar by the Dwaerkar, and also known as humans, men, wild-folk, and other terms, are a race that inhabits Borost. Their exact origins are unknown, and the fact that they do not speak a símic language implies that they are probably not indigenous to the continent. Until 40 and 50 years ago, they primarily inhabited Alenreic, a Kingdom to the north of Borost, but today they primarily inhabit the South.

Northern men
Millions of humans formerly inhabited Alenreic, but have been forced to vacate the land following Ythred's War and the Ban of Alenreic. They primarily migrated south of Borost. Today, they can be identified by their speech, the Boreal tongues, and by the fact that they refer to their proud families as "Houses" rather than "Clans."

Southern men
Men have lived in the south of Borost since time immemorial: Based purely on archaeological evidence, it appears that the South was the first place they inhabited in the continent. In recent years, they have been joined by their northern brethren, and there has been great syncretism between both groups. They primarily speak the Austral tongues.

Skink-folk
The Skink-folk are the smallest sapient coldbloods.

Lizard-folk
The Lizard-folk, who know themselves as the Teey, and known as the Ledenkar to the Dwaerkar, are a race of humanoid coldbloods. Although often confused with Serpent-folk, Lizard-folk are distinguished by their shorter necks, more bipedal posture, and regular -- although quite uncommon -- presence in the southern reaches of the peninsula.

Serpent-folk
The Serpent-folk, known as Slaenkar by the Dwaerkar, and also known as the serpent-people, man-serpents, and myriad other names, are the inhabitants of the disease-infested swamps to the north of Borost and the west of the Grosseberg mountains.

Speaking an incomprehensible language of which no written records have been discovered, the name used by these people for themselves is unknown. Nevertheless, numerous specimens have been collected following the Invasions, and their biology is well-understood.

No individual person of the Serpent-folk has been found in Borost; the only time they are found in the land is during one of the Invasions. The motives behind these suicidal incursions remain elusive to even the most accomplished of the Serpent scholars, although studies are ongoing.

No expedition that has gone more than a few hundred units into the Great Swamp has ever returned or been found, dead or alive.

Terbolds
Terbolds, known to the Dwaerkar as Terboldkar, are a large, powerful race of coldbloods. The name they give to themselves, if any, is unknown. They appear to be members of the Serpent-folk society, and participate with their smaller companions in the Invasions. Although seemingly dimwitted, they unleash great destruction with large mauls and maces, while their thick, heavy scales, nearly impervious even to advanced Dwaerkar rifles, allow them to weather the storm.

Basilisks
Basilisks, known to the Dwaerkar as Slechtenkar, are a large and mysterious sapient race.

Borostím
The Borostím  (bo-ros-TIM), known as Dulerlkar by the Dwaerkar, and commonly as dark elves, are a race that inhabits Borost.

Glarisím
The Glarisím, also known as the green elves, are a race that inhabits several locations in the continent. Most prominently, they inhabit the Libreth forest to the south of Borost. It is estimated that the total population of Glarisím is only a few tens of thousands.

Lynnsím
The Lynnsím, also known as the golden elves and sun elves, are a Símic race. They primarily inhabit the city of Avon Dyll, located to the immediate west of Tirsos, but a few thousand also live in Tirsos.

Tirsosím
The Tirsosím  (tir-so-SIM), known as Rallerlkar by the Dwaerkar, and by some as red elves or sea elves, are a race that inhabits the Tirsosi peninsula, to the far south of Borost.

Mixed-race
Humans and all símic races are fully sexually compatible, and can father fully-fertile children of a mixed race.

Half-elven
A child with mixed human and símic blood is known as a half-elf.

Donnsím
When the union occurs between and  persons, the child is known as a brown elf (a Donnsím).

Possibly sapient races
There are other races that, by the lack of contact or study, cannot be positively ascertained to be sapient.

Draekar
Dragons, known as Draekar to the Dwaerkar, Dyrnredím to the Borostím, and many other names, are a possibly sapient race in Borost.

It has been theorized, based on old Borostím lore, that the Draekar are sapient, and speak a peculiar and wordless language, wherein communication takes place through the Skeleton of the World. Borostím legends speak of certain heroes who, by own volition or that of the Draekar, were able to engage in conversation with them. In modern times, however, the sapience of the Draekar has yet to be verified.

The Draekar are known to inhabit several aeries in the summits of the tallest mountains in Borost. These are entirely inaccessible to non-flying creatures. Only rarely are the Draekar observed in lower elevations, as they are believed to prefer colder environments. The Draekar are the largest mobile lifeform known to exist.

Roekar
Rocs, known as Roekar to the Dwaerkar, Royním to the Borostím, and many other names, are a possibly sapient race in Borost. They nest in the unreachable heights of cliffs and at the tops of great trees. They are very proficient at eluding Dwaerkar researchers interested in studying them.