Humans are, well, just what you would think.  For the most part.

Physically, humans in Tamarra look the way you would expect.  They stand anywhere from four to seven feet tall, though most are in the center of that range.  They have the usual two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, one nose, and one mouth.  They are not the strongest or fastest of the Ten Races, nor are they the largest or the smallest.  

There is one notable difference between human physiology in the Beyonder world and humans in our world.  In the Beyonder world humans are able to exhibit a wide range of hair and eye colors.  When they are young, humans have the ability to change their hair and eye colors at will, which is a source of great fun.  There are frequent schoolyard contests to see who can produce the most outrageous colors in the shortest amount of time.

As humans reach adulthood, their ability to change hair or eye color is much reduced, as is the range of colors.  It usually happens when Emotion Energy runs high.  Sometimes this is involuntary, when the human (the Player Character, or PC) temporarily loses control.  Suffice it to say that when a human becomes an adult they will choose an eye color that will become, for the most part, permanent.  This is an important decision, and usually involves a great deal of discussion among family members and close friends.  Their adult eye color becomes part of a coming of age ceremony that introduces a human child into the adult world.  This, along with the presentation of their adult name, is the core of most human ceremonies of the rite of passage.  We’ll talk in more detail about this ceremony, typically referred to as the Alinsan Ahtifal, in a later blog.

Humans are good at noticing social interactions, and they are often highly skilled Charismatics. Because of their strong affinity with Emotion Energy, they have outstanding social skills, and are best known across the continent for their excellence at working in groups. They are excellent collaborators on a small team, and can contribute just as meaningfully to a large social organization such as a city government or the far-reaching interpersonal networks of kingdom or nation.  

Given how socially adept they are, it will come as no surprise that humans are at ease in any place across the Tamarran Continent.  More than any of the Ten Races, they will be found almost everyone you travel.  They are similarly adaptable in the kinds of homes they inhabit: they tend to live in whatever housing is standard for a given area.  

We have only skimmed the surface of what there is to know about humans and their societies. Although they blend in with most any social network or community, there are some organizations that are created solely by, and for, humans.  We will talk about these secret organizations, and more about humans, in blogs yet to come.

The kamari are often referred to by the other Ten Races (and other sentient creatures of the Tamarran Continent) as the greenskeepers. They have a deep love of forests and all the flora that inhabit them. They are a free-spirited people who prize life and laughter, and they value their independence.

Kamari love for the natural world, and the woodlands in particular, is a part of their ancient lineage: they are one of the Ten Races descended from the ancient Elzheni race.  The Elzheni lived during the Second Era of the current Fifth Age of the World (we currently live in the Third Era of that same Age of the World).  Each race descended from the Elzheni (the kamari, heola, ishiri, and zweyjen) inherited some unique quality from their Elzheni ancestors.  We’ll talk more about the ancient Elzheni in a separate blog post.

The physical makeup of kamari closely resembles the forests that they love so much.  They are tall and lanky, with skin and hair the texture of small roots and branches or tree bark.  Their coloring is a mix of many hues of brown and green.  All of this combines to give kamari a natural camouflage in their forest surroundings.  When you add to this their extraordinary quickness and skill with weapons of all kinds (they are without parallel among the Ten Races for their use of ranged weapons, such as a bow), they are a formidable foe to any who might make the mistake of invading their lands.

Perhaps the most distinctive physical characteristic of the kamari is that, unlike any of the other Ten Races, they have three genders; male, female, and tree.  These trees, while conscious and sentient, appear ordinary to anyone who is not able to speak with plants. Tree offspring are created when male and female kamari pollinate the tree; months later, their “child” sprouts from the ground.  (We recommend that you do not create a character that is a tree kamari, unless your idea of an exciting adventure is having birds make nests in your hair!)

It is not surprising that kamari make their homes in forests throughout the Tamarran Continent.  It is estimated that there are hundreds of kamari tribes in the vast reaches of the Great Western Forests alone.  Although they love wooded lands, kamari can also be found in every major city.  Even in urban settings their houses are often filled with plants, and the outside of their homes may have trees or vines growing up the sides.

The kamari have a strong tribal structure.  This is most pronounced in the forests, where the territories of different kamari tribes are clearly demarcated and infringements of those boundaries are met with fast opposition.  In the cities of the continent, where they live within a more informal community with their fellow kamari, those tribal structures often break down.

There are many tales to tell of kamari tribes, of exploits comedic, deadly serious, and brave.  We will cover those in upcoming blogs.

Dwarves are known for their strong affinity with Physic Energy, the Energy that makes up the physical world and the forces therein.  Although they are not very tall (3-6 feet, with an average of 5.5 feet), this affinity makes them physically strong and very sturdy.  Many become powerful Evokers and great warriors, wielding Powers based on Physic Energy. Other dwarves use their affinity with Physic to mold the matter of the world, such as silver, gold, and iron, into many different forms, such as household furnishings, fine art, or high-quality tools and weapons. Whatever they choose to do, they take great pride in their endeavors.

Because of their affinity with Physic Energy, dwarves love stone. Indeed, several dwarf clans founded the great underground portions of Naldrin City (see map of the Tamarran Continent) by building homes and huge structures in the caverns below the Nashem Mountains; they live there to this day. Many dwarves live in the extensive cavern systems that lie beneath the surface of Tamarra.

Dwarves have a very strong clan structure: most dwarves, if not all, belong to a clan, of which they are very proud. Major dwarf clans number in the tens of thousands, although there are some clans of only a few hundred, a few dozen, or even just a particularly stubborn handful.  No matter the size, the ruling structure of clans is invariably top-down from a single ruler (of either gender) who governs with a firm hand.

It is quite common for dwarves to have disagreements with their clan and break away to join another. This can happen for a variety of reason: strong political beliefs, a battle for power and leadership, or something as small as a disagreement between one group of cigar-loving dwarves and the rest of their clan who prefer pipes.

Dwarf clans are often formed around location, providing society and protection for those in the area.  However, some form around a particular skill set, such as crafting metal implements or weapons.  Dwarf Evokers, who have a particular interest in fortifying the stone that make up walls or buildings, might come together in their own clan; another clan might be based on a political ideal. There is even rumored to be a group of dwarf sorcerers calling themselves the Tallakkarr Clan, who use chants to control metalwork.

One of the more interesting clans, and one of the oldest stories in their voluminous genealogy, is that formed by the great dwarf sorcerer Darkklaven.  Darkklaven broke away from his home clan (nobody’s quite sure which that was) in the year SP~2,073 (almost three thousand years ago) to form the Clan of the Middle Abysm.  This clan was a small nation of less than a hundred dwarves who came together to explore the very deepest parts of the extensive cavern system that runs under, and throughout, the Tamarran Continent.  It is said that the Clan of the Middle Abysm went into the very bowels of the Fekxtah (planet) Ethem, going farther than any other folk had ever gone.  This clan became legendary in its discoveries and exploits.  By now the clan is perhaps more myth than reality, since they have not been heard from in centuries.  Even so, rumors still persist that they live on in the deepest regions of the world and have unprecedented knowledge of the innards of Ethem.

Dwarves are a multi-talented, far-ranging, passionate Race. While they can be strong, loyal warriors, they can also produce some of the most delicate jewelry and finest armor found anywhere on the continent. While they love caverns and life below ground, they can also be found in the towns, cities, and kingdoms that populate the Tamarran continent.  They are on the plains and the deserts of Tamarra, on top of the mountains, deep in the forests, and even along the lakes and waterways throughout the land.  Regardless of where they live, they make themselves a strong participant in their chosen homeland and are, frequently, passionate voices in that community.

There is much more to tell about the many dwarf clans and folk.  Watch for more stories!

Although the crawns’ strong affinity with Body Energy makes them able fighters, they can, and do, choose many other kinds of pursuits.  Most crawn love order and discipline in their lives and their societies, and tend to be methodical and cautious in their decision-making.  They are known for their exceptional courage and their willingness to sacrifice for the greater good, or simply for those they love and to whom they are loyal. Their sense of loyalty and order make crawn good companions for explorations and adventures, and good friends generally.

Physically, the crawn tend to be six to seven feet tall and lithe, with a scaly, snake-like body and a high serpentine head.  They are strong and dexterous with both weapons and tools.  In addition, they have a vicious bite that can be used in close-quarters combat.

Although not all crawn are warriors or members of a military group, they certainly have a proclivity for it.  Many of the mightiest kingdoms of the Tamarran Continent were formed as the result of conquest by crawn armies.  Their sense of order and discipline are useful not only for conquering lands, but also for retaining and ruling them.  Those who live under crawn rule very often appreciate the stability, abundant food, and safety that come with it.  Several of the largest kingdoms on the continent are ruled by crawn, including the Kingdom of the Szaskar Crawn in the northeast and the Karrin Crawn Lands in the northwest.

Although crawn love dry, arid places, and tend to inhabit the continent’s deserts, they are spread far and wide across all of Tamarra.  There is a crawn presence in every major city and even in some of the farmlands of the north.  The only places where they are unlikely to settle are the mountains of the continent, where it is not easy to make a long, uninterrupted sprint, and the Lochuum Plains in the south, which they find overabundant in vegetation.

Crawn are generally more comfortable as members of a nation or kingdom, where they have a specific role in society.  However, some crawn find themselves unable to live in a larger community, where their sense of order may conflict with the existing laws.  They tend to live an almost hermit-like existence, and are often found in vast deserts such as the Frestehal Plains.

Perhaps the most interesting crawn society is a group called the Szennid, who have developed amazing abilities, using Body Energy to change their appearance.  In this changed state they are able to maintain their natural affinities with Body Energy and physical Talents, while effectively disguising themselves as members of other Races or creatures.  It is extremely difficult to spot a powerful Szennid in disguise:  it requires the highest skills in identifying Body Energy signatures, down to the deepest level.

Stay tuned…we’ll have more about this group, and about other crawn societies, in future blogs!