[center][img]http://s16.postimg.org/chdwg9ew5/red_dragon_castle.jpg[/img][/center] [center][i]"The war that I have warned the realm of has finally arrived, and nobody not even you, my fellow wizards, heeded my advice. I hope the Spiral Towers is ready for the coming darkness. I was the one that noticed the signs that a war was coming. I felt the disturbance of demonic magic piercing into our realm a year ago, faint at first but to the trained mind all too clear. As the weeks progressed it soon grew in both power and scale. Then the villagers started to disappear into the night a few months after that. It was at this point I sent out my recon team, who within a week found a mass grave filled with hundreds of dead humans, all drained of their blood. I immediately sent out ravens to the Lords and the Ladies of the realm, advising them of what was to come. I told them that the Dark Crusade was a distraction from the real threat; I pleaded with them to prepare their cities for the demons that were to come. I warned them of the age of darkness that was about to fall upon them. Two days ago, I watched as demonic beasts swept through the lines of soldiers, casting them aside as if they were nothing. I watched as the dragon emerged from the mountain that our ancestors buried it in and melted all that challenged it. I watched in horror. I warned them, I warned them all, and now our realm is all but lost. The Lords and the Ladies of the realm dismissed me, and now they will burn in oblivion forever unless we succeed in one last desperate mission. Even in the darkest of nights, light still prevails. I know the location, far to the north where the frozen mountains meet the Sea of Ice, of the site the religious have long argued that was the home for all life in the beginning; where the gods created us all. The canyon of the gods is where I now ride to. The journey will take me a month to complete No soul has ever returned from entering the canyon, and those that have observed it from afar say that it is filled with nightmarish monsters that stalk the grounds within. Our salvation, our future, lies in this canyon. One week ago I sent the message out to those fated to help me on my journey. At first glance, they may appear to be every bit the danger that they are; with the threat of violence and possibility of death at the end of every argument that they start amongst themselves. Little does this group know that they and they alone are the key to victory over evil; I pray I can guide them to the light before they start killing each other. If you do not get a second message from me in one weeks' time, we have failed. You know what you must do in that event." ~ Grand Wizard Mulad, date stamped 2 days after the failed battle[/i][/center] [b][i]What are our example races?[/i][/b] These are just some generic races and some possible sub-races. You can have some creative freedom with this. Don't see a race/sub-race that fits you? Create one! Within reason of course [center][hider=Human Races][b][u]Firen[/u][/b] The most numerous of the humans, the [b][i]Firen[/i][/b] pride themselves on their ability to talk their way out of any conflict while being able to back up any words with action. They are different in most physical traits, yet they all are equal under their devotion to the God's as well as their King. Though they suffered many defeats during the battle the Firen people still can boast about having the largest army in all the land. [b][u]Glamhoth[/u][/b] The humans of the north are called [b][i]Glamhoth[/i][/b], and they pride themselves on battle and raids. They are considered by outsiders to be a barbaric race of human; who are only found fighting, eating, drinking and making love to pass the time. The truth is much more complicated. They place little value on the life of an outsider, and their strict religious codes grant them the right to challenge those who believe in the new gods to a duel, with death a perfectly acceptable outcome. This is not to say that they are without kindness, compassion, and understanding. Among their kin, they are a friendly and generous race. With each sharing what they have to those in need, and each celebrating the life and death of their friends with drinks and boastful tales of their exploits in battle. Even though they view outsiders with a cautious, and often aggressive eye, they treat every last one of their kin with an air of respect and kindness. If one were to gain the trust of just one Glamhoth soldier, they too will often be allowed to share in this kinder side. [b][u]Lavas[/u][/b] The [b][i]Lavas[/i][/b] folk are the most prosperous of all the human races. They are the master shipbuilders, sailors and traders that claim home to most of the south coast, and many islands that dot the sea. Their ships are fast, and their soldiers well trained in the art of naval warfare. Money has corrupted many in this nation, with many thinking their lust for gold is worse than that of a Dwarven King; valuing coin and lavish parties to any other need. For with coin, they can buy food, and at these parties, they can gain favor, and with favor, they can advance in the rigid social system of the Lavas. They like to play the Grand Game, where people's life and fortune are put on the line in a test of wit and charisma. Grand Cleric Orion said it best when he said: “I'd rather deal with an angry Glamhoth warrior than a friendly Lavas noble, for at least the Glamhoth can be made to see reason!”[/hider][/center] [center][hider=Elevn Races][b][u]Lebethron[/u][/b] The Elves of the eastern woods are known as the [b][i]Lebethron[/i][/b], a race of Elves who claim on the woods have stretched back for as long as recorded history has. Many times have both Humans and Dwarves attempted to lay claim to these woods, for the trees are strong and the land plentiful, but each and any time an army invaded they were driven back by a fury of arrows from the top of the trees, from their rear, and from every direction; or so the story goes. The Lebethron are a very long lived people, with most reaching around several hundred years old while some even reach a thousand years in age. As such, they are the considered to be the keepers of history, with their libraries long sought after by scholars from the human races. [b][u]Mûl[/u][/b] The [b][i]Mûl[/i][/b] are the Elves who either left their ancestral homeland or forced from it. They are forced into a world who's traditions and customs are very strange to these elves. Most Mûl becomes one of two things when they leave their homeland, a sellword where they fight for others or they’re captured and forced into servitude for many of the other races. They are more aggressive than their Lebethron brothers, but also more cunning. They are forced, often from an early age to steal and murder. They make perfect assassins and thieves thanks to their light feet and quick hands. The half-elves often fall into this race. [u][b]Andrann[/b][/u] The [b][i]Andrann Elves[/i][/b] are of the forest and the fortress, Galadhon, to the far west and are some of the most powerful mages in all of the Dalan. The Lebethron Elves once held a great fear of magic and it's uses. Five hundred years ago a law was set up that banned the use of magic and imprisoned those who had the gift. It was only natural, that three hundred years ago, the Great migration occurred. Angry at being abused by their brothers, a large group of mages and their families revolted, breaking their fellow mages out of prison and fled west. It was here they rediscovered the abandoned stronghold of Galadhon and claimed it as their own. They rebuilt it, making the walls stronger with magic infused with each new stone. In the years since the humans from Lavas and Glamhoth have tried to reclaim this great fortress. Each attempt was turned back under a torrent of fire and ice, and with arrows that exploded on contact. Their foot soldiers boast light armor and weapons infused with magical properties. [/hider][/center] [center][hider=Dwarven Races][u][b]Dwarven races[/b][/u] [b][u]Anfangrim[/u][/b] The[b][i] Anfangrim[/i][/b] are a rather large tribe of Dwarves who claim hold over the great Iron Bottom Mountains that bisect the land in two. They are a stout and proud people who value a good story almost as much as gold. They spent their days defending their gates against goblins and mining deep into the depths. of the land before retiring back, spending their nights drinking to tales of Dragon Slayers and hidden treasure. Their fortune is only surpassed by those of the Lavas people, and only because their ships carry the Anfangrim trade to other parts. They have a close relation to the Lavas, both understand the power of money. Yet both will often mock each other in public, as the Anfangrim people value combat while the Lavas loves the game. [b][u]Hadhodrim[/u][/b] The[b][i] Hadhodrim[/i][/b] are the Dwarves of the Northern range which covers much of the northern barrier of the land. They are not as wealthy as those of the Anfangrim, yet they are much better warriors and inventors. They pride themselves on their craftsmanship, with their swords and armor a sought after commodity. They also pride themselves on new and creative weapons, with rumors of a weapon that sparks fire and roars louder than a liion reaching the other races. They often fight the Glamhoth in the north over the limited resources, yet they keep a close relationship with those barbarians. Often times if a battle was to be fought, the two forces would gather together the night before, eat and drink until they could do so no more, and wish the other side luck in the fight the next morning. Indeed, the conflict has dropped significantly between these two races as they grow closer. [b][u]Surface Dwarves[/u][/b] [b][i]Surface Dwarves[/i][/b] are the Dwarves who have, for one reason or another, been forced out of the mountains. The other clans of Dwarves never accept an outsider, so often they are forced into many different criminal enterprises. The Vani is a prime example of a Dwarf combing their effective work structure to a gang, as the Vani have risen to be one of the most dangerous and profitable gangs in the land. While you will not exclusively find surface dwarves as gang members, with many excelling as sell words and bards, it is an accepted fact back in the mountains that most surface dwarves are not to be trusted. [/hider][/center] [center][b][u]What is our current mission?[/u][/b][/center] [center][hider=Premise]Hello! This is an interest check for the RP As Darkness Fell, a high-casual but grounded attempt at a darker take on the fantasy side of writing. The gist of what has happened is that the Mad King has led a rebellion, one that has driven fear into the heart of hearty men, that has burned the countryside as a whole. The many races of our land banded together to beat the Mad King and came oh-so-close to victory, only to be dashed by the black magic and deceit of the Mad King. A dragon, long since labeled a myth, emerged from its eternal prison and utterly destroyed the army. Further nightmares emerged from the old battlefield, monsters with fangs and claws, that shred through battle lines like a knife through butter. Our group is heading north, however. Legend speaks of a powerful staff, one used by one of the gods themselves, that has the power to end this threat once and for all. To get there we will need to track through monster infested fields, forests and more that will both test the strength of our characters and their will to save the world as a whole. Failure means the mortal realms gets captured, while success is not guaranteed even with the staff of the God. I do have three races pre-written, each with the sub-races that flesh them out, and ready to go and I am always open to new races. There will be magic, but it will have resrictions. The goal of the RP is to be one that grows as we do, and expands both the scope and the story with it. If you have a weak magic user at the start that could change by the end! Will you fight to save the mortal realm, or will you let it be consumed by the darkness?[/hider][/center]