The World of Erde

[Piper Juunanagou]

Overview: Unlike most fantasy settings, the three staple races don't have fantastical origins (although their current settings may draw inspiration from genre staples). Way back when, the three species all shared a common ancestor of some sort, but time and exposure to different environments has resulted in enough speciation that it has been centuries since anyone considered them to be the same species. In fact, most people just figure they've always been separate, and only the academics who care to read (a rarity) would tell you otherwise. As the three still interact, there are instances where relationships develop, and while it is not impossible for two different species to sire a kid (a taboo already), such children are sterile (like mules). Just thought I'd put that there before someone asks me if they can be a part-human, part-elf, part-troglodyte shaman.

Humans: Humanity on Erde looks exactly the same as you would expect your average person to look circa the early Middle Ages. With the exception of Vaal'nor and a few larger towns, most people live in either small villages, tribes, or as independent farmers scattered across the expansive Lowlands. Nomadic peoples are far less common when they were in earlier generations. Outside of the Lowlands and its immediate periphery, it is far less common to find human settlements. In general, human relations with elves and dwarves are relatively placid, although disputes between individual settlements are known to break out. These are more indicative of the population centers and not general animosity between the species.

Elves: Elves primarily inhabit the islands to the distant south. While their settlements are more elegant and ancient than their human or dwarven counterparts, the elves lack any central government. In the place of a unified leadership, they have a powerful aristocratic upper class. Their aristocracy, however, constantly feud with one another, making the elves the most violent of the three species.

Dwarves: (Mysteryyyyy)

General Animals: All domestic animals are present in Erde. These include dogs, cats, mice, and anything you'd see raised on a farm. While there are countless species of bird, fish, and lizards, they aren't something people would really keep as pets. Game animals, like rabbits and deer, are also abundant.

Monstrous Creatures: Rumors of monstrous creatures abound all three cultures, whether it tales of terrible cave spiders or the oversized crabs that stalk the ocean's edge. How much of these stories are truth is open to debate.

Monsters: For the most part, all non-supernatural fantasy monsters can/may appear in Erde. As there is no magic in this world, there are no reanimated corpses or animated objects/monsters. There are no conjured monsters or stuff like that. Dragons and other giant flying things, while they may exist (I haven't ruled it out), should never be used. So if you want to randomly have monster, stick to the normal staples, whether they be ogres, orcs, trolls, w/e. I myself am a fan of the 'people are the worst monsters' motif, but I won't crush dreams.

Editor Notes: I may at some point add more information to categories, if this is necessary. The moral is that this will develop as the member base requires it to.