Ancestries of Enelis
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Other Ancestries
There are numerous descendants of the First-born on Enelis. Each of these offshoots adapted to the environments and biomes in which they settled. Their physiologies and cultures developed, adapting to the land, and forging new ancestries upon Enelis. The following are the most prominent ancestries known (besides those already listed above).
Havashi (Halflings)
Skin: Fair to tawny skin tones.
Hair: Very curly hair of various brown and red hues.
Eyes: Brown or hazel eyes.
Size: Very short heights and average builds.
The Havashi, called Undrie by the dragons, once originated in the Freewind Savannah and rolling grasslands farther north. They were nomadic bands that wondered the great grasslands, foraging and hunting for small game in the high grasses and sparse woodlands of that region. Some of these clans would begin to travel and explore the east, with most of these clans settling in the southeastern hills of Loyolla and Kalrua. These small halfling villages would usually go completely unnoticed by the humans who lived nearby. After the Nomen Empire conquered most of the known world, humans eventually began to notice more of these ‘halflings’ joining their cities and settlements. Most of this ancestry is referred to as Halflings in reference to the fact that they are about half the size of a typical human. Many of the Halflings themselves happily accept this moniker. In modern times, those referred to by the ancient name, Havashi, is usually reserved for the hidden clans of halflings that still dwell in the wild grasslands of the west. While there are still many unknown halfling villages through Ularin, many halflings have fully integrated into human society, adopting the cultures and customs of that society, while sprinkling in a few of their own ancestral idiosyncrasies. Halflings are typically overly friendly and jovial. They tend to find pleasure in the simple things of life: food, drink, music, and dance. They are usually very social people, enjoying good company and spending time with others. They also tend to be quite agreeable, prioritizing social cohesion over standing ground on an opinion.
Hashkani (Gray Orcs)
Skin: Green to gray and dark gray skin tones.
Hair: Straight hair of black to dark brown hues.
Eyes: Black to dark brown eyes with a pink to red sclera.
Size: Tall to average heights with very brawny builds.
The Orcs on Enelis have had a dark and unfortunate history. Their name is derived from the draconic word for slave, ‘orka’. They once were a mostly peaceful people that originated in the southern swamps of Ularin in the Arawen Swamps (see Brahkguni below). In the 1st Age, the dragons began to return to Ularin, and some of these dragons took over the orc tribes, corrupting their physical essence, creating a quick-breeding warrior species to overtake the Elves and Dwarves of Ularin. These corrupted gray orcs then were gathered in a great war machine, the first great orc horde let by the orc champion Hashkan. They charged north through Ularin’s eastern coasts, decimating the civilization they came across. Eventually, the Elves and Dwarves stopped this invasion, and pushed the remaining orcs up into the Hashan Plateau in the far north of the world. Once there, the dragon overlords began to fight among themselves, turning each orc clan and tribe against each other in a state of constant warfare. Only occasionally did a powerful dragon manage to unite the orcs into another great army that charged into Noradrie territory, only to be eventually halted and destroyed.
The aftermath of the Last War only complicated things more, as the remnants of the Dohkan army was pushed into Hashan, where they quickly overpowered and dominated many of the gray orcs clans. Many gray orc clans were then ruled by Dohkan descendants who were forced to intermix their bloodlines with the orc clans as the remaining Dohkan became few. Centuries later, Talax the Crimson Terror, a great and powerful red dragon, was able to gather another mighty orc horde. They overtook the Dohkan-Orc city of Gruum and Talax became another deity to the gray orcs. After a few decades, this great war-machine was sent out to destroy the lands of humans in the north. However, this orc horde eventually failed as well, and was pushed back to Hashan.
War has been the dominate theme of the gray orc tribes, even those that dwell in isolated bands, hidden in the unwanted regions of the east. Gray orcs are often quick to anger and have a need to demonstrate their physical strength and dominance over others.
Brahkguni (Green Orcs)
Skin: Green to grayish skin tones.
Hair: Straight to wavy hair of black and dark brown hues.
Eyes: Black to dark brown eyes with faintly yellowish sclera.
Size: Average heights with somewhat brawny builds.
The Brahkguni, or Green Orcs, are descended from those orc tribes than managed to evade the influence of dragons. They are few and far between, hidden in the isolated swamps of the southern peninsula and Arawen swamps. They typically dwell in small, isolated villages in tight-knit communities. The Green Orcs attempt to live in harmony with nature and have great respect for the forests and waterways of their homes. They are fundamentally a peaceful, if not fully pacifist, society, believing that all disagreement can be resolved with honest attempts of listening and understanding. While some of these tribes are renown for their hunters and trappers, many tribes are fully vegetarian, believing that animals are as sentient and important as their own lives. Scholars who ‘re-discovered’ the lost Brahkguni find it quite remarkable how different these Orcs are from the more well-known Gray Orcs. But the Green Orcs will be the first to admit that the reputation of the Gray Orcs only made them adhere to their peaceful values all the more.
Half-Orcs
Skin: Fair to tanned tones with hints of green or gray.
Hair: Straight to wavy hair of black and dark brown hues.
Eyes: Black to dark brown eyes.
Size: Average heights with somewhat brawny builds.
Half-orcs with gray-orc lineage are often an unfortunate side-effect of orc raids upon human villages of the north. These often-unwanted spawn are usually disserted or abandoned in the harsh northlands. However, in some independent, isolated regions of the north, these spawn of war are tolerated and accepted, able to grow to become a tolerated member of human society. In the tribes of the orcs, half-orcs are treated as lesser-kin, considered too weak to become full-members of the warriors who rule the land. Half-orcs with green-orc lineage are more common in the southlands, where the lands of men and green-orcs interact. Unlike with their northern brethren, these unions between orc and human are almost always consensual. Thus, these half-orcs are always accepted in Green-Orc society and treated as equal members of the community.
Draghani (Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, and other Goblinoids)
Skin: Green to grayish skin tones.
Hair: Straight black hair (when they have it).
Eyes: Black eyes with yellow sclera.
Size: Very short to average heights with thin to brawny builds.
The Goblinoids, or Unorka, are through to have originated as an off-shoot of the orcs that headed to the western lands of Korenell. In the west, these people developed a spiteful and hateful culture as they were constantly were at war with the humans of Arathkelsara and later the Nomen Empire. The heart of goblin culture is the nation of Dragmore, isolated in the Golbez Mountains in northern Korenell. In the east, goblins fared little better, as they were swept into gray-orc society as the lowest strata, serving as spies, scouts, and assassins for the orc war machines. Although, often the lesser goblins have managed to escape their near-enslavement and spread throughout Ularin.
The goblins have a ‘might-is-right’ culture of their own that has resulted in three main strata of their society. The larger hobgoblins dominate the power structures with the large, but less intelligent bugbears as their enforcers and guards. The numerous lesser goblins perform all the labor for society, often living little better than their captured slaves. All goblins love caves and caverns such that Dragmore is composed of various crooked towers in the mountains connected by a vast network of caves and tunnels through the mountains. Isolated bands of goblins often move from cave to cave on the surface, raiding and stealing from human settlements, causing strife and mischief in their wake.
Gohgiri (Gnolls)
Skin: Covered in brown, black, and gray short hair.
Eyes: Black eyes with almost no visible sclera.
Size: Short to average heights with average builds.
These hyena-like people, called the Nerie by dragons, originated in the rocky and northern mountains near Arathkelsara. However, once the Arathians came into the region, they began to enslave and dominate the original Gohgiri tribes. This unfortunate reality is still the case in modern times, with most Gohgiri tribes scattered in the arid hills and northern deserts, caught between the Arathians slavers and Azandrie hunters. Most Gohgiri live as slaves for the Arathkelsaran Empire. To the east, the gnolls of Gogrin are the most well-known. These gnolls descended from the tribes that fled the Arathians to the east, but later came into conflict with the Seldrie humans and later the Nomen Empire, who pushed these clans into the southern mountains. Later, these clans would join together to form the society of Gogrin, who began to worship demons and are at constant conflict with the archers and hunters of Loyolla.
Jotuns (Giants)
Physical characteristics: Vary greatly between various Jotun off-shoots.
The Jotuns, or originally called the Giega by the dragons, are an ancient people, with a rich, mostly-forgotten history. Much like the elves, the Jotuns have managed to split into many disparate ethnic groups that vary greatly in culture and even physical characteristics. It is said that in ancient times, the Giega originated on the island continent of Polarus, and at the time they physically resembled the cloud giants. Their land was a verdant, Cyclopean paradise and they built a grand and harmonious civilization. The greatest of these Giega, the Titans, then challenged the very gods themselves, believing themselves to be superior to their creators. In punishment for their insolence, it is said that the gods moved the continent of Polarus to the frozen north pole, causing the Giega to abandon their civilization and flee to Ularin and beyond. It was upon Ularin, in a new environment, that the Giega’s adaptable First-born essence emerged again, and split them into the many various varieties of Jotuns found today: storm, cloud, fire, frost, stone, hill, trolls, and ogres. Upon Ularin, these disparate clans of Jotuns eventually created the vast and powerful Braelheim Empire that subjugated and enslaved the humans and goblins of the northlands. After a clash with dragons and Dwarves, and eventually the freed Noradrie slaves, the Empire collapsed and left Jotuns scattered throughout Ularin, hiding from humanoid societies. Today, their unique pantheon of deities are the very same Titans that most Jotuns hope to emulate.
Sieth (Serpentfolk)
Skin: Green to yellow, red or black scales.
Eyes: Yellow to red snake-like eyes.
Size: Tall heights with thin, snake-like builds.
The Sieth, or serpentfolk, are descended from First-born that dwelt in the tropical jungles of the southern peninsula. They eventually expanded out to the numerous islands of the Inner Sea and beyond to Xelhasa. In the ancient days, the Serpentfolk had a vast Empire that dominated the jungles of the south. They had powerful minds that could dominate the will of others. They enslaved many Seldrie humans and Green-Orcs of the region. The Xaya Empire of humans then clashed with the Serpentfolk, and eventually destroyed the Serpentfolk’s influence in the region. Since then, many Serpentfolk fled to the Deep Underground, while those that remained on the surface degenerated into hunter-gatherer tribes that prey on other humanoids.
Thieth (Lizardfolk)
Skin: Green to yellow, red or black scaly skin.
Eyes: Yellow lizard-like eyes.
Size: Tall heights with brawny builds and long tails.
The Thieth are descended from First-born that settled in the arid lands of western Ularin. However, when the Arathians arrived in the area, they quickly enslaved and drove out the Lizardfolk. This scattered the Lizardfolk, mostly to the southern reaches of the Xelhasa peninsula. Now the Lizardfolk live mostly in scattered hunter-gatherer tribes throughout Xelhasa. There are two primary offshoots of the Thieth. The First is the Laxati, a mostly peaceful folk that dwell in the high mountains. These Lizardfolk typically have brown-to-green scales and are known to dwell in large monastery-like fortress in the mountains where they study meditation and unarmed defensive techniques. The Laxati were taught by the ancient Xaya, and still worship the same pantheon of deities as the Xaya. The second off-shoot, are the Alibaxi, a war-focused empire that revels in the slaughter and enslavement of others. They have black and red scale patterns and have an expansive society in the lower jungles of Xelhasa. The Alibaxi are in a full-scale war with the Xaya-descended Axaca people.
Fadra (Gnomes)
Skin: Pale, fair, to tanned skin tones.
Hair: Very curly or spikey hair of any color of the rainbow.
Eyes: Vibrant colored eyes in any color of the rainbow.
Size: Very short heights with thinner, but stocky builds.
The gnomes, or Fadra, are a mysterious people. They originate from the mysterious world of Anwynn, the Otherworld, a plane that is coterminous with Enelis. It is a realm of raw nature and of the fey, and some scholars believe this magical plane is the very essence of Enis and the source of mortal souls. Gnomes are extremely curious creatures and many of them have discovered the boundaries between these worlds, crossing into Enelis and becoming mortal beings. Gnomes on Enelis are still extremely rare and are often confused for overly eccentric Dwarves or Halflings.
Nomendrie
Skin: Ebony to dark espresso skin tones.
Hair: Straight hair of blonde to golden hues.
Eyes: Bright blue eyes with a silver ring around the iris.
Size: Tall heights with average builds.
The Nomendrie are believed to be an extinct people. Their name means ‘men of Nomen’ in draconic, but they were originally called the Revie. They were one of two First-born descendants to have originated on the continent of Alarus. But in their early days, before they had a chance to truly adapt to their environments as intended, they were altered by the guidance and influence of Solarus. They were infused with life and the desire to help proliferate it, taking away much of their free will to choose. Over time, this influence had diminished, but the effect on their society was evident. Additionally, the dragons influenced them as well. These dragons also had good intentions, as they brought to the Nomendrie knowledge of magic and the philosophies of the dragon-gods. Through the guidance of Fortis Nomen and the Draconia Augorium, the Nomendrie created a vast and powerful civilization on Alarus that adhered to the values of equality and cooperation. This only ensured their eventual clash with the Dohkan, who embodied their opposition in every way. The war on Alarus eventually led to the destruction of the continent, and the last of the Nomendrie sailed across the great Erean Ocean to reach Ularin. Their arrival ushered in a renaissance of ideas and knowledge that forever shaped their new continent. However, the Nomendrie refugees were too few to maintain their own numbers, and thus their bloodline dwindled within the nobility of the Amarie.
Dohkani
Skin: Pale gray to deep gray skin tones.
Hair: Straight hair of black hues.
Eyes: Black eyes with a bright red sclera and golden ring around the iris.
Size: Tall heights with brawny builds.
The Dohkan, or Dohkani (orcish) or Dakie (draconic), were the ancient enemies of the Nomendrie. Much like the Nomendrie, they originated on the continent of Alarus. In the early days of the world, the dark god Nembral corrupted the Dohkan, turning them into beings of darkness with a hatred for life and other beings. They lost the free will to choose their own fates, becoming the embodiment of Nembral’s hatred. They created a war-like society that valued strength, ambition, and power over all else. They cared little for the land and its sustainability, quickly outgrowing the Isle of Nastus. This led them into constant conflict with the Nomendrie as they tried to consume and destroy their enemies. Somehow, the most powerful of the Dohkan sorcerers was able to draw forth a great crystalline asteroid from space that descended upon Alarus and destroyed life on the entire continent. It also caused ash to fill the skies across the planet in what was called the Days of Darkness. Little was known about the Dohkan after this event, as the last Nomendrie survivors of Alarus had fled to Ularin. But many centuries later, the Dohkan would follow. They crossed the Erean Ocean with a great army eager for destruction. A great alliance of humans, dwarves, and elves were able to end this Last War and destroy the Dohkan’s forces. What few Dohkan survived were forced into Hashan, where they fought against the dragons for control of the gray orc tribes. The surviving Dohkan built the great city of Gruum in the Northrim Mountains and their bloodline slowly dwindled as they were forced to interbreed with the gray orcs, creating a powerful ruling lineage. There are few, if any, that have pure Dohkan ancestry, but their people’s influence on Enelis has been truly impactful; horrific, but impactful.
Averie
Skin: Alabaster to pale blue skin tones.
Hair: Wavy hair of silver and platinum hues.
Eyes: Silver irises with dark-blue pupils.
Size: Tall heights with thin builds. The Averie are the most mysterious of First-born descendants. They originated in the grand Skyreach Mountains on the western end of Ularin. Very little as actually known about these people, except from scattered stories of travelers lost in the far west. They are described as a beautiful people with long feathery wings. At first travelers mistake them for angels, but they are indeed mortal descendants of the First-born, adapted to the highest mountains of Enelis. Their society dwells in grand spiraled cities on the mountains that stretch into the clouds. Their capital of Orno is where their reluctant leader, the Philosopher-King, guides their people to prosperity.