Earthdawn

Know as Namegivers, the setting of Earthdawn features several fantasy races for characters and Npcs:

1. Dwarf: Dwarfs in Earthdawn are similar in appearance to the classic D&D or Tolkien dwarfs. They are the predominant race in Barsaive, and the dwarf language is considered the common language. Their culture, especially of the dominant Throal Kingdom, can be considered more of a Renaissance-level culture than in most other fantasy settings, and forms the main source of resistance to a return of Thera's rule in Barsaive.
2. Elf: Elves in Earthdawn fit the common fantasy role playing convention; they are tall, lithe, pointy-eared humanoids who prefer living in nature. Elves in Earthdawn naturally live a very long time; some are thought to be immortal. Such immortal Elves feature in many cross-pollinated storylines with Shadowrun. A subrace of Earthdawn elves are called the Blood Elves. The blood elves rejected the Theran protective magic, and attempted their own warding spells. These wards failed, and a last-ditch ritual caused thorns to thrust through the skin of the blood elves. These ever-bleeding wounds caused constant pain, but the self-inflicted suffering was enough to protect the blood elves from the worst of the Horrors.
3. Human: Humans in Earthdawn are physically similar to humans in our own real world. Human adepts are granted a special Versatility talent to make them more mechanically appealing. Humans in Earthdawn are considered to be somewhat warlike in general outlook.
4. Obsidiman: Obsidimen are a race of large, rock-based humanoids. They stand over 7 feet (2.1 m) tall and weigh over 900 pounds. Their primary connection is to their Liferock, which is a large formation of stone that they emerge from. Obsidimen are loyal to the community around their Liferock, and eventually return to and re-merge with it. Obsidimen can live around 500 years away from their Liferock, and their ultimate lifespan is unknown, as they generally return to it and remain there. Due to their rocky nature and long lives, Obsidimen are rather slow moving and deliberate in both speech and action, and can have difficulty understanding the smaller races' need for haste. However, if aroused by a threat to self, friend, or community, obsidimen are fearsome to behold.
5. Ork: The ork race in Earthdawn is physically similar to other depictions of orcs in fantasy role-playing. They are tribal, nomadic and often barbaric humanoids, with olive, tan, beige or ebony skin. They are relatively short-lived, and as a result many attempt to leave a legacy marked by a memorable death—preferably one that leaves no corpse. Before the Scourge almost all orks were enslaved by other races.
6. Troll: The troll race in Earthdawn is also similar in appearance to many other fantasy role playing depictions of trolls. They are very tall humanoids, with a hardened skin and horns. Socially, they form clans to which they are fiercely loyal. Troll clans often raid one another, and a significant subset of the troll race are crystal raiders, which command many of the airships of Barsaive. Other trolls, known as lowland trolls, have merged with mixed communities around Barsaive, although most retain the fierce cultural and personal pride of their less-civilized cousins.
7. T'skrang: The t'skrang are lizard-like amphibious humanoids with long tails and a flair for dramatics. Many of them exhibit the behaviors and characteristics which are stereotypical to a "swashbuckler". T'skrang are often sailors, and many t'skrang families run ships up and down the rivers of Barsaive. A rare subrace of t'skrang, the k'stulaami, possess a flap of skin much like a flying squirrel's patagium, allowing them to glide. While k'stulaami can be born as a random mutation in any t'skrang line, they tend to congregate into communities filled with their own kind.
8. Windling: The windlings are small, winged humanoids; similar to many depictions of fae creatures, they resemble small elves with insect-like wings. They have the ability to see into the astral plane, and are considerably luckier than the other races. Windlings are often somewhat mischievous, hedonistic, and eager for new experiences, and are culturally similar to the Kender of Krynn, but without the same kleptomaniacal tendencies. They have wings similar to those of a dragonfly and are one to two feet in height.
9. Leafer: A race native to the Dark Forest of Vasgothia, leafers are sentient plant people.
10. Ulkmen: Another race unique to Vasgothia, the ulkmen have been merged with Horrors. In addition to their talents, an ulkman adepts gain a Horror power every four Circles. Despite their origins & horrific appearance, the ulkmen are a largely peaceful people.
11. Jubruq: The only 'half-race' in Earthdawn, jubruq are half human or ork and half elemental spirit. They are native to the Sufik tribes of Marak.
12. Jackelmen: Native to Creana, jackalmen have the body of a human and the head of a jackal. They are a warrior people and are thought to practice cannibalism.
13. Gar: An Elven like race with considerably shorter lifespan. This is primarily due to their violent lifestyle and high rate of infant mortality. While native to the Cathay region they have mostly been driven out and live around the outskirts of the Five Kingdoms. A Gar's primary loyalty is to their tribe with personal glory being a close second.
14. Ki Mao: The Ki Mao are another elven race native to the Cathay region that inhabit the Jungle of Endless Wandering. One distinguishing characteristic setting the Ki Mao apart from their elven cousins is their uncanny resemblance with tigers. They have the eyes of a cat as well as distinct patterning along their bodies resembling that of a tiger's stripes.
15. Po Na: Also found in the Jungle of Endless Wandering, the Po Na are a humanoid race with long, prehensile tails and faces that resemble a cross between a monkey and a human. Po Na tend to be driven heavily by there curiosity while living there daily life and admire quick wit and word play, engaging in verbal jousts as a type of sport.
16. Storm Children: At first glance they appear to be abnormally pale humans with solid black hair, their eyes, a solid bluish white without sign of a pupil, are a strikingly none human looking. The Storm Children are born during particularly terrible storms where a lightning bolt will strike the earth leaving behind a naked genderless fully-grown Humanoid. They are born knowing Cathayan, they are driven by a ravenous hunger for knowledge, but for the most part they are subject to the same merits and vices as every other race.

Barsaive

Barsaive was once one of the Theran Empire's many provinces but a series of post-Scourge wars between Thera and various city-states of Barsaive have seen the former province secure its independence. Barsaive's people and governments represent a varied number of individual powers.

• Kingdom of Throal (dwarfs, monarchy)
• Iopos (city state, autocracy)
• Blood Wood (elves, monarchy)
• Kratas (city of thieves, kleptocracy)
• Urupa (city-state, important port)
• Jerris (city-state)
• Travar (city-state)
• Troll clans of mountains (Raiders)
• T'skrang clans (Aropagoi) of the Serpent River (traders)
• Vivane (city-state, under occupation by Thera)
• Haven and Parlainth (ruins)
• Great Dragons
• Various secret societies

Creana: An ancient land far to the South of Barsaive, Creana was once a mighty empire when Thera was still in its infancy. Ruled over by living Passion known as the Pharon, Creana is plagued by magical multi-coloured sandstorms and Horror-corruputed Mummies. Creana also includes several conquered cities from other parts of the Selestrean Basin including the Ulustan city of Okonopolis and Issyr as well as cities from deeper within Fekara such as Nuboz.

Indrisa: Thera's newest province, Indrisa was discovered just before the Scourge. A land rich in resources and culture, the Indrisans have a complicated relationship with their Passions, who often send powerful creatures called Dhuna to punish those that transgress against them. Indrisa survived the Scourge using an ancient magical method that harnessed positive energy against the Horrors.

Marac: A land of polished brass towers where science is as praised as magic, Marac is currently in the grip of a bloody revolt known as the Jinari Rebellion. The Sufik tribes of the desert have discovered how to control Horrors and have weaponized them against the invading Therans.

Rugaria: The lands immediately north of Thera, Rugaria is one of the empire's earliest provinces. The people of Rugaria are described as grim and dour and submitted to Theran rule without much resistance.

Talea: Talea is a province of political intrigue and bizarre religious practices. Dozens of Dukes and Kings make war upon each other whilst waiting for the birth of Prima – the Passion yet to be.

Vasgothia: The empire's most western province, Vasgothia is where the Therans produce their crops that feed their vast empire, it is also home to savage tribes that hate the empire deeply. Vasgothia survived the Scourge because its Passions fought directly against the Horrors, dying in the process. The Scourge has affected Vasgothia is drastic ways, producing dozens of magical oddities in the process.

Vivane: The lands around the city of Vivane are also known as Vivane province. Whilst not a true province in an administrative or geographical sense, this portion of Southwest Barsaive is an important bulwark between Rugaria and those rebellions nations found in Barsaive proper.

• The Western Kingdoms / Gwydenro: One of the Elven Nations, the Gwydenro once spread throughout the entire Roheline Wood, but the area was destroyed during the Scourge and it is now known as The Wastes. The Gwydenro consists of dozens of kingdoms known as gerryth that are bound together by the oaths of the lew teryn. The largest and most powerful kingdom is Sereatha – The City of Spires.
• Shosara: Another Elven Nation, Shosara was formally separated from the Elven Court in pre-Scourge times for adopting Human culture. Largely isolated from the rest of the world, Shosara is a culture of seafarers and traders with a 'relaxed' attitude to the Theran Empire.
• Arancia: An independent nation next to the Theran province of Talea, very little is known or written about Arcancia. (This land will be explored fully in the upcoming 4th edition regional source-book; Arancia)
• The Slithering Wastes: The name given to a large region west of Arancia and north of Marac. Very little is known about the Slithering Wastes, but presumably it suffered greatly during the Scourge, leading to its current name.
• Aznan: A land located to the south of Creana, Aznan is renowned for its huge Cloud Mountain and various medicinal plants that possess magical properties.
• Aruacania: Aruacania lies to the far west of the Theran Empire and is a land of Feathered Dragons and unknown magical mysteries.
• Fekara: The name of the continent where Creana, Marac, Nuboz and Aznan are located.
• Cathay: A large and powerful group of kingdoms to the far East of Indrisa, Cathay was fully explored in Earthdawn: Third Edition with the Cathay: Player's Guide & Cathay: Gamemaster's Guide.

Earthdawn's magic system is highly varied but the essential idea is that all player characters (called Adepts) have access to magic, used to perform abilities attained through their Disciplines.

Each Discipline is given a unique set of Talents which are used to access the world's magic. Legend points (the Earthdawn equivalent of experience points) can be spent to put up the characters level in the Talent, increasing his step level for the ability, making the user more proficient at using that specific type of magic.

Caster Disciplines use the same Talent system as others, but also have access to spells. How a player character obtains spells varies depending on his Game Master; but how they are used is universal. Casters all have special Talents called spell matrixes which they can place spells into. A spell attuned (placed into) to a matrix is easily accessible and can be cast at any time. Spells can be switched at the players will while out of combat. Once engaged in combat, however, they must use an action to do so (called re-attuning on the fly), which requires a set difficulty they must achieve, or risk losing their turn.

It is generally recommended that Casters only use attuned spells, but this is not required. Casting a spell that is not in a matrix is referred to as raw casting. Raw casting is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the Earthdawn magic system. If the spell is successfully cast, it has its normal effects along with added consequences. Raw casting has a very good chance of drawing the attention of a Horror, which can quickly turn into death for low level characters (and for high level characters as well in some cases).

One of the most innovative ideas in Earthdawn is how magical items work. At first, most magical items work exactly like a mundane item of the same type. As a character searches for information about the item's history, performs certain tasks relating to that history, and spends legend points to activate the item, he unlocks some of the magic in the item. As the character learns more about the item and its history, he can unlock more and more power within the item.

Each magical item, therefore, is unique by virtue of its history and the scope of its powers. For example, one magical broadsword may have only 4 magical ranks and only increases the damage of the blade. On the other hand, the legendary sword Purifier, has 10 magical ranks and grants its wielder numerous powers.