Embergloam

Treetop folk

Wood Elf

Quick hands and quicker feet, from the treetops of the Overwood.

Hear Thelen: By day At night

Begins in Thelen

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Hunter, Druid and Bard

Wood elves live on top of the Overwood, the oldest and greatest forest in the realm: the bough road runs from crown to crown, to a city no map shows. They hear the trees, and the trees answer in their own time. They keep no king: the forest chooses who leads. Tellers keep the tales, wardens hunt, menders tend. Their high cousins say they have gone a little feral, which they take as praise. Thelen is where the bough road comes down to the river.

Traits

Bough-Runner always on

20% faster on forest ground.

Hunters of the Overwood always on

+5% damage to beasts.

Quickening button

The forest's quickness: for a few seconds your attacks and spells come faster.

Whispering Wood always on

In a forest the trees tell you when a rare creature stirs there, and which way it is, and who else walks the area.

+10% Poison resist

Keepers of the light

High Elf

Bright minds and sure voices, from Vaeliriel, where it is never dark.

Hear Ilessane: By day At night

Begins in Ilessane

Warrior, Acolyte, Sorcerer, Hunter, Enchanter and Bard

High elves live in Vaeliriel, at the crown of the world, where it is never dark: their Great Prisms pass the light from one to the next down the mountain. They built them before most peoples kept records, because in their country a shadow the light misses can come alive, and they have fought those shadows ever since. Worldly, exacting, and sure of themselves, with cause. Ilessane keeps the lowest Prism, where the light is thinnest.

Traits

Prism-Eyed always on

Invisible creatures and players are always seen. Against hidden ones, you notice as if your Perception were 25 higher.

Exacting always on

+1% critical chance with spells and ranged attacks.

Prism Flare button

A blinding flare of light: everything fighting you swings half blind for a while.

Inner Light always on

A dark room you stand in is lit for everyone, and shadow-born creatures take 10% more damage from you.

+10% Magic resist

Deep-wood elves

Dark Elf

Sharp minds and a light step, from the deep wood of the Long Shade.

Hear Lastbough

Begins in Lastbough

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Sorcerer, Hunter, Necrolyte and Enchanter

A people of the Long Shade, the deep wood where the boughs close overhead and it is always evening. Few outsiders have seen it, and fewer describe it fairly. They study what others would rather leave alone, and have heard every word for that. Lastbough is the one door they keep, where the coach road ends and the Ushers show guests in and out again.

Traits

Night Sight always on

You see in the dark as well as by day: a dark room shows you everything, and you see as far into the dark as you would in daylight.

Long Shade always on

+1% dodge, or +3% in a dark room or at night.

Shade Cloak button

In a fight, wrap the shade around you: blows slide off you for a few seconds, longer in the dark.

Stillshade button

Out of a fight, go still and vanish where you stand. In the dark or at night, nothing sees you go.

+10% Disease resist

Deep-hall folk

Dwarf

Masons, smiths and shield-bearers from the deep halls under the Anvils.

Hear Garrund

Begins in Garrund

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Hunter, Bard and Shaman

Dwarves live in the deep halls under the Anvil Mountains and build in stone as nobody else can, and their smiths' iron is asked for by name. Every clan has its Clanmaster, and all have knelt to the Underking, crowned by birth. Proud, slow to forgive a slight and glad of a fight. A dwarf shield line is as fine a sight as their halls. A serious people, until the second measure of ale. Garrund is their East Gate, where the deep road comes up into daylight.

Traits

Infravision always on

You see in the dark in the room you stand in and the rooms next to it.

Stone-Steady always on

Stuns and knockdowns on you last 25% shorter.

Set in Stone button

Turn hard as stone for a moment: poisons, diseases and bleeds are pushed out of you, and blows land lighter.

Treasure Sense always on

Treasure chests in the area show on your map.

+10% Fire resist

Fog-shore tinkers

Gnome

Tinkers and salvagers from the fog-bound Gloaming Shore.

Hear Lanternhook: By day At night

Begins in Lanternhook

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Sorcerer, Hunter, Necrolyte and Enchanter

Gnomes come from the Gloaming Shore, on the far side of the great lake, where the fog never fully lifts. They like it that way: it is quiet enough to think. Their cities lie inland. Lanternhook is the harbor the Salvors' Guild cut into the sea-cliffs, strung with lanterns so the boats can find their way in. Gnomish clockwork began with pieces salvaged from the ruins under it.

Traits

Infravision always on

You see in the dark in the room you stand in and the rooms next to it.

Clockwork Mind always on

+5% maximum mana.

Clockwork Decoy button

Set a clockwork decoy whirring: your enemy turns on it for a few seconds, whatever you do to it meanwhile.

Salvage typed

Break a piece of gear you don't need into a crafting material of its tier.

+10% Magic resist

Rain Road herders

Ogre

Big, loud and generous, from the backs of the behemoths in the Great Desert.

Hear Grumble: By day At night

Begins in Grumble

Warrior, Acolyte, Hunter and Shaman

Ogres follow the rain across the Great Desert on the backs of the behemoths: many-legged grazers, each carrying a camp. They keep their giant forebears' standing stones upright, because the sky-drifters that bring the rain steer by them. Anyone under the rain is their guest, and a guest is fed first. Grumble is one behemoth, sent out to mend a sky-drifter that fell.

Traits

Fed First always on

Food and drink last twice as long and are 25% stronger.

Big Frame always on

+5% maximum health.

Behemoth Stomp button

Stomp the ground: everything fighting you is knocked senseless for a moment.

Strong Back always on

+4 bag slots.

+10% Disease resist

Singers of the sea

Tidefolk

Swimmers and singers, from under the eastern sea.

Hear Ooraluun: By day At night

Begins in Ooraluun

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Druid, Enchanter, Bard and Monk

A people of the open sea, who live under it and come up when they choose. Their towns lie on the reefs of the eastern sea, and outsiders rarely visit one; the Tidefolk most people meet are guides on the lakes and rivers. They live by the tides the Moon pulls, and they sing: a Tidefolk chorus carries for miles under the water, far enough to soothe a leviathan. Ooraluun is an outpost on the edge of the open sea.

Traits

Deep Breath always on

You breathe under water as easily as in air.

Tide-Steady always on

Slows and snares on you last 30% shorter.

Lull Song button

Sing low into a room: whatever there isn't already fighting stops wanting to.

Waterborn always on

While you rest beside fishing water, on a coast or a reef, or outdoors in the rain, health and mana come back 50% faster.

+10% Cold resist

Fliers of the crags

Skyrook

Quick wits and short flights, from the floating towers over the western mountains.

Hear Aarak: By day At night

Begins in Aarak

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Sorcerer, Necrolyte and Enchanter

Skyrooks live in the crags of the Anvil Mountains out west and keep the high watch. They can fly short distances, and near a Rookmother, an elder whose hum holds their towers in the sky, they can fly any way they like. They are quick, and fond of anything that shines. Aarak is their easternmost roost, floating over the foothills.

Traits

High Watch always on

Outdoors, you see a room further: on your map and when you look down a path.

Quick Wits always on

Stuns and slows on you last 20% shorter.

Wing Buffet button

Beat your wings at an enemy and knock it out of the room, dazed, for a few moments' peace.

Fly button

Outdoors, fly a few rooms in one go, out of a fight and past whatever waits on the way.

+10% Cold resist

Lakeshore farmers

Halfling

Nimble fingers and good cheer, from the farms just across the water from Embergloam.

Hear Sweetwater: By day At night

Begins in Sweetwater

Warrior, Rogue, Acolyte, Hunter, Druid and Bard

Halflings farm the fields and gardens around the lake and grow most of what Embergloam eats. Much of the town is theirs too: it is a halfling town, though few who pass through it notice. On market days they bring their carts in over the stepping stones by the Ring, as they have since long before anyone thought to ask what the Ring was for. They're welcome everywhere. Sweetwater is their nearest hamlet, across the water from the town.

Traits

Welcome Everywhere always on

10% off what you buy, and 10% more for what you sell.

Nimble always on

You never trip when you flee, and have +1% dodge.

Pocket Snack button

Eat something from your pocket, even mid-fight, and get some health back.

Slip Past button

Make yourself small: for a while, aggressive creatures don't notice you walk by.

+10% Poison resist