Races (MonMarro)
Races of MonMarro
Humans are the eldest race on MonMarro. Indeed, it is theorized that when the world was brought to its current location that humans were the only race that lived upon it. Many of the ruins on the continent of MonMarro are a testament to their long history on the plane. Humans have relatively short lifespans but have remarkable adaptability and are quick to learn new things, though at times they can be impulsive or can act rashly. Humans can be found in almost any village, town, or city in MonMarro, though they are exceedingly rare in the forests of the Elven Aristocracy.
Dwarves are the hardy folk of the mountains, though in years long past they have been forcibly removed from their traditional mountain halls. As their old battlements of Highmeet have been invaded during the Minotian Wars and then infested by demihumanoids and aberrations, dwarves now live a largely migratory lifestyle. A large number of dwarves can be found in the city of Mistem's Toe and a respectable minority can be found almost everywhere else. Many dwarves have turned their back on their traditional mountain-hall lifestyle and have taken to the roads as traders, mercenaries, or outlaws.
Elves largely live in the comfortable lands of the Elven Aristocracy. However, the forests there are not naturally grown and are instead grown and maintained through a combination of powerful magics and druidic slave labor. The wood is then clear-cut and sold as fuel to other settlements at exorbitant prices. Since wood is in scarce supply everywhere else, the aristocracy commands a near-monopoly on the good. The state of the Elven Aristocracy is incredibly wealthy, and as a result there is a large decadent noble class of baron industrialists supported by impoverished masses of workers. Emigrating from the Aristocracy is implicitly forbidden, and any elves that make the trip are summarily shunned by their brethren. Elves find little trust outside of their native homeland, especially in Telrych and the immediate area. A small elven minority can be found almost everywhere though they largely keep to themselves.
Gnomes are almost nonexistent on MonMarro with only token minorities in major cities and a mere handful in towns scattered across the continent. Their entire population was located in their expansive underground citadel of Chirranthriir, and every last member save for the artificier Iverdol was slaughtered by minotian and dwarven troops during the Minotian Wars. Iverdol got his revenge and ascended to godhood, however, and gnomes live again in small numbers once more. Gnomes are held in high regard for their proficiency in the magical arts and in artifice. However, gnomish artificiers are also looked upon with suspicion due to their connections with their insane patron deity.
Halflings are the traders and merchants of MonMarro. The continent-spanning Greater MonMarran Trade Consortium is largely run by them. They are known for their shrewd dealings and their wealth. As a result of this they typically find themselves getting a cold shoulder from most other people outside of a business context. However, halfling traders have many connections with the elves of the Elven Aristocracy and wayward dwarven clans and serve a valuable diplomatic role as a result of their dealings. If any given person can get over the stereotype of the miserly halfling trader and put aside their prejudices, they will likely find most halflings personable and a valuable asset when dealing with others.
Half-Elves and Half-Orcs are looked at with suspicion by many folk of MonMarro. Half-Elves are associated with their often cruel and decadent brethren of the aristocracy and half-orcs are associated with their barbaric orcish cousins. They can be found almost everywhere but are seldom welcome anywhere (especially half-orcs who are often regarded as little more than cruel thugs). Many often make their way to the very south of MonMarro to places like Bedlam or Etherwatch where the actions of their northern relatives are not as likely to haunt them.
Minotaurs are unusual in that they did not originally inhabit MonMarro. During the Antiquity Wars following the removal of MonMarro from its original place in the cosmos the legendary mythal Calling From the Void was authored. The spell calls forth a massive body of matter from a random place in the multiverse and hurls it towards the target in the form of a giant meteor. The mythal has only been used four times in history, and the minotaurs arrived on the tower of Tel Garthuun during the mythal's second use. They awoke from a magical slumber after the tower arrived upon the plane and had no recollection as to what had happened to them previously. The minotaurs eventually created a vast benevolent empire that spanned the entire continent. However, the empire imploded in an orgy of violence at the tail end of the Minotian Wars, and the minotian population has since been scattered about the face of MonMarro. The population of MonMarro has largely forgiven the minotaurs for the Minotian Wars 2,000 years ago and many minotaurs get along well with society. However, a small group of minotaurs are still zealously devoted to their patron deity Rhuum and seek to recreate their former empire (MonMarran minotaurs do not suffer a -4 penalty to Intelligence. Additionally, their level adjustment has been raised from +2 to +4).
Ur-spawn are the result of thousands of years of interbreeding and corrupted magical forces. They are hardly recognizable as humanoid. Their skin is thick and warty and their bodies are covered with a large number of tumor-like growths that twitch at the touch. Ur-spawn skin has a wide variety of colors but none are physically appealing. Any color from a dull black to ochre or corpse-like purple tends to be the norm. Ur-spawn tend to be hunchbacked with thick immobile necks and one arm or leg being larger and more swollen compared to the other. Their behavior and actions are often unpredictable and their temperament is unstable at best. Significant portions of ur-spawn also tend to be evil as a byproduct of their government and culture but not because of an innate repulsion to good. The language of the ur-spawn has devolved into a guttural tongue known as subjarg which uses an archaic script only slightly related to common. The rare few ur-spawn that make it out of Ur and to the surface often find themselves unable to cope with the extremely different societies there.
Their racial modifiers are as follows:
- Darkvision 60 ft.
- +3 natural armor
- +2 Str, +4 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha
- Favored class: Barbarian
- Level Adjustment +3
Every 100 years to the day MonMarro undergoes a phenomenon known as the Centennial Spawning, during which many large bulbous sacs form in the underground network of caves. At the height of the yearly nether storms while MonMarro's moon eclipses the sun, the sacs burst open revealing an entirely new sentient race. This once-in-a-century event is widely feared by almost everybody as nobody is entirely sure what it will produce. Many chaotic and turbulent times in MonMarro's history can be traced to this event.
