**The high races of humanoids in Æor**

===Alatari===
The alatari are, with some argument, the most beautiful race in Æor. Because they share so many physical and mental traits, there is some debate about the relationship between the alatari and the sylvari (elves.) The alatari are taller and thinner than humans. Their skin is pale, but carries tones of gray, brown, and/or green that acts as a kind of camouflage in their natural wooded environment. Many thousands of years living in specific sections of forest or mountains change the long-term coloration of the tribes that live there. Besides the skin colors, their most distinctive feature is a pair of enormous feathered wings that grow from their back. The build of the alatari and their strong, but hollow, bones make them very light. Evolution has given them a fast healing system, but their diets are strict and must be maintained to stay healthy. The wings can be patterned or solidly colored, but tend to compliment their skin and vary greatly from clan to clan--though clan coloration seems to be inherited for most. General height of an adult male ranges from 180-215cm.

Living in the highest places they can find, the alatari prefer company of their own kind. They are very tolerant of other races, save the drow, but will not actively seek to interact without reason. Alatari have excellent [[vision]] in the standard range for far-away objects and average vision at close range. They have night vision in a limited range. Adult alatari are longer-lived than humans, some known to have lived a thousand years.

===Drow===
Drow are the race of elves that live out of the sunlight, rarely seen in the company of any other race, except occasionally dwarves. Drow are descended from the same ancestors as the Sylvari (elves) though they evolved along a different path. They are despised by the alatari and the sylvari. Drow have poor standard vision during daylight, but excellent deep [[vision]] and excellent vision at night in any environment. Their skin tends to be dark with very light hair, generally white. They vary in size similar to humans and have been known to live up to 800 years.

===Dwarves===
Dwarves thrive in the mountains and hills of Æor. They are a stout and hearty race, bearded (males) and grounded in the rock and dirt. Dwarves live in natural and constructed underground homes. The tend to congregate in great mining communities where they can share tools, tunnels, and other important implements. They love mining for metals, gems, and other rare materials. They range in height from 100cm to 150cm as an adult and have average standard [[vision]] in addition to excellent deep vision. Males tend to grow their beards through their entire lifetime as a symbol of seniority and wisdom. Cutting of a beard is never done as a jest, but a trimming is done as one means of punishment. The dwarves tolerate most other races and will coexist with drow without conflict so long as the drow stay out of their mines. They are distrustful of the sylvari and the alatari and will avoid contact with them when possible. Dwarves have been known to live 400 years.

===Humans===
The humans of Æor are the most like you or me. Humans range in color from very white to nearly black and all shades of brown, red, tan, and peach in-between. While a family group will all share common colors of eyes, skin, and hair, you'll find a mix in cities of any decent size. Skin color isn't divisive so much as just descriptive. While most skins are a fairly uniform color, some humans with ancestors in distant regions are known to have splotchy, spotted, or striped skin which sometimes also manifests in hair color or eye color. Humans tend to live up to 200 years, except for [[magic|wizards]], who don't seem to age.

===Kince===
The kince are a small folk, between 60 and 70cm for a full-grown adult. They are the caretakers of the forest animals, with incredible dexterity and balance. Kince mature slowly and a pair will bond for life, only producing a single offspring, if any. A family unit will make their home in the tops of one of the largest trees in a forest. In ancient forests, small colonies of up to 6 families will live together, similarly. Kince are incredibly intelligent, but speak only a very subtle language of clicks and whistles that only a few sylvari or alatari have ever claimed to understand. Kince have dark tan skin that blends in with the trees. They avoid all other races, but spend their time protecting the animals of their forest from outside harm. They are able to mimic other animal calls to communicate, on a basic level, with their animals. Kince have good [[vision|eyesight]] in the normal range and can see almost as well in the low-light of night under the canopy. No 'old' kince has ever been found.

===Parums===
Sometimes called 'halflings' or 'shorts' by other races. Parums are stout people who tend to be short and heavy. While they cannot grow beards as dwarves do, they grow thick hair on all four limbs and on the backs of their hands and tops of their feet. Parums have a fondness for alcohol, nicotine, and other light chemicals. They range in height from 100 to 130cm and their [[vision|sight]] is similar to humans. Parums are the most adaptable and friendly race in Æor. They eagerly interact with any other people they find, and have been found living in places inhospitable to most others. They can live to an age of 400 years.

===Sylvari===
The sylvari elves are nearly the opposite of the dwarves. They are taller than humans and thin, if not frail, looking. They live hidden among the forests and along the coasts and inland bodies of water. Sylvari go to great lengths to isolate their homes from the other races, but they have a special fondness for the alatari and kince, hating only the drow. They spend their time tending the trees of their forests or the gardens and waters around their homes. The sylvari have melodic voice and are the great patrons of music, artwork, poetry, and song. They have average [[vision|sight]] in the standard range and good night vision. They range in height from 150 to 220cm. The sylvari age similarly to the alatari, but have been known to live several thousand years.

**Clans in Æor**

===Thrulls===
Ages ago, the Thrulls served as the arbiters and judges for all of Æor. The essence of the Thrulls disrupts the flow of magic around them, an ability that makes them immune to most magical effects. A king judged guilty of treason by a Thrull judge hid his conviction and framed the judge to declare war on all Thrulls. After 4 years of war only a few Thrulls remained-reduced to beggars and corner philosophers unwelcome in any land.

A thousand years ago, a wise and fearless Thrull named Thain united the few remaining Thrulls and was named King. Upon his death, his Gift was revealed. Thain had the power to add his spirit to the body of another. Such has the eternal leader of the Thrulls passed on from one to another for generations, a legend in Æor. The Thrulls have an unstoppable dedication to Thain and fight to one day carry on the wisdom of thousands of years of judges.