The original font of life was Jolinn, who seeded Avendar with its first single-celled organisms and set evolution in motion after the formation of its physical and metaphysical laws by Iandir. Ashur then contributed the concepts of entropy and death for Its own reasons, completing the world as we know it. As other gods arrived or came into being, many of them intervened in the course of various species' evolutions or even created new lifeforms wholesale; however, by and large, the gods seek to influence what already exists.
While sometimes referred to as "races," the different lineages of Avendar are well and truly different species. Each playable species has its own unique biology and anatomy. Some are divine creations or had their development guided by a god, others evolved from natural flora and fauna; most are some combination of the two. People of different species cannot interbreed to create offspring, but sex and relationships of all kinds happen frequently and are regarded neutrally at best, with varying attitudes depending on the culture.
Mechanics
The choice of lineage in Avendar influences some important things about your character, from physical or mental statistics that influence how well a character does various things to special abilities such as flight or night vision.
| Lineage |
STR |
INT |
WIS |
DEX |
CON |
CHR |
Res |
Vuln |
Size |
| Aelin |
17 |
23 |
17 |
23 |
17 |
25 |
Lightning |
Bash |
Medium |
| Alatharya |
25 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
23 |
Bash |
Holy |
Large |
| Caladaran |
17 |
23 |
25 |
17 |
23 |
17 |
Illusion |
Fire |
Medium |
| Ch'taren |
17 |
25 |
23 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
Holy |
Negative |
Medium |
| Chaja |
25 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
23 |
17 |
Light |
Illusion |
Large |
| Ethron |
23 |
17 |
25 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
Cold |
Lightning |
Small |
| Human |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
None |
None |
Medium |
| Nefortu |
17 |
23 |
17 |
25 |
23 |
17 |
Pierce |
Sound |
Small |
| Shuddeni |
17 |
25 |
23 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
Negative |
Light |
Medium |
| Srryn |
23 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
25 |
17 |
Fire |
Cold |
Large |
In game: help race
There are ten sapient species, or lineages, in the world of Avendar. All trace their origins to the intervention or shaping of one or more gods.
Human : Gregarious and flexible, known as great empire-builders.
Aelin : Slight with feathered wings, known for grace and pride.
Alatharya: Giants with silvery skin, the First People cannot use magic.
Caladaran: Sagely, tree-like people famed for their monastic traditions.
Chaja : Caprine and reclusive giants with wooly hair and small horns.
Ch'taren : Curious and alien beings the golden hue of their auras.
Ethron : Small, amphibious plant-loving people with colourful skin.
Nefortu : Chiropteran people known for their cunning and alacrity.
Shuddeni : Eyeless subterranean marsupials connected to demonkind.
Srryn : Bipedal reptiles known for adaptability and territoriality.
All lineages are physically humanoid but different species. Hybrids do not exist. All characters roll up at the age of mental and physical maturity for their lineage, which may vary between species. More detailed information may be found in each lineage's helpfiles.
Languages
Each race of Avendar has developed a unique language spoken among its people. The most widely used language is the 'common' tongue developed by the humans; the various non-human languages are spoken in the more remote regions of the lands. Alatharya once spoke a beautiful and complex language of their own, but through their fall it has been lost. Alatharya now speak common. There is also a specialized language spoken only by mages and templars. This language, known as 'arcane', is uttered when spells are cast.
As adventurers begin their career in Avendar, they choose the languages they will be proficient in. To learn further languages, an adventurer must find a teacher willing to help him practice, just as with any skill in Avendar. New languages can only be practiced to a minimal extent. Further ability must be gained through speaking the language, and listening to others speak it.
Note: when practicing the ch'taren language, refer to it as "chtaren".
LANGUAGE COMMANDS
=================
"Languages" : displays what languages you speak, and how well.
"Speak <language>" : changes the language you are currently speaking. "Speak" : (with no argument) shows the language you are speaking.
"Translate" : toggles whether or not you see the fully translated text when you speak.
- Aelin
- Regal and prideful, the aelin are one of the oldest races in the world and consider...
- Alatharya
- The oldest sapient species, the alatharya have dramatically declined after their...
- Caladaran
- Austere and erudite, the caladaran are renowned throughout Avendar for their wisdom.
- Ch'taren
- Refugees on the Prime Material after their home plane was devoured by the dread...
- Chaja
- Resilient and resourceful, the subterranean chaja are known most widely for their...
- Ethron
- A small, amphibious people, the ethron were one of the first lineages shaped after the...
- Human
- Jolinn's final creation, humans are perhaps the most numerous of all god-touched lineages.
- Nefortu
- The nefortu are a cavern- and forest-dwelling species thought to share a distant...
- Shuddeni
- Hailing from the labyrinthine underground realm of Kutlaset, the shuddeni are an...
- Srryn
- Cunning and adaptable, the srryn are one of the most ancient people on Avendar.