Human - the most common of the sentient races of Toisian. Magic is rare among humans; about one in ten thousand is able to use the power, and even fewer have significant talent on par with the elves. Consequently, many turn to swordsmanship and martial arts as fighting techniques. Many who are unable to use magic look down upon or distrust the more magical races, and may make outcasts of magic-users of their own race. Humans live short lives, but learn and produce quickly; their civilization spans much of the continent and they have adapted to many climates and lifestyles.

Elf - a highly magical race with a lifespan three or four times that of the humans. Only two or three thousand exist, and most keep to the villages in the Southern Rainforest, where their lives are entwined with that of the forest. About one in fifty has the ability to use magic, though most can instinctively detect natural magic. They consider themselves superior to humans because of their magic and their long lifespan. Elves tend to be about a foot taller than humans, with leaner figures and pointed ears.

Drow - a subset of elves who were exiled from the Elvish lands many thousands of years ago. A primarily subterranean race, the location of their settlements and their exact population are unknown, though some are thought to reside in cave systems beneath the Eastern Mountain Range. They have magical abilities similar to the surface elves, but tend towards worship of the dark gods and the practice of evil magic. They are slightly smaller than surface elves, and they have significantly less pigmentation in their hair, skin, and eyes.

Creatures of Legend

Drachnid - Elvish and Drow legends tell of this hybrid of spider and subterranean elf, said to possess the torso and head of a drow and the body and legs of a spider. They can only be created through complex sacrificial spells, and because they do not exist in the natural world without the aid of what is viewed as evil magic, the forest elves consider them abominations. They have chitonous black skin, sharp fangs that supposedly can deliver a poisonous bite, and strong forearms (in addition to eight arachnid legs) that are dextrous enough to wield simple weapons. Their sentience is questionable.

Dragon - legendary creatures, massive in size with remarkable intelligence and magical powers. They are immune to all but the most powerful of spells, and their scales make them all but impervious to most physical attacks. Because of their size and power, they are woven into many Toisianic legends. They once inhabited the most impassable reaches of the mountains and are believed to have died out millennia ago, though the occasional sighting is still reported.

Phoenix - large birds, easily the size of a large harpy eagle, with feathers composed of fire. They are immune to many kinds of magic, and many legends tell of their feathers having magical properties, though the stories often disagree on what these properties actually are. The consensus among them, however, is that their feathers are cool to the touch and emit bright light. They are said to dwell in the farthest reaches of the northern tundra, and though they are extremely territorial and sometimes violent, they possess great wisdom.

Fae - legends tell of many strange and magical tricksters that inhabit the less populated regions of Toisian, ranging from benign and humorous to hungry and malevolent. Many kinds seem to exist, and their exact forms and powers vary from story to story, from small humanoids to magical animals to ghost-like shapes and lights.

Index