Race

Rapid Rules:
• There are ten playable races.
• Each have different specializations, skills and lifespans.

The term "race" is historical in the genre of role-playing games, but it is more of a misnomer. The term really means species. Nonetheless, these rules will continue the tradition of this inaccurate term.

The chart below denotes the general characteristics of the ten races which a character can choose. Below the chart will be detailed explanations for each race.

	Alseid		Batfolk		Dwarf		Elf		Gnome
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F
Avg Height	5-4	4-8	4-5	4-2	4-4	4-2	5-6	5-3	3-6	3-2
Avg Weight	180	130	85	75	160	150	120	100	45	40
Size Category	Medium		Medium		Medium		Medium		Small
Puberty	10y		7y		10y		18y		12y
Avg Lifespan	60y		50y		70y		120y		90y
Max Lifespan	100y		60y		135y		200y		175y
Movement	60ft		40ft		40ft		55ft		45ft
Daily	24mi		16mi		16mi		22mi (24*)		18mi
Vision	Normal		Normal/Echolocation		Darkvision		Normal		Normal/Darkvision
Traits	Sure-Footed		Minor Flight		Armor-Movement Poison Advantage		Can't Be Slept Weather Omen		Varies By Subrace
Starting Skills	2		1		2		2		2
Free Skills	+1 Agility Ranged Fighting		Savage Form		+1 Resilience Under-Navigation		Wilderness-Lore Cantrip Control		+1 Logic Mathematics
	Halfling		Half-Orc		Human		Jzaka		Lizardfolk
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F
Avg Height	3-2	3-0	6-2	5-10	5-9	5-4	5-10	5-8	6-0	6-0
Avg Weight	40	35	190	165	160	110	160	125	200	200
Size Category	Small		Medium		Medium		Medium		Medium
Puberty	14y		9y		13y		10y		8y
Avg Lifespan	100y		55y		65y		50y		60y
Max Lifespan	150y		75y		100y		75y		180y
Movement	45ft		50ft		50ft		55ft		40ft
Daily	16mi		20mi		20mi		22mi		16mi
Vision	Normal		Darkvision		Normal		Nightvision		Normal
Traits	Varies By Subrace		Orc Genetics		None		Fall Protection		Perception Bonus
Starting Skills	2		2		3		1		1
Free Skills	Chance		+1 Strength Melee Fighting or Range Fighting		+1 to two sub-attributes		Stealth Danger Sense		Swimming Savage Form

^* When traveling with all elves, more time can be used for daily movement.

Height and Weight Variance of the Races

Alseid

Alseid have the slender upper body of an elf and the lower body of a deer. They are the graceful woodland cousins to centaurs. Because they are rarely seen far from the wooded glades they call home, they are sometimes called “grove nymphs,” despite having no relation to nymphs. They have a natural skill with weapons that use ranged fighting, but during setting the sub-attribute scores, alseid gain +1 to Agility, allowing a starting score to become 6. Lastly, they are sure-footed creatures able to traverse a 60° plane assuming there places for footing. A starting character may then select two additional starting skill.

Batfolk

Batfolk are atavistoid bipeds with batlike features. They have short brown, black, or gray fur and leathery wings in place of arms; however, from the wingbone, they have an elbow which extends into a prehensile and clawed hand. They have luminescent eyes in shades of red, green, or yellow as well as fangs. They stand about 4 to 4½ feet tall and weigh around 70 to 90 pounds. They have a walking speed of 40 feet and can fly at a movement rate of 75 feet for 30 seconds (3 rounds) until they must recover for an equal time before flying again. They also have a form of echolocation, which allows them to effectively see in the dark, even magical darkness, so long as they are not deafened; however, they must emit a 80dB high-pitched screech each round to do so (which is a free action). This briefly activates a part of their brains which gives them synesthesia for a few seconds, effectively allowing them to "see" sound.

Batfolk have claws, they cannot naturally use them effectively. However, should a batfolk learn martial arts, then he or she gains a free savage form skill for claws, which can only be used in conjunction with the martial arts skill, meaning their initial claw strikes are 2d20.

Batfolk actually have three sub-races; however, only the nutritional requirements make any differences. Fruit batfolk must consume fruit for three meals per week or they will become sick. Vampire batfolk must consume blood for one meal per week. Lastly, flower batfolk must consume nectar for two meals each week.

Dwarf

Dwarves are short and stout earth dwellers. Their ancestry is hardy and older than humans. As free racial skills, they have Armor-Movement and Under-Navigation. Further, dwarves are permitted to have two basic skills as a beginning character. A few additional conveniences for dwarves is they have darkvision out to 60 feet and also are at advantage on all save rolls when poison is involved. Dwarves also gain +1 to the Resilience sub-attribute, allowing a starting score to become 6.

There are three subraces of dwarves: arctic dwarves, gold dwarves and mountain dwarves. Arctic dwarves do not have advantage against poison but rather against cold instead. The difference between gold and mountain dwarves is that gold dwarves have a darker, tanner skin tone and live on the surface in cities, while mountain dwarves live in subterranean societies; otherwise, there is no distinction in playable characteristics.

Elf

Elves are forest-dwelling, gaunt, and delicate creatures with long pointed ears that rise above the tops of their heads. These sylvan beings have various skin tones. Their natural racial skill is Wilderness Lore as well as Cantrip Control. However, knowing any cantrips must be selected as a skill or purchased with karma. Due to the racial skills, an elf must start with at least a Judgment 3 and an Agility 3. A player choosing an elf may select two more basic skills for a new character. Socially, elves tend to be more xenophobic of outsiders than the other playable races; however, they are considered more self-sufficient as a race also, commonly viewed as a people without government.

While elves now belong to the humanish kingdom and the Sylvan phylum, their origins date back to fey. Much of the philosophy and ideology of elven culture is still intermixed with beliefs along the fey lines. Due to this fey connection, elves have a different metabolism than other races. While technically they sleep, it is not truly the same type of sleep. Elves actually meditate rather than sleeping; however, they do dream while in this state. As such, elves only require four hours to act as eight hours of sleep, meaning if they meditate for an uninterrupted four hours, it acts as a long rest. This also means that elves can function for more hours in a day than other races. Additionally, it does mean that elves are immune to all sleep effects, including magic ones. They are still subject to charm and other mind-altering influences, but they cannot be put to sleep.

Another advantage for elves is a special ability known as weather omen. At dawn every day, an elf can accurately predict natural, non-magical weather for the next four hours. It does not have to be used at dawn, as it can be performed at any time. However, this forecasting ability is not innately constant; it requires approximately fifteen minutes to discern to upcoming weather. Moreover, the earliest it can be used again is the either the next dawn or after a long rest, whichever is later.

It is also important to note that to date, no human-elf mating has produced an offspring. It appears that the two races are genetically incompatible; therefore, the concept of a half-elf does not exist.

Elves have subraces as well, which are aquatic elves, grae elves, wood elves, snow elves and dark elves. Most GMs will not permit dark elves to be played, as they are an evil race who live in the underneath. However, dark elves additionally have darkvision up to 120 feet.

Snow elves have albino skin and eyes, but their hair may have streaks of color but is mostly white. Snow elves have a natural +1 bonus to AC against cold, which works as a racial feature, above and beyond, with all other bonuses.

Wood elves have light brown, caramel-colored skin tones with reddish to brown hair. These beings are comfortable in the forest and woodlands. Due to their upbringing in the wild, a wood elf will not suffer untrained penalties with specific weapons used in combat: spear, bow or net. This does not grant melee fighting or ranged fighting but allows this type of elf to act with such skill when using any of those weapons. However, this ability is outgrown once acquiring the true skill for that weapon; thus, there is no additional bonus or dice granted after being trained in standard combat. If melee fighting is gained but not ranged fighting, the wood elf can still use the bow without penalties, but could not use a sling or crossbow. Further, the spear and net would then act as effectively as all other melee weapons.

The arrogant grae elves do have some benefits, but do consider themselves as a superior race, even to other elves. The exact conveyance of this attitude depends on the individual. Instead of cantrip control, all grae elves have sorcery as a racial skill. As such, a grae elf does not have the Agility requirement, but instead must have Logic score of 3 or better. However, in trade of this, this subrace is not as fleet of foot, having their movement be only 50 feet, that of a human.

Finally, aquatic elves may not be considered a playable subrace either. While they are amphibious, the aquatic subrace requires immersion in water for at least four hours each day or they will become sick due to dehydration. If continuing, disregarding the immersion, the victim will temporarily lose 1 point of Body max per day. Max Body returns to normal at a rate of 1 per day after immersion resumes. However, if the Body reaches zero, the elf dies. On the positive end, aquatic elves can breath both air and underwater and can swim at a 60 foot movement rate.

Gnome

Gnomes are a subterranean race related to dwarves; however, they are thinner and smaller, closer in size to halflings. Gnomes average slightly over 3 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Their tan or brown faces are usually adorned with broad smiles beneath their prodigious noses, and their proportionately-larger eyes shine with excitement. Their fine hair has a tendency to stick out in every direction, as if expressing the gnome’s insatiable interest in everything around. As a free racial skill, they have mathematics, which has led to a significant number in their society to become engineers. Gnomes also gain +1 to the Logic score as a starting character, but it cannot exceed 4 points. However, being small creatures, they cannot wield heavy weapons or poles with reach. Gnomes are also restricted when using weapons with the clout property: battle axe, flail and longsword. Such weapons can be wielded but require two hands to use; further, the weapons still only strike with a weapon weight of 1 point and gain no benefits from the clout property.

There are four subraces of gnomes: forest gnomes, rock gnomes, deep gnomes and ice gnomes, though only the first two are likely to be playable. Forest gnomes live above ground in forested areas; however, they still sleep and build homes in burrows. They also have an innate ability to speak with small animals like a free language. This is the same as the priest incantation but is limited to small and tiny-sized creatures.

Rock gnomes live underground and rarely come to the surface. Rock gnomes have darkvision extending to 20 feet. The relationships between rock gnomes and forest gnomes is quite similar to gold and mountain dwarves. In many cases, these two will build a city that has above and below surface dwellings and share resources.

Deep gnomes, sometimes called svirfneblin, live very deep under the earth. They have darkvision with a radius of 120 feet. Further svirfneblin have a stone camouflage ability, which gives the advantage for rolling the stealth DC in rocky or cavernous terrain.

Finally, the ice gnomes, also called barbegazi, live in very cold environments. Their habitats are said to be networks of caves and tunnels accessible near the mountains and glaciers through concealed entrances. The barbegazi resemble the typical gnome except for their larger feet. The ice gnomes are resistant to cold.

Halfling

Halflings are short and small, barely rising above the three-foot mark in height. They have interwoven keratin and cartilage throughout the undersides of their feet, making halflings rarely in need of shoes or boots. Despite their thick and hairy feet, they are nimble, quick, oddly silent, and considered very lucky. Any halfling will have the Chance racial skill. Starting characters with halfling as their race have a choice of two more basic skills. Additionally, halflings are considered nimble, which means they can move through an occupied space of any creature that is of a medium or larger size without treating it as rough terrain. Even if the creature is guarding that space, the halfling forces the competition save to move through to be based on Agility; plus halflings gain advantage on the roll. Further, this means that a halfling can move up to 20 feet at a cautious speed and at 70 feet or greater to be rapid speed for the calculations of a flee attack. Like gnomes, halflings cannot wield heavy weapons or poles with reach. Further, weapons with the clout property can only be employed two-handed and without the benefits. All strikes from such weapons act as if wielded with one hand by a taller race.

As for languages, most halflings are bilingual, speaking govric, the native language of the halflings, as well as whatever the human language of those that live near them. There are a few isolated lands where halflings do not live within trade proximity of humans. Interestingly enough, regionalized govric typically becomes corrupt as a mixture with the language of humans for many words.

The subraces are lightfoot halflings, surfeit halflings and hexar halflings. The lightfoot halflings are the most nimble of all subraces. This gives a member of this type an additional +2 as a racial bonus to any feat checks involving any of the following skills: backstab, climbing, lock-picking, sleight of hand and stealth.

The surfeit halflings are more hospitable than most and love to eat. As a racial ability, these halflings can prepare food (up to eight meals) as if the portions had a bless meal performed on them. However, once this ability is used, it cannot be performed again until after a long rest.

Hexars are an unusual type and take the lucky trait to the extreme. Whenever there is a direct interaction with a hexar halfling and the opposing creature's roll is an attack against the halfling, a perception check to see the halfling or a save made from the halfling's actions, and the resulting raw score is a 20, then as a reaction, a hexar can force instantaneous disadvantage, forcing a second roll a taking the lower of the two. In the case of an attack, that specific die roll is at disadvantage, not the entire attack. However, this ability as a reaction cannot be performed again until after a long rest.

Half-orc

The vile and violent orcs are known for their pillaging behavior. During raids, the raping of human women is not uncommon. Occasionally, pregnancy results. And even rarer, a few survive to adulthood. The genetic factor of an orc seems to be stronger than most races in that the orc might not actually be able to be bred out of the lineage. Thus if a half-orc finds his or her orkane kind and mates with another orc, the offspring will be considered a full-blooded orc. Should the half-orc mate with a human, the offspring is another half-orc.

As a starting character, a half-orc has a choice of melee or ranged fighting but one must be taken. Additionally, the unique combination of genetics from orc and human produce an offspring with a +1 bonus to the Strength score, but starting values cannot exceed 4 points. Half-orcs are usually little taller than 6 feet but might grow as large as 6-9. Finally, half-orcs inherit darkvision from their orkane side but extending only to 15 feet.

Human

Humans are self-descriptive. Their racial ability is adaptability, allowing a human to select three basic starting skills as a beginning character. In addition, human characters gain a one-time score bonus as a beginning character. This is applied as a +1 bonus to the two separate sub-attribute scores. However, humans are limited to a max-starting score of 5 for any sub-attribute.

Jzaka

The Jzaka are an excellent blend of human, wolf and panther. Jzaka possess a swift and stealthy movement, gaining a natural stealth skill, but they can also leap or fall from heights of twenty feet without fear of becoming hurt. As such, any jzaka must begin with a 3 Agility score or higher. Climbing is not a racial skill, but cultural, most learn this early. Jzaka also have excellent night vision, which gives them the equivalent of 40 feet darkvision; however, it can only be used above ground, even indoors, but they become equally blind in a subterranean setting. Lastly, they have a natural danger sense, requiring their Mind score to be at least 12.

Lizardfolk

Lizardfolk are reptilian bipeds. These creatures can live for a very long time; however, most grow obese as they age which causes a high mortality rate in midlife. This crocodilian race also has a bludgeoning tail, giving one a special racial combat skill called savage form, which allows them to fight with only their tails. This skill cannot be combined with other combat methods besides martial arts and spinning moves. Lizardfolk are permitted only one additional starting skill; however, they are able to make effective fighting attacks with no weapons. This race can also swim naturally, as if having the skill, but this means one must have a Resilience score of 3 or better. Lizardfolk also gain a free +1 on starting Perception and have a sensitivity to vibration; however, the highest Perception can be at the start is 5 points.

The most commonly-known subrace of lizardfolk is called Cayma. They are so prevalent, most are unaware the lizardfolk have subraces. The others are khaasta, squamata and yaun-ti. The khaasta have a long evil history, dating back to the abyss and Demogorgon. However, they gain +1 to Agility but suffer -1 to Judgment. Further, they have extremely long tail, which count as a proficient range weapon racially, meaning it can strike up to 10 feet away. Further, a khaasta's tail is considered a multiple attack and rolled separately when attacking. If combined with spinning moves the tail can attack a different target. On the downside, khaasta have very short forearms, making archery a physical impossibility for them; however, hand-crossbows can still be employed.

Squamata have browner and more beady scales. They also live in deserts that would inhospitable to most other races. Because of these harsh conditions, squamata have adapted to become ruthlessly efficient desert predators. Whether basking during the day or hunting in twilight hours, squamata are adept at remaining unseen among the shifting sands, increasing one's Perception check by +2 to detect them in such terrain. These lizardfolk do not have swimming as a natural skill, but act as if having the center focus skill, although this racial version cannot be used as a prerequisite for skills that build upon it. Further, this removes the Resilience requirement, but replaces it with Will required to be a 3 or higher.

Finally, the yaun-ti are more like serpentfolk than lizards. Yaun-ti have various appearances from nearly human-like to nearly snake-like. As such the GM may not allow this to be a playable subrace or may place conditions upon it. These beings can very much a lizardfolk appearance, being bipedal and having two arms, covered in scales. However, many do not have legs. And even some have no appendages. The yaun-ti do not gain the savage form racial skill; however, instead, they gain quickness. As such, yaun-ti must also have a 3 Agility or better.