The Races of the Divines

In Excelsion the Church recognizes 10 different races as being "Of the Divines", meaning able to join the Church and become a full member at any level. Of these races they are seen as being divided into three broad groups, known as the Oldest, the Middle, and the Younger races. These delineations do not necessarily reflect the true age of any of its members, but rather the associated "Blessing" that is given them.   The Oldest: Among the Oldest are the Elves, Dwarves, and Gnomes. Each share uniquely in the Blessing of the Oldest. This Blessing connects them deeply to history and ancient knowledge of the lands. Whether that is expressed in magical ability, mystical craftsmanship, or connection to the elemental forces of the land, these races embody in some sense the older things of the world.   The Middle: The middle races are quite literally "between" worlds. These are the Aasimar, the Goliaths, the Tieflings, and the Dragonborn. Each shares in some ancestry that is beyond what mortals today might encounter. Whether angels above, devils below, giants from the far lands, or ancient dragons, each of these races bring the Blessing of a quality of otherness that contributes to our great society.   The Younger: Of all the races in Excelsion, the Younger have been most greatly Blessed. Unlike the Older races that may only have one or two offspring every hundred years, the Blessing of the Younger allows the humans, halflings, and orcs (the lost children) of our lands to have large, healthy families in the span of 20 years or less. As such, these are the best suited to fulfil the directive of the Divines to "multiple and fill the world". Since the rise of the Empire, humanity as come to dominate both politically and in number the lands of Excelsion. However, the orcs squandered their Blessing through successive wars and are now lost.