Races and Subraces

in Start Here

The Races of Clios are wide and diverse. What began first as humans, elves, and dwarves under the hospices of the three archangels of Al-Hakeem's high court has now grown into dozens of races, spread across the Twin Continents. Multi-Cultural Studies will usually split the races into two groups:   The Races:  

Nationals	Non-Nationals
Aaracokra	Genasi
Aurelians	Gnomes
Dragonborn	Goliaths
Dwarves	Grung
Elves	Halflings
Humans	Kalashtar
Tortles	Kenku
Tritons	Khenra
	Kobolds
	Lizardfolk
	Merfolk
	Tabaxi
	Yuan-ti

The distinction between "Nationals" and "non-Nationals" is quite subjective. Take for example the Aaracokra, which are not unified in a single nation, but rather subsist of a dozen or so city states. Can that really be considered a nation? Or take two examples from the "non-Nationals" group: the Genasi and the Goliaths. The Genasi live far to the north where, for reasons unknown, the Elemental Planes converge with our plane. They have a nation, called Al-Djinn-San, composed of four separate entities, one for each of the Genasi sub races, coexisting in a strong, mutual friendship spanning millennia. Is that not a nation? Or the Goliaths, who for centuries dwelled in the Eastern Chain and along the coast, as far north as Nor'Vagu. The ruins of their cities are still there, the Great Mounds as they are sometimes called. Before the humans we would later call "Nor'Vagu" came, they were a great nation until their defeat by the invaders. Should they be called a nation? If so, can "nationhood" be lost and/or regained? Unfortunately, we do not have the time or space to justify these distinctions. For these articles, we will follow the cultural pattern set by our predecessors. Although we recognize the nation-status of those called "non-Nationals," we will define "Nationals" as those eight races with a particular connection to Mt. Sera. As it stands, only seven races have established long-standing cities a uniform distance from the holy mountain (490 leagues to be precise, which is a sacred number for reasons unknown today). Although these cities may have changed hands asa a result of war or politics, they are still standing and hold a particular significance for those races who inhabit them. The eighth National group is the Aurelian, a mix-blood species of half-human, half-elves. Their status as a Nation has long been established, and their city on the slopes of Mt. Sera has also been considered holy as a result of its unique placement. We will devote an article to each of these groups, their history, and their cities. We will also devote articles to those "non-National" groups which stand out for their "nationhood," both current and previous.