Humans

Easily the most dominant race on Tymora, Humans are the only sentient race native to the world.  Nearly rendered extent during the First Great War, humanity has only begun to recover in the past four hundred years, once the Fallen had been driven out of most places on the planet.  Since then, Humans have re-populated most places in the world, although in smaller numbers than before the First Great War.  They can be found in all walks of life, and are primarily located on the two main continents of Tymora - Azderan to the north, and Zalaer to the south.  Despite the fact Zalaer has only been re-colonized relatively recently, the two continents have a very different culture.  Cities in Azderan have a council-based government and the people tend to focus more on the practice of divine magic and physical ability, whereas the cities in Zalaer are ruled over by a single Emperor and the people tend to focus more on the practice of ethereal magic and magical talent.  The Rangers watch the budding empire of Zalaer closely, as the Fallen were originally brought to Tymora by a power-hungry Zalaern city.  As they are so common, Humans are not treated or viewed in any special way, although most Orcs hold a good deal of respect for them.  Humans are obviously a playable race, and will likely make up a majority of the party. 

Dragon Disciples

Dragon Disciples are humans with Draconian blood - either through being the descendent of a Dragon Disciple, or purposely ingesting Dragon blood.  Dragon blood is a heavily regulated product with powerful healing abilities, used only in extreme medical situations, but that does not prevent those who wish to become Dragon Disciples from getting a hold of it.  Not everyone reacts to Dragon blood by developing draconian characteristics - some unknown element present only in certain Humans reacts in that manner.  Those who do, however, tend to exhibit improved strength and charisma, and in more extreme cases, they have been known to develop the ability to super-heat the air in front of them and even, very rarely, develop wings.  Those who are the offspring of a Dragon Disciple are destined to share a similar fate - whatever trait brings about Draconian features is almost certainly genetic.  Most Dragon Disciples are members of  the Acolytes of the Infinite Eye, who believe the dragons to be gods sent to protect the world from the Fallen - either because they purposely ingested dragon blood for the sake of being closer to their gods, or because they were born with the traits and their family raised them with the teachings of the Acolytes.  There are a few Dragon Disciples who are not members of the Acolytes, some because they reject their Draconian heritage, and others because they reject the teachings of the Acolytes.  In some cities, mostly in Azderan, Dragon Disciples are viewed with great respect in awe, in others, they are met with suspicion and fear.  Dragon Disciples are a playable race, and can be played by selecting the Dragon Disciple prestige class.

Orcs

Orcs are a sentient race not native to Tymora.  Towards the end of the First Great War, a group of wizards in the Azderanian city of Vewol, believing all hope to be lost, used an experimental portal, a prototype for the portal being constructed in Azderan (the same that was later finished during the Second Great War) to open a gateway to another world - this world turned out to be Dra'nar, the homeworld of the Orcs.  Although there was some initial distrust between the two races, eventually a colony of humans and Orcs known as New Vewol was formed on the Orcish side of the portal.  The Tymoran entrance was sealed using a smaller version of the Azderan barrier.  During the Second Great War, a group of Rangers who came to be known as the Heroes of Azderan discovered the Tymoran side of the portal and crossed over into Dra'nar.  Later, towards the end of the war, when the Rangers' numbers had been reduced during the assault on the Fallen's dimensional portal, the Heroes appealed to the Orcs for aid in fighting the now-stranded Fallen.  The Orcs played an instrumental role in ending the Fallen threat and, once the war is over, while most returned home, some found they enjoyed the world of Tymora and remained, forming their own colony near the remains of Vewol.  Originally an extremely violent race, the constant warring between the Orcish clans nearly led to the extinction of the species.  The leaders of the clans, realizing this truth, came together and arranged a lasting peace.  The Orcs were determined not to repeat their past mistakes, and thus over time, they developed a spiritual connection with the world they'd nearly destroyed, which continues to this day in their shamanistic practices.  Those Orcs which have chosen to remain on Tymora have developed a similar connection with that world.  The Orcish colony has grown into a large city over the past four hundred years, and the Orcs have put their former war-like nature to good use by creating powerful weapons and armor which they trade with the other cities on the Azderan continent.    In Azderan, Orcs are shown a good deal of respect, as the have been an increasingly-common sight since the Second Great War, and the aid they provided has not been forgotten.  In Zalaer, they are viewed with more fear and suspicion, both for their different appearance and unique type of Druidic magic.  Orcs are a playable race, despite not being a default Neverwinter Nights race.  This is done by modifying the appearance of the chosen character and adding two points of strength and wisdom, while removing  two points of intelligence and charisma.

Half-Orcs

Half-Orcs are a very rare species on Tymora.  Although Orc-Human relationships are not entirely unheard of, they are far from being common, and a child resulting from such a relationship is even less so.  The first Half-Orc was born about two hundred years ago, and since then, their total population is estimated to be less than a hundred.  Despite having two genders, Half-Orcs, like most cross-species creatures, such as a mule, are sterile, unable to reproduce with Orcs or Humans.  With the height of a human, and the strength and girth of an Orc, they make powerful warriors.  Although they are typically accepted in Azderan and shunned in Zalaer , for the most part, reaction to their presence is on an individual rather than geographical basis.  Some may view them as holding the best aspects of both races, while others may view them as having the worst aspects.  Half-Orcs, although rare, are available as a playable race.

Gnomes

Gnomes are a very new race to Tymora, and only a handful are present on the world, most of them being on the Ranger island of Sanctuary.  Contact between the Tymoran races and the Gnomes began when the Dragons told the Rangers of the Gnomish world, and so the Rangers, intrigued by stories of the small-but-inventive creatures, decided to establish contact, and, with the aid of the Dragons, they were able to direct their portal to open in the Gnomish capital city.  First contact between the Humans and Gnomes went remarkably well.  Using translation spells, both races were able to understand each other immediately, and both sought peaceful contact.  Since then, a small amount of trade has existed between the two races, with the Gnomes interested in any sort of new, unique Human or Orcish trinket they can get their hands on, and with the Humans interested in the advanced Gnomish technology.  Most of Gnomish society lives in flying cities, although the Gnomes themselves did not create these cities.  Rather, they have been in the sky for as long as the Gnomes recorded their history.  Their constant presence drove the race towards technological advances, and eventually, magic and science combined with the creation of the Gnomish airship.  Using these airships, the Gnomes were able to reach these floating cities, and discovered that, while abandoned, they were in remarkably good condition.  Over time, most of Gnomish society relocated to these cities, finding them completely fascinating.  While the Gnomes are friendly, they do not yet trust Humanity enough to share their more powerful technology, such as their airships.  They have, however, formed a solid relationship with the Rangers, and just recently the first Gnome joined their ranks.  A few other Gnomes - an ambassador and his staff - also live on the island of Sanctuary, whereas other Gnomes usually visit for a few months at a time, their curiosity driving them to explore this new, strange world.  Gnomes, appearing basically as short humans, are generally accepted throughout Tymora, although a few odd looks in their direction are not uncommon.    Gnomes are a playable race, although as of now, only one is being allowed in the party, and that role is taken.  This could change as the campaign continues.

Dragons

Dragons are perhaps the oldest race in the Universe.  They are also one of the oldest-lived races - it is rumored they are nigh-immortal, unless slain through unnatural means.  This age grants them a unique connection with the Universe, as their 'soul' becomes more in tune with the positive energy around it.  This is perhaps response for their natural ability to open portals between worlds, and for, most of their existence, they used this ability to wander - sparking myths and legends on a hundred different worlds.  These journeys would prove to be their undoing, for because of their travels, when the Fallen first began their assaults on our universe, the Dragons were quick to discover this new enemy.  Most of them, being noble at heart, banded together to help the worlds the Fallen had attacked.  And thus, did the Dragons and the Fallen fight epic battles across a dozen worlds,  in a conflict of such scale to have never been matched before or hence.  Unfortunately, for each Dragon that fell to the armies of the Fallen, an equally-powerful Dracolich was created in its place.  Despite their unmatched power, and a few victories, the Dragons were eventually overwhelmed and forced to retreat to their homeworld.  Unfortunately, Dragons are not above corruption, and a small group, convinced if they offered their aid, they would be spared, opened a dimensional portal within one of the greatest Draconian cities, and the Fallen launched a massive, overwhelming assault straight into the center of the Dragon's world.  Although they offered heavy resistance, the Dragons knew they could not hold off the armies of the Fallen forever, and so, those who had survived the initial onslaught agreed that their only chance was to abandon their ancient home and forever assume their roles as wanderers.  Often taking up roles as watchers and guardians, Dragons tend to hide in unclaimed areas of their chosen world, rarely interfere directly in the roles of mortal races, unless the Fallen are involved.  When one considers the Acolytes of the Infinite Eye, a group of humans who have come to worship the Dragons as Gods, it is easy to understand why.  A small group of six Dragons had  found their way to Tymora; one of them having left the others shortly after their arrival.  It was, in truth, he was one of the traitors of the Draconian world, and was attempting to birth and raise a new army of Dragons with which to destroy the Fallen and claim Tymora as their own.  Fortunately, his plans were interrupted by the Heroes of Azderan,  who discovered him hiding in the caverns under Mount Jylant and quickly put a violent end to his plans, save for one unhatched dragon egg, which was taken by the Heroes.  The other five dragons were later discovered in hibernation on an unexplored island in the far north of Tymora, where they were convinced to join the fight against the Fallen.  Three of the Dragons fell during the Second Great War, after which the remaining two, along with the recently hatched dragon egg, returned to hiding in a location known only by the Rangers.  Dragons are treated with anything from great awe and respect, to fear, distrust and even, in extreme cases, hatred, although a reaction closer to the former is most common.  Dragons are not a playable race.

Half-Demon

Quite possibly the most rare race on Tymora, there is only one known half-demon who survived the Second Great War and still lives today.  Gheradesca, one of the Heroes of Azderan, was created as part of an experiment by the Fallen to create an army that was immune to the effects of the Azderan barrier.  The idea was to bind a human soul to a demonic body, in this case, a slave race known only as the Unnamed Ones, and thus create a creature bound to the will of the Fallen, but with the soul of a human.  However, they were only partially successful - while the resulting being could, in fact, pass through the Azderan barrier, the original alignment of the soul could not be broken.  While most of the memories contained by the creature were fragmented at best, the basic personality and desires remained unbroken.  Gheradesca was the first of these creatures, created using the human soul of Ghera Desca, a hero from the First Great War.   The Fallen assumed if they could break her soul, they could break any soul.  Fortunately, their experiment was a failure, and Gheradesca was, during her first 'trial run', rescued by a band of Rangers led by Master Cain.  Seeing her true heart and potential, he taught her the ways of the Rangers, and she soon joined them, quickly proving her worth.  Although a few other, similar creatures were created, all of them were assumed destroyed during and soon after the Second Great War.  Half-Demons, like Dragons, are treated with anything from great respect to hatred although, unlike Dragons, the second is more common than the former.  Half-Demons are not a playable race.

Vampires

It is unknown if any Vampires remain on Tymora.  Created by the negative energy magic of the Fallen, Vampires are different from most Undead, in that they maintain a good deal of their mind, despite their body being animated and empowered by negative energy.  Although this normally leads to Vampires simply being more powerful and deadly servants of the Fallen, in some cases, the mind of the victim is strong enough to resist the calling and thus does the creation turn on its masters.  Such was the case with a small group of Vampires discovered during the Second Great War in hiding near the ruins of Vewol.    During one of the last epic battles of the First Great War, a small company of soldiers were trapped away from their companions and turned into Vampires.  However, their will was so great, and their desire to destroy the Fallen so strong, that they turned on their new masters, and escaped into hiding in the hills north of Vewol.  Since that time, they were able to resist the bloodlust by focusing completely on their hatred of the Fallen.  They spent five hundred years fighting small Fallen patrols and feeding on their essence, until discovered by the Heroes of Azderan.  Their presence caused much turmoil among the Vewolian Vampires, as they had not seen a living being in five centuries.  While there, the Vampires' cave was assaulted by the armies of Ne'Blazar, lead general of the Fallen's forces in Tymora.  During the battle, the Heroes escaped, and most of the Vampires were slain.  Since then, a few surviving packs of Vampires were found, but they had been consumed with bloodlust and had to be destroyed.  It is thought that no Vampires would have survived, however, if any did, they would certainly be met with violence, no matter where they were to appear.  Vampires are not a playable race.

Last Update: 5/10/04