Like other plane-born creatures, genasi are not typical inhabitants of Alm, but are likely to exist as individual created entities. The Overseers—who created humans and mor—are an obvious source for such creations, only too happy to experiment with elemental infusion and discard any failures. Such a creature would likely have escaped during the Parosean insurrection, […]
Much like tieflings, daevas are a material creature infused with the immortal essence of an astral being. In Escarnum, daevas would not be understood as a “species”, but as a unique occurrence—most likely the result of a celestial being attempting to empower a loyal follower. It’s likely that such a creature might be unaware of […]
Former humans influenced by a fiendish taint, tieflings are the evidence of mortals consorting with evil extraplanar powers. There is no reason that such a thing could not happen in Escarnum; mortals still seek power from sources outside their world, and evil entities of all sorts still seek to corrupt and control mortals and their […]
In most settings, halflings are smaller and weaker than medium-sized folk, but known for their agility and pro-social communities. They are most often creatures of comfort thrust into the role of adventurers, and likely to play comic-relief in a light-hearted story. In most cases, an abilen is the ideal replacement for a halfling. Their mechanical […]
Perhaps more than any other creature here, gnomes have filled a wide variety of roles across RPG settings. Some cast them as tricksters, others as bumbling inventors and eccentric wizards, others as bardic tale-weavers, others as helpful but reclusive fairy folk. Ultimately, this shifting identity the major reason gnomes don’t, by default, appear in Escarnum‘s […]
As archetypal miners, engineers and crafters, the classic dwarves have a lot in common with Alm’s kobold clans. If you wish to include dwarves in setting, a good place for them may be as allies of the kobold clans, working side-by-side in the mountains; alternatively, they may be a race that rivals the felbraug for […]
Dragonborn evoke the importance and majesty of perhaps the most iconic creature in common fantasy. In Escarnum, however, dragons are not nearly as prominent as in most Dungeons & Dragons settings; they are far more rare and less integral to the world. Between the scarcity of dragons and the absence of a dragon creator-god, it’s […]