Races

The playable races of the setting are (sub-races are included unless specifically excluded):

• Humans (including Variant)
  • Most common race by far.
  • Major populations exist in all nations except the Remnant Dynasty.
• Dwarves
  • Common in the Council Lands.
  • Uncommon but not unknown in the Stone Throne
  • Rare otherwise.
• Elves (except drow, who do not officially exist)
  • Wood elves are common on the outskirts of the Council
  • High elves are rarer and tend toward aristocracy
  • Languages are separated.
  • Wood elves are common in the Council Lands and in Byssia. High elves are only found in any numbers in the Council Lands.
• Halflings
  • Common in the Council Lands, especially in agricultural areas. Rare (but not unknown) elsewhere.
  • Matriarchal society
• Half-elves
  • Uncommon, except in Byssia and the Stone Throne, where they're common.
  • Social split (not mechanical) between those who are human dominant, wood elf dominant, or high elf dominant
  • Byssian half-elves tend to be wood elf or human dominant, while Stone Throne half-elves are uniformly high elf dominant. 
• Half-orcs
  • Full-blooded orcs from the Remnant Dynasty use these stats.
  • Uncommon except in the Remnant Dynasty where they're common. 
  • Distrusted and feared in the Council Lands. Unknown in Byssia and the Stone Throne. Common in Godsfall.
• Dragonborn (all colors)
  • Rare but more common as adventurers. Very common (dominant, in fact) in the Remnant Dynasty.
  • Mostly related to one another.
  • Add Darkvision (60 ft) and can choose either +2 DEX or +2 STR. Breath weapon is a bonus action.
• Tieflings
  • Rare, skips generations. They occur everywhere humans are found.
  • Mostly raised by the government as inquisitors in the Council Lands, but raised more normally in the Stone Throne.
  • Distrusted by the populace
  • Can use any of the published variants except Feral (Winged).
• Aasimar
  • Rare, skips generations. They occur only in the Council Lands and Godsfall.
  • Mostly raised by the Temple as acolytes.
  • Use the Volo's Guide version. Do not have to be evil to be Fallen.
• Genasi
  • Rare and only found in Byssia.
• Hobgoblins (Volo's Guide)
  • Either from the Remnant Dynasty or the Wind-Walker Collective.
  • Mistrusted by populations where they're not native.
  • Ignore the fluff presented in the book.
• Yuan-ti Pureblood (Volo's Guide)
  • Only present in the Stone Throne.
  • Ignore the fluff presented in the book.
  • 2nd-class citizens in their homeland.
• Soul-forged (Homebrew, see Soul-forged: Living Constructs)
  • Present in southern Remnant Dynasty or Byssia
  • Very new race, may get startled reactions elsewhere.
• Tabaxi (Volo's Guide)
  • From Ithemba on the south continent
• Shifters (Eberron)
  • From Ithemba on the south continent or from Godsfall
• Aarocokra (Volo's Guide)
  • From Ithemba on the south continent

As an option, you may use the Player Option--Variant Races; if you do, you may choose an extended background from Player Option--Regional Backgrounds. 

Classes and Archetypes

All PHB, Sword Coast, or Xanathar's Guide classes and archetypes are allowed. Non-elf bladesingers are fine. Note that necromancy (specifically creation of undead) is frowned on strongly. Other UA or homebrew requires permission. Spells from Elemental Evil (pdf) and the Xanathar's Guide are allowed.

Technology and Magic Levels

Magic is common, but permanent magic items are rare. There is no ability to purchase most permanent magical items. Potions and other consumable magical items are purchasable in the larger cities.

Tool uses from Xanathar's Guide are in play, as are downtime rules.

Expectations

• Formal alignment is not in force—this goes for NPCs as well. Not all orcs are evil; neither are chromatic dragons (by default anyway).
• Don’t be a jerk. Repeated evil behavior will get your character exiled or killed.
• Build characters that have a reason to be with the group. This is a group game and there is no room for unhelpful loners.
• Keep things PG. Profanity is discouraged. Sexual content will never be explicit (fade-to-black). Violence should never be graphically described.
• PvP actions are forbidden and will not be allowed. This includes passive-aggressive actions and (non-consensual) theft from party members.

House Rules:

See Default Houserules.

Languages

Most citizens of the FNC area speak Common of one dialect or another. This does not include most goblins or orcs not from the Remnant Dynasty. All characters start with proficiency in Common.

Other languages of note:

• Elven--the two versions are not mutually intelligible.
  • Yonwach (high elven)--known by high elves
  • Metsae (wood elven)--known by wood elves
  • half-elves must choose which "elven" they know
• Goblin (Ngyon Toi)--the language of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears (although they don't speak much). This is a genetic language and varies very little between tribes.
• Dwarven (Bidni-Khel)--heavily used for ancient technical writings and blueprints.
• Old Imperial--the ancestor of modern Common, this is commonly found in books and writings antedating the Cataclysm.
• Iath Neidr--the language of the ancient eladrin that ruled the Stone Throne area. The language of Stone Throne rituals.
• Orcish (Ard-teang)--a creole of goblin and old imperial. Varies by area and tribe.
• Primordial--the root elemental language. Used as a trade language by elemental creatures.
• Draconic--often also used as a language of written magic.
• Giant (Too-til).

 Quick Cosmology Guide:

See Quick Planar Cosmology Guide

Gods and Religions Guide:

See Player's Guide--Nations and Cultures.

Area Map

See Area Map 210 AC