The toxic lands of the Wastes should support no life. Here the land is slowly corrosive to the touch, causing illness with prolonged contact. The bubbling sulfur and ectomass pools are especially lovely, if you have the right aesthetic. The soil is soft and any heavy object slowly sinks. Other than a few migrant birds and some exotic small insects, The Wastes support only one native lifeform - The Verners - Exerpt from the often wrong but very popular Kalemandi’s Beasts of Lore and World.

The fishing was good, but everyone else was wary. These were Condori waters. ...

The crew was pulling up a net when it happened. The claws first appeared on the railing. Golden eyes preceeded the broad snout. Gregus grabbed a pole and advanced upon it. The creature spat at him, covering his face in a green slime.  He fell and screamed. The creature looked at all of us slowly and deliberately. Assured that we were no threat, it simply stretched over a bit farther.. secured the huge tuna we had just pulled in with its maw, and slid back over the side. We were in its waters. It only wanted its due. .....

Gregus died the next day of a terrible fever and strictures. His face had been scared and develope terrible white sores. Our limited magics were no avail to stop it. We decided to secure the body in a case and return it to the see when we left these waters.
Log of the Dolphin Clanship- Myra

Protos in Elder Tongue means ‘first’. This name is supposedly given because the Protoss were the first beings through the eyes, but some say it was given to the humans who first met them.

Seemingly lit from within, autumn foliage blazes with color in the late-afternoon sun. Yet, is is spring.
Trodways Known by Ericus Huntcrafter pub 1185 p. 245

The Kythrythe are a different kind of people. Given their worship of the Insect God Kythrellemen, they are more than just Humans. These people, except for their eyes, will be normal people at first glance. Some might be quite big or small or graceful, but they look like people. At second glance you will notice their small antena peeking out from their hair. Every now and again, you will see one that has been "blessed" by the God and granted "Marks of the God", insect like physical abilities.

The First Ones, The Kan-Yow, are the only non constructed beings to know the face of their Creator God. They were born as the world was being made. Tutored by their God (Kanchiyonnaho), they developed a perfect society immersed in the magic of the world. The Kan-Yow breathed magic, they are saturated with it, and they are bound to it as the world itself. As the Gods have withdrawn from the Mythic Lands, as the blessing of Time has graced the World,  they have become the guardians of The Magic and The World.

The Qwards were just another type of goblinoid race -a bit more odd than most- living in the cramped dark spaces. While durrable and intelligent, they could achieve no level of dominance.  Upon the advent of Technology, their natural aptitudes came forth. They are born engineers.

Elves are said to be girly, elves are said to be gay. What does this popular opinion stem from? Hardly their lack of facial hair. Note: Not quite a new take, but something to think about.

Growren are bear like people, who appear much like Giant Teddy Bears… and are as about as smart.

The Khor are a monsterous and violent race that can grow to great size.

These are Elves of a different sort. Not quite a new take. The HighFather is the father of all his race. He is immortal, powerful, and a strong physical presence. His memory is quite powerful- it is the races way of immortality - to be remembered by the HighFather.

I was spending some time reading some Rune Quest, Changeling, and Castle Falkenstein material and remembered why I hated most of the Trolls found in the majority of “Psuedo Medival, Eurpoeanesk Fantasies”.  So once again, I charged up my rant muscles and….

A new Take on Dwarves should hit the following key points Short (After all Dwarf means a short person), Underground (traditional living arrangements), Artificers (Maker of things, use of forge), and Good Combatant.  They don’t have to be short vikings.

When looking for an Orc substitute in a campaign, one should think about just a violent ethnic group of people. Huns, Goths, Visigoths, Franks, and Mongols, have all the same campaign effect of Orcs and other “monster races” that fight in large groups/ hordes. And it has the added bonus of people not being able take the moral high ground when they kill an intelligent being… because it is a people… not just a worthless Orc.

Let me just say I HATE DROW. The DnD anti-elves really annoy the heck out of me. They are annoying two hit die monsters.  They have become hugely popular because of some well written DnD fiction books. Yet, they don’t make sense. So lets try again.

Named after some Oldthings by the early colonists, these large, even by Kerrenese standards, these iridescent insects are a common sight everywhere in the world.

The undead horror shambled forward. Peaking out from under its tattered leather armor is a roll of slick smelly maggot worms.

These creatures have the uncanny ability to feel the ripples of magic, so they travel through planes, rather than distance to find food.

“Look at the woods. There must be dozens of giant spiders here! We are so in trouble. ”

These little buggers are the bane and blessing of adventurers.  If you find a location with lots of ogone’s, you know there is magic and magical treasure about.  However, since the average adventurer has more magic items than the normal area, the flies will hang around the adventurer and their items.