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.

I'm bored of dwarves. So, I'm trying to create my own dwarves. I've decided to call them the Duerga. Here's my basic ideas, and I'll flesh them out later, hopefully with your help.

Since the New Look At Dwarves was such a success, I decided that I would try an overhaul of another fantasy standard which I find boring, the Orcs. I'm using the Orcs only as a very loose base.

They were born before we were, and they will last, long after we die.

The wait shall be over soon infidel. Soon we shall come from our darkened homes and sally forth on the Plains of Redemption and wipe the blight of our anscestors from our history. Our counsins will tremble at our approach, the humans will run from our strength and the Gison will board themselves in the mountain citadels giving the land beneth them to us. Oh yes, weakling. We are coming.

-Shieox Chief-priest of the Night Eyes Clan

The Nasgareth may look like elves, but instead were created by an entirely different divine being, which admired the elvish looks and traits, but wanted to create his own army instead. One without Love.

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.

This is a compilation of the races of Hewdamia. Each is unique in their own way with certain strengths and weaknesses.

Non-Nagani are no more then our lower caste. While they may have property in their lands, they are nothing more than the dirt at our feet. Even our lower class can order a human in our lands. One day it will be as such in their lands.

Rsskilarn, High Priest and second hand to Tlatoani

The dry ocean is vast and limitless. Only a few can navigate her dry clutches and survive. For those fools above us in the lush green that think they can find treasures and lost magics here deserve to be lost. I pray to Sceleris that their soul does not stay and haunt the desert lanes with their ignorance after death. Do they deserve their demise? Only the Goddess knows the answer to that.

Kanakuk - Prophet and Seerer

If Kasal comes for me with the inevitability of death I know, I shall go willing. But know that I will not go easy and I will be honored in the life beyond for my efforts.

-Mourngrymn Dasha’r, chief of Fajro Mang’i tribe.

I don’t know why we are the outcasts of the lands. We out number the others and our armies are superior. We fight no more than the other races have in their historys. Why do they have contempt for us? It is because they fear us, the fear that we are better.

Keil Ooma - Drunkard Mercenary for Hire

The children of stone care little for the others who are not of our kind. Ours is a kinship with the world around us, while the others destroy and pollute. It will be only a matter of time before the world itself fights back against those atrocities. Before the mother world rights herself. I feel no pity for them, only outrage.

Gundarg - Gison Philosopher

As your advisor my liege I am apt to tell you the difficulty in what you ask. Enemies are indeed everywhere and what you propose will inevidable be the end of your line. It is not always the enemies in front of you with a sword that are the worst, it is the ones behind you with a dagger you should watch for. Do not fear that which you see my lord, fear what you do not!

-Inaeius Keal - Advisor to the King of Kerrabar, Prophet and Seerer

These people could exist on a world with mythical elves, as they are not another race… they are humans. They are an ethnic group that is far removed from “normal” human stock. They have many traits (physical and cultural) that make them very different. Given Lyran culture and ways, if the Lyrans “went away”, a few hundred years later people would think of Lyrans the same way as we think of Elves… some strange mythical peoples.

The children of the west know not our ability. Ironically in their arrogance they ask us for advice and use us as ambasadors often, failing to realize that al lwe are doing is learning everything we can about their kingdoms and weaknesses. They will learn, but it will be when they are kneeling before us in their own cities.

-Laar Scaren - Advisor to the Kingdom of Rhomas

The Derevo are not a race unto themselves but a race of similar species. Similar to the different asian cultures. They are all different yet similar being similar cultures. The Derevo are like that.

The leaves talk and caress the mind of those who are willing to listen. We know what it is they say and it does not bode well for the civilized lands to our west. Woe to them I say, the land will return to it’s natural state one day.

-Enio Lacvite - Knowledge Seeker of the Rred Leaf

Crevasians were human long ago. The differences are several, but few were ever noticed by outsiders. They have astrong communal feeling, which _literally_ flows in their blood...

Barrow Dragons is a race of lesser dragons, nearly as small as wyverns or about the size of two oxen, that most often make their abode within dark and dry subterranean lairs.