Crucifix World Guide - Part III - Races of the World

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The world of 2085 is populated by far more than just humans. The streets are filled with all manner of people; some who walk on two legs, some four, others slithering down the sidewalk. Our world has adapted to this, but culture shock is still common, yet few still live who haven’t seen Ahumans for their entire life.

Some fear them, others revere them, others simply wish to coexist. They used to live in the shadows and nooks and crannies of our world, but now they live among us, trying to survive this new age just as anyone else.

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Human:

Humans are the most populous race in 2085, and remain the dominant species on Earth. However, their dominance has come into question as the governments of the world were coerced into revealing the existence of Ahumanity, which had remained hidden for millennia.

Humans come in many different forms and can be found all throughout the Sol star system. They average from 5 to 6 feet tall, and have an average lifespan of 100 years. They are considered the most average of races in 2085, and most technology and devices are designed for human use above all else. They have no central culture, except perhaps the pursuit of wealth, or for the poorest in society, survival above all else.

Elves: The second most populous Ahuman race. Elves are considered to be the luckiest of Ahumans, having a form that is relatively easy to integrate into human society. They also have a natural connection to magic, unlike most other races in which the genes to become magic-capable appear at random.

Elves range from 6.5 to 8 feet tall, and have an average lifespan of 225 years. They tend to have long, pointed ears, and small eyes. Birthmarks are more common and varied among elves than humans.

Due to their more magic-inclined nature, most Elves reject the use of cybernetic enhancements, genetic augmentation, or integrated nanotechnology. As a result, those who do are at best shunned by other Elves, at worst directly attacked.

Dwarves: Dwarves once dwelled in the more resource-rich areas of the planet, such as mountain ranges and deep cave systems, but now can be found in most places where work is easy to come by. While many view them as nothing but cheap labor, Dwarves are born with an aspiration, and will do anything to achieve it.

Dwarves are typically 4 feet tall, bulky, and have an average lifespan of 150 years. They tend to have broad shoulders and muscular builds, regardless of gender.

Dwarves are mechanically inclined, and to most dwarves repairing something like a drone is second nature. They are known to be extremely ingenuitive, and some have been known to produce machinery faster than a factory drone.

Siren: One of two prominent avian races in Sol, Sirens are rare, but well renowned for their grace and their enchanting voice. They are humanoid in appearance, but also have a set of wings on their back, as well as feathers on their entire body. Their faces are narrow, but they do not possess a beak (something many bigots would claim).

Sirens range from 4.5 to 5 feet tall, and have an average lifespan of 60 years. Their herbivorous diet and fast metabolism helps them maintain a relatively stable weight and build throughout their lifespan.

Sirens are considered beautiful by most standards, and they possess the ability to enchant the weak-minded with their voice. Many Sirens use this to their advantage as music artists, but there are far more nefarious uses for it as well. As the saying goes, ‘Never trust a singing siren.’

Harpy: The much bulkier, more intimidating cousin of the Siren, Harpies can be found on the outskirts of society, or at best eking out an existence on the bottom rung of society. More often than not, they are forced into crime to survive, creating a perpetuating cycle of poverty and violence.

Harpies tend to be about 6 feet tall, and possess longer, darker wings than their Siren cousins. They have an average lifespan of 70 years. They tend to be stronger and bulkier than Sirens, but not as graceful or fast in flight.

Harpies also possess a voice-based ability, but unlike the Siren’s song, which attracts others, a Harpy shriek will cause the weak-willed to have an immediate fight-or-flight reaction, more often than not resulting in flight. Many Harpies use this ability as a last resort, as it can also result in intimidating their allies.

Centaur: One of the few quadrupedal races considered sentient by the international community, Centaurs face a society that considers them undeserving of respect, and as a result most live in the countryside, either as farmers or lawbringers.

Centaurs span 7 feet tall from head to hoof, and tend to live around 65 years. Thanks to their athletic nature, they are the fastest ahumans without supernatural assistance, except for vampires.

Centaurs are naturally drawn to areas with a more stable biosphere, and as a result tend to keep their distance from cities. As the world becomes more urbanized and these areas become more scarce, some are forced to live in urban sprawls, and will become noticeably more sickly the longer they live there.

Lamia: It wasn’t until recently in history, in 2063, that Lamia were considered a sentient race. Despite this, most people view the lamia as monsters that would just as quickly eat someone as look at them. They mainly find their livings in the military and security sectors.

Lamia have the appearance of a creature that has the lower half of a snake, and the upper body of a reptilian humanoid. Lamia are typically about 12 feet long, and often coil their forms to allow easier access to smaller areas. Lamia have a relatively short lifespan of about 40 years, but have a habit of creating large families.

Lamia are renowned for their scales, which grant them physical resistance, as well as their venom, which can paralyze most creatures their size. Their carnivorous nature and traits which suit them for combat hide the fact that many lamia desire a comfortable, quiet life, an unfortunately rare commodity in this world.

Arachne: The least populous of the naturally occuring sentient species in Sol. Arachne have the lower body of an arachnid, and the upper body of a human covered in dark chitin. Their ability to climb walls, ensnare and poison targets make them optimal assassins.

They range between 7 and 8 feet tall, and live for about 50 years. Arachne have many children in a given season, but despite medical advances and introduction to modern society, few Arachne offspring survive to adulthood. Arachne culture tends to revolve around the idea of “if you don’t keep up, you die.”

While adept assassins and spies, Arachne can make a simpler living, and in a pinch, can sell their silk, which is a highly sought after material, so much so that some Arachne will weave their own clothing, some of which can be sold for thousands of UEC.

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Hey folks! Didn't want to throw a too large wall of text at you all today, so I figured I'd separate this into a two parter and honestly give my hands and head a bit of a break. Tomorrow I will have the second part of this chapter, describing some of the races living on the highest and lowest rungs of society in 2085. After that, I plan to show some of the history of the world, including the discovery/revealing of Ahumanity to the public, the Third World War, as well as an event known as The Billion Deaths War. Once Part VII comes out, I have something planned, so stay tuned!