Far away from the protection of armies and uncomfortably close to the borders beyond which anything might roam, day-to-day life as a villager is routine—but a future is far from guaranteed. Village life can be simple and mundane, filled with the humdrum but insistent needs of farm animals and crops, though there can be far worse than wolves stalking the woods and at any moment, a villager’s life can be punctuated by upheaval. 

Many people live in fear of a tyrannical ruler and of the militant minions that punish dissent and disobedience. Performative loyalty becomes necessary for survival, until even those who oppose the ruler will sometimes betray their neighbors lest they be dragged away to torture and enslavement. Those who resist the tyrant learn to feign the role of faithful soldier, and the cruel irony is that they often profit from the violent conquests of the regime they loathe.

Not all conquerors, dark lords, and empires tolerate halfling boroughs within their borders—when their armies come marching the wise halflings have already gone underground. Halflings rarely give up their land and will simply live under it instead. Dwarves may dig deep, but halflings are content to dig wide and stay up where the earth is still alive. Once forced underground however, a halfling warren can stretch for miles. 

Gnomes are known for their unique brand of creativity which often leads to the advancement of both magic and technology. Non-gnomes that immerse themselves in this culture struggle to reach the level of craftsmanship achieved by their gnomish counterparts, but can learn to match it with enough dedication and hard work. There is rarely rivalry inside of tinker gnome communities and it’s not uncommon for tinkers to help even a direct competitor perfect a new product—though there are no promises that they won’t steal the plans for themselves afterwards. 

With their warm hearths, verdant greenery, and low ceilings it is little surprise that boroughs (consisting of many individual burrows) are the hearts of halfling communities across the world. Halflings prefer to carve their homes from low hills, shoring up the earth as natural protection against the elements. Yet boroughs are more than a single halfling’s home—they’re communities of dozens, sometimes hundreds of halflings whose homes dot entire hillsides or rolling hilly plains. 

Civilizations can thrive without developing metallurgy, either by choice or because they live in stone-age cultures. Those from such societies are known as the stoneworthy. They are often adaptable and tenacious, with skills well-suited for adventuring.

Characters raised in the stoneworthy culture share a variety of traits in common with one another. 

There are some responsibilities even among orcs that require a cool head and tempered disposition. The most sacred places in orcish lore are called “stoic landings”, places where heroes rose or fell, or where gods wept or laughed. These stoic landings demand reverence, rite, tradition, and rituals to be observed and carried out faithfully. As many orcs lack the patience needed, the ancient orcish shamans found a solution: a rite called “the quelling.” 

In a world where magic abounds and the need for mechanical wizardry is minimal, there are still some brave minds who believe in experimentation, knowledge, and reason. One such people are the so-called steamforged—talented engineers who value science and social progress. Steamforged lands are usually the most technologically advanced in a region, pioneering mechanical devices that range from gas lamps to flintlock pistols and steam trains.

Whereas most elf cultures focus on light and the immanence of life, the shadow elves—also known as dark elves or drow—contemplate the nature of death and destruction, and they draw inspiration and comfort from the darkness. Although other elf cultures often consider them heretical, shadow elves are creatures of twilight, and it is only natural that some turn towards the day and others towards the night.

Settlers live at the farthest reaches of their empire, upon shores their nation’s tendrils have not quite fully grasped. They live alone or in communities on the frontier, land that not long ago was merely empty space on the map—though those already living there rarely see it that way.