Drow | Duergar | Dwarves | Elves | Gnomes |Goblins | Half-Elves | Halflings | Half-Orcs | Humans | Orcs |Tieflings
From Anna Garlov's "Civilizational Biographies" (ERM 870)
as Transcribed for Aer Arnad's Library of the Seven Ages in Mairmithon
The races of Orben may be counted only upon one's fingers, save for one, so few are they. And yet from so few come many peoples, and among these even are innumerable distinctions.
To speak of this matter in generalities, or indeed in any measure, is to invite reproach, and this is to be welcomed. The dialogs and debates held in Oghma's name, upon even the subjects most egregious in their contentions, deserve fully their weight. Our understandings of matters as these shall improve only with the communication of all parties each unto the other, and without shame held or invoked for the attempt.
Arrayed here is an approximation, by degree, and in proportion, to the general value and standing of each race as it appears to the eyes of other races, not along any axis but that of might: economic, political, and military power. To the best degree of certainty this author can recommend, these are ordered from most to least high. Each may in the territory of another raise or lower depending on its place, but if one were to, with telescope, from afar view all of Orben through one lens, and measuring to each race its value in a number, and comparing then these numbers together, they would arrive upon something close to this list.
Concerning those Races Considered "High"
On Men
Humans are with little serious debate considered most highly positioned among the races of Orben. This has only recently been the case, and after a long and tumultuous history, but a synchronicity of the Elven fall with the Dwarven struggles against Darklings has allowed the race of Man to claim the most power, most of the world over.
On Dwarves
Dwarves are much blessed by fortune as are Men, but theirs has remained constant for millennia, while the fortunes of Men "arrived all at once and burst onto the world" in only a few short centuries. They have weathered many rough years, but still bear great promise, and had it not been for the depredations of their subterranean brethren and like ilk, they might easily clear ahead of the taller folk.
Concerning those Races Considered "Midling"
On Halflings
Halflings, as best befitting their size, "survive underfoot with little assurance of safety from the higher races who war across the world wreaking ambitious passions upon one another." However, they survive also with great assurance that while many of the machinations of taller folk fall around them, they are almost never crushed by a deliberate act. Caution and careful planning has this served well the Hin-folk through many centuries.
On Gnomes
Gnomes are by most measures survivors in the manner of Hin, though with a closer kinship to Elves. It is the greater proximity of Hin to Man that the race of Gnomes owe their lesser stature among the midling races.
Concerning those Races Considered "Low"
On Half-Orcs
Among the Human mongrel races, which are all low, Half-Orcs enjoy the highest position, for "in their tendency toward ignorance and unthinking action they are not so different from Men." Surely, no Man would willingly call an Orc his kin, but a respect, if begrudged, can often be arrived at among Men towards Orcs which is not shared with other Darkling races.
On Half-Elf
Unlike Orcs, Men share no commonality with Elves, except for their mutual enmity. Sympathy and pity are often garnered by the child of an Orc and a Man, for no Human mother would willingly bear an Orc's child, nor father of any sense lay with an unsightly Orc matron. Half-Elves however are more often the result of a perverse desire between races to intermix, though they are sometimes as unwilling as in the cases which beget Half-Orcs.
On Tieflings
The race of Tieflings is still not so well understood by any, except for the knowledge that they are descended from the blood of fiends. But Tieflings bear also the blood of Men, and this now saves them from the cruelest position among all races above Darkling, for in every other way are Tieflings reviled as demonspawn.
On Elves
Elves of the lowest race have fallen naturally lowest upon this list. For thousands of years was the race of Elves most prosperous and mighty, and bequeath upon Orben much civilization and culture and splendor which no race else has approached. But, "Beshaba takes greatest glee in sinking the tallest ship," as it is said.
Concerning those Races Considered "Darkling"
On Goblinoids
Though truly, "Hobgoblins are nearly worst among all Darklings, having the cruel cunning of Duergar and the animal bodies of Orcs," Goblins remain opposite them, "the green race of rats," feeding at the bottom of the Darklings' own hierarchy, and thus perceived least as a threat by the greater races. The balance between these extremes results in a level of tolerance enjoyed above that of other Darklings.
On Duergar
Duergar, where they are known well and understood profusely, are greatly reviled for their ferocity, cunning, and inhibition toward using the rudest forms of violence. However it is most among Men that the nature of Duergar is a matter of great mystery, and finding oft the appearance of one Dwarf indistinguishable from another, Duergar more easily infiltrate younger societies of Men, and by these avenues secure power to their fell brethren.
On Orcs
It is well known among all races, even Menfolk, that Orcs are "...most savage: unthinking and ever-breeding, possessed in equal measures of blood rage and lust and unable often to tell which is to be applied to whom." It is this mindlessness that makes them most fearsome, but also starves their efforts of any meaningful ambition.
On Dragons and their Spawns
Though the last assault by any Dragon is all but forgotten, they are feared still. "Few children can grow to adulthood without a slew of legends and images assaulting them, the whole a glorious tribute to the beauty and horror of these terrible creatures." Preserved thus in memory, they are considered still among the greatest of menaces, though none has been seen by sane eyes in a thousand years.
On Drow
Their name alone may strike fear into the hearts of Dwarves and drive the most somber Elf to an Orcish rage. "What can be said of Drow? All of the worst which can be said of Orben they would call useful, and all of the best which can be said of Orben they would destroy, given the chance. Had they wisdom and evil in equal measure, their desire would surely come to pass. And though their imbalance skews toward evil, we may yet see that day when Drow rule us from below." The truth of this is self-evident to all thinking races, even Orcs, and thus are they despised most, and sought out with violent fervor, lest their containment end.
