Resident Island Species

Many species here have emigrated from other lands, but there are many natives as well. The natives, however, don't make themselves seen very often, and it is the colonists who must build the community. Below you will find, in brief detail, who is whom and what is what.

Both native (as in newborns borne to the colonists) and naturalized residents to Crystal Shores. Their heights, weights and appearances vary greatly, with differences in hair, eye, and flesh colors. Humans live on the average of 55-60 years, and are not immune to weaknesses, and many seem to never reach their full potential. The native humans have a plus: Their flesh does not burn as easily under sun exposure. The sometimes brutal sun is all they know.

The native elves of Crystal Shores are the hard-to-find amongst the populace, but their position is of an alliance with the newcomers. Yet they are unlike the colonist elves: after centuries of having to fight off ogres and dragons, they have mastered the art of hiding. Their villages have only been seen by those they want to see them, but the locations are never revealed. Outsiders are always blindfolded.

While they don't completely trust outsiders, they do maintain good relations with the humans in their neverending struggle for survival. The elves have welcomed the newcomers, even helping to build and fortify the new town of Silver Seaport. The elves are the best wilderness guides, as they know the island almost intimately. They have been known to scout for the town and bring back new information. While remaining wild, the elves recognize the importance of teaming with others for survival in this harsh land. The colonist elves are very similar to the humans, except for their lifespan and slant to their features.

What one might refer to as "Drows" elsewhere, are but a sub-species of Elven Ilk here. There are no special "bonuses" to this species, or any other. If anything, there is a distinct disadvantage: These darkened elves, their skins blackened and their moods to match, are only ever seen during the night-time hours under the cloak of darkness. This WILL limit your play to the hours of 9pm EST to 5am EST.

On the island, interracial marriages are not uncommon, given the need to stand together. The result of human-elven marriages are the half-elves. These halflings are the symbol of untiy between the races, although very few are allowed to live in the elven villages for fear of being found. Half-elves possess the grace of their elven parentage and the toughness of their human heritage. Half-elves, between the newcomers and the natives, are treated with suspicion, as the newcomers, while welcomed, are meanwhile regarded as slightly clumsy, awkward even.

Deep in the forests of Crystal Shores, near the mountain home of the Dragons, a great terror resides and threatens the other races of the land. The brutal, cannibalistic Ogres of Crystal Shores jealously resent the other races and seek to destroy the others for their dark god and goddess. While no one has seen their camps and lived to tell about it, the ogres seem to strike as fast as lightning from the deeps of the forests and retreat before others can react, cutting a bloody swath upon the island. Led by the Ogrelettes, the females of the species, the Ogres wreak havoc. The Ogrelettes are the priestesses and shamans of the race, giving them directions from the dark gods on where to attack next. The strikes are swift, powerful, and deadly. The power of the Ogres is feared, being second on the island to only the dragons, and one never knows when the next attack will come.....They are said to be allied with the little-seen Giants and Dwarves and the Sharken. (GM Note: Giants and Dwarves, as well as Sharken, are not a playable race, therefore are not offered as a selection at registration.)

Native to the waters surrounding Crystal Shores, they cannot survive on shore for more than several hours at a time. They breathe through gills, but some have evolved immature lungs. It is those with the insufficient lung capacity that can survive for short jaunts on land. Known for physical beauty and magic, it is said to be bad luck if one spots a mermaid while navigating his ship, that either an unexpected storm, surge of a wave, or unseen reef will claim one's ship and life. Not much is known about the full-blooded Mermaids and Mermen.

Most conceived in the waters off the coast, this odd breed has an extraodinary look to it. Humanlike flesh with a silvery, scaly texture, great abilities to swim. Their legs can and do change when submerged, but not to a glorious tail of a Mer. Instead, their feet web. Many halflings die at birth, their lungs compromised, the Mer parent's gene dominating those organs. For those that do survive, some try to blend in with the humans, never stepping foot in a lagoon or ocean, or doing so as little as possible.

From their lofty mountain peaks, the self-professed Masters of the Island look scornfully upon the lesser races. Known to sweep down and destroy villages of ogres, elves, and humans alike, these mighty beings have tried to force the other races into slavery. While not all dragons feel this way, indeed some of the most spectacular battles ever on the island have been between dragons, the majority hate the "infestation" of the lesser races and will stop at nothing to eradicate them, or at least enslave them. Dragons have been known to fly from their lofty peaks and eat anything: ostriches, humans, elves, ogres, even other dragons. Most dragons are not overly intelligent, although the few who are bully the lesser dragons into doing their bidding. A very few have even been domesticated to serve as mounts for those who can do so. The other dragons viciously attack the domesticated dragons, believing them to be traitorous and weak. For now, the island hinges on the fact that the dragons have not united to erase other life on the island, but it may only be a matter of time...Some dragons speak common, particularly the smaller ones, but this may just be a ruse, a way to charm the humans and elves into letting down their guard a bit. (GM Note: In this realm, Dragons CAN NOT and DO NOT "shift to human". They are the classic Dragon.)

The Faeries come in four varieties known to man: Pixie, Sprite, Nymph, and Noble Fae.
Pixies range from 1 to 10 inches tall, with iridescent wings and a sense of magic about them. They can do very minor "charms", which are brief, uncomplicated magics that have no dramatic effect, like changing the colour of something briefly, changing their outfit on the spot, etc. They are unable to harm or help anyone with these charms. Their colouring can vary dramatically, and they tend to be most comfortable in a natural environment. They can fly, as made obvious by their wings, usually at quite a rapid pace, depending on their size. They're very delicate and quick, so be sure to keep this in mind when registering.

Sprites are similar to pixies, but with an inherent need to cause trouble, be it by tying one's boots together, or slipping salt in one's sweet drink. They can fly, but tend to be a bit larger than their graceful brethren, and a little plumper, not so willowy. Perhaps it was a bit of a mutation from the pixie race that caused these little nuisances to appear...inter-breeding with imps? Whatever it was, they delight in causing trouble, but are not "evil" as a race, though members of the race may be evil, as with any race.

Nymphs and Noble Fae are quite beautiful: Nymphs are the females of the pair. They possess the magical ability to cast themselves into human size for extended periods of time, the only giveaway as to their bloodline being their wings. Otherwise, they almost exactly resemble pixies. This transformation, however, is NOT easy. The shifting of structure from small to large and back again is very strenuous on bones,tissue, nerves, etc., and can't be done rapidly or too often, or it could cause permanent weaknesses or damage. Noble Fae are, as legend tells, descendants of the Gods and Goddesses' own pet faeries.

The Noble Fae are the males of the pair. They too can cast into humanlike size, but, unlike the nymphs, are known for deceiving the public into thinking they are human. They can make their wings shrivel with a secret word only they know, to return when they return to their natural size once more. However, their transformation abilities are just as limited and difficult as those of the Nymphs. Because the Nymphs and Noble Fae can become larger, they are not so vulnerable as the Sprites and Pixies all the time. You may want to keep this in mind when registering.

Copyright � 2001-02, Crystal Shores, All Rights Reserved.

Original Midi Composition by Bjorn Lynne and used in accordance with the Owner's Terms.

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