The Karion Guide
To PC Races
This page is devoted to all the races that are available as PC's on Karion. Of course, you can add more if you think I've left anything out. I've tried to include a bit about their personality and stuff whenever possible. Anyway, here's the list. Races from the Humanoids book are described below and without attribute adjustments and stuff, just personality. I don't want to step on TSR's toes, after all. :)
Besides, less work for me.
Also, any race from the humanoids book which is not listed below does not exist on Karion and thus is not available as a PC. And one final note: you might notice that I'm not a real strict enforcer of demihuman level limits (like, almost all have several classes which have no limit). Feel free to give them limits which you think are more fair if you don't like mine.
And now, on with the show:
BUGBEAR
Pretty much unchanged. Bugbears are still a barbaric race of ugly brutes closely related to goblins. They are incredibly greedy and selfish, two traits which they find difficult to overcome. Bugbears prefer stealth to daring and are very opportunistic. The only change that needs to be made is that bugbears from Karion have black, dark brown, or very dark blue fur, and have a black hide.
This race of giant frogs is very rare on Karion. Those few PC's that wander into normal society are mostly slaves (all too often, escaped slaves). Bullywugs, like most humanoid races, suffer from extreme prejudice at the hands of the other, "civilized" races. Life for these creatures will be very difficult.
Completely unchanged from their respective descriptions in the Humanoids book.
These hyena-like humanoids are often associated with wolfen. This has given rise to rumors that gnolls are normal dogs that have been transformed by magic into horrible beasts. Of course, this isn't true; gnolls of Karion have much the same origin as gnolls from other worlds. Here, however, they are treated as demons to be hunted down and killed, making life for an adventuring gnoll very interesting.
Flinds are similar to gnolls, and live in the same tribes. Gnolls have a deep, almost mystical respect for flinds, which has caused more than one flind to seek worldwide recognition. Flinds adapt more readily to society than gnolls. According to legend, flinds are the reincarnated spirits of those who have been killed by gnolls. For this reason, they are more easily accepted by other races.
By far the most prolific of all the races of Karion, goblins can survive almost anywhere. They can be found hovering on the fringes of other civilizations, preying on the weak and injured like jackals. Goblins prefer to live underground, as bright light hurts their eyes. On the whole, goblins are looked at as dirty and ugly creatures who have no place in the world of men. Goblins of Karion have long, pointed ears, long, sharp noses, and bright, beady eyes of a reddish or yellow color.
Halflings are completely unchanged from their description in the 2nd edition Player's Handbook.
Hobgoblins, despite what their name implies, are related more closely to orcs than goblins. They often enslave orcs and goblins to help wage their perpetual wars. Hobgoblins, like orcs, will wage war for almost any reason imaginable. Their society is so devoted to these wars that it almost always crumbles if forced to endure a long period of peace. Hobgoblins do not often become PC's; when they do, they must endure a great deal of prejudice.
Kobolds are viewed as the weakest of all the goblin-kin. Technically, they are not related to goblins at all, but are rather very distant relatives of gnolls, flinds, and wolfen. They detest bright light as their eyes have adapted to the darkness found underground. The greatest advantage kobolds have is that they are stereotyped as being so very weak and cowardly. Though this is true of most kobolds, and a lone kobold is probably no threat at all to a human, even without military training, a PC kobold can often surprise his or her opponents with remarkable skill and exceptional ability.
The lizard men of Karion are almost identical to the lizard men of other worlds. The only thing worth noting is that they are much more rare than on other worlds, and in some continental regions they do not exist at all.
These giant-sized humanoids have a great difficulty tearing themselves away from their society. Ogres on Karion are very similar to the ogres from countless other worlds, though they have a dark tanned or brownish color to their skin and yellow teeth. Their hair is almost always black or very dark brown. They look a great deal like ugly humans, though they are huge. Those who do wander into human society are typically slaves or freaks, and those that are not are treated as such. Half-ogres can pass for human if they try, though it is difficult; ogres are simply to big to be mistaken for anything else.
Orcs are almost as prolific as goblins and can be found across the globe. Unlike goblins, who are looked upon with disgust, orcs are greatly feared because of their tendency to sack towns and villages that are not properly defended. Orcs are a real threat to most humanoid races, and as such they will find few are willing to accept them as equals, let alone heroes. Half-orcs sometimes can pass for ugly humans, though the vast majority will be mistaken as full orcs. Half-orcs are rejected by orcs as well as by the rest of the world, much like how half-elves are rejected by humans and elves alike.
Karion pixies are completely unchanged from their description in the Humanoids book, but they are shorter by about a foot.
These centaur-like creatures are found only on the continent of Lotarus. They roam the plains of the island of Shoma in small tribes, and they rarely leave to become adventurers. Those that do are very primitive, and are often mystified at simple, everyday things. Wemics are very superstitious beings and will take bad omens very seriously.
