Playable Races
Human
It’s suspected that at least half of Elidel’s uncountable population is human. Despite them having a quarter of the lifespan of other races, they are everywhere — from the slums on lowest levels to the sprawling mansions and towers in the levels above the clouds. They are the most represented in local politics and amongst the ruling elite.
Humans come in all shapes, sizes and features. Usually viewed by the longer-lived races as reckless and single-minded, humanity’s tenacity and iron-will to keep striving against all odds has made them a worthy contender in a world where everyone else is physically superior than them in some way. Their knack for inventing new and invasive ways to augment themselves with cybernetics and creating devastating weapons doesn’t hurt, either.
Humans have a unique ability to inter-breed with other races. Human half-breeds are quite common, and are usually born with the physical capabilities of their human parent, alongside physical traits of their non-human parents.
But variations certainly do exist. Feel free to play around with the traits of your Human hybrid, but do remember that their capabilities would be considerably diluted due to the presence of their Human parentage.
Elf
The long-lived elves have carved out a place for themselves in Elidel despite being a minority. Sometimes carrying with them a certain sense of superiority, they are stronger and faster than your average human, capable of certain feats of agility and stealth that would be impossible or dangerous to a human.
As a race, elves of both sexes are often seen as beautiful. They are generally long and lithe of body, and are usually pale with a diverse range of natural hair colours. An orthodox elf would keep their hair long regardless of gender, styling it in various elaborate ways if they so choose. But an elf of the more rebellious sort would shave their heads or cut their hair short (sometimes doing both); it is seen as a horrendous act by more traditional elves.
But even the immortal elves die eventually. Though they can potentially live for a thousand years, many of them die in their 700s. Their long lives tend to draw them to hedonism, determined to spend their longevity chasing every high, be it through a violence-fuelled adrenaline rush or recreational drug use. Their physical resilience makes them more resistant to the consequences of injuries sustained in combat or the effects of long-term drug use, but it eventually gives out.
The image of a drug-addled, pleasure-seeking elf is prominent (and the subject of offensive jokes), but many of them despise that stereotype.
Dark Elf
A quarter of the city’s elf population is made up of this minor subspecies — colloquially called Dark Elves due to their strange appearance. They are physically identical to elves in every way, but with a few obvious exceptions. Their skin comes in strange shades of grey. Their eyes are often various shades of red, purple or blue, and have an odd luminescent quality that gives them the ability to see better in the dark. Their hair tends to be a stark white, but blond isn’t uncommon.
Their hair is also notably permissive to dyes, so unnaturally bright hair colours are common amongst more rebellious Dark Elves. Cutting hair and shaving heads is also more socially accepted amongst them.
They are regularly portrayed as villains in media, stereotyped as finding enjoyment in lurking in the shadows and stabbing good people in the back with poisoned blades. This stereotype isn’t inaccurate, as Dark Elves have a higher-than-average rate of murder and gang activity when compared to the wider elf population. Many Dark Elves are also adrenaline junkies who live on the high of near-death experiences, known as particularly bloodthirsty mercenaries and enforcers. But there are also as many Dark Elves who prefer to eke out an honest living with a quiet life.
Dwarf
The dwarves are a technologically-inclined race, preferring to make a living as hackers, repair-techs, architects and other such occupations. Their weapons are renowned for their efficiency and sturdy construction, with firearms that almost never jam and blades that never shatter. A hardworking, practical people, it is said that no matter how shady the repair shop, the service will be impeccable if there’s a dwarf at the helm.
Physically, the most obvious thing about a dwarf would be their height. Dwarves of both sexes are short and stocky. They are also notably strong and resilient due to denser muscles and bones. Male dwarves almost always sport long thick beards that they are extremely proud of; to damage this beard in any way is deeply offensive to any dwarf, and will lead to generations of his family bearing a grudge against said beard-cutter — especially if the culprit was an elf.
Dwarf and Elf relations are often sour, with both races holding immense contempt for each other for millennia. Turf wars between rival gangs made up of either race are common, and often turn bloody very quickly. Such disputes can last for centuries, as both races share equally long lifespans. They have long since forgotten why they fight each other, but they don’t care to remember. Why disrupt tradition?
This doesn’t mean that a dwarf and an elf can’t be friends. After all, Elidel is a big city and almost anything is possible. But such a friendship would be looked down upon by their respective communities.
Orc
The first thing one often notices about an orc is their sheer size and bulk. They are taller than average, with both sexes sporting almost hog-like tusks and muscular frames. Their physical strength draws them to jobs where it would be required — as lawmen, bodyguards, bouncers and enforcers. Unlike other races, they do not tend to form street gangs, often choosing to sell their services to the highest bidder.
But the orc gangs that do exist are known for their excessive cruelty to anyone who gets in their way, taking the time to cause as much pain as possible to their rivals.
Orcs come in a variety of skin tones. Green, red, grey and tan are common, while pitch-black skin is rare. Their eyes are often yellow, but various mutations have caused other eye colours to appear. Various hair colours are also common, with black, red and blonde being the most common.
Not many places in the city are adapted for the orcs’ large frames. They often have to crouch a little in train cars and taxis. Though special accommodations are often made for orcs in the upper echelons of society.
The stereotype of orcs being dumb brutes is well-earned, as they tend to be rather blunt and straightforward in manner. But more intellectually-inclined orcs dislike the stereotype and try to distinguish themselves from it as much as possible.
