The Races of Efenland

There are many great races of Efenland of varying shapes and sizes. Prior to the Great Thaw, Efenland was mainly inhabited by hunter-gatherer races such as Elves and Dwarves (before they migrated into the mountains and underground). While conflict still existed, most of the races lived in harmony. This ended following the Great Thaw as humans migrated from the South Lands and conquered Efenland. Most other races fled to the periphery of the continent fearing subjugation by the Iron Fist of Man. However, many non-Human races still live throughout Efenland continuously warry of the human invaders. 

Average Height of the Races of Efenland

• Human: Homo Sapiens, the most common race of Efenland, they were once minority prior to the Great Thaw but through blood and iron conquered the continent and drove many of its natives into exile. Adult Humans stand anywhere between five and six feet tall. 

• Elves: Homo Sylvanus, the Elves resemble a more slender Human and is slightly taller with most adult Elves standing around six feet tall. They have noticeably large ears, pronounced brow ridges, slightly larger eyes with epicanthic folds. There are four main groups of Elves in Efenland, the Väki of the North, the Alfar of the East, the Sylvans of the South and the Tuatha of the West. Most continue life as hunter-gatherer’s and are more prone to magic than other races. 

• Dwarves: Homo Pymeus, the Dwarves resemble shorter and stouter humans standing between four and five feet tall. Both male and female Dwarves have excessive body hair and wide noses with pronounced brow ridges. Long ago a great conflict between the Dwarves and the Elves drove the Dwarves into the mountains where they built vast underground cavernous cities. The Dwarves who remained on the surface diverged and became a nomadic society known as the Gnomes. 

• Giants: Homo Gigantes, the largest of the Efenlander races, Giants stand between ten and twelve feet tall, but legends tell of Giants who grew to fifteen or even twenty feet tall. Giants have abnormally long arms and large feet to help with balance. They possess a secondary heart-like organ known as a Follis to help move blood throughout their massive body. While they originally lived in the forests of central Efenland, conflict with Humans and other races have driven them into the mountains. 

• Goblins: Homo Gobelinus, the shortest of the Efenlander races, standing between three to four feet tall. They resemble Homo Floresiensis with Gibbon like features such as a flat nose, sunken eyes, enlarged canine teeth, and long arms. They have notably longer fingers and toes than most hominids allowing Goblins rapid movement through the narrow mountain passes and dense woodlands. They typically form tight-knit tribes with limited agriculture and mostly nomadic hunter-gathering. Humans have led multiple wars of extermination against the Goblins and extreme discrimination and prejudice has forced many of the Goblins out of their homelands and pushed many into crime to make ends meet. 

• Ogres: Homo Barbarus, also known as Orcs, are one of the most divergent members of the Hominidae Family with some scholars arguing they are a transitional race between the Gorillini and Hominina. Ogres stand between six and seven feet tall and both male and females are highly muscular with very thick necks. They resemble a cross between a Hairless Gorilla and Homo Habilis with a flat nose, pronounced brow ridge, sunken eyes, and large canines. They are highly aggressive and territorial but have been witnessed being very tender with their own younglings. They are a primarily matriarchal society.