Ancestries of Blackmoor
Many ancestries and empires have risen to glory and fallen into dust throughout Blackmoor’s long history, many.
The legacies of these peoples continue in present-day Blackmoor. Many ancestries are found in the charted and uncharted areas of the Kingdom, and each of these ancestries is rich in history and lore.
In general, a majority of humans + half-humans is expected in a generic group of adventurers. However, there are various human ancestries, although the Thonians are by far the most common.
Each race originally hails from a different region, but there are now some places where a bit all the races can be encountered and this is the case of most characters' birthplaces.
Afridhi
The Afridhi are dark-skinned humans with flaming red hair. They are slightly shorter than other humans, only 5 feet on average, but make up for their vertical shortcomings with great physical power.
They came originally from he most inhospitable parts of the Goblin Kush Mountains, far away in the west. Powerful warriors, the Afridhi have survived for centuries in these cold mountains by force of will and discipline.
The spread of religious fundamentalism pushed them to attack and conquer several countries, and they attacked Blackmoor as well. Few decades ago in fact they even destroyed Vestfold, the city with most sages, scholars and magicians in Blackmoor, but eventually they were defeated and returned to the west. Some Afridhi survivors, however, abandoned their fundamentalist approach to religion and settled in Blackmoor.
The Afridhi have names that may sound similar to Romanian or sometimes even Hungarian names.
Mountain Folk Cultural package, but also a penalty on social interaction with other Human ancestries (including Half-Humans).
Dwarves
The dwarves of Blackmoor are an industrious and proud people. For generations they have created beautiful and awe-inspiring crafts, as well as immense cities of stone underground.
Dwarves are proud of their heritage as well as their handiwork. They are quick to boast about themselves and their people. They are fiercely loyal to their kin and slow to befriend outsiders.
Long time ago, their underground enclaves have been invaded by some horror from beneath, or have been destroyed by underground earthquakes and now they are just a mere shadow of what they used to be. Many of them in fact relocated to the cities of the humans, and at the time they considered it an humiliation. Perhaps due to something that happened during that tragedies, they are now particularly unfriendly to the Elves. Elder Dwarves never speak openly and fully about the contentious facts, not even to young Dwarves, that are now cultivating this animosity without really knowing the reason of it.
You can take inspiration to name your Dwarf character from classic names from the Lord of the Ring or general fantasy sources.
Penalty on social interactions with Elves and Half-Elves.
Elves
Blackmoor, before the initial colonisation by King Robert of Geneva and the Thonian Empire and the following migration of Humans and Dwarves, used to be a very prosperous Elven nation. The Elves initially behaved friendly with humans and dwarves, fighting on their sides during their wars against evil, but were often cheated and betrayed when in turn they needed their help, for example during the wars against the evil followers of Id. At some point they even split between Cumasti Elves (still open to friendship with other races when they prove worthy) and Westryn Elves (mistrusting and isolationist), but they are now united again. After the devastating war against the Pyros heretic arsonists, their forests are now just a shadow of what it used to be and many Elves migrated to human cities. The Elves living in the cities are now in better terms with the Humans, but they still don't trust Dwarves.
You can take inspiration to name your Elf character from classic names from the Lord of the Ring or general fantasy sources.
Penalty on social interactions with Dwarves.
Gnomes
The Gnomes initially migrated to Blackmoor together with the Dwarves, but they didn't have the same integration issues. Indeed, they were always a pacific presence. Establishing themselves as learned engineers and skilled craftsman, the Blackmoor’s Gnomes earn their living working cooperatively with High Thonians and Dwarven engineers. Gnomes love to solve puzzles and their mental and manual agility make them welcome company.
Gnomes are an open and trusting people whose lives revolve around their work. While kind to each other and their patrons, Gnomes are easily annoyed by individuals who needlessly distract them from their precious work. The definition of need is of course up to the Gnome in question. As such, Gnomes are often chided for their blunt behaviour.
You can take inspiration to name your Gnome character from classic names from general fantasy sources.
Half-Elves
In the past, in Blackmoor there were extremely few Half-Elves, but the recent migration of Elves to towns and cities of Humans has greatly increased their number. Practically all Half-Elves have the Human side of their heritage that is Thonian or High Thonian. Exceptions are very rare.
Their names can take from both heritages.
Penalty on social interactions with Dwarves.
Halflings
Halflings are the most welcome of visitors throughout Blackmoor, that they inhabited peacefully side by side with the Elves before the times of King Robert of Geneva. They bring stories and goods to trade and are free from other ancestries’ mistrust. Halflings are uniquely able to obtain secret information, a trait which has made them important friends in dangerous lands.
Halflings are kind and friendly folk who love to tell stories and eat. They are known throughout the land for their ability to entertain. While they are friendly, they are also skilled traders and drive hard bargains, using their natural charisma to influence their dealings with others. Halflings are industrious and quickly adapt to the customs of the lands in which they settle, but they don't like too much noise and confusion in their neighbourhood, so they avoid settling (i.e. sleeping) in the most crowded parts of the Human cities, but they can visit them.
You can take inspiration to name your Halfling character from classic names from the Lord of the Ring or general fantasy sources.
High Thonians
The High Thonians are members of the highest, most powerful Human social caste within Blackmoor’s borders. While High Thonians tend to come from advantaged backgrounds, not all of them have the stomach for politics or fighting. Many use their family names and backgrounds to pursue science and other academic matters. Several teachers at the University of Blackmoor are High Thonians from important families. High Thonians are studious people and excellent entertainers. They spend their time learning and finding new and interesting ways to entertain themselves and their wealthy friends. They are kind and gentle to others but are venomously possessive of their expansive libraries and eccentric inventions.
Physical Description: High Thonians stand 5 to 6 feet tall and weigh from 135 to 265 pounds, with men noticeable taller and heavier than women.
Their skin is fair; their hair tends to be blond or brown. To demonstrate their excellent grooming, most High Thonian men do not wear beards. High Thonians are long-lived by human standards, with life spans reaching well over 100 years.
Their names are often reminiscent of the classic Arthurian saga or of the Ring of the Nibelung.
Peshwah
Centuries ago, some southern tribes of humans settled the windswept Plains of Hak (at the times called also Plains of Hassock), to the south and west of Blackmoor, bringing their horses with them. These tribes are known as the Peshwah (i.e. "the Persons" or "the People"), but in the past they have also been called the Ben-Hassock (i.e. "Offsprings of the Plains of Hassock"), from their geographical origin. The Peshwah are nomadic souls who enjoy the feel of life from the back of their horses, and in time they fought long wars of attrition with Blackmoor and with the Afridhi.
Decades ago, some metallic horrors coming from the Valley of the Ancients almost annihilated them, but they survived by flooding the whole valley, and many of them are now peacefully settled in Blackmoor.
Physical Description: After riding across the wind-swept Plains of Hak for generations, the Peshwah have become a dark-skinned people. Though of human stock, Peshwah are shorter and stockier than their northern Blackmoor brethren. Their features are hard, and culminate in large, straight noses. Their hair is dark brown or deep red, curly hair is uncommon.
Peshwah receive a single name to identify themselves. Some Peshwah also use their tribal name as their family name where required. It is common for a Peshwah’s given name to be prefixed with the Peshwahan term “Peshwah na” which means “Person named”. For example, a Peshwah named Bika would be likely referred to as Peshwah na Bika, perhaps followed by a reference to their tribal name, like for example Peshwah na Bika of the Somhak.
Horse Lords Cultural package, but also a penalty on social interaction with other Human ancestries (including Half-Humans).
Skandaharians
Skandaharians are a race of tall, pale-skinned, blue-eyed, blond-haired sea rovers. From their secret homes beyond the Island of Frisia, in the frozen north, they used to sail in long ships to raid the coasts of the Thonian Empire, including Blackmoor. They caused massive damages to Blackmoor, and they also destroyed the biggest and most ancient city of the Kingdom: Maus. Eventually, they were defeated and, while some of them retreated north, from where they came from, many of them peacefully settled in Blackmoor, mostly on the coast but many also inland. The Skandahari are often portrayed as greedy and cruel (more than Ogres), but the people of Skandahari ancestry now settled in Blackmoor aren't much different from their neighbours.
You can use Viking-sounding names for your Skandaharian characters.
Sea People Cultural Heritage, but also a penalty on social interaction with other Human ancestries (including Half-Humans).
Thonians
Thonians are the everyday Human citizens in Blackmoor and its surrounding vicinity. The noble caste rules them, and many take jobs as servants in High Thonian houses. Many long for better lives and strive to find wealth and power.
Thonians are very much normal Humans. They are well-tempered but sometimes show disdain for their lot in life. Thonians do not share in the privilege or money that they see all around them. Thonians also are angered that they cannot join the nobility, regardless of their financial status, without a direct appointment from the king. The are family-loving people who work hard and try to better themselves.
Physical Description: Thonians stand 5 to 6 feet tall and weigh 125 to 250 pounds, with men noticeably taller and heavier than women. Their skin is dark, and their hair is black or brown. Thonians do not share the longevity of their High Thonian rulers. They achieve adulthood at age 16 and typically live into their 70s.
Their names often sound German, or Dutch / Flaemish.
Other Races
All other ancestries mentioned in the Fantasy Companion (apart from the banned ones that are mentioned above) are available as well; they are just less common in Blackmoor than the above mentioned, but still potential choices. Please communicate your proposed uncommon ancestry to the GM and make sure the option is approved.
Languages
All civilized beings in Blackmoor speak the same common language (Thonian) and other intelligent races (such as Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes, etc.) have a unique language as well (half races, such as Half-Elves, of course don't have a specific language but can choose Elvish).
Peshwah, Skandaharians and Afridhi, although all Humans, usually know their own ancestral languages, but if they hail from Blackmoor their "standard" language is still the common (Thonian).
In general, for this campaign the languages aren't very important and common Thonian should be enough for about everything you may need.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Fri 08 Dec 2023.