Beastlings

Beastlings are the most elusive of all The Six races of the world. Consequently, there is much confusion as to their nature. They are not, as some contend, nature spirits or some other extrusion of the natural world - rather, they are its creators and curators. As towns grow into cities and large parts of the countryside are rendered bleak by war and magical accident, they have been pushed into the margins. Now, some of them are starting to push back.

Physically, they are shorter than humans but taller than dwarves. All beastlings have superficially animalistic traits - noses, ears, tails and so forth. What animal features they manifest depends on their character, and a Beastling can change appearance several times over the course of their four-decade lifespan. It is worth noting, however, that the correspondence is according to that particular Beastling's interpretation of the animal's character, and may not be the usual cliché. They refer to this animal association as their 'totem', although it has no particular religious significance.

They are often imbued with magic, although they seldom wield it as an abstract power as with wizardry or magecraft. Instead, it finds expression in their quickness, stealthiness and destructive potential. Fighting a skilled team of beastlings in a wooded environment is a lesson in terror and surprise.