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Description
There are many races in Laenost and the associated Realms. Humans are the first, and they are unique in that their souls are not inherently Void-based. Through the Vannul in the soul a Human is able to use magic, and magic fills the body of the Human. Humans are unable to procreate with any other race, no matter how similar the two are. There are some reports of Human-Elf children, but these are always Human children who have had a strong Elvish influence before they were born. A pregnant human spending time in an area inundated with Elves will bear a child that has strong Elvish features. Similarly, a father who spends time with Elves prior to siring will have an Elvish-seeming child.
Most intelligent non-Human lifeforms belong in the category Arcanic Highborn. Arcanic Highborn beings are magic-based and have a connection to the Void that is much different from Humans. Rather than the Vannul that provides Magic which settles in the body, the bodies of Arcanic Highborn produce magic on their own.
This is not to say that all Arcanic Highborn races are proficient at casting spells or using magic, it is simply the way their bodies are made and operate. They are different from Shroudlings, they have fully corporeal bodies and will not Fade into the Shroud when they die. Arcanic Highborn races have a much easier time traversing the Shroud than Humans.
Arcanic Highborn races include, but are by no means limited to: Elves (all variants), Dwarves (all variants), Orcs, Goblins, Bestials, Sporlocks, Dragons (all variants), Centaurs, Ents, Fauns/Satyrs, Mer-beings, Gnomes, Giants, Gemfae, Trolls, Harpies, Ogres, Rocs, Vampires, Minotaurs, and more.
Care must be taken to differentiate Shroudlings with Arcanic Highborn. Shroudlings can take many forms, which includes the forms of Arcanic Highborn races. The shape of a Shroudling is highly dependent on the mind of the Human whos soul they come through, so if a Human harbors hate against a particular race, the Shroudling will take a similar form. Elves, Dwarves, and Gnomes, are usually not disliked (even by racist Humans) so there are very few Shroudlings based on those races.
One common trait of all Arcanic Highborn is that they are not beasts. They are not all as intelligent as Humans (although some are far more intelligent), but they all have a sense of self. Their cultures are varied, some resemble Human cultures and some are extremely different.
Not all species are on friendly terms with Humans. Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, and other similar creatures are generally hostile, and some will gladly eat a Human. There are exceptions to every rule, though, and even Orcs can enter diplomatic relations with Humans.
Some species, such as Rocs and Ents, have no discernable language and are considered animals by most Humans. Sometimes these species have no interest in learning Human language, sometimes they just can’t. Elves can typically communicate with these races in some form or another.
Subspecies are almost always completely separate from their counterparts. An Aeruthian Elf would not have any interest in breeding with a Lunaric or Myrchrend Elf, and it is not certain if they even could.
Arcanic Highborn races have just as much capability as Humans to use magic and become Mages. Some races eschew the possibility, but all are able. Dwarves in particular enjoy becoming Paladins, due to the light that Holy magic usually produces. Without the Vannul they are unable to use magic in certain ways, and they cannot use Vadiants.