Races
The following is an overview of the races of Haya. More detailed descriptions are found in the Lands section of the World chapter.
Humans (The True People) This is the primary player race of Haya, although individual gaming groups can incorporate demihuman, quasihuman, or even humanoid races if they wish. Otherwise, these non-human races should be confined to NPCs.
Humans have normal ability scores (no bonuses or penalties) and have access to all classes except Elders (druids), limited by the people to which the character belongs. All humans have brown eyes, dark (brown to black) hair, tan to dark skin, and are generally between five and six feet tall. Many humans consider these to be defining characteristics against the demihuman/quasihuman and humanoid races, who are often either shorter or taller, and often have unusual skin, hair, or eye colors.
Humans are divided into six nations; two eras, the Bronze and Stone Ages, which limit their tools; and literate and illiterate peoples, which limit their use of chronicle stones and access to the Priest (cleric), Scribe (wizard), Poet (bard), and Trader (homebrew) classes.
The widespread agricultural Yuta—called the Tower People for the tall, round towers at the center of their fortresses—live throughout the central seas of Haya in Bronze Age and Stone Age societies from simple clandoms to the Empire of the Bronze Crown. Yuta can be Warriors (fighters), Rogues, and Trackers (rangers), and literate Yuta can be Priests (clerics), Scribes (wizards), Poets (bards), and Traders (homebrew). They have a dualistic religious culture under a god and goddess, with a few demigods. They grow wheat, olives, and grapes and eat a lot of seafood, chicken, and beef.
The agricultural Adya, called the Boat People for their heavy reliance on seafaring, live on the islands of the eastern seas in Bronze Age and Stone Age societies from simple clandoms to the League of Zasai. Adya can be Warriors (fighters), Rogues, and Trackers (rangers), and literate Adya can be Priests (clerics), Scribes (wizards), Poets (bards), and Traders (homebrew). They have an elemental religious culture, with four main deities—for fire, air, water, and stone—and four lesser deities—for light, lightning, dark, and metal. They grow rice, citrus, and soybeans and eat a lot of seafood, pork, and chicken.
The agricultural Agtile, the South People, live on the northern coast of the southern, desert continent in three races: the nomadic Stone Age Izakhez, the settled Stone Age Tankixa, and the Bronze Age Kingdom of Zemed. Agtile can be Warriors (fighters), Rogues, and Trackers (rangers), and literate Agtile can be Priests (clerics), Scribes (wizards), Poets (bards), and Traders (homebrew). They have a complex tetratheistic culture of two main deities and two main demigods. They grow wheat, figs, and dates (in Zemed) as well as squash, beans, and maize (among the Tankixa) and eat a lot of fish, pork, turkey, and lamb.
The Damdilit, called the High People for living in the foothills of mountain ranges, live in literate Bronze Age kingdoms on the edge of the northern wastes. Damdilit can be Warriors (fighters), Rogues, Trackers (rangers), Priests (clerics), Scribes (wizards), Poets (bards), and Traders (homebrew). They have a polytheistic culture of eight elemental goddesses closely aligned to the Spirit Folk. They grow wheat, rice, and apples and eat a lot of fish, pork, and lamb.
The Zitan, called the Cavern People for creating shrines in and often living in caves, are Stone Age hunter-gatherer people much like Cro-Magnon in our real world. Zitan can be Trackers (rangers) and Shaman (sorcerors). They have a dualistic cult worshipping a Cave Bear god and a Cave Lion goddess, with eight elemental animal spirits representing tribal totems. They are illiterate, but their Shaman use magical cave paintings and bard-like songs.
The Entihoma, called the East People for living on the far eastern edge of the same desert continent as the Agtile and on a nearby forested island, are Stone Age hunter-gatherer people. They have an elemental cult of eight spirit animals. Entihoma can be Trackers (rangers) and Shaman (sorcerors).
Demihumans/Quasihumans (The Outer People) These are the primary non-player races of Haya, although individual gaming groups are encouraged to incorporate these races as alternative PC races. They are considered close in heritage by human True People.
Asnam, known as the Gold Hairs for their blond hair, are Stone Age forest hunter-gatherers who hunt with bow-and-arrow. They are the closest thing to elves in Haya, communing with nature through a god-goddess pair of deities and close ties to the Spirit Folk. They have blue eyes, cream-colored skin, and tend to be a bit taller than the True People (humans). They enjoy a bonus of +2 to dexterity and wisdom, and a penalty of -2 to strength. They can be Trackers (rangers) and Elders (druids). Their Elders make use of symbols they carve into stones and trees. There is a debate among humans whether the Asnam are, in fact, True People despite their lighter coloration.
Himhet, a sister race to the Selibos known as the Red Hairs for their reddish hair, are much like the Neanderthals of our real world, illiterate Stone Age hunter-gatherers who hunt with thrusting spears against prey like plains mammoth and woolly rhino, woodland mastodon, and musk ox. They are short, stocky folk, no taller than five feet high, with white skin and green eyes. They are ambush hunters, not able to conduct the endurance chase hunting of the True People. They enjoy a bonus of +3 to strength, and a penalty of -1 to dexterity, constitution, and intelligence. They can be Hunters (barbarians) and Shaman (sorcerors).
Janis, known as the Dust People because they live on a very arid coastland, are Stone Age hunter-gatherers much like the Homo ergaster of our real world, who hunt with thrusting spears and axes. They prey on antelope, desert goats, camels, and elephants, and have a cult of two opposing deities, the dragon of death (the monitor lizard) and the tree of life. They can be Trackers and Shaman, and their Shaman have close ties to the Spirit Folk. They enjoy +2 to Dexterity and Wisdom, and -2 to Charisma.
They have black skin, black curly hair, and amber eyes, and stand no taller than four and a half feet tall.
Otovyi, known as the Wood People because they live in the forested valley of the northeast, are Stone Age hunter-gatherers much like the Homo erectus of our real world, who hunt with thrusting spears and axes. They prey on mastodon and Sky-Beasts (Baluchitherium). They have a simple cult based on the Sabre-Toothed Cat, and have black fur, gray eyes, dark skin, and have a wiry build, standing no taller than five feet. They enjoy a bonus of +2 to strength and constitution, and a penalty of -2 to intelligence and wisdom. They can be Trackers (rangers) and Shaman (sorcerors).
Selibos, a sister race to the Himhet known as the Stone Hairs for their brown hair that grays early, are much like the Denisovans of our real world, illiterate Stone Age hunter-gatherers who hunt with thrusting spears against prey like plains mammoth, woodland mastodon and sky-beasts (Baluchitherium), and musk ox. They are short, stocky folk, no taller than five feet high, with pinkish skin and gray eyes. They are ambush hunters, not able to conduct the endurance chase hunting of the True People. They enjoy a bonus of +3 to strength, and a penalty of -1 to dexterity, constitution, and intelligence. They can be Hunters (barbarians) and Shaman (sorcerors).
Razu. A short Stone Age humanoid with dark, curly hair and yellowish skin, they stand no more than four feet tall. They once ranged throughout the lands now dominated by Yuta humans, among whom they are known as the Old People, and they have a close relationship to water, loving to swim and catch fish, although they are now confined to upland areas where the only water is freshwater. They enjoy a bonus of +3 to dexterity and wisdom, and a penalty of -3 to strength. They can be Trackers (rangers) and have a close relationship to the Spirit Folk.
Tsote. A short Stone Age humanoid with curly hair having stripes of blond, brown, and red, they stand no more than four feet tall. They once lived throughout the islands now dominated by Adya humans, among whom they are known as the Flower People for their multicolored hair. They now live in the forested uplands, often among the Metamhi, having close relations with the Spirit Folk. They an be Trackers (rangers), enjoy a bonus of +3 to dexterity and wisdom, and a penalty of -3 to strength.
Humanoids (The Under People) These are the primary monster NPC races. Individual gaming groups might be tempted to include some of them as PC races. They are considered distant in heritage by human True People.
Ezolites. A giant, Neanderthal-like race standing up to ten feet tall, with white skin, dark red hair, and green eyes. They enjoy a bonus to strength and constitution of +3, and a penalty of -3 to intelligence and wisdom. Some live as Stone Age Trackers (rangers) along the coast of the southern continent, but some have become domesticated by the Zemed as mercenary Warriors (fighters). Ezolites are calm but brutal creatures, capable of severe violence.
Metamhi. An ape-like humanoid, much like an evolved form of orangutan, who live in the forests of the Adya realm. They are experts at travelling among the limbs of trees. They live in Stone Age tribes, communing with Spirit Folk. They enjoy a bonus to strength, dexterity, and constitution of +3, and a penalty of -3 to intelligence and wisdom. They have reddish fur, brown eyes, and are about four feet tall. They can be Trackers (rangers). Matamhi are reclusive and avoid conflict, preferring to call upon their Spirit Folk allies for defense.
Ohti. A huge humanoid, much like a giant Homo erectus, who live in remote gorges in the northern steppes under the Great Ice. They have evolved pale skin, icy gray eyes, and white hair. They hunt mammoths, woolly rhinos, and musk oxen with stone axes. They stand about twelve feet tall. They enjoy a bonus to strength and constitution of +3, and a penalty of -3 to intelligence and wisdom. They can be Hunters (barbarians), and are known to be violent and reclusive.
Peyu. An ape-like humanoid, much like the Gigantopithecus of our real world, who live in the mountains and high forests above where Yuta, Damdilit, and Adya humans dwell. They have gray eyes and stand 12 to 20 feet tall. Other than the details here (and in the monsters section) the stats for peyu are as Megaprimatus in d20.
White-furred Peyu live in the mountains of Halbhar, black-furred Peyu in the Peyu mountains to the east of Addaz, and red-furred Peyu in the high valley of Zengulay above Zasai. They are herbivores who occasionally scavenge dead sheep, goat, and musk oxen. They have primitive Stone Age technology, and can be Trackers (rangers). They enjoy a bonus of +3 to strength and constitution, and a penalty of -3 to intelligence and wisdom. Peyu are reclusive, but also very peaceful and compassionate to other creatures, although they can be quite violent when confronted.
Zhyndh. A fanged, bulky, copper-skinned, black-haired humanoid, like a regressive form of Neanderthal, live along rocky coasts in the lands now dominated by Yuta humans, among whom they are known as the Toothed People. The Razu have ancient tales of conflict with the Zhyndh, and these fierce humanoids continue to plague the borders of human lands. They stand five to six feet tall, enjoy a bonus of +3 to strength and constitution, with a penalty of -3 to intelligence and wisdom. They can be Hunters (barbarians) and Shaman (sorcerors) and maintain a close relationship with Spirit Folk who are hostile to humanity.