The demographics of the Bandali coast and the kingdoms of the north are a tapestry of indigenous survivors and bold voyagers from distant shores.
• Dragonborn: These proud warriors are rare sights, arriving as elite mercenaries or wandering exiles from distant draconic empires far across the western seas. They possess no ancestral lands in Bandali and are often viewed with a mix of awe and suspicion by the local human populations.
• Goblinoids: Migrating from nameless northern wastes, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, and Goblins have infested the Slithering Wilds and jagged hinterlands as opportunistic menaces. They thrive in the chaos of the jungle, frequently raiding trade caravans and skirmishing with Lizardfolk for territory.
• Tieflings: These individuals are the living remnants of ancient, forbidden pacts made with entities of the lower planes during the desperate final days of the human-Yuan-ti wars. While they bear the physical marks of fiendish heritage, most in Bandali—especially in Stinky’s Reach—regard their bloodline as a burden of history rather than a mark of evil.
• Half-Orcs: Born from the complex blending of human refugees and the disciplined Orc legions of Oakhaven, this race has risen to become the ruling elite of the canyon city. They are celebrated for possessing the refined diplomatic grace of their human ancestors paired with the legendary physical dominance of their orcish kin.
• Orcs: Originally hailing from harsh, distant continents, Orcs arrived in Bandali as conquering warbands before eventually settling into the disciplined military backbone of Oakhaven. They are respected throughout the Free Trade Coalition for their unmatched labor and their terrifyingly efficient Royal Guard.
• Halflings: Though they originated in lands across the sea, Halflings were among the first voyagers to land in Bandali and have lived alongside humans since the dawn of Aethelgard. They are deeply integrated into the kingdom’s agrarian life, particularly in Verdan, where their expertise in farming is unmatched.
• Half-Elves: These individuals represent the rare, beautiful bridge between the transient human world and the immortal grace of the Elven voyagers. Most are found in cosmopolitan hubs like the Gilded Conservatory, serving as scholars and diplomats who navigate the cultures of both their parents.
• Gnomes: Extremely rare in the wild, Gnomes are almost exclusively found within the high-tech workshops of major cities like Khaz-Mardin or the Gilded Conservatory. They are prized as master tinkers and alchemists, obsessively tinkering with the hydraulic and clockwork marvels of the north.
• Elves: Travelers from ancient, silver-leafed kingdoms far to the east, Elves come to Bandali as explorers, mages, or observers of the Great Serpent’s slumber. They rarely settle permanently, preferring to remain in the university halls of Verdan or the glass towers of Khaz-Mardin.
• Dwarves: These master builders crossed the oceans centuries ago, trading their subterranean homes for the resource-rich mountains of the north. They founded Khaz-Mardin, proving that their legendary skill with stone and metal could be used to build a maritime empire of glass and greenery.