1st draft

Long ago, when the world of Lishnar was still young, there existed six races of elementals, all of whom worshipped a God and Goddess. They carried out their Gods' biddings but, as time passed, they began to wonder what it would be like to exist within flesh, to feel, to live like the animals did.1

To this end, the Gods and Goddesses gave them bodies, and so the six races of elementals became the six races that now inhabit Lishnar. For the elementals of Light, the Goddess Tyrene fashioned bodies of such beauty that it is said that only the stars surpass them. These elementals became the Elves, tall and ethereal but caught within the corporeal world, they have kept themselves apart, only coming to the aid of people when no one else does. They are a kind race, wishing to be left alone, wise and well practised in magic, it was they that created the elite mage warriors, the Warritches. They make their homes in any forest they find, so they are a rather spread out people, covering the whole planet with no set capital. It has been a long time since anyone has had contact with them, even the Aerians who, as elementals, were closest to them.2

The elementals of Air, called Aerians, were given bodies to rule the skies by their God, Shiror. Their wings are of various shades, with the length changing according to height. They have cruel faces, bird like, with prominent, beak shaped noses. They are a proud race, carefully looking after what they have, training their warriors for any eventuality. They make their homes in the tall mountains from where they keep a watchful eye on the world. Their capital is high in the frosted peaks of the Kliro Range, and is dedicated to their God, Shiror. They are often friendly, mixing with all but two of the races: the Elves and the Dwarves.3

The Dwarves are a brusque lot, keeping to themselves and only communicating with the outside world whenever they need something. Formerly the elementals of Earth, they have chosen to live deep within the mountains, and so their Goddess, Hlornel, gave them short bodies but with the strength of ten men in the average dwarf. Opposed to the element of Air, they often fight with the Aerians who dwell on the top of the mountains. However, these battles rarely last long, and they agree to avoid each other for most of the time. The dwarves have excellent night vision, owing to their time spent within their cavernous cities deep under the mountains. Their capital stretches for miles under ground, vents reaching to the surface to allow air to travel down. They tend to have good relations with the Ogres, who inhabit any dark place within Lishnar.4

Ogres, previously the elementals of Shadow, are wild. They live in tribes, and travel only at night. They have no set cities or town because they are a nomadic people who prefer to live in the shadows. Many people consider them evil for this obsession with the dark, but to worship the dark is not to worship evil. Their God, Barrahl, fashioned for them bodies as hard as stone yet as slippery as shadow. They are fast, and brilliant trackers if a scent is available, however, they are almost blind during the day and so must wait until night if only prints can be found. They hate the Elves to an extreme due to being the polar element to them, but rarely do they fight because it is uncommon for the two races to be near the others' haunts. An ugly race, their bodies are large and muscled, a pale brown that allows them to appear like stones whenever they stop moving. They are now in the employ of the Humans as trackers, or foot soldiers.5

Not necessarily destructive, the Flame Elementals were certainly more well known for what they destroyed than what they created. The God, Kroan, transformed them into Humans. They are the most average of the six races, able to do all tasks but never outstanding in anything apart from scholarly activities. They are famous for their schools where they teach all the theory and basics that is possible. They accept all the races giving no bias, not even towards the Undines, whom are their opposite Elemental. They have settled in the wide open plains, often avoiding the coastline due to the large amount of cities belonging to the Undines.6

Lastly, we come to the Undines. A semi-aquatic people, their Goddess, Amona, has blessed them with the ability to live both above and below the waves. Their skin tinged with blue, and their hair looking like it is seaweed, they tend to live under the water, and are well known for their abilities as fishermen. They often ride dolphins or seahorses when scouting the sea for enemies, and whilst their relationship with the Humans are cool, they are by no means violent.7

The balance between the races has existed for millenia, each have their petty squabbles but no one race has ever strove to control the world out right. This all changed whenever a new religion was brought to the world to join the four already there. A new God, Yallan, who claimed dominance over the other elements, came. He gathered followers to him, of every race, but in the end the Humans were his main supporters. They plunged Lishnar into a war that upset the balance and allowed the Humans to take control. Now the other five races are either hidden or subjugated by them, enslaved to Yallan's followers. 8

He now controls the world, and is slowly draining it, killing off animals and species of flowers. If something is not done there may not be a world left for the other races to live in.9