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Race FAQ:
Does my character need to look exactly how the ethnicities are described?
No. Blond Ramacci and dark skinned Asmians exist in the world. Certain dramatic shifts in skin tone may be the result of an ethnic group that migrated north a long time ago and intermingled with the populace, and the cross pollination of cultures, and genetics is nothing new to the world. It doesn't have to be as simple as "My character is half Eugencian, half Ryujin". It could just be a blonde Ryujin, since during the rift wars, groups of Eugencians and Ryujins got isolated in the closing of the rifts, so Eugencian genetics can be occasionally seen in Ryujin people.

Do I need to use the suggested naming conventions when coming up with a character name? 
Short answer: Nope.
Long answer: The suggested naming conventions assume that a character of a certain ethnicity was born in the areas they are most common, so for characters born and raised or assimilated into different cultures, it depends on what kinda background you grew up in. Using the Ryujin again, who traditionally use Japanese names if born in their home culture, the Ryujin who are born in Estellon will likely have assimilated to the culture, and will likely be using western names, unless their family is one of those who goes out of their way to preserve Ryujin heritage. The Mezzoramians only keep basque names if one or more parent is Mezzoramian and played a hand at raising them. Otherwise, an orphan could be given or choose any sort of name based on where they grew up.

 

So which of the nations is the (Dwarf/Elf/Human/Ect) Nation?: 

Common question I get asked by people who glance at the unfinished nations section. Generally speaking though, THERE IS NO DWARF/ELF/HUMAN COUNTRY. Races and Ethnic groups in this world are regional, not national. They overlap in territories. Some nations may have much higher concentrations, but you're just as likely to find a Eugencian living in Valoron as you are a hill dwarf in Edren. That said, the closest you could get to a homogenous racial nation which culturally resembles what you would find in a supplement describing a races's society and customs  for the standard core races would be:

 

Core Rulebook/Monster Manual Races:

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Mountan Dwarf: Kahae Kaz'ad, and anywhere in the Osterchild Mountains between Falamore and Eugencia.

Hill Dwarf: Caer Bannon, some parts of Scarlough

Root Dwarf (Halfling): Nylathnore

High Elf: Valoron, Celia Arland, Caelbarad

Wood Elf: Nylathnore, some parts of Scarlough and Arland.

Drow: Morr'Thilsanore (Although technically speaking, Ice Elves and Ash Elves are both dark elf races. So see them below for more details.)

Orcs: Torgir, The Orzhuul Khanate, some unspecified nations in the savannahs of Nomeria.

Human: Literally anywhere.

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Homebrew races:

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Ash Elfs: Lithnaur Told, Morr'Thilsanore 

Dune Elf: The fire Belt

Ice Elves: Kul Moris, Fafendor, some parts of the Venrir Kingdoms.

Agarthians: Agartha (In the Underhollow)

Asmians and Pooka: Asmia

Darsian: The Darsian Empire, the Dhaffir Sultanate, the Roslarian Empire, Shequada, Nirdam, Zuzam.

Eugencian: Eugencian Empire, Noria, Oswichstein, Rowainia.

Mezzoramian: Nowhere. They're mostly travelers.

Ramacci: Tempura, Targeria, Espircia.

Ryujin: Ryoho, and a few island states in She Dalu.

Scarlic: Arland, Scarlough

Shongari: The Shongarian Empires (Nomeria, south of the firebelt)

Tamian: Edren, Tolland, Falamore, Lavont, Casland

Vanard: The Venrir Kingdoms, Noria, Olszland Principalities

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I didn't see Halflings or Gnomes.

1: If it's in a player's handbook or core rule book then it exists somewhere in the world. As for halflings, they are considered a dwarven race. (See Root dwarves.) And gnomes are more of an underdark creature, and the underdark of my setting isn't quite as savage as Forgotten Realms or the Darklands of Golarion. (Cause in this setting, think of the underhollow as more like a combination of the hollow earth mythologies, and the darklands or underdarks you may be used to.)

2: If you don't see it, then assume I haven't felt any need to add my own spin to it.

3: Reguarding custom races, make them fit. As fantastical as a lot of the races in this setting are, I prefer each race to be somewhat grounded in what makes sense for the world. I classify this setting as "Medium fantasy", where magic is common, but the world is grounded in realism. The skies aren't exactly teaming with winged elves and flying fortresses. And there are plenty of rural communities who may have never seen an elf or a wizard. So if you think your race might be too exotic or fantastical, check with me first. I'm not afraid to bend some things to let you play what you wanna play, but I do want to avoid the world feeling like a star wars cantina. 

Does Racism exist?
Yes, as this is a medieval world where self identity and racial pride is much more prominent than in a world with internet where ideas, values, and such are traded a mile a minute. That said, in adventuring companies, traveling merchants, and more cosmopolitan urban centers who are more accustomed to traveling to strange sites, and walking in alien cultures, it rarely gets worse than what you might perceive as "Diet Racism" nowadays. In other words, the world is more egalitarian. It would have to be, as the difference between a human and an elf is not strictly their skin tone. And rural villages who may get a far flung traveler from the orient or the shongari empire are more prone to fascination than suspicion, since in many cultures, it is the stranger who brings positive change. For example, the world in Estellon is much cleaner than you would see in 15th Century Europe, thanks to advancements in sanitation, who were brought to them by a team of strange lavender haired, bronze skinned dwarven engineers from the east. This saved them in a time of plague, and allowed urban centers to boom and prosper without the accumulation of smells from the animal and human waste. So while certain races like the elves have longer lives, and longer grudges, the fact is "What has the church ever brought us?" or "What has our king done about the dragon problem?" are much more common criticism than one's race is.

How do LGBT characters fit into the world?

For non-binaries, trans, and other sexualities, these things certainly exist in the world, (as they always have in ours), but are poorly understood. Since as I said earlier, ideas spread more slowly, non-binaries and trans are not really known outside of Elvin, Mezoramian, Asmian, or lunar pooka communities, and may catch others off guard. The above races, are culturally the only peoples who regard gender fluidity seriously, with the Mezzoramians going so far as to have specific places in society for them, as there are some spiritual roles that are believed to only be awakened through those born with both masculine and feminine traits. Elves have always been an androgynous peoples, and have always had a high level of tolerance and acceptance towards those who would push the boundaries of gender. Something that Asmians no doubt adapted, due to their nature of pushing and exploring the boundaries of expression in any regard. 
 

Though regarding sexuality, homosexuals, bisexuals, and heterosexuals have historically always been considered normal in esmerism, as the old world goddess felt love should be expressed where it exists, regardless of who it exists for. There has been a bit of pushback from the new religion, Fosterism, as this is a religion that believes everything has to have a proper place. Although they seem to bite down more heavily on bisexuality than they do gay or heteros. Again, it's poorly understood, as there is a belief of bisexuality where it is less pure than hetoro/homosexuality, and tainted with an excess of lust. Other sexualities such as pansexuality, asexuality, and stuff like that are, yet again, largely unknown. And so like many who may find themselves born in a males body, but have never identified as one, they may find it difficult to express themselves, or even explore their sexuality. 

It's a less liberal world than our current one, but a far more liberal world than our past one. Think of it like the 90s. You are brought up to believe a certain way is normal, only to discover that you yourself aren't exactly normal, and people will probably laugh at you if you tried to tell anyone. Although since for the most part, its regarded as more "Improper" instead of "Sinful" (Even in the fosterin church), its not something people are going to try to shame you for, or burn you at the stake for. Its weird to normal people. But it's not hurting anyone. But adventurers are explorers by nature. And an exposure to alien customs and strange things can lend one a certain open mindedness when it comes to accepting the feelings of those they travel with, or even the courage to voice to them that they might actually not want to remove that cursed belt that turned them into a man.

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