Dragons are probably the most well known creature in the fantasy world. The are very large (usually) and can fly. The have extremely strong scales which are used for protection from attacks. Another one of their most useful and well known attributes is their ability to breath fire. This means that they can shoot ultra-hot bursts of fire from their lungs at an enemy etc.. Dragons also tend to live in large caves high above ground. This is usually due to the simple fact that their enemies cannot reach them as easily. When a new dragon is born they are incredibly dependent on their families. This is usually the cause until the new-borns are at the age of four or five. Without their parent when they are younger than this age, they are incable of surviving by themselves. This is because they have an incredible potential  to be overwhelmingly powerful. So when they are at a young age, their enemies tend to try to kill them off as quickly as possible. Dragons also have the ability to speak. Although their language may vary depending on their location which they live in, it is usually English. When a human speaks to them, the dragons speaks to them in such a way which makes them think twice about trusting any of their friends etc... For example; when a person speaks to a dragon (for some weird reason) they have a tendancy to turn against their friends.  This is another reason why humans in particular like to stay away from dragons. Overall, dragons are definetely the most well-known and respected creature.

Dwarves

Dwarves are short and stout. They are very hardy, and quite strong for their small size, are fairly slow, and can barely swim at all. Dwarves eat a lot, and prefer living both above and below the ground. They have awesome eyesight in the dark, and a keen sense of smell, but aren't good at holding their breath at all.Dwarves are the natural warriors and blacksmiths of the lands. Very comfortable working both above ground and underground, Dwarves have a sense of Honor and vigilance that others cannot touch. While they are shorter than most races, their strength to size ratio is incredible, allowing them to surprise and conquer their enemies.With the ability to create some of the most powerful items in the lands with their natural blacksmithing abilities, the Dwarven cities are often visited by many other races in search of the finest weapons and armor which can be produced.Fairly intelligent by nature, the one skill set that Dwarves seem to be lacking in is the ability to control high-level magic. While there are many magic-using dwarves, they seem to have trouble with the more complicated spells and methods.

Elves

Elves are slender beings that are roughly human size (some shorter, some taller), and are quite dexterous and very intelligent. They can be identified by their slanted eyes, and pointed ears. They have an innate feel for magic and make excellent spell casters. They are at home in the forest, and commune extremely well with nature. The Elven population holds more Ranger and Scout positions than any other race, and they are said to be able to track any living creature that walks, and most that fly. In addition, Elven mages who master the magic of their language are said to be some of the most powerful mages in the land, next to the Ku'tan.The Elves have one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the lands, Daël. This is their haven, and is said to have some of the most advanced magic users in the lands.

Orcs

Orcs are human-sized, and are usually pretty ugly, with greenish brown scaly bumpy skin and some patches of black hair. They're strong and healthy, but quite often slow and almost always extremely stupid. Orcs tend to have a society of clans and chieftains, who are often at war with one another - however they are much more organized than their counterpart the Goblins. Orcs start at age 10 and are always disorderly evil in nature. They worship the same god as their counterparts the Goblins, but focus more on being the best fighting machines they can be rather than sneaky backstabbing thieves. While the Goblins are the Infantry, the Orcs are considered to be the Knights, able to wield larger weapons, take more damage before dying, and fight with much more honor than Goblins.The chain of command is very important to the Orcs, but they are known for assassinating their own leaders if they show signs of weakness.

Ogres

Ogres are large and very ugly, strong, but not very fast. They are fairly intelligent; enough to do simple spell casting, and control their servants, the Orcs and Goblins. Ogres love to eat, and they need lots of food to survive. They can withstand lots of pain, and are Orderly Evil in natureOgres are known for their chieftain mentality, controlling nature, and general order. The most controlled of the northland races, Ogres are excellent fighters and not half-bad magic users. Their thick hide protects them from many forms of attack as well as the elements. They have a unique culture that is evident in their cities, with Var'duk being their home. They are close to their relatives, the Trolls, and are very war-like. They hate the Dwarves with a passion, and will go out of their way to kill them.Ogres are very loyal to their god, Droth, who protects them with vigil, and have a similar leadership system to the Orcs; when a leader shows weakness, they are killed and removed from that position. This way, the most powerful Ogres hold positions in the government, and are always working on bettering themselves to protect from those who might take their position and life.

Angels

Placed in this world by their god, Rasha, the Angels are protectors of justice and all that is good. The exact opposite of Demons, Angels create and help those who they can. They have the ability to heal others through a unique skill as well as enter the astral plane with a simple gesture.As with demons, they don't have any specific weaknesses other than the Evil races do not care much for them, and the Vampires, in addition to the Demons, loathe them.Angels are capable of flying short distances, and are extremely proficient with natural and light-oriented magic. They have high-level psionic abilities (on par with a Demon), and are extremely strong and quick.

Demons

One of the most feared races in the lands, Demons are the most dark and evil race in the lands. Specifically created by their god Mheegus Khan to balance the introduction of Angels into the world, demons thrive on the death and destruction of others. Extremely vicious, cunning, barbaric, and vile, Demons are also very intelligent and capable magic users - however many choose not to take the path of magic since they get great joy from physically ripping their victims to shreds. In addition to this, they are also very capable with Psionic abilities, which include the ability to possess a host.Greater (or Elder) demons are the most feared since they usually possess great physical destructive capabilities, as well as magical, possession, and psionic abilities. However due to the fact that almost all races loathe Demons, most do not live for very long.

Goblin

Goblins are evil creatures whom are usually hated by everyone. They are small thin creatures which live underground (in most cases). They consistently dig underground and build huge mazes in rock. They have the ability to find their way out of any difficult spot (mases or woods etc...). They also have the ability to see in the dark. This is again perhaps one of their most useful attribultes. They are evil in a sense that they are bad creatures. They cause trouble whenever possible and they like to do things that are accepted as being wrong by the general population. They are not fighters though. They can be armed but they stand no real chance against a human or most any other creature for that matter.While many other races loathe the Goblin, they underestimate their capabilities. In history Goblins have always been seen as hoarding attackers who were only strong in numbers, however that has changed as the Goblins have begun to grow in strength and capabilities. Goblins are almost as short as a Dwarf, and have green skin and black hair. They are extremely war-like and have a very chaotic lifestyle and history. Very talented with small bladed weapons, they can also bite their prey and attack with their long nails. Their tougher than average skin gives them an advantage over many races, and the fact that they're extremely fast makes them lethal to the inexperienced victim. Goblins aren't too bright, but they have a very good sense of danger to them. However due to this lack of high intelligence, it is very hard for a Goblin to become a proficient magic user, however experienced Goblin mages usually surprise their victims to such an extent that the battle is very short.Goblins are very close to their counterparts, the Orcs, and are quite often found living together. However they often fight amongst themselves. Goblins are also very sneaky, and love to steal things. Honor means nothing to them.

Lamurians

Lamurians are one of the most unique races in the world. Masters of the oceans and all water-related technology and magic, they are the fastest swimmers, and are extremely intelligent. They can come out of the water, and move by either slithering about, or pulling themselves with their arms, but they can quickly dry out, which can kill them. Anyone who encounters a Lamurian on land can be guaranteed that there is some sort of water source very close. Capable of tolerating both fresh and salt water, they must consume large quantities of water when on land to keep themselves hydrated.Lamurians are extremely capable warriors and magic-users. Since their society is the largest one that exists underwater, they have been able to spend the past few centuries working on their knowledge, skills, and personal advancements, rather than bickering with other races and fighting wars.The Lamurians are friends with the Ssslik, who quite often visit their cities for short periods of time, and exchange goods.Lamurians have a very unique underwater technology that allows them to create water-forged metals that cannot be found anywhere else. Their weapons are so extremely sharp and light (they have to be because of the water) that they are sought after as some of the most proficient weapons in the world to land dwellers.

Ku'lak

One of the strangest races in the Lands, the Ku'lak is an advanced form of insect people who walk on 4 legs and have 4 arms. They are similar in nature to a preying mantis, but much larger - standing almost as tall as a man. Their hard shell makes them extremely resistant to almost all the elements, and they are intelligent enough to have created their own magic system.Very durable, strong and swift, but not very bright individually, the Ku'lak have a unique language that is almost impossible for other races to learn - a series of chirps and clicking sounds. Ku'lak hardly need any water at all and are at home in the desert; however some may be found in the deep Southland, separate from their desert kin. Ku'lak feel no pain at all since their nerve receptors simply tell them that something is not functioning properly. This makes the Ku'lak an extremely dangerous foe, since they will not stop from the pain of inflicted wounds.While one would assume the Ku'lak to be very aggressive and dangerous, they are surprisingly Orderly Neutral in Nature, and do not have any blood enemies. Most races leave them alone, especially since they can jump large distances and fly short distances - giving them a huge tactical advantage to anyone they wish to attack, or gouge as they are running. In addition to this, they have the ability to spit the acid that they use when biting their enemies.Worshiping the god who created them, Kulok is very protective of his people and followers. A very organized and driven people, Ku'lak are good with finances and with fighting others, knowing through their logic who has the upper hand. Able to wield four weapons at a time, a master Ku'lak warrior is one of the most feared fighting machines in the lands. While they are capable mages that use unique insect-based magic, the Ku'lak are mostly found as traders, and warriors.

Dryads

Being a very unique race, the Dryads are the smallest socialized race in the lands. Very frail, and weak, they have immense natural magical abilities, and are capable of moving very fast with their gossamer wings. Although much smaller, only standing 3 to 4 feet tall, Dryads are similar in nature to Elves, which they are said to be related to.The Dryads come from Lanly, a small town southeast of Daël. They are very private and only allow Elves and Saris into their towns. Extremely capable mages, rangers, and archers, Dryads are blood enemies of the Goblins and Orcs, who actually fear them immensely because of their magical abilities.It is said that grandmaster Dryad mages are some of the most powerful in the lands, and most who come across a dryad in the forest are very weary for this reason, not knowing if the creature is a master of magic, or simply a young inexperienced explorer. Since Dryads don't reflect age very much, it's almost impossible to tell how old they are by looking at them.Dryads are very susceptible to Pain and don't have many natural resistances at all - one reason their magic first focuses on defense rather than offense.The structure of their cities is very unique, being built into trees and up into the branches. One other reason why no other races are generally allowed in their cities is because the other races are too large to navigate their bridges buildings!

Vampires

A very dark and unique race, the Vampires origins are not completely known, but rumor has it their god, Lithna created them from a handful of select evil Humans during the birth of the second races, and placed them in the deserted city of Cliffside, a perfect place for such evil prowling creatures to live.Vampires are not contagious in Horizons; they are a specific race of half dead and half living creatures that feed on the blood of the living. Vampires have no particular weaknesses except that they're extremely vulnerable to fire and lose their strength by almost half during the day. For this reason they tend to prowl at night.A Vampire requires constant blood in order to keep their abilities at an extremely high level. They are extraordinarily dexterous and are extremely intelligent. They hunt their prey much like animals hunt their food, hiding in shadows and jumping out at the last moment. Vampires almost never become warriors, but the few that do specialize in combat are extremely proficient at it.Possessing incredible psionic abilities, Vampires have even been known to possess their victims - to bring them to their place of hiding and drink their blood. Starting at the age of 13, Vampires are Lawful Evil, and are blood enemies with the Saris. The Vampires respect each other, and almost never kill one another - those who do are immediately hunted down and killed by their own kind for committing the most forbidden crime.Vampires cannot drink the blood of the dead - their victims must be alive. For this reason, the Vampires have advanced psionic paralyzation capabilities, which they use on their victims. However some victims might require a fight and to be knocked unconscious before the vampire partakes in its nightly dining experience.Feared by all, the Vampires gain additional unique abilities as they grow older, including a polymorph ability that allows them to turn into either a bat, or mist, and incredible regeneration ability.Vampires are also known to be the lead Necromancy practicing race in the lands. Since they already drink the blood of their victims, harvesting organs is not a problem for them, and their dark goddess Lithna loves the screams of anguish.Vampires have a respect for the Demons of the lands, and are the only race that interacts with the Demons.

Trolls

Being slightly larger than humans, Trolls are very agile and much more intelligent than their northland counterparts. They also have a unique regeneration ability that no other race, except the Vampire, seems to share. For this reason, they run the Northland Empire's government, and are almost always at the side of a controlling Ogre giving them advice.Trolls are actually very competent with magic, and because of their dark nature, have the ability to specialize in necromancy and other feared practices. While their god is Droth, they have been known to worship other evil gods in order to increase their abilities and knowledge.They have a high pain tolerance, and are very sneaky, which makes them excellent at politics, bartering, and misleading others.Trolls hate the Gnomes and have sworn to rid the world of them.

Humans

Humans are considered the norm where statistics are concerned and are very versatile and are found in all occupations. Found in almost all areas of the world, they can easily adapt to the different climates found in the lands. They have no particular strengths or weaknesses, but do not possess any special abilities like many of the other races.The Humans main capability is their ability to adapt to their surroundings and learn new skills. You will find humans of all skill sets, some of them incredibly masterful. They are quick to learn, and are good at focusing on more than one task at a time.Humans also hold neutral positions with all of the other races, and are allowed in almost all of the cities in Istaria, giving them access to great merchant routes and specialized equipment that not all of the races can obtain so easily.

Sarus

Relatives of the Elves, Saris are world known for their psionic abilities, which appear to be stronger than any other race except their enemy, the Vampires. They are the same size of Elves, but have darker skin, and much more chaotic personalities. Extremely fast and swift, they are also very intelligent - this combination makes them excellent martial artists and spell casters, as well as thieves', assassins and archers. They generally require more rest and recuperation to heal from wounds than their counterparts, mostly due to their psionic exertions.The Saris make their home in the southern part of the Eastland, with their capital city being Tanyl. They worship the same god as the Elves, Alassya. As with all of her children, she is very protective of the Saris.Some of the best psionic teachers in the world are found in Tanyl and Hillrod, however due to the chaotic nature of the Saris, many races are not allowed in the cities.

Gnomes

Gnomes are small and thin, extremely intelligent, and make excellent spell-casters and tinkers. Gnomes have skin that is quite susceptible to the elements, and most of their abilities are on par with dwarves, but they're more charismatic and quicker. Gnomes are almost completely immune to pain due to some unexplained nervous system, which they can control.Gnomes and Dwarves share a friendship that is related to their history of being related in one way or another. Quite often Gnomes and Dwarves will be found living together in harmony, the Gnomes balancing the Dwarves thirst for war and creation with magic and knowledge.Because of their background, Gnomes make excellent magic users as well as rangers. Since they don't have the size to strength ratio, they are not common warriors, but are quick thieves and rogues.

Ssslik

Another unique race of Istaria, the Ssslik are humanoid reptiles that walk on two legs, and have rows of sharp teeth. They love warm climates, especially jungles and deserts, and hardly need food at all. The love swimming in the water and can hold their breath longer than any other race.Being cold-blooded, the Ssslik's abilities are directly represented by the climate they are found in. You will almost never find a Ssslik in cold climate - and if you do, it'll be moving so slow that it will be incapable of defending itself, let alone running away. This also means that Ssslik found in the hottest parts of the lands will be faster and stronger. Rumor has it that a Ssslik in the desert during the day is the fastest deadliest enemy one can encounter.Ssslik are very money oriented, and are focused on the acquisition of precious materials, goods, and especially bright shiny things. They are capable warriors, and have a unique magic ability that almost no other race can learn (due to the language being so hard to pronounce).

Giants

Giants are a very large variety of Humans, usually about 8 to 10 feet tall. They are very strong, but usually not so bright, and they're not known for their quickness either. Giants eat more than any other race, and have worse eyesight than humans, but can hold their breath longer for swimming. That is, if they can find a lake deep enough. They also feel less pain than most races.At home in the northern City of Ice, and many other small cities spread through the world, they adapt to different climates very easily, and are extremely capable of building structures in a short amount of time due to their strength. They are generally unsocial, and don't interact with other races very much except their distant cousins, the Humans. There is a small group of Giants that live in the world capital city of Kar'dun, and serve as protectors for the emperor.Giants are extremely capable hunters and warriors, but are not very good with magic. They can wield some of the largest weapons in the game, and are extremely hard to kill. Their size also gives them an advantage by inflicting fear in their enemies.At this time, the Giants are neutral with all of the races in the lands.