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Rulebook Canonical Data — Chapter 2

Character Races

Racial Advantages, Disadvantages, costume requirements, and native literacy for all 21 playable races and tribes in LAIRE.

Celts
Human • Highlanders and Celts
Literacy: None

Shipwrecked refugees from the destroyed homeland of Erin, now settled alongside their Highlander cousins in Avalon's highlands, bound by a personal Geasa.

Advantages

  • Can purchase the Rage skill

Disadvantages

  • Has a personal Geasa which must be chosen at character creation.
  • Cannot learn any Literacy skills until Level 5
Source: [Rulebook, p. 28]
Literacy: Common

The stock of all humans — average in every attribute, but unhindered by any racial limitations, weaknesses, or prejudices.

No racial Advantages or Disadvantages — unhindered by racial limitations.
Source: [Rulebook, p. 24]
Dark Elves
Elf • Elves
Literacy: Dark Elven

Matriarchal, subterranean elves of the Underdark who revere the Hierarch Arachnia.

Advantages

  • Half cost for the Rogue Basic Career Skill List (5 Build Points)
  • +1 Damage Bonus for all weapons during the night (7pm to 7am) or while completely underground
  • Can purchase the Elven Resist skill
  • Can purchase Poison Immunity: Sleep Poison as a racial ability for 3 Build Points. May start the game with this skill.
  • Can purchase the Blind Fighting skill as a racial ability for 3 Build Points. May start the game with this skill.

Disadvantages

  • -2 Body Points at first Level
  • Double cost for the Stamina skill (8 Build Points)
  • -1 Damage Bonus during the day (7am to 7pm)
  • Cannot learn the Charm School
Source: [Rulebook, p. 29]
Eforie
Human
Literacy: Common

Wholly nomadic trading families, protected in part by the feared Eforie Curse.

Advantages

  • Half cost for the Rogue Basic Career Skill List (5 Build Points)
  • Can learn Divination and Medium skills for 0 Build Points, may start game with these skills
  • Can purchase the Eforie Curse skill, and must start the game with this skill

Disadvantages

  • When speaking in Romany, may only speak the truth. If the character is charmed, they can be compelled to lie.
  • The character must miss four regular, non-special LAIRE Events per year.
Source: [Rulebook, p. 27]
Gray Elves
Elf • Elves
Literacy: Elven

Proud, isolationist mage-elves of the Mistwood, ruled by the Elven Queen.

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • -2 Body Points at Level 1
  • Double cost for the Stamina skill (8 Build Points)
  • Increased cost for Rogue Basic Career Skill List (15 Build Points)
  • Cannot learn the Charm School
Source: [Rulebook, p. 30]
Half Elves
Half-Breed • Half Breeds
Literacy: Common

The offspring of a human and any Elf, shunned by Elves and struggling to fit among humans.

Advantages

  • Can purchase the Elven Resist skill, purchasable once every other level

Disadvantages

  • -1 Body Points at Level 1
  • Cannot learn the Charm School
Source: [Rulebook, p. 34]
Half Ogres
Half-Breed • Half Breeds
Literacy: None

Offspring of Ogre and human parentage — exceptionally strong and tough, but slow-witted and nearly unable to learn magic.

Advantages

  • +1 Strength Bonus
  • +1 Damage Bonus with all weapons
  • +3 Body Points for the first three Levels (+9 Body Points Total)

Disadvantages

  • Double cost for Mage Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
  • Double cost for all Arcane skills on the Mage Basic Career Skill List
  • Double cost for the Rogue Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
  • Double cost for all Dexterity skills
  • Double cost for all Literacy skills
  • Cannot learn any Sorcery skills
  • Cannot learn any Warlock skills
  • Cannot learn any Spell Singing skills
  • Cannot learn any Alchemy skills
Source: [Rulebook, p. 35]
Half Orcs
Half-Breed • Half Breeds
Literacy: Common

The most intelligent of the monstrous half-breeds, straddling Orc and human society.

Advantages

  • +1 Strength Bonus, Non-Combinable
  • +3 Body Points at Level 1

Disadvantages

  • Double cost for all Spell Singing skills, 1 Spell Singing Point for 1 Build Point
  • Double cost for all Literacy Skills
Source: [Rulebook, p. 35]
Half Trolls
Half-Breed • Half Breeds
Literacy: None

The toughest of the half-breeds, strong and fire-vulnerable like their Troll parent.

Advantages

  • +1 Strength Bonus
  • +4 Body Points for the first four Levels (+16 Body Points total)
  • +2 Damage Bonus with claws
  • The Natural Claws skill
  • Can learn Feat of Strength skill as a racial, starts the game with one purchase for 0 Build Points

Disadvantages

  • Double cost for Mage Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
  • Double cost for the Rogue Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
  • Double cost for all Literacy skills
  • Cannot learn any Sorcery skills
  • Cannot learn any Warlock skills
  • Cannot learn any Spell Singing skills
  • Cannot learn any Alchemy skills
  • Double effect from fire attacks
Source: [Rulebook, p. 36]
Halflings
Halfling
Literacy: Common

Merry, frail-statured folk from Gleneden and New Gleneden, known as artisans and rogues rather than warriors.

Advantages

  • Half cost for the Rogue Basic Career Skill List (5 Build Points)
  • Reduced cost for all Craftsman skills (1 Build Point each)
  • +1 Damage Bonus with all thrown weapons and Small Weapon skill

Disadvantages

  • -2 Body Points at Level 1
  • Double cost for the Stamina skill (8 Build Points)
  • Double cost for the Warrior Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
  • Cannot use or learn the following weapons: Pole-Arms, 2-Handed Weapons, Bastard Weapons (including Spears), a Shield Larger than Shoulder to Waist
Source: [Rulebook, p. 32]
Highlanders
Human • Highlanders and Celts
Literacy: None

Upland mountain people of the Wolfskael Mountains, led by Druids and Shanahee storytellers, bound by a personal Geasa.

Advantages

  • Can purchase the Rage skill

Disadvantages

  • Has a personal Geasa which must be chosen at character creation.
  • Cannot learn any Literacy skills until Level 5
Source: [Rulebook, p. 28]
Hill Dwarves
Dwarf • Dwarves
Literacy: Dwarven

Craftsman Dwarves of the lower hills, skilled at smithing and alchemy.

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn Power Points until Level 5. Can have a maximum of 7 Power Points per Level starting at Level 5 (i.e. 42 PP at Level 10).
  • Cannot use bows, may use crossbows
  • Can only learn one Warlock skill every other level starting at Level 15
  • Cannot learn Sorcery until Level 15 and receives a -15% Ritual Casting Bonus
  • Cannot learn Spell Singing skills until Level 15 and can only earn a rank of Spell Singing every 5 Levels starting at Level 15. Then can have only a maximum of 6 Spell Singing Points per level starting at Level 15
Source: [Rulebook, p. 31]
Kaletani
Mystical • Mystical Races
Literacy: Kaletani

Intelligent feline humanoids, adept mages with an inherited hatred of Necromancy.

Advantages

  • +3 Power Points for the first two Levels (+6 Power Points Total)
  • Half cost for the Mage Basic Career Skill List (5 Build Points)
  • The Natural Claws skill
  • Half cost for each rank of the Healing School

Disadvantages

  • Double cost for all Master Warrior skills
  • Cannot learn any necromantic skill or ability including the Necromancy School and necromantic rituals.
Source: [Rulebook, p. 33]
Mountain Dwarves
Dwarf • Dwarves
Literacy: Dwarven

Miners and warriors of the deep mountain holds of the Black Hills.

Advantages

  • +1 Strength Bonus, Non-Combinable
  • +2 Body Points for the first three Levels (+6 Body Points Total)
  • Can purchase the Dwarven Resist skill

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn Power Points until Level 5. Can have a maximum of 7 Power Points per Level starting at Level 5 (i.e. 36 PP at Level 10).
  • Cannot use bows, may use crossbows
  • Can only learn one Warlock skill every other Level starting at Level 15
  • Cannot learn Sorcery until Level 15 and receives a -15% Ritual Casting Bonus
  • Cannot learn Spell Singing skills until Level 15 and can only earn a rank of Spell Singing every 5 Levels starting at Level 15. Then can have only a maximum of 6 Spell Singing Points per level starting at Level 15
Source: [Rulebook, p. 32]
Northern Barbarian
Human • Barbarian Tribes
Literacy: None

Xenophobic raiders of the harsh, cold Frozen North who survive chiefly by raiding their neighbors.

Advantages

  • +1 Damage Bonus with all weapons
  • +5 Body Points at first level

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn Sorcery, Warlock, Spell Singing, or Alchemy skills until Level 20
  • Cannot learn any Literacy skill until Level 5
  • Cannot learn Rank 2 low magic until Level 5, Rank 3 until Level 10, Rank 4 until Level 15
  • Cannot start game with non-elemental schools of magic
Source: [Rulebook, p. 25]
Outlanders
Human • Barbarian Tribes
Literacy: None

Nomadic clan people of the anti-magic-storm-scoured Plains of Gehenna, known for resisting magic and hating mages.

Advantages

  • +1 Damage Bonus with all weapons
  • +3 Body Points at Level 1
  • Can purchase the Resist Spell skill and starts the game with two purchases of this skill for 0 Build Points

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn the Mage Basic Career Skill List
  • Cannot learn any Arcane skills except Alchemy skills
  • Cannot learn any Literacy skills until Level 15
  • Cannot use latent spells. If cast upon them, they will invoke them to get rid of them.
  • Cannot use magic items until Level 15, but can use faith items at any appropriate time
Source: [Rulebook, p. 27]
Plains Barbarian
Human • Barbarian Tribes
Literacy: Common

Nomadic, horse-riding raiders of the plains west of the Wolfskael Mountains who practice slavery of the defeated.

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn Sorcery, Warlock, Spell Singing, or Alchemy skills until Level 15
  • Cannot learn Rank 3 low magic until Level 7, Rank 4 until Level 10
  • Cannot start game with non-elemental schools of magic
Source: [Rulebook, p. 25]
Saurians
Mystical • Mystical Races
Literacy: Common

Semi-nomadic, cold-blooded reptilian humanoids of the Great White Swamp who can spit paralyzing poison.

Advantages

  • +1 Strength Bonus, Non-Combinable
  • 2 Threshold
  • Can purchase the Poison Spit skill and must start the game with one purchase of this skill
  • The Natural Claws skill
  • Can purchase the Swim skill for 0 Build Points and must start the game with this skill.

Disadvantages

  • Color blind
  • Double effect from ice attacks
  • Double cost for the Mage Basic Career Skill List (20 Build Points)
Source: [Rulebook, p. 33]
Southern Barbarian
Human • Barbarian Tribes
Literacy: Common

The most 'civilized' of the barbarian tribes, settled south of Avalon, who have taken up farming and trade.

Advantages

  • Free Weapon Skill of choice ~or~ On-list cost rebate for two Rank 1 elemental low magic schools
  • +2 Body Points at First Level

Disadvantages

  • Cannot learn Sorcery, Warlock, Spell Singing, or Alchemy skills until Level 10
  • Cannot start game with non-elemental schools of magic
  • Cannot learn Rank 3 non-elemental low magic until level 7, Rank 4 until level 10
Source: [Rulebook, p. 26]
Wolfen
Mystical • Mystical Races
Literacy: None

Loyal, pack-oriented canine humanoids with a strong martial affinity and little magical aptitude.

Advantages

  • Half cost for the Fighter Basic Career Skill List (5 Build Points)
  • One purchase of the Critical Attack skill for 0 Build Points
  • +2 Body Points for the first two Levels (+4 Body Points Total)
  • The Natural Claws skill

Disadvantages

  • Can have only a maximum of 6 Power Points or Spell Singing Points per Level.
  • Double cost any Sorcery skills, -10% Ritual Casting Bonus
  • Double cost any Warlock skills
  • Double cost any Spell Singing skills, 1 Spell Singing Point for 1 Build Point
Source: [Rulebook, p. 34]
Wood Elves
Elf • Elves
Literacy: Elven

Agrarian forest-dwelling elves of the Mistwood with a natural affinity for the bow.

Advantages

  • +1 Damage Bonus with all bows
  • Weapon Skill: Bow skill for 0 Build Points
  • Can purchase the Elven Resist skill
  • Can purchase the Tracking skill as a racial ability for 3 Build Points. May start the game with this skill.

Disadvantages

  • -2 Body Points at Level 1
  • Double cost for the Stamina skill (8 Build Points)
  • Cannot learn the Charm School
Source: [Rulebook, p. 31]