| Humans |
The most common and widespread ethnic group, humans are adaptable and resilient, thriving in the harsh conditions of Athas. They are found in all city-states and territories, and have a wide range of cultures and traditions. |
| Ashkari |
Nomadic desert dwellers, the Ashkari are known for their skill in survival and navigation. They have a strong connection to the desert and its creatures, and are often hired as guides or mercenaries by the city-states. They have dark skin with a distinctly blue or purple tint, and long, pointed ears. They stand a few inches taller than the average human, and have a lean, wiry builds. They favor tattoos, which indicate tribal membership and important accomplishments. |
| Githyanki |
A race of humanoid warriors who claim to hail from another plane (now unreachable), the githyanki are known for their martial prowess and psionic abilities. Their culture values martial skill, rigid authority, and self-discipline. Their skin tones range from pale yellow to green and even orange-red, with dark spots that tend to be similar along family lines. They have very angular facial geometry, much smaller noses than humans, and pointed, spined ears. |
| Goliaths |
A "catch-all" for a variety of ethnic groups that tend to go by tribal names, goliaths are giant humanoids who dwell in the rocky outcrops and mountains of Athas. Sometimes called "half-giants", they stand 1-2 feet taller than humans--still quite small compared to "true" giants of legend. Their skin tones range from fair to dark gray, often with darker mottling or striping. Some tribes have distinctive bone ridges on their heads, while others have more human-like skulls. They are known for their strength and endurance, and often work as laborers or mercenaries for the city-states. |
| Thri-kreen |
Insectoid humanoids with chitinous exoskeletons, the thri-kreen are known for their agility and stealth. They have a strong connection to the desert and its creatures, and are often hired as scouts or assassins by the city-states. Their chitin comes in almost every color, along tribal lines, but the most common colors are sandy brown, dark green, and deep red. They have four arms, each as agile as any human's (if not more so), and a pair of large, multifaceted eyes that give them excellent vision in low light. They also have a pair of antennae that can detect vibrations and changes in the air, making them highly perceptive. They are literally all psionically active, if only at the level of telepathic communication, which they tend to use to communicate with humans as their vocal cords cannot produce human speech. They are also known for their distinctive clicking and chittering sounds, which they use to communicate with each other and to express emotions. |
| Firbolgs |
A rare and perhaps dying race of giant humanoids with a strong connection to nature, firbolgs are known for their pacifist ways, and are sometimes called "gentle giants". While they place little value in names, and many do not profess to have an individual name, they very much identify with the name of their people, which is why they are known as Firbolg and not lumped in with Goliaths. Their skin tones range from pale blue to deep green, often with darker mottling or striping. They have large, expressive eyes that can be any color, and round, expressive ears that are often adorned with jewelry or tattoos. |
| Aarakocra |
Avian humanoids with feathered wings, the aarakocra are known for their ability to fly and their keen eyesight. They have as many phenotypes as birds do, though curiously the blackbird family identify not as Aarakocra but "Kenku". Light on their feet, they travel swiftly, and often work as messengers or scouts, but they aren't above doing mercenary work for the city-states, preferring ranged and reach weapons. Their voice boxes can not only produce human speech, but also mimic just about any other sound, and their natural song is captivating indeed. |
| Tieflings |
A fairly rare race, tieflings are humanoids with infernal heritage, often marked by horns, tails, and other demonic features. Since the planes are no longer accessible, tieflings today are either the rare product of long genetic lines, or newly-made by contact with infernal vestiges. They tend to manifest more infernal traits based on how much infernal power they possess, but even minimal traits make them stronger, tougher, and quite a bit more fire-resistant than the average human. |
| Mul |
Muls are thought to be a hybrid race, as they can interbreed with humans, as well as each other. They stand a few inches taller than humans, and can build muscle mass more easily, making them stronger and more durable than the average human. They have a long history of being bred as slave laborers, soldiers, and gladiators, and are often found in the city-states working in these roles. They have a wide range of skin tones, especially green and gray, and have distinctly heavy mandibles and tusks that protrude from their lower jaws. |