Creator Races
Encyclopedia
In the fictional Forgotten Realms
setting
, the intelligent species are classified into groups known as "races", which, in this context, generally refers to an intelligent species, such as humanity, elves or goblins. Within the setting, many of these races are traditionally grouped into one of two categories: the created races, such as the Yuan-ti
, who have artificial, magical origins, and the creator races, such as humans and sarrukh, who are of uncertain origin, and are known to have made several created races, however some races don't fall into either category.
(Note that some sources list only five creator races, omitting either dragons or the Aearee.)
The first three races once ruled all-powerful empires. The Nether Scrolls, which most of the power of the ancient Netherese can be traced back to, were created by the sarrukh, batrachi and aearee.
Within the setting's main timeframe, some sarrukh still wander parts of Anauroch, southern Mulhorand and Chult. No one knows what happened to the batrachi, but some suspect they are the Slaad
i from Limbo
. The aearee might have migrated to the west, and some think they inhabit flying cities above Anchorome (although spelljammer
s never noticed them). The fairy folk, who never showed much interest in Faerûn, still dominate their original world of Faerie (whence elves). This is presently the age of Mankind, but "everything that has a beginning has an end...".
video game. The main villain is Queen Morag, the leader of a group of Old Ones who are awakening after thousands of years of magical subterranean hibernation and plan to conquer the surface world.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting
Setting (fiction)
In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...
, the intelligent species are classified into groups known as "races", which, in this context, generally refers to an intelligent species, such as humanity, elves or goblins. Within the setting, many of these races are traditionally grouped into one of two categories: the created races, such as the Yuan-ti
Yuan-ti
The yuan-ti are a fictional species of evil snakemen in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The species comprises a number of castes. In some campaign settings, the yuan-ti are descended from evil human cultists who mixed their bloodlines with those of serpents...
, who have artificial, magical origins, and the creator races, such as humans and sarrukh, who are of uncertain origin, and are known to have made several created races, however some races don't fall into either category.
Races
The six widely recognized Creator Races (Iqua-Tel’Quessir in elven) of Faerûn are:- SarrukhSarrukhWithin the Forgotten Realms setting of the game Dungeons & Dragons, the sarrukh are a race of reptilian humanoids. They are one of the five progenitor races, or Creator Races, of Faerûn. Eons prior to the current storyline of Dungeons & Dragons, they built and maintained empires across most of the...
, also known as sauroids, ancestors of the serpents and the scalykind (with the notable exceptions of the saurials, which come from another crystal sphere and the ophidians, who are perverted humans); - Batrachi, also known as amphibioids, ancestors of the dopplegangersDoppelgänger (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Doppelgangers are monstrous humanoids, identified primarily by their ability to change their shape and appearance to mimic almost any humanoid creature...
, kopruKopruIn the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the kopru are an evil race of amphibious, mind-controlling creatures. They are classified as monstrous humanoids, with the aquatic subtype.-Publication history:...
, kuo-toaKuo-toaIn the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the kuo-toa are fish-like monstrous humanoids that dwell in the Underdark, and in the sea.-Publication history:...
, locathah, sivs, tako and others shapeshifters; - Aearee, also known as aerials, ancestors of aarakocraAarakocraIn the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the aarakocra are a race of bird-like monstrous humanoids dwelling in high mountains...
, dire corbies, kenkuKenkuA kenku is a bird-like, flightless, humanoid creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Publication history:Kenkus have their basis in Japanese mythology as karasu tengu, where they are powerful and wise crow spirits adept at craftsmanship, and masters of the art of Japanese...
s, and other flying humanoids (with the notable exception of the avariel or winged elvesElf (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
); - DragonsDragon (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
- Fairy folk, also known as sylvans, ancestors of the korred, brownies and pixiesPixie (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Pixie is a Fey. Based upon the faeries and pixies of myth, they are merry and carefree pranksters who inhabit forests and woodlands.-Publication history:...
. - HumansHuman (Dungeons & Dragons)Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
, although some human ethnicities are immigrants from other Crystal spheres.
(Note that some sources list only five creator races, omitting either dragons or the Aearee.)
The first three races once ruled all-powerful empires. The Nether Scrolls, which most of the power of the ancient Netherese can be traced back to, were created by the sarrukh, batrachi and aearee.
Within the setting's main timeframe, some sarrukh still wander parts of Anauroch, southern Mulhorand and Chult. No one knows what happened to the batrachi, but some suspect they are the Slaad
Slaad
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, slaad are a fictional race of Outsiders that resemble giant humanoid toads of various colors.-Development and licensing:...
i from Limbo
Limbo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy role-playing game, Limbo or more fully, the Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo, is a chaotic neutral-aligned plane of existence...
. The aearee might have migrated to the west, and some think they inhabit flying cities above Anchorome (although spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
s never noticed them). The fairy folk, who never showed much interest in Faerûn, still dominate their original world of Faerie (whence elves). This is presently the age of Mankind, but "everything that has a beginning has an end...".
Official material
In other media
Members of an unnamed reptilian Creator Race referred to as Old Ones or Creators, feature prominently in the storyline of the 2002 Neverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
video game. The main villain is Queen Morag, the leader of a group of Old Ones who are awakening after thousands of years of magical subterranean hibernation and plan to conquer the surface world.