The One World is populated by a number of races both human and non-human. Humans are the most common being found in all the known lands. Non-human races tend to exist on the fringes of the human lands or in more isolated regions. A reptilian race called the Hisii dwell in the high plateau of Azadmere. Primitive jaguar men called the Jarn live in the jungle lowlands. Savage tribes of small beast-like men called the Batiri dwell in the rugged mountains and foothills. Small bands of Tlacpetl or giants live in the high mountains. Deep in the southern lands is a race of snake men called the Ye Saur. There are certain to be even stranger races as one journeys into the more remote regions of the One World.

Humanity is divided into the Chichimec, Mexica, and Toltec racial groups. Chichimecs are short and hardy nomadic tribesmen who dwell in the northern deserts and the unknown lands beyond. The Toltecs are an ancient race of tall and lighter skinned men who deeply attuned to the magic forces of the One World. The Mexica are the most common racial stock found everywhere in the One World. Each of these racial groups is further divided into cultures, nations, and tribes.

Humans share some common characteristics. Religion and superstition are very important to the people. The gods are depended on for making carrying the sun through the sky, causing the crops to grow, bringing the cooling breezes, and all other aspects of the natural world. An elite hereditary class of warrior priests occupies the top rungs of society. They provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the people. Farming, hunting, and fishing are the most common occupations of the people. Only a small percentage has opportunity to develop a more lucrative profession.

Religious and holy centers are the focal point of life. The honor and pride of a nation or group of people is often represented in the grandness of their holy sites. Vast amounts of resources and countless hours of back breaking labor are spent to raise massive temple pyramids in the honor of the gods. The palaces of the warrior priest nobility are often part of the holy complexes. It is from here that they preside over the religious practices of the people. Cities, towns, and villages are built around the holy sites to protect them and to give the people easy access to the vitally important ceremonies that are conducted there.

The humans of the One World are short and stocky, the men rarely more than 5 feet 6 inches tall and the women more delicately built with an average height of about 4 feet 8 inches. Skin color varies from dark to light brown, and the typical face is broad with a prominent, and often hooked, nose. Eyes are black or brown, almond-shaped, and frequently with epicanthic folds at the outer corners. Hair is coarse, black, and straight. The average life expectancy is only 50 and infant mortality is very high.

In a military state like Tennochtitlan physical bravery is taken for granted, and death in battle was something to look forward to. Success in war has given the Aztecs more than a fair share of national pride. The arrogance of Aztec officials and tax-gatherers is notorious. The structure and values of society are designed to foster competition and pride in achievement, and the Aztecs are clearly not lacking in ambition and self-esteem, or in passion.

A well-bred Aztec is expected to exercise self-control and to behave with dignity. The perfect citizen is a person who is serious and modest, who 'wishes no praise', who is 'solicitous of others', chaste and devout, eloquent but discreet in his conversation, diligent, wise, polite, 'a follower in the ways of his parents', and an example to other people. This, of course, is an idealized picture, and the high standard of behavior is more often sought after than achieved.

Men usually wear their hair cut in a fringe over the forehead and allowed it to grow to the level of the nape of the neck at the back, but the priests have their own distinctive hair style and the warriors wear pigtails and various kinds of scalp lock. The women let their hair grow long. Normally it is allowed to hang loose, but on festival days it is braided with ribbons. A more elaborate coiffure was created by binding the hair into two plaits, which are wound round the head with the ends projecting like two little horns above the eyebrows.

Hair on the face is considered unpleasant, but nature has collaborated with art by endowing the men with only meager beards. Shaving is therefore unnecessary; facial hair is plucked out with tweezers, and, as a further aid towards good looks, Aztec mothers apply hot cloths to the faces of their young sons in order to stifle the hair follicles and inhibit the growth of whiskers. Only old or distinguished men (who can afford to ignore fashion) wear beards, and these are at best thin and wispy.

Both men and women have great powers of endurance, and from childhood the ordinary people have been used to hard physical work. Even the women are accustomed to walk great distances, following the men-folk and carrying a share of equipment as well as the newest baby. People of importance pride themselves on their behavior, and try always to move gracefully, accompanying their conversation with dignified gestures and assuming an expression appropriate to the occasion.

Catan is the one of the names for the Chontal Mayan traders that have navigated the Jade Sea for countless generations. Over a thousand years ago the first of these bold traders landed on the coasts near the mouth of the Ixatul River. They came first as explorers and then as settlers seeking to exploit the rich resources found in the valley. The settlements grew into prosperous towns, which for a while rivaled the power of the Mayan Kingdoms of their homeland.

The Catan are a fiercely determined people who have weathered much adversity. They have endured countless invasions over the course of their tenure in the Ixatul Valley. The Chichimecs, Toltecs, and most recently the Aztecs have conquered them. They are master builders and craftsmen capable of raising impressive temples and palaces. The old Catan buildings in Chachapoya still stand as a monument to their works. Perhaps their one critical flaw is their lack of military might. This has led the Aztecs to hold them in low regard.

The Catan are a sensual people who have a reputation of living for the moment. Perhaps this is a cultural response to the depravations they have suffered over the centuries. They are given to drinking, gambling, and sexual excess. They have a tradition of being a well-dressed people. They tend to wear large decorated capes and paint their hair both red and yellow. An unusual conical hat and teeth stained red and black top off their distinctive attire. One particular habit of dress appalls their current conquerors, the Payit. Catan men often do not wear loin clothes under their mantles.

Many traditions of their Mayan forefathers still survive in the Catan culture. They are a hardworking people who hold their craftsmen, especially stone masons, in high regard. They speak Chontal Mayan, which is the language of the Mayan traders. The gods Tlaloc, who they call Chac, and the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl are held in the highest regard.

They share the typical physical characteristics of the Mexica humans. One feature that sets the Catan apart is their face. They tend to have prominent noses and broad sloping foreheads. The sloped forehead is a result of the cultural practice of binding a board to the forehead of newborn infants.

Dubbed the Dog Peoples or Chichimecs by the Aztecs, these savage tribesmen live in the desert lands north of the One World. They represent a vastly diverse cultural group of tribal societies. They can be found living in the nomadic camps of simple deer skin tents, imposing wood and stone cliff dwellings, or in the more traditional villages depending on their lifestyle. The fiercest of their number are those who live a nomadic life in the heart of the desert wastes.

Chichimecs tend to be short and stocky in stature. The harsh environment of their homeland makes them physically strong and gives them deeply tanned skin. It also extracts a physical toll. Chichimecs often appear much older then they are. Clothing tends to be functional in nature and made out of available materials such as animal skins and woven grasses. Chichimec jewelry is made of turquoise and silver. Tattoos are often used to display tribal status.

Tribal life and blood ties are the hearts of the Chichimec culture. Marriages are almost always between men and women of the same tribe. Most Chichimecs spend their entire lives among their tribe venturing out only as part of food gathering or making war. Chichimec religious life is centered on the tribal shaman who is often a master of ceremonial magic and herbal remedies.

They are a rugged people with harsh rules matching the desert wastes they dwell in. Those too weak or old to travel are abandoned to their fates. Anyone who is sick from an illness for more then customary time for healing is killed.

Half-breeds are the offspring of Spanish soldiers and human women. They are generally accepted into Aztec society, but are always of minimal social status.

Half-breeds gain some of the physical attributes of their Spanish father. They are taller then the average human, averaging 5'8" tall. Males have facial and chest hair. Hair color is black. Eyes are brown or copper. Faces are more oval and noses more prominent. Their skin tends to be pale in color.

They retain many of the anti-magic properties of their fathers. At the same time they find it very difficult to learn and cast magic of the One World.

The Hisii are a stoic and highly developed race of reptilian men. They live on the Azadmere Plateau, which is located deep within the Jaruena Mountains. They are a reclusive race seldom venturing out of their highland homes. The Hisii are some of the best metal workers in the One World capitalizing on their long life spans to perfect their art.

Hisii society is based on clan affiliation and rank. Every Hisii belongs to one of the twelve clans. The clans share and cooperate, but are still very distinct entities. A council of Clan Lords rules the Hisii Kingdom of Azadmere. Inside the clan structure is a rigid series of social rungs. Every Hisii has his place in the social order. Advancement is possible, but only with the approval of senior clan leaders.

The appearance of the Hisii is somewhat striking to most humans. They have the general shape of a man, but their skin is olive colored and covered with leathery scale. A typical Hisii is very muscular, standing around 5’ tall and weighing almost 200 pounds. They have hands similar to men, but their feet have only three toes. Their most prominent and alarming feature is the large sloped, almost lizard like head. They have large protruding mouths that sport many teeth. They wear clothing woven from a strange grass native to their lands and dyed with subdued tones of blue, red, and yellow.

The Hisii are a hard working and long-lived people. Their life spans typically exceed 350 years somewhat offsetting their appallingly low birth rates. Their many years allow them to exceed as master craftsmen and warriors. Their advanced metalworking has given them special weapons and armors not found in other parts of the One World. Hisii warriors wear bronze plate into battle and swing bronze headed war hammers.

The hot jungle coast of the Sea of Jade is the home of an intelligent race of jaguar men called the Jarn. Their origins are steeped in the legends of the Five Suns. They are a fierce race filled with the wildness of their creator god, Tezcatlipoca.

They are rumored to be descendents of a tribe of human shape shifters that lived in the deep jungles. Over time they are thought to have become wild as the animals and lost their ability to return to human form. The veracity of this myth is unknown. The Jarn have a mixed history with humanity. They are highly valued mercenaries, but have at time turned on their human patrons. Human villages at the borders of Jarn territory live with an uneasy truce.

The Jarn have thin human shaped bodies that are covered with hide like skin resembling that of a jaguar. The lower legs are shaped more like the back legs of a cat giving them incredible jumping ability, but making running more difficult. They stand 5’6" high and have long tails. Their faces are that of a jaguar. Their hands have claws, which give them some difficulty when attempting to use human manufactured tools. Despite their slender build they are quite strong and can leap easily. They are excellent climbers. Their teeth are quite sharp and they love to eat raw meat.

Jarn do not wear armor or use shields. They are proficient hand-to-hand fighters using vicious claw attacks. They will attempt to grapple with humans to prevent them from taking advantage of their longer weapons. The Jarn use blowguns as missile weapons.

Two thousand years ago the Lethelar dominated the Ixatul Valley. They are cousins of the magically gifted Toltecs and at that time possessed significant magical learning. It was their magical skills that undid them as their mages unleashed a magical plague that devastated their civilization. Those who survived the plague fled into the mountains and settled the Land of Koyotl. It is a land of highland valleys occupied by small isolated settlements.

Lethelar society is tribal based with each isolated village having its own chieftain. The individual tribes maintain a close relationship with their neighbors and cross-tribal marriages are common. There are a few cases where several villages have banded together under the leadership of a minor prince. The Lethelar are famed for their skill at crafting bows, archery, and the training of falcons. The few companies of Lethelar mercenaries that exist are highly sought after. They have a reputation of being elite mountain fighters.

Magic plays an important part in Lethelar society. Lethelar mages are called Siak Weavers. They hold the secrets of Siak, the unique form of essence magic practiced in Koyotl. Siak Weavers are the wise men and judges of the Lethelar. They are responsible for remembering and passing on the histories of the people. Most Siak Weavers are members of the Council of Siak, which meets in Arlirien. The Council has authority over all the tribes although it seldom exercises this power over matters outside the realm of the Sacred.

The Lethelar are tall averaging close to 5’4" in height. They tend to be lean and well adapted to climbing. The Lethelar custom of wearing clothing that completely covers their body leads them to be light skinned. Their clothing is made of finely woven grasses or animal hair. It is fashioned in long strips that are wound about the arms, legs, and torso. The clothing protects them against the cold and scrapes from rocks, while giving them a great freedom of movement.

The Lethelar are fiercely individualistic. They value freedom and the rights of the individual. Each man or woman is measured by their own accomplishments, not those of their community or family. Craftsmen and artists are held in high regard and encouraged to pursue their works with a passion. The Lethelar do not build religious centers like many other races. Instead each Lethelar home has it's own small shrines to their patron gods. Foreigners are treated with respect, but are expected to prove their merit with their actions. Dishonesty and betrayal are cardinal sins among the Lethelar punishable by death or banishment.

The Otomi homeland is located along the Cazon River south of the Ixatul Valley. It is surrounded by jungles, which constantly threaten to consume all the labors of man. The Otomi are fierce warriors, but somewhat backward in nature. Their towns are often little more then a collection of mud huts and their temples are wholly unimpressive compared to that of neighboring kingdoms.

Spanish troops currently occupy the Otomi Kingdom. They landed in mass over a year ago and have systematically captured all the major towns. The Otomi put up a fight far fiercer then their neighbors would credit them for. Unfortunately they were sorely unprepared to fight against the Spanish soldiers. Those Otomi who were lucky have escaped into the surrounding lands. Those that were captured or chose to remain are now slaves of the Spanish.

Otomi men adorn their bodies with elaborate tattoos.

At birth the Mayans bind a newborn infant's head between two boards for several days. This pressure is sufficient to reshape the skull on a permanent basis, leaving it elongated and back swept. This is done to make the head resemble an ear of corn, the substance from which all humankind was originally created. The Maya view a slight degree of cross-eyedness attractive. To achieve this they hang a ball of resin so that it falls between their children's eyes, in the hope that this will bring about the desired effect.

Mayan hairstyles denote rank. Common men cut the hair on their forehead and leave the rest to grow. Women do not cut their hair and leave it unbound except on special occasions. Young men who are warriors may have a shock of hair on the left. After their first capture they can wear it on the right. Greater warriors and nobles can wear their hair in a tassel.

Moctezuma led his invading Aztec armies into the Ixatul Valley two hundred years ago. They met with fierce resistance from the Catan and Tarik natives of the region. The results of the military campaign were mixed, but the end of the war left the Aztecs firmly entrenched in the center of the Valley. The Aztecs called this region the Province of Payit.

The Spanish invasion caused great devastation to the Aztec Empire, but actually strengthened their position in the Ixatul Valley. The Aztec population of the region swelled as people fled the marauding Spanish army. The Province of Payit became an independent kingdom as imperial authority ceased to exist. The followed up on their newfound freedom by gradually subjugating the remaining Catan cities. During this time they became to be called the Payit.

Aztec military traditions still play an important role in the Payit culture. Warriors are held in the highest regard. They are recognized in ceremonies, decorated by the king, and given rich rewards for their accomplishments. Feats of bravery are one of the few ways a common man can rise to the ranks of the nobility. All Payits men are trained from an early age to be warriors. Those who prove themselves in battle are inducted into one of the five the knightly orders.

Physical appearance and dress is very important. Payit men strive to perfect their minds and bodies to both serve the gods and to fight with great skill. They tend to be muscular and stand about 5'8" tall. Their hair is black and neatly trimmed above the shoulders. Warriors are allowed to have special hairstyles that signify their status. Facial hair is forbidden and must be plucked out. Women have long hair, but carefully bind it with broaches and colorful ribbons. Everyone is expected to dress according to his or her status in Payit society. There are severe penalties for those who flaunt this code.

Strict traditions and laws govern Payit society. Young men attend schools to learn about weapons and the gods. They are also expected to spend time learning the trade of their fathers. Occupations are passed down from generation to generation. They are a deeply religious people. Daily life is filled with religious ceremonies, celebrations, and sacrifices. Joining the priesthood is another way that a commoner may better his status in life.

Payits live in extended families called Calpulli, which often share the same trade. Some Calpulli have grown through marriages over the years to include entire villages or multiple city blocks. The larger Calpulli have schools and temples. Land is owned by the Calpulli and divided among its members. The most significant Calpulli are those of the Pochteca and the various artisans.

The Spanish are recent arrivals in the One World. They come from a land called Castila that is far across the Sea of Jade. They claim that their holy emperor has sent them on a sacred quest to rid the scourge of evil from the One World. This holy quest has now lasted almost a hundred years and cost tens of thousands of lives.

Spanish weapons and equipment are much more advanced that those of the One World. The Spanish have learned work strange metals that posses unusual magical energy. They use these metals to fashion weapons and tools of extreme hardness. The very presence of these metals has a disturbing effect on magic in the One World. Spell casters quickly begin to suffer difficulties when casting spells if they are exposed to these items. Regions occupied by the Spanish suffer a much more profound effect. Magic quickly becomes unreliable to all casters and power points become difficult to regain. This effect seems to work both ways, for Spanish weapons are know to deteriorate and become unreliable over time.

The Spanish are human-like in shape, but have a very unsettling appearance. Their skin is a pale silvery white and prone to easily burning in the hot rays of Tonatiuh. They are tall and typically stand a head above the average Aztec warrior. Their hair is as black as obsidian and grows profusely upon their faces and bodies. The faces are man-like but they have copper colored eyes and prominent noses. The Spanish rarely clean themselves, which serves to make their already foul odor most unbearable. The foreign nature of the Spanish renders them highly resistant to magic to the magic of One World spell casters.

This race is not open to player characters.

Tariks are the remains of Chichimec groups who settled in the Ixatul Valley after the invasions 700 years ago. Many of these groups have merged with the Catan and Payit peoples, but a few remain separate living in small villages. These villages are usually deep in the jungle or in the foothills of the mountains.

They are dark skinned and have black hair. They tend to be short averaging 5’3" in height. They have broad faces and larger ears. The Tariks live in small tribal groups, which are made up of several extended families. The worth of each individual is determined by their actions. Slaves still exist, but even they have the opportunity to become full-fledged members of the tribe. Tariks take a single name and append to it their village or tribal name.

The Toltec are an ancient race that is shrouded in mystery. Once they were a powerful race of builders who crafted mighty cities with skill and magic. Magnificent ruins bear witness to the creative powers of these people. The name Toltec is held in awe by many. Many peoples claim Toltec blood, but pureblooded Toltec are a minority where they can be found at all.

The Spanish Invasion and the ensuing wars devastated the cocoa rich coastal homeland of the Totonac peoples. It was here that Cortez built his mighty fortress and San Marcos. It was here that the combined armies of the One World finally brought an end to the Invasion. The Totonac now struggle to rebuild their homes and their plantations. They face difficult odds as they are threatened the Spanish raiders, lizardmen from the Novad Swamp, and warlike Jarn tribes who live in the jungle shrouded foothills of the Aztlan Mountains.

The Totonac are traditionally a peaceful and hospitable people who greet neighbors and strangers alike as friends. They do not have a warlike tradition and instead are avid negotiators who always try to come to accommodations with their foes rather then relying on arms. A guest at the door is always invited in and offered a drink. Travelers are invited to spend the night and share the family's food. Gifts are traditionally exchanged when visiting friends. It is considered wrong to speak openly about the faults of another as those faults may be visited on the speaker.

The Totonac live mostly in villages that are located amid fields they have cleared for farming. The few towns in the region are mostly ceremonial centers where the nobility and priesthood live. The people live in spacious log and thatch dwellings that have many windows. They grow many crops, but Cocoa is the most valuable and important.

The Zapotec are a race of philosophers and thinkers that dwells in the highlands of Oaxaca. They value all types of knowledge and encourage freethinking among their peoples. The Zapotec are natural mentalists and count an unusually large proportion of spell casters among their population.

Monte Alban is their fortress capital. They are long time rivals of the Aztecs. The Zapotec army is built around an elite core of Arms Masters (Mentalism Companion) called Cloud Warriors.

Zapotecs have a distinctly different look from many of the other races of the One World. They are human-like in appearance, but have light skin and delicate features. They average 5'8" tall and are lean compared to other men. Their eyes are light brown and sometimes green. Most humans consider them very attractive.

Zapotec religion recognizes a Supreme Being who is without beginning or end, who created everything, but was not created. He is so infinite and incorporeal that no images are ever made of him. This Supreme Being, in turn, created a series of powerful supernatural forces including lightning, sun, earthquake, fire, and clouds that are represented by the god forces worshipped by other races of the One World. An important aspect of Zapotec religion is ancestor worship, especially the veneration of royal ancestors.

Over one hundred different languages and dialects exist in the One World. The human languages can be divided into the Chichimec, Mayan, Toltec, and Olmec families. Each of these families contains a large number of very distinct dialects, which are often very dissimilar. The common languages of the One World are listed below.

Castilan (S, W): Language of the Spanish invaders. The Spanish force native slaves to learn to speak their language.

Catan, Chontal Mayan (S, W): Catan is the language of the Mayan sea traders. It is commonly used along the coasts of the Sea of Jade. The written form of this language uses a confusing array of complex pictures. Writing takes an artistic hand and years of practice. Fortunately many of the pictures are self-explanatory making reading somewhat easier.

Eltar (S): A dialect of Chichimec, which is spoken by the Lethelar tribes. The language has no written form.

Nuhautl (S,W): Nuhautl is language of the Aztecs, Mixtecs, and Totonac. They have spread it throughout the One World making it the true universal tongue. The written form of this language uses a confusing array of complex pictures. Writing takes an artistic hand and years of practice. Fortunately many of the pictures are self-explanatory making reading somewhat easier.

Sazan (S): Common language of the Hisii. It is a harsh language filled with hissing and cracking sounds. It is difficult for anyone other then a Hisii to learn and all but impossible to speak. It has no written form.

Tarik (S): A dialect of Chichimec, which is spoken in the Ixatul Valley. It is a fairly primitive language and has no written form.

Toltec (S, W): The ancient language of the mystic Toltecs. Few common people speak this language. The magic guilds preserve it many ancient tomes were written in this language. It is interesting to note that many of the words spoken in spell casting are Toltec in origin. The written form is a cryptic form of runes that are indecipherable to all, but the most learned scholars.

Zapotec (S, W): Language of the Zapotec peoples.

There is no formal alphabet, instead pictures and symbols are used to communicate information. This is an advantage since people who spoke many different languages can then read the glyphs. It also makes writing very difficult to learn, thus it is considered a restricted skill. Skill in artistry is also desirable since many of the glyphs are pictures. Writing is done in colorful painted screen fold books, carved and painted on walls and monuments, and carved on stelae (stone columns).

The following skills are suggested as hobby ranks:

Armor Skills, Ball Game, Body Development, Dancing, Feather Working, Flower Arranging, Heraldry, Jeweler, Language Skills, Patolli, Poetic Improvisation, Poetry, Religion, Sacrifice, Weaving, Weapon Skills

Ranks may be acquired in other listed skills provided they are logical and supported by the character background. No ranks may be spent on spell lists or directed spells.

The following information is primarily focused on the races that live in the immediate area of the campaign setting.

Characters may distribute additional racial ability points (AP) among their Statistics. Ability points may not be used to raise any Statistic bonus above 4.

The following simplified guidelines replace the RMSS rules for adolescent development. Human characters are divided into five categories based upon where they were raised. Some combinations are rare such as a Chichimec urban man, but are allowed if it can be explained in the character's background story. Half Breed characters develop as humans.

Hisii and Jarn characters choose the columns specific for their race. Human characters may choose one of the five racial sub-groups based on their background.

*Non-Spell Users generally take these ranks from the Channeling Realm.

**Non-Spell Users generally take these ranks from the Essence Realm.

***Non-Spell Users generally take these ranks from the Mentalism Realm.