There are several sentient races in Selentia: Centaurs, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins, Humans, Kattar, Mercanians and Mungodans. Some live in enclaves among their own kind, whereas others mingle in the lands of the Humans, the most populous and widespread of all the races.
Centaurs have the upper half of a Human and the body and legs of a Horse. Most live out on the steppes among the Khanates, but Centaurs are common enough throughout the settled temperate lands of Selentia. They live short lives of around fifty years, and are proverbially tempestuous and hotheaded.
Dwarves are short (average height 1.4m) and resemble Humans, but live underground in the great mountains. Many are skilled smiths and metalworkers, and some men (women and children never leave the safety of the mountains) live on the surface among the other races. Dwarves can live for two to three centuries, and can survive for long periods of time with little food and drink. They are proverbially wealthy and greedy, much like the Land-Dragons.
Elves are of average height (1.8m) and resemble beautiful Humans with pointed ears and cat-like eyes. They are dangerous and magical creatures, flighty and fickle, among the old pagan powers that dominated the world before the revelation of the True Faith. Magic is a part of their nature: Sorcery may have begun with the Elves (though other think it began with the Dragons, or perhaps the God-Kings of Kaikuhuru). Elves live for several centuries, and do not forget who they are in the afterlife before they return to the world. They do not mingle with the other races, living in hidden communities in the forests of the southeast and shunning strangers.
Goblins are of average height (1.8m), but often have a pronounced stoop from living underground in the mountains of Krarth. They resemble gray or pallid Humans, but some have the pointed ears and cat-like eyes of Elves. Their lives are brutal and violent, dominated by the constant warfare their kings engage in on the kingdoms of the Humans, Dwarves and Elves around them. Goblins can live for over two centuries, but very few have the opportunity. Goblins dislike sunlight, and prefer to live underground or deep in forests: they seem to hate Dwarves and Elves and despise Humans and the other races. They are proverbially brutal and cruel: what they want, they take.
Humans are of average height (1.8m) with fair skin that has darkened in the hotter lands of the north. They dominate the temperate parts of Selentia, and have spread to cover the world from the arctic conditions of Mercania to Batubatan and Mungoda in the tropics. Humans rarely live for more than a century, but are prolific and widespread.
Kattar are of average height (1.8m) and resemble feline Humans, with short golden-brown fur over their bodies and the face and ears of a cat. They come from the tropical peninsula of Minj and the lands of Batubatan, but Kattar merchants and traders can be found much further to the south in the temperate Human lands of Selentia. Like Humans, Kattar rarely live for more than a century, and are proverbially curious and prone to traveling.
Mercanians are tall (average height 3m) and resemble blond or red-haired Humans. They live in the far south where it is usually cold and snows for much of the year, and thus dislike warm weather. Mercanians rarely travel north to the tropics. The blood of the Giants runs in their veins, and they are easily roused to violent and excessive emotions. Mercanians live for one and a half to two centuries, and are proverbially honourable.
Mungodans are of average height (1.8m), and resemble reptilian Humans with dark-patterned scales over their bodies and the hairless head of a lizard. They dominate the equatorial jungles of tropical Mungoda, and are rarely found elsewhere. Like Humans, Mungodans rarely live for more than a century, and are proverbially treacherous.