I'm doing research. ;)
Do Vudran elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings exist entirely outside the caste system? And if they do have a place in it, what about other non-humans or even dragons?
And if they don't, what place in the caste system would half-orc or half-elven children have? Would it be seen as a mark against them and their human parent or even see them expelled from their caste?
Speaking entirely in world-wide truths and hypotheticals as we've locked VERY little down for Vudra thus far, it's my thinking that you're not going to see many of the typical demihuman races in Vudra. Vudra is our home to the fantastic and epic mythology of India, Tibet, and that region of the world, so trying to overlay it with a thick layer of Western fantasy seems like adding gravy to ice cream. There might be some on the side or a bit added in the form of specific NPCS, PCs, and others, but don't expect thousands of dwarves in saris or elves in kurtas - again, some maybe, but not tons.
All that being said, non-humans likely fall outside the caste system. Same goes with monsters - the Vudran caste system is a creation by a human society to govern their people, it's not meant to be inclusive of every other race. Some monsters invariably infiltrate this system, though, primarily rakshasa seeking to gain power. Particularly social nagas might also make overtures of holding a high caste, but aren't pervasive enough to count for much and also aren't truly accepted. Anything else can either pass as human physically or magically, or probably doesn't care about being included.
As for half-breeds, these rarities are likely either hidden, "altered" to pass as human, or cast out (probably with the mother) so not to bring disgrace upon the family. I suspect half-fiends and tieflings are probably more prolific in Vudra than elves and orcs, though, and even those would be rarities.
Speaking entirely in world-wide truths and hypotheticals as we've locked VERY little down for Vudra thus far, it's my thinking that you're not going to see many of the typical demihuman races in Vudra. Vudra is our home to the fantastic and epic mythology of India, Tibet, and that region of the world, so trying to overlay it with a thick layer of Western fantasy seems like adding gravy to ice cream. There might be some on the side or a bit added in the form of specific NPCS, PCs, and others, but don't expect thousands of dwarves in saris or elves in kurtas - again, some maybe, but not tons.
Yes! I love demihumans as well as anyone else, but I don't want to see them where they don't feel right. And they wouldn't feel right in Vudra, as I imagine it at least. YMMV.
As for half-breeds, these rarities are likely either hidden, "altered" to pass as human, or cast out (probably with the mother) so not to bring disgrace upon the family. I suspect half-fiends and tieflings are probably more prolific in Vudra than elves and orcs, though, and even those would be rarities.
Gotcha! I thought the other races were spread more evenly across the planet, but it works for what I'm trying to write to have them be rare in Vudra. :)
It's the half-orcs and half-elves that I really needed to know about. Thanks!
|
Green Ronin has a pseudo-Indian style setting with a caste system and all the usual demihuman players. The elves have no interest in the whole thing, and the gnomes rabble-rouse against it, but the dwarves are, if anything, even more caste-centric than humans (and, oh-so-conveniently, tend to be higher caste than most), etc.
It's a pretty neat setting, and, barring actual real setting detail on Vudra, I'd happily pillage it until I have more information.
Edit: The book is Mindshadows (it's an Indian setting that makes heavy use of psionics) and the land is called Naranjan.