Humans
The human race is by far the most populous race in Calbion. The first migration of humans in recorded history occurred during the end of the last ice age. Apparently humans traveled along the vast ice sheets that covered all the world’s oceans and spread from Eastland, first to Southland and Westland, and eventually to Northland.
The lighter skinned humans were those that settled in Northland earliest, as Northland is said to have less sunlight than the other continents, except perhaps Darkland.
The darker skinned humans mostly migrated to Northland from Southland around 2340-2370 YND when the First Caliph destroyed the kingdoms of Machala, Hassinor, and Bali. The surviving refugees set sail for Northland and settled into the southern areas of Northland, eventually assimilating with the existing human societies. Even today, darker skinned humans are sometimes referred to as Southerners, though some find the term distasteful.
In any case, issues of light-dark racial discrimination are almost nonexistent, as honestly, what is a minor difference in skin tone compared to the significant anatomical differences that exist between say, humans and elves or dwarves or orcs…
Dwarves
The dwarves live mostly in the northwest of the continent, primarily along the Western mountain range. Dwarves are said to have migrated from far below the surface of the world, as the end of the last ice age opened off long closed tunnels and openings to the surface world.
Elves
Elves are believed to have originated from what is now Darkland, back before the Great Drifting removed the continent from the sight of the sun. Over time, they moved north, first into the jungles of Southland, where their current ancestral homeland is, and eventually far to the north.
Once, the proud elvish empire of Doria governed most of Northland. Alas, the Dorian Empire fell through a mixture of internal and external conflicts, and the Elven Diaspora dispersed the elves all over the continent, although a fair number still live in the remnants of the Dorian Empire.
Half-Elves
The offspring of humans and elves. Not so uncommon in the former territories of the Dorian Empire, they are extremely rare elsewhere.
Gnomes
The gnomish people can be found in small minorities everywhere. They are most commonly crafters, mages, and inventors. Gnomes are said to originate from Eastland. Some say that gnomes began as the offspring of dwarves and humans.
Halflings
Halflings tend to be more common in the west, but aren’t unheard of elsewhere. A curious bunch, they have garnered an unjustified reputation for thievery and deceit. Some say that Halflings began as the offspring of dwarves and elves.
Orcs
The orcs these days tend to stick to the Northern Tribes where the cold climate inhibits more civilized expansion. They occasionally raid the south, but aren’t really seen as a threat to the larger nations.
Orcs are said to have originally migrated during the ice age from Westland, though some old texts say they once lived on Darkland.
Half-Orcs
In the places of the former Dorian Empire that have become overrun by orcish barbarians, half-orcs are actually significant minority. Elsewhere, if they do exist, they tend to keep to themselves.
Goblins
Goblins are said to have followed the dwarves to the surface at the end of the last ice age. Goblins also infest the northern lands and the remnants of Doria.
Hobgoblins
Hobgoblins are said to originate from some distant continent overseas, possibly Westland. They occasionally sail to the continent to trade or raid, and preferably both.