Races of the World and Their Connection to the Mother River
The world is populated by diverse races, each with its own culture, traits, and relationship to the Mother River:
• Humans: Versatile and ambitious, humans have a balanced connection to the Mother River. With effort and study, they can reach any Sequence, though they must learn through tradition and perseverance. Human cultivators often form the backbone of scholarship, writing the classic texts on ritual and lore. Typically mid-range in innate ability, they excel at adapting and forging bonds (including with beast companions) through sheer will. Historically, humans have founded great sects and city-states focused on cultivation.
• Elves: An ancient race with long lifespans, elves commune with nature in harmony. The Mother River often flows openly through their vast forests, so elves feel its presence from birth. Many elves practice cultivation through spiritual connection and natural cycles—some even achieve higher Sequences without conventional rituals. For them, a Sequence ritual might be a life-ritual (for example, a sacred dance under the moon). Their magic is elegant: they weave illusions with leaves, heal wounds with sunlight, and craft art and song that resonate with the River's essence. Elven sects often guard ancient groves as cultivation grounds.
• Eastern Dragons: Legendary serpentine dragons that embody the River's ancient power. To them, the Mother River is like kin; its currents once flowed through their own scales. Many Eastern Dragons achieve sky-high Sequences by birthright, then refine that power through serene meditation on mountaintops or in celestial palaces. They cherish wisdom and often act as mentors to other cultivators. Some Eastern Dragons even become living landmarks—legends tell of a dragon forming itself into a bridge over a river to guide travelers. They wield storms and water as easily as breathing, reflecting the River's harmony.
• Western Dragons: Powerful winged beasts with fiery breath, Western Dragons value strength and honor. They treat the Mother River as a challenge to be conquered through might. Most Western Dragons have stubborn pride: they might hoard arcane treasures or duel great foes to advance. Though fewer in number, each is immensely potent. Some reach high Sequences through battles that shake continents. Once transcended, they become legendary sky-serpents or stormlords, controlling tempests and volcanoes. Western Dragons stand apart, fiercely independent and self-reliant in their cultivation.
• Monsters: This broad category includes orc-like brutes, goblins, beast-men, and other non-human creatures. Many monsters have little innate sensitivity to the Mother River. Instead of meditative rituals, they gain power through raw means—consuming rare herbs, absorbing magic from defeated foes, or honing their bodies in constant combat. For instance, a mighty ogre might receive a burst of energy from drinking a dragon's blood. Monsters rarely study spiritual arts; however, exceptional individuals can learn to channel raw spirit in unique ways. Some legends even tell of monsters who tamed wild spirits or ascended beyond their kind.
• Abyss Demons: Fierce and cunning, Abyss Demons hail from depths where the Mother River's flow has turned dark and corrupted. To them, the Abyss is a shadow branch of the River, full of forbidden power. Demons feed on this corruption and chaos instead of pure currents. Their cultivation involves taboo sacrifices: trading lifeforce, binding restless souls, or using demonic runes. Some Abyss Demons can reach high Sequences by embracing the void, but at great risk—many are driven toward madness by the toxic energies they wield.
• Spirits: These are souls, elementals, or ancestral beings given form. Some spirits are actual fragments of the Mother River itself (like river sprites, wind elementals, or mountain gods). As such, many live in natural alignment with its flow. Many spirits exist beyond mortal rules and don't follow the typical Sequence path—time flows differently for them in sacred groves or ley lines. However, ambitious spirits do cultivate in their own ways. For example, a temple guardian spirit might learn a sacred secret over centuries to protect its shrine. Forest spirits might guide lost cultivators toward hidden paths, becoming gentle tutors of the River's mysteries.
• Fairies: Ethereal and whimsical, fairies thrive where magic is wild and free. They live in enchanted glades and fey realms adjacent to the mortal plane. Fairies feel the Mother River as laughter, music, and dance. Most fairies don't train in human ways; instead they earn power through fey games—solving riddles, tricking spirits, or weaving spells into the very air. Fairy covens might mirror human sects with their own dances and festival rituals. Many fairies are as protective as they are capricious (for example, a forest fairy might bless or curse a traveler depending on their song). They are deeply in tune with nature and can hide entire glades behind potent illusions.