The world of Purgaton is populated by three races which until recently have been completely secluded from one another: elf, human, and dwarf.

Elf

Residing in a secluded paradise living out long lives, the elves are the smallest group in number. They reside in Alortan, a land hidden in the Lost Mountains. Alortan is protected by a barrier which can only be passed by those of elven ancestry. Anyone else who enters will be turned back by means of an illusion.

The elves have fair skin, elongated ears, and their hair and eye colors are strange to humans. Blue hair like Rien's is quite common in Alortan. Because their hair grows at the same rate as humans over their long life, extremely long hair is also common. Their average natural lifespan is 600 years.

The elves have a history of spirituality and pride themselves as the stewards of the world. This is a contradiction to their reclusive lifestyles and abundant use of magic. They sap power directly from the world of spirits to power their country and disregard all other cultures. Despite the hypocrisy of their ways, elves are almost always born with a natural affinity for at least one element--a trait that is rare in humans and non-existent in dwarves. Occasionally elves are born without the ability to use magic, and this is a terrible stigma in their culture.

It is against the law to leave Alortan. Any elf who leaves Alortan is banished permanently. Those who leave are usually criminals no longer welcome in their homeland. This could explain why elves have such a bad reputation, especially in the human settlements outside of the mountain range where Alortan is hidden.

An exception to this rule was made in only one case when King Alortan died without leaving an heir. His younger brother, Lorn, had years ago left in his youth as part of a self-proclaimed "exploration party" without the consent of his older brother, the king. When Alortan died, the political environment became turbulent and Lorn was welcomed back from exile in order to avoid an argument amongst the nobles over who would take the throne.

In Alortan there are three strictly divided classes. The nobility are the ruling class who hold absolute power over the people of Alortan. The Alors are a class of people who serve the nobility. They are born into the role of servant, assisting the nobility in any way they are fit. This often means that they can claim powerful positions as aides and government officials (Vere, the Queen's right hand man, is an Alor). Soldiers and peace-keepers are also considered Alors. Alors are both looked down upon by the nobility and disliked by the lower class of Alortan. Members of the common class are often farmers or business-owners. Commoners can become Alors by enlisting to serve the nobility, but neither commoners nor Alors can become nobles.

Though time passes slowly in Alortan, the country's isolation has led to a crippling stagnation. Members of the noble class are prohibited from marrying the lower class and their numbers are thinning, leading to incestuous marriages formed in a desperate attempt to hold the country's worsening political state together. The common people have suffered from the stifled economy. After witnessing the return of Prince Lorn from the outside world, they are intrigued by the possibility of trading with foreign lands. These problems combined make Alortan a fragile country waiting for the smallest spark of revolution.

Elves speak their own language which many ancient texts are written in. These texts are found all over the world with no explanation as to how they could have traveled from Alortan, leading scholars to believe that the elvin language is actually a modified form of an ancient language which was once spoken in all lands.

Dwarves

The dwarves were originally a nomadic culture split into countless bands who wandered the western continent following game and favorable weather. Some dwarves still lead this lifestyle, but most have modernized themselves. In the city of Teran, contact with humans has spurred an age of technological advancement which is sure to change the face of the world in the centuries to come.

Dwarves are typically smaller in stature and stockier than humans and elves, but some do possess a normal height. Their skin tones vary, but most are dark. Their hair sometimes has a dark blue hue, but is normally black or dark brown. The average lifespan of a dwarf is 120 years.

The belief systems of dwarves are extremely diverse, stemming from a multitude of traditions in different groups. Like the other races however, ancestor veneration is important to each of these systems. Most even venerate the spirits of animals and natural elements around them.

Though dwarves are incapable of using magic, they do have a form of supernatural power. They are able to channel spiritual power through their bodies directly rather than materialize it in the form of an element. The result is that dwarves are extremely strong despite their smaller body mass.

The only major dwarf city is called Teran, though there are a few small towns and settlements throughout the west. Teran is large enough to be a country in itself, booming under the influence of foreign trade and cultural revolution. There is no centralized government, but several wealthy individuals have formed guilds which work in the best interests of the public. Everything from roads and water systems to police forces and hospitals are funded by these guilds. A secure and thriving middle-class culture is ideal for the entrepreneurs of Teran, and so that is what they have set out to create. In theory Teran is a capitalist paradise, but in truth corruption is widespread, as is poverty.

Though Teran does not have royalty or nobility, there are some rich and powerful families who hold influence over the city. There are often violent conflicts between these families as well as between guilds.

Human

The humans are by far the largest in number. They are also very diverse, possessing a wide variety of physical traits. They have the potential to excel in terms of strength and/or magic, but are not as innately talented at either of these things as dwarves or elves. Humans are also the only race to inhabit all continents. It is their curious nature that has brought the world together.

There are several different human countries and languages. These countries are ruled by monarchs, but most have begun to incorporate representative governments led by the example of King Nicholas of Tristan.

Twenty-two years ago, the Archmage War shook the foundations of every country within the continent. A powerful usurper known as the Archmage summoned undead legions to challenge the power of Tristan's military. The royal family were executed except for the youngest child, Nicholas, who managed to escape. Tristan's colonies and many neighboring countries including Starlake came to Tristan's aid, and the Archmage was overthrown. It was a victory that resounded throughout Purgaton.

Starlake suffered great losses in the Archmage war and was left in an economic downturn. They felt that for aiding Tristan in the war they were entitled to assistance during this time, but Tristan itself was recovering from the destructive war. Seven years after the end of the Archmage War, Starlake attacked Tristan the the two countries entered a conflict which turned brothers against one another. The war ended with Tristan victorious, but the entire war is considered a sad chapter in their history. They have since occupied Starlake and military presence exists there to this day.

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