Diversity of species
Tem is teeming with life. Sages have wrestled with understanding the multitude of life forms for centuries. The adjacent illustration, prepared by Mst. Dorn Pagen of the University of Coth-Rom, shows the tree of life with a few example species listed.
Some of these species are highly advanced, i.e. they worship the Gods, are adept with magic, are capable of reasoning, and create art. These include humans, nar, schild, nis, galub, trollocs, and centaurs.
Other species are beasts and monsters: they don’t worship the Gods, are incapable of moral reasoning, and exist only to procreate and die. These include slimes, kuo-toa, griffons, thri-kreen, troglodytes, giants, gorns, and ogres.
Humans
Approximately half of the land area of Kalderesh is occupied by humans; the current adult population is about 3 million. Kalderani are of Janee stock, and generally resemble Malantheans. There is, of course, diversity of appearance, but on average, Kalderani have darker skins and straight brown or black hair.
The adjacent diagram shows the range of skin, hair, and eye colour of humans on Tem.
Non-humans
The remainder of the land – mainly mountains, rough hills, and swamps – are dominated by various humanoids and monsters. Commonly found creatures include groks and skrags. Less common are trollocs, scrugs, rhuks, orogs and night hunters. Rare creatures include centaurs, iku, and giants.
This rather small variety of native non-humans are summarised in the adjacent table. An unknown number and variety of other creatures and monsters have also made their way here. Because of the well-patrolled Royal Road, these beasts are rarely a threat.
Table: Major non-human populations in Kalderesh
| location | creatures |
|---|---|
| FORESTS | |
| Forest of Harl | trollocs, scrugs |
| Forest of Kreth | giants |
| Hemden Forest | centaurs, giants |
| Lesser Kascht | shedu |
| Michaelwood | trollocs, giants |
| Wetwoods | skrags |
| WETLANDS | |
| Barban | gorns |
| Daern | gorns |
| Kirvan | flind, groks |
| Krethes | gorns, scrugs |
| Toreen | flind, gorns, trollocs |
| Grey Swamp | iku |
| PLAINS | |
| Barban | trollocs |
| Kirvan plains | trollocs, scrugs |
| Toreen plains | trollocs |
| MOUNTAINS | |
| Barobur Mountains | giants, groks, skrags |
| Krethes Mountains | giants, gorns, groks, skrags |
| HILLS | |
| Barobur Hills | giants, groks, skrags |
| Krethes Hills | giants, gorns, skrags |