Here's a preliminary list of races that will be allowed as characters in GrandiaRPG! All of these races are up for grabs, but please note that I will only allow one Icarian character in the game. ^_^

• Human
  That would be basically Justin, Sue, Baal, Lily, Java, etc., etc. Just like you and me in appearance...except of course the lack of limitation on natural hair colors. ^_~ All of the races listed here are technically human, but these humans have been known to think of themselves as a "purer" race. (Baal did, for one, the stoopid idjit.)
  
• Beastmen
  There are several kinds of beastmen, but mostly they all have tails, horns, furry patches and stripes on their skin, etc., etc. Examples include the people of Luc Village in the Misty Forest (like Rem), the people of Dight (Gadwin and Dr. Alma), the people of Gumbo (Danda and Naina), and the people of Cafu (Rapp and Nicky). Obviously, there is a wide variety of beastmen and many subraces, but it is quite possible that they are even more prolific than the "pure" human races.
  
• Mermaids
  Mermaids in Grandia are not like your typical mermaids. First of all, they don't just have one form—they have three. They can appear as human, usually very beautiful and with long, blue or green hair (basically any ocean-y color) and often quite tall. In their second form, they look much they same, but they have long fish tails instead of legs, usually the same color as their hair. In their third form, they are all fish, and the type of fish can vary greatly, in size, color, and overall appearance. Rumors abound of mermaids that are not half fish but other kinds of sea creatures; no one knows if these are true, however, and any such creatures are uncommon. Mermaids in their human or half-human forms do wear clothing, but it is usually rather skimpy. There must be mermen, but no one ever sees them; they never come to the surface. Merpeople of all types are not very human in personality; they are more animal, and they usually have questionable morals or no concept of morality at all. They are not exactly evil, but they are often aggressive, and they cannot normally be trusted. They have been known to attack and even (so the rumor says) devour sailors and castaways, but their taste seems to run toward men—they don't generally bother women or children. Mermaids live primarily in the Mermaid Sea east of Elencia, but they have been spotted elsewhere as well, usually on the eastern side of the End of the World.
  
• Mogay
  The Mogay are rabbit-like creatures with ancient traditions, beautiful poetry, and much wisdom...but also with a keen business sense, a great deal of practicality, and a talent for growing really delicious carrots. ^_^ The Mogay are small but tend to live a long time, and most of them have Italian accents and mannerisms and also tend to be traders. There are other professions of Mogay, but that is the exception rather than the rule. They travel a great deal, but most are based in or around the desert city of Zil Padon.
  
• Rafane
  A specific type of beastpeople from Jesora, the Rafane are probably the most human-looking of all the races across the End of the World. They are very refined and educated, but they tend to gravitate towards artistic or white-collar jobs, rather than manual labor or trade. They are not always practical, and they have a definite tendency to like shiny things that don't last long rather than useful things that will endure. Rafane live all over central Jesora, but the largest concentration of them has been in Zil Padon ever since the Mogay invited refugees there after Gaia turned their villages to stone.
  
• Alqada
  The Alqada are generally considered unrefined and uncouth by the Rafane. Another race invited to Zil Padon from other parts of Jesora, particularly the south, the Alqada tend towards manual labor and superstition. They are strong and dextrous, known for their abilities in massage, fortune telling, and smithing. In appearance, the Alqada are perhaps the strangest and the most varied race, looking rather like various kinds of humanoid animals. There are giraffes, camels, dogs, frogs, fish-people, and more.
• Lainians
  Lainians might give the Alqada a run for their money as strangest race. The women, while of a battle-bikini barbarian broad sort, are more normal than their husbands. ^^;; The women may be large and muscular and impervious to cold temperatures, but their husbands are...giant cows. Or bulls, whatever. As children, the males look much like the other beastmen of the land, as do the women with their long, tufted ears and eyes of unusual colors, like gold...but when they hit adolescence, the men start to sleep and eat a great deal, and they grow very quickly, finally looking rather like humanoid bulls that walk upright. They become quite prone to study and education, and usually the men stay at home and study weather, astronomy, medicine, and plants, providing the villages with the knowledge they need to grow crops in the harsh mountain climates, to predict large snowstorms, make medicines to stave off deadly sicknesses, etc. In return, the women hunt and plant food, and protect the village when need be, while the men stay home and study, both for amusement and for the subsistence of the village. Many of the men are also craftsmen, like shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths, etc....even cooks. When they must, however, they can move quickly for short periods of time, and their strength is phenomenal even compared to the women.
  
• Icarians
  The Icarians were a legendary race unlike any of the others; until about a decade ago, most people believed they were mythical beings. Legend says that the Icarians are the chosen race of the Spirits, meant to act as intercessors between the Spirits and humans and to be keepers of the Spirit Stone and use its powers. Icarians were originally made more "perfect" than humans, more prone to good than evil, but they were also meant to serve humans. When Gaia was created, the Icarians were expected to give up their very lives to save the humans. But it may be that Icarians are more human today than they used to be; one thing is for certain, they most likely will not be required to sacrifice themselves to save humanity anymore. No one knows if there will be any more Icarians after Feena and Leen are gone, but it is possible, as in the past there have always been Icarians whenever the Spirit Stone was whole. They have always been fraternal or identical twin girls in the past, born of human parents...but who knows? Much has changed in the world since Justin destroyed the corrupted Spirit Stone. Perhaps the nature of Icarians will change, as well... In short, yes, I will accept applications for Icarian characters. But I will be very strict about accepting applications, and I will only allow one Icarian in the game, so please keep that in mind when you apply. And just to make things interesting...if you really want to, I will accept male Icarian characters. ^_^ You'll just have to wait and see what I plan to do with that!