Humans were once the mightiest species on Affer. Their kingdom was larger than any other, and despite being the weakest physically, the humans were unmatched at the height of their power. They didn’t have increased stamina or stellar vision like the elves, nor did they have superior healing and intelligence like the angels or super strength and dense bones like the demons. They also couldn’t speak with animals like the dammed. Logically, they should have been the weakest from the start, but one thing the humans had was an indomitable spirit. Despite that, the humans were overwhelmed during the Great War, as every other species allied against them.

The Great War was a devastating loss for mankind. Hundreds of thousands were killed, but those who lived didn’t fare any better. The survivors were shackled and forced into a life of enslavement. For centuries, nothing changed, and every human had lost hope for freedom… That is, except for Fletcher Rush. One man will lead the largest rebellion the planet has ever seen and shake Affer to its very core. The fire that lay dormant for four hundred seventy-three years has been rekindled, and the indomitable human spirit is being feared once again.

Elves are the weakest species on Affer and most similar to humans. They both have red blood and similar builds, but the elves’ pointed ears are an evident difference. Despite being quite average compared to the other species, elves live far longer than any of them, with the expected lifespan for an elf reaching seven hundred fifty years. All elves age very well, and even male elves in their late six hundreds can look young, but the female elves retain their fair appearance well into their old age. Besides age, elves’ greatest asset is their incredible eyesight, which is bested only by some of the creatures that roam the world. But their physical advantages stop there. Elves are slightly stronger than humans, have slightly better stamina, and heal marginally faster.

Over time, the elves’ appearance has changed, and before the Great War, they had a more rugged look. Beards were common among elves; they were bulky, and scars were common. Many elves joined the military at some point in their life, as it was seen as an honor to fight for their kingdom. Now, elves are a shell of their former selves. Fighting as a soldier is no longer an honor but nothing more than a job, with fewer elves willing to die for their kin.

At the height of their power, the elves were the third strongest species on Affer.

Hybrids are a mix of angels, demons, and elves. Before the Great War, they were also comprised of humans, but they were all executed once the war started, and it was outlawed for other species to breed with humans since they were reduced to slaves. A considerable number of hybrids are a mix of all three species, but there are still plenty that are only two, especially those in power. The most coveted blend is angel/demon. Having the strength of both species, the size, bone density, and exoskeleton of demons, with the healing and intelligence of angels, makes for a mighty warrior. As a result, the hybrids were once the second-strongest species on Affer, but once their king, Zyro Shade, was killed in the Great War, the kingdom rapidly declined. Zyro’s right-hand forcibly took the throne, kicking the royal Shade family to the streets. With their second-largest city, Cartin, still belonging to the elves,  and war being nonexistent, which was how they acquired a bulk of their money, the hybrid kingdom plummeted. It took less than half a century for the hybrids to go from second-strongest to second-weakest.

Their appearance varies depending on the mix.

Demon breeds tend to have gray skin, ranging from light to dark, horns, and an exoskeleton. Unlike the demons, whose horns are always black and very rarely white, the hybrids’ horns range in color. Most have black horns, but those with angel blood can have golden horns, and those with elven blood may have red horns.

Angel mixes are only a fraction of true angels. While strong, smart, and gifted with incredible healing, it isn’t anywhere near what the pureblooded angels have. However, one advantage the hybrids have is their sight. While angels are fully blind and rely on echolocation, angel hybrids can see.            

Elven hybrids are far superior to pureblooded elves, no matter if they are part demon or elf. Their smaller size, combined with the larger angels or demons, makes them agile but strong.

The dammed are those who were judged as neither good nor bad by the divine council and given a second chance at life. Should they choose to be reborn as one of the dammed, they shall Awake in Lundgen, commonly called the Graveyard of the Dammed. They Awake with all memories of their previous life and live exactly one hundred years, unless they are killed. This life determines their eternal future, and for that reason, many of the dammed prefer to stay peaceful, like the king. Even the slaves in their kingdom were treated well, working only five hours a day and being assigned jobs at age fifteen.

Every dammed has the same dark blue eyes with no white, and very dark black pupils. Their hair is either white or gray and grows out patchy and very thin. Because of that, many of the damned chose to stay bald. Some can grow a thicker head of hair, but none can grow facial hair. Their ghostly white skin is very thin and borderline translucent. Hundreds of veins are easily visible, even on their faces, showing the blue blood that runs through them. Despite their thin skin, the dammed have very dense muscles and bones. They don’t eat at all, so they have no body fat. Another distinct characteristic is their face. Their skin is thin all over their body, but the face is where it’s the thinnest. In some parts, the skin is so slight that their skull is easily seen, and their cheeks are devoid of any flesh, leaving a gaping hole in their mouth. Lastly, they have no nose, and the bone is visible.

Others may think the demons are dumb because of their large burly appearance, drinking habits, and lack of manners, but that is far from the truth. Demons are responsible for creating cars and several other modern-day luxuries in Affer. They are also the most technologically advanced kingdom in all of Affer. A large part of that is due to the humans, but it’s the demons who teach them how to invent.

Demons are by far the largest and strongest species on Affer. The average demon stands at six feet six inches, but many of the soldiers and guards are well over seven feet tall. The weight range for males is from three hundred thirty to seven hundred ten, and for females, it is two hundred twenty to four hundred five. All demons have light gray skin, which is thicker than leather, and an exoskeleton covering their collarbones, sternum, knuckles, and spine. Their bones are jet black, and their blood is just as dark.

For demons, scars are a sign of strength, and even though a war hasn’t happened since the Great War, they make up for it by training with little to no armor. Like the angels, the demons have some that are born with rarities. However, they are substantially rarer. They are called the White Horned. As the name suggests, these demons have white horns instead of black, like the rest of their kind. A White Horned is only born once every one hundred years, and those demons live longer, are taller, stronger, and faster than a normal demon. Time seems to slow down for them in high-pressure situations, such as a fight, and even the weakest White Horned can wield a heavy greatsword in one hand with ease.

The angels are the most powerful species on Affer. Their average height is six feet, but some can reach eight feet. All of them have at least one pair of wings, while a few are born with two.

White wings are the most common, with over sixty percent of angels bearing them. Black wings come in second, with thirty-nine percent of angels having them. While having black wings doesn’t mean anything, red is a different story. Red wings are the rarest, and less than one percent of angels are blessed with them. Angels with these wings heal twice as fast as normal angels, are twice as strong, and have a memory capable of recalling minor events and conversations from centuries ago. The double-winged angels are more common than the red wings, with just over ten percent of angels possessing them. Most double-winged angels have two wings of the same color, but it is possible for one to have two different colored wings. Lastly, are the three-winged angels. For thousands of years, it was thought that an angel could only have two pairs of wings, but Xancore Velminhide proved that wrong. King Xancore is the only angel ever to have three pairs of wings. On top of that, he has a pair of each color, making him the most powerful angel of all time.

While the angels are smart, strong, and heal fast, none of those are their greatest assets. In fact, their greatest advantage is also their biggest weakness: echolocation. The angels have echolocation, but they are also blind and rely entirely on it. Some aren’t very good at using it and have a slight handicap, while others are on par with a human. Then there are those who have mastered it and can sense everything around them, using echolocation as a part of their body and turning themselves into a weapon.