The Utraeans are an ancient race of powerful beings responsible for much of the magic in Aranna. To the early Utraean Elders, comfort and security were paramount to everything else. But after a millennia of supremacy, the Utraeans unwittingly engineered their own decline by falsely believing that their magic and machines made them omnipotent and by denying the destructive effect their power was having on the other island races. Like many great civilizations before them, the Utraeans ignored the dangers that arose from their suppression of the Zaurask and Hassat. This led to years of war among the island's inhabitants.

The devastation unleashed through this conflict consumed the island, transforming once lush areas of forest and jungle into blasted, broken wastelands. The Utraean cities fell into disrepair as the leaders could no longer provide the level of comfort their citizens once enjoyed. Infighting and rebellion ensued.

Today's Utraeans no longer dominate Aranna, or even their current island home, though they still control many powerful and magical inventions. They remain a proud, if remorseful, people.

A race of saurians, the Zaurask were coaxed out of the jungles and swamps by the Utraeans thousands of years ago and subjected to Utraean magic and devices. The Zaurask were at first obedient and docile, agreeing out of innocence or ignorance to work for the Utraeans. But eventually, they rose up against their masters, and many managed to free themselves from Utraean rule. Those that tried but failed to escape were quickly rounded up and enslaved in the mines and factories of the Utraean cities. Understandably, the Zaurask now possess a deep-rooted hatred for the Utraeans and, as a result, have plundered and defiled many ancient Utraean structures.

Zaurask society is tribal, and their shamans are adept at using the natural forces around them to attack their enemies. Their power and strength comes through physical combat, and most of their warrior caste bear scars obtained from skirmishes with Utraean or Hassat forces or from ritualistic combat training. Hardened fighters, the Zaurask are not to be trifled with.

The Hassat are an indigenous race of felines. The Utraean wizards bred the Hassat as a source of cheap labor during the period of the Zaurask captivity. THe Hassat gained their independence during the Race Wars, and are now trying to build a culture and society of their own.

Along with the Utraeans, Zaurask, Hassat, and Droc, a fifth group lives on the island: the Half Giants. They call themselves "The Children of the Mountain," and are actually strangers to the island. How they got here and why is shrouded in mystery.

The Half Giants fear they are the last of their kind. It's been many generations since they've had contact with their homeland, and the Children grow fewer with each passing season. They believe that the history of their people will end on this accursed isle of mad wizards and wretched experiments.

The Droc are a primitive crocodilian race that has gone largely unnoticed by the other groups on the island. They spend much of their time trying to appease their god, who requires frequent live sacrifices. These aggressive cave-dwelling reptiles feed on pond algae and plakton, but love to adorn themselves in bones, especially human skulls.