Random question for anyone who wants to answer: do you consider the phrase “you guys,” used by a lot of people of all different genders to refer to mixed-gender or even all-female groups, to be sexist? I don’t, but I wanted to get other people’s opinions.

I don't, guys has become pretty non-gender in meaning, unless referring to a specific guy. I think intent is what matters. If it is purposefully used to exclude gals, that's different, but I think for most it's just a casual grouping.

Thank you! I totally agree with you. Thanks for answering :).

Halflings

Halflings were once a noble race that had their territories at the south-eastern frontier of the Latsian Empire. Being kept as a buffer between the empire, the Gnomish Republics and the Leonin Federation. They were separated into two main subspecies, the Stouts who inhabited the inland plains and the Lightfoots which tended to the forests and coast. The Halfling Kingdoms were not true kingdoms in the same style as humans understand them. A kingdom did not have solid borders, but was more a collection of families called a tribe or over-clan. At the center of the tribe was the main family who carried the name of the tribe, while the lesser subfamilies carried their own names.

This all ended during the last stand of Gelf Darkhearth and Yondalla’s Children. The battle was fiercely fought, but without the rest of the Lords of the Golden Hill, the halflings stood no chance and were defeated and overrun. Many of the once great tribes such as Hiltwobble, Greengrass and Kettleblack were reduced to splinters, while other tribes lost their main family entirely. Only Hillwhistle, Hillhand and Wetfoot made it out somewhat intact.

Many halflings abandoned the idea of tribes entirely falling back onto family units to more easily integrate with the places that would give them shelter. Sizeable populations of Halflings now exist in Kyo, Port-au-Vin, Nightfall City and Watchtown. Among these refugees a new subrace has started to emerge. Those haunted by the war will often develop a psychic split. Halflings that show this effect are referred to as Ghostwise.

Changelings

Changelings are a race from the Mirror Plane, being close relatives of the elusive Doppelgangers. Changelings have left the mirror plane and spread across all other planes where they act much like cuckoo birds, dropping their children into the household of other races. Sometimes as just another baby in sometimes replacing a dead child. The most evil of changelings might even kidnap the real child of the parents. Changeling children grow up normally for the race they’ve been left too, and will act much like a normal child. Changelings develop empathy through the races they mimic and may even make genuine friendships and family bonds. They can even become romantically interested in others. The only bond a Changeling can never form is a Parental one. They will love their adoptive parents, but when it comes to their own offspring they will always feel a strong urge to abandon it to someone else.

The Infernal Incursion into Materia

About a century ago the Leonin rebelled against their tyrannical gods and killed all except the Water Lion. The Water Lion fled into the Ocean though. So the whole Leonin Federation became scorned by the Divine entities, with no allies among the gods to protect them, Asmodeus saw his chance. He gathered the other Infernal leaders in a great council and made a temporary truce. Zariel was so mad at this that she threw a holy spear into Asmodeus which nearly killed him, but his grand alliance held and the other leaders made the incursion without him. The Leonin Federation was overrun by fiends.

The infernal incursion spread until it was coast-to-coast and then started going North and South. In the South they managed to cripple the many oasis states, until they made the grand alliance of Istar. In the North the Gnomish Republics and Halfling Kingdoms banded together to resist the incursion, but the Gnomish gods betrayed the alliance and fled, all except Gelf Darkhearth, who almost lost his life helping the Halflings long enough so that at least some of them could escape. The Demons then tried taking over Simland, but were pushed back by an unlikely alliance between the Vedalkin of Simia and the Grung Empire. So they instead went for the Latsian Empire.

The Latsian Empire buckled under the great assault and the Southlands were quickly overrun, with the exception of four cities which managed to hold out as pockets of resistance. 

Umberlee and Father Dagon then conquered the Triton Straight and ferried the Demon armies north where the Imperial Basin was infested too until 70 years ago the empire officially fell. With the demons on their doorstep, the Watchers allowed Heaven to come to Materia's aid and the Celestial Brigade entered the party. Together the Celestial Brigade, the remaining Empire, the Yuan-ti and the Watchers pushed the main Demon host back into the sea. Where the Tritons took over the fights.

The Olympians were the main gods of the Empire and lived in a place called Fool's Peak, so Helm's Celestial Brigade made their headquarters there. But Zeus tried to usurp control multiple times and became impossible to work with. Seeing Zeus as a danger to his mission, Helm killed him with his god-slayer Mace.

Now having full control over the Empire's resistance, Helm and the Watchers worked together with the Grung-Vedalkin Alliance to push the demons out of the Southlands, forming a new border with the Hellish Wastes which has been in stalemate for the past 45 years. Though recently infighting has started amongst the Infernal Horde leading to opportunities to take out some of its leaders.

Yes I treat the random thread as a personal lore dump, don't worry about it.

Main villains

The Main villains of the current setting of Materia in the Thirteen planes are Goldstein, the Infernal Hordes and Loviatar.

Goldstein and her Necro Sechs

Käthe Goldstein’s is a brilliant Shadar-kai Necromancer. Together with six others she calls her Necro Sechs, she attempts to revive the goddess Mystra as her undead servant to get full control of the Weave. Leader of the Necro Sechs and right hand of Käthe is Emtênath Morna, her childhood friend and longtime partner-in-crime. The other members are in order of importance: The Saeftingher, High Priestess Okami, The Nameless Stranger, Abbamon the Exiled and Hannah Flamewrath. Each of them are legends in their own rights. The Saeftingher is a spirit from the sunken city of Saeftinghe leading an army of Drowned ones. High Priestess Okami is one of the more powerful Death Clerics in the world, serving the undead goddess Izanami. The Nameless Stranger is an ancient sentient undead that can move through the planes without issue. Abbamon the Exiled is a Mind Flayer Arcanist that has become obsessed with Necromancy. Hannah Flamewrath is an essence reborn in the Elemental Chaos in the Fires of that plane, spit out into Materia. Käthe has made offers to the Wendigo and Elvira Joyous, but both these offers were rejected.

Loviatar

Loviatar is the Goddess of Pain that was sealed beneath Madocke Maecte by a combined effort of the Red Knight and Den Vos Reynaerde, among others. Though when Den Vos Reynaerde she was released upon the world. For five minutes, and then she was banished by the Watchers. But even now her minions are trying to facilitate her return. Most notable among which are the Nightsong and Ais Kriem.

The Infernal Horde

The Infernal Horde are the great invaders from the plane of Inferno. They were once a unified force under the joined leadership of Asmodeus, Anthraxus and Orcus, but as the time went on and the momentum ground to a halt. Many have left Materia behind, returning back to their own plane and focusing on the struggles there. Among the remaining old rivalries reignited. With Asmodeus wounded and Orcus dead, factionalism now reigns supreme. As such the remaining forces in Materia are split among the five great factions.

The Conciliators

The Conciliators are those that have left behind the horde and seek to bind themselves to the forces of Materia to keep their influence in a more symbiotic way. Notable Conciliators are Zariel, Fierna, Beshaba, Bellum, Darlin, Tul Oreshka, Katashka, Xinivrae and Sekolah. Conciliators are not one of the five great factions as they are not considered direct enemies by the Watchers.

The Five Great Factions

The Five Great Factions form the remainder of the Infernal Horde. Where once the horde was split  among Anthraxus to the South and Orcus to the North, the Northern forces have fractured after the death of Orcus. As such four new leaders have stood up and the remaining forces have split among them. These leaders are Umberlee, Rimmon, Glasya and Kriemhild.

Anthraxus’ Faction

Anthraxus is most active in the far south in Istar. He worked with Belial and Dagon to conquer the south for the horde, while Orcus and the others focused their attention North. His faction still stands strong, even as the North fractured. Notable active members of Anthraxus’ Faction are: Anthraxus, Dagon and Yersinia.

Umberlee’s Faction

Umberlee, also known as the ***** Queen, has taken control of the armies of the Giant Lord of the Sea, and as such was the first to break away from the Northern Faction even before Orcus’ Death. After the Death of Yeenoghu she managed to get her own agent to take control of the Gnoll armies. She has also seemingly allied herself with the shifter tribes. Notable active members of Umberlee’s Faction are: Umberlee, Baxus Moonstrides and the Horned Prince.

Rimmon’s Faction

Rimmon was the representative assigned by Asmodeus after Asmodeus himself was wounded by Zariel. After the death of Orcus, Rimmon saw himself as the natural new leader of the Horde in the North, though he was loudly opposed by the Dark Princess Glasya. As Glasya had cultivated more support among the non-devils in the army, all that was left to Rimmon was the pure devil core of the army. Notable active members of Rimmon’s Faction are: Rimmon, Titivilus and Mammon.

Glasya’s Faction

Glasya is the Dark Princess of Baator and the daughter of Asmodeus. When Rimmon tried to take control of the Northern Faction she masterfully evaporated his support amongst the non-devils. But she had overestimated her own influence. Even through this diminished power, she is probably still the most dangerous leader of the horde, thanks to her many beloveds. Notable active members of Glasya’s Faction are: Glasya, Zuggtmoy and Angra Mainyu.

Kriemhild’s Faction

Kriemhild is the representative of Niflheim in the infernal hordes, and the direct servant of Hel. She managed to make deals with many of the lower regiments or those who had lost their leaders. Taking control of such factions and molding them into a unified unit that could resist the great leaders of the other factions. Examples of those she absorbed into her faction are Oublivaee’s Regiments, Vulcarik’s Chain Devils, The Killing Cold, Reynaerde’s Yugoloth Mercenary Companies and the Cult of the Dragon. Notable active members of Kriemhild’s Faction are: Kriemhild, Katari and Neverron Xandra.

Well if ZomblesKlein is doing it, I’m doing it too.

Thri-kreen

Thri-kreen (occasionally referred to as mantis-folk or simply mantids) are an ancient species of insect-like creatures with psionic abilities, color-shifting carapaces, and a deep connection to the extraplanar components of our own world. They live in packs of about 400, frequently interacting with and exchanging members with other packs. The places in which thri-kreen live are called bivouacs (sometimes used interchangeably with pack, though a bivouac can, in rare cases, be home to multiple packs), and these bivouacs move with the seasons, traveling usually about 30 rasques (roughly 50 km). Thri-kreen are skilled diggers, and when they settle in a location to make a bivouac, the first task is for every pack member to help carve out the spot. The excavated materials are used to construct individual dwelling-places for groups of thri-kreen. These mound-like dwellings are set in clusters based on jobs, and the center of a bivouac often contains a place of meeting and pits for storage of food, resources, weapons, and eggs.
A pack is led by two governing bodies: elders and yapitori. Elders are thri-kreen that have reached a venerable age and are deemed experienced enough to teach and lead others. The elders preside over resource distribution, job distribution, rituals and ceremonies (druids and religious leaders are almost always elders), and the raising of young. The yapitori are proven fighters and act as generals in times of war, directing military efforts. However, the yapitori are not quite as powerful as the elders, and can be overruled if their decisions are seen as foolish.
Thri-kreen diets are predominately based on sources of meat, and packs both keep livestock (giant beetles, horses, and pigs being most common) and hunt. Shellfish, crustaceans, and small fish are also commonly eaten. Berries, roots, fungi, and nuts serve as major food sources too. Of course, diet is dependent on location.
In Azabas, thri-kreen are mostly found on the edges of continents. Thri-kreen packs dwell in H’asra, Falwendor, Nalyith, Aanhor, the Brass Desert, Aglawkini, and the Diyyan Conjuction. Regardless of surface location, though, packs can be found in most of the Underdark as well.
Thri-kreen religion is animistic and led predominantly by druids. In their traditions, everything has a spirit, and the most powerful spirits (that of the seasons, the stars, rivers, great heroes, and certain sacred plants and animals) form the Taturri. Spirits of the Taturri can answer prayers and grant spells, though they aren’t quite as powerful as some gods like Ao, Bahamut, Mystra, or Lolth. The patron spirit of the thri-kreen is Dai’Khrus, the Celestial Mantis. Dai’Khrus is said to roam the Astral Plane, depositing the souls of thri-kreen in different worlds and sparking life. There is also a prophecy, issued by an oracle named Osib’Geiwhet, that states that a select few heroes, called matlumnas, will be reincarnated into other great heroes in times of strife. At the end of the world, a messiah called the Xh’adi bearing the spirits of every matlumna and the ability to move between planes will defeat the great beasts of evil, and create a world where there is peace and plenty, and all work together to solve problems. Thri-kreen have stringent traditions regarding death and the treatment of the dead. Those that die expected honorable deaths (such as a long-fated illness, old age, or death in a righteous battle) are burned so their spirits can more easily reach the afterlife. Those that die unexpected honorable deaths (such as a quick illness, starvation, unjustified murder, or death from exposure) are usually burned, though if others are suffering the same fate it is considered acceptable to eat the remains if safe. Those that die expected dishonorable deaths (justified murder, death in a wicked battle, or an illness that could have been prevented) are buried, so as to bind their soul to the earth and prevent them from passing on. Those that die unexpected dishonorable deaths (killed in the course of a crime, or dying from preventable natural sources suddenly) are always eaten.
Thri-kreen have not been the focus of most written history, as larger civilizations usually couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge them when they kept to themselves. When King Edri attempted to form western Eluterion, thri-kreen packs fought against the expansion, and many on both sides were killed. Conversely, a few decades earlier, as independent communities fought against the remaining undead seeded by Emperor Vecna (who had suffered his third death 20 years previously) together with thri-kreen. For the most part, thri-kreen follow their own traditions with little regard for the traditions of others, and their perspective on cannibalism especially has brought thri-kreen into conflict with others, as when battles occur, some less honorable packs will scavenge the battlefield and eat the corpses of fallen soldiers.

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