There are three known intelligent species native to Avishraa, and on the whole, the setting is intended to be played using those species. (This is not to absolutely rule out other species - there may already be, for example, a long-lost colony of safir living on a distant continent - but before using a character of non-Avishraan origin, there will need to be discussion as to what they are, what they can do, and how they arrived in and fit into the setting.)

Summaries of each species follow below. Keep in mind that while many of the descriptions of behavior are generally applicable, they should be thought of as tendencies rather than prescriptions for how a character should look or act; as with humans, individuals may stand out in either respect.

These are by far the most common natives of Avishraa; though they are functionally separate species, they are listed together here because they are very closely related to each other, somewhat like humans and Neanderthals, and a number of statements apply to both of them.

• Both takmar and xtauh bear a fair resemblance to European dragons of Earthly lore. They have two forelimbs that can be used as either arms or legs, two hindlimbs that are exclusively legs, and a pair of batlike wings. They do not have horns.
• Rather than ears, they have long, thin, flexible structures sprouting from the sides of the head, above and well behind the eyes (you can call them antennae for convenience). They hear very well underwater, but above it not quite as well as humans. The positions of the antennae play a very large role in facial expressions.
• Their eyes are catlike, with vertical pupils; the irises are usually lighter-colored, in blues, greens, or golds. They have very good vision in low light.
• They are an egg-laying species; one to three eggs is normal. Females have some ability to affect the timing and choice of sperm in fertilization. Nests differ in construction depending on climate but generally rely on covering eggs with some material that preserves warmth and prevents them from drying out.
• A range of scale colors are possible in each species, but they are much less strongly correlated with the idea of race than in humans; subpopulations are much more distinguishable by body proportions and facial structure.
• When moving around on the ground, they prefer to go on all fours. Using only the hind legs frees up their hands, but it stresses the spine and limits how fast and nimble they can be; running on two legs for any length of time is a clumsy process for all but those trained for it. Members of both species can fly, though they aren't long-distance fliers and tire easily; they can only carry a little bit of weight while in the air.
• They are good swimmers, but get very nervous about water in which they cannot see clearly, whether because of depth or cloudiness.
• Females are bigger than males - taller, longer, and generally more muscular. They tend to have bolder differences in color than males, who are more typically restricted to different shades of the same color. They're more stable on their feet than males, but the opposite is true in the air.
• Females are generally more territorial and status-conscious than males. Females have drab-colored status markings that can change in shade depending on how she perceives her own rank in society; someone with very dark markings is either a leader of her community or thinks very, very highly of herself. Males tend to be somewhat more egalitarian and communal among those they're close to.
• The sex ratio of the population as a whole is skewed; there are about two males to every female. Polyandry is common in almost all cultures, as is a taboo about a female revealing the paternity of any of her children. In many cultures, the principles of biological paternity are not publicly acknowledged at all.
• Most settlements are based around clusters of matriarchal families and their properties, though a small but significant percentage of the population - overwhelmingly male - migrates in groups across the landscape. Because of this population distribution, political power tends to concentrate in female hands despite the larger male population.

• Takmar are considerably bigger (usually 2.5 to 3 meters long) than xtauh (1.75 to 1.9 meters long) and more solidly built; xtauh are typically rangier. Xtauh typically have shorter, blunter muzzles.
• Xtauh come in colors of a brown-red-yellow spectrum, either matte or reflective (in a metallic or pearlescent way). Takmar have both of these, but also a blue/green/purple spectrum. Color inheritance is… complicated, so
• The antennae of takmar extend backward and curve slightly upward, while those of xtauh extend out to the sides and arc upward before reaching a downward curve at the tips. The ways the two species position them for expressions of mood are analogous to each other, but because the actual organs are differently shaped, the same expression will look very different. This plays a large role in the difficult relations between the species.
• Takmar are more environmentally sensitive, especially to moisture. They dehydrate easily, and their preferred habitats all have high humidity, precipitation, or bodies of available water, preferably all three. A takma in an arid environment must drink and bathe frequently to remain healthy. The bodies of xtauh use moisture more efficiently and with the proper lifestyle they can live in arid environments without bathing.

Of the Avishraan species and skillsets, the only one that's absolutely restricted to NPCs at this point are Chosen wielding Span magic. Because this involves being able to see through time, teleport, and various other terrifying abilities, and is canonically extremely rare, it's not really suited for player use. Playing a Doomtouched is allowed, but may involve some discussion as to what you intend to do with the character.