* Norns: Short, squat, and cute - designed to serve tea and biscuits and look good while doing it. Created with GM tech by us shee but many now live in the wild.The Nornir are small, delicate creatures, and are rather like those small, yappy dogs in temperament. Norns are naturally shy, curious and fidgety creatures, with a lazy, hedonistic streak that often gets them into trouble. Imagine a Nursery class full of three-year-old humans, and you'll get the general idea.
There are three main of Norns: (sorted by how they live not by breed, there are far more the just two breeds) the Aesir, who lived in their homeland of Outgard and took part in the Journey, and the Vanir, who had later settled in Midgard, in the city of Niflheim (the Vanir still fully embraced the concept of the Journey, of course, but not to the extent of doing any actual walking). In both cases, Norns lived in small, homely burrows, well decorated with ornaments and pictures. Niflheim also consists of a scattering of individual burrows, but these surround a large, ramified municipal burrow, containing medical, literary, relaxation and other facilities. Last are domistic norns who are kept as pets by us shee.
* Ettins: These monotone creatures are good with gadgets, but have a bad habit of walking off with any bit of machinery that catches their eye. GMed as workers and if you can get past their anoying habeit of wandering off with shiny stuff then they can be quite good at it. They live on the surface, under vegetation, and eat a variety of small plants and animals. They are of no great significance to anything but a Grendel (to whom they make a satisfying snack), and us shee as they can be used as workers. They can be found just about anywhere on Albia.
* Grendels: Large, green killing machines, these creatures like nothing better than to smash other creatures into pulp; fortunately, their massive bulk is matched to an equally minuscule brain.
Grendels prefer hot, wet, swampy areas. They live in isolated lairs underground: simple, unadorned burrows, just large enough for a Grendel to lurk in. Apart from grisly munching noises, no-one has ever reported a Grendel actually speaking. Since they live in isolation, there is barely any need. The rare courtship behaviour of a pair of Grendels is a noisy affair, but one would scarcely describe it as conversational. Grendels have no need whatsoever of the trappings of culture. They do not build anything other than burrows (which they'd steal from someone else anyway, given half a chance), and find much greater pleasure in destroying things. The nearest a Grendel ever comes to cultured behaviour is to refrain from belching after a meal, until decently re-settled into his burrow. There is only one known exception to this lack of refinement, and that is that Grendels have a penchant for music. They don't create any of their own, of course, but it has been known for the rythmic playing of a musical instrument to lull a Grendel into a temporary stupor. This is a good trick, if you know it. Another useful ploy when trying to pass a Grendel, is to give it something else to chew on, as food is definitely top of a Grendel's agenda.
* Jormungand, the World Serpent:The unique Jormungand is a long, dragon-like sea serpent. Jormungand patrols beneath the waters of the Meniscus Sea, chasing small fish. He has gained a terrible reputation amongst the shee, for being a fearsome and dreaded foe to Journeyers on their return from Urdr's Well, but the truth is, he is just a mite too playful for an animal of such bulk. He follows boats with enthusiasm, but unfortunately has a habit of overturning them. Once the hapless sailers fall into the water, what is there left for him to do than to eat them? Only a kindness, really.
And it's OVER FIVE-HUNDRED FEET LONG! Don't go swiming on albia....
* The Doozer (or Dooser, Encyclopaedia valeriensis) is a small brown creature present in our nation. Doozers' are known for their calls, if a Doozer hears something repeatedly when growing up it will mimic that noise. Doozers with the same mimic-sounds will not breed, a cool trick as it keeps interbreeding away.
* Shee: A race unique in their mindset, most likely having invented the steam engine as an offshoot of an attempt to design a better way of brewing tea before they invented the wheel. Shee technology is often biologically based.The Shee are certainly a race apart, and have their own, softer-spoken language. Their tastes are somewhat spartan, but what they lack in material wealth, they make up for in the richness of their oral culture. They are great tellers of wise tales, but also are quite committed to writing, and seem quite eger to pass on their wisdom. They are great inventors and experimenters (for the sake of understanding, rather than practical use), as their radio contact via. SETI with earth shows.
