Steel and Silver racial real world comparison

Only major races presented, smaller races or monster races are not based on real life beings.

Humans: Most populous and diverse group, they cover most of the world. They are based on real world English, Scotish, Italian, Spanish, Indian, Middle Eastern, German, French, Chinese, Siamese, Korean, Japanese, Australian, Carthaginian and Ethiopian

Elves: Elves were once the most major of the races but their influence has waned. There are kinds of elves now. Wood elves decide to keep living independently and hidden from the humans, based on the Navajo. High Elves are city dwellers, proud, and live amongst humans, based on the Irish. Drow are just that, Drow, but slightly based on Serbians. Twilight Elves are independent nocturnal elves that dwell in the mountains, based on the Nepalese. Eladrin are a proud ancient race and see themselves as the superior original race, based on the New England Algonquin tribes

Dwarves: A once massive group now also significantly damaged. There are three kinds of dwarves as well, but all are based on Scandanavians, except the Canyon Dwarf who is based on the Aksum. Traditional Dwarves follow the traditional living in the highest level of the underdark and see themselves as higher than the other kinds, often called Mountain Dwarves or Rockseekers. New Drawves are those that have decided to live on the surface of the world amongst the other races, they are often called Hill Dwarves or Skycallers. Any Dwarven race can be a Skycaller, except the Canyon Dwarf. Duergar are Duergar, more brutal vikings.

Halflings: The crafty halflings are a rather large group. Based on the Welsh. Ghosttouched Halflings based on Songhai.

Dragonborn: A large group that has its seat of power in the Crowning peaks. Based on Russians.

Tieflings: Once humans, now stained after their capital city of Zouliátika fell. Based on Greek

Shifters: Nomadic and more scarce, they are often hated. Based on gypsies.

Gnomes: There are four kinds of gnomes. Arctic gnomes are a strong and loud race, based on Inuits/eskimos. Rock gnomes are joyous and rely on tinkering instead of brute strength based on Danish and Deep Gnomes are a sneaky underdark dwelling people based on the Belgians. Forest gnomes are fun but shy and rely on magic over strength also based on Danish

Gith: Githyanki are based on the Zulu while Githrazei are based on the Congolese

Yuan-ti: Based on Egyptians, despite their jungle setting

Minotaurs: Long ago the Minotaurs dwelled within the Cradle of the World, but a forgotten event caused them to vanish from the land. They lived on, however, invading the distant land of Larkanshur and carving a great empire. Based on Persians.

Goliaths: Mountain people, usually barbaric. They are nomadic and tend to stay away from civilization. Based on Polish

Giants: Former kings and queens of the world, they want nothing more than to restore their power. Since the Primordial that created them, Yaammit, was slain in the war between Primordials and Gods; the giants worship nothing. based on Babylonians

Dragons: Almost hunted to extinction at one point, dragon numbers have recently begun to recover. However, in ancient times, dragons ruled the world and were worshiped by monsters and humanoids alike. Based on Sumerians.

Merfolk: Isolated from the land based races, the Merfolk are the undoubted great civilization in the deep seas. Based on the Estrucans

Triton: A mostly forgotten race of aquatic folk, mostly replaced by the merfolk. The tritons once stepped in as the rulers of a united undersea world after the aboleths were destroyed. The remaining tritons live on in isolated, almost legendary, cities that very few have ever been able to enter. Based on the Phonecians.

Tabaxi: Relatively new to the Cradle of the World, the Tabaxi hail from the far off continent of Mutul. They have only recently made contact with some areas of the Cradle. Based on the Mayans.

Aarakocra: A xenophobic war focused people that dwell on the island of Tik'al in Mutul. Based on the Aztec.

Genasi: The genasi were once a proud people who walked Larkanshur with their heads high, promoting an amazing culture. However, when the minotaur arrived most of this culture was destroyed. Many genasi escaped the mainland of Larkanshur, which fell almost completely under minotaur control, and many were enslaved by the new arrivals. Based on the Hebrews.

Centaur: While the Genasi were largely defeated by the Minotaur in Larkanshur the strong horsemen in the centaur managed to eventually fight the minotaur to an unstable stalemate. They dwell as nomads in the southeastern portion of the mainland. based on Scythia.

Kenku: Small, sneaky bird folk that dream of restoring their ability to fly and reclaiming their lost kindgom. Based on the Portuguese

Shadar-Kai - unique race with a unique culture of the Realm of Shadow, very death oriented. Not really based on anything.