Humans
Humans are the largest sub-population of Planet M. Their evolution from many lower mammals into one sentient species was so sudden that it seemed to happen overnight, raising many questions as to the truth of their origins. The human academic community maintains they too are one of the original sentient species of Planet M, but this view is not shared by researchers amongst the Elves and Sylvan, who say that there is no evidence of their existence in the ancient fossil record. Human idealists suggest a teleological reason for the emergence of one species from so many disparate groups, that it marks humanity as a necessary step in some divine evolutionary plan.

Today, humans still bear many of the characteristics of the animals from which they evolved, such as apes, felines, and canines. Mostly ill-equipped to live in the wild, they adapt by developing new technologies which alter the environment to their benefit. This often puts them at odds with nature, and with other nature-reverent species such as the Elves and Sylvan, who regard their sudden emergence and proliferation as a threat to the natural order.


Elves
The elves are humanoid beings which are said to have evolved from primordial bird life, evident in their graceful forms and delicate wings. They are one of the original sentient species of Planet M, and are credited with established one of the earliest organized societies. They are the originators of the arts of magic and summoning, having passed down the knowledge to select humans over the years. For reasons unknown, the elves renounced civilization, abandoning their fantastic cities to create a new life closer to nature. The ruins of their great civilization can be found scattered all across the planet.


Sylvan
One of the original species of Planet M, the Sylvan are a race of plant-like creatures which incorporate great diversity, including even a number of humanoid forms. Like the Elves, they too lived on Planet M prior to the rise of the Harken. While they rely on material food for sustenance like the other races, they are also photosynthetic. Their abilities are greatly enhanced during the daylight hours as a result. They possess a beauty that is revered by all the other races, and are naturally gifted negotiators.


Lillia
The Lillia, one of the original sentient races, are small (two feet at their tallest) fur-covered humanoids said to have evolved from prehistoric arachnids. They are known across the world for their unique syncretic craftsmanship, blending technologies borrowed from the other races and their own original works. Finding it difficult to live amongst the humans and metahumans, due to exploitation of their diminutive size, and because of their "bug-like" appearance, most Lillia retreated to underground habitats, dealing with the people of the surface world through liasons. A large number of them have found ideological brethren in the castaways of Laconian society, collaborating with them to build the Urban Coil from the city’s abandoned aqueduct system.


Jotuns
The Jotuns are a species of giants said to have evolved from the mountain stone, due to the influence of a mysterious and powerful magic from time uncounted. During the Age of the Phaedrians, they were persecuted for their supernatural strength, which was seen as a "threat to prosperity", and due to their alliance with the Harken during that civilization's last stand. Many were killed, and the rest were driven into hiding. They currently thrive in several confederated cities scattered across planet M, yet known collectively as Jotunheim. The locations of these refuges is unknown. Occasionally Jotuns appear amongst the mainstream populous to offer unique cutting edge technologies to the highest bidder. They usually only remain for a short time as their appearance tends to cause quite a stir.


Automata
The Automata are a race of sentient machines created by the Phaedrians thousands of years ago to serve numerous functions throughout their highly advanced society. After the Great Collapse, the Automata lost their original purpose, and had to create their own. The deaths of their creators instilled in them the desire to preserve life and culture, and to that avail they have become the stewards of civilization, serving as laborers, protectors, servants, and record keepers. The Automata vary greatly in size, shape, and complexity.


Elementals
The first elementals are beings that emerged from the ancient ethers when the world was still forming, said to be born from the consciousness of the planet itself. They were Agni (Fire), Undine (Water), Marica (Earth), Fujin (Air), Indra (Electricity), Senecka (Sound), Hemera (Light), and Nyx (Darkness). After settling in regions suited to their particular affinities, the elementals each began to form their broods - either by mating with neighboring species to create the "born" or by imbuing them with elemental power to create the "blessed". Today, elementals bear both the traits of their bonded species and their elemental parents' control of the ether.


Ibeni
One of the original sentient races, the Ibeni are beings said to be born from the collective unconscious of all living things on the planet. They reside mostly in the Dreaming, but by entering into a spiritual contract with people of the the Material Plane, they can take a physical form corresponding to the wills and personalities of their summoners.


Harken
One of the original sentient species of Planet M, the Harken once dominated the world, their relationship to the other races analogous to that between gods and mortals. After the fall of their civilization during the Phaedrian intervention, they scattered across the planet, and shortly afterwards disappeared completely.


Phaedrians
The Phaedrians, known as the "holy race", are said to have come to Planet M from another world. They possessed supernatural physical and mental abilities, and it is said that they could even take on a form of pure energy. The legends say that they intervened on behalf of the other races in order to end the reign of the Harken. They would settle and colonize Planet M over the following centuries and establish a civilization all their own. But in a relatively short time, it too disappeared, during an event known as the "Great Collapse". Most of the Phaedrians are thought to have perished during this time, while some historians maintain that the survivors fled the planet and returned to their homeworld.