A little more on the elementalist world.
Taking jdale's idea (thanks again), having each race be based on an elemental theme:
-- Earth --
*
Tyrannosaurus Rex race (Tyrannos, maybe): Dark Ages culture. They have a tail in the back.
*
Orcs (they are in the mountains). Can interbreed with humans. Medieval culture.
-- Air --
*
Golden Eagle race (humanoid birds). Medieval culture.
* Archeopteryx race (also a humanoid bird race). Medieval culture.
-- Light --
* High Elves (see The Rolemaster Standard Rules or Character Law), sun worshipers. Renaissance culture.
* Grey Elves (see The Rolemaster Standard Rules or Character Law), star worshipers. They get married at night, when starlight is out. Like the Jews. Medieval culture.
Elves can't interbreed with humans.
-- Ice --
*
Neanderthal. Can interbreed with humans. Ice age culture.
-- Water --
*
Wolfen/Vulfen. Seafarers like the ancient Norse and Danes. They speak wolf speech. Can forge amazing steel weapons. Dark Ages culture.
* Gratar. (See Races and Cultures, page 40).
-- Fire --
*
Wood Elves. Based off of Pict and the ancient beaker culture (well, near to it anyway). Bronze Age culture, fights the enemy while sky-clad. Shamanistic at heart, they revere animal spirits. Good with bows. Cannot interbreed with humans.
* Halflings (see page 49 of Races and Cultures). Fire worshipers. Wandering clans like the gypsies. Medieval culture.
-- Balance --
* Humans or Man. Both High Men and Common Men. Lords of Britannia (based mostly off of Arthurian England -- Christian Nation), Cedonia (based off of Spain -- Christian Nation), Aquitaine (based off of France -- Christian Nation), Napolone (based off of Italy -- Christian Nation). Deutchland (based off of Dark Ages Germany -- Pagan nation). Appolyan (Based off of the Holy Land during the Crusades).
Well, what do you think?