In a fantasy setting, what are some races that would serve as an interesting long term ally for humans rather then the standard Dwarf, Elf combo?
I was trying to figure out a way to work harpies in as a somewhat normal ally for the humans, but the only way I managed to push em in was by dumbing em down to an almost animal level and having them serve as scouts and messengers to what are basically falconers
So if you do know of some races that could, it'd be nice to see how they'd work with humans in the case of being allies or long time racial "friends"
It could simply be that harpies trade their mobility for roosting in human's towers and even homes for the winter. Harpies could be nomadic flocks that have traditional alliances and grudges with various human factions. Controlling or eradicating groups of them would be critical for wars, and they could be dwindling in numbers but too far removed from their old ways to stop relying on humans.
Parker Murphy
Yo I wanna fuck that bird.
Jackson Butler
Never actually thought to make them nomadic, though I guess the whole flying south for the winter thing can tie into that pretty well
I can imagine the humans trying to build better harpy accommodations in an attempt to woo them to their side, a sort of ally cold war between the northern n southern kingdoms
Benjamin Brown
Ratmen who burrow out vast shadow-cities directly underneath human cities of any size. All the human waste and garbage drains down great channels where the ratfolk use it as fertilizer for the fungus from which they make their bread-like staple food. Human cities are consequently the cleanest and healthiest of any surface dwellers, and they house really huge populations.
Christian Thompson
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Jackson Fisher
If you go the fairy tale that happened way in the past route, you can contrive a reason for any two races to be long-term allies
>Prince/princess from [Race A] is stranded in [hostile environment] >Is saved by member of [Race B] >Vows never to forget what [Race B] had done for them >Time passes >Prince/princess finds out that [Race B] is going through [crippling problem or natural disaster] >Uses his/her kingdom's resources to save [Race B] from certain doom >[Race A] and [Race B] were friends ever since
Bonus points for the two races intermarrying between noble houses, and especially for the prince/princess marrying the one that saved them when they were young.
Jonathan Edwards
A super-pious human nation might be able to work directly and regularly with the choirs of angels. Same with a super-unholy/occult bunch and the legions of Hell.
