Belaw (+ intuition) coralmen, shellen - a human-sized coral species, the belaw are centered around a lake overflowing with aquaculture.  despite their love of water, they are still air-breathing creatures and prefer to live along the surface of the water rather than fully under it.  They are perhaps the most expansionist race in their mentality, but are so patient in doing so that it is rarely remarked upon.  In the same way they grow, tend, and manipulate the coral horns and crests of their body, their passive approach has given them the outside perception of being weak and cowardly.  ethiopian and kanem cultural traits dominate.  The degree of control over how they grow their coral armors allows for a large amount of visual individuality from person to person.  A massive obelisk of unknown origin acts as a religious relic, although one often considered old fashioned in recent years.  
Linked Skills: Natural Armor & Weak-Willed.  The coral structures on their body are physically protective but enhance a wide variety of psionic and magical waves.  The flaw and skill can only be selected linked at the same level (so no net xp change).  Although other options exist in the race as a whole, for PC's the base choices are 1, 1d4, or 1d8.  

Calviz (+ agility) amphibs, divas, tweakers - the four-armed amphibians are slightly shorter than the average human, with variations in color and patterning that are small but easily distinguishable.  They have some of the most extensive architecture, and even the poorest calviz often lives in a mansion surpassing even that of the humans and pygmies.  They are also one of the more warlike peoples, although intimidation and show-boating are far more common than actual combat.  The calviz coliseum is not unique, but is far more popular and loved than foreign equivalents.  They have become a second home to refugee races, often considered naive hippies, that were more absorbed than conquered as the minority nomadic races found shelter from the hostile wilderness.  Often considered vain, the calviz merely insist that they apply the same diligence to their appearance as they do to their architecture and war games.  The "tweaker" racial slur is in regard to their propensity to be regularly smoothing their oil secretions over themselves.  Hungarian and proto-russion cultural elements dominate although their ducal mercenary system is most reminiscent of a swiss guard scenario.  Wines and meads are their most profitable luxury.
Unique Skill: Multilimb (max ranks 5 grants full multi-limb access but also causes a penalty to Avoid as they flail about)
refugee subrace: ____

Zarael (+ divinity) lizardfolk, scalebacks, psychers, bangers - the tallest race, these reptiles have the most consistent racial appearance, often appearing nearly indistinguishable to non-psychics.  amongst themselves, or other psychics, their aura is more likely to identify them; although many have taken to intricate forms of dress to more easily distinguish themselves.  their natural psionics make them prone to kindness, but also to a polyamorous lifestyle not universally appreciated.  many hold adamantly against the cultural clash with their closest affiliates in the witernes, and are more zealous in their proselytization and recruitment than most.  some forms of asceticism are also observed by a sizeable religious majority, mostly in the form of monastic pursuits.  the vast majority of zarael are strict vegetarians.  their steppe culture bears reminiscence of both georgian (the country) and armenian cultural appearance.  Wraiths and similar psionically empowered undead are a regular threat to their people, and elaborate burial rights have become a preventative measure.  Animal husbandry has become an art to the zarael and they have by far the most extensively diverse species of domesticated animals.  
Favored Flaw: Autoempathy (penalty to Sanity max 10).  Most zarael are at least minorly psionic and nearly half display major potential.

Witernes (+ knowledge) myxa, oozen - a large race of ooze creatures, the witernes are often considered the height of advanced thinkers even by outsiders.  disdainful of the lustful ways of their zarael neighbors, internally they firmly believe themselves to be the most clearly advanced and wisest of a particularly persian flavored culture.  some remain wary of the witernes however, as it is said they are deeply envious and have been known to go to extreme lengths in their search for hidden knowledge, utilizing spies and the dark market without restraint.  their form is a mucus-like reaction to protect their internal moisture in a desert, and the dissipation of being immersed in water, although pleasureable, is more dangerous for them than aridity.  Incense burning is considered both pleasurable and valuable to memory.  
Unique Skill: Squishy (escape artist + malleable form, but its molasses slow).  Favored Flaw: UnEnduring (reduction of Endurance (Know+Con) thresholds, min Endurance of 1)

Tjorae (+ guile) myconids, fun guys - a short race of mushroom people most renowned for their charity, but also disregarded for their stubbornness and lordly social status.  They culturally value cleverness in the acquisition and utilization of resources, and find they are the best at allocation of resources.  This is primarily beneficial, as they emphasize the most charity that can be provided.  They are substantially expansionist, and more commercial than many societies.  One of their biggest challenges is the influx of immigrant spirits, many of which are nuisance prankster or harassing in nature.  They are most closely associated with the Lesh, many of which they lord over.  Their homeland is a lush grassland dotted with palm trees, and smokeable plants are their primary luxury product.  some french/northafrican influences.
*recover Vitality in hours of rest/meditation, but recover Focus in days

Lesh (+ perception) flowerfolk, petals, children of the leaf - the plant people are the smallest race, and is largely centered around alpine agriculture.  They live a simple and humble life, although some are prone to melancholy.  More hard-working races often look down upon them as just being lazy, but many advocate for a pacifistic and passive approach to life.  Although their own architecture is typically grown, they are centered around an ancient mountain relic from a long forgotten people.  The Mountain Mother is a massive fountain believed to have been blessed by the Creator.  In older times nomads from all over would visit the fountain, but this practice has become less common in recent years.  Their high perception opens up a variety of sensory skills, which can vary significantly by individual.  The lesh are by far the most genetically diverse race and can have a wide variety of appearances.  One danger in the region specific to them is vegetator squirrels, which will preferably target lesh for consumption with great zeal.  Their culture has elements of modern swedish and italian flavor.
Unique Skill: Float like a Butterfly (max ranks = ranks in delicate).  Favored Flaw: Delicate (physical DR penalty, max = Con)

Ogre (+ strength) neandrethals, trolls, bigguns - The brave and angry warriors of the western jungles have little contact with most other races, but are often feared for both their fierceness in battle and their religious zealotry.  Believing themselves to be a once holy and racially superior empire, isolation and dangerous jungle beasts have taken their toll over the past century.  However those that do travel find that their native gems and precious metals bring great exchange rates in the world at large.  In a large way they can be closer to revolutionary american culture than any of the human races.  

Pygmy (+ constitution) duergar, dark gnomes, midgets - a short humanoid race generally deemed the most untrustworthy on the continent.  Their reputation for capitalistic enterprise is viewed negatively (albeit for different reasons) by most other peoples.  Although they do not employ slavery, their system of indentured servitude is so harsh as to leave minimal distinction.  Their centralized location gives them an above average level of access to cross cultural trade and travelers.  Heavy baltic influences include various slavic/bulgarian/byzantine cultural elements.  Their city of Varangia is one of the largest on the continent, only rivaled by their hoomon neighbors.  Varangia also extends underground as well, providing a city within a city.  It's not really considered a safe place and comparisons would be similar to like 1980's gritty NYC or chicago.  they also seem to be getting more and more ferengi overtones as we develop this, and i'm absolutely just going to roll with that.  although unintended its almost too perfect really.
The location of Dark Sun University.  Dark Sun is one of only two known universities on the continent.  The other, located in witernes lands, is older and more prestigious but far more specialized, lacking the broad commercial application of Dark Sun.  (think Notre Dame v OSU)  

Human (+ lowest attribute) hoomons, homids, fatties - a diverse and seafaring race often disliked for their gluttonous ways.  humans are the only people with multiple city-states across various swamps, bogs, and marshes.
City of Aelvan - The farthest known Eastern reaches of the continent, the Aelvans are a hard-working folk reliant on the sea for their survival to overcome poor soil conditions.  Although they lack crop diversity, they are particularly known for <robbiepick?> booze and the <robbiepick?> horse/pony with a distinctly scottish flavor.  In the most recent war of the continent, the Aelvan attempted to seize logging rights from a border region with the Czesko.  They lost, although the region is still mostly unclaimed.  
City of Czesko - The largest of the human cities, Czesko are also the most scientifically minded.  Although they lack a university and show little interest in spreading knowledge, they are home to the largest library on the continent having paid hundreds of scribes and clerks to gather knowledge and fill the library.  They are also known for their statues of the dead, large and elaborate monuments to their heroes of old.  formed by the alliance of two tribes in the long long ago, most modern Czesko are now hybridized in their bohemian and polish roots.  They are some of the best metal-workers on the continent and czesko steel is highly prized in making weapons.  
City of ___