Like Tolkien's Arda the World of Earthdawn is set in a fictional or alternative past of our Earth, approximately 8.000 years b.C. Although Earthdawn's Elves, Trolls, Orcs and Dwarves are in many ways based or influenced on Tolkien's designs, there are significant differences.Earthdawn Elves sometimes have tendencies which might be described as machiavellian, selfish and manipulative, surpassing even the Feanorians and Doriathrim in their worst moments, on the other hand Earthdawn Orcs are not the corrupted lifeforms unable to salvation they are in Arda, but despite of their rather feral or savage nature able to feel compassion and develop morality or ethic values.The same might be said about Earthdawn Trolls, while Earthdawn Dragons are not the demonic evil entities they are in Arda but mo