Elf/Dwarf/Orc

ryoko kui (dungeon meshi)

The setting is trapped in one of those Soulsian cycles.

humanity is the origin point →
when the nobles get too fucking noble, they become elves.
when the barbarians get too fucking barbaric, they become orcs.
when the bourgeoisie get too fucking bourgeoisie(???), they become dwarves.
→ then they all kill each other, the remainder is declared “humanity,” and the cycle starts all over again

The game takes place on the brink of the final age, in a medieval mega-city that blots out the sun. Human society is full of secret monsters; dwarves in the guilds, orcs in the back alleys, elves in the royal palace. Your task is to hunt them down and kill them, without becoming them.

Gameplay
yet another thing to distract me from my main hack

You have 3 stats: Elf, Dwarf, Orc
Each of your stats starts at 5. To test a stat, your stat + roll must equal or exceed 20.
Test Elf to move gracefully, be beautiful, make art, and kill elves.
Test Dwarf to be immovable, get lucky, smell gold, and kill dwarves.
Test Orc to break things, ignore social norms, make noise, and kill orcs. 

These stats reflect on your character physically and mentally. The more dwarf you are, the hairier and greedier you get. A PC with Elf 7/Orc 12/Dwarf 6 is going to be a very tall, very horny human.

When you test a stat, increase that stat by 1. If you fail, decrease it by 1 instead. (If you want to get anywhere, you’ll need to gain advantage before rolling)

If one of your stats exceeds the sum of the other two, you become a monster, depending on your highest stat. This is irreversible.

alexandr pechenkin
did i mention they're all bugs?

Dwarf
Stout, hairy, and short. Two multi-faceted black jewels in the eye sockets which glitter in the presence of gold. Two powerful, jutting mandibles, which burst out of the lower jaw with a burst of enamel.
Dwarves only respect wealth, and hoard valuable things for the sake of it. They have no qualms stealing from humans, but would never touch another dwarf’s hoard.
When you transform, grab and eat the most valuable item in the group.

Orc
Tall, athletic, and hairless. Covered in a thick, yet transparent, chitinous hide, beneath which strains waves and waves of thick blue muscle fiber. A pair of sensitive feelers hangs from below the nose.
Orcs are highly territorial. They squabble violently over everything they can feasibly lay claim to. They’re also constantly trying to get laid.
When you transform, start a fight. The fight isn’t over until everyone else is dead.

Elf
Thin, imperious, and sickly. Covered in pale fuzz, which they style in poofs. Digitigrade legs ending in wicked clawed feet. Mature specimens sport eye-spotted wings and a terrifying talent for magic.
Elves disdain non-elves even more than humans disdain non-humans. They have little lust for life, and demand worship and service. If they can feel excitement, they express it through cruelty.
When you transform, curse an ally for their ugliness.

Older monsters get weirder; long, segmented bodies, jagged raptorials, etc. etc. Just up the size and tape insect parts together until you get your dragon-equivalent boss monster.