D&D - Race Science Detector

Each character is built out of traits and skills that affect their strengths by literally adding or subtracting numbers from your roles. One reason Volanthe Aced that perception check earlier is because she had advantages. All wood elves have bonuses when they roll perception thanks to their keen senses and wood elf wisdom. In the game, these are racial traits. And again, what it means to be a dragonborn or even a human is written into the D&D manual in some ways that can be kind of unfortunate.