Culture

Are dwarves patriarchal, or are there dwarven queens?
—
An interesting point, which strikes at dwarven society on a wider level. Dwarves appear to have little regard for gender. Male and female dwarves can be clearly distinguished, but aside from the duties of childrearing, they both participate at all levels of dwarven society.
The word “King” is our best translation for their title, yet there are no gender specific titles, and no special honours afforded to the partners of a King. I (…)

No Brothers, No Sisters
The Only King
No Past, No Future
The Only King
No Fear, No Weakness
The Only King
Born of Soil and Born Alone
The Only King
Breaker and Builder
The Only King
One fist in Iron, the other in Stone
The Only King
Bringer of Battle, Bringer of Fate
The Only King
Heart of a Child, Heart of a King
The Only King

" Meltav. You’re a dwarf." "An’ you’re observant.
Was it th’ beard or th’ axe that gave it away?"
"What I mean, Meltav, is that you might have some keen tactical insights to offer on the foe this company faces tomorrow."
"Ah, stow it Vicenzo. These’re Eastern Dwarves - from th’ Infernal lands. Barely know a bloody thing abou’ them."
"Try."
"Ah, fine. I saw them guns while they were wheelin’ them in t’ position. Big basts’ they are. Overengineered if y’ ask me."
"Yes Meltav, we (…)

Oft depicted as mere lackeys of Chaos, the Beasts have occasionally found themselves used as pawns of the Dark Gods, but their main similarity is the dread they inspire among civilised peoples. Theirs is a distinct history, and perhaps a tragic tale. Though choosing blade over bow, they are the equals of the Sylvan folk with whom they contest for the woodland realms. All the enmity and revulsion of the Elves at the perceived violation of nature has not brought an end to these beasts – on the (…)

Ogres are among the toughest of all creatures. Their brutal nomadic life weeds out the weak, while the strongest, having weathered every type of hardship imaginable, rise to become Khans. The only thing that exceeds their endurance is their appetite. Ogres prize food above all else, and an Ogre mercenary force has been known to eat its employers into bankruptcy.
Still, Ogres can be reasoned with, provided you respect their traditions. In the days of the greatest Khan of Khans, Ogres walked (…)

In the heights of the Sky Mountains and across the plains of Augea, Ogres exert a magical influence which is anything but subtle. The Khans care not for the trickery of witches, the foretelling of seers, nor the balance of cosmologists. Theirs is a magic of fire, might and divine intervention. They bellow at the sky, call down the fury of their deities, turning ogre skin to stone and setting whole peaks alight. Even magic bends before the brute strength of the ogre and their shamans.

Greetings unto thee, oh learned Sage. I wish to know, have Orcs and Goblins ever built cities?
Although we civilized peoples might not recognize them as such, goblins at least construct a collection of edifices that one might name a city. Orcs on the other hand, are universally nomadic, and do not, therefore, tend to erect long-term settlements. Lacking both the technology and the inclination to create lasting infrastructure, orcs construct camps that are temporary – easily erected and (…)

“And into the fourth lap now! I haven’t seen this since The Eight Stone Axes nobbled the Sudden Death tribe in ’53. Four Laps! Great Stuff! And bloody too, you can smell the pain!
As the last three boars once again cross the ‘Get Ready’ line at full throttle, we have Zakrak of the Twin Moon tribe hot on the piglet’s heels. He’s closely followed by a clearly unconscious Raghat of the Seven Rocks, he’s lashing about in his saddle like a kraken taking a bath. If that leather strap breaks (…)

Tonight we witness most epic combat
Are you ready?
Make some noise
From Volsk mud, great champion of Black Pikes
Nine hundred thirty pounds
Dugek Bloody Eye!
Make some noise
From mountain cave, evil smelling, big warlord of Iron Boys
One thousand fifty six pounds
Zigbol Stubborn Fist!
Are you ready?
Let me hear
Make some noise
Make some noise
Get ready To Rumble!

Sir, on behalf of Empress Sophia I hereby grant you a commission of 5,000 men and 27 galleons for the purpose of re-establishing control of the imperial colony of Aguadulce. You will set sail this summer to Virentia, where you will refortify and expand the encampment, and oversee the plantations’ immediate return to productivity.
As you know, the colony was recently abandoned after an encounter with a local species of giant reptile. This is what we know:
The ancient creatures known as (…)