Society

Sir, the cargo you ordered be sent to Sagarika has been detained and impounded by the Goblin King west of the Barren Mountains. As I have repeatedly advised, the King possesses far greater wit than you give him credit, and our deception as to the quality of the goods we were sending failed to dupe his staff. I will state once more for the record that I believe the only way to secure a long-term overland route through this region is free and fair negotiation with His Majesty. This will no (…)

Are dwarves patriarchal, or are there dwarven queens?
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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 (…)

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.

Where do dragons live? Where do they come from? Are they sentient? Few are those who have ever found the nest of a dragon. Fewer still survive the experience. For many an age, the value of a dragon’s egg has driven expeditions to take dire risks. As a result, dragons seem to make their homes in the most inaccessible of locations - rocky crags, distant mountains, remote islands, some even in the Wasteland and other areas of high magic or where the veil is thinnest.
No one living knows where (…)

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 (…)

Do the HE allow humans or other humanoids to enter their island?
I believe i have referred in the past to opportunities to consult texts at one of the great elven universities on Celeda Ablan. It was one of the finer moments of my academic career, but it was not without risk. Humans, and any other outsider, who visit the elven cities on Celeda Ablan take their life in their own hands.
Provided you are wise, listen to your minders, and don’t stray beyond the permitted spaces, you should (…)

Dearest Tristopher Brother, may the Lady guide your hand and guard you well. The wedding went well. I must confess to you I don’t know just how I managed it. There was so much to do and plan, that I swear without Brother Jacque I would not have prevailed. The old man really outdid himself, my heart fills with love for him, for every thing was made perfect. From the moment we announced our intent to tie our wrists at the archway, he was tireless and ceaseless. While he busied himself thus, (…)

The Saurian Ancients are believed to have used magic longer than any other race. The relationship of the Cuatl with magic is like breathing air – their pampered bodies reflecting the degree to which their mind has focused upon its use in spell craft. No longer requiring the words or gestures, they are able to act and communicate telepathically and through others. Paradoxically, they value order and structure to such an extent that some of the wilder paths of magic are beyond philosophical (…)