Orcrest | Supplemental Lore

Supplemental Lore

Overview

These pieces of lore are intended as deep dives on certain subjects, or else small snippets of lore that don't fit anywhere else. Things on this page are generally not necessary to learn to play on Orcrest, but are here for those with interest or for when roleplay heads towards these directions.

Overview

Deep dives are aimed to provide a wealth of information about a specific topic, allowing people to explore the depths of those topics with confidence. These speak about the most common forms of their topic, and don't preclude other examples existing.

Overview

This section will go over the most common languages in the world, but it is not an exhaustive list. There are dozens or even hundreds of tiny languages, dialects, splinters, creoles, pidgins, and code languages across the world, these are simply the widely spoken, historically important, or otherwise notable ones.

Aer Language Family (Aerliyu, Aerulka)

The Aer language family consists of two languages: Aerliyu and Aerulka. These languages have their origins in the tongue that the elves brought to the world from the Lands Beyond - in fact, due to the staggering age of elves in general and high elves in particular, the language has hardly changed in the nearly two and a half thousand years since. Aerliyu, meaning "Beneath Liyúvië", is the language of Aer Arnad, and as such has spread to much of the world to match the ancient empire's borders. Outside of Aer Arnad, several parts of the Sulgate kept it as their language, and almost everywhere it can be used as a language of trade, diplomacy, and learning. Even in areas of fierce opposition to Aer Arnad the language is yet learned by rulers, diplomats, scholars, and travelling merchants. Aerulka ("Beneath Ulkarith"), by contrast, is rarely heard outside the Underdark. The language of the drow and their underlings, Aerulka is mutually intelligible with Aerliyu, and in truth is more of a dialect than a language proper, only being labelled such for political purposes rather than linguistic ones.

Ko-man Language Family (Ko-man, Ættunga, Khunikoi, Kohon, Kolisan)

Ko-man is an old tongue coming out of the lands of Nuumalon in antiquity. Over the years and the short lifespans of its speakers, it has changed much, and a modern speaker would struggle greatly to parse even a short sentence of old Ko-man. Meaning "Tongue of Man", Ko-man is the dominant language in much of the west, with both Beleri and the lands of the former kingdom of Nuumalon speaking it primarily. What's more, after the defeat of the dragons and mortals spreading further afield, several offshoots have taken root. To the north, the Ættgardfolk took to what they call Ættunga, or "Tongue of Ættgard", the cousin furthest afield from modern Ko-man. To the east of them the Khunikoi named their language after themselves, their endonym meaning "Swift Silence". Further east the various dialects in Honsu are collectively named Kohon, or "Tongues of Honour", and to the south the Sulgate hosts Kolisan, a language who's literal translation is "Tongue of Tongues", and who claims the mark of the newest language in the family, having developed fully in the waning days of the Ssianid empire, though it emerged from a centuries old creole.

Trommrhun

Birthed in the dwarfholds of Grimgaud, Trommrhun translates roughly as "Beard Runes". In truth, there is some academic debate over if Trommrhun is a single language, or if the dialects spoken in the Thradhels and the Sulgate amount to a firm enough distinction - while both are mutually intelligible with the Trommrhun of Grimgaud, they are not to each other, and those from Grimgaud have a harder time understanding those outside than the other way around. Despite that, speakers of all three dialects maintain that Trommrhun is a single language, always has been, and always will be, and that others are simply speaking it poorly, regardless of how much outsider academics might make claim to the contrary. They often take this one step further, insisting that their Trommrhun is the same as their ancestors, despite high elf academics noting linguistic drift. Their obstinate counter to this is that their text has remain carved in stone, as it were, and the written form of all three dialects and the oldest Trommrhun records is identical, even if their spoken form varies greatly.

Kirzagor

Kirzagor, or "Blood Mouth", is the name given to the collective dialects of the orcs and their ilk. A harsh language befitting its owner, Kirzagor quickly spread to their goblinoid cousins when they escaped and joined the world, and now it is nigh ubiquitous amongst them. Kirzagor is remarkable amongst the languages of the world in that it did not develop either alphabetic or logographic complete writing systems, instead using "kirog", a system of lines carved into wood that is exclusively used to count things - be they provisions, prisoners, enemies, casualties, or warriors - with no capacity for more complex messages. Those rare orcs or goblinoids (typically hobgoblins) who find this to be a shortcoming will typically use another language to write in, most commonly Aerulka, but potentially others depending on location and circumstance. It is also remarkable in that almost every clan has their own dialect of it, some sounding wildly different, yet despite how an outside observer might think they were speaking a completely different language, Kirzagor's dialects are all not only intelligible but so easy to understand that is isn't ever a consideration amongst native speakers.

Firtalm

"Flame Speech", the language of dragons, yet persists in the world. Once ubiquitous, the tongue of conquerors, it now exists in the rare dragon that yet roams, or else in the kobolds, their creations, who keep the language alive through sheer persistence - the language not drifting even slightly due to its magical nature. Firtalm is very rarely known outside of the spawn of dragonkind, only being learned by dragon cultists and scholars who care not for societal norms and wish to delve into ancient writings. Speaking Firtalm aloud is nearly always a way to guarantee a fight, and the languages unique sound makes it difficult to play off as anything other than the tongue of the ancient oppressor.

Overview

For as long as there have been people there have been people getting intoxicated. From berries fermented in the sun to plant extracts, from venoms to refined products, people throughout history have managed to find a way to not be sober. Below are the most notable of the substances currently used.

Socially Acceptable Intoxicants

These substances are generally considered safe to imbibe in moderation, and unless used in excess rarely frowned upon by others in society. A merchant trading in these would be considered legitimate, if perhaps someone who encourages others to indulge in vices they shouldn't.

Alcohol: By far the most common of intoxicants, various alcohols are made throughout the world, and even small villages likely have at least one brewer in them. Most alcohol produced is of relatively low quality - smallbeer and light wines, produced locally and rarely aged, but there are also more sophisticated productions producing fine products for the discerning customer. Some notable examples will be included in this list.
Rosewood Wine: Produced in Rosewood Vale, this wine is renown as the finest in the province of Orcrest, and often considered the finest in the entire west. Produced in both white and red varieties, they are typically well aged.
Helmrast Vintage: A collective name for wines produced anywhere in Aer Arnad, but aged for a preposterous amount of time. These rare wines are revered, often older than its drinkers, with many connoisseurs hunting for a specific vintage for decades. Each wine's flavour differs dramatically by vineyard and vintage, but regardless of the specifics it is considered a drink worth killing for by those who seek its exquisite taste - or by those who want to sell it for its astronomical market price.
Magemead: This honey wine is made with a delicate blend of rare flowers, honey, and secret component that carries magic into the brew. The result is a fairly potent mead with a botanical flavour profile, one that carries with it a unique side effect: those who imbibe it find their eyes glowing with an ethereal haze for a short duration. Notable as well is that alcoholics that use magemead as their drink of choice sometimes exhibit signs of magical corruption, particularly around their mouths.
Orsburg Ale: Produced in Grimgaud, this ale is famous for its bold flavour. Considered an acquired taste by many, those who like it love it, and those who don't hate it. It is a strong ale, red in colour, and always aged. Rumour has it they are aged in barrels used to produce stronger spirits, though the brewers in Orsburg refuse to answer questions about their process.
Azure Honey: (Bluedrip, Royal Nectar, Felicity) A vivid blue honey produced by a rare breed of bees native to the Elm and the surrounding regions. Typically stirred into food or drink, it offers a gentle boost in mood and a fleeting sense of happiness. However, consuming too much can result in an intense, euphoric high, followed by a miserable comedown, prompting most to use it only in carefully measured doses.
Valatar: (Elven Oats, Seagift, Towermaker) A wild-growing weed common around the north and eastern shores of the sea of Calingwai that, once dried and ground into a fine powder, is considered a powerful aphrodisiac. Though it leaves no lasting physical harm, it often brings about deep personal embarrassment and wounded pride, and so is very rarely used outside of the privacy of one's home or a brothel. A notable exception to this is a practice amongst high elves to add valatar to drinks during balls, parties, or other social events - something that is rationalized as a treatment for their low birth rate.
Ole Dandy: (Dryleaf, Pipeweed, Teasmoke) Native to the Nuumalon, this weed, when dried and smoked, is known for inducing a mild sense of sluggishness. Particularly favoured amongst older folk for its calming effects, though excessive use can induce long term lethargy and a strong desire to rest. Dandy is quite addictive, though its side effects are mild enough that most addicts are still fully functional members of society.
Bakgol: (Grimweed, Cough, Caveburn) This mushroom, grown deep underground in Grimgaud and the surrounding regions, is often dried and ground into a loose collection that can be smoked in a pipe. Noted for its unique taste compared to other smoking options, it gives off a sweet fragrance that fills the throat with a soft burn. Smoking bakgol often leads to intense coughing or wheezing, so it is often favoured by stoutfolk who's hardy lungs can better withstand its effects. Users receive a gentle mood improvement, an increase in appetite, and a soothing sensation through the body. Increased or repeated use can result in reddened eyes, lethargy, a lack of motivation, and in rare cases prolonged shortness of breath.
Huashi: (Lion Petal, Calmbloom, Gwathian Tea) A vine flower native to Honsu, huashi is known for its distinctively bitter taste. Dried, and then either smoked or made into a tea, huashi's effects are mild and manageable, making it a favoured choice amongst those who seek a gentle experience. It gives a sense of soft euphoria and headiness, as well as a restful sensation, with side effects including dry mouth, slight eye redness, and minor pupil dilation. Despite its far off origins, huashi can be cultivated easily in most climates south of the Thradhels, and so is a common sight around the world in the past century.

Socially Unacceptable Intoxicants

These substances are generally considered too dangerous, addictive, long lasting, or otherwise problematic for upstanding members of society to engage in. Merchants peddling these wares will often find themselves driven out of town, and those poor souls who use them are pitied and reviled.

Bellmare Drop: (Redeye, Truesight, Drowdrop) Derived from the strikingly beautiful Bellmare Flower native to northern Nuumalon and much of the Thradhels, this substance holds both danger and allure. While its petals are toxic if ingested, when administered ophthalmically, bellmare drop induces intense hallucinations and euphoria. However, repeated use damages the eye, with continued exposure potentially leading to permanent vision loss, and bellmare is quite addictive.
Miriacilan: (Sparkle Glass, Lip, Waxgum) This substance is crafted from a rare mineral found deep underground. Initially a soft, silvery stone, it is transformed through a delicate process involving resins harvested from the Salt Marshes in the heart of Aer Arnad, resulting in a clear, glass-like compound. When heated, it loses rigidity and turns into a gel of sorts, which can be smeared in small quantities on the gums to gain a rapid surge of energy and heightened alertness. While effective, even small doses result in magical corruption, and large doses or repeated use can place severe strain on the heart, potentially resulting in cardiac failure. While Miriacilan isn't physiologically addictive, the effects are certainly psychologically addictive, with many people chasing the rush of energy and feeling of power it provides.
Alfium: (Godtears, Deadlock, Bliss) Derived from a plant native to the Sulgate, this clear sap, when filtered, heated, and taken as a tincture induces a powerful euphoric rush, followed by deep relaxation and a notable relief from pain. Highly addictive, alfium comes with several side effects that become more pronounced with repeated use: constipation, drying of the mouth and nasal passages, confusion, and nausea. Due to the potency of alfium, overdose is not uncommon, particularly amongst those chasing the high or in the depths of addiction.
Saultdust: (Shard, Sunspike, Glow) Perhaps the most expensive of the intoxicants, Saultdust is actually in theory quite abundant. It is merely a ground up Saultshard, sprinkled on food or inhaled directly. Users report feeling power coursing through their body, a feeling of euphoria, and an unshakable certainty of invulnerability. Repeated users quickly show signs of magical corruption, particularly on their face and fingers, and while not physically addictive it is highly psychologically addictive, with people desperate to feel the power once more. Certain people report stronger magic while using it, but such a thing has not been confirmed to be true by rigorous research.

Overview

Prejudice is nigh-ubiquitous in the world, from something as mild as a slight distrust to outsiders to something as thoroughly ingrained and stratified as the high elf opinion on other races. These prejudices shape how societies interact, though they are not universal. Plenty of people see past these divisional lines - though many of those simply replace them with alternate lines, like religious differences. Plenty of others claim to see past these lines but do not operate as such in truth. Regardless, a simmering undercurrent of minor prejudice underpins most any social interaction between distinct groups, only moved past with intention from both parties.

Elm

A backwater and entirely agrarian kingdom, Elm is quite poor compared to her neighbours - so much so that even the various slights against them seem to treat the place more as a farmer's field rather than an actual kingdom. Elmsmen are seen poorly by most, and at best viewed as simple and rugged people and at worst viewed as boorish, uncultured, and uncouth. They are typically treated fairly but dismissively outside of Elm, with the notable exception of those in Aer Arnad, who consider them to be one step off savages and treat them with derision and scorn, and those of the Underdark, who believe them to be weak of arm and of mind.

Common slights against Elmsmen include:

Harvestmen/women
Harvest Knight, Harvest Lord, Harvest King (for respective nobles)
Fieldfolk
Sun-backed (by Grimfolk)
Mumble-mouths (by the Beleri, referencing a perceived lack of charm)
Grainborn (by Nuumen)
Ryemunchers (by the Aerliyu)

Aer Arnad

If the lists of curses one could sling at this grand empire could be spun into threads of gold, one would have lengths of shimmering cord that could wrap across the planet seven fold. An empire seemingly impervious to time and unfamiliar with the bitter taste of defeat, enemies exist to her as a constant and familiar companion, and friends a rarity in extreme. Now that the empire has found itself on the back foot and reeling from unfamiliar humiliation, the people of it’s neighbouring lands eagerly ready their venom towards it. They are universally disliked, seen as arrogant, cruel, and tyrannical.

Common slights against the Aerliyu include:

Layabouts
Work-scared
High-arsed
Gilt-dwellers
Wealdwoe
Bowbenders
Aerheads
Reavers
Reaver-elves (for elves)
Knife-ears (for elves)
Spindleshites (for high elves)
Turntails (by Nuumen and Elmsmen, mocking their retreat from their borders)

Nuumalon

Once a powerful and united kingdom, it has waned and now wilts on the vine. Splitting into various feuding dynasties, Nuumalon is a kingdom that is now the sick man of the continent. The slights against its people point this out readily. Views of Nuumen are mixed, with most viewing the people of this kingdom as generally welcoming, but prone to braggadocio. Nuumen would be treated fairly in most places but Aer Arnad, where they would be treated with gleeful cruelty, and the Underdark, where they would be treated with gleeful cruelty, but with a darker colour palette.

Common slights against Nuumen include:

Backbiters
Raggabrashers
Not-men (for Nuumen specifically)
Crook-necks, Bookdwellers (for people from Gularth specifically, mocking their scholarly traditions)
Hedgefolk (by Grimfolk)
Rakescolds (by the Beleri, who view them as cold and stern)
Brokenmen/women (by the Aerliyu, mocking Nuumalon’s defeats by their hand)

Grimgaud

Ruled by the warrior-king Fabnar the First, Grimgaud is yet another kingdom on a stark line of decay. Because of this, most of the slights against its subjects focus more on their perceived faults and failings, rather than geography or wealth. Dwarves are seen, perhaps unfairly, as surly and ornery people. To most outside of Grimgaud, the difference between gnomes and dwarves is treated as little more than regional trivia. Grimgaud is viewed favorably by most, and dwarves and their gnomish allies, despite being viewed as surly, are still quite liked, except by Aer Arnad who view them as upstarts without the common decency to kneel to their Imperial power, and those of the Underdark, who view them as bitter foes worthy of nothing except death and despair.

Common slights against Grimfolk include:

Pickmad
Grimefolk
Shortfolk (referencing both their stature and their temper)
Gnome (to a dwarf, commonly done by Elmsmen travelers)
Child (to a gnome, also commonly done by Elmsmen)
Stonelovers (by Nuumen, mocking their fine stonecraft)
Rockminders (by the Beleri, who dislike their conservative nature)
Legbeards (by the stoutfolk of Hellion Hall and Daedina)
Cavesmellers (only a filthy goblin would say this)
Kindling (by dwellers in the Underdark)

Vhaunlur

The list of slights and slurs against the beings that inhabit this ruined dwarven city would be so long as to fill entire tomes. They are deeply hated by virtually everyone, including those from other parts of the Underdark. To keep it short and simple, here is a list of ones more commonly used by their neighbors.

Common slights against the Lurish include:

Orcbedders
Coffin-stuffers
Arrowbait
Greenlings
Blaggards
Grape-Elves (for drow)
Gray-Elves (for drow)
Knife-ears (for drow)
Pig-tooths (for orcs)
Wargbedders (for goblinoids)

Beleri

A powerful mercantile state, Beleri is an immense juggernaut of economical output and cultural exchange. What it lacks, however, is a reputation for bravery. The Beleri are viewed categorically as money-minded and shrewd sailors, but quick to rely on foreign mercenaries and gunpowder to win their battles for them. This is, of course, categorically false and entirely unreasonable, considering their navy is the envy of the world, but truth rarely gets in the way of banter. Still, a libertine culture and flamboyant customs have earned them their share of ire. In general, they are well-liked if not well-respected by most outside the Underdark.

Common slights against the Beleri include:

Runabouts
Powdermen/women
Linen-stainers
Pissabeds
Tradehaukers
Bedswervers (by Elmsmen, who dislike their salacious views on sex)
Saltdrinkers (by Nuumen)

Thradhel

Another place with many insults to their name, Thradhel is viewed as wild and cruel, a land of lawless barbarians. From the Ættgardtfólk to the Hellion dwarves, so many slights exist for them all that they’re nearly impossible to list. Like the Lurish they are broadly despised by nigh everyone, even others in the Thradhels.

Common slights against Thradhellions include:

Hellions
Snowbeard
Hillborn
Peacebane
Fishflinger (for the Hvíturkötturfólk)
Hawkshit (for the Svartkrummfólk)
Backstripper (for the Dádýrfólk)
Axemen/women (by Nuumen)
Coldfeet (for the dwarves of Hellion Hall, by the stoutfolk of Grimgaud and Daedina)

Sulgate

A once great empire now reduced to sifting sands and forgotten ruins, the scattered remains of this resplendent place now live on in a perpetual twilight. Warlords fight for scraps of land, feuding for trade routes and power. And looming over it all lies the culture that once ruled- hauntoligically dominating every aspect of life. Because of this slights for these people are rare, and relate more to an assumed sense of caprice of the populace. They’re viewed, typically, with suspicion and caution, but seldom outright disdain. A notable exception to this is the people of Myultaoh, who are viewed as an extension of Aer Arnad.

Common slights against the Sulgan include:

Sunrakes
Dustchurls
Palmkissers
Sandbeards (for the dwarves of Daedina, by the stoutfolk of Grimgaud and Hellion Hall)
Wyrmwatchers (for those of Myultaoh, by the Aerliyu)

Honsu

A distant and mysterious empire, the stark lack of immediacy and contact between this and the western halves of the world leave far less room for conflict. Most slights against them relate to the more chauvinistic views of Aer Arnad, and to their unfamiliar nature to some despite how many travelers may hail from it. Like Gularth, their scholarly nature earns them slight ire. Still, they’re so rare they hardly catch the same level of scrutiny that others might, and as such are generally treated well by all but the most uncivilized of peoples.

Common slights against the Honsan include:

Gwathians (using their exonym instead of their endonym is mildly offensive)
Wordwisers
Silkworms (by the Aerliyu)
Farfolk (by Nuumen, Elmsmen, and the Beleri)
Scrollnose (by Elmsmen)

Planetouched

Be it a Ranatoran viewing a puresoul as a mouthpiece for heresy, a Beleri claiming a seakin cast a curse on their ship, or literally anyone treating a fiendheart with distain, most planetouched will go through life facing some degree of hate, distrust, or scorn. Celestial planetouched typically face the least of this, with many viewing them as blessings and envoys of the gods, and infernal planetouched typically face the most, as nigh everyone considers their origins unholy.

Common slights against planetouched include:

Half-cursed
Falseskins
Prevaricators (for celestial planetouched)
Foureyes (for celestial planetouched, often altered to six or eight eyes as is needed)
Vaunter (for celestial planetouched)
Impkin (for infernal planetouched)
Scapehorns (for infernal planetouched)
Devilfolk (for infernal planetouched)
Tindercatch (for fire planetouched)
Sootlings (for fire planetouched)
Ashers (for fire planetouched)
Squallers (for air planetouched)
Blowhards (for air planetouched)
Dreichmen/women (for air planetouched)
Sodders (for earth planetouched)
Stoneheads (for earth planetouched)
Dirtmen/women (for earth planetouched)
Sailorsbane (for water planetouched)
Wetwhelps (for water planetouched)
Fishfuckers (for water planetouched)

Half Races

To live in this world is to be tied tightly knit to those around you, by kith and kin or simply by allegiance alone. To those bound by circumstances of birth to wider societies, those outside of the tightly woven lattice are seldom viewed kindly. Though ranging in extremes, most half races must exercise great caution socially, as their existence exists at the very edge of polite society.
Common slights against half races include:

Halfbreed
Half-ear (for half-elves and half-drow)
Mankin (for half-elves, by elves)
Bedwarmers (for half-elves)
Bonechewer (for half-orcs, by Elmsmen)
Half-tusks (for half-orcs, by orcs)
Plightborn (for half-orcs, an extremely cruel reminder of a common source of their existence)
Grayling (for half-drow)
Gravebound (for half-drow, by Grimfolk)
Wolfhead (for half-drow, a reference to being a "wolf in sheep's clothing")

Advanced Elven Racism

Elven supremacy as an ideology is common amongst harvest elves and nigh ubiquitous amongst high elves - it even has a core of belief in the humans of Aer Arnad. To the elven supremacist, there is a strict racial hierarchy with elvenkind at its head (and high elves at the head of elvenkind). Below them are the subject races, those who are fit to till the fields and man the ramparts, typically humans and stoutfolk. Below them are the curiosities, fit for entertainment, curiosity, research, and little else: the planetouched, faun, khurnaz, and cretox. Lastly are the malefactors, those races that exist to do little beyond evil, in their mindset: drow, orcs, goblinoids, and kobolds. While the truth is that these categories are largely pulled from various posteriors, elven scholars have created a veritable industry around using academic language to portray these categories as real, rational, and in fact necessary for the long term health of the world.

Terms used by elvish supremacists include:

Fink
Bounder
Heel
Boor
Louse
Cur
Dreg (for subjects)
Factotum (for subjects)
Churl (for curiosities)
Gnat (for curiosities)
Debased (for malefactors)
Vermin (for malefactors)
Child (for short lived races)
Mayfly (for short lived races)
Squat (for stoutfolk)
Hoarfoe (for drow)

Divination

Long ago, a series of experiments designed by various coordinating high elven diviners determined that the future was not fixed, and fate was not, in fact, set in stone. Instead, the understanding evolved, with divination magics now understood to be looking into possible futures rather than the singular future. In this, while divination can be useful, they are often so vague, difficult to decipher, and subject to the diviner's bias that most long-term prophecies do not come to fruition, or do not come to fruition in the way that is expected. As one of the many reasons this comes to pass involves the knowledge of the divination itself, many diviners keep their most important prophecies secret in the hopes they will come true without meddling. Or, perhaps, they simply say they do after the fact.

Many books have been written about this by both ancient and modern sorcerers and are circulated among scholars. Because of this, most diviners and soothsayers are often criticized by centers of learning as charlatans, though this does not stop the common folk, the uneducated, and the desperate from paying vast amounts of coin to them.

It is however important to note that exceptions do exist, and several notable historical figures used private divinations to great effect. Such individuals are rare, however, and typically have such strange perspectives on both their own predictions and the world at large that it is often either impossible or incredibly difficult to get actionable information from them, and it is rarely a pleasant experience to try.

Blood Magic

While not outlawed as frequently as necromancy, blood magic has a dark history and is closely associated with the catastrophes of the Second Heresy. As such, it is generally heavily criticized by historians, civilized mages, centres of magical learning, and the public alike. The intricacies of blood magic are thus generally only explored in cultures deeply influenced by the faith of the Enshrouded. Of note is that blood magic is not, in fact, hemomancy (or magic that controls blood), but rather magic that uses blood (or life in general) in its process.

Interestingly, the definition of blood magic varies widely depending on who you ask. The popular view of blood magic is intrinsically linked to the effects of their practitioners, focusing on the creation of scourges and the draining of life. Ask an arcane scholar, however, and they will say that blood magic is not a form of magic so much as it is a form of power - a way to outsource the cost of magic to the life force of another, but that that power can then be shaped into anything the user wishes.

A subdiscipline of blood magic is fleshcrafting. Instead of using the life force of another to power the user's magic, it is instead turned inwards, amplifying certain traits (youth, vigour, strength, speed, or similar things) while using the recipients life force to power it. This can result in a being of great power, but with a tragically short lifespan - one often marred by health problems resulting from the body's attempt to adapt, and always marred by symptoms of magical corruption, even if they themselves aren't magic users.

Vivimancy

To bring false life to something is a rarified feat, something far too difficult for most mages - and yet something still possible for those who dedicate time and study to it, so long as they are animating a humanoid shape. This animation requires a carefully prepared ritual, as well as a source of power for the animated being (typically called a golem) to use. The larger the golem, the more power they need - and the smaller the golem, the less power they can contain. While there are legends of vivimancers from the far flung pages of history that could animate many golems and give them instructions to carry out (with some of these golems even rumoured to be still in service to some high elf families), modern mages can only manage a single one at once, and that one must be kept under the direct and persistent control of the animator.

As with many things, however, there exists shortcuts. Necromancy is a typically banned form of vivimancy that eschews the careful construction of a body from base materials for simply taking a corpse. It uses the echoes of that corpse's life to help shape the spell, making necromantic animation both easier to perform and often with better results - a practiced necromancer can guide two or three reanimated corpses at once. They still, of course, need a source of power - and thus necromancy is often paired with blood magic, sacrificing a living being and using their soul's power to puppet their corpse in a cruel mockery of their previous life.

Soulshifting

To transform into another being has long been the desire of many a mage, but to do so is a very difficult thing. There are legends of ancient mages possessing that power, able to morph their bodies at will to not just animals but most anything else - but such a thing has been lost since. Now, the power and shape required to pull it off is well beyond the greatest of archmages, even those who have spent lifetimes in the attempt. One thing, however, always remains an option: cheating.

In 1763 AT a faun researcher known to history as Greenhart discovered just such a cheat. She realized that while she didn't have the capacity to make the correct shape, she could commune with the spirit of the land, borrowing shape from the echoes of the creatures that surrounded her. In such a way, she could reshape herself in a mirror to these echoes, taking their form and existing among them. Her first experiments proved difficult to control, too much of the animal mind taking over her own, but with time and further refinement the technique of soulshifting was born, spreading through Naturalist communities at first before making its way into the lexicon of magic.

Soulshifting, importantly, does not allow the mimicking of specific animals, but rather gives a result that is the theoretical "animal version" of the practitioner. Each time an individual transforms into say, a wolf, it will be the same wolf, informed by the appearance of wolves in their local area, but bearing scars, wounds, injuries, missing limbs, and even markers of magical corruption from the practitioner. In this, often those familiar with the practitioner may be able to recognize them while soulshifted, depending on how identifiable some of their features are.

Injuries to a practitioner while shifted carry over when unshifted - a cut on a wolf's arm will be a cut on the shifter's arm as well. Anything that leaves contact with a shifted creature will transform back, including but not limited to severed limbs (which turn into the shifter's severed limb of the same variety), venom (which turns to saliva), blood, and teeth. Unfortunately for shifters their shifted form is not a supply of food, leather, milk, or anything else a true version of the animal could provide.

Restoration

Restoration magic is another of particular interest. Much like soulshifting, the shape to move power into knitting flesh together or regrowing limbs is beyond modern mages. Unlike soulshifting, however, the technique to circumvent that problem is one that has been known since antiquity. To heal wounds, then, magic must be channelled through the recipient's soul as well as the healer's, using their soul's identity to help guide the shape of the spell. While simple in theory, this technique is one that a lifetime can be spent mastering, and it takes a great deal of talent and a well prepared ritual to be able to restore lost limbs or similar feats.

One unfortunate side effect of this technique is that repeated healing, particularly of the same areas and particularly of severe magnitude can, over time, produce symptoms of magical corruption. It is not uncommon then to see minor signs of such on the hands or arms of veteran soldiers, or more

severe evidence on those who came close to death and were pulled back from the brink. Due to this, healers often try to limit the power that flows through their patients, and will often practice non-magical medicine and allow the body to naturally heal some of the way, still leaving scars and taking time for natural healing to finish the job started by magic.

Lost Arts

It is known that magic was once far more powerful than it is today, with wonders from the Age of Heroes eclipsing anything that could be made in modern times, and wonders from earlier ages eclipsing even those. What is unclear is how much of the legends about mages past are truth and how much are fiction. Here lies a list of magical effects and techniques that legend says were once possible, but are now beyond the capabilities of the modern mage.

Teleportation: The ability to disappear and instantly reappear somewhere else, even over short distances.
Polymorphing: The ability to change yourself or another into a different person or animal.
Wildshaping: The ability to change yourself into any animal. Soulshifting is the modern equivalent.
Telepathy: The ability to read or speak to another's mind.
Scrying: The ability to cast your vision to another area.
Diciomancy: The ability to control others in body or mind. Modern mages can still mentally influence others with charms, or physically influence others with telekinesis.
Linguamancy: The ability to learn, create, or otherwise magically interact with languages.
True Vivimancy: The ability to animate a golem that can act independent of its animator.
Chronomancy: The ability to manipulate or control time.

Overview

Miscellany are small pieces of lore meant to flesh out the world in breadth rather than depth. These are here to give people a quick reference that can be used to fill in background information or allude to in play.

Overview

This is a (very) non-exhaustive list of notable works from around the world. Each of these also serves as an example of the types of things people are or were producing in those categories at the time.

Works

The Tome Draconis: (Uncredited, date unknown, Firtalm) A book written before the elves arrived from the Lands Beyond, said to contain the great secrets that gave the dragons their power. Long lost, this tome is the subject of a great number of legends, ballads, stories, and plays, even if no one is even sure it ever existed in the first place.
The Ninth Shape: (Uncredited, date unknown, Firtalm) A mysterious work that exists only in excerpts and references, thought to be a proto-philosophical treatise on the magical nature of language (or perhaps just Firtalm). The eponymous ninth shape is theorized to be a forbidden word or phrase that can sever soul from body, but no firm proof exists. This work is of particular interest to Dragon and Void cultists, with some going on lifelong pilgrimages to discover a mere fragment of it.
Of Tyrants and Bloodshed: (Pyria Iliralei, 7, Aerliyu) Considered the first true historical record, this work by the sister of the great Lhoris Iliralei details the coming of elvenkind from the Lands Beyond, their fight against dragons, and ultimately Tyrantfall itself. The work ends with a detailed look at the then ongoing construction of the Dragon's Gate.
Of Tyrants and Calamity: (Pyria Iliralei, 104, Aerliyu) A rare chance for a sequel in the historical works field, this details the First Heresy and its immediate consequences. This scholarly work is the most thorough surviving record from the time period, and represents the lion's share of the knowledge that has been retained in the present.
The Natural Order: Treatises on the Innate Merits of Lesser Races: (Lorsan Faeris et al., 1197, Aerliyu) A foundational scholarly work for elven supremacists. Framed as research into what each race was best at, it placed elvenkind above all others and started the racial categorization that elven supremacists yet use.
The Bloodmarks: (Various, 1330, Weapons) The Bloodmarks are the nine weapons used to slay the Winged Emperor Derelan I and ensure he could not return. Each is said to carry great power, though only one has a known location, a sword mounted above the throne of Aer Arnad as a reminder to the humility expected of their emperors.
Vox Magica: (H.J.C., 1849, Kolisan) Notable as one of the first works of note produced in Kolisan, this tome is highly regarded as a foundational study on magic. Within its text the author (known only by their initials) has meticulously recorded their observations and theories on arcane practices, enchantments, artifacts, and the ethereal laws that govern them all. Despite its length, the work reads as a passionate and tireless endeavour to catalogue in ineffable, and is an invaluable tool for those taking their first steps into the magical arts. It is particularly popular in Maedia, where it was reportedly written.

The Sword, the Stone, and the Heart: (Uncredited, 1870, Aerliyu) A sweeping political romance that follows Lady Seris Valebright (a human noblewoman) and Kaelrin (a half-elven bard). Widely considered to be the first great romance novel, it has spawned a whole genre of imitators - some more bawdy than others.
The Elf, the Maid, and the Stars: (Na'dal of Ferulo, 2002, Aerliyu) A folk sequel to The Sword, the Stone, and the Heart, notable for its author being the rumoured author of the original. This story deepens the original's mythos, and introduces an enigmatic elven emissary to the mix who threatens Kaelrin's loyalty to Seris.
The Cantigas Ferulo I-V: (Uncredited, 2050-2100, Ko-man) are an anthology of romantic poems and ballads from a Beleri troubadour's guild. Over the years since its creation it lost much of its context as a piece of professional work, and now exists as little more than a catalogue of salacious songs and poetic stanzas.
The Soldier and the Dragonfly: (Tian Jun, 2164, Kohon) A parable about a soldier who is tasked with catching a white dragonfly. Through trials and tribulations he fails repeatedly, until he befriends the dragonfly in the end. The moral, of course, is that kindness and wit will beat brute force every time.

The Codex Staithes: (Staithes Monastery, 2179, Ko-man) This work depicts the scriptures of Ranator in illuminated detail, it's ink gilt with petals of fine precious metals. The margins of this work feature artwork of various Nuumish legends and heraldic myths, and fantastical beasts battling knights rendered in varying degree of detail and complexity. It represents a point of Elmish pride as one of the first cultural works to set apart Elm as something aside from a splintering petty realm.
Ssianid Dreams: (The Brothers Alabis, 2204, Kolisan) An anthology of short stories drawn from various Sulgate cultures, rewritten and reformatted for the modern audience, and in particular used as children's stories despite their often bleak material. Ssianid Dreams was quickly translated into most other major languages in an effort to spread it further.

Overview

While healing magic can reattach severed limbs if the limb is in good condition and the magic is performed quickly, loss of limbs is still a fact of life for many, in particular many soldiers. What sufficed as replacement widely varied based on what could be afforded. Most anyone could afford a simple hook to replace a hand, or peg to replace a lower leg, and could perhaps even get a glass eye should they lose a natural one. Merchants or other members of the middle class might instead buy a fine carved hand, arm, or leg, potentially even with a hinged joint to allow for it to be manipulated easier. The wealthy might replace parts with functional metals, engrave designs, gild, or otherwise beautify their prosthetics, and some might even (at great expense) have versions with wire or other system that allow for clumsy manipulation. Cosmetic prosthetics were also available, if expensive, with metal eyes, noses, and ears all being solutions for those with coin to commission them. Commission them they must, however, because all prosthetics need to be custom made for the user, even the lowly hook and peg.

Combat prosthetics were also common, from things as simple as a strap and pouch system to attach a shield to an arm without a hand to more complex saddles that accommodate a missing leg or partial paralysis. Those fighters missing an eye might customize a helm to remove an eye slot for more protection and intimidation, while others may attach a blade to an amputated forearm to replace a sword. While not sophisticated, many of these prosthetics are still quite functional.

Lastly, there are rumoured artefacts of great worth from eras where magic was better understood and flowed more freely. To find these are not a matter of wealth or status, for there are none known and certainly none for sale, but rather of finding one either in a reliquary or in the possession of a private collector. These artefacts are closely guarded wonders, and it is obvious why - they can operate as fully functional limbs, magically melding with the user's body to give them complete control over them. There is no greater height of prosthetic than that, even if they are so vanishingly rare as to potentially not even be real.

Overview

Like most things in Orben, coinage and currencies are warped around the Aer Arnad standard. Aerliyu coinage has been roughly in place since reforms that happened after the Second Heresy, with several tweaks to the coinage's metallurgical makeup. The current coins are centered around the silver estel, with several silver coins representing half (hastel), quarter (fostel), and two (dustel). In addition, bronze coins representing a twelfth (aethan) and twenty-fourth (hathan), as well as a gold coin representing one hundred (roval) round out the coinage currently in use.

Outside of Aer Arnad, some places (like Myultaoh and Caeor) simply use the estel. Most places that mint their own coins do so roughly following the same format, though often with slightly changed metallurgy. Many underdark societies operate off the ristar, which the drow claim to be the origin of the estel. Most of the Sulgate uses localized variations of the old Ssianid drahm, and the Kingdom of Elm mints modern versions of the Nuumish shilling, which also features silver halfshillings (a half shilling) and groats (a quarter shilling), bronze farthings (a twelfth shilling) and halfarthings (a twenty-fourth shilling), and gold sovereigns (a hundred shillings).

The only notable exceptions to the Aer Arnad minting standard are found in Grimgaud and Honsu. Grimgaud coinage is based on the bronze ankor, each worth about three-eighths of an estel, and Honsu coinage centres on the jade bei, worth about one and a tenth of an estel. Also of note, the Ættgardtfólk tend to use whatever coins they take from others, while the Hellion dwarves use the ankor and the Khunikoi operate a strange system of trading pieces of parchment to track debts, something obviously useless to those outside their isolate community.

In most of the world, however, "a silver" is a silver, regardless of where it was minted, with perhaps some minor adjustments due to either known or assumed metallurgical composition. A labourer of low skill (such as a farmhand or haymaker) could expect to make roughly one silver a day, and a silver was good for about two gallons of second-rate ale, four dozen eggs, or a dozen salted herring.

Overview

The Bestiary contains brief descriptions of many creatures of the more fantastical variety that are found in Orben. This list is non-exhaustive, but does give a baseline for what some of these creatures are and how they fit into the world.

Overview

Beyonders are those from the Lands Beyond, who's flitting into this world is both rare and brief. Arcane scholars have long theorized that the magic suffusing the Lands Beyond have some role in keeping these outsiders alive, and so they can not exist in Orben for very long before returning - a matter of a year or so at most.

Examples

Celestials: Messengers from the gods, these holy beings descend from the Lands Beyond to offer guidance and wisdom to mortals - though which god or gods in question is a matter of hot debate among theologists.
Fiends: Beings of corruption and avarice, these infernal wretches come from the Lands Beyond to twist mortals to their whims, offering cruel trades to vulnerable people in exchange for onerous returns.
Elementals: Common legends tell of a time before time, when all elements were one, embodied by the Primordials. They were shattered, though by who is a matter of faith, and now exist as shards of their old selves - elementals that embody a quarter of their previous purview.
Fae: Tricksters and swindlers from the Lands Beyond, taking many forms with many names, though the most common of them are the satyr, here to take hedonistic diversions from mortalkind. Fae are known to take on different forms at will in the Lands Beyond, but must choose a form to stay in while visiting.

Planetouched

The Planetouched are beings touched by beyonder magic, but who are not beyonders themselves. This allows them to remain on Orben for full lifespans, though some examples do not do so typically.

Examples

Planetouched: Mortalkind with bloodlines touched by celestials, fiends, or elementals.
Faun: A stable race of planetouched, descended from satyr and other fae.
Unicorns: Horses imbued with celestial magic, said to be used by celestials to travel from the Lands Beyond. These stark white horned equines are exceedingly rare, it is an extraordinary privilege to lay eyes on one, even if they oft react with violence to all but the purest who approach them.
Nightmares: Horses imbued with infernal magic, said to be used by fiends to travel from the Lands Beyond. Jet black, with flames for their mane, tail, and around their hooves, these creatures are said to prey on the psyche of those unfortunate enough to lay eyes on them, haunting their dreams until the day they die.
Pegasi: Horses imbued with air magic, these winged equines are far less rare than their infernal and celestial counterparts, even if they are still quite uncommon. Most sightings are in the west of Orben, concentrated in Nuumalon, Beleri, and the western provinces of Aer Arnad.
Wyrdwolves: Wolves touched by fae magic, said to grow to the size of a lion, with strange, hypnotic patterns in their fur that shift over time. These creatures are said to be used by fae to travel from the Lands Beyond, but should never be approached - one bite infects the victim with lycanthropy, transferring some small amount of the wolf's soul to echo within them.
Lycanthropes: Poor mortals (though not planetouched, high elves, or faun) who were bitten by a wyrdwolf. They can transform into a dire wolf at night, though they find it hard to resist doing so when around high elves or faun, and impossible while around the fae. These poor souls are reviled by all, as they often have a tendency to lose control and enter a frenzy of destruction, only stopping with their death or the break of dawn. While lycanthropes exist all over, they are only concentrated in significant number in the Thradhels.

Overview

Elders are those creatures from before written history, ones that have always roamed the lands as far as anyone knows. Their origins and shrouded in the mysteries of ages past, and some may indeed predate other forms of sapient life entirely.

Examples

Dragons: The former rulers of the world have been reduced to rare sightings and a scavenged existence. With intelligence allegedly greater than any of mortal kind, an immortal lifespan, and a body that never stops growing, dragons are a perpetual threat to all those who find themselves in their shadows. Ancient dragons in particular can grow so large as to blot out the sun, and the greatest of dragon tyrants from the age of strife were said to shake mountains with their voices. While dragons come in various brilliant scale colours and patterns, all breathe fire and all may cast magic.
Giants: Gargantuan humanoids, broadly split in two: the ice giants, living in the Thradhels, and the stone giants, living in the Sarazors. These intelligent creatures tend to keep to themselves, though have been known to heave giant rocks down from the mountains on those who rile them.
Ogres: Large, ugly, and stupid, ogres are often used as portable siege engines or shock troops by darkling clans. When found in the wild they roam in small groups, hunting and feasting until they run afoul of something that puts an end to them.
Trolls: Large humanoids with horns and fur covering much of their forms. They keep to caves and mountains, typically, which makes them far less of a problem than ogres - though when they do go on a war path their legendary resilience makes them particularly difficult to deal with.
Kruum: Large corvids native to the Thradhel mountain range. With a wingspan of around twenty feet, these birds make fantastic mounts for the Svartkrummfólk who tame them - though they cost a fortune to keep fed.
Rocs: Rare, falcon-like birds are native to the Sarazor mountain range. With a wingspan of nearly a hundred feet, they are so large they are often confused with dragons or wyverns.

Overview

Fabrications are creatures or races that were made or altered by means of magic, with the end result being a stable species with consistent properties. There are two broad categories here, those made by dragons and those made by high elves, with each having its own little foibles.

Draconic Examples

Kobolds: Small draconic humanoids, made to serve dragonkind in the ages before history.
Draconians: Draconic humanoids, standing a little taller than an orc, with wings to carry them aloft. Draconians are incredibly rare in the modern era, and are typically killed on sight lest they attract kobolds and cause a problem.
Wyverns: Beings quite similar to dragons, though they tend to be smaller, with less lustrous scales, no ability to breathe fire, and animalistic intelligence. In antiquity these were given to high ranking non-dragon officers to act as mounts, and while such a feat has been repeated in legends since, they are just that - legends, ones not often believed.
Lamia: Rising from the tail of a dragon stands a human of great beauty, designed by dragonkind to lure mortals with illusions and suggestions. Their purpose was to sow discord amongst potential factions that might rise in rebellion against dragonkind, though in the millennia since they have mostly taken to simply extracting revenge for their fallen masters.

Elven Examples

Goblinoids: Goblinoids were made from orcish stock by Winged Emperor Derelan I during the Second Heresy.
Drow: Drow, according to their foundational beliefs, were made from avariel followers of Ulkarith after the Second Heresy.
Centaurs: Born from experiments during the Second Heresy, these half-human half-equine beings lead nomadic lives, moving from place to place and reaving as they go - staying ahead of any army that would try to hunt them down.
Harpies: Half-human half-eagle experiments from the Second Heresy, these ravenous beings are known for swooping down on unexpecting travellers and carrying them back to their nests to consume them.
Mer: These half-human half-fish were also made during the Second Heresy, designed as a way to control important waterways. Exclusively able to live in salt water, mer are concentrated along the northwestern coastline of Nuumalon and the Thradhels, often terrorizing the local fishermen and disrupting trade.
Gryphons: These noble steeds, a mix of lion and eagle, were designed by the Winged Emperor Aedar IV Arnad during the war against dragons, gifted to prized officers so they could take the fight to dragons and wyverns. Though not nearly as big as either, their ferociousness and group tactics were often enough to carry the day. In the modern era there are wild populations, but they are mostly contained to the borders of Aer Arnad.

Overview

While the other creatures in the bestiary, even those from the Lands Beyond, are broadly speaking accepted to exist, creatures of Mythos are not. Here lies rumour and legend, believed by some, disbelieved by others - some may very well be real but rare, others may be flights of fancy, and yet others might be misinterpretations of other creatures.

Examples

Hippocamps: Horses imbued with water magic, these equines with the tails of fish have long been rumoured to exist, with the tales of sailors spreading their legend far and wide, even without any true evidence beyond questionable eye witnesses.
Sparksteeds: Horses imbued with fire magic, theorized to exist though without even so much as a sighting to their name. Academic works and tales for children have entered them into the popular consciousness.
Stonehooves: Horses imbued with earth magic, theorized to exist though without even so much as a sighting to their name. Academic works and tales for children have entered them into the popular consciousness.
Fire Giants: Giants imbued with flame, said to stand even taller than their extant counterparts. In legend, they live in the blasted wastes, biding their time until they will strive north to lay ruin to the lands of mortalkind.
Hydras: Legendary draconian experiments that resulted in a multi-headed monster said to grow two heads for every one that's cut off. Popular academic consensus is that such a beast never existed despite the legends that speak of them.
Golden Ants: Ants the size of dogs, said to dig up and horde gold, rumoured to exist deep within the sands of the Sulgate despite no evidence to prove such a thing.
Caladrii: Snow-white birds said to be able to take illness into themselves to cure the sick. Legend has it that they visit those without access to medical care who are worthy of life, and many religions claim them as envoys of their specific gods.
Phoenixes: Birds of flame said to be immortal, burning to ash and hatching anew in cycles. While popular in stories, iconography, and cultural works, there is nothing to suggest these avians actually exist.
Sirens: Half-bird, half-woman, said to lure sailors with their enchanting songs. Despite most sailors swearing to their existence, academic consensus is that they are misplaced stories about harpies, or else simply the desperation of men at sea.
Basan: Large, chicken like birds said to be draconic experiments native to Honsu. It is said they can breathe fire, and are notable for being much larger than a chicken and for their brilliant red comb and plumage.
Blemmyae: Tales in Honsu speak of other elven experiments during the Second Heresy, the most notable of which are these men without heads, instead wearing their face on their chest.
Aralez: Winged canines said to heal the wounds of dying warriors by licking them, should they be worthy. They are popular in stories in the northern Sulgate, though many academics believe them to simply be stories of pegasi foals.