Alatos: a legendary hero of the Drylands who was said to have hailed from Korma in the years immediately after the fall of Caerdolan. In the Book of Light it is written that Alatos was a trusted disciple of the historical Roski in Korma, and one of the leaders of the Korman uprising that marked the fall of Caerdolan. For reasons that are not mentioned in the holy book, Alatos traveled to the mountainous region of the Drylands that eventually took his name, where he fell in love with a priestess of the Mayadara; a cult of nature priestesses to the goddess Mamura (Annu or Dannu in the Mainlands and Warlands). Together with his lover, Alatos climbed to the summit of Mt. Mindevah and did battle with the dragon queen Tiamat, whose spirit arose in fire and ash from the mountain’s summit. There Alatos succeeded in defeating the dragon queen, and imprisoned her in a sacred cavern of ice and stone. The key to Tiamat’s prison was then entrusted to the Mayadara before Alatos succumbed to his battle wounds; it remains the most sacred of their relics. Alatos is so highly revered in the fertile western reaches of the Drylands that the great mountain range that protects it from the Great Desert is known as the Alatean Range after him. He is worshipped as a household deity by some Alatean villagers, and his image is sometimes worn as an amulet of protection from evil.
Archons: spirits of light, sometimes referred to as the Champions of Light, they are the heavenly host of Lord Roski. Archons normally have no corporeal form, being creatures of pure light and spiritual essence, but at times take on various solid forms. The most common of these is that of a beautiful winged human with luminous skin, usually wielding a sword or spear. In this form, the Archons appear to the Righteous and Faithful, and on occasion bring divine messages or fight evil on their behalf. They are benevolent spirits – slow to anger – but terrible when they do. Archons are very rarely encountered, except by particularly devout individuals, and usually in the direst of situations. They are sometimes appealed to by those fearful of stirring Roski’s wrath. It is said that other deities have similar attendant spirits.
Arpad the Black: Believed to have been born in Caerdolan during the age of Emperor Mantua I, conqueror of Kuonrhua and the Southern lands. Few family records survive outside of Bospora, but it may be that Arpad was a member of House Kandera, one of the oldest of the noble houses of Caerdolan from which the last emperors of Caerdolan emerged. A war-chief known as Arpad the Black was said to have been instrumental in the conquest of Kuonrhua, and was known more for his black magic than his deeds as a warrior. It is told that this Arpad poisoned the city’s water supply, causing the Kuonrhuans to fall into a deadly stupor and allowing the Caerdolan army to march into the city unchallenged.
An obscure reference to an “Arpad” is found in a fragmentary document said to have been a copy of an imperial order housed in the great library of Bospora. The reference puts him in connection with an item known as the Eye of the Dragon, one of the Great Artifacts of the First Change said to have been destroyed by mortals who were themselves consumed in the process.
Official Church records for Ferickje show that in the year 890 the royal house of Ferickje was overthrown by the king’s most trusted advisor, a man calling himself Arpad the Wanderer who was later revealed to be an evil magician. All members of the royal family were slain by the dark servants of the magician except for the infant prince Wencel, who was carried off by his nurse maid and entrusted to the sanctuary of the Church. Wencel grew to manhood under the protection of the Church, but against the counsel of his guardians, took up his ancestral sword and sought to face the demon that sat on his father’s throne. No word was ever heard from him again, and it was said that with him died the last direct descendant of the royal house of Ferickje. Soon afterward the Pope ordered that Castle Ferickje be cleansed, and an army set out from Korma to carry out the order. The castle was burned and pillaged, but no sign was discovered of Arpad or his minions, although the nightmarish remains of his victims were brought to light when the dungeons were opened. The Church declared Arpad to be a creature of Hell and placed a price on his head. For nearly 200 years the castle has stood in partial ruins and the local people shun it and the nearby wilderness as haunted. The village of Ferickje in the shadow of the castle remains abandoned since the time of the castle’s pillaging.
It is said that Arpad was an ancient wizard of Caerdolan doomed to eternal unlife when he committed sacrilege within one of the most sacred temples of the gods. His soul wanders on the threshold of the Underworld and would be damned to eternal torment unless he nourish his unlife with the blood of living, virtuous beings. Among his powers he is said to be able to walk unseen and incorporeal, change his shape at will, bewitch the minds of his victims, and command hosts of the undead.
Befana: Demon-queen worshipped by some in ancient Caerdolan, and her image is sometimes found guarding the tombs of ancient wizards and warlords. She is sometimes known as the Queen of Pain, and is said to delight in bringing terror and agonizing death upon her victims. Befana is occasionally summoned by practitioners of the blackest magic, usually as a scourge upon their enemies, but she is a dangerous spirit to summon, for her power is great and she has been known to turn upon the one foolish enough to summon her. In form she is like a monstrous giantess with wild, serpent-like hair and four arms, each wielding a large, curved blade. Her feet are cloven hooves, or sometimes completely absent, with a giant serpent’s tail in their stead. It is said that Befana can cause even the bravest to cower in fear with her countenance and the sound of her clashing blades causes madness. Befana is one of the elder children of Bau-Tiamat, and one of the most terrible of the spirits of Chaos. She was banished to the Void after the First Battle but can be summoned into the world for brief periods of time.
Archons: spirits of light, sometimes referred to as the Champions of Light, they are the heavenly host of Lord Roski. Archons normally have no corporeal form, being creatures of pure light and spiritual essence, but at times take on various solid forms. The most common of these is that of a beautiful winged human with luminous skin, usually wielding a sword or spear. In this form, the Archons appear to the Righteous and Faithful, and on occasion bring divine messages or fight evil on their behalf. They are benevolent spirits – slow to anger – but terrible when they do. Archons are very rarely encountered, except by particularly devout individuals, and usually in the direst of situations. They are sometimes appealed to by those fearful of stirring Roski’s wrath. It is said that other deities have similar attendant spirits.
Arpad the Black: Believed to have been born in Caerdolan during the age of Emperor Mantua I, conqueror of Kuonrhua and the Southern lands. Few family records survive outside of Bospora, but it may be that Arpad was a member of House Kandera, one of the oldest of the noble houses of Caerdolan from which the last emperors of Caerdolan emerged. A war-chief known as Arpad the Black was said to have been instrumental in the conquest of Kuonrhua, and was known more for his black magic than his deeds as a warrior. It is told that this Arpad poisoned the city’s water supply, causing the Kuonrhuans to fall into a deadly stupor and allowing the Caerdolan army to march into the city unchallenged.
An obscure reference to an “Arpad” is found in a fragmentary document said to have been a copy of an imperial order housed in the great library of Bospora. The reference puts him in connection with an item known as the Eye of the Dragon, one of the Great Artifacts of the First Change said to have been destroyed by mortals who were themselves consumed in the process.
Official Church records for Ferickje show that in the year 890 the royal house of Ferickje was overthrown by the king’s most trusted advisor, a man calling himself Arpad the Wanderer who was later revealed to be an evil magician. All members of the royal family were slain by the dark servants of the magician except for the infant prince Wencel, who was carried off by his nurse maid and entrusted to the sanctuary of the Church. Wencel grew to manhood under the protection of the Church, but against the counsel of his guardians, took up his ancestral sword and sought to face the demon that sat on his father’s throne. No word was ever heard from him again, and it was said that with him died the last direct descendant of the royal house of Ferickje. Soon afterward the Pope ordered that Castle Ferickje be cleansed, and an army set out from Korma to carry out the order. The castle was burned and pillaged, but no sign was discovered of Arpad or his minions, although the nightmarish remains of his victims were brought to light when the dungeons were opened. The Church declared Arpad to be a creature of Hell and placed a price on his head. For nearly 200 years the castle has stood in partial ruins and the local people shun it and the nearby wilderness as haunted. The village of Ferickje in the shadow of the castle remains abandoned since the time of the castle’s pillaging.
It is said that Arpad was an ancient wizard of Caerdolan doomed to eternal unlife when he committed sacrilege within one of the most sacred temples of the gods. His soul wanders on the threshold of the Underworld and would be damned to eternal torment unless he nourish his unlife with the blood of living, virtuous beings. Among his powers he is said to be able to walk unseen and incorporeal, change his shape at will, bewitch the minds of his victims, and command hosts of the undead.
Befana: Demon-queen worshipped by some in ancient Caerdolan, and her image is sometimes found guarding the tombs of ancient wizards and warlords. She is sometimes known as the Queen of Pain, and is said to delight in bringing terror and agonizing death upon her victims. Befana is occasionally summoned by practitioners of the blackest magic, usually as a scourge upon their enemies, but she is a dangerous spirit to summon, for her power is great and she has been known to turn upon the one foolish enough to summon her. In form she is like a monstrous giantess with wild, serpent-like hair and four arms, each wielding a large, curved blade. Her feet are cloven hooves, or sometimes completely absent, with a giant serpent’s tail in their stead. It is said that Befana can cause even the bravest to cower in fear with her countenance and the sound of her clashing blades causes madness. Befana is one of the elder children of Bau-Tiamat, and one of the most terrible of the spirits of Chaos. She was banished to the Void after the First Battle but can be summoned into the world for brief periods of time.
Charlie Carmichael: The "last of the Purebloods" by his own account, he is a full-blooded Vundara living in Manhattan as it merges with the World of Caerdolan in the 21st Century. Charlie appears to be a thin boy of about fourteen, raven haired and with pale green eyes, but he is a shapeshifter and claimed to the Inheritors that he was in fact more than forty years old.
Dark Fey: a race of beings believed to have been the remnants of the spirit hosts that fought in the First War between the gods and the dragons. The Dark Fey fled into the dark places of the world after the defeat of Tiamat, and in time came to live secretly among the First People (i.e. the Elves). They took on flesh and blood form and were forever trapped thus, unable to escape into the Voids. They possess great magical powers, but having fought against Roski and the gods of Order in the First War, become completely powerless in sunlight. Their most powerful magic is mostly glamour (illusion) anyway, which becomes faded and ineffectual in the light of the sun. Some of the Dark Fey sought forgiveness and redemption after the First War and use their wisdom and power to do good. They were forgiven by Istare, and work their magic under her patronage, but have yet to receive the forgiveness of Roski. Some say the Dark Fey are members of the High Elven race who turned to darkness and evil. Although generally considered to be wicked in nature, the Dark Fey are just as likely to be helpful to mortals as not, particularly if it suits their purpose. Some have even been known to perform acts of great heroism or to help in the accomplishment of such acts. What defines them as “Dark” is their quarrel with Roski, the Lord of Light. The Dark Fey may appear as handsome, Elvish beings, comical little people, or monstrous hags. They sometimes take on the form of Deep Elves, but they are called “Dark” because of their aversion to sunlight. Dark Fey live primarily, but not exclusively, in the forests and wildernesses of the Mainlands and Warlands and in the Northern wastes. They are sometimes fond of living among humans in great cities, where they take on the guise of eccentric lords and ladies.
Djinn: often capricious, sometimes malicious spirits of the Drylands, Shadowlands, and Istaria. They are said by some to have been born of the dying breath of Bau-Tiamat after she was slain by Roski at the end of the First War. In many ways they are the Southern analogy to the Dark Fey of the Northern lands. Unlike the Dark Fey, however, most Djinn do not fear Roski, and many are encountered in broad daylight. Some prefer the night, however, and like their northern counterparts, delight in bewitching unsuspecting travelers caught alone in the wilderness. A few Djinn serve the Light, however, and are appealed to in much the same way as the Archons. They are incorporeal spirits normally invisible by mortals, although sometimes they take on humanoid or animal forms. Some say that the Djinn are the spirit hosts of the other gods, much like the Archons are for Roski. In this case, they are elemental spirits commanding the natural forces associated with their particular patron deity, just as the Archons are spirits of light because Roski is the god of light. Still others say that the Djinn are an ancient mortal race created by the gods at the same time as the other mortals, but whereas the other mortal races – humans, Halflings, Dwarves, and so on – are of the earth and water, the Djinn are of air and fire. Djinn are mostly encountered in the desolate places of the Drylands, Shadowlands, and Istaria.
Elohar: a human hero (512 A.C. - ~550 A.C.) born in obscurity somewhere in the northern marches of the Mainlands, some say from the Ahamun people who are akin to the Northlanders. Elohar studied in Korma and founded missions throughout the former Caerdolan empire, including one near the fortress citadel of Silegby on the site of the ancient Caerdolan capital. Near the end of his short life, Elohar traveled into the Drylands in search of the ancient city of the Erumites. Legends say that he found the city, overrun as it was by demons and monsters, and did combat with the demon lord Shahaanar, who then slew him. His body was never found, and the truth of his demise was never known. In 582 A.C. the Church of Roski declared him a saint, and an order of paladins was founded in his name. The Knights of Elohar are a missionary order, who travel the lands in search of good deeds to be done, spreading the worship of Roski, and to recover the artifacts and relics of the saint. In some places, St Elohar is practically worshipped as a deity or demi-god who may grant courage and wisdom to his devotees. The relics and artifacts belonging to Elohar are considered sacred by the Faithful of Roski and are imbued with the power to smite evil.
Haataja: an obscure saint of the Drylands, Haataja was said to have been a holy man of the Drylands whose sight was taken by Roski in exchange for spiritual ascension. Haataja went about preaching the faith of Roski, curing the sick and performing miracles until he was drawn to a cave of ice in the Alatean Mountains. There he sat and meditated until he was frozen solid in the ice. Since then a shrine was built around the cave, and has become a pilgrimage site where the faithful go to receive the saint’s blessings in the form of holy water that runs perpetually from the block of frozen ice in which the saint’s body can sometimes barely be seen. The cult of St. Haataja is strong in the Alatean region of the Drylands, where he is often venerated as a household deity. The water of Haataja’s shrine is holy and is thus anathema to evil monsters and demons. It has the power to undo the dark magic that animates the undead.
High Elves: name given to a race of ancient beings from which all the mortal Elvish peoples are descended. The High Elves are said, by some, to have been the First People, the originators of the arts, language, and civilization. Some say they are immortal, or that they have learned to transcend death. High Elves are said to live in beautiful realms hidden away from mortal eyes by magic, and are very seldom encountered. When they are encountered by mortals, they are rarely recognized. Some scholars believe that the High Elves are the same as the Fey; immortal magical spirits bound to earthly forms.
Dark Fey: a race of beings believed to have been the remnants of the spirit hosts that fought in the First War between the gods and the dragons. The Dark Fey fled into the dark places of the world after the defeat of Tiamat, and in time came to live secretly among the First People (i.e. the Elves). They took on flesh and blood form and were forever trapped thus, unable to escape into the Voids. They possess great magical powers, but having fought against Roski and the gods of Order in the First War, become completely powerless in sunlight. Their most powerful magic is mostly glamour (illusion) anyway, which becomes faded and ineffectual in the light of the sun. Some of the Dark Fey sought forgiveness and redemption after the First War and use their wisdom and power to do good. They were forgiven by Istare, and work their magic under her patronage, but have yet to receive the forgiveness of Roski. Some say the Dark Fey are members of the High Elven race who turned to darkness and evil. Although generally considered to be wicked in nature, the Dark Fey are just as likely to be helpful to mortals as not, particularly if it suits their purpose. Some have even been known to perform acts of great heroism or to help in the accomplishment of such acts. What defines them as “Dark” is their quarrel with Roski, the Lord of Light. The Dark Fey may appear as handsome, Elvish beings, comical little people, or monstrous hags. They sometimes take on the form of Deep Elves, but they are called “Dark” because of their aversion to sunlight. Dark Fey live primarily, but not exclusively, in the forests and wildernesses of the Mainlands and Warlands and in the Northern wastes. They are sometimes fond of living among humans in great cities, where they take on the guise of eccentric lords and ladies.
Djinn: often capricious, sometimes malicious spirits of the Drylands, Shadowlands, and Istaria. They are said by some to have been born of the dying breath of Bau-Tiamat after she was slain by Roski at the end of the First War. In many ways they are the Southern analogy to the Dark Fey of the Northern lands. Unlike the Dark Fey, however, most Djinn do not fear Roski, and many are encountered in broad daylight. Some prefer the night, however, and like their northern counterparts, delight in bewitching unsuspecting travelers caught alone in the wilderness. A few Djinn serve the Light, however, and are appealed to in much the same way as the Archons. They are incorporeal spirits normally invisible by mortals, although sometimes they take on humanoid or animal forms. Some say that the Djinn are the spirit hosts of the other gods, much like the Archons are for Roski. In this case, they are elemental spirits commanding the natural forces associated with their particular patron deity, just as the Archons are spirits of light because Roski is the god of light. Still others say that the Djinn are an ancient mortal race created by the gods at the same time as the other mortals, but whereas the other mortal races – humans, Halflings, Dwarves, and so on – are of the earth and water, the Djinn are of air and fire. Djinn are mostly encountered in the desolate places of the Drylands, Shadowlands, and Istaria.
Elohar: a human hero (512 A.C. - ~550 A.C.) born in obscurity somewhere in the northern marches of the Mainlands, some say from the Ahamun people who are akin to the Northlanders. Elohar studied in Korma and founded missions throughout the former Caerdolan empire, including one near the fortress citadel of Silegby on the site of the ancient Caerdolan capital. Near the end of his short life, Elohar traveled into the Drylands in search of the ancient city of the Erumites. Legends say that he found the city, overrun as it was by demons and monsters, and did combat with the demon lord Shahaanar, who then slew him. His body was never found, and the truth of his demise was never known. In 582 A.C. the Church of Roski declared him a saint, and an order of paladins was founded in his name. The Knights of Elohar are a missionary order, who travel the lands in search of good deeds to be done, spreading the worship of Roski, and to recover the artifacts and relics of the saint. In some places, St Elohar is practically worshipped as a deity or demi-god who may grant courage and wisdom to his devotees. The relics and artifacts belonging to Elohar are considered sacred by the Faithful of Roski and are imbued with the power to smite evil.
Haataja: an obscure saint of the Drylands, Haataja was said to have been a holy man of the Drylands whose sight was taken by Roski in exchange for spiritual ascension. Haataja went about preaching the faith of Roski, curing the sick and performing miracles until he was drawn to a cave of ice in the Alatean Mountains. There he sat and meditated until he was frozen solid in the ice. Since then a shrine was built around the cave, and has become a pilgrimage site where the faithful go to receive the saint’s blessings in the form of holy water that runs perpetually from the block of frozen ice in which the saint’s body can sometimes barely be seen. The cult of St. Haataja is strong in the Alatean region of the Drylands, where he is often venerated as a household deity. The water of Haataja’s shrine is holy and is thus anathema to evil monsters and demons. It has the power to undo the dark magic that animates the undead.
High Elves: name given to a race of ancient beings from which all the mortal Elvish peoples are descended. The High Elves are said, by some, to have been the First People, the originators of the arts, language, and civilization. Some say they are immortal, or that they have learned to transcend death. High Elves are said to live in beautiful realms hidden away from mortal eyes by magic, and are very seldom encountered. When they are encountered by mortals, they are rarely recognized. Some scholars believe that the High Elves are the same as the Fey; immortal magical spirits bound to earthly forms.
Inheritors: the general name given by Rold Lehan to those who inherited the Legacy of Caerdolan in 21st Century Earth during the merger. The Inheritors are gifted with strange powers and talents, as well as the ability to perceive both worlds at the same time.
Jeremnis: A fallen archon of Roski. Once one of the most radiant of Roski's host of Archons, Jeremnis had the misfortune of becoming infatuated with a mortal man. Roski forbade the Archon from interfering in the mortal's life, but Jeremnis defied the god and helped the mortal achieve great wealth and status. As a direct result, the Archon's lover made many enemies, and his life ended in ruin and misery. In punishment for the defiance, Jeremnis' powers were stripped by Roski and the Archon was banished to the Void. Jeremnis remains immortal, but suffers the pain and discomforts that mortals do. The only reprieve that the former Archon receives is when Nehal retrieves it from the Void to serve as a temporary guide to chosen mortal agents. For, despite having none of the Archons' powers, Jeremnis retains the wisdom and knowledge accumulated over a lifetime of immortality.
Lady of the Mist: a powerful spirit who lives in banks of fog both on land and at sea. She takes on the form of a beautiful lady in a silvery gray gown attended by faceless knights and pages riding on silent gray horses. The Lady of the Mist is a capricious spirit who delights in beguiling travelers and sometimes transporting them hundreds of miles away from their road to end up in distant, often forgotten lands. It is believed by some that the Lady of the Mist is a messenger or servant of the gods, and that her seemingly capricious acts are in fact performed by command of one or more of the gods, who have singled out mortals to perform deeds of valor. Others say the Lady of the Mist acts under no will but her own. The Righteous believe that she is a demon spirit of the ancient world, or a queen of the Dark Fey, and that her power is diminished by the power of Roski just as fog is burned off by the heat of the day. The Lady of the Mist may be encountered anywhere in the world – on land or at sea – although rarely is she actually seen except in the form of an unnaturally dense fog.
Moraven of Llhaw: Count Moraven was a loyal subject of the Korman empire and a devout Roskian until he entered the chapel and discovered that his daughter had killed herself after having been raped by the bishop of Llhaw. Moraven stormed the Cathedral intent on vengeance, but the priest declared a curse upon all the land, its lord, and his subjects should the altar of Roski be defiled with the priest's blood. Blind with rage, Moraven accepted the curse and slew the corrupt priest upon the altar of Roski. For three hundred years he lived a half-life of misery as the sun failed to shine over his realm, and his people were transformed into gibbering monsters. Believing that he could appease the god Roski with the sacrifice of a giant eaglet, he tricked Lady Gwendolen and her companions, on the road back to the Duchy of O, into stealing the young of the great eagles that kept watch over his realm. But the eagles were messengers of Roski and revealed that only by sacrificing himself to them in the name of Roski would Moraven be absolved of his crime and the curse upon Llhaw lifted. The champions of O convinced him, and Moraven climbed to the eagles' eyrie, where he was torn to pieces, thereby fulfilling the will of Roski and restoring order to the land.
Niage: A historical figure who served as chief advisor to Emperor Kanderu, the last of the great Caerdolan emperors. Niage was a priest in the temple of Onghale in Caerdolas, and some say an illegitimate scion of House Kanderu. He is believed to have tutored the boy Palben, his half-brother, who rose to the throne of Caerdolas and established the final and most infamous imperial dynasty of Caerdolan rulers. Palben's grandaughter became the Empress Anaanara, the last ruler of Caerdolas, who was murdered before she was able to restore peace and order to the failing empire. Some historians believe that it was Niage who murdered her, although her body (along with the Great Torque) was secreted away and buried with powerful spells beneath the imperial palace. During the destruction of Caerdolas, Niage was lost, believed to have been slain, but his body was never found. Some say that he was a powerful necromancer, and that he had secretly transformed himself into a lich in order to escape death. A crypt with Niage's name is located in the Great Mounds where the ancient Caerdolan kings and nobles are buried, and some say that Niage sleeps within, having become an arch-lich of terrifying power and malice. While history has always portrayed the five centuries of imperial Caerdolan as a time of invasion and oppression, the final decades marked by Kanderu rule (with the exception of Anaanara) are by consensus held to have been a time of particular dread, and many credit Niage with secretly manipulating the Kanderu emperors from behind the throne of Caerdolas.
The Red Lion & The Black Lion: sibling spirits of the Shadowlands and southern Ateb said to be lords of the djinn spirits of those lands. The Red Lion is a spirit of wind and water whereas the Black Lion is a spirit of Earth and Fire. They are guardians of beasts and natural places held sacred by the dark-skinned tribes of southern Ateb and Napatah, and are said to reside in particularly beautiful natural groves and grottos. While normally incorporeal, these spirits take on physical forms when they choose to appear to mortals. The Red Lion often appears as a large, tawny-coated lion with a rich rust-colored mane, or as a wizened old man wearing a tunic of antelope skin carrying a walking stick. Sometimes his voice is simply heard in the sighing of the wind in the rocks or the rushing of water. The Black Lion is a more wrathful spirit, appearing either as a huge black-maned lion or a giant, black-skinned man with demonic features wreathed in flame. It is said that this spirit lost all faith in the mortal races after having been imprisoned for some time by the king of the Troglodytes.
Shahaanar: demon-lord who rules the demonic hosts that dwell in the lost city of Erum. Shahaanar is one of the elder children of Bau-Tiamat, banished to the Nine Hells by the gods at the end of the First Battle, but summoned forth by the Emperor Mantua I of Caerdolan when Erum proved unconquerable. Shahaanar brought forth armies of demons who overran the golden city of the Erumites, killing everyone and everything in sight. Legend has it that the Zarkheen, the holy knights of Erum, made a valiant last stand on the steps of the great temple of Roski, but were destroyed utterly by Shahaanar before he defiled the temple. Only the temple of Istare remained inviolate, and in honor of the goddess Erum emerges from the desert sands each month on the night of the full moon. Shahaanar is ranked among the most powerful of the spirits of Chaos, and an arch-enemy of all the mortal peoples of the world. According to legend, St. Elohar the Traveler did battle with the demon lord in the desert, and was thus slain. Only the hand that wielded the saint’s holy weapon remained. Shahaanar appears as a human male of monstrous proportions with the lower body of a giant serpent and four arms ending in terrible claws wielding weapons of war and implements of torture. He is worshipped as a deity by a few desert tribes, including some of the demi-humans of the Shadowlands.
Sirpuhi: a witch believed to have been descended from giants of Saanlia, Sirpuhi was living among the Istarans in the eastern city of Eskanderia when she seduced King Alberic of Brugansia (in the central Mainlands), who had traveled to eastern lands in search of ancient Caerdolan relics plundered after the fall of Caerdolas. As well as being descended from giants, Sirpuhi used her magic to bewitch the king into marrying her and making her his queen. Once situated near the throne of Brugansia, Queen Sirpuhi cursed the king's two younger brothers with lycanthropy, and sought to slay the king's infant son Bayard who was saved and secreted away by faithful servants. Sirpuhi was eventually destroyed by St. Gwendolen, Roland of O, the Rhua prince Shilo, and a Maharan priest using an ancient sword taken from the burial mound of the ancient king Bracken, a legendary hero of the Brugman tribes that founded the kingdom of Brugansia.
Skaanaa: guardian of the northern seas, Skaanaa is an obscure being worshipped by some as a god. Some legends hold that he is in fact one of the lesser gods, a younger sibling to Roski, while others that he is one of the host of spirits that fought on the side of Law in the First Battle. Some say that he is a lord of tempests, while others that he is a messenger of the ancient and nameless sea gods. Still others that Skaanaa is of the race of giants. In appearance Skaanaa looks like the mating of a giant and a killer whale. Sometimes he takes on the form of a killer whale of immense size. Some northern sailors appeal to this spirit for safe passage, particularly when navigating the pack ice. Whalers are also known to offer up carven figures of whales in an attempt to appease the anger of the spirit, who is said to be a protector of these animals.
The Twilight King & Twlight Fey: Born of a union between a mortal man and a queen of the Dark Fey, the Twilight King is a mysterious being who exists both in the mortal and fairy realms. He rules a kingdom of beings known as the Twlight Fey. These beings are like the Dark Fey in that they were forsaken by Roski because of the part they (or their ancestors) played in the First Battle. Their power is greatly diminished in the light of day, and they are in fact invisible to mortal eyes under sunlight. Unlike the Dark Fey, they are not cursed by Roski, and are not harmed by sunlight. Some legends say that they were forgiven by Roski because of the piety of their king. Other say that the Twilight Fey were the ones who turned away from Roski, rejecting his blessings. Some say that they worship Nehal. The Twilight King and his subjects wield great magical power, especially at night, or during the transitional hours of dusk and dawn. The Twilight Kingdom was usurped from the eastern half of the Duchy of O, since the Twilight King claimed his birthright along with his legitimacy as the only brother of Duke Piet of O.
The Undertaker: a legendary figure used to frighten children or teach the moral consequences of misbehavior. The Undertaker is said to appear as a harbinger of death to those who have committed crimes, and who have not been absolved or brought to justice. He appears as a pale and gaunt man dressed in ragged black clothes with long, lanky black hair and a dark, penetrating gaze. The Undertaker is silent, voiceless, but his messages and pronouncements are made by the large, black crow that is always perched on his shoulder. Some say the Undertaker is merely a made-up bogie-man figure, while others say he is a real spirit of darkness that has roamed the world since the Beginning. Still others say he is the soul of a great warlock of old Caerdolan, damned to walk the earth forever stealing the souls of the wicked in punishment for his own evil deeds. The Undertaker is primarily a legend of the Mainlands, and unlike many such spirits, is said to appear to his victims at any time, even in broad daylight.
Vara: the “god-emperor” of the Varanáa barbarians, Vara is said to have once been human – a mage-lord of ancient Caerdolan – who cheated death and gained god-like powers by becoming the human consort to the dragon-goddess Tiamat. Although slain by the champions of King Murad of Silegby, Vara is still worshipped by remnants of the once vast Varanáa empire, and his spirit is still said to roam the shadowy realm between life and death, from which it will someday return to wreak havoc upon the world.
Skaanaa: guardian of the northern seas, Skaanaa is an obscure being worshipped by some as a god. Some legends hold that he is in fact one of the lesser gods, a younger sibling to Roski, while others that he is one of the host of spirits that fought on the side of Law in the First Battle. Some say that he is a lord of tempests, while others that he is a messenger of the ancient and nameless sea gods. Still others that Skaanaa is of the race of giants. In appearance Skaanaa looks like the mating of a giant and a killer whale. Sometimes he takes on the form of a killer whale of immense size. Some northern sailors appeal to this spirit for safe passage, particularly when navigating the pack ice. Whalers are also known to offer up carven figures of whales in an attempt to appease the anger of the spirit, who is said to be a protector of these animals.
The Twilight King & Twlight Fey: Born of a union between a mortal man and a queen of the Dark Fey, the Twilight King is a mysterious being who exists both in the mortal and fairy realms. He rules a kingdom of beings known as the Twlight Fey. These beings are like the Dark Fey in that they were forsaken by Roski because of the part they (or their ancestors) played in the First Battle. Their power is greatly diminished in the light of day, and they are in fact invisible to mortal eyes under sunlight. Unlike the Dark Fey, they are not cursed by Roski, and are not harmed by sunlight. Some legends say that they were forgiven by Roski because of the piety of their king. Other say that the Twilight Fey were the ones who turned away from Roski, rejecting his blessings. Some say that they worship Nehal. The Twilight King and his subjects wield great magical power, especially at night, or during the transitional hours of dusk and dawn. The Twilight Kingdom was usurped from the eastern half of the Duchy of O, since the Twilight King claimed his birthright along with his legitimacy as the only brother of Duke Piet of O.
The Undertaker: a legendary figure used to frighten children or teach the moral consequences of misbehavior. The Undertaker is said to appear as a harbinger of death to those who have committed crimes, and who have not been absolved or brought to justice. He appears as a pale and gaunt man dressed in ragged black clothes with long, lanky black hair and a dark, penetrating gaze. The Undertaker is silent, voiceless, but his messages and pronouncements are made by the large, black crow that is always perched on his shoulder. Some say the Undertaker is merely a made-up bogie-man figure, while others say he is a real spirit of darkness that has roamed the world since the Beginning. Still others say he is the soul of a great warlock of old Caerdolan, damned to walk the earth forever stealing the souls of the wicked in punishment for his own evil deeds. The Undertaker is primarily a legend of the Mainlands, and unlike many such spirits, is said to appear to his victims at any time, even in broad daylight.
Vara: the “god-emperor” of the Varanáa barbarians, Vara is said to have once been human – a mage-lord of ancient Caerdolan – who cheated death and gained god-like powers by becoming the human consort to the dragon-goddess Tiamat. Although slain by the champions of King Murad of Silegby, Vara is still worshipped by remnants of the once vast Varanáa empire, and his spirit is still said to roam the shadowy realm between life and death, from which it will someday return to wreak havoc upon the world.
Vundara: "The Unseen," "The Lurkers," a mysterious race of beings believed by some to be descended from creatures who traveled from some outer world in very ancient times. Others say that they are the people of Nehal, akin to the Archons of Roski. Among their extraordinary abilities is shape-shifting, suggesting a connection to Nehal. They are extremely secretive, living hidden in human society, and even avoiding their own kind. However, they claim to have bred with humans throughout history, passing on some of their powers and insights into their hybrid descendants. As a result, very few "Purebloods" remain, although many "Halfbloods" (as the hybrids are known) exist with varying degrees of supernatural ability depending on how much human versus Vundara genes they possess. Vundara emit psychic signals that can be detected by others of their kind, whether Pureblood or Halfblood, when they exhibit supernatural abilities, as well as a kind of musky pheromone. This pheromone, as well as blood, flesh, bones, and even excrement is sometimes used by human wizards as powerful spell components, or to enhance their own magical abilities. The Varanáa are said to incorporate the blood of the Vundara in the ink used to create their magical tattoos. In ancient times Varanáa hunted the Purebloods to make them into living idols and a ready source of magical blood for tattoo ink. These were known as Blood Witches, and sometimes offered prophetic insights for their captors. The most powerful Varanáa tribes were those who kept their own Blood Witch.
Zefyr: a lord of the Djinn of the Drylands, Zefyr is one of the chiefs of the spirits of the air. He is said to have been one of the eldest of the children of Bau-Tiamat, who fought on the side of Chaos in the First War, but switched sides in the final battle, aiding the gods of Law. Some legends say that Zefyr lifted Roski into the air at the decisive moment when Roski thrust his spear into the maw of Tiamat, thereby slaying the queen of Chaos. For his part, Zefyr was pardoned by the gods, but for his initial loyalties to Chaos he and his kind were sentenced to be forever bound to a single earthly object of power. Zefyr is free to ride the winds of the world so long as the object to which he is bound does not fall into mortal hands. In such case, Zefyr becomes a slave to the one who holds the object until he fulfills the obligation of granting three wishes. Although bound by this divine sentence, Zefyr is a very powerful and willful spirit who, while rarely malicious, will seek to turn the nature of the wishes against whatever mortal dares to bind him to it. Despite this, many ambitious mortals seek to possess the object of power to which Zefyr is bound.
Zefyr: a lord of the Djinn of the Drylands, Zefyr is one of the chiefs of the spirits of the air. He is said to have been one of the eldest of the children of Bau-Tiamat, who fought on the side of Chaos in the First War, but switched sides in the final battle, aiding the gods of Law. Some legends say that Zefyr lifted Roski into the air at the decisive moment when Roski thrust his spear into the maw of Tiamat, thereby slaying the queen of Chaos. For his part, Zefyr was pardoned by the gods, but for his initial loyalties to Chaos he and his kind were sentenced to be forever bound to a single earthly object of power. Zefyr is free to ride the winds of the world so long as the object to which he is bound does not fall into mortal hands. In such case, Zefyr becomes a slave to the one who holds the object until he fulfills the obligation of granting three wishes. Although bound by this divine sentence, Zefyr is a very powerful and willful spirit who, while rarely malicious, will seek to turn the nature of the wishes against whatever mortal dares to bind him to it. Despite this, many ambitious mortals seek to possess the object of power to which Zefyr is bound.
Zorian and Sarsoura: The product of a mating between a demon and a mortal human woman, Zorian sold his immortal soul to the lords of Hell in return for terrible power. He became a notorious pirate of the Encircled Sea, preying upon ships and coastal communities with his crew of cutthroats aboard the scarlet ship Sarsoura. The Sarsoura is in fact a demonic monster in the form of a ship. It has a mind of its own, and can travel beneath the waves in the form of a monstrous water beetle. Zorian's mortal body was destroyed when he was defeated in single combat against Roland of O. Since then the Sarsoura has not been seen, although it is believed that the monster has taken on a new form and continues to haunt the depths of the seas.
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