Character Creation/Racial Lore

Related topics: Character Creation, Character Creation - Naming, Cultures

Aluvian

Related topics: Aluvian Culture, Letter From Home (Aluvian)

ALUVIANS are a fiercely individualistic and warlike people, quick to anger but with a strong love of justice and fairness. Though often suspicious of things new and strange, they are friendly and always prepared with a little help if they can spare it. They are loyal to their feudal lords, but expect to be well-treated in return. The first people to arrive on Dereth Island were Aluvians: they have settleed in the fields and hills around Lake Blessed.

Gharu'ndim

Related topics: Gharu'ndim Culture, Letter From Home (Gharu'ndim)

Desert-dwellers who prefer knowledge and trade to war and bloodshed, the GHARU'NDIM are an eminently honorable, formal culture, but they also have a reputation for being somewhat distant and proud. Of all the peoples of Dereth, they are the most drawn to the mysteries of magic. Preferring to talk before fighting whenever possible, they speak with great politeness and formality, peppering their speech with honorifics and references to their national hero, the poet Yasif ibn Salayyar.

Sho

Related topics: Sho Culture, Letter From Home (Sho)

The SHO are a people for whom duty and self-discipline are the highest virtues. Normally peaceful, they have nonetheless raised warfare to an art form. The Sho view the world in terms of absolute, universal laws. Their guiding principles are represented by the three Elder Spirits: the Unicorn of Grace, the Firebird of Splendor, and the Dragon of Power. They speak succinctly and regard other peoples with suspicion, but a Sho friend is a friend for life.

Viamontian

Related topics: Viamontian Culture, Letter From Home (Viamontian)

The war-like VIAMONTIANS have a tendency to conquer other lands in an effort to broaden their borders. Disciplined and fiercely loyal to their leaders, the Viamontians have long been the scourge of the other heritage groups of Ispar. The Viamontians are in the midst of a civil war led by the Duke of Bellenesse. This rebellion has spilled over into Dereth, where the loyalist Viamontians will continue to exercise their bloodlust by waging war against Queen Elysa and the Isparians under her rule.

Shadow

Related topics: Shadow Culture, Letter From Home (Shadow)

The UMBRAEN and PENUMBRAEN are a people born from the other Isparian heritages, who sought to join with the chaotic powers of the Shadow, and were then transformed into the Umbrean or Penumbraen. Those who have undergone the transformation into Umbraen or Penumbraen have forgotten and released their pasts into the winds. They are children of the Shadow, now and forever. Most Umbraen and Penumbraen come from the followers of the Shadow, Isin Dule. Isin Dule only asks that his new children embrace the chaos and potential they have been given, and use it to raise themselves to greatness. What follows is in Isin Dule's own words to his children. 'Folk remember the dark times, when destruction roamed the land. They think of war... death... torment. They blame those of us who walk in the shadow, call us evil. But we are not. We were deceived by the one who ruled us. To understand us, you must first understand him. Hopeslayer, they call him. Bael'Zharon, the fallen lord. He craved power, and gave himself to chaos. His obsession nearly destroyed the world. The shadow's path runs along the sword's edge. On One side, untold strength. On the other... madness. The Hopeslayer strayed - and fell. Look on his face, and swear: I will not follow.'

Gear Knight

Related topics: Gearknight Culture, Letter From Home (Gear Knight)

The GEAR KNIGHTS are a mechanized race of unknown origins. While they are technically machines, they evidence all the personality of the other races of Dereth. The Gear Knights usually operate in large Houses, which are organized somewhere between a feudal society and a standing army. Each House is led by a Primus, and has a portion of the society for which they are responsible. On Dereth, those Gear Knights which are allied with the peoples of Dereth come from the schism between the Gold Gear Primus, Atamarr, and the Iron Blade invasion forces which seek to wipe out both the 'renegades' and the Isparians on Dereth. Their previous House ties behind them, and with the blessings and support of Atamarr, the new Gear Knights of Dereth have been given the freedom to build for themselves a new beginning.

Undead

Related topics: Dericostian Culture, Letter From Home (Undead)

The House Mhoire UNDEAD have chosen to join the alliance with the peoples of Dereth. These Undead are refugees from an ancient curse laid upon House Mhoire by the Dericost. Using Alchemical potions and rituals, they have freed themselves from the curse, and also from the rigid castes and controls of the Dericost Undead. With this newfound freedom, many Undead have begun to adopt the cultures and practices of the living races of Dereth, hoping to find a home where they can live as equals.

Empyrean

Related topics: Yalaini Culture, Letter From Home (Empyrean)

The indigenous race of Auberean, the EMPYREANS are a people only recently returned to their world. During the cataclysmic Olthoi Invasion, the surviving Empyreans were cast into Portalspace in Asheron's last-ditch efforts to save his race from annihilation. There they remained lost until Asheron was able to locate a small pocket of them trapped in a deep section of Portalspace. These Empyreans were being drained and altered by the powers of the Virindi, and the rituals of the undead Emperor Geraine. Weakened and forever altered by their imprisonment, these Empyreans have begun a new life. Now they are trying to understand both what has become of them and the massive changes that have enveloped their world.

Aun Tumerok

Related topics: Tumerok Culture, Letter From Home (Aun Tumerok)

The TUMEROK are a race of lizard folk who were largely known as war-like raiders, sacking human towns across the land. This is not the true nature of the Tumerok. In truth the Tumerok once enjoyed a peaceful and artistic existence, and the Aun Tumerok have aspired to return to those ways. The Aun Tumerok who have joined with the Isparians have forsaken the Hea Tumerok and the Virindi influence that has set the Hea against the Isparians. Although the name Tumerok is actually a name outsiders have given to the Tumerok, the Aun Tumerok have learned to accept that name.

Lugian

Related topics: Lugian Culture, Letter From Home (Lugian)

The LUGIANS are a race of giants from the world they call Tuu. A stong (sic) people, with a great love for crafting and artifice, the Lugians are renowned for their strength of arms and their strict code of honor. Lugians live in rigidly defined clans, each serving under a Patriarch or Matriarch. The Lugians now joining with the other citizens of Dereth are from Linvak Tukal, and serve under Lord Kresovus.

Olthoi

Related topics: Olthoi, Olthoi Play

WARNING: The Olthoi are an advanced racial option. Olthoi must always be ready for player versus player combat. Although Olthoi do not gain experience, they start the game with resources to provide a threat to any player. The OLTHOI are a race of insect-like creatures that form hives to infest and control any area they inhabit. As an Olthoi you serve a Queen who wishes nothing less than the entire realm of Dereth to be solely her domain. Not even the Olthoi born from different hives are safe from the wrath of your Queen. Go forth and destroy all who oppose you!