Post by arrasailsup on Dec 24, 2007 1:08:40 GMT -5
Name of Place: Kaesaphreneithizanar (More often called Kaezana or 'the Land of Dark Forests', for obvious reasons.)
Geography:
At first sight, Keazana is an unremarkable land made mostly out of tall, dark forests, with no landmarks at all. The land is mostly flat, with rich soil underneath, and the occasional large boulder/rock sticking out. There are quite a number of burrows as well.
Surrounding the main forests is land that is still mostly flat, with quite a lot of trees, although shorter one. Rivers and streams can be clearly seen. Most of the wildlife make their home here, in these smaller and much less dangerous woods.
But what is of interest is the land underneath the forest. A number of long, large tunnels run from the floor of the forests, until they reach a place where the ceiling starts to become rocky, instead of earthy. Then they go down a little way more, until they reach an extremely large cavern, Haerani, the legendary home of the moon elves.
Climate:
Warm all year around. Rain is common, even in winter. Kaezana is quite humid, which was exactly how the locals like it. It gets slightly colder the further north one goes, but it is barely noticeable. Snow has never fallen on Kaezana.
People Groups:
Moon elves in the city of Haerani, the caverns underneath Kaezana. On the surface, small tribes of Kaezians dwell.
Kaezians are technically humans, or at least humanoids. They are short, slender and agile, with long arms. They are mostly dark-skinned, but with extremely light eye-colours. Silver is the most common. The colour of their hair is mostly brownish, ranging from light, golden brown to chestnut. Kaezians are quite primitive, but fierce and many.
Moon elves, on the other hand, are a race of people that are dying out. They are mostly neutral, and are quite skilled in magic. As their name suggests, moon elves draw most of their power from the moon. They are also dark skinned (skin tones ranging from bluish black to dark purple, sometimes even black), and often confused with drow elves. Few know of their existence. Moon elves mostly have silver eyes, although a light purple is not unheard of. Their hair is even darker than their skin.
They venture out onto the surface only during nighttime, using their extensive systems of tunnels.
Culture:
The Kaezians are a harsh people. They are not very religious, although they do pray to Feroc for luck sometimes. Kaezians are scattered in a small number of tribes, each with a number of warriors, and each with their own different customs and territories. Among these tribes, the Kiroati (also called the Tribe of Roaring Flame, or FlameTribe) and the Naoti (known also as the Tribe of Stalking Wolves or WolfTribe) are the strongest.
There is also a special tribe of priests called the Seerun. They are given special status, and believed to have special powers. One could say they are shamans. Although less powerful than normal warriors, Seeruns can call for divine assistance, or use their powers over the elements of wind and earth.
Battles between different tribes are not uncommon, and neither is one tribe wiping out another.
Each tribe is ruled by a chieftain, and the strongest warrior will get the position after the chieftain's death or retirement. There isn't much political intrigue among Kaezians, although a chieftain will usually try to train his son (if he has one) to become the future leader. Most chieftains are male, although female ones are not unheard of.
Women are not given inferior status, although most stay at camp to guard the children, and to guard the camp. Elders, warriors who have retired due to age or injury, are revered. They are the ones who normally pass on the history of the tribe.
Kaezians have not invented writing yet, and their language is oddly musical, a little like singing.
Kaezians believe loyalty and strength to be the most important traits. Unless one is a Seerun, one doesn't possess a trickle of magical power.
The moon elves, or Laimer, as they call themselves, are an advanced race, but they are dying out. Laimer live for a long time, and Honor Nocturne above all other immortals. Yes, even gods. Unlike the pure elves, moon elves are not much known for their sense of fun (the fact that few people know that moon elves exist might have something to do with it), and parties among the Laimer rarely happen.
Moon elves are a race of pacifists, not to mention shy. They abhor violence. Rarely venturing into the outside world even during nighttime, few know of their existence, although ancient paintings show moon elves dancing with their elf counterparts...
Although they are intelligent, Laimer know very little of the world outside of their own. They are friendly to all living things, and demis who want to get away from the stress of governing rightfully over their subjects are known to come here.
Moon elves are the one who have invented the name of 'Kaesaphreneithizanar' to the forests above. In their language, it roughly translates to 'silver moonlight over dark forests'. Their own city, 'Haerani' means 'refuge' or 'place of safety'.
Extremely resilient to disease, moon elves are mostly slender and quite short, often mistaken to be drow elves from a distance, because of their dark skin. Laimer can move quite fast, and if necessary, they mostly fight with bow and arrow, or slender knives. The underground which is their home is not exactly the safest place one can find, with the occasional monster wandering nearby.
Moon elves rarely reproduce. Families with children are considered to be blessed by Nocturne, and is given a special place in society until their child grows up.
Strangely, Laimer have little need for food, and draw most of their energy from the moon and the darkness. Venturing out onto the surface during the full moon is a sacred tradition that most are happy to honor.
Laimer are ruled over by the high council. Elections for the new high council takes place every three decades, sometimes longer, sometimes less. Most of the councilors are female.
Being a rather matriachal society, each family is watched over by the oldest female.
Laimer mate for life.
Unlike Kazians, moon elves are an extremely magical people.
Current Events:
There are whispers in the Pantheon and the realms of the demis that Malar is starting to convince the Kaezians to join his cause, by promising them technology and invincibility, two things that every Kaezian desire.
Meanwhile, the Seerun are slowly starting to become corrupted, starting to abandon the worship of Feroc, demigod of the hunt. Feroc, naturally, is not pleased about this, and has not been listening to the prayers of those Seerun still loyal to him. Whether that will change remains a debatable thing. Obviously, the Seerun had not told this new change to the other Kaezians. Whether or not anyone will care is also a debatable point. Kaezians only care about strength, and if Feroc won't grant it to them, Malar surely will.
And for some reason, the most of the elders and storytellers of all the tribes have suddenly died of a mysterious disease, leaving only those with a small and mostly corrupted knowledge of the history of the tribes to pass on the stories. Not a good thing. But then and again, the version that the elders have been telling is mostly inaccurate. Too bad they don't know.
Also, one tribe, the Frioati (or Tribe of Soaring Eagle or EagleTribe), is in danger of being wiped out. It is unknown whether this will have any consequences, but the Frioati are the ones with the most knowledge of archery and military tactics. Malar probably won't be pleased at their annihilation, and neither will be Feroc.
The Laimer are also in trouble. A streak of madness has shown up in some of the older families. While this streak of madness has been known for some time, it has never caused trouble, until recently. Several of the younger Laimer in these families have banded up together and staged an attack on the high council itself. Most unacceptable. With regret, they have been exiled, and the number of Laimer still existing have been whittled down yet again. Most disturbing.
Also, no one has produced any children in the last decade, which is rather unusual. Moon elves are still mortal, although they do live for quite a length of time. And Nocturne has been strangely quite lately.
Everyone in Haerani is beginning to worry, even the youngest child.
Also, the history books (even if they are inaccurate) have all been stolen. That or an alien ate them. Take your pick.
It seems that the end of Haerani and the peaceful society of moon elves is coming soon.
History:
Kaezians and Laimer both don't know, but they were originally one people, created by Nocturne and Feroc together, with the approval of the Pantheon. Well, Malar and Frackleth probably didn't approve, but whatever.
Anyway, Nocturne and Feroc selected a large forest quite close to Orangia, and there, they began to create their new race, the Laerizans.
Short, dark-skinned, dark-haired, pale-eyed and resembling humans, the Laerizans were intended to be forest dwellers in peace with nature (Klecheck insisted on that).
For a few years, all was well, and Nocturne and Feroc eventually left them to their own devices.
Then, tragedy struck. For some reason unknown to even the immortals, the Laerizans split up. Those who followed Feroc more became the Kaezians, and would eventually lose most of their magical powers and writing, becoming the Kaezians known today, and keeping more to the day.
The Laeizans that were more devoted to Nocturne were driven underground and became the race known as Laimer, or moon elves. Again, the reason is unknown, but bitter hatred existed between the now seperated races. The Kaezians were more numerous, and hunted the Laimer mercilessly when the moon elves attempted to go up to the surface.
Left to their own devices underground, the Laimer eventually learnt, with the help of Nocturne, to survive with a bare minimum of food and water. Their magicks grew more and more powerful, and their lifespans longer. They evolved from humans to elves.
Back on the surface, the Kaezians became more primitive, as Feroc forsaked them for a while. The demigod of the hunt was displeased with the way his creation had hunted other sentient beings, although this displeasure eventually decreased. Still, Feroc never helped the Kaezians to regain their previous level of intelligence.
After the sundering, the forest where the people formerly known as the Laezians inhabited became a dark and unfriendly place. There are whispers of some great, terrible secret that can be discovered within. Most assumed that this secret was how, and why the Laezians split. Most also assumed that they did not want to know.
The Kaezians moved out of the forest, to the smaller woods surrounding it, and had been living there ever since.
However, the story of the Laimer is more complicated. At first, they also moved out of the dark forest, to woods some distance away from where the Kaezians lived, but still the Kaezians hunted them. Eventually, they moved further and further away.
Nocturne, who had been watching over the Laimer carefully, had refused to reveal what really happened during this period. Still, Keyi the White Falcon, who was watching over Silva at that time, had claimed that the moon elves and elves and centaurs lived together peacefully for a while. This seemed reasonable, as some of the older paintings found withing Silva showed a dark-skinned race of elves with their fair-skinned counterparts. Still, some doubt Keyi's word, which was not surprising.
But if what Keyi had said was true, then tragedy still dogged every step of the Laimer. A few years after the arrival of the moon elves to Silva, the malicious drow elves arrived. Drow elves and moon elves, both being dark-skinned, were easily confused, although moon elves mostly have peaceful intentions. Both were hunted down without mercy.
Seeing that they would not have peace in Silva, the remaining Laimer fled, weeping for the ill luck that so loved to haunt them. They returned to the place where they originally came from. Kaesaphreneithizanar.
Taking pity on them, Nocturne and Feroc agreed to help the Laimer: by rewriting history.
No, not going back in time. Rewriting history. Yes, rewriting.
With one of the most influencing actions that any immortal had ever done to mortals, Nocturne and Feroc altered the memories and stories of both races, making them forget the origins they shared. Nocturne took the Laimer underground, and Feroc kept the Kaezians aboveground.
And there the two races had stayed, never remembering their true histories, never knowing the bonds that tied them together. Still, a few from each race always wondered why the colour of their skin, eyes and hair were so alike...
Geography:
At first sight, Keazana is an unremarkable land made mostly out of tall, dark forests, with no landmarks at all. The land is mostly flat, with rich soil underneath, and the occasional large boulder/rock sticking out. There are quite a number of burrows as well.
Surrounding the main forests is land that is still mostly flat, with quite a lot of trees, although shorter one. Rivers and streams can be clearly seen. Most of the wildlife make their home here, in these smaller and much less dangerous woods.
But what is of interest is the land underneath the forest. A number of long, large tunnels run from the floor of the forests, until they reach a place where the ceiling starts to become rocky, instead of earthy. Then they go down a little way more, until they reach an extremely large cavern, Haerani, the legendary home of the moon elves.
Climate:
Warm all year around. Rain is common, even in winter. Kaezana is quite humid, which was exactly how the locals like it. It gets slightly colder the further north one goes, but it is barely noticeable. Snow has never fallen on Kaezana.
People Groups:
Moon elves in the city of Haerani, the caverns underneath Kaezana. On the surface, small tribes of Kaezians dwell.
Kaezians are technically humans, or at least humanoids. They are short, slender and agile, with long arms. They are mostly dark-skinned, but with extremely light eye-colours. Silver is the most common. The colour of their hair is mostly brownish, ranging from light, golden brown to chestnut. Kaezians are quite primitive, but fierce and many.
Moon elves, on the other hand, are a race of people that are dying out. They are mostly neutral, and are quite skilled in magic. As their name suggests, moon elves draw most of their power from the moon. They are also dark skinned (skin tones ranging from bluish black to dark purple, sometimes even black), and often confused with drow elves. Few know of their existence. Moon elves mostly have silver eyes, although a light purple is not unheard of. Their hair is even darker than their skin.
They venture out onto the surface only during nighttime, using their extensive systems of tunnels.
Culture:
The Kaezians are a harsh people. They are not very religious, although they do pray to Feroc for luck sometimes. Kaezians are scattered in a small number of tribes, each with a number of warriors, and each with their own different customs and territories. Among these tribes, the Kiroati (also called the Tribe of Roaring Flame, or FlameTribe) and the Naoti (known also as the Tribe of Stalking Wolves or WolfTribe) are the strongest.
There is also a special tribe of priests called the Seerun. They are given special status, and believed to have special powers. One could say they are shamans. Although less powerful than normal warriors, Seeruns can call for divine assistance, or use their powers over the elements of wind and earth.
Battles between different tribes are not uncommon, and neither is one tribe wiping out another.
Each tribe is ruled by a chieftain, and the strongest warrior will get the position after the chieftain's death or retirement. There isn't much political intrigue among Kaezians, although a chieftain will usually try to train his son (if he has one) to become the future leader. Most chieftains are male, although female ones are not unheard of.
Women are not given inferior status, although most stay at camp to guard the children, and to guard the camp. Elders, warriors who have retired due to age or injury, are revered. They are the ones who normally pass on the history of the tribe.
Kaezians have not invented writing yet, and their language is oddly musical, a little like singing.
Kaezians believe loyalty and strength to be the most important traits. Unless one is a Seerun, one doesn't possess a trickle of magical power.
The moon elves, or Laimer, as they call themselves, are an advanced race, but they are dying out. Laimer live for a long time, and Honor Nocturne above all other immortals. Yes, even gods. Unlike the pure elves, moon elves are not much known for their sense of fun (the fact that few people know that moon elves exist might have something to do with it), and parties among the Laimer rarely happen.
Moon elves are a race of pacifists, not to mention shy. They abhor violence. Rarely venturing into the outside world even during nighttime, few know of their existence, although ancient paintings show moon elves dancing with their elf counterparts...
Although they are intelligent, Laimer know very little of the world outside of their own. They are friendly to all living things, and demis who want to get away from the stress of governing rightfully over their subjects are known to come here.
Moon elves are the one who have invented the name of 'Kaesaphreneithizanar' to the forests above. In their language, it roughly translates to 'silver moonlight over dark forests'. Their own city, 'Haerani' means 'refuge' or 'place of safety'.
Extremely resilient to disease, moon elves are mostly slender and quite short, often mistaken to be drow elves from a distance, because of their dark skin. Laimer can move quite fast, and if necessary, they mostly fight with bow and arrow, or slender knives. The underground which is their home is not exactly the safest place one can find, with the occasional monster wandering nearby.
Moon elves rarely reproduce. Families with children are considered to be blessed by Nocturne, and is given a special place in society until their child grows up.
Strangely, Laimer have little need for food, and draw most of their energy from the moon and the darkness. Venturing out onto the surface during the full moon is a sacred tradition that most are happy to honor.
Laimer are ruled over by the high council. Elections for the new high council takes place every three decades, sometimes longer, sometimes less. Most of the councilors are female.
Being a rather matriachal society, each family is watched over by the oldest female.
Laimer mate for life.
Unlike Kazians, moon elves are an extremely magical people.
Current Events:
There are whispers in the Pantheon and the realms of the demis that Malar is starting to convince the Kaezians to join his cause, by promising them technology and invincibility, two things that every Kaezian desire.
Meanwhile, the Seerun are slowly starting to become corrupted, starting to abandon the worship of Feroc, demigod of the hunt. Feroc, naturally, is not pleased about this, and has not been listening to the prayers of those Seerun still loyal to him. Whether that will change remains a debatable thing. Obviously, the Seerun had not told this new change to the other Kaezians. Whether or not anyone will care is also a debatable point. Kaezians only care about strength, and if Feroc won't grant it to them, Malar surely will.
And for some reason, the most of the elders and storytellers of all the tribes have suddenly died of a mysterious disease, leaving only those with a small and mostly corrupted knowledge of the history of the tribes to pass on the stories. Not a good thing. But then and again, the version that the elders have been telling is mostly inaccurate. Too bad they don't know.
Also, one tribe, the Frioati (or Tribe of Soaring Eagle or EagleTribe), is in danger of being wiped out. It is unknown whether this will have any consequences, but the Frioati are the ones with the most knowledge of archery and military tactics. Malar probably won't be pleased at their annihilation, and neither will be Feroc.
The Laimer are also in trouble. A streak of madness has shown up in some of the older families. While this streak of madness has been known for some time, it has never caused trouble, until recently. Several of the younger Laimer in these families have banded up together and staged an attack on the high council itself. Most unacceptable. With regret, they have been exiled, and the number of Laimer still existing have been whittled down yet again. Most disturbing.
Also, no one has produced any children in the last decade, which is rather unusual. Moon elves are still mortal, although they do live for quite a length of time. And Nocturne has been strangely quite lately.
Everyone in Haerani is beginning to worry, even the youngest child.
Also, the history books (even if they are inaccurate) have all been stolen. That or an alien ate them. Take your pick.
It seems that the end of Haerani and the peaceful society of moon elves is coming soon.
History:
Kaezians and Laimer both don't know, but they were originally one people, created by Nocturne and Feroc together, with the approval of the Pantheon. Well, Malar and Frackleth probably didn't approve, but whatever.
Anyway, Nocturne and Feroc selected a large forest quite close to Orangia, and there, they began to create their new race, the Laerizans.
Short, dark-skinned, dark-haired, pale-eyed and resembling humans, the Laerizans were intended to be forest dwellers in peace with nature (Klecheck insisted on that).
For a few years, all was well, and Nocturne and Feroc eventually left them to their own devices.
Then, tragedy struck. For some reason unknown to even the immortals, the Laerizans split up. Those who followed Feroc more became the Kaezians, and would eventually lose most of their magical powers and writing, becoming the Kaezians known today, and keeping more to the day.
The Laeizans that were more devoted to Nocturne were driven underground and became the race known as Laimer, or moon elves. Again, the reason is unknown, but bitter hatred existed between the now seperated races. The Kaezians were more numerous, and hunted the Laimer mercilessly when the moon elves attempted to go up to the surface.
Left to their own devices underground, the Laimer eventually learnt, with the help of Nocturne, to survive with a bare minimum of food and water. Their magicks grew more and more powerful, and their lifespans longer. They evolved from humans to elves.
Back on the surface, the Kaezians became more primitive, as Feroc forsaked them for a while. The demigod of the hunt was displeased with the way his creation had hunted other sentient beings, although this displeasure eventually decreased. Still, Feroc never helped the Kaezians to regain their previous level of intelligence.
After the sundering, the forest where the people formerly known as the Laezians inhabited became a dark and unfriendly place. There are whispers of some great, terrible secret that can be discovered within. Most assumed that this secret was how, and why the Laezians split. Most also assumed that they did not want to know.
The Kaezians moved out of the forest, to the smaller woods surrounding it, and had been living there ever since.
However, the story of the Laimer is more complicated. At first, they also moved out of the dark forest, to woods some distance away from where the Kaezians lived, but still the Kaezians hunted them. Eventually, they moved further and further away.
Nocturne, who had been watching over the Laimer carefully, had refused to reveal what really happened during this period. Still, Keyi the White Falcon, who was watching over Silva at that time, had claimed that the moon elves and elves and centaurs lived together peacefully for a while. This seemed reasonable, as some of the older paintings found withing Silva showed a dark-skinned race of elves with their fair-skinned counterparts. Still, some doubt Keyi's word, which was not surprising.
But if what Keyi had said was true, then tragedy still dogged every step of the Laimer. A few years after the arrival of the moon elves to Silva, the malicious drow elves arrived. Drow elves and moon elves, both being dark-skinned, were easily confused, although moon elves mostly have peaceful intentions. Both were hunted down without mercy.
Seeing that they would not have peace in Silva, the remaining Laimer fled, weeping for the ill luck that so loved to haunt them. They returned to the place where they originally came from. Kaesaphreneithizanar.
Taking pity on them, Nocturne and Feroc agreed to help the Laimer: by rewriting history.
No, not going back in time. Rewriting history. Yes, rewriting.
With one of the most influencing actions that any immortal had ever done to mortals, Nocturne and Feroc altered the memories and stories of both races, making them forget the origins they shared. Nocturne took the Laimer underground, and Feroc kept the Kaezians aboveground.
And there the two races had stayed, never remembering their true histories, never knowing the bonds that tied them together. Still, a few from each race always wondered why the colour of their skin, eyes and hair were so alike...
