Puldraks wisdom about elves

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 1

The Deraisim had become homeless in the wars. As nomadic wanderers they hid in the woods, setteling nowhere for a longer time. Their families joined each other to travel together for a while, only to disband again soon whenever an area could not supply them all any longer. Hunted by countless enemies and almost everytime outnumbered when it came to fights with 'neighbours' they retreated into the deepest woods where the greater number of their foes was evened out. There they created encampments they visited now and then. They had contact with many creatures and cultures. They adopted ideas and inventions that suited their nomadic lifestyle and begun even a very cautious trade with other races to aquire things they were not able to build on their own. As the attention of the other races turned more and more away from the elves and wars broke out between them, some of the elves begun to live at their up to then only part time ecampment on a permanent base. Adopting what they had seen from other races and things they vaguely remembered from their own past some trading posts were established in this way. Usually only one to three families lived there. After the reunification with the Cenath the majority of them could be convinced to give a permanent settlement a try and the biggest tradingpost became the settlement Ab'Dendriel. Some families refused to join their brethren and continued to wander the world, only visiting the city now and then, each vistit convincing them more that they have only little in common with the Deraisim anymore. So they begun to see themselves as Abdaisim and continued to be the nomads and restless wanderers of elvenkind.

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 2

The Kuridai took refuge in a volcanic area, inhabited by vile monsters and ravaged by the eruptions of the mountains. Stripped of almost any possesions, they hid in the caves and learned to become very secretive. They had to work very hard, had to fight for almost any goods with nature and ferocious beasts. Most beasts that could live in such livethreatening circumstances were that powerfull that direct attacks proved to be futile. So the elves begun to develop a more devious way to fight, with assaults, traps and hit and run tactics. After over hundred years they had enough resources to leave the burning lands and adopted their way of live to their new enviroment. So they became the secretive people under the hills. They were fierce fighters whenever their new home was threatened. Some hundred years they fought off all intruders until their explorers made contact with the other remaining elven casts. Under the growing pressure of the more and more powerful waves of orcish attacks they left their homes to join forces with the other elves in an uneasy alliance.
Their apperance had changed to a even more slender Version of the normal elves. Their skin is very pale, their hair pure white or pitch black. The younger members of that cast often color strands of their hair in unusual clors like red, blue or purple. Red, albinotic eyes are common, but in general all kinds of eyecolors are existent.

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 3

The Teshial were never fighters. They retreated in the early days of war to hidden refuges, not as a whole caste but only in small family groups. Their hideouts were additionally protected by strong illusionary magic and offered them peace from the madness around them. These elves developed due to meditation and a special philosophy in the art of dream magic, dramatically enhancing their initial abilities in the decades. So they began to exist almost permanently in a state of dreams, only rarely appearing now and then amidst the other elves to give them advice and try to convince some of them to join their way of life. As the war grew more and more fierce these visits became less and less frequent until they were almost a myth, even for elvenkind. In the new awakening of the world they were some of the first to appear, apparently far less disoriented then other beings. Many races welcomed their help, but their teachings seldom found dedicated listeners. After they taught a part of their secrets to some humans they found worthy, they had to see their pupils tortured by developments they judged themselves guilty of. Also, other elves put pressure on the humans to give up the secrets of dreams. They withdrew from the world of mortals and it is rumored they have physically entered the realm of dreams.
The Teshial are 'typical' in appearance for elves, but they could create the illusion of almost any appearance if they so choose. Some people even say that due to their enormous control of dreams they could shape their children as they wish, giving them human or even orcish appearance. On the other hand, even people who come up with such theories go silent when asked why an elf should choose to have a child that looks that way.

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 4

The Cenath were the most lucky of the elves. They lived in a hidden valley in a handful of cities, far away from the rages of war. As things turned bad for the elves much of their artifacts, artwork and books were brought to theese cities. Live went on as usual for some time, the elves minding only their own business, as if pretending there was no war at all. Of course the war found them at last. In an frantic attempt to rescue their lives and even their accustomed way of life the elves begun to weave powerfull spells. Many of their best magicians litteraly 'burnt out' in the process but finally the elves succeeded. The whole valley was torn out of the known world ... And this was bitterly needed in a world that was only stormy darkness around the elven valley. They created a artificial light and even created weather. There they lived for hundreds of years, studying and practicing magic, mainly to manipulate and reproduce efects of natue to enhance their lives.

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 5

The 5th elven cultural group are the Chelabdil. There role in the war and their fate is yet unclear, but they have few contact with the other elven casts. They are usually a bit taller and stronger than elves of the other races, and there skin is silvery-white or in blue to greenish tones. Their eyes are often pale blue or green, sometimes a faint yellow. They have long black hair, or sometimes dark brown. They seem to live nowadays in the region northwest of Carlin and are seen quite often there. They have the keenest eyes of the elves, and the weapons of their choice are spears, knives and sometimes the short bow. They are fine hunters and sometimes trade furs, but the main part of their life remains yet uncertain.

Puldraks wisdom about elves Pt. 5b

Then something happened. The dimension that harboured the elven valley began to collapse. Pice for pice their land was torn away and the wisest of the elves found out that the valley would ultimately 'fall' back in the world it belonged to. Great efforts were undertaken to prevent it. All were futile. As this was recognized it was almost too late. All magic was concentrated to preserve the lives of the elves. Protective shells were created, spells to deflect damage, enchantements to keep harm away.
The 'return' was aweful. Almost half of the elves perished. All of the valley and its wonders were destroyed. Almost nothing remained. Artifacts and books shattered and burnt alike. The battered elves retreated and begun to wander aimlessly through the lands, until they encountered scouts of the Deraisim who led them to the safety of their woods. At first they were disgusted by the primitive lifestyle of their brethren, but soon they decided they had to guide and lead them back to true values of elvenkind. So one of their encampements was choosen as new home for the elvenkind and the city of Ab'Dendriel was founded.

The Mooh'Tah

The Mooh'Tah
In our days the minotaurean philosophy of [Mooh'Tah is only known as a warrior cult of some sort. This is of course incorrect. Although the Mooh'Tah centers around perfection and the minotaurean Mooh'Tah masters are feared warriors and for many the epitome of skilled fighting Mooh'Tah is more! Its perfection in everything or at least anything, may it be music, may it be cooking, may it be poetry, may it be war. Secondly its about seeing the perfection in things. A Mooh'Tah master might spend hours in looking at a flower ... or some broken pottery and it's likely he writes a poem or song about it, only to walk into a battle minutes later. In general it's assumed that you can condense the philosophy into two principles: See perfection! And: Try to achieve perfection!

Diary of Palkar, leader of the outcasts

We found this cave - hidden in the labyrinth - and made it our new headquarter. I think it is save.

More deep in the cave is a tribe of cyclops. We made an alliance with them. They will fight with us and guard the key to the secret laboratory.

King Markwin protected the entrance to the lab with a dragon, but my druid could convince it. So we can use the lab to increase our power.

We were digging a new tunnel to the city. Markwin locked the hidden entrance with a rock.

Yeah! The tunnel is finished and we were able to attack king Markwin within his own walls. They weren´t prepared at all and we killed many of those creepy bastards.

Soon we will be strong enough to convince the other dragon and reach the surface.

Today I send a group of diggers to make a new way up to the light of the sun. They really have a hard job to do, but I think they will do it.

I haven´t heard anything of my diggers since a whole month. I hope this is no bad sign.

Orcish Diary

Now we have two enemies!

Being defeated by the evil humans we are forced to retreat into new caves. Our plan to create a tunnel to the eastern caves of this world is nearly completed!

But the dark minotaurs will protect their caverns. And our tunnel will go straight through their homes. So we must fight against both humans and minotaurs.

Chronicle of Mintwallin - the city of the Minotaurs written by Markwin, king of all (?) Minotaurs

Volume V

I don´t understand it, but the outcasts must have a way into our city Mintwallin. Today a group of them murdered my son Ian and some of my guards. I am deadly ill. I am coughing blood. I am full of sorrow. And I am tired. So tired. I can not defend my own city.

My mage told me the coming of another threat. Some humans have killed the dragon and are advancing to our gates. I hope they won´t find the way through the labyrinth.

Chronicle of Mintwallin - the city of the Minotaurs written by Markwin, king of all Minotaurs

Volume IV

Our excursion is at the end. Today many of our best warriors died. Palkar encountered a dragon that killed many of my minos. It was Palkars fault. He will never lead an army again. And I will never see the light again.

I can't calm Palkar. He is full of energy. And I can't calm my own people. Many don't listen to me but to him. He wants to fight.

A human made his way through the labyrinth! How could he find us? I wanted to get that out of him - but I could not understand him. I have thrown him in the jail. He will never come out of it!

The black day of out chronicle. We had a fight within the walls of my beloved city. Minotaurs fought against Minotaurs - brothers against brothers - sisters against sisters. Palkar and his knights nearly won. But me and some others were able to defeat him. Now, he and his men are outcasts.

Day of sorrow.

The outcasts stole the key to our secret laboratory! That is worst of all. Now we can't make our milk, the source of our power.

I managed to bring a dragon from the dragon-pit at the outer entrance of our secret lab to guard it. He hurt me very hard. I needed much more power than I had. I am deadly injured. I hope this coughing will have an end.

The orcs and trolls conquered some caves back. Dammit! We are too weak now. We can´t defend ourselves. And my coughing gets worse and worse.

Some of my men blocked the way from the secret lab to my chambers with a big rock. I think we are safe now.

The outcasts made an alliance with a tribe of cyclops. Now our former brothers are our worst enemies. They are hiding somewhere in the labyrinth.

The oldest Minotaur of the city told me that my written words have many mistakes and that I would write in a terrible form. I killed him. I am a fighter - not a teacher!

Chronicle of Mintwallin - the city of the Minotaurs written by Markwin, king of all Minotaurs

Volume III

We finally managed it to escape from the evil daemon. We had to give up most of our land. Only the city Mintwallin is left. Many good warriors died. We blocked the way out of the city with a drawbridge. I hope that will keep the daemon out. Now the only way out of the city leads to the labyrinth.

Palkar gets more and more influence in the city. Mostly the younger Minos listen to him.

Palkar sows discard. He wants to form a new army to investigate the labyrinth and to get back to the surface. I prefer living right here in peace.

He is too strong. I had to allow him to lead some small groups of our Minotaurs to fight against the orcs and trolls. He is a very good commander - and so he is a danger for me.

WHAT THE HELL MEANS "KAPLAR"?!?!?

Palkar conquered most of the tunnels and dungeons. He drove the trolls back. Perhaps he is right. Perhaps - someday - I will see the light of the sun again.