Ralardia, Val Miran, Rheydin, Miruvhor |
Ralardia, Val Miran, Maelbrim, Miruvhor |
Despite their ability to transform, werefolk share many of the social traits of humans, and are often found living in human cities or other human settlements. Some humans, however, are fearful or intolerant of the werefolk's ability to transform, and this has lead many werefolk and their families to live in relative solitude, or to band together in their own settlements. There is a city to the south-east of Rheydin named Ralardia which was originally a forest sanctuary, that great numbers of werefolk have flocked to and built into a haven for all werebeast kind. Werefolk do not mate exclusively with others of their race, often marrying and having children with humans. The children of these couplings sometimes possess the ability to change form, and sometimes don't. |
Despite their ability to transform, werefolk share many of the social traits of humans, and are often found living in human cities or other human settlements. Some humans, however, are fearful or intolerant of the werefolk's ability to transform, and this has lead many werefolk and their families to live in relative solitude, or to band together in their own settlements. There is a city to the south-east of Maelbrim named Ralardia which was originally a forest sanctuary, that great numbers of werefolk have flocked to and built into a haven for all werebeast kind. Werefolk do not mate exclusively with others of their race, often marrying and having children with humans. The children of these couplings sometimes possess the ability to change form, and sometimes don't. |
With every step the armies of Chaos took, Gaia cried out in anger, sadness and pain. The Earth Mother, and essence of Nature itself, was growing ever weaker. With each life that was extinguished, with each patch of earth that was defiled, with every stream that was befouled - Gaia's life force grew dimmer and dimmer. Those who resisted the armies of evil were divided and afraid, their numbers dwindling. It looked as though none could halt the fell tramp of doom.
In this moment, Gaia feared for her own existence.
So, after the forests west of Miruvhor were completely overrun, the Earth Mother wrought a great and powerful magic, the likes of which had never before been seen in Aabahran. The briefest of tremors passed through all life in the world, as Gaia spun the web of magic that divided her own life force into four pieces. After the spell had been cast, the remnants of Gaia's consciousness fled into the recesses of the earth to await the day of rebirth.
The four pieces of Gaia's soul each took the form of one of the Earth Mother's favored beasts; the bear, the wolf, the tiger and the falcon. It was in these forms that these forest spirits travelled to the four corners of the world to appear before the most stalwart defenders of nature. In the Emerald Forest, a hermit turned chieftain named Erigoth was infused with the spirit of a great wolf. It is said an enormous, ghostly falcon circled the rambling boughs of Drkshtyre Wood before descending upon the humble home of Shreev, an ancient druid woman. Acorns were shaken from their branches in Elium as a bear of impossible proportions roared it's way through the lines of battle to grant Gaia's blessing to Korga, a fierce and loyal berserker. Anistja, the leader of a small band of huntresses who lived beneath the eaves of Banor appeared ready for battle one morning astride the back of a fearsome tiger.
Each of these warriors found themselves blessed not only with the spirit of Gaia, but with the ability to change form into the beast that had visited them. When transformed, they found that all the physical powers and attributes of their particular beast were at their disposal.
The progeny of these four chieftains were also blessed, but as the blood line was often diluted with common humans, it is no longer possible for the descendants of these warriors to have any say in which beast's form they are granted.