The Confusing Origins Of People

The races found on the North Island can be broadly categorised as:

## The Elder Inhabitants:

Those races who have a history of dwelling on the continent that stretches far back before the arrival of the Elves, their origins are shrouded in mist even to the Giant Clan Speakers.

See below for the contradictory/confusing bits……

Races: Maratasen, Centaur, Troll, Giant, Lizardman, Ariel

## The Arrivals:

Those who have arrived or invaded the North Island.

The Elves original invasion was primarily coastal settlement, their attempts to bring the North Island fully under their dominion led in turn to the wars with the Wild and the schism in the primitive naturist religion predominant on the North Island at the time. They then left but have now returned.

The first Human settlers arrived in the region of Far Haven, but many other waves arrived on the island over the next 20 years during the Elf/Wild war. Since that period there has been no further reported human immigration, but the race has spread rapidly across the continent.

The Orcs are reported to have invaded Troll territory prior to the first Elven invasion. The Orcish invaders did not last long and the race was subjugated by the Trolls. However, the Trolls at the time saw no interest in keeping the Orcs under their dominion and soon released them from their vassalage. At this time it is believed all of the Orcs were Wyldwood worshippers.

Races: Elves (invasion), Humans (migration), Orcs (migration)

## The Others:

Those who seem to have not been around during the early days of the Elder Races (or at least not known at that time), but seem to have sprung from the Earth.

The Dwarves, probably have the most limited geographical spread of all the races, primarily inhabiting Hightower and the region around that city. The peaceful incorporation of Hightower into the Kingdom was seen as one of King Williams greatest diplomatic coups. If the Dwarves have some inkling of their origins – they are not telling.

Halflings, seem to be found in small numbers everywhere, nobody knows their origin – least of all the Halflings.

## The Elder Races Origins

There a three primary stories around the origins of the six elder races.

### Theory 1: The Elder Nature

The Elder species were formed by the needs of the Island to have keepers and shepherds, each race had a prime role or association. Maratasen represent fire; Lizardmen water; Ariel air; Giants earth; Centaurs knowledge and life; Trolls memories and death. The clans were intended to travel over the lands ensuring that all was in balance, working together to maintain this. No order was intended, nor was it needed, no clan had dominion.

### Theory 2: Humanist

In fact all races are offshoots of humanity, created by some arcane means. Humanity was the original race, and the reason that none of the so called Elder races can remember their origins with certainty is that the pains associated with their creation caused them to blot out the memory.

### Theory 3: Lizardman

The Lizardmen are in fact an ancient race that have fallen back from an enlightened state into their current barbaric (relatively) state. They retrenched to their main settlements many many years back but to ensure that the lands of the North Island would not revert, and in an attempt to stimulate their own culture – some of their number permanently adopted different forms and went out as founders of new races. Unfortunately the new creations ‘went native’ and forgot their origins and in turn reverted to primitive worship of Nature as opposed to the glories of GARM (the Lizardman religion).