Connor,

I know how excited you are to be going on this camping trip with your parents, but I also know you well enough to realize that you will soon go quite insane if you do not have something to read… or at least you will drive your parents thusly. To remedy this I have put the following volume in your pack… I think you might find it interesting. The author of the piece, Arcom Pool, lived over a hundred years ago and was a kindred spirit of sorts with your “family”. Master Pool made a name for himself by exploring the world and writing about his journeys. Of course the historical and academic value of what he wrote about is circumspect, but he tells an interesting tale nonetheless. I thought that the following pages might prove both a well needed diversion to traipsing around the woods and sleeping in a tent, as well as a fitting introduction to new material for you. Read carefully young man as I plan to start your studies on the Elemental Lords when you return.

Yours,

Langdurin

THE DEAD RACES OF THE ELEMENTAL LORDS

by Arcom Pool

In all of my travels, there are few places that I enjoy exploring more than the Naktu Federation. In fact the current treaty we have with the Federation makes my work all the more enjoyable as I find it much easier to explore ancient ruins and discover forgotten cultures when the locals don’t want to kill me on sight! I can only hope that this treaty lasts longer than the previous one.

The Naktu will be the first to tell you that civilization started on their continent and I hesitate to argue with that ascertation as I’ve seen some of the oldest ruins I’ve ever encountered while traveling their lands. One benefit that arises from having an unbroken line stretching back to the far reaches of antiquity is the incredible folklore that has been collected over the millennia.

Of particular interest to me are the children’s tales concerning the Elemental Lords. The entities described in these parables are very unlike the primal powers that we understand them to be. In fact, according to the Naktu fables, the Lords have very Human-like, almost stereotypical personalities for beings with their spheres of influence. (I.e. Umbatar is careful yet tough, Oesik is passionate and mischievous, Nereid is fierce but mercurial and Welihuana is downright flighty.)

The stories are what you might expect from an ancient, primitive culture just learning how to understand itself. For the most part they are cautionary tales or parables that teach a life lesson. The most interesting aspect of these fables, however are the races that act as the servants to the Elemental Lords.

According to the stories, each of the lords had followers that they created to serve them and like many creations of folklore, the races are based off of an animal that ties into each lord’s element. While not exactly like their liege in temperament, each race shares enough of their lord’s qualities to be a fitting representative. In fact many of the tales revolve around a member of a particular race who has to accomplish various tasks for his master, often interacting with the servants of another lord in the process.

These fables in particular seem to have been created for their comic effect, but I have to admit that they have a certain charm. I remarked as such to my host at a dinner one evening; he was what the Naktu consider a “cultural historian.” I mentioned to him how quaint I found the tales of these races and expressed my regret that they were only creatures of fiction. This was where things got interesting…

My host insisted quite vehemently that the races actually existed and proceeded to direct me to a dusty old tome that not only explained each race in detail, but also had sketches of what they looked like. According to the Historian, the races shared the continent with the Naktu for many centuries and then inexplicably died out. He seemed quite resolute in the assumption that the stories were not just folklore, but were in fact based on real events.

Unfortunately my host would not part with the book, as it was truly ancient and precious to him. Nevertheless I committed to memory the most important aspects of each race. Here, to the best of my recollection, are the first descriptions to the civilized world of The Dead Races of the Elemental Lords!

NERIEDANS:

The Neriedans, or Shark-men were the servants of the Lord of Water. They were basically humanoid in shape and size, but they had dull grey skin and a shark-like face with long snout, sharp teeth and pronounced dorsal fin on their upper back. They were able swim at great speeds thanks to their webbed hands and feet. They also possessed gills that allowed them to breathe underwater but apparently had no way of sustaining themselves when not submerged. It was impossible to tell from the sketches, but I cannot imagine that the Neriedans were able to communicate with air-breathing creatures and can only imagine how they were able to converse with their own kind.

The Neriedans had a loose-knit, tribal structure and the coasts and corral reefs surrounding the continent were their domain. Unlike sharks as we know them, the Neriedans were not vicious or bloodthirsty like their namesakes, however they were a proud race and not the type of creature one wanted to upset while within their sphere of influence.

OESIKANS:

The Oesikans, or Flame-newts were creatures of the Lord of Fire. Small and reptilian in nature, the Oesikans were similar in size to the Keelo, but despite their red and yellow markings, shared more in appearance to the Yuanti than any normal race. The palms of their hands and soles of their feet apparently exuded some sticky substance which allowed them to be excellent climbers, which makes sense considering they lived on the slopes of volcanoes.

At first I thought it rather odd that the Lord of Fire would choose a cold-blooded race to be his servants, but then I realized the poetic justice of it… to survive and thrive the Oesikans must always stay near great heat. Rather fitting now that I think about it. Oesikan’s minions were the most violent of the Dead races, but it mattered little as few sane individuals would go near the volcanoes where they made their homes…

UMBATARIANS:

The Umbatarians, or Badger-men were about the same size as an average man, but they had a thick, furry hide and a Mustelid-like face. Their strong claws allowed them to burrow deep into the ground and create a vast network of subterranean tunnels.

It would seem that Umbatar’s minions were the most civilized of the Dead races. Indeed the sketches I saw of them showed them wearing primitive armor and carrying crude weapons. Despite this, the Badger-men appeared to be peaceful and like their totem animal only became violent when cornered.

WELIHUANIANS:

The Welihuanians, or Raptor-men were easily the most exotic of the minions created by the Elemental Lords. They appeared to be thin, willowy Humans in shape, but the similarities stopped there. The most striking difference was the 12 ft. feathery wings sprouting from the back of the Air Lord’s servants. High cheek bones, yellow eyes and feathers instead of hair completed the avian-like features of the Welihuanians.

The Raptor-men were solitary by nature and lived in natural aeries in the highest mountains. Like eagles they mated for life and it seems they had little interest in interacting with other races. Truly I imagine it would have been a breathtaking sight to behold a member of this aloof race.

So there you have it my friends… Four races thought to be myth, yet apparently all too real. Try to imagine it if you can… At one point in our murky past the known races shared their land with four other sentient peoples! It is almost too impossible to believe.

What happened to the Dead Races of the Elemental Lords? If they did truly exist, what caused them to die out? Did their lieges decide they were no longer needed and abandoned them? Even more tantalizing to consider… who’s to say that they actually did disappear? Could it be that maybe they still exist somewhere in the vast undiscovered country of Marai? One thing is for sure… there is one explorer who would give anything to find out the truth of the Dead Races of the Elemental Lords!!!

GAMING INFO:

Neriedans: Swim 40 ft., Bite attack 1d6, Breathe underwater.

Oeskians: Climb 30 ft., +8 racial bonus to Climb, Small size.

Umbatarians: Burrow 10 ft., Claw attack 1d4, Natural Armor +4.

Welihuanians: Fly 30 ft. (Average), +4 racial bonus to Spot.