At the Silent Kingdoms, Part 2. And I Beheld The Court

Part 1.

From the Journals of Anis Al-Farid, the Explorer and companion of Nigel the Sage and Glenn, Get of Erwin, the Warrior.

The Nobility Menagerie

I write further of my time with the Lords and Ladies of the Silent Kingdoms. We were welcomed into the Kingdom of one that we referred to in our common tongue as The Lord of Wolves. During our time with the Lord we learned some of the history and customs of these people.

On the first night The Lord of Wolves held a Grand Court, inviting his Vassals from across his Dominion. They came, draped in strange clothes made of leather, wools and metals which were dyed in extravagant ways. The three of us were Guests of Honor and our Host made sure to keep the three of us close as his Vassals arrived.

As each of the Vassals entered the Great Hall, they approached the Lord. They exchanged salutations with The Lord of Wolves and he would speak to us in Mannish the names of the Guests. All of them were exquisitely dressed and unlike any person we had ever encountered on Nod -- even the nuances of their physical characteristics were unique to them.

There was the Black Baroness of the West in attendance with a group of her hooded Thralls. She was draped in heavy black cloths, leaving only her pure-white face exposed. Her Thralls were covered head-to-toe in black cloths themselves, but wore veils that obscured their physicality. The Baroness, when greeting the Lord extended her hand while removing a long, black glove from it. The Baroness was similar the Lord of Wolves, in that her fingers and hand were long and taloned, but instead of being hirsute, were wrinkled, brown and hairless.

The Magnificent Crimson Lord of the East, in bespoke metal armor with his Thrall-lover. The Magnificent had great scars upon his face, throat and hands, as if he had endured a great many battles in close-combat. Indeed, his metal regalia indicated his position as some kind of Warrior or Knight in this land. As he extended left hand to the Lord, we noticed he was missing two fingers. He had a male lover with him, that he had dressed in close-fitting leathers for this occasion. This was the first time we had a closer look at the Thralls as The Lord of Wolves called them in Mannish. They appeared not dissimilar from their Masters -- which made us wonder just what separated Master from Slave in this land.

The Aged One of the North with pure-white hair and skin like paper -- in attendance by himself. He was taller than the others. He wore a large medallion on his chest made of some precious metal like platinum. This medallion was carved the face of a Great Lizard, a Dragon. He seemed impossibly ancient, but moved with a grace just as much, if not more, than the others.

Others: the Veiled Woman, the Chattering Cabal, the Leathered Lady, the King of Shadows. We stood politely with our Host as they arrived, not wanting to offend the Nobility of this strange new land we found ourselves in.

Though it was not obvious to us at first, it was during this Court that we realized these Silent Kingdoms had a language of their own. They spoke to one another through the chattering of their teeth and the clicking of their tongues. Sometimes this chattering and clicking was punctuated  through a forced grunt or rattling-yowl -- like animals. Nigel, the Sage, whispered his observation to me after our shared realization, "Al-Farid, these Men speak without breath. Indeed, it is my observation that we are amongst Men that do not breathe at all."

In our studies of the Six Tribes of Men, it is known that each had distinct physical differences even during the mythical time in Eden -- and that these differences were accentuated further by the thousands of years hence. But the loss of the need for breath? This made no sense.

Our Host, in a private moment, spoke to us once all of the Guests had arrived. "I trust. . .you are. . .comfortable?" He spoke in a forced manner, as if a mechanical bellows were being pressed within his chest.

"Yes, you have been most generous! But we have observed the manner in which you speak, this is like no language known to us."

"Yes. . .this is our language. . .but we have retained this ancient Trade Language. . .as I speak it to you now."

"Forgive my intrusiveness, but it seems to be a labor for you to speak to us in this way?"

"There is much. . .that would have to be explained." The Lord of Wolves silently regarded me for a long moment. He glanced towards the Guests, who were now greeting and mingling with one another before speaking again. ". . .it is a Great Tragedy. . .We do not speak of it."

"Each of us here have had Tragedy. My people, the Hassan, who settled in the Wastes far South from here, must always travel -- never able to permanently create a home -- due to the dangers there. My companions from the far West are refugees from a State that had robbed them of their families under the guise of Order. Surely you can speak to us, some, of your own!"

"I will share this much. . .with you now. . .as the Feast will begin soon. . .and our tables have been prepared. . .we were once Slaves. . .treated worse than cattle. . .now we are the Masters. . .but we follow. . .a Code. . .and we are Kind Masters."

Just as the Lord of Wolves finished speaking this, one of his hooded Thralls approached us, clicking and chattering in their language. The Lord translated for us, suddenly exuberant: "All is prepared. . .my Guests. . .Come!"

Issues of Race: The Hassan

Continuing on my exposition regarding the two primary races of Men upon the continent of Nod. . .

The Hassan

The Hassan are one of the three Tribes that settled Nod. The Westmen settled upon the western shores of Nod, whereas the Hassan -- according to their Songs of History -- settled upon the southeastern shores on what would come to be known as the Wastes of Asad.

Side note: The third Tribe that would settle Nod are known to reside within the Silent Kingdoms far to the north and east of the continent -- separated by a large mountainous expanse. There is very sparse information regarding the nature of that land, except that the Rulers and Thralls of that land are mute, speaking to one another in a silent manner. The lack of any written language from that region complicates the matter further. It is known that the Rulers of that region know how to speak the ancient Trade Language -- Mannish.

The Hassan are a nomadic people by history as the land they settled upon was more dangerous than the land west of the Barrier Mountains and The Wall. Their villages and towns exist as large caravans and mobile dwellings. The more fantastic variations of which are within the Waste of Asad proper as they can not be transported through the Barrier Mountains. The Hassan are experts in Animal Husbandry and Engineering, so that they can maintain the Great Oxen and Grand Carts.

The Hassan speak Mannish in all public dealings and for commerce as it is the Ancient Trade Language. Their own language is an extremely private matter that is never used for day-to-day conversation. Mothers and fathers teach the language to their children. It is also the language of their music, religion and the basis of their names. Some Hassan phrases and terminology have crept into the speech of the Westmen through the interchange of cultures.

In appearance, the Hassan have jet-black hair with eyes that range from golden-yellow to deep brown. Their complexions vary from caramel to chestnut. All Hassan have distinct patterns of freckling upon their face and bodies that is of a deeper tone than their base complexion. These patterns are inherited and are used to identify different family lines. E.G.: One family may have a diamond-like freckling upon their forehead. Another family may have freckling from the scalp around to the back of the neck.

The Hassan have a deep sense of kinship with one another. In the Wastes, when traveling villages encounter one another (or if a caravan happens upon a temporary settlement), this is cause for great celebration that last many days. Children are married off, resources are exchanged and there is much song and dance. This tradition and attitude towards difference extends to the Hassan who immigrated to the Mother Empire. The first Hassan families who settled were quick to integrate with their Westmen cousins, creating a glorious blend of cultures. This has also led to an integration throughout the Westmen of many Hassan sensibilities. The clearest example of which are the Black Westmen.

In the Modern Age, the Hassan are accepted amongst the Mother Empire as citizens if they wish to convert to the Messianic faith. These Hassan have settled permanently within the Cities, though they have retained their traditions, names and privately practice their Old Faith and customs. Many Hassan have risen amongst the Westmen as great Military, Civic and Guilded leaders -- even within the upper echelons of the Messianic Church can be found Hassan who have fully embraced the Messiah and Her worship. Other Hassan families continue their nomadic lifestyle through the country, temporarily settling outside the great Westmen Cities and doing their business within the Free Markets.

Issues of Race: The Westmen

Within the world of Sophia's Children Race is thought of in a different way than we may think of it in the real world. I have introduced degrees of Ethnocentrism, Racism (as Colorism) and Xenophobia in the game world. All of which is an effect of the unique history of Mankind and, to a degree, the Giants.

In this post I want to elaborate in some more detail the Exoteric history of the world. Indeed, there is an Esoteric history I have extensively drafted behind this, but this will only be hinted at. Let's start with Mankind and what is know by the Westmen and Hassan -- the two major cultures upon Nod.

Exodus

Approximately 10,000 years ago Mankind lived as Six Tribes in the land of Eden. The Six lived in Peace with the Great Goddess Sophia. Sophia Lorded over Mankind with benevolence with her Three Sacred Forms: The Child, The Warrior and the Grand-Mother.

Much of what this was like is wrapped in Myth and Mystery. The only historical document of this time is The Book of the Law (Now known as The First Book. . . after the Messiah developed The Second Book of the Law.). Supposedly a dictated text, written by Mankind from the words of Sophia Herself. The historicity of this text is often challenged as there is much in the way of allegory and metaphor throughout.

There was a Cataclysm around this time that is, again, written about in metaphor ("And the Waters stirred and gave up their Secrets."). Modern Man really doesn't give the nature of this Cataclysm much thought. It is known that Sophia sacrificed Herself to allow Mankind to escape. Each Tribe embarked on a great journey to different a shore of Eden with The Book of the Law which contained instructions on: how to construct a Great Ark that would sail their Tribe across the Waters, alchemical instructions for Preservative -- a paste that provides minimal nutrition but preserves food products indefinitely, as well as methods of separating salt from water with Hydrator -- a powder that creates potable water.

These instructions are nearly indecipherable to a person not trained in interpreting these texts, but the basis of Alchemy and Engineering are found in this single book -- though there has been much scholarship since that antiquated time. The Most Important Instruction within the The Book of the Law is for The Bitter Medicine or Mint as it is also called. This is Most Important because of Mankind's Flaw -- that they cannot conceive children without the use of this Alchemical product.

The Modern Age

That is History and Ancient History and Myth, but understanding that gives the reader a lens with which to understand how each culture and race of Mankind interact. There is a natural kinship between all Men, as they all come from the same source -- but there is strife and prejudice which is much more an effect of the history between the time of Eden and the Modern Age.

The Westmen, in modern parlance, differentiate each other by way of the colloquial terms White, Red and Black. The White Westmen are pale in complexion with fair blond or platinum hair. Their eyes are pale to brilliant blue in color. The Baron Houses, known as Warlords during the Great War, were made up of White Westmen. To this day, the Baron Houses -- though they were stripped of their militaristic hegemony by the Messiah, continue to seek racial purity by way of controlling the the breeding of their members. White is the color of Power, according to the Baron Houses. In the Vulgar parlance of Baron House members and their Sycophants a non-White person is referred to as Painted. It is considered fashionable to this day amongst the wealthy to powder the face, neck and bosom. Along with these cosmetics, brilliant white gloves and grand powdered wigs are worn.

The Red Westmen are also pale in complexion, but with hints of pink or redness in their skin -- often when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. A full half of Red Westmen are also freckled in distinct patterns upon the face, back, chest and extremities. Their hair colors range from a fiery-orange all the way to a deep blood-red. The eyes of Red Westmen range from gray to brilliant green in color. By history, the Red Westmen were the servant caste of the Warlords that originally conquered Nod. The two castes, White and Red, knew their station by way of their physical characteristics. In the Modern Age such distinctions have been discarded. The Red Westmen have rich histories and traditions connected to the times where they were held in poverty by the Warlords, but in all tiers of life -- in the Modern Age -- are found the Red Westmen. Red Westmen will refer to themselves as Red, but consider the term Painted Vulgar -- as it is intended as such.

The Black Westmen are those Westmen who had joined with Hassan families. Most Black Westmen are found towards the East of the Mother Empire, but Black Westmen make their homes all over. The Black Westmen have rich traditions that combine the culture of the Westmen and the Hassan people -- often stretching back hundreds of years. To this day, Black Westmen will often keep the Tribal Name of the Hassan family their Westmen ancestors joined with (E.G.: Al-Mahhd, Al-Adan, Al-Rafiq) in addition to their modern Westman surname -- though this differs from the Hassan people proper who receive their Tribal Name based on the ruling Patriarch or Matriach at the time. The Black Westmen are pale as other Westmen, but do not become ruddy in the sun, but tan. Their hair color varies from dark browns to raven-black. Eye color varies from hazel, brown or even gray.

In my next post, I will discuss in more detail of Race as it applies to the Hassan.

The Calendar & The Ancient Signs

"Many of our Brothers disbanded after the Great Peace. Those that remain with the Baron Houses have grown fat and are glorified chauffeurs. . .We, on the other hand, continue the Old Ways. Though we call no Baron House our Master, we have our Code and stand Watch at the Periphery of Nein. What for? Oh, there are Beasts out here -- Beast of tremendous size as you wouldn't believe. . ."
-Lady Knight Elise of Suffolk, of the Black Dog Brotherhood

The calendar within the setting of Sophia's Children is very much like our own. In this post I will detail the names used for the days of the week, months and astrological signs (which are tied to the months of the year).

The Days of the Week

The days of the week have retained their names for thousands of years. They are named for the astrological bodies of the sky. These were especially revered by the original settlers of Nod. Their Exodus in the Great Arks was guided by the Ancient Navigators who utilized astrology to guide the Great Ships to the western shores.

Sunday: Day of the Sun. The historical Sabbath day.
Moonday: Day of the Moon.
Marsday: Mar's day.
Midweek: Many festivals occur on this day.
Jovesday: Named for the planet Jupiter.
Vernsday: Named for the planet Venus.
Saturday: Named for the planet Saturn.

There are other notable sky bodies that are not so-named in the days of the week: Mercury (closest to the Sun), Nibiru (past Mars and before Jupiter), Rahu (Venus' moon, large enough to be visible from Earth) and Pluto (also know as "The Black Comet" as it passes through the the planets' orbits in an extremely elliptical orbit).

The Months

The months of the year each have special significance associated with the changes of seasons and various religious festivals. The 12 months have an ancient historical basis, as the Old Calendar inherited by the denizens of the Great Ark had brought this system of time keeping with them from Eden. Notably, the two other Tribes who have had regular relations since the Exodus (the Bantu and Hassan) each have the same calendars themselves.

1, Sun's Rebirth: 31 days, begins on Sunday
2, Shining Sun (Month of the): 30 days, begins on Midweek
3, Spring's Usher: 30 days, begins on Vernsday

4, Month of Peace: 31 days, begins on Sunday
5, Harvest's Prepare: 30 days, begins on Midweek
6, Summer's Usher: 30 days, begins on Vernsday

Sophia's Return: Every 4th year a day-long holiday is celebrated off-calendar. This holiday is a recognition of the cultural heritage of all Mankind and their origin in and Exodus from Eden by the Mother-Goddess, Sophia. In practice, however, it is a dramatic affair of the flesh as the last of the warm weather this time of the year stirs the Masses into a carousing frenzy.

7, Dying Sun (Month of the): 31 days, begins on Sunday
8, Harvest's Usher: 30 days, begins on Midweek
9, Autumn's Usher: 30 days, begins on Vernsday

10, Month of Worship: 31 days, begins on Sunday
11, Final Harvest: 30 days, begins on Midweek
12, Winter's Usher: 30 days, begins on Vernsday

The Long Night: The last day of every year is off-calendar. This is typically a day of religious significance, but has also been a traditional day of flagrant debauchery for lay-people. Following The Long Night, the calendar begins with the new year with Sun's Rebirth 1st, Sunday.

"What's your sign?"

Birth Signs are associated with the Astrological Energies and Forms in the Sky. There is a system of pseudo-psychology associated with Birth Signs that has persisted into the modern day. Many of the Weekly Prints run ongoing articles that offer ham-handed platitudes themed by a person's Birth Sign. The Sophists, in their efforts to promote their "Free Choice Science" look disfavorably upon these Signs.

Sun's Rebirth: The Sage. Knowledge of mystery.
Shining Sun: The Fish. Considered practical and creative.
Spring's Usher: The Ram. Fiercely independent, rebellious.

Month of Peace: The Bull. Stubborn and hard working.
Harvest's Prepare: The Lovers. Loyal, but often overly dependent on others.
Summer's Usher: The Mother. Protecting, strong and unyielding to adversaries.

Dying Sun: The Lion. Considered proud, and driven to excel in all things.
Harvest's Usher: The Lamb. Innocent, trusting. Faithful.
Autumn's Usher: The Eagle. Steadfast and secretive. Considered very perceptive

Month of Worship: The Dragon. Knower of ancient things.
Final Harvest: The Warrior. Aptitude for battle and strategy. Quick to anger.
Winter's Usher: The Goat. Connection to the alien and bizarre.

Sophia's Day & The Long Night: Being born on either of these Holidays is considered highly auspicious. Those born on Sophia's Day are between the signs of The Mother and The Lion and are believed to contain a fragment of the Great Goddess in both her Warrior and Maternal Forms. These children are believed to be destined for greatness as warriors and generals, protectors of Mankind.

Those born on The Long Night are between the signs of The Goat and The Sage and are believed to have both an aptitude for the Mysteries as those born under The Sage in addition to an affinity for the bizarre via The Goat. Those so-born are believed to have great aptitude in Magic and are aggressively sought out by the Magic-users for admission into their Orders.

The Mechanics

The art of locksmithing, keymaking, clockmaking and other tiny feats of engineering are considering a pseudo-magic. The method of creating these tiny devices of metal are combination of revealed mysteries through the Guild. The art of the Mechanics Guilds is contrasted with the more obtuse Engineers Guild, whose craft deals with larger creations of iron, wood and stone.

Lock & Key. All keys and locks are of 24 kinds, based on the Treatise of the Twenty-Four Ultimate Permutations by Frederick the Keymaker. The discoveries and experiments detailed by Frederick in the Treatise were that there are only 24 mathematically perfect methods of configuring a lock's design. In the Treatise's appendix there is some discussion about a method of creating Unique Keys matched to Unique Locks with some theories as to how these might be forged. The appendix also includes discussion about some of the weaknesses in the system, mostly how some of the 24 may not be as unique from one another as indicated in the title. The source of Frederick's designs, as illustrated in the book, come from both salvages from the remains of the Ark and materials brought out of the Ancient Cities.

The Delvers Guild. The Delvers Guild seeks out assistance from the Mechanics Guild in their pursuit of secrets within the Ancient Cities. The discoveries of Frederick -- while helpful in securing the portals of modern Man -- have proved invaluable in unlocking the troves deep within the Ancient Cities.

The Unique Keys. Mechanics that worked on the Treatise's original assumptions eventually developed Unique Keys of their own. This discovery allowed Mechanics to secure all manner of portal and container in their evolving craft. This also offered clues as to how many ancient portals and gates may be opened. (Years following the Great Peace, a discovered Unique Key was used to open a gate in the Great Wall the separated the Wastes from the Holy Empire.) The method is perfect to a fault, portals so-secured could only ever be opened or secured using the forged key.

Thieves. The Black Companies, having Mechanics under their own employ -- however secret -- developed strategies to break any portal secured with one of the 24 basic locking mechanisms. These Lock Picks are a set of a dozen or so tools made of iron, brass, wood, etc. -- designs that attempt to hijack the arcane mechanisms of the basic locks. Picks are contraband in any City are should never be brandished as they will be confiscated, you will be fined (or worse if you have a criminal history).

The 24 Permutations.
 The Jeweled Triad: Adorned, Fancy, Ornate.
The Triple Minerals: Brass, Iron, Rough.
The Three Precious Minerals: Copper, Gold, Silver.
The Monstrous Tripartite: Dragon, Titan, Ur-beast
The Three Animals: Eagle, Lion, Pig.
The Triple Archetypes: Hierophant, Mother, Warrior.
The Cards: Jack, King, Queen.
The Plants: Nettles, Vines, Yew-tree.

Sophia's Children: The Westmen

The Westmen & The Warlords of Nod

Thousands of years ago, the tribe of men that have come to be known as Westmen settled the continent of Nod. They were powerful warriors and magic-users. At first there was peace, but then there was a great Civil War between Warlord Houses for contested land and resources as they discovered abandoned Ancient Cities. The greatly dwindling population due to how the war ravaged the supplies of alchemies that ensured the survival of Men, in combination with casualties and other horrors that were unleashed by delving into the Labyrinths. During this time the Messiah -- the Holy Mother -- was born and matured, instituting the Order that exists today through "The Second Book of the Law" and her original 12 Disciples -- the First Saints. During this Great War, many Westmen sought refuge with another tribe of Men far to the east, the Hassan -- leading to a degree of intermingled cultures.

The Warlords are organized into large families with histories and treasured family names  -- the names of the original Warlords -- to this day. "Warlord" is the old name for these families, the modern term is "Overlord" or "Overseer" as they have been charged with managing the land of the Parishes through the "Second Book of the Law."

Most of these Warlords were males and the near-extinction of Westmen and Hassan peoples during this period is cited in "The Second Book" as a lesson for the dangers of unbalanced sexual dominance. The Immortal Mother demanded the obedience of the Warlords by evidencing that she was the Messiah -- the Mortal Incarnation of Sophia, Goddess of Creation, the Tripartate God. This is one of many mysteries lost to legend and history that took place during the Great War.

The appearance of Westmen is minimally sexually dimorphic. Men are effeminate with minimal facial hair. Women have minimal breast tissue and slender hips. Heights and weights are similar, women very slightly shorter and lighter on average. Complexion is pale. Men tend to develop ruddy patches in patterns that respond to increases in blood pressure or temperature. Overexposure to sunlight will cause sunburn, resulting in redness. Hair is straight-to-wavey, typically platinum-white, blonde, red/orange, strawberry-blonde. Eye color is pale-grey, blue-tones or green (especially with red hair). Freckles are rare, indicating Hassan ancestry. Westmen with some ancestry from the Hassan or Bantu tribes will have darker complexions, eye color and hair.

The music of Westmen includes shouting choruses, glossolaliac singers, string and percussion instruments. Singers are praised for their range of affect and variety of "No-Words" in their singing. Singing using real words is taboo -- a point of contention amongst Hassan and Westmen cultures, as Hassan songs are their verbal histories and legends. This is reinforced by the religion of the Immortal Mother in that words are considered to have Holy Power and should not be used in the pursuit of trivial things. The four traditional instruments are the Standard Drum (leather stretched over wood and played by hand or hammer), the Iron Drum (a concave plate of iron that is played with specialized hammers), the Hand Bass (a one to three string standing bass), and the Hammer Bass (a bass laid horizontally and played with flexible wooden sticks).

The Silent Kingdoms

From the excerpted journals of Anis Al-Farid, companion to Nigel the Sage and Glenn, Get of Erwin.

In northern lands, past the Wastes of Asad and the Eastern Mountains, lie the Silent Kingdoms. The so-called Silent Kingdoms is the name the race of Men have given this land as their language cannot be pronounced by Men and they have no written "tongue" to speak of. We approached this region with great care not to give our excursion away, hiding within the forests that make up much of the southern region.

Our first foray into the Kingdoms proper happened after the first month of our expedition. One of the scouts noted that there was a roving band of hunters to the east of our location during the night. The scouts did not give away their location, but noted that these hunters traveled with a strange silence and did not speak to one another. They used weaponry known to men in the hunt, bows, arrows and knives, and were hunting wild deer. Indeed, the scouts noted, the hunters were seen leaving the forest area with several kills in tow.

The scouts indicated to us that the hunters appeared to have some sort of servants with them, who carried their kills and equipment. The hunters themselves were dressed in regal leathers and cloth, taking arms only when they attempted their kills. Indeed, said our scouts, the Thralls (as we later came to call them) were of smaller stature than their masters and seemed to take great care to predict and cater to the silent, unheard orders of the hunters.

Being that our scouts observed that the hunters were not dressed nor equipped for warfare, but for hunting -- apparently for food, we made plans to travel farther north and see if we could locate a settlement. We packed up our camp and made our exodus.

A league north we approached a fortress into the evening, surrounded by great walls made of stone. Outside the fortress were several buildings. As we approached the buildings and southern-most wall of the fortress, we noted that these building were bereft of any windows or obvious portals. Indeed, our approach to the southern wall we noted the same. Additionally, there were no markings or signage of any kind anywhere.

After much deliberating on what to do, we decided to hail the towers above the gates to the fortress, as it appeared the sealed buildings before it had not obvious method of introducing ourselves.  Nigel the Sage, the most learned of us in the histories, stated to us before our excursion north that one of the Six Tribes were supposed to have lived in this region of the continent. Their language, said Nigel, was not known, but he would attempt to communicate with whoever may respond to the hail.

"Hello! We come in peace from beyond the mountains!" yelled Nigel. "We represent two of the Six Tribes in our company! We wish to know you!"

There was no answer from above the walls. Nigel suggested we wait for some time outside the gate. We made ourselves comfortable and sent some of our scouts to explore and map the surrounding walls.

We received our response several hours after we sent two of our scouts out. A group of these silent hunters approached from the east, with our scouts in shackles. There were about a dozen of them, dressed in hunting leathers as our scouts indicated. They were flanked by an equal number of hunched persons, dressed in squalid cloths. These hunters had the complexion of Westmen, but much paler, but each had long, dark hair as the Hassan people, that they had tied into topknots.

We froze as the hunters approached with our retainers.

Glenn, the boldest of us three, called to the hunters, "We come in peace! Do you believe we have intruded? We wish you no harm!"

These hunters wore no expression upon their faces, except for a bizarre grin -- like a mask. They wore no masks, we soon discovered, as the seeming leader of them responded, "Who. . . Are. . . You. . .?" The words were Mannish, but the speech was labored as if they had to force the words out one syllable at a time. It may be bettered described as "coughing" the words.

"We come from lands beyond the mountain, on an exploratory journey. We wish to learn more of this continent." Glenn continued the parley.

"Are. . .These. . . Yours?" the leader hacked as he pointed to our shackled scouts. As the leader pointed, we noted its hand was not the hand of a Man, but something more bestial: clawed, black and hirsute.

It was then I realized why Sage Nigel told me that this land was also referred to as the Land of the Demon Princes in some texts. We may have come in peace, but we came in peace to a monstrous land.

End of excerpt.