Cultures of Krynn

Other Rules

by Simon Lipscomb

Below are listed the main cultures of Krynn (or rather, the continent of Ansalon). I haven't diverged greatly from published material except in the case where a reference such as "a race of evil humans" is used to describe a people (e.g. Khur or Lemish). This doesn't seem very fair to me, and is once again AD&D showing its flaws.

The majority of the sections below will take you to a dialogue between father and son (or mother and daughter, or some other relationships in a few), that outlines the basic attitudes and prejudices of that culture. The idea comes from RuneQuest material, and I've found it a useful and colourful way of presenting background material.

What My Father Told Me. Life in Thorbardin.

Who are you?

I am Arghexur, son of Drakgar, son of Gethik. I am a weapon-karl of the Hylar, Protector of the Third Dock.

Who are we?

We are the Hylar of Thorbardin.

What makes us great?

We are the oldest of the clans. It was the Hylar who founded Thorin back when the world was young. It was the Hylar who founded Thorbardin, and our sister colony of Kaolyn. Our clan has ruled Thorbardin for thousands of years.

Where do we live?

The Zhakalax, the Life-Tree, is a great stalactite grown in the very centre of the Kingdom of Thorbardin. From there, the cable-boats lead to all the other warrens and caverns of Thorbardin. We live on level 1, right at the tip, where we can be ready to protect the docks from invaders.

How do we live?

Our food is fungus grown in the West Warrens by Klar farmers, sometimes supplemented by the finest cave cricket meat. Our clothes are made from the fibrous Helix fungus, our armour from steel forged by the skilled Hylar craftsmen. The wealthy amongst us wear adornments of gems mined by the Daewar. We pray at the temple of Reorx every morning and keep our weapons polished. The Life Tree is a finely crafted machine, where every dwarf knows his place and his duties.

What is important to us?

To keep our traditions alive, that have served the Hylar well for centuries.

Who rules us?

Our Kalil (Thane) is Hornfel, and he rules us with honour. Once there was a Kytil (High King), but since the death of Derkin that position has not been filled. Because of this, there is no clear leader of Thorbardin. Hornfel has the support of the Daewar, but he is opposed by those derro, the Theiwar. They have the support of the Daergar, other degenerate derro. The Klar nominally support Hornfel, but they are kin to the Neidar and their loyalty is dubious. As for the Aghar, well, their opinions matter little.

What makes a person great?

To live according to his station and to fulfill his purpose in life. If he is a soldier his purpose is to lay down his life for his fellow dwarves. If he is a farmer his purpose is to grow food for his fellow dwarves. If she is a smith her purpose is to construct tools and armour for her fellow dwarves.

What is evil?

To turn against your fellow dwarves is evil - we are the Chosen of Reorx. Those derro, the Theiwar and the Daergar, weaken our kingdom because they refuse to acknowledge the rightful rulership of the Hylar. Some amongst us claim that the Neidar, the hill dwarves, are evil, but the fact is that the Dwarfgate War was a great tragedy. It was necessary for the survival of our race to shut them out, and it was the hardest decision Derkin, the Last High King, ever had to make. Humans bought about the Cataclysm - they are driven by greed and pride, and it was they who drove our Neidar cousins to attack us.

What is my lot in life?

You will be taught the ways of war, and hone your skills as a warrior. I hope you will never need to use them, but the Theiwar are becoming bolder in their incursions to our realms. They have claimed the North Hall of Thanes as their own, and prey upon our roads.

How do we deal with others?

Fortunately we shut the gates of our kingdom in the time of my father Drakgar, and so outsiders cannot bother us with their treacherous ways.

Who are our enemies?

The Theiwar and the Daergar are enemies of the Hylar. Beware the Aghar - they are too stupid to pose much of a threat, but they are cunning and cannot be trusted. The Klar are nominally our allies, but everyone knows that they were closest to the Neidar and may still be harbouring a grudge on behalf of their old allies.

Who are our gods?

Reorx is our god, and he is the only true god. Other races know Reorx by other names, or place other gods above him, but we know that they are deluded. Thak is the god of the elves, Mesalax and Kijo the gods of the humans. Because people do not always act according to Reorx's wishes, evil beings can enter the world and destroy it. We know of Tamex the False Metal, Sargonnax the Bender, Morgax the Rust Lord and others. Be wary for their works.

What My Father Told Me. Growing up in Qualinost.

Who are you?

I am Talantheros Silverthorn, Lagos of the Northern Wildrunners.

Who are we?

We are of the Silverthorn clan, of the Qualinesti. Our clan has traditionally been warriors, once House Protector in the Old Land of Silvanesti. We have lived in these woods since the days of Kith-Kanan.

What makes us great?

We are elves, the Firstborn, People of the Morning. We were born from the love of E'Li and Quen. We know the harmonies of the world, we are skilled in the making of beauty and have done so since before the other races learnt to speak.

Where do we live?

The forest of Qualinesti is our home. We have many scattered settlements throughout the forest, but the centre of our realm is at Qualinost, the Garden of the Speaker of Suns. Here, the Sinthal-Elish meet to guide us and our land.

How do we live?

We understand the ways of nature, and of the magical world, and we can make them work for us. Our orchards always bear the sweetest of fruit, our gardens the most succulent vegetables and our hives the most delicate honey. When we cook, we seldom use fire to burn away the goodness of the food, but use spices to achieve subtle and varied effects. Our food is light, yet nutritious. We can make clothing that is as light as silk, and yet can withstand a sword blow and will never fade or tear. Our buildings are formed from natural phenomena, and grown to our desires. We never use the products of animals - these are thinking creatures too, and we can feel their pain if we abuse them.

What is important to us?

Light, laughter and song are important to us. We seek beauty in all things, yet the world can be ugly, thanks to Kinis and Takhis. To love and be loved, that is important.

Who rules us?

The Speaker of Suns rules us, and presides over the Sinthal-Elish, the Council of Lords. These Thalasan (Lords) are the wisest members of each of our clans. They meet to decide what is best for our people.

What makes a person great?

To create something that will endure forever, that makes a person great. A song, a great tower, a garden, a fine piece of silverwork. A person can become great by deeds, too, if those deeds are in the cause of freedom and justice. We still sing songs about Kith-Kanan's fight for his people even today.

What is evil?

That which seeks to destroy beauty, to shut out the light and to bring cruelty and hatred into people's hearts. Kinis and his demon bride Takhis brought evil into the world out of jealousy, and because of it the world can never be perfect.

What is my lot in life?

You will learn the songs that tell of our mythology, you will be taught in artistry, and you will be taught how to use a bow so that if you choose to join the Wildrunners like me, you will have the skills.

Unlike the Silvanesti, however, we do not demand that a person stick within his clan. If it is the calling of your heart, you may choose another profession. We all have a duty to destroy the damage done to the Middle Realm during the Great Cataclysm. We must start with our own lands.

How do we deal with others?

Outsiders can be brutal and ugly. They do not appreciate beauty as we do. Sometimes we trade with the humans to the North, but of recent times they have turned inward with their own troubles, and only come to us to take from us for what we possess. In times of old, we traded with the Dwarves of Thorbardin too, but they shut their doors after the Great Cataclysm. Only a few of them remain now, and they have little to do with us. Dwarves like beauty, but they desire only to keep it as a material thing.

Who are our enemies?

Within our forest, we have no enemies. We are too strong and wise for any to harm us. Outside the forest, you should beware of everyone. Humans and Dwarves can mean well, but they have an unpleasant side to their nature which they sometimes cannot control. Ogres and goblins are the offspring of Kinthalas and Takhisis, and so are evil by their very nature. They are our enemies.

Who are our gods?

Greatest of all is E'Li, the Lord of the Upper Realm. He placed the stars in the sky, and he shows his face to us as the sun, bringing warmth, rain and plenty to the Middle World. His wife Quen is Queen of the Middle Realm, that walked upon by mortals. From the union of her and E'Li comes life on the Middle World. The Lower World is a dry, terrible place ruled by the twisted Kinis. He desires Quen and always seeks the downfall of E'Li. His bride is a terrible demon known as Takhis, who brings the night. She was made by Kinis who planned to swap her for Quen, but she was too clever for him and now she rules him.

Astra is the son of E'Li and Quen. It was he who brought the stars to light the sky whilst E'Li was away fighting Takhis. He came down to the Middle World to teach the People of the Morning how to survive. Manthus was a lowly servant of Kinis who betrayed his master by warning Quen and E'li that Takhis was coming. He was killed by an angry Takhis, but reborn as a mantis.

Zivilyn is the World Tree. It's branches are in the Upper World, it's trunk the Middle World and it's roots in the Lower World. All things are part of Zivilyn.

What My Foreman Told Me. A young Gnome's instruction manual.

Who are you?

Since we are short on time, my summarized name is Gnarillominishimsharignorississillominoriworen.. (10 minutes later)...ishimsh. So you can tell by that what I and my ancestors have done, although that name of course doesn't give you all the details. I am foreman of the GnomeWing project as authorised by the newly formed Aeronautical Guild.

Who are we?

We are gnomes, we are the masters of machines.

What makes us great?

We are the only race on Krynn that knows the secrets of clockwork, steam, gears and levers, of fluid dynamics and optics. We are the most inventive of all races, and there is not a problem in the world we cannot solve with our machines. Given time, of course. And a bit of modification here and there.

Where do we live?

We live in Mount Nevermind (so the humans call it. Rather a short and un-descriptive name if you ask me, but there you go. Apparently the Guild of Patents has authorised the usage, so I can't argue with the decision). We have made Mount...Nevermind the best place in the world to live. We have light, heat, water and food at our command, we have tamed nature and put it to work driving our machines. Millions of us live here, and everyone has the space they need.

How do we live?

The outside of the mountain has been terraced and planted. The Guild of Agriculture has invented machines that plant and harvest the food for us. Sometimes the machines throw it all into the sea, but only rarely. We do not eat meat. The Guild of Medicine is working on artificial food, but they haven't quite mastered it yet. The great ManyWeave machines make our clothes, and they invest each garment with individuality. I'm rather fond of the way the left arm is twice as long as the right on my tunic.

What is important to us?

To build! When Reorx made the world, he made it as an intricate machine, so complex that even we couldn't understand it. We must strive to understand how the world works so that we can fix it. One day, it will be perfect.

Who rules us?

Each Guild is governed by a council of Master Craftsgnomes who are advisors to the Guildmaster. The Council of Guildmasters sometimes get together to discuss how various projects are going.

What makes a person great?

All gnomes are great, because we are the mechanics of the world. But some are greater than others. These are ones who have finished their life quest. They have built machines that do what they are supposed to, and never go wrong. Of course, they are only legend!

What is evil?

This screwdriver is evil - it always chews up the heads on screws. Don't use it. Seriously though, killing people is evil - there's no need for it. Stealing another gnome's tools is also very bad, and will send you to a bad afterlife.

What is my lot in life?

You will help me on this project, but once you have learnt more of the ways of machines, you will find your own Life Quest. This is the one great invention that you will have, and it will consume your every waking thought, and your dreams, with how to build it and make it work.

How do we deal with others?

Outsiders are probably best avoided. Some of them seem to delight in wrecking our machines and killing innocent gnomes, but fortunately there are none on the Island of Sancrist. We share the island with some humans who call themselves Solamnic Knights. They are friendly enough to us when we meet, which is seldom, but they keep asking us to make machines that knock down castles, or blow them up. That's no way to use Reorx's gift!

Who are our enemies?

Better to say what are our enemies. Untidiness, bad workmanship, laziness, carelessness and a blunt cutting tool can all bring disaster. As for who, well, there's no one on the island who would want to hurt us, or even could if they tried. The Explorer's Guild has a list of interdicted species who they claim are especially hostile. You might do well to have a look at that.

Who are our gods?

Reorx is the only god we need. He created the world and then created gnomes to keep the machinery of the world running. He gave us clever minds and nimble fingers to make us the finest of craftsmen in the world. Because we are the beloved of Reorx, he kept us safe even when the Great Glitch caused a lot of damage to the other races.

What My Captain Told Me. Life in Throtyl.

Who are you?

I am Torzag, Runner and Wolf-Guide of the Iron Fist clan.

Who are we?

We are the Iron Fist, warriors of renown. We are a fighting clan of the Zenth, part of the Great Tribe of Throtyl.

What makes us great?

We are bred for battle, born to fight. Long legs for running, strong arms for fighting, cunning minds to outwit the enemy.

Where do we live?

Our lands stretch from the Taman Busuk to the Dargaard Mountains and beyond. They are the lowlands of Throtyl, were we practice for war. We go wherever there is battle.

How do we live?

We eat what we can hunt, and there is easy picking from the sheep of the Estwilders, the cattle of the Solamnics or pigs from the Lemishers. Sweetest flesh of all comes from intelligent prey, from man, elf or kender.

We take what we can plunder, for making things is not our way. We are born to fight, not to sew, cook, mine or smith.

We hone our bodies and minds for war, our sport teaches us weaponry. We stage mock battles between clans, we race, we joust, we spar.

What is important to us?

Your body is your tool - you must keep it honed and ready to fight. War is important to us and almost nothing else matters. Obey commands. Fight. Kill. Die.

Who rules us?

The Sha'Kinth, the tribal generals. Each clan has its Sha'Kinth, wisest and bravest of all of them who can commune with the gods and can pass on the will of Zeboim to her children. The Sha'Kinth from the clans form a great council when the tribe must act together as one - the Zet-Sha'Kintha.

What makes a person great?

To pile up the bodies of your enemies, to sire many whelps upon our females and to bring back plunder in armaments and meat to the clan.

What is evil?

Disobeying orders from the Sha'Kinth. The Sha'Kinth speaks for Zeboim, and to disobey Zeboim is to go against our reason for creation. We are stemmed from the ancestors, the Koalinth. If you disobey orders your whelps will be Kabadenth (goblins).

What is my lot in life?

Win or die. For the common Zenth there is no other option. Maybe you will hear the voice of Zeboim and become a Sha'Kenth.

How do we deal with others?

There are three types of people. The Te-Denth are those who we are not at war with, but who are legal targets for raiding. We only kill those who stand against our raids. The Za-Denth are those who Zeboim has told us are our allies. We fight alongside them and do not raid them as long as they remain Za-Denth. The Ur-Denth are those who Zeboim has told us we are at war with. We kill and plunder the Ur-Denth for as long as they remain Ur-Denth.

Who are our enemies?

Only Ur-Denth can be considered true "enemies", but they can quickly become Te or Za-Denth if the goddess wills it. Many former Ur-Denth seek what they call "revenge" and attack us even when we stop attacking them. This is a shameful state of Te-Denth that we call Karj-Te-Denth.

Who are our gods?

Queen Zeboim is our beloved creator, who shaped us from the Koalinth who dwelled in the Halls of Zeboim. Her sister Nilat needed help for a war on land, so Zeboim turned us into warriors for Nilat to use. The will of Zeboim tells us we must obey her sister for now. There are other gods who protect us in battle - Strong-Maker, Steel-Maker, Foe-Fear, Bone-Breaker, Sharp-Edge, True-Arrow and many others.

What My Uncle Told Me. The life of a Kender.

Who are you?

I am your uncle, Holben Burdock, famous explorer and treasure-seeker. Well, that was in my younger days. Now I'm a farmer, but I have a stack of great tales to tell. Why, did I ever tell you about the time when I met the King of the Ogres? It....

Who are we?

We are Kender. We are the eyes and ears of the world. Why, there isn't a thing that misses us. Did I ever tell you about the time when I found a magic ring just lying there in the grass? I....

What makes us great?

Are you kidding? Everything makes us great! We are tough, we are brave, we like stories and jokes and laughter. Every race on Krynn loves the company of Kender. The King of Kalaman once told me that he would replace all his courtiers with Kender if he could, because then he would know true joy.

Where do we live?

We live wherever we want to. Here in Goodlund is our homeland and where you will find the most Kender. Across the other side of the world is a Kender land called Hilo. Once, a whole bunch of our people got on board a flying castle which carried them there, and that's where they stayed. Of course, you are just beginning to feel the stirrings of Wanderlust, which will drive you to explore the world. Many Kender choose to stay wherever they are when Wanderlust leaves them, and of course they are welcomed in by the local people.

How do we live?

Oh, we farm a bit, hunt a bit, even just gather the fruit of the forest. Goodlund is kind to us, and so it is not too hard to get by. Sometimes non-Kender come to trade, or to explore the Ruins, but they do not stay long because they cannot stand to be so happy. Trade is a strange thing anyway - it implies things can belong to just one person. How can this be? Surely everyone has an equal right to anything they want?

What is important to us?

Everything is important to us. I know you are curious just like myself - always wanting to see what's around the corner, what's inside the box. I've always said if you want to find out, see for yourself. The non-Kender like to fight and argue over lines on a map, or gold or other silly stuff like that. They're pretty stupid really, as they haven't figured out that they can't hang on to it forever.

Who rules us?

Hmm...good question. I think it's Kronin Thistleknot at the moment. If he can still be bothered, or if anyone still listens to him.

What makes a person great?

Ho! I would have to say if you made the biggest and best map ever, you would be the greatest Kender on Krynn!

What is evil?

That's a tricky question. Are you sure you haven't been hanging around with elves? They like thinking about silly things like "What is good?", "What is evil? ". Well, on my travels I saw a lot of things, and some of them weren't too nice, I can tell you. Folks can be pretty unpleasant to one another, so I guess I'd have to say that was evil.

What is my lot in life?

Soon I expect you'll be off to see the wide world, and then who can say what'll happen to you. Keep your hoopak handy and your wits about you and you'll be fine. Make sure you come back and tell your old uncle all the things you've seen.

How do we deal with others?

I found that walking up to them and saying "Hello, I'm Holben Burdock" was the best way. Except with goblins - I think it's probably best to give them a few choice insults and then stick 'em with your hoopak. They just ain't polite. Oh, and watch out because a lot of the folks out there really have this funny notion about things "belonging" to them, like I said just now. They get all antsy if you borrow things from them, even accuse you of being a thief. I know, how rude! Just try not to let them get you upset, they don't mean it.

Who are our enemies?

Enemies are folks that don't like you, and everyone loves us, so we have no enemies. Well, maybe the goblins have got no sense of humour (so it's great to tease them! Did I ever tell you...? I did? Oh well. Maybe another time). Anyway, we have no enemies. Watch out for Forest Trolls though. They aren't our enemies because they eat anyone, but be careful.

Who are our gods?

Well, the gods have never really paid much attention to us. SkyBlade the Eagle made the world, along with Sky Mistress the Dove. But they are kept busy with making the sun rise and set, the trees grow and that sort of thing. Song Master, who sometimes appears as a Cricket, sometimes a Frog and sometimes a Nightingale, he is our friend. Song Master released fire for everyone and he tricked the wicked Dragon Woman into eating her own tail, he told us how to make hoopaks and how to tell stories. In honour of him, we tell stories of all his deeds.

What My Master Told Me. The life of a Minotaur.

Who are you?

I am Mirath ohn-Kohf, but you will call me Master or I will cast you over the side and let the sharks devour you. I am captain of this vessel and the greatest of the Behonakri ever to sail the seas. I lost this eye fighting my way out of Ogrebond but killed forty ogres in the process using only my fists and horns. I have sunk twenty three ships of the humans and raided the elven lands for slaves for the arena.

Who are we?

We are minotaurs, greatest of all races on Krynn. You are the crew of the Berahorn and I am your captain.

What makes us great?

We are the strongest and bravest of all the people of Krynn. We are the greatest mariners and no-one may match our ships at sea. We only lose one fight in our lives, and in that one we die.

Where do we live?

Mithas and Kothas are our home islands.

How do we live?

The sea is our life, and the source of our bounty. Lesser minotaurs scrape a living dragging up fish and seafood, but we are behonakri, and we make our living by plundering the ships of others. We let them do all the menial work of digging in the earth, or hammering at the forge. But they live only to serve us, and it is right and fitting that we should take from them what is meant for us.

We have great harbour towns on Mithas and Kothas, although rival lords rule them. The islands are rocky, and it is hard work to cultivate them. Some weak minotaurs try to do so, and we who are stronger rightfully live off their labour. The greatest feats of engineering on either island are the arenas, designed by the greatest minotaurs of old and built with the use of the slave races.

What is important to us?

To be strong is important to us. We must never show weakness, especially to other races. Honour is important - keep your word when making deals. It is foolish to make deals with the slave races, since it is far better to command them than bargain with them as if they were equals. If, however, you do deal with them, you should show your superiority by treating them with honour too, even though they are not worthy of it.

Who rules us?

I do. On this ship, I am master and my word is law. If that were not so, we would not survive the turbulent seas. Chot es-Kalin rules Mithas, but we have sworn no oath to serve him.

What makes a person great?

Strength makes a person great - strength of body, strength of mind and strength of purpose. Feel no doubt or weakness, feel no fear or compassion.

What is evil?

Pah! Evil is a concept invented by the slave races. It is the place of the strong to live by their own rules, and the place of the weak to follow. There are no moral absolutes, only what we ourselves choose to do. It is wrong to show weakness, and the worst thing that can befall a minotaur is to die a weak old man, lying ill in bed.

What is my lot in life?

You will follow my orders

How do we deal with others?

With other minotaurs we show respect and strength. If another wrongs you, it is the correct thing to do to challenge them to a duel in the arena. Other races are the slave races. They exist only serve us.

Who are our enemies?

If by that you mean who can harm us, then no-one. Beware of the ships of Palanthus - of all the slave races these men are the best sea-farers and have no love for us. Be wary of Borak Chaldon and the crew of the Charrakeel. This cowardly short-horn has offended the honour of the Berahorn on several occasions, and refused to face me in the Arena. He is a minotaur without honour and an enemy of this ship.

Who are our gods?

Sargas is our god, Lord of the Oceans. He is wild, strong and free, like us, and he is dangerous. Remember that Sargonnas favours the strong and shows no mercy to the weak. His domain is a hostile one, but it makes us powerful. The land-dwellers have no concept of how mighty the Sea Lord truly is. He could flatten Palanthus in one blow if he so chose.

What My Mother Told Me. Growing up on the Abanasinian Plains.

Who are you?

I am Bright-Star, huntress of the Que-Shu tribe.

Who are we?

We are of the Three Sisters Calling clan of the tribe of Que-Shu.

What makes us great?

We keep the ways of our Ancestors alive, and honour their memory. We respect the Earth Mother and are careful with Her bounty. We are the finest hunters on the Plains, and we can run free where we choose.

Where do we live?

The village of Que-Shu is our permanent home, and in summer all the clans travel there to trade. There, the buildings are made of stone and there is even a wall. The rest of the year, the whole of the Plains are our home, and we wander far to where the game and the good weather is.

How do we live?

We hunt, we pray. We enjoy games of all kinds and contests of skill. I myself have beaten your aunts and uncles many times in contests with the bow.

What is important to us?

To keep to the ways set down by our ancestors. Because of them, our people survived the Great Cataclysm, when the people of Xak Tsaroth were laid low and scattered when their city fell. We, who do not cram all the clans into one little space, can remain free to live where we choose.

Who rules us?

Chief ThreeMoon rules all the Que-Shu, because of his family. The chief's ancestors are those who formed the Que-Shu tribe long, long ago. He must confer with a Council of Elders from all the clans before he can make decisions that affect all of us, but mostly the Chief is concerned with seeing that our people remain free, and that proper due is given to the ancestors.

What makes a person great?

Deeds make a person great. To be swift of foot, skilled with bow and spear and keen of eye are what make a hunter great. To be wise and merciful, to be just and fair, to be strong in spirit. These are what make a chief great.

What is evil?

vEvil is that which does not honour the bounty of the Earth Mother. To kill an animal when there is no need for food or clothing, to fell trees when there is no need for timber. To slay another outside of war is evil. When we are selfish, or full of anger for another person, or we desire that which they have - these are the work of demons who can place these thoughts in a person's head. To give in to these thoughts is evil.

What is my lot in life?

You may act as you choose, but when you take the bounty of the Earth Mother you must do so with reverence, and you must honour your Ancestors.

How do we deal with others?

Sometimes we trade with the Que-Teh and Que-Kiri. They are most like us, although their ancestors are not the same as ours. Sometimes we trade with the Treefolk of Solace, although they are godless people who deny the divinity of the Earth Mother. If you have contact with them, you should cleanse yourself afterwards lest your soul become tainted with their ideas.

Who are our enemies?

There are goblins who live in the mountains who sometimes raid our peoples. They never attempt to trade or negotiate, and they are our enemies. The demons of the Otherworld are always trying to make people do wrong, and they are our enemies. Sometimes the Que-Kiri, Que-Teh and Woodfolk are our enemies, but mostly they are our allies.

Who are our gods?

The Earth Mother is the greatest of our gods. She created the world and provides for all our needs, if we act with proper respect. Demons came from beyond, and they try to harm the Earth Mother. We must always help Her fight against them. Our ancestors are sacred, for it was they that first discovered the correct way of doing things.

What My Father Told Me. Growing up in the Seeker Lands.

Who are you?

I am Arem Pine, Farmer of the Solace Northfields.

Who are we?

We are free people of the Seeker Lands of Solace.

What makes us great?

We are survivors of the Great Cataclysm. We have passed through the chaotic times of disease and war, and have forged a new civilisation of laws and justice.

Where do we live?

We make our homes in the Vallenwood trees that grow in the valleys of the Sentinel Peaks. Solace is a great town, on the shores of Crystalmir and at a crossroads of trade. Others in our lands live in stone houses on the ground. One day you may visit the Lordcity of Haven, and see its splendid towers.

How do we live?

We farm wheat and rye, others herd sheep and cattle and some fish the Crystalmir. We even have those amongst us who can work the precious steel, like Theros Ironfeld. We live simply, for all the luxuries of the world could not save our ancestors from the Great Cataclysm, and they are now nothing but dust.

What is important to us?

Survival is important, but it is also important to live by the laws of civilisation, and not to act as savages. Steel is important, but so is honour, courage and compassion.

Who rules us?

The Highseeker council in Haven decide on the laws and what is best for the people. Their local representative is HederIck the Theocrat, and it is his job to see that the laws are obeyed.

What makes a person great?

Fame is fleeting. What makes one great is that he should do right by his friends and family. Once you are gone, it is they who will honour your name, who will speak of your good deeds. Those who seek worldly greatness act out of selfish motivation, and it will ultimately destroy them and their names will be remembered only as curses, like the proud folk of Xak Tsaroth.

What is evil?

Pride is evil, as it can bring ruin to the innocent. Some places are haunted by evil spirits, like Darken Wood and Xak Tsaroth - these places are best avoided. Beware of goblins - they know only hunger and aggression, and are savages without laws.

What is my lot in life?

You will till the soil, you will obey the laws, you will honour your family and friends and by doing so you will help bring order to a chaotic world.

How do we deal with others?

If they are civilised and have laws, we trade. If they have no laws, we avoid them unless they choose to abuse our lands and people. If they do, we punish them with steel.

Who are our enemies?

We are lucky, we have few enemies since most of the goblins were driven off long ago. The elves to the south are not our friends, as they have magic and items that they choose not to trade with us, and they close their borders to us, but they are not our enemies either for they are a people with laws.

Who are our gods?

We have no gods. The gods of old, worshipped by the people of Xak Tsaroth, abandoned us and made the cataclysm. Their names are forgotten and cursed forever. The seekers look for new gods worthy of us, but they have not yet found any who will answer their prayers. We are all alone, and must survive by our own skills and merit.

What my Master told me. Becoming a Solamnic Knight.

Who are you?

I am Lord Cedric Mocanthus uth Vingaard, Lord Knight of the Crown, Marshall Provost of the Citadel of Vingaard and Shield Knight of the Council.

Who are we?

We are Solamnic Knights, protectors of the weak and innocent, defenders of freedom and upholders of justice.

What makes us great?

We live by our Oath and our Measure. The Knights were formed by Vinas Solamnus to protect against injustice, and we have upheld those values for two thousand years.

Where do we live?

Vingaard Keep is our home, a great and proud city on the plains of Solamnia. It has stood, impregnable, since the time of the Empire of Ergoth.

How do we live?

We Knights live a life of austerity, according to the Measure. As Knights we do not sully ourselves with every day toil, but instead we seek out danger to test our honour and our mettle. In exchange for our protection, the farmers of Vingaard give us food and clothing. Our Knight's Citadel is an imposing tower of stone, built for defence rather than comfort. But we do not crave comfort, for comfort makes one weak.

What is important to us?

There are only two things of importance to Knight. To honour his Oath, and to obey the Measure.

Who rules us?

I am Lord of the Knights of Vingaard, but as Marshall Provost I answer to the Vingaard Senate, formed from the most ancient of noble families. In matters pertaining to the Orders of Knighthood, a Knights Council may be called where I speak as Shield Knight, and others speak for the Orders of Sword and Rose. When we ride to war, Lord Eofred Vurtainus, Keeper of Roses, leads us. I lead the Knights and Companions of the Crown.

What makes a person great?

The Measure of the Crown calls for loyalty and obedience to one's superiors and to the Measure. To be great is to obey an order without question, without thinking, even if it means your death, because that order is justified, no matter what. Greatness in a Knight also requires compassion and charity. A Knight must be prepared to give up everything, even his own life, for one in need.

What is evil?

Tyranny is evil. A Knight must remember that he serves the common people, not the other way around. Selfishness is wrong - a Knight must put others above himself at all times. Greed is wrong - a Knight should not crave earthly things. Murder is evil - a Knight must not take a life unless it is to defend the innocent.

What is my lot in life?

You are a Squire of the Crown. Soon, you will be given your Crown Errand and become a Defender of the Crown. If you accomplish your Errand and are deemed worthy before the Knight's Council you may become a true Knight. If you are truly great, one day you may be given a Sword Quest and the opportunity to enter the Order of the Sword. Your lot in life is to uphold the Oath and the Measure.

How do we deal with others?

We treat others with respect and deference, even our enemies. You should not hate the ones you fight, but honour them. It does not matter if others treat us with scorn, or blame us for the world's ills. Approach them with good intentions in your heart, and it will reflect upon you.

Who are our enemies?

Our enemies are those who would harm the people in our care, or who would seek to act without honour. We must be on guard for the hobgoblins of Throtyl or the people of Estwilde. They are jealous of the bounty of Solamnia, and would seek to steal it for themselves.

Who are our gods?

We keep alive the names of the gods of old, who were with us millennia ago and who we taught to Istar. Most beloved of those gods to us are Paladine, the Divine Lord of All, Kiri-Jolith, the Warrior-King who first learnt the ways of ruling with justice, and Habbakuk, the Blue Phoenix, who died but was transformed, and lived again. We also honour Mishakal the Merciful, who aids the sick; Majere the wise ruler who teaches us calm and Branchala, God of the Vine who gives us nature's bounty.

Editor's Note: This article is one that was archived from Simon's site. Simon originally had one other section he planned called "Khur - Riding with the Weya-Lu." This was never finished.

This item has been published here with permission from the author(s) and may not be reproduced without permission. This is a fan submission and its contents are completely unofficial. Some characters, places, likenesses and other names may be copyright Wizards of the Coast.