Snail People of Uod

A lifelong native of Imphomonee, Favod the Younger was the most sought after artist of the previous century. His father, Favod the Elder, was a sculptor of middling talent who kept the family well off with statuary for the Eskla nobles of the city. In an attempt to woo the heart of a crushed dame, Favod the Younger first attempted the arts by creating a deathmask of the girl's fallen brother. The magnificent construction won him the favour of the girl and her whole family, and soon Favod the Younger was the famous artist of the city. Due to the nature of his work, wealthy families would transport him in advance of the demise of fading relatives and keep him in Opulent surroundings. Pieces of his work exists in mansions and museums all along the Minkush River Valley, and his success enable Favod to purchase an immense structure overlooking the falls in Imphomonee. For a few years, it became fashionable to hold masked balls where the courtiers would were faux-deathmasks of thems...

Viljimil (Clan of the Mottled Bull) is known throughout magical lodges as circumspect and devoted scholar who created the most detailed account (Viljimil's Hierarchy) of known spirits and tales of daemonology. But as a budding sorcerer, he was quickly found to be lacking the willpower to command certain orders of Chlendi spirits and instead devoted himself to more scholarly pursuits. He spent the majority of his adult life travelling throughout the Rhiat, taking notes and collect true names from other dweomercrafters, whether they were Heteri shamans, Mindat theurges, or the local herbalist from a pocket community of Chlendi. Viljimil was well into middle age when he finally returned to Asklor to compose the text itself. He enlisted a team of nog servants to attend to his needs, organize texts and keep him supplied. As a result, scholar today argue whether the taxonomical decisions on Heteri beast forms were Viljimil's actual intent, or is pages were taken by his chef to wr...

Despite the threats of further border skirmished, Mindat philosopher-scientists continue to make surreptitious expeditions to the isles west of the Shn continent. They believe the mantis-folk living the fetid hills there bear some relationship to the remnants of experiments they have found in subterranean caverns left by the snail people. The mantis-folk there have a warrior caste whose internal organs are replace with an alchemical paste. The organs are in term placed in oil covered pots which are secreted away in similar caves. This procedure is believed to slow the aging process and make one resilient to bleeding out from wounds in combat.

Four more years and I'll be out of slavery. I look out at the black obelisks lining the palace wall and that blasted massive statue the Mindat left in the harbour, and I wonder if the "New Days of the Heteri Kings" are any better than the old regime. At least I don't have to listen to any crazy-hatted mystics bleating on about with lectures from the White Book. Once a month, my debtmaster lets me head into Dunzeldaryn - in exchange for attending the orgies at his temple, he's knocking a month off my term. Not a bad trade, I wager - The incense doesn't burn my eyes as much, but I doubt the scars on my chest will ever fade away.

The Vumach sign is said to have been taught to Heteri shamans by the four-armed frog people that lived in the mountain passes southeast of Sofegai. The arrangement of one's fingers on a human hand requires much more practice and flexibility. The proper display of the Vumach Sign will make spirits and creatures of other spheres pause, allowing time to prepare an incantation of defense (or allow those of wisdom to flee the scene).

The Clan of the Sunset Moss, or Qod Etherhi, are only of founding clans of the Chlendi settlements of the Rhiat. They are historically notable for took the Chlendi crown in one of the few interruptions of the Black Lily dynasty. After an occurrence of the Chlendi Black Pox on the mainland, Iminir of the Black Lily Crown offered himself in sacrifice to Paeglaphiis, Chlendi spirit of disease. Lacking a an heir Iminir's cousin, Shokinnan of the Sunset Moss, took the crown and seat upon the Crooked Throne. Shokinnan and his clan held title for almost 150 years before an arranged marriage restored the Black Lily to their rightful spot in 1687. Shokinnan was the founder Pugshlow, and the clan remains the rulers of the region. The town's original border can be seen in a ring of swamp graves 3 miles out. During the border skirmished with the Maetah, the Etherhi claim pacts with a Chlendi War Spirit, Itil-called-the-Vengeful. They claim the blessing of this spirit allowed acid to p...

In 2031, just a few years after the Dispersion of the Vaporous Host, a humble artisan in Vedeldermoush presented the Mindat Emperor Guad with a carved set of small wooden idols in likeness of the Imperial family. So struck by their beauty and the carver's story of the time and care that went into their making, he honoured the man with title and a place among the court. Scant months later, the Emperor Guad, his family, the artisan and most of the court will slaughtered in a coup, and the palace sacked. The idols were presumed lost or destroyed until one, that of the Guad infant son, appeared in a trove hauled from a shipwreck off the coast of Givos. It was passed on to the Preceptor of the Rais-Worm Lodge in Bolog, who purchased it from a gambler unaware of its significance. Study showed that the wood used in the idol was taken from a Sh'n soul tree, probably taken during the artisan's work as a shipwright during Mindat invasion of the Sh'n homeland. The carving depi...