Happy New Year!

As 2014 closes out, it is a time to reflect about how the year went and look forward to the year to come.  Like everyone else there are things I regret in the last year.  Not writing enough, not taking time for me, not finishing those projects I really wanted to get done.  My biggest revelation of the year was when I went in for an early colonoscopy, because my father had colon cancer, and they found a carcinoid tumor in the early stages.  It really puts a perspective on your life.  Though it wasn't entirely life threatening, (it would have been if left to it's own devices), it makes you stand up and take note.  My husband and I spend a lot of time volunteering for this and that and decided we don't have enough "us" time.  So we took a whole day for us on the launch of the World of Warcraft's last expansion.  You know, it was great.

As 2015 comes in, think of these few things.  Family is important.  Spend as much time as you can, (or can stand), with them.  Petty squabbles, throw them out the window.  They are not important.  Those projects, sitting on the shelf, take them off the shelf and get them done.  That trip you wanted to do but are putting if off because life is too busy, take it.  Tell those people you love that you love them.  I know it's all cliché, but they are all so true when your life is put in perspective. And if you are writing, keep writing!

Happy New Year!

Races of Martapa Part XXVII

Ancient Elven Names: The names of Ancient Elves varies and are very eclectic. Names like Kia, Kiah, Kianna, Tyee, Tyrell and Tessa are examples.  A lot of more modern American names seem to fit this race of people. Very few take actual nature names, like Amber or Acorn, but may have a name that "translates" into a nature name.  Baby books are good for helping you with this.  Happy Gaming!

Races of Martapa Part XXVI

Ancient Elf Adventures: Ancient Elves would usually be good for mages, clerics, or rangers.  I have a class of Gryphon Riders, but these are the elite who protect the King and Queen so I wouldn't allow your players to be one of these on a whim, since they would have access to a Gryphon and should be restricted to being near the King or Queen.  I would give a plus to Intellect and perhaps Agility, (but you could argue their wings make them less agile at least on the ground), and take away from Strength and Constitution.  If your campaign requires a flying feat/proficiency to fly they should get this for free, though you could restrict their flight capabilities.  Spears are a favorite weapon of the Ancient Elves, so you might offer this up as a freebie.

Races of Martapa Part XXV

Ancient Elves Religion and Alignment: Ancient Elves worship the Lady Tymara, Goddess of Sun and Elements.  They also worship Wesa and Iktomi, as well as the Lady Catiana.  They are normally of Lawful Good alignment, though Neutral Good is not uncommon.  As a whole, they are never evil, though there are some neutral alignments on occasion.  They will stop any who worship dark gods and will aid those of the light.

Races of Martapa Part XXIV

Ancient Elves Relations: Ancient Elves stick to themselves for the most part and let the outside world be as it is.  They find everyone else as children and will treat them accordingly.  This is true even if said ancient elf is speaking to a three hundred year old dwarf and the ancient elf is merely a few decades old.  They appreciate the Akicitia, for both races live for so long and revere the Lady Catiana.  And though the Akicitia are ground bound, the ancients will come to their aid if need be.  They do not tolerate ogres or their kin.  Minotaurs are a case by case bases because they know the Black Wizards are using them.

Races of Martapa Part XXIII

Ancient Elves Society: These elves have maybe three or four children in a life time and thus are very protective of them, childhood not ending, really, until the child is close to 100 years old.  A single family will live in a small niche in the aerie and everyone uses the common spaces for other activities. This is a monarch society, where either there is a queen or a king, sex doesn't really matter on station.  Castes do, however, play a part in their society.  They speak, Ancient Elven and most speak the High King's tongue, as well.

Races of Martapa Part XXII

Ancient Elf Descriptions: Winged or Ancient Elves are the oldest of all the mortal races.  They live for several thousand years, tend to be soft spoken and graceful.  They stand around five and half feet tall, (taller then wood elves), and their skin can be pale to dark ebony.  Their wings, which appear to be soft angel wings, can range from silver to black, and this usually depends on family lineage.  Their wings are as tall as they are and their wing span is twice their height.  Their ears are tapered, their bodies lithe and they weigh 3/4 of what a wood elf would weigh.  They fly because of magic, not physics, so don't try to rationalize it biologically, (which I've tried).

Races of Martapa Part XXI

Wood Elf Names:  My naming of Wood Elves is random, though there is some rhyme or reason to it.  Many wood elves have names to do with items in nature, such as Amber, Crystal, Holly, and Pine, but other names are more "normal" names such as Chay or Nye.  My suggestion is to think of the character you are making.  If they are more the ranger type, go with the nature type names, if they are more a magic user or noble, go for a name which is more sophisticated.

Races of Martapa Part XX

Wood Elf Adventures: Some possible classes for your campaign world would be fighters, rangers, mages, clerics, and bards.  They would also be eligible for a class of my own making: Clan Warrior, a special kind of fighter/mage/cleric.  Elves should be given a free language and the option of the bow or a second free language they can write.  I would give a bonus to Agility, Charisma and intellect, but take from Constitution and Strength if you want to tweak them from your own stock elf.

Races of Martapa Part XIX

Wood Elves Religion and Alignment: Most Wood Elves worship Targon, Elven God of Magic, though Wesa, God of Animals, and Iktomi, God of Nature are also worshiped heavily..  Some also worship the Goddess of Neutrality, Catiana.  Most Wood Elves are Lawful to Chaotic Good, with some being Neutral.  Few are evil, but they can be corrupted to be so.

Races of Martapa Part XVIII

Wood Elf Relations:  Elves, in general, look at humans in disdain, thinking them too young and inexperienced. Not all elves feel this way, but most do.  Dwarves are too gruff for elven tastes and drink foul brews.  Akicitia are honorable and though barbaric in some ways, elves find them good friends.  Ancient Elves are revered, ogres are hated and feared, and Minotaurs, though hated for helping the Black Wizards, were once good friends.

Races of Martapa Part XVII

Wood Elf Society: Family size is small, usually only two or three children in their long lifetimes which can last a millennium.  They live in homes upon the ground amongst the trees or high in the tree branches if in the north.  In the south they like homes which are burrowed into the ground or hillsides.  These are a people ruled by a king or queen, though in the south they are called a Chief.  There are tiers of society, but an elf will always help an elf in need.

Races of Martapa Part XVI

Wood Elf Description: Wood Elves stand around five foot in height, though they can be taller, with ears which taper.  Hair color can range from white to purple, brown to black and everything in between, with one exception.  Only the elves of the Sunstar line have red hair.  Eye color also range, usually matching their color, though not always, especially for the odd colors like white or red.

There are two major subsets of Wood Elves, northern and southern.  The northern are more pale skinned and do actually live in the woods. the southern elves are black skinned and live more in the open plains and foothills.  The only difference in the subsets is the skin color.

Races of Martapa Part XV

Dwarven Names: Clan names usually have a stone or metal in part of the name, like Stonecrusher or Bluesteel.  Male names usually blend some sort of tree and metal or stone, or are just a stone or metal.  Some examples would be Stoneoak or Granite.  Female names are usually a blend of herbs or flowers with stone or metal, or just herbs or flowers.  Some examples would be Steelrose or Heather. 

Races of Martapa Part XIV

Adventures: Dwarves could make good warriors, clerics, (because you have to be healed to keep fighting, rangers and thieves. Mages are possible, but they are very battle orientated. Barbarian rager types would be a good choice, though so would paladins.  I would give them the axe skill free, (regardless of class), and maybe a crafting skill for free or half price.  They get a bonus to strength and Constitution, but their Charisma and/or Intellect suffers.

Races of Martapa Part XIII

Religion and Alignment: Dwarves are usually Lawful to Chaotic Good, with some Neutral alignments.  Rarely are dwarves evil, but there are a few.  Most Dwarves worship Taniger, though all give heed to Cataina and Wesa.

Races of Martapa Part XII

Relations: Dwarves, for the most part, get along with other races, taking everything humans do with a grain of salt since they are short lived.  They use to have a connection with the Ancient Elves, serving as guards for the royalty, but that died out over the centuries for a reason they will not say and for the fact the ancient elves eventually died out.  Minotuars they view with a grudging respect, though they don't deal with them much since they are in league with the Black Wizards.  They dislike ogres and though they don't go out of their way to harm them, they most likely will not help them either.

Races of Martapa Part XI

Society: Dwarves live underground in large warrens of stone so they can be near mining nodes of one type or another.  There are settlements above ground who cultivate the timber needed for the ships and boats they make, as well as ports where the ships are made.  Also to produce the wool and cotton to weave with. They are ruled by a King and are broke up in Clans. Families train their young in their profession, making for generations of the same crafter in the same compound.   While humans live around 60 years, dwarves can live up to five hundred years.

Families vary in size and make up. Dwarves have on average three children.  Depending on the craft it will depend on ho many people live in a compound. Weavers will have more extended family then engineers. Those of more military strips will have large extended families in one area so those family members who are not serving in the military can help take care of family who have members in the military as well.

Races of Martapa Part X

Dwarven Descriptions: Dwarves are about four feet in height and bare a darker skin then humans.  Hair color varies, usually one color more prominent in a particular clan then another.  Eye color varies, though granite and slate gray are common.  Men bare long beards decorated with beads and other little trinkets, and woman usually have long braids. They wear stout cotton tunics (both females and males), heavy pants, leather boots which go to their knees and flop over, and usually a thick leather belt to carry their various tools and weapons.

Races of Martapa Part IX

Human Names:  This is more of a regional thing and my suggestion is to find a baby name book. (a baby name book for naming characters of any race is great!) For northwestern Tridon, I would use Irish or Scottish names.  For Southwestern Tridon I would use good, old English names.  For Tayke, Japanese and for Eastern Tridon I would use Native American names, and I don't mean Gold Eagle or Running River, I mean actual Native American names.  For Ariella I would use Roman names or even African names.  For any of these places snatching fun names from fantasy movies and books is always fun.

Next week: Dwarves