A Taraxian Guidebook

Contained within these pages is a guidebook to the world of Taraxis, Part tour-guide, part history book, and part cultural analysis. Everything will be sorted by an appropriate set of tags, listed in the page below(coming soon)   -The Scribe

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Taraxian Folklore #13

Liberimer -

Liberimers are a type of creature primarily alluded to in old Calyptran texts, though in recent years word of their existence seems to have spread to Melyr as well thanks in part to Calyptra’s growing influence in the region. 

Liberimers, otherwise known as “Crossroads Cubs” are most often described as looking akin to ordinary children from afar, some witnesses even going so far as to report them seeming gleeful and friendly, though their faces are almost universally defined as growing more sunken and desperate the longer that a traveler may speak with one. Others, by contrast, claim that these creatures never look “quite right” and that something about their bodies will generally appear to be twisted or vaguely grotesque in many other subtle ways, rather than ever viewing them as proper “children”.

Liberimers are traditionally encountered by small caravans or travelers traversing country roads, generally where one road splits into two or more paths. Legend states that these cubs were once victims of highway robberies, and that regardless of whether or not they are acknowledged by a drifter they will always approach initially with a simple request for food. Superstitious persons will thus often pack extra food or small gifts when preparing for travel as it is usually agreed upon that a Liberimer may be satisfied by something as simple as a piece of fruit, and that disregarding one would almost certainly result in immediate death or eventual tragedy on the road. Exactly how a Liberimer may inflict death upon its victims is generally debated, with some citizens claiming that they are to blame for the many corpses found drowned in shallow pools of water in the Calyptran countryside.

Another lesser-known fact of Liberimer lore encourages travelers - upon spotting one - not to let their eyes leave those of the cub for even a moment, and to approach them before giving them the chance to put forth their fabled request. It is said that if a lone traveler, especially, offers sympathy to a Liberimer and dares to kiss them on their forehead these peculiar cubs may offer up the name of said traveler’s oldest ancestors as well as how they died. Whether or not this information could be useful to anyone involved is widely left to debate.

[distanttravelogue]

“dance a reel around the pool drink the water, play the fool the children call, you lose your breath your grin spreads wide, even in death

liberimer, crossroads cub hiding in the marsh's shrub spare us now, oh hollow child the games you play are far too wild

a gift of food from me to you to keep me on the pathways true”

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #13

Liberimer -

Liberimers are a type of creature primarily alluded to in old Calyptran texts, though in recent years word of their existence seems to have spread to Melyr as well thanks in part to Calyptra’s growing influence in the region. 

Liberimers, otherwise known as “Crossroads Cubs” are most often described as looking akin to ordinary children from afar, some witnesses even going so far as to report them seeming gleeful and friendly, though their faces are almost universally defined as growing more sunken and desperate the longer that a traveler may speak with one. Others, by contrast, claim that these creatures never look “quite right” and that something about their bodies will generally appear to be twisted or vaguely grotesque in many other subtle ways, rather than ever viewing them as proper “children”.

Liberimers are traditionally encountered by small caravans or travelers traversing country roads, generally where one road splits into two or more paths. Legend states that these cubs were once victims of highway robberies, and that regardless of whether or not they are acknowledged by a drifter they will always approach initially with a simple request for food. Superstitious persons will thus often pack extra food or small gifts when preparing for travel as it is usually agreed upon that a Liberimer may be satisfied by something as simple as a piece of fruit, and that disregarding one would almost certainly result in immediate death or eventual tragedy on the road. Exactly how a Liberimer may inflict death upon its victims is generally debated, with some citizens claiming that they are to blame for the many corpses found drowned in shallow pools of water in the Calyptran countryside.

Another lesser-known fact of Liberimer lore encourages travelers - upon spotting one - not to let their eyes leave those of the cub for even a moment, and to approach them before giving them the chance to put forth their fabled request. It is said that if a lone traveler, especially, offers sympathy to a Liberimer and dares to kiss them on their forehead these peculiar cubs may offer up the name of said traveler’s oldest ancestors as well as how they died. Whether or not this information could be useful to anyone involved is widely left to debate.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #8

Atribex -

The Atribex is a creature said to lurk along the shores of the many rivers dividing the Western Olethyrian plains. Most commonly it is assumed to live in Aeol’s main river, though many accounts have placed it elsewhere. Most citizens describe the Atribex as a creature with “approximately” four legs and a body that is eternally covered in, and in fact oozing, thick black mud. Its moans are described as “gurgly” and “pained”, and its exact size is unknown.

Though the story of the exact origin of this monster has been skewed by time and misinformation the most common current belief seems to be that it is a creature, or in fact several creatures, born from the Basilisks’ alchemic experimentation. This specific rumor is generally assumed to have been spread by their rivals, the Mice, however many don’t believe that “fact” to be a valid reason for disregarding it as a possibility. Many more blame the creature’s supposed existence on Aeol’s lucrative drug trade, and others, still, prefer to assume the beast to be linked to the Taraxian House and its three gods. This assumption is largely due to some retellings of the mortal gods’ adventures claiming that Raed once possessed a bear so large that she would ride it everywhere she went - though some take this to mean instead that she was simply an exceptionally small Arcanid - and that it was later drowned in Aeol’s river. This version is generally linked to the belief that the Atribex has been known to drown murderers and thieves, or those it deems worthy of death for various other sins, as “the mount of the God of Judgment would hardly be forgiving”.

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Taraxian Folklore #9

Speculith -

The Speculith are creatures said to inhabit the forests of Liban. They are approximately the size of an average feledite, but their skin is completely smooth and reflective like a newly polished mirror, which makes them almost invisible to those not attentive of them. They don’t reflect animals or people, which only makes them harder to spot, which is a shame both to the Speculith and the unaware who doesn’t notice them, because the Speculith hate nothing more than to be ignored and will kill those that don’t notice them with their claws. If somebody spots one, the only proper course of action at to look straight at the Speculith until it bows its head in acknowledgement  and do the same action before leaving.

Nobody knows when or where the myths of the Speculith come from, though some say that they have been around for as long as there have been people on Liban. Many natives insist that the creatures aren’t malevolent, that they merely feel that their honor has been hurt by the offenders who ignore them in their own home, and that killing the offenders is the only way to restore their honor. All Libanese, even those that believe the Speculith to be malevolent, will claim that it’s only good behavior to look around while in the forest and stay aware of one’s surroundings at all times.

About a decade before Calyptrans attempted to settle in the southern Liban, never stories started to appear of the Speculith being spotted outside of the forests, in fields, among livestock, on battlefields, and in people’s homes if they leave the door open. According to the stories however, the creatures don’t care about animals and seem aware that they’re the ones trespassing, at least enough to not harm people in their own homes or those too occupied working or fighting to notice them.

After the war with Calyptra started, more and more have started to believe in the truth in the claims of the Speculith appearing where they don’t belong, and now keep a watchful eye whenever they leave the confines of their homes on their way to work.

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Taraxian Folklore #10

Deledart - 

An Olethyrian legend, Deledarts are described as being minuscule, two to eight-legged creatures with flat, featureless faces and bodies made from various found objects. There are said to be multiple “species” of Deledart living all throughout Olethyr, though the three most common “variants” are said to be: forest, river, and household.

A Forest Deledart’s body is most commonly comprised of twisted roots and vines, their heads made from the knots of trees. 

A River Deledart crafts its body from riverside reeds and their heads from polished rocks, all of which have been seemingly purposefully broken in half. 

A Household Deledart’s body may be made of anything from a fraying rope to discarded bits of straw. with heads comprised of any small object with a suitably flat surface.

Deledarts were historically seen as pests by some, guardians by many, and feared by more. They are commonly believed to have a certain degree of power over creatures much bigger than them, though the extent and nature of this power is widely debated as always. Some say looking directly at a Deledart’s “face” will bring years of bad fortune, while others believe they may offer visions of the future. Others yet claim that these fast-moving creatures possess the uncanny ability to inflict any passerby with specific hallucinations involving the skin or surface of people and objects peeling or melting away, which is where a Deledart gets its name. Many Olethyrian scientists have attributed this widespread rumor to a common Olethyrian weed which, when ingested, may cause hallucinations of a similar nature. Despite this possible explanation Deledarts remain a widespread belief among mainly elderly Olethyrians - followed closely by children.

In more recent years Deledarts have gained a much more positive reputation among many Olethyrian villages. Some families and citizens claim to treat their local Deledarts as pets, or will go so far as to leave offerings of food and various other sorts for the creatures. These more tolerant citizens most often defend themselves by claiming that these “stubby” beings have only gained a poor reputation because they are easily startled and must defend themselves, somehow. On top of this belief, the thought of a Deledart pressing its flat face against offerings of food in an attempt to “eat” seems to have become a common source of joy. The idea has become so popular, in fact, that it seems to have started a trend among younger Olethyrians to press their faces into plates of food as an expression of exasperation or exaggerated grief. 

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Taraxian Foliage #1

Olethyrian -

Vow: Plants with unique, veiny, glowing red patterns throughout the leaves and flower. They have long petals and thorns. On Olethyr they are given to soulmates and their thorns are used to complete a small blood ritual. Many Olethyrians will attempt to preserve or reuse their Vows in different ways, including but not limited to: pressing them, making them into a tea, or replanting them. Usually found near caves or away from harsh sunlight.

Udo: A fuzzy, cattail-like swamp plant that grows like grass and gathers moisture whenever it rains and holds it (always wet), ultimately to release it on dry mornings as a thick mist that lasts from a few hours to a few days. Usually found in Southern Olethyr.

Creeping Rot: Soft carnivorous moss that lures the living to sleep atop it, only to dissolve and feed on their flesh. Usually found in Southern Olethyr.

Crow Root: Scraggly, spindly, leafless plant that grow on the ceilings of caves and thrive on the moisture.

Skull Willow: A willow-like tree with seed pods that resemble bird skulls. Usually found in Southern Olethyr.

Gods’ Omen: Two (virtually indistinguishable) plants with spherical blue flowers. One grows flowers full of a honeysuckle-like liquid and the other is filled instead with toxins. Sometimes used for judgment (particularly Aeol).

Phena Flowers: A flower that grows pastel-colored, razor sharp leaves.

Black Eye: A tree with thick, low-hanging branches that earned its name because the branches are good for hitting people with.

Toad Button: A small brown mushroom with uneven, darker brown spots/warts.

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Taraxian Folklore #12

The drowned ones -

Mainly a Hyemian legend of many names, though people from Libanese fishing villages and -towns tend to share their own versions of it. It is believed that the sea itself is a thinking creature, that any who dies at sea are to be thrown overboard in as much a single piece as possible. Nobody is to take anything from the body, unless it’s to replace it with something better, or everybody aboard risk horrible deaths at sea to appease it with their own bodies.

If somebody manages to get onto land while having taken what belongs to the sea, they will merely bring its wrath to their entire community, as no fish will be caught in their nets and still winds and no undercurrents make the ships incapable of getting far away from port. If nothing happens to calm the wrath of the sea, it will send the drowned ones in the dead of night to take anybody within the community who is related to the offender with them into the sea to join them.

Any who dies at sea belongs to it, but the sea has a special love for those that died by drowning. Into these, it breathes new life, which belongs underwater. In the shadow of these creatures, entire schools of fish will follow. It is said that those who recently drowned still remember their loved ones and will seek as close to the shore as the sea will allow. Many consider this a blessing as it means a great catch for months to come. On clear days one might catch the glimpse of a drowned one with their hair just barely touching the surface, but the face is encompassed in shadows and no matter what the color of the fur or scales used to be, it is now a silvery grey.

As time passes, the drowned one will forget their past and leave the shore to roam in the deep. Once they start to forget, they will start to take on more traits of the sea, which loves them so dearly. Patches of fur will fall off and moss, algae and barnacles will grow in its place, webbing and fins will appear, making it possible for them to swim rather than to be bound to walking along the bottom of the sea. Some say they will grow gills, while others insist that they don’t. Everybody can agree that no matter how much they change, there will always be a difference between creatures born in the sea and creatures that died in it.

“Drowned one” is the most common name for the undead creatures of the sea, but it far from the only name they have. In most cases, the names are easy to recognize as being about the same creatures, though some local names are far more obscure. However, everybody who knows of the drowned ones also know they have one specific name of their own, but it has long since been forgotten as nobody dares to utter it, even if they knew it. Saying the name will attract the drowned ones, and while their presence near shore is considered a blessing, nothing but misery is to be gained when they break the surface of the water. Even if they should prove harmless if the sea didn’t send them to drag somebody with them, the sea is still a vengeful thing and nothing awakens its wrath like removing something that belongs to it from its grasp.

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Taraxian Folklore #11

Out at Sea -

In many regions of Taraxis, all throughout the islands and particularly in-between, there have spread many common tales involving the various seas. Listed below are a collection of rumors not entirely born from any definite island, but often shared by word of the well-traveled sailor.

For your convenience, HERE is a map of the Taraxian seas.

The Indi and Ion oceans are claimed to be eternal rivals of (and at war with) one-another. It is common practice among sailors to avoid speaking the opposing ocean’s name while at sea, as the two’s jealousy of one-another has been known to bring disasters in the form of storms and otherwise fatal mishaps. This rivalry is known to be the cause of the perilous waters separating Amathus and Anthemis from Aellthym, as it is said to be the oceans’ battlefield: where the two meet and collide.

Many sailors claim to have spotted massive (purportedly the size of several ships), aquatic “birds” gliding beneath and around their vessels whilst sailing through the Noxian Sea. While it is debated whether these creatures are covered in fur or feathers they are often described as “wooly” and seemingly flat, as they have at times been mistaken for islands. These giant “sea birds” are commonly referred to as “Whadda”s, which is supposedly the “cleaner” version of what many sailors will utter upon spotting one.

Those that have sailed through the Leberid Strait often report sightings of beautiful, glowing creatures or orbs appearing just below the surface on clear nights, filling the sea with color. While many are willing to brush these sightings off as nothing more than the reflection of the moons and stars on the water the rumors are also often accompanied by the supposed observance of massive, often broken pillars jutting out from the sea and, in more shallow and clear waters, the appearance of what looks to be ruins scattered among fields of underwater grass. Due to the at times dangerously shallow waters surrounding the strait more often than not ships will avoid sailing close enough to make any clear observations, though most commonly it is believed that these waters are still home to the original Arcanids.

The Mesat Sea is widely considered the most fair and reasonable sea of all. It very rarely brings disaster for travelers and many seafarers even claim to feel a sense of unique and unbridled joy not found anywhere else in the ocean whilst traveling. As such, Calyptrans seem to have mixed feelings about this sea as many claim that the sense of “joy” the Mesat elicits is not to be trusted and only a gateway to sinful activities. Others claim this feeling to be the work of the water itself and assume that the sea has healing properties, which has led to the water and its salt being sold all throughout Taraxis for its benefits.

The Hydrile is known by very few and spoken of by fewer, yet it is believed to be the home of a creature made up of more than a thousand slimy corpses, all lost at sea and conjoined to form the massive snake-like beast by the same name that guards it. Those that know of the creature generally assume its bones to be made up of the wood of ships lost to the Indi and Ion’s war, and its organs held together by their sails. Most families or crews that still know of this creature tell of a specific event that supposedly took place hundreds of years in the past involving the Hydrile leaving its home to roam the Leberid Strait for several years, until it was ultimately chased back to its home by “locals”. It is widely accepted that this creature is capable of speech and knows all languages.

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A Few More Taraxian Legends

Sometimes, inexplicably, while traveling the back roads of Olethyr one might find the name “Kyrio” carved into a tree growing just off the path or etched into the dirt and waiting to be kicked away by the next oblivious passerby. Nobody seems to know who or what this name is referring to. It is said, however, that asking too many questions can result in “strange happenings”. 

Libanese are known to avoid speaking or responding to any close translation of the phrase “Isn’t it warm today?” When asked why some might admit to believing that the phrase itself brings bad luck, and others yet insist that there is a creature in their culture that is known to appear to farmers and speak only the one question the evening before a disaster. This creature is said to resemble an ordinary Archain with a pleasant, though somehow sad smile. It has been described as resembling something more akin to a mass of wriggling twigs from afar. It has not been given a name.

Many polytheistic Heliendrans believe that it is remarkably common for younger and less powerful gods to become trapped within ordinary objects in their attempts to grow and learn. These “gods” are most commonly believed to cage themselves inside rocks and metallic objects, and it is not unheard of for witches to collect these objects as it is believed that there are ways to study the traits of these “infant” gods and, reportedly, raise them to be put to use in various - mostly illegal -ways. There is said to be overwhelming evidence, in some cases, to support the legitimacy of these witches’ practices though any proof is often burned along with their bodies.

Some Hyemians lucky enough to have survived after having gotten themselves hopelessly lost in the wilderness blame their luck on having come across a lone fire burning bright in the midst of the frozen wasteland. It is often said that this fire needs no tending and there are no tracks leading up to it, despite that it appears to have been built recently and by plain hands.

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Taraxian Folklore #6

Lacerlaen – 

This legend is one native to Hyem and tells the tale of a beast by the name of Lacerlaen that wanders the frozen wilderness in a thick fur cloak. This cloak is said to appear strikingly white and beautiful from afar, yet most retellings describe the cloak as being repulsive and bloody upon closer inspection. It is said that the coat is, in fact, stitched together from various balding pelts and that the stark white of the surrounding snow simply gives the illusion, from afar, of a gorgeous white coat. 

While some believe Lacerlaen to be real and rather ordinary, if not mad, others bicker over his appearance beneath his cloak and claim that he has such otherworldly traits as never leaving footprints in the snow, as well as the ability to “melt” into the landscape around him. This belief seems to largely be born of the beast’s apparent and shocking ability to disappear at will, though most assume this to mean that anyone that believes they’ve actually caught a glimpse of the beast was merely seeing things. 

Oddly enough no deaths involving Lacerlaen have ever been reported, and most rumors revolving around his temperament paint him as one that is polite to children. Many natives insist that the legend of Lacerlaen is centuries old as many have vague childhood memories of having interacted with the beast, though curiously no native has ever been able to provide prominent details from these memories. Others believe Lacerlaen to be a fairly new myth that seemingly spread overnight, though again none of these citizens seem to be able recall the exact year the legend arose. Some say this phenomenon is easily explained by the common Hyemian propensity not to put much thought into “concerning” happenings, as the general attitude of the people seems to be that life in Hyem is hard enough as-is. Others believe the rise of Lacerlaen to be past simply concerning and, in fact, a sign that the country will soon suffer a great crisis. Nobody thus far seems to be able to put any stock into this claim, and due to the uncertain time frame in which “Lacerlaen” arose it is difficult to say exactly how long the country has, to these concerned citizens, been on the “brink” of disaster.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #5

Pagensei – 

A creature said to inhabit Calyptra, or more specifically Calignost, that is assumed to “haunt” libraries or anywhere large collections of books are kept. Signs of a Pagensei include hand or fingerprints on dusty shelves that should, logically, have been long forgotten and illegible notes scribbled into the margins of old tomes. 

Pagensei are generally considered to be friendly during the day and will invoke a feeling of peacefulness while they are around. They most often take the form of an old and unassuming patron and will sometimes strike up a quiet conversation with a visitor, only to vanish as soon as said visitor looks away. At night however Pagensei are said to take on childlike forms and more sinister traits. Patrons often report feeling as though they are being watched through nearby shelves as well as deep feelings of loneliness and the smell of pine. It is generally agreed upon however that Pagensei are mostly harmless and that their only wish is to protect the books they love. 

Famously it’s often claimed that once, when a historically large library burned down overnight, the sounds of hundreds of screaming children could be heard inside. It is a common belief that these screams were in fact the cries of Pagensei, as no bodies were ever recovered from the flames and many claimed it impossible for anyone to have been inside. Some of course claim that the cries were only an illusion while others believe that they were indeed the screams of real children, and that their remains were simply burned past the point of recognition or detection. 

Regardless of the controversies most regular patrons have a story or two involving an experience with a Pagensei as well as their own beliefs as to how to be sure one is near. They are most often thought of fondly, If at all.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #4

Vociferan – 

A myth born on Olethyr from an Akne word for which there is no Fen, Laet, or Laevian equivalent. It most directly translates to “The Quiet Between the Hills” and is used to refer to the small valleys between foothills, or more specifically the land where the hills converge and begin to incline. These specific areas are known by locals to be almost unsettlingly devoid of the sound of wind and animals alike, and as such often invoke an eerie or heavy feeling. 

While many think of “Vociferan” as nothing but a word, many more believe it to be the name of the creatures that reside within these valleys. While the appearance of these creatures is most often described as nothing more than a “distortion” it is said that these creatures are known to attract lightning, and their homes are often littered with trees that were once struck by lightning. The exact extent of a Vociferan’s power is generally open to discussion however it is almost entirely agreed upon that they are malevolent beings that are entirely capable of at least temporarily prohibiting a traveler from speaking. It is advised that, should you ever come across one of these eerily silent valleys, you should immediately offer up an apology – provided you are still able – and turn back from whence you came without daring to look back. 

Most commonly it is believed that any strange happenings involving “Vociferan” are actually the work of any nearby caves or crevices that travelers fail to notice and either fall or are pulled into via wild animal or aggressive local, though on a more religious note, dedicated followers of the Chthonic House somewhat commonly believe that Vociferan are, in fact, guardians of the Gods’ realm and that if you are patient and brave enough you may witness Naht wandering in one of these valleys.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #3

Acoluthymn – 

The Acoluthymn is a creature said to be native to Melyr that is drawn to the sound of singing outdoors. It is told that this creature’s appearance and intent will change based on the melody it hears, both in regards to lyrics and tone. 

While the Acoluthymn is believed to be most enchanted by the sound of a lone singer it is not unheard of for it to seek out the campfires of traveling caravans. As such many Melyrians traveling alone are often mistaken to be Acoluthymn and it is generally considered good practice to invite said travelers to sit down for a meal and a song to lift their spirits. 

In many small Melyrian towns it is considered tradition to sing happy hymns on occasion outdoors so as to appease their local Acoluthymn, which many believe will in turn protect their homes. While debated it is widely assumed that the core nature of an Acoluthymn is built over ages of song, similarly to memories, and most tribes will depict their Acoluthymn differently from any other tribe or village. All forms of Acoluthymn are traditionally considered to be “correct”.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #2

Delirdemas –

This legend was born in the depths of the southern Olethyrian swamps and speaks of one of the only edible plants known to thrive there. Delirdemas is a mushroom observed to grow in fairly large clusters in the damp soil that creeping rot has recently left barren, and is said to mature and die over the course of a single day. It is usually described as being a “mostly blue, though sometimes green” fungus, and though it is widely agreed upon that the mushrooms are edible most travelers are known to avoid it for multiple reasons, the first of which being that a cluster often indicates the nearby presence of deadly creeping rot, and the second being that the mushrooms are said to contain the memories of those that have been consumed by the red moss. It is not entirely known whether or not these mushrooms are to blame for the many travelers that return from the swamps with broken minds, though many insist to have seen visions of multiple lives upon consuming them. In general it is considered wise to remain quiet upon encountering a cluster of Delirdemas, as those whose lives are taken by creeping rot will most likely have died in their sleep and to wake them and disturb the mushrooms’ cycle is considered by most to be “rude” and “distasteful” as well as “ill-advised”.

[distantitinerant]

Taraxian Folklore #1

Psithyr – 

This myth was born in the Eastern Olethyrian wilderness, and there are two widespread versions of this tale. 

The first and more ancient version revolves around the story of an Arcanid vixen of the name Psithyr that was so in love with the forest and so repulsed by her peers that once, when she came across an abandoned knife littering the forest floor, she resolved to cut herself to pieces and scatter her own remains at the bases of the tallest trees she could find. She asked that the forest use her blood and bones to grow strong and fight back against the growing cities. As such any branch tall enough to reach over the walls of Pyresed is often referred to as a “Psithyr Limb” and is traditionally burned to prevent the spread of witchcraft. Skeptics of this version generally assume it to have originated from desperate Archain in need of someone to blame for the many Arcanid bones scattered about the forest, though even skeptics have been known to avoid any abandoned weapons on the forest floor for fear of inviting bad luck or house fires. 

The second and more controversial version of this myth was born of the supposed last Equitar massacre, which left Tmesi in ruins and hundreds of families dead. In this instance, “Psithyr” is used as a collective term to describe the lingering pain of the last of the Equitar race which can supposedly be felt in Tmesi and the denser areas of the forest. 

Both versions are said to paint Archain in a bad light for one reason or another and as such most Archain will avoid admitting to whether or not they believe them, despite that they seem to be the race that is most widely observed to follow the associated traditions. In general, “Psithyr” is also often used to describe the sound of the wind through the trees, as this sound is said to be the whispering of either the vixen or the massacred Equitars. This myth is sometimes also seen as an explanation for the trees that will famously “bleed” red sap deeper into the forest.

[distanttravelogue]

PLANTS

Taraxian flora are quite interesting. Is there a particular region or species of plant you would like information on?

[distanttravelogue]

News from Aeol

A rider has just arrived from Aeol with news of the Tournament. The gods have fought, and faced trials against one another, and within the entrails of the sacred Boar our Sacerdori has read the outcome of this Tournament.

Fair and just Raed has given her say, and the god presiding over this next year shall be Airek. An ominous sign indeed. May she show mercy on us in the coming months, and may she show fair judgment over the next Tournament.

Happy Saceritu to you all.