Dragonborn Hailing from the seemingly endless grassy plains of central Aetholyn, the dragonborn are a proud race of draconic warriors and mercenaries. They are the descendants of the dragon-kings, and once ruled the mighty empire of Thyldaar.

Drow and elves separated before human history, the drow moving to the outskirts of Phaerria as well as occupying various jungle lands, such as Oesseruth in central Aetholyn, as well as the edges of the Endless Savanah.

Dwarves are the indomitable smiths and survivors of the last God War. They inhabit the mountains of Geryholme and Daarensgaurd, obsessed with gold and silver, they mine deeper and deeper into the ground of Aetholyn, defending their realms with canon and muskets.

Eladrin are a mystical race that have began the migration to the Dreaming, and they excel in sword and spell play. Graceful, magical and wise, the near immortal Eladrin are the direct descendants of the ancient Deiym.

Elves inhabit the vast mystical forests of the Rhynn, Llynn and Phaerria. They worship the integration of their race with the denizens of these vast forests, living in harmony with the dryads and treants. As many elves that live within the forests, are travelling wanderers and nomads.

Genasi were the remanants of the God War, creatures torn from their planes and forcibly combined with elves and humans. Over time the Genasi became a true race and moved to live on the outskirts of elven and human society. Some, however, chose to align themselves with their elemental heritage and chose to live within the great mountains of Daarensgaurd, Greyholme, and the high plateus of the Endless Savanah, while fire-soul genais joined the drow in the jungles of Oesseruth.

Gnomes of ancient Utholheim were once technical marvels, but as distater struck their society thousands of years ago, they have given up the art of technology and returned to their fey roots, joining illusion and trickery with spirits and the faerie.

Goliaths were once the slaves of the Vvaar, yet managed to escape to the southern continets of Aetholyn. There they took to the mountains, trading with dwarves and slowly carving out a society. Wars and treachery against their kind eventually led to the creation of Goltaarkur, high upon the plateaus of the Endless Savannah, the goliath Citadel.

Half-Elves are a cursed race, tainted with the dreams of their distant forebears the Eladrin, and their more mundane parents, elves and humans. Half-elves can be found anywhere that the elves and human tribes interact, but often the half-elves become prophets, and seers, constantly hounded by dream-prophecy.

Half-Orcs were once the inbred slaves of Orc marauders and human captives, but they were linerated and made their own true race when Shiva, the Maimer chose them to represent his faction. Half-Orcs create the dividing line between the Aethglid Tyrannies and the Dragoonstraa to the south, where they have made their impenetrable cities.

Halflings travel the waterways of the world, and often form merchant caravans that traverse the open plains, trading with the other races. Ambivalent to the prejudices of the bigger folk, the thrill of the deal is what drives the smallest of the civilised races. Without a traditional home, Halflings make any city their hearth.

Humans are both nomadic and ambitious city builders. Theirs are the city-states that defend the civilised lands from the tyranny of Aethglid. By far the most numerous of the races, humans occupy some portion of almost all the civilised lands.

Shifters carry a trace of lycanthropic blood within their veins and it is said that they are the children of Arehen, the goddess of death and moons. The shifters eventually carved out a world for themselves in the Great Desert Kingdoms and further to the south in the Endless Savanah. They have even taken residences in Dragoonstraa as well as within the Tyrannies.

Tieflings are a race that came from parts unknown many millenia ago. Where the humans consider the dragonborn the sons of the Dragon-Kings, the Teiflings are considered the children of Mysin, the dark god. Living lonesome lives in the shadows of society, Tieflings are tough loners who anger quick, and trust very, very slowly.

Warforged were created by Eladrin artificers during the last God War and through interference by Neth, goddess of magic, they were given life and, to the chagrin of the Eldarin, free will. A constructed race all warforged are built within massive foundries, usually operated either by the Eldarin of Llynn, the Vvaar to the distant north, or in ancient Gnome forges that have long since been lost to time. It is said that vast caches of inert warforge exist, that waken when predefined events occur.

Thick coils of black smoke filtered through the top of the domed Hearth-home. Seated at a place of respect sat a warrior clad in black plate mail with gold filigree upon it. A thick blue cloak draped itself over the arm rests of the wooden chair. Next to him a shield with the emblem of Karthas, god of laws and fires, rested against the chair; a bastard sword with a black and gold hilt resting next to it. The warrior raised an eyebrow at the opening comments of the Alderman of this small village. The Alderman stood with his thumbs hooked into his waistcoat pockets, a pair of wire-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, and his rapidly vanishing hair was kept long at the back. He had a weak jaw. Rheumy eyes. A paunch. His clothes were fresh pressed and his shoes shone, but his hands looked soft and weak. Others did his work for him.

Aaron decided he didn’t like this man.

“Jonas was found red-handed in the fields of my cattle. Obviously he was trying to steal an ox, or a sheep, or.. er.. Something!” said Varthius, spittle flying from his lips as he spoke. He wiped his mouth with a frilly handkerchief.

“Did you see him actually stealing the ox? Or the sheep? Or – “Aaron paused, his green steely eyes staring intently at Varthius, “anything?”

“Well – no, I didn’t see him actually steal anything, but -”

“But nothing!” Roared Aaron coming to his feet, a fist clenched at his side. “You saw this man on your land, that is all! Yet you drag him before me to deliver justice for theft? You are a fool Alderman.”

“You can’t – “

“I can, and do!” bellowed Aaron.

Victoria looked surprised, but only for a moment before her usual stony façade returned to her face. She had never seen Aaron so angry over something so petty. Usually this sort of matter was dealt with quickly, quietly and righteously. The many days of long roads and endless battle against evil must be getting to him, she thought idly.

“My lord Judge,” whimpered Varthius, “I am an alderman, you cannot speak to me like th-this.”

“I should show you respect? Is that what you want from me?” spat Aaron through clenched teeth.

“At least decency my lord.”

“And what did you show this farmer; whose hands show that he works the earth? Mercy? Decency? Compassion? Or did you only think of your own gut and greed?” Aaron stuck his index finger into the alderman’s paunchy stomach.

“But my -”

“Enough! I see no reason to convict this poor man of anything. He did not steal your livestock. I will however find out who has been responsible for it, and I shall not leave here until I have done so.” Aaron said as he turned away from the alderman and settled back into his chair, a weary hand coming to cover tired eyes.

“Leave me.”

“We th-thank – “

“Leave me!” Aaron spat.

The alderman swallowed the remains of his words and turned and left quickly. Several of the other villagers stood for a moment and then also hustled out, leaving Jonas tied to the dock. Jonas looked up at Aaron for the first time since he had entered almost an hour ago.

“I thank you my lord Judge, but how did you determine my innocence?” Jonas said quietly.

“I sensed no evil about you, I could see the shame that this brought to you, and I heard no lie in your voice when you spoke of your journey there, with the exception of your reason.” Aaron said from behind his hand.

Jonas looked down again and Aaron stood up and walked over to him. His armour made little sound, it fitted him perfectly, crafted from Eladrin steel.

“When you said that you had entered the alderman’s lands looking for truffles, your voice changed colour.”

“Colour my lord?” said Jonas looking up at Aaron.

“The fire god provides his most devout with the ability to distinguish lies from truth. Your voice was white and pure, but your reason caused it to tumble from your lips black and red. You lied.”

Jonas’ cheeks reddened and he looked away again. Tears welled in his eyes.

“I cannot speak of it my lord, I cannot betray her.”

“You already have with just that statement.” said Aaron, “I know that there is a female with whom you have met, or at least, who you are trying to protect.”

“She calls herself Giddia.” said a soft voice from the shadows. Azael stepped form the darkness and Jonas sunk to his knees as a powerful aura of malice washed over him. Even Aaron seemed to bristle at the appearance of the fallen angel.

“How could you know?” whimpered Jonas from the floor.

“Your mind speaks even when your lips falter.” Replied Azael, then smiled his vicious smile, “And your daughter told me everything.”

“What did you do to her!” cried Jonas from the heap that he was in on the floor.

“Nothing, save play with her;” replied Azael, “something that she misses most dearly from her father Jonas.”

“Wh-what?”

“I am a being of many places Jonas, but even I can see the longing in your daughter’s eyes for her father.” Azael whispered as he squatted down before Jonas, “I spoke with her, entered her dreams and desires and gave her what she wished for most deeply – you. Her mind spilled the horrors that you mutter at night into my mind, and I learnt everything of the hag Giddia.

“She is not your love, nor are you her protector Jonas, she is a being of evil, and you have succumbed to her spells and charms like any other mortal. There is no shame on you for this, you are only a man.”

“A hag?” asked Victoria from the wall where she still leant.

Azael did not take his eyes off of Jonas, “Yes, a feral one by the sound of it. She has been using poor Jonas here as a pawn, among… other thing.”

“Don’t harm her.” said Jonas.

“We must force her from this land.” said Aaron.

“No! You mustn’t harm her!” shouted Jonas as he pulled on his cords trying to break free.

“Hush spirit.” Azael reached out an un-gloved hand and touched Jonas’ forehead. There was a soft pulse of blue-white light and Jonas collapsed asleep.

“Do you think the hag is responsible for the missing livestock?” asked Aaron.

Azael watched Jonas intently, “No.” he said eventually, “But I’m sure her ogre minions are.”

Kae’edra will go through three design phases, hopefully play-tested by some kind souls. The first is the Book fo Counted Souls, an Alpha view of the game world and it’s re-design. Kae’edra will be compatible with 3.5, Pathfinder and 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons.