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Goblin
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Elf
Goblins burrowed their homes beneath the mountains. They live underground with thousands and thousands of their kin.
They have found great chasms beneath the earth were they discovered great eggs, which is their main source of sustenance. These eggs proved extremely rich in nutrition, which resulted in a population explosion. Goblin numbers grew to extreme levels and several rabbles were pushed to the surface looking for places to stay. They started roaming further away from the mountains, meeting other sentient races.
Goblins and their views on Humans
A rabble of adventurous Goblins discovered a massive stone settlement. They made camp just outside it, because they were in awe of its grandeur. Never had they witnessed such a grand pile of stones this far from their Mother Mountain. On their first night they were ambushed by armoured riders twice their size. Their tall spears were pointed directly at their faces and they were taken inside; exactly what they had wished.
They feasted their eyes on the buildings inside. Smaller stone huts with smoking towers; large contraptions of metal and wood that closed off pathways to hidden places. The Goblins were brought before a man with a long beard on a big shiny chair. They bowed down before him, speaking in their own language, saying his home was magnificent.
That first encounter with Humans proved quite fruitful. Elaborate trade routes were set up and the Goblins traded shiny stones from the belly of Mother Mountain for fresh food the Humans produced.
Goblins and their views on Elves
First they encountered the Elves. Their first meeting wasn’t considered a pleasant one. Goblins used the timber from their woods for their fires and camps. The Elven scouts returned with a force of armoured sentinels and quickly routed and scattered the remaining Goblins. Great battles ensued as Goblins rallied their own. The Elves were pushed back deep into their forests, being overwhelmed by the sheer number of the Goblin forces.
But then a small group of Goblins were captured and were never seen again… until a pile of bodies was discovered just behind the main Goblin camp. The lifeless Goblin bodies had their noses removed; the main sign of pride of a Goblin. Appalled, the Goblins lost taste for battle and retreated their battle lines to the foot of the mountain. From that moment, they conserved their taste for wood and only traded it with the Humans.
Humans are the oldest of the known sentient races. Their lineages go back to ancient times and their tales stretch over many generations.
The known world has been explored and mapped by eager adventurers, for Humans possess a creativity and hunger for new things not matched by any other sentient race. Eventually great families and tribes settled in safe and fertile places, and the first settlements were created. Centuries have passed since the first of the Human race settled their families there, and their settlements have grown to great cities and keeps. They rule their self-made provinces and have declared them the rulers of all the land.
Humans and their views on Goblins
Humans near the southern mountain ranges had came together and built one of the greatest strongholds their civilisation had seen. Elaborate social hierarchies established themselves as the city grew even larger, attracting many Humans within its walls. And not only Humans were attracted to the great walled city.
One night the mounted Human sentinels found a strange encampment with small big-nosed and red-skinned creatures.
They brought these Goblins within the great walls, in chains, and brought them before a minor magistrate. The reddish creatures bowed to him and revered him, to the amusement of all Humans gathered in the chamber. Since that day, Goblins were enlisted as the lowest-class workers in the city, and Humans taught them their ways of masonry and carpentry. The city grew even larger.
Humans and their views on Elves
It is said Elves are descendant from ancient Humans that lived near a grand forest border. A great work ensued when the head of a powerful family decided to build a great keep to keep everyone he held dear safe against rivalling nations. He negotiated trade and goodwill with the farmers near the forest border, after which the patriarch had the means to start building his dream. But the work demanded more resources, for the workers where plenty and their bellies emptied quickly after daily heavy labour. But the farmers refused to give more.
This came as an unpleasant surprise. Strong walls were not only a dream, but a requirement, for rumours grew of an invasion from their northern rivals. Driven to desperation, the patriarch ordered an armoured force to retrieve the supplies necessary from the farmers. The farms were taken, and their rebellious owners were pushed into the forests. This seems for the best, because they have remained there ever since.
Elves are descendant from ancient Humans, before the world was riddled with self-proclaimed kings and queens in giant keeps made of stone and steel. They were driven into the woods by greed of their then-kin, forced to live in the deep woods. There they found comfort though, and settled in a small cave which has been upgraded to an elaborate cave-system to house many generations of Elves ever since.
The word “Elf” is a derogative term Humans use to denote these beings. Hundreds of generations later, Humans still belittle the Elves because of some century-old quarrel. Terraiu, “ones with earth”, is the factual term they use to name their people. The Terraiu have a unique gift on this earth: they can manipulate the Energy to amplify the growth of grass, plant and tree. They may do so with moderation, for every time they apply this gift, the target relieves a bit of Energy of its own. This exchange causes the Terrai to take on certain aspects of its target, such as bark-skin or leaf-ears.
In acknowledgement of this, balance with nature is paramount in Terras culture, even dictating laws to moderate the usage of their abilities. Some splinter factions of Terraiu, however, pay little to no heed to these laws.
Elves and their views on Goblins
One day, four curious young Terraiu went far south to explore the dense and uncharted mountain forests. They smelled a charred scent as they moved further and further, until they encountered vast plains of scorched earth. The sound of clanging metal against wood filled they skies and their eyes perceived small red creatures with big noses that tore down their beloved trees. Frightened by the gratuitous and seemingly meaningless violence against nature, they fled back from where they came.
The young Terraiu hastened to their elders and told their stories. Immediately a host of warrior Terraiu were sent south to deal with the intruders. Battles ensued and soon these Goblins were driven back. But the victory was short-lived, for the Goblins returned with a greater host and pushed the Terraiu back in turn. Many battles were fought, and the line of battle was pushed back and forth, until a Terrai overheard a rabble of Goblins while he was scouting. He heard the Goblins proclaim their superiority by the measure of their noses. This new insight proved golden. The next morning the Goblins found their lifeless kin, their noses removed from their faces. The reddish creatures lost all taste for battle, and the Terraiu managed to drive them from the lines of battle, all the way to the roots of the mountain from where they had come.
An age-old rivalry between two races was kindled that day, and it has been this way ever since.
Elves and their views on Humans
Before Humans came together and built great cities of stone, there were three families of farmers. These farmers lived near a grand forest edge, and cultivated the rich soil near its border. The affinity these Humans had for anything that grew was astounding. Some even say they could manipulate the Energy to make crops, plants and trees grow. Many generations later, they lived in harmony with nature, and their crops had flourished. Then a patriarch asked for resources to build a walled city. The farmers never had need of walls, because they lived a sheltered life of harmony. They obliged, however, for the relationship with the neighbouring family had always been a strong one.
But after some time, they wanted more and more, and their greed had grown beyond any measure. The crops had no time to rest, and they became exhausted. Always in tune with nature, the farmers’ families agreed to cease any supplies, to let nature heal. They worked night and day to take care of the wounded soil. On the fourth day of the healing, an armoured force marched upon the farms, and all three families were pushed deep into the forests. Barely escaping with their own lives, they watched the sky turn blood red as their cottages and homes burned under the night sky.
They fled into the woods seeking refuge and a new home.