Paludem Information

The marsh is a place brimming with life in the form of small mammals, turtles, amphibians, invertebrates, and an Elf Clan inhabiting the northern edge. The Oldikance Clan is a solitary people, living off the land with little outside contact. When even a small party moves through the area, they are quick to make themselves hidden; to watch but not be seen. No one understands when this strange behavior originated or its cause, but it is possible that there had been poor experiences with other races or civil wars in which their numbers were greatly reduced. Whatever the case, only about a dozen Elves make up the Clan. Birds are a more common sight than the secretive Elves and are relatively tame, appearing to be used to contact with people. The water is shallow and the ground is unstable and muddy. One is more likely to lose their boots than make it across without getting stuck in the mud at least once.

The River is home to three Elf Clans, though many of the Elves that live here are of mixed blood. Half-human and half-Elf. The Adamo, Elsorja, and Isha Clans are, therefore, sometimes treated with disdain by other Elves who see the mix with humans as taboo. These Clans are a proud people though and insults are whispered behind their backs and rarely to their faces. Many of the younger generations don't understand why others look down on them so, for one is either an Elf or no and the human blood does nothing but contribute to the gene pool. They receive no answer they can understand, and many grow bitter and leave for other lands and to escape their old identities. Because of this, it is likely that the Clans will either soon become one or break up all together. Two human cities by name of Edadwippo and Tharlacolf stand by the banks of the river, consisting of craftsmen, merchants, and common folk. The people here are tolerant of the different races, but also indifferent, a dangerous combination at times. The river itself starts in the north and winds down through Paludem for a good many hundred miles before entering into Scopulous and dissolving into steam.

The Inusite Lake is marshy and dries up during the majority of the summer months. Because of this, fish cannot survive here and many amphibious species find refuge in the lake instead. Frog legs are a common meal among the humans that live nearby and there is frequent, if tentative, trading between them and the Lisorgard Clan. They are a jolly folk who often travel many miles into the nearest town by the River Dedscio to have a good time and share stories. The lake itself is roughly a mile in diameter at it's longest point and is an elliptical shape. Tall grasses surround it, providing an easy place to hide and children often play games of such a nature to pass the time. Insects are a constant, but the frog population keeps them from getting out of control and overwhelming the humans that live there.

There is only one group of Elves that has chosen to settle by the delta, a Clan known as Lisorgard. Very territorial and quick to fight, they are fierce people who are suspicious of strangers. Anyone passing through is met with general hostility before being sped on their way. The Clan used to be split into two, but after years of bloody warring amongst themselves famine struck and they had to work together to survive. Since then, the Adadon Clan merged with the Lisorgard and there hasn't been lasting trouble between the two. Children begin training at six and are accepted as warriors as they leave their teenage stages. Summers are hot and humid, with Winter bringing only the slightest relief from the heat and more rainfall. Many birds can be seen flying through the skies and are the Clan's primary food source as well as the larger species of fish. There are few overland animals and those that are seen do not stay long.

The sea has always been a peaceful place and both humans and Elves live here, but the humans outnumber the Elves three to two. Instead of living in Clans like their relatives to the north, the people that live here live in scattered townships, living off the bounty of the sea and are primarily fishermen and tradespeople. It rains heavily and sometimes the waves are high enough to cause major damage to parts of the structures, but such are they that rebuilding only takes a few days of group effort before life resumes to normal. Wary of strangers, but not unaccepting, there is at least a single inn and bar for those weary of the road with a tale to tell. Tensions between the two races are sometimes visible in everyday life, but since the Elves are a minority, they get the brunt of the discrimination but the humans are too intimidated by them to do anything more than harass them on occasion. For the most part, they consist in friendship except for when worlds collide every now and again. There are four main towns that one would come to. Running from north to south, they are as follows: Karie, Alowilia, Aurolara, and Ellianaya.

A school for children of extremely wealthy families, the students are primarily boys with the occasional female student in attendance. It is led by Seerius, a female Legacy of Water. It's located on the prairie and in clear sight of anyone for miles. Once a child would enter the school year in which they would turn ten, the boys are also trained in combat as well as the gentler subjects. Children generally start at the school at five, if at all and graduate at the age of sixteen. The next year, the graduates have the option of coming back to aid in the teaching or to continue on with their own lives. Very few students have ever returned to help teach the younger generations and usually only stay on for a year or so.