Aquayl and Iquaine: the Spirits of Water and Ice
By Lord Truekillr

This is an attempt to pen scrolls that I read in passing when I visited the Great Library in Nantu. I have found that it outlines the mythical origins of Charl's Water and Ice spirits quite well.

The Water and Ice spirits:

Aeons ago when the Drakes were scared into hiding and after the Great Ur-Daemon war, the Arkati began to nurture the land and take certain spheres of power. As is told, Charl controlled the seas. His malevolence is well-documented although he is in the Pantheon of Liabo. The tale begins with him and his daughter Niima.

One day when Charl was speaking with Niima, she seemed sad and lonely. He offered to create a being so intelligent and so beautiful that Niima would never feel lonely or want of anything again. She naturally declined this offer and went on her way. However, it has been said that Charl liked this idea so much that he continued thinking about it, not for Niima any longer, but for himself. He would not mind having a helper in the seas to take on certain chores and leadership responsibilities. He searched far and wide and gathered a large number of the sea-dwellers. He then took the strongest traits of each and placed them into a pocket of wet sand. He took the intelligence of a dolphin, the strength of a whale, the patience of a terrapin, and the instinct of a sea-thrak, among others. When all of these traits were in place he carefully set the sand in a large oyster under the sea.

A millennia passed before he went again to check on his creation. As he opened the oyster, out stepped the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes upon: a being of vaunted strength, prowess, intelligence and beauty. An entity so wonderful that Charl was impressed with himself. He immediately began setting it to tasks and teaching it. He taught it all of the sea lore and of the history of the lands. It reveled in this knowledge and yearned for more. Eventually, after having learned all of what Charl told it, it asked the simple question, "What of the land dwellers, Father?"

Charl was reluctant to tell his creation about what lay beyond the shores for fear that it would leave him. He spoke falsely of the land above the sea as a place of desolation and destruction. He said that all that it contained was charred and blackened soil in which the infertile blood of the Ur-Daemon ever flowed. He never spoke of it again.

It seems that his creation did however, and was wont to ask the dolphins and the whales of the sights they saw and of the tales they have heard from other animals in the lands. Its curiosity grew and grew until it at last decided to brave the shores. As it cleared itself of the water, it felt such intense and excruciating pain that it could catch but a glimpse of the shore. However, the glimpse was enough to make the pain worthwhile. In its brief glance, it saw hills, valleys, and forests of such beauty that it was struck dumb with the sight. After that, it could not stop thinking of what lay beyond the water.

Charl, of course, was aware of what had transpired and felt great anger at the knowledge. He felt betrayed that his wondrous creation was not content with his dominion and yearned for its borders. In his rage, he set upon a drastic course of action.

He went to his creation and with a heavy heart spoke the words, "My creation, let it be known that if you wish to seek beyond my domain, the part of you that wishes to do so may do so." Then, with a sea-shaking thrust of his massive trident, he split his creation in twain.

One half contained all of the previous strengths and abilities, albeit somewhat diminished, but it lacked the desire to leave Charl's domain. The other was still bound by the dictates of water, but salt was as acid to it, and it retained its previous affinity for the land. Thus were born the spirits of water and ice: Aquayl and Iquaine.

Aquayl: The Water Spirit

After the split Charl, noticed a subtle change in his Water Spirit. It began to form more and more into the masculine aspect. The creature still kept the allegiance and loyalty to its Father, yet it began to develop skills in manipulating the water itself. It could form tidal waves and powerful tsunamis. With this growing power came more responsibility. Charl ceded Aquayl these powerful abilities, but the it was constrained to the water. It could take form in either fresh or salt water, but it could never be touched by the rays of the sun without water as a buffer.

Sightings of Aquayl were rare and hardly documented, but a few such encounters are written in the House Ashrim chronicles. Perhaps when the trailblazers reach Ruin Creek we will learn more of him.

Iquaine: The Ice Spirit

Iquaine's story is a bit different. Complimentary to her other half, she began to develop a feminine aspect. Though Charl was angry and saddened that he had to perform the task he did, he still loved both his creations very much. Iquaine was unable to stay in normal salt water for long as it corroded her very form. Until Charl figured out how to put her to work she stayed in the northern ice caps and walked the lands freely there. The suns rays had an adverse effect on her, but as long as she could hold a solid ice form, she was fine.

Iquaine was lonely and had little to do because Charl had concentrated so much on the sea and river system. He had no idea of the danger and power that his frozen water could hold. He was contemplating how to properly utilize Iquaine when Koar summoned him. Charl rode a great storm to the north, and as he drew near to the northern edge of the sea, Koar came to him.

He explained to Charl that it was necessary for him to rest. he assured Charl that he would be always vigilant and "would sleep on his throne with one eye ever turned towards the world," but that he required someone to protect his slumber. Koar had followed the events surrounding Charl's creation, and he knew of the dilemma with Iquaine. He asked if Charl would give his creation leave to patrol the ice flows of the north and remain ever vigilant over his slumber. Charl readily agreed and went to give the news to Iquaine.

Iquaine was elated that she could have such responsibility and yet such freedom. She agreed and traveled the ice flows to the North, beyond Aenatumgana. She walks the lands there to this day and has learned to animate the ice to do her bidding much like her brother. She created the strongest and most deadly of her minions, the Ice elemental. They are slow moving, yet are hard as Meyno's servants and have been instilled with a small amount of magic.

Nothing else has been heard nor seen of Iquaine in quite a while, but perhaps there are more answers to be found beyond the Shrine of the Drake to the north. The spirits are there throughout our lives, performing their works unseen, yet no less present for the weakness of our mortal eyes.

A Dwarven History
by Groutt Trundu

As is known to all, the dwarves were one of many races that lived under the rule of the Drakes during their era of power. They were servants of the Arkati who were in turn servants of the Drakes. Allowing for some reasonable suppositions, and using my best reasoning, I would say that the dwarves lived in, or very near the mountainous regions of Elanthia during this time. Their affinity for the stones may have begun during this time.

After the Ur-Daemon War, during the Coming of the Arkati, nearly 100,000 years ago, Eonak, an Arkati, is said to have walked the lands showing the dwarves, or the "folk of the stone" how to mine, and the ways of the rocks and stones of Elanthia.

During the Elven Empire, dwarves were thought to be a savage, untamed race. While performing to an unappreciative audience, the elves of Ta'Loenthra would describe it as "casting pearls before dwarves." This statement alone shows the contempt that was shown towards the other races by the elves during that time. However, it is reasonable to assume that the elves thought the dwarves were barbarians for a few reasons. Primarily, the elves ruled the lands, and looked down on all the other races. They certainly treated the humans poorly. However, it is also possible that due to the secretive nature of our race, much of our society was not known to the elves. Building empires underground and being very protective of our vast, mined riches must have left the other races in the dark as to the nature of our society. It is also very likely that our appreciation for everything edible, our love of physical activities such as fighting, and our "unusual" sense of humor had set us in the minds of other races as not possessing a deep and rich culture.

It was during the so called "Elven Empire" that Khazi Khazar founded the greatest dwarven holding to date, Kalaza. During these years and all those that followed, (and many of the years before) the dwarves ruled the underworld. Secretive and fiercely protective, we have kept much of our history secret. I feel that due to the length of time between now and then, and because of the incredible understanding between the races that has bloomed in recent years, our history is long since overdue to be told throughout the lands. However, it is hard even for a dwarf to recount our history because our secretiveness kept much of it out of any books, and it mostly has not been told since these few dwarves have left the underworld for adventure and wealth. I plan to unearth as much of our vast history as I can in the coming years.

In the years since the second age, the roots of the allying of the races can be found. The Undead War, which marks the beginning of the Third Age, is very demonstrative of the new-found friendship of the races. Despana, thought to have come from the Southron Wastes, found the Book of Tormtor which allowed her to create the first of the undead that now roam the lands in multitudes. The undead grew rapidly under Despana's skilled work, and she created an army of the creatures. Her plan was to use this black magic to take over all of Elanthia. Her minions struck first at the great Elven Houses with success due to a lack of elven leadership. Separated into seven houses, the elves, at first, did not unite against this undead horde.

In under two months, the Undead broke through the great Elven Empire and shocked the elven leaders into uniting. This is said to be the turning point of the war. Due to Despana's great success, the elves not only united themselves, but also brought forth new allies. Among them were the dwarves and giantmen.

This is very significant in the history of the races because it marks the first time that the races worked together as a whole army of good against a host of evil. Not only did the combined races triumph, but they also learned that they were not all so different and that they could live together in harmony. This does not mean that the races did not have disputes, but it is the first time that they joined together in a common cause. Despite the Age of Chaos that followed the Undead War (due to the lack of leadership from the fallen elves) the good races remained, and eventually took control of the world again.

Through my research, it has come to my attention that it is very likely that the dwarves, unlike many other races, were not involved in the major actions of Elanthia in the years following the Undead War. The only real historical note on the dwarves is during the Dwarven-Giantman War, approximately two millenia past. It seems that the Giantmen, in their nomadic way, approached a mountain region controlled by the dwarves. The dwarves, coming from seemingly nowhere (most likely from the mountains themselves) struck out at the giantmen. Modern historians state that there is no known cause for the war, and that there was no winner, but I dispute these claims. After the war, the Giantmen left the mountains, and did not again return. It is stated that neither race was seen in the mountains again, but my guess is that the dwarves were literally in the mountains. All reason points to two possible causes for the war. The dwarves, in their secretive way, most likely had either founded a city under the mountain range, and thought the giantmen were threatening it, or found a great deal of wealth to be mined. It appears that the dwarves protected their claim, and drove the giantmen out, and retreated back to the saftey inside the stone. However, the dwarves and giantmen came to respect each other after this war, and are today great allies.

While the dwarves have most likely ruled the underworld for the over 100,000 years since the fall of the dragons, the rulers of the overworld have changed constantly. During the Age of Chaos, the humans found themselves unprotected by the elves, and began to find ways to protect themselves. Being the largest, and most diverse race, the humans have gained control of the lands.

These are my theories based on my life and research, and though they conflict with accepted history, I am pushing to find more substantiation for them. If you have any comments, theories, disputes, or further knowledge about the dwarves, or on anything I have touched upon in this brief overview, please contact me, I would love to hear anything you have to say.