Elvish Render Dump

I bring you two elvish render dumps:

Massalian Elves and . . .

The Eladrin.

Enjoy them both!

By Popular Demand

One Instant Babe.

Feeling a bit like a gnome is missing?

 

This Gnomish adventurer looks like it is ready to do a little exploring.  Or something else.  The Girl 4 is perfect for gnomes.

Nations of the Humans: Devonshire

Capital: Nottingham
Population: 22,500 (humans 87%, half-elves 5%, orcs 5%, half-orcs 3%)
Goverment: Republic
Religions: Christian, Roman Paganism, Hindu Paganism, Ancient Paganism, Lightism, Muslim, Shamanism, Druidism, Judaism
Exports: Glass, Iron, Linen, Paper, Pottery, various kinds of Beer
Imports: Vellum, Wool, Wine
Alignment: NG, CG, LG

Founded out of Caithness during the Religious pogroms of pagan, new age, and atheistic peoples; the Republic of Devonshire included the Shires of Nottingham, Devon, Carlisle, Cambridge, and Lancaster.  The event happened 300 years ago, and the people have kept their Republic from the Caithness Monarchy or enemies within ever since.

The Shires were divided into twelve new shires, each named after the tribes of Israel: Judah, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Zebulun, Reuben, Asher, Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Issachar.  The Thirteenth tribe of Levi isn't represented as a shire in the republic.  The Senate is composed of twelve Senators, one from each Shire.  At the head of the Senate sits the Prince, who acts for the Executive branch of the government.  Usually the Prince is the representative from Judah, but sometimes a Senator from Ephraim is appointed.  The government is run by Parties -- the Parties include the Moroni Party (Pro-Liberty), the Judah party (Conservative), the Ephraim Party (Liberal), the Gadianton Party (Pro-Totalitarian), and the Neutral Party (Moderate).  The politics swings from these five parties at any given time.  Politics in Nottingham is brutal, the phrase -- "Watch your back, Jack" is truer than ever.  The Republic of Devonshire maintains an Army, a Navy, and colleges.

Since its founding, the Republic of Devonshire has faced incursions from the Blackrock Orcs across the border and from the swamps.  The Republican armies have managed to defeat both tribes of orcs who did not join the Horde, but never conquered them.  It isn't the Republic's way of doing things.  Through the years, the humans have had a mixing of orcish blood into their ancestry, which has affected some of the population.  Caithness has tried to invade Devonshire more than once and each time it has retreated with it's tail between it's legs.  Northumberland tried to invade by sea, and has even occupied five of its shires, but was defeated.  The only time the Republic has been humbled was when Angland invaded on a Religious Crusade.

This happened sixty years ago, when the Navies of Angland conquered the former capital of Devon and burned it to the ground for being full of Christians.  The paladinic Order of Light was founded just ten years after that, but not after the Church of Light was spread over the Republic and made the official religion.  However, five years later, the Devonshirites kicked out the Anglish with an Army of just three hundred.  In a battle akin to the Battle of the Midianites in the Bible, the tiny army of 300 citizens managed to confuse the Anglish Camp and made their enemies slay each other.  Any Anglish left in Devonshire were given the opportunity to become citizens of the Republic or die.  Many of the captured Anglish have accepted.  The Republic has been refounded based on Laws of Justice and Order since that time and the Knights of the Light (the former Anglish) have been protecting the Republic from enemies within ever since.

Life and Society
Life in the Republic is based on freedom rather than slavery.  The people enjoy rights to free speech, freedom to assemble, and the freedom of arms.  They are also free from invasion without warrant, and many other freedoms.  The Republic is represented by twelve Senators from each Shire in Nottingham and has been founded and refounded.  The Senators make new laws and often represent their parties.  Currently the Judah Party holds the Princely Seat and the majority in the Senate.  There is only one Progressive so far in the Senate and he is hoping for his turn on the Seat.

The People believe that they are the Spiritual and Political descendants of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They have freedom bred into them from 300 years of attaining it and keeping it.  Most citizens of the Republic are farmers, ranchers, foresters, or craftsmen.  The Republic maintains a citizen army.  Every citizen is a part of the army.  Besides the Army, an order of paladins called the Order of Light act as leaders, generals, heroes, and watchdogs of the Republic from its enemies within (which are either Orcs or Radical Revolutionaries).

Major Geographical Features

Carlisle Lake:  This lake is in the heart of the Republic.  There are about five castles surrounding the lake dating from Monarchial times.  Three of the castles are well maintained while the other two fell into disrepair.  The lake is a huge freshwater lake and it is a quiet lake.  The city of Carlisle is located on the western shores of the lake. To add mystery to the lake, Lake Carlisle is rumored to harbor lake monsters.  Castle Hart is controlled by the Blackrock tribe and Castle Norrington is mainly abandoned because of rumors of being haunted.

Shadow Wood:  This forest acts as the border between Caithness and the Republic.  It's a thick forest, only the Devonshire side has become black and darkened thanks for the old growth trees that are in the heart of it.  Lately the forest has been advancing and the settlers on the border have been complaining of ghosts, werewolves, and other supernatural occurrences.  Lately, some people have reported talking and moving trees.

The Heart Plains: Light forests, rolling hills, and cultivated land make up the Heart Plains.  The land is mostly maintained by farmers but the light forests are used to make sure that the soil stays in place until the land is ready to be cultivated again.  The Heart Plains are carefully managed in a rotation cycle.  Aside from the gnoll brigand tribes that are scattered about the place is peaceful.

The Swamps:  The Swamps is a dangerous place since it breeds biting insects.  It's also the home of trolls and ogres.  The monsters leave the humans alone that live near the swamp, but sometimes something worse comes out of the swamp and adventurers often go in to get it.  No one knows what is actually happening in the swamp when a monster that comes out of it is often a frightening amalgam of several creatures (so far a Hydra, a chimaera, an echidna, and other nasty creatures have come out of the swamps).

(Next: Important Sites, Regional History, and Plots and Rumors)

Creation Myths of the Orcs: Clan of the Pheonix

The Clan of the Phoenix.  Another orc tribe, the Phoenix clan was once a tribe that revered its ancestors.  Now, thanks to demonic influence, the tribe has become a tribe of warlocks specializing in deviltry and demonic magic. The Clan of the Phoenix is also the most ancient of the orc clans.

Nwali and the Egg

When Nwali had finished creating the world and filled it with all sorts of plants, animals, and birds Nwali started working on an egg.  The egg was magnificent, for it was made of silver.  It pulsed with all truth and life and Nwali had set it down in a specially prepared area.

The animals marveled at the egg.  As it pulsated with life and energy, they were curious as to see what Nwali had brought them.  The animals asked, "What is the egg, oh wise Nwali?"  Nwali, being all wise and all loving had said; "It is my gift to you, the animals."  And the animals truly marveled at the gift.

The egg continued to pulse in the Garden that Nwali had planted the egg.  The trees began to wonder at the egg and were attracted to the egg.  Nwali said to the trees.  "A gift for you, oh trees."  And the trees marveled at Nwali.

Finally, the pheonix bird was the most curious of all of Nwali's birds and it lighted near the Egg.  Phoenix asked Nwali what the egg is about, and Nwali said it was a surprise.  So, Phoenix sat down on the egg, incubating it with his fires.

In time, the egg hatched, and the Phoenix watched.  And out sprang a man and a woman (meaning, Orcs). The man and the woman were naked and immediately embraced themselves in fear and Consternation.  Nwali then explained that the man and the woman were to have dominion over the plants and the beasts and the Earth.  Pleased with his creations, the man and the woman were in the image of Nwali.  Then the man and the woman went out and went to subdue the Earth and replenish themselves according to Nwali's command.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: The Shattered Sword

The Clan of the Shattered Sword. Ah, a clan with a particular history of being violent against humans. They are a particularly powerful clan of orcs with powerful muscular forms.  The men of the Shattered Sword are often brutish and thuggish in body.  They have freakish hulking bodies.  The females are more slender, but they built themselves up as much as their bodies can allow.   They once were, and are, the Clan of the Cave Bear.


Wacraft Orc by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Bear as a Totem: Bear represents caution, healing, and leadership to the orcs.  Brother Bear is the totem of the Clan of the Shattered Sword.  However, fel corruption in the clan has caused the Clan of the Shattered Sword to forsake and to hunt bears in order to gain the power of the bear.  Now, as part of the horde, they seek to regain the favor of Nwali, the Spirits, and the Ancestors.  Shamans of the Shattered Sword can turn into bears when they gain the Spirit Wolf ability.



Legends of the Clan of the Cave Bear
The Clan of the Cave Bear, or the Clan of the Shattered Sword, were a subarctic clan of orcs. They are a lot like the native tribes of Alaska.  The Athabaskan tribes, being what the Athabaskan tribes are to us the Clan of the Cave Bear are to the Orcs of Archaeron.   These legends tell the story.

Brother Bear
Once, on when the land was crawling with the Woolly Mammoths, the ancient ones moved to the lands of the North.  The Ancient Ones moved here, inspired by Nwali.  Led by the shaman Yurthal, the orcs that followed him were actually following a ghost bear to their promised land.  The people stopped in the forested Northern Wilderness where the Spirit Dance (Dancing Lights) played.  The act of Creation for the Clan of the Cave Bear begins when Nwali started making people out of red, brown, and green mud.  Some he baked too early -- and these were the paleskinned Men (meaning orcs).  Some he baked too long, and these were the darkskinned Men.  But the Clan of the Cave Bear, he baked just right.  He breathed life into all of them and set them upon the world.

Brother Bear asked Nwali if he could have a clan of his own.  Nwali gave him the baked just right people.  So, Brother Bear led the people into the North to a Promised Land that was bountiful of fish, game, and berries.  Yurthal thanked Brother Bear, and called his people the Clan of the Cave Bear afterwards.

The Clan of the Shattered Sword

Before the coming of the Demons, the Clan of the Cave Bear followed the other tribes through the gateway to flee the squid-faces.  We settled in a land like our own.  And had a great rapport with the animals and the game, just as we had.  But the Demon Azarael came to us promising power and strength.  Our shamans listened to him, just like the Shamans of the Burning Blade and the Shadowmoon.  And he bade all of us to hunt the bears.  Some of us would not do it and we split, separating themselves.  But we fell upon the bears, killing them and cutting them open.  We would dine on bear hearts and bathe in bear blood.  After this was done, we drank of the blood of Azarael himself.  Overnight, we became bigger and meaner -- mixing the powers of Demon and Bear.  We made swords and shattered them, taking the name of the Clan of the Shattered Sword and became the most bloodthirsty.

However, we redeemed ourselves when our former clansmen joined with the Humans and the High Elves and slew Azarael's mortal body, ending our bloodlust.  We rejoined the Clan of the Cave Bear, shattering our swords again and becoming one Clan, one Tribe.  The Clan of the Shattered Sword.   

The Clan of the Shattered Sword are the grunts of the New Orc Horde that was led into Killyronde.  Their freakish, muscular forms make up the grunts and much of the warrior tradition.  Although their shamans are once again guided by the Spirits of Bear, the Clan of the Shattered Sword make up the police forces of the new Orc Nation as well as most of the army.  The Clan of the Shattered Sword are still powerful and still overwhelming.  However, they are creating a tradition of honor and integrity to help their disenfranchised clan to regain hope.

Blood Elf Dancer

Last one for today, I've been render dumping blood elves.


Blood Elf Dancer by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Elf Portrait

A portrait I rendered today.  I think I may have to work more on the eyes to make them more bright, but this might work out better.   Tell me what you think.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: the Blood Talons

The Blood Talons

The Blood Talons are a tribe of hunters.  They are associated with Deinonychus and velociraptor, or in other words, dinosaur raptors.  The Blood Talons are orcs who were jungle oriented.  When they came to Galatea, they brought their raptors with them.  The Blood Talons are also the scribes of the Horde.  The Blood Talons use a Glyphic Syllabary for their writing and say that the writing was given to them by the Eagle.  Their totems are Raptor and Eagle.

Eagle as a Totem: Eagle is a leader, the King of Birds.  As a symbol of the Zenith, Brother Eagle helps his shamans soar to great heights.  The Eagle also imparts a major part of its essence to his shamans.  Eagle Shamans are very personable and charismatic.  But they also have noble attributes and tend to be just and fair.  Eagle shamans take the form of an Eagle when they achieve the Ghost Wolf ability.

Raptor as a Totem: Sister Raptor is a hunter totem.  Highly intelligent, Raptor is a pack totem.  Rather than being family oriented, the raptor is tactical group oriented.  Raptor shamans are strategists and tactical thinkers.  They tend to out think their opponents, assess situations, and think of a way to gain an advantage.  Raptor shamans take the form of a Deinonychus when they achieve the Ghost Wolf ability.

The Blood Talons' creation myth is called The Creation of True Men (meaning orcs).

The Creation of True Men
Nwali was the first and the last.  Nwali had created all the animals including the raptor, the behemoth, the leviathan, the three-horned one, the honker, and the devil lizard.  Nwali looked at all of creation and asked the animals to collect clay.

All the animals declined to collect clay except for Eagle and Raptor.  Eagle and Raptor brought Nwali brownish and green clays, which Nwali mixed with his own hands.  Nwali wanted to mix the clay in his own image.  So, he created Man from the clay -- both man and woman.  He breathed life into the clay men and women he made.  Brother Eagle taught Men how to speak, write, and think; while Sister Raptor taught Men how to hunt, cook, and domesticate animals.  One of Eagle and Raptor's best students was a young man Nerva.


Nerva was a great hunter.  He used his gifts from Brother Eagle and Sister Raptor to create animal skins, make pottery, and invent tanning.  Later on, Nerva learned how to farm and taught the people how to make a rough garment out of prey animal skins.  Nwali was pleased with both Brother Eagle and Sister Raptor, and named his people the Gijakkrupu-Hai or people of the Blood Talons.  The Gijakkrupu-Hai accepted Eagle and Raptor as their tribal totems.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: The Desert Vipers

The Creation Myth of the Desert Vipers

The Clan of the Desert Vipers originally was a desert dwelling culture of Orcs.  Although they had minor totems to represent them -- Coyote being one of them -- the clan decided on Snake.  This is simply because not only snakes have qualities of spying but it is also a healer totem.  The Clan of the Desert Vipers named themselves after the sidewinder snakes that lived in the deserts of Outland.  Although there are more than a few Coyote shamans among them.

Coyote as a Totem: Coyote is the great trickster.  Coyote shamans are usually very individualistic and incredibly libertarian and anarchist.  They really don't follow the rules a lot.  Coyote shamans are also hard to pin down -- they can be incomprehensible at times.

Snake as a Totem: Snake is a healer and a giver of wisdom.  Although the Clan of Desert Vipers made up the seed of the intelligence network of the Horde; their shamans are usually at the core of healing for the horde and can carry great wisdom.

The Desert Vipers have two myths (one adapted from Native Americans, and another my own creation).  They are Coyote and Nwali, and The Great Dream Snake.

Coyote and Nwali
Once there was no people in the World, and Nwali began the project of bringing people into the world. He began to collect sticks and cut them into little pieces and placed them into his leather bag.  Nwali did this until his bag was full.


Brother Coyote was very curious as to what was in the bag. Nwali told Brother Coyote that his project was very special and not to look in the bag.  However, Coyote's curiosity got the best of him and he opened the bag to see what was Nwali working on.  Many men (meaning Orcs) burst out of the bag. They were wild and would not listen to the pleadings of Brother Coyote.  They were too wild.  The people spoke many different languages and soon spread all over the face of the World.


When Nwali returned, he found Coyote and the opened, empty bag.  Rightfully angry, Nwali chided Brother Coyote for not listening.  Nwali explained that the people weren't ready to be released as Nwali was going to place them evenly around the World.  The trouble you have caused will be the cause of war and famine in the Land.


As punishment for Brother Coyote's ways, Nwali sent him into the world as a coyote.  So, when the Desert Vipers hear the coyote's howl -- it is coyote howling to return home.  Nwali then picked up his bag and discovered that a few people have remained deep inside the bag.  To these people, Nwali set apart and named them the Mal-Hai.  "You will be very brave, since the people in the World are not as complete as you," Nwali told our people.  "I will place you high in the mountains so that you will be close to me."


So Nwali planted the Mal-Hai in the Mountains of the Bountiful Region.  And there they lived and were attracted and wandered into the desert lands below the Mountains of the Bountiful Region.



Veyothas and the Great Dream Snake


Once a great disease swept through the people of the Mal-Hai.  The disease was a plague of black spots that covered the bodies of the people.  Some people went blind, others developed ulcers, some had spots on their tongue, and others had spots in other places on their bodies.  The Mal-Hai were afflicted, so the great Shaman Urgohaz called on Nwali for aid.


"Take a few warriors and shamans to the Great Red River that flows through the desert and there you will find your cure," said Nwali.  So Urgohaz took with him the five healthiest warriors and his own apprentice and went on a spirit journey to be led to the cure of Nwali.


The journey was perilous, and the band was out in the bounteous desert in order to find the Great Red River.   Urgohaz followed the Green River based on intuition, and they drank from the river and found many fish to eat.  However, the Bountiful Region was soon giving way to a desert of desolation.  The heat was getting greater and greater for Urgohaz and the shaman mysteriously died.


After the death of Urgohaz, his apprentice Veyothas took the title of Great Shaman.  However, Veyothas was not as responsive to Nwali and the young shaman led the group to the Great Red River.  Instead of finding wild oxen, which Nwali intended the group found Shurikmai the Great Dream Snake.


Veyothas implored Shurikmai to heal his people the Mal-Hai.  Shurikmai promised to heal the people, but payment had to be made.  Shurikmai demanded a sacrifice, and Veyothas promised it.  The sacrifice was not of blood, but of gender.  Veyothas obeyed, and used a spell to turn three of the warriors from men to beings that were women but had the parts of men.  The Warriors sacrificed their manhood for womanhood and the Great Dream Snake used their manhood to cure the village of the Mal-Hai of the terrible disease.


The little band did return and found the people free of the sickness.  However, Nwali was angry with this village of the Mal-Hai for their perversions -- of the warriors changing who they were and finding and obeying Shurikmai over him, Nwali.  He declared that the village of Mal-Hai will be forever called the Shurikhai -- or "people of the desert viper."  He withdrew his presence from the village and Veyothas was bereft of his Shamanic power.


A generation later, shamanism was had again among the Shurikhai, however the people were forced to leave the greater Mal-Hai nation and forge a nation of their own.  They became truly the people of the Desert Viper, as they relied on the deserts where they lived food and bounty and made war as the serpents do.  When Shamanism came among them, it was both Brother Coyote and Brother Snake that the shamans speak to Nwali through.

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Uhm . . .

One word.  USELESS if your a DM!  Don't see this movie unless you're looking for a cinematic rollercoaster ride.  The critics don't know what they are talking about, since as a Dungeons and Dragons movie this one is an Epic Fail (gad!).

It's pretty bad.  Although they had a lot of good ideas, the movie isn't the best.  I was deeply offended by it, so I couldn't enjoy it. You're better off seeing the original.  Beverly Cross, Ray Harryhausen and co. made a better movie.

Gad, it was so bad. ):

Creation Myths of the Orcs: The Silver Fangs

The orcs are a shamanistic society.  They have been since they came to Galatea to flee the Cephalpodic humanoids that conquered their original homeworld of Outland or Archaeron.  Their creation myths are many, as each tribe of the Horde have their own creation myths.  Each tribe subscribes to tribal law, which defaults to family law.  High above the tribes is the Warchief -- a sort of High King of the orc tribes.

Although the orcs revere animals and the animal totems, the orcs do have a chief god, named Nwali.  He figures in all orc creation myths except for the Burning Sword.  The first myth deals with the Silverfangs.

O

Once, there was Nwali, and Nwali was all that there is.  So Nwali spoke and out of his mouth he uttered the Word of Creation.  Out of his mouth came all -- the land, the sea, the air, the plants, the animals.  Now, Brother Wolf was the chief of all of Nwali's creations.  Brother Wolf helped Nwali create all things in the Universe.

When it came time for Nwali to create Men (orcs) Brother Wolf assisted him by hunting and gathering food to make sure Nwali was fed.  However, Nwali did not need to eat, for Nwali is forever.  So, Nwali made men from dirt and sand and breathed life into them.  To reward Brother Wolf for his kindness, he made it so that Brother Wolf would be a companion to both Men and Women to act not only as a servant, but as a Spirit guide and totem to help Men and Women remember Nwali and his statutes and to walk in the ways of Nwali.

Some points to remember:
The Silverfang Orc Tribe hold the Wolf to be their totem.  The creation myth explains how the Silverfangs have the Wolf to be their tribal totem, and why the Orc shamans of the silverfangs often turn into wolves to traverse distances.  Also, wolf is a family oriented totem.  As a result, the Silverfangs are a family oriented tribe.

NEXT: The Desert Vipers and the Dream Snake.