The Old World Encyclopaedia

A joint effort by many of the world’s leading universities to create both an objective history of the world as well as a place to write down all the knowledge known as fact. Progress has been slow but steady over the last 500 years it has come far with thousands of authors each one vetted by a council with representatives from all the major races and nations.

This book is a work in progress and subject to change.

Demons

The many different kinds of demons they can be distinguished by their size, skin colour, horns, tail and many other variations of their numerous features.

While believed to be extinct in the wider galaxy, they are a thriving and common race upon the Old World.

There are as many separate and differing species and sub-species of demons as there are internal factions within the Demon race.

Each demon itself is unique due to a particular trait of Demonkind. Over the course of its life a demon will undergo changes to better suit its lifestyle. If one lives its entire life upon rocky mountain ranges it may evolve legs similar to that of a goats as well as other features, it may develop goat like horns.

If one lives as a warrior it will grow in height and bulk becoming a hulking bastion of muscle whist taking on the features of a bull becoming similar to a minotaur from ancient Terran mythology.

The many and differing tribes cities and nations of demons vary greatly from savage stone age tribes to flourishing cities.

Elven Races

Long ago the home country of the elves was destroyed after escaping the elves split into four factions each with a different philosophy in how to rebuild their race. Unable to come together again they split apart. Differing greatly from their cousins both physically, culturally, magically and religiously. The elven races are blessed with longevity once reaching maturity the stop aging.

High Elves

Their Ancestors believing that the only way to rebuild their race was the endless pursuit of knowledge. Now scattered across the world High Elves are most commonly found within places of learning where they either study or teach. Their long lives helping them in both endeavours. Occasionally a high elf may wish for some adventure or perhaps some field study, often joining up with adventurer and expedition parties their knowledge and sorcereries making them valued sought after. A High Elf’s Usually stands head and shoulders taller than humans, their distinctive amber skin acting to further attract attention, many high elves prefer the solitude of the libraries and laboratories commonly attended by members of their race.

Dark Elves

Choosing the mysterious ‘Dark Path’ their ancestors split into several dozen tribes each one splitting into several more as time passed. The path they follow is sinister and ever-changing firm in their belief that the resurgence of an elven superpower is the ultimate end. And that the ends justify the means, their tribes move over their lands ever in search for more power. Often turning to gods of a darker nature for the power they seek. The Dark Elven tribes now often sell themselves as high end mercenary bands, the entire tribe working together to be a self-sufficient military organisation through both their martial and magical powers their reputation as a force unto themselves upon the battlefield is well earned but their rise to power has left their race changed in many ways their skin an ashy grey and their pupils eyes and dark red many find them uncomfortable to look upon.

Wood Elves

Retreating from the now ruined cities of the ancient and long lost elven empire the wood elves turned to the dense forests. Taking comfort in the quiet and peaceful life one could find within the woods. The wood elves are happy to stay within the wooded expanses they now occupy content to slow rebuild their race in a new direction. The wood elves have evolved over the many generations to better suit their environment, shorter than the average human and of lithe build their hair and eyes the colours of the woods.

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Mad Elves

While their cousins searched for power, knowledge or a refuge to live peacefully, the mad elves instead turned themselves towards the future. The Mad Elves live a nomadic life seeking a purpose for their near eternal lives. Believed to be mad by their cousins a Mad Elf will find a path be it that of a warrior or a carpenter and focus themselves solely to it. They will see the path through to the end over the course of years if not decades and after they complete their path and master that particular trade, they will turn to another and start again. This makes the mad elves the most varied of the Elven races as a whole but the most specialised as an individual. They bear little resemblance to their cousins with no standardised appearance or path to follow.

The ‘Dark Path’

The pursuit of power by any means necessary.

Be it by the dark elves or cultists the dark path places it’s mark upon it followers.

It is unknown what the dark path entails it differs depending on the higher beings involved and the individual seeking power.

Adventures Guild

Secular non-governmental Guild partnered with the Mercenaries Guild. Has jurisdiction over small parties and solo adventurers.

Mercenaries Guild

Secular non-governmental Guild partnered with Adventurers Guild. Has jurisdiction over larger bands and Merc armies.

Magic

The soul in all living creatures and some others facilitates the transferal of energy from the Immaterium to the material via the soul.

Mages are anyone who can manipulate the energy provided to them from their soul.

After mage there are four paths for a mage to achieve greater power:

- Warlock

- Sorcerer

- Wizard

- Priest/cleric/monk

There is little difference in practice, what differs the most is the mages magical philosophy.

Warlock

Magic comes from a higher power.

The warlock is a mage who through a deal or contract to a higher power is granted power. Warlocks are often sent on missions from their patron in exchange for artefacts or other items of power. The rewards may take a more esoteric form such as good luck for a short while or a favour etc.

Sorcerer

Magic comes from within.

Sorcerers are those who through great personal effort managed to break their magical limits and become a true user of their soul and the mana it provides. Sorcerers are often untrusting of others and take great pride I their struggles triumphs. They are often completely self-reliant and loath relying on others.

Wizard

Magic coms from books and learning.

This type of mage fits High Elves to a ‘T’. Through many years of hard study often under the tutelage of a teacher or master, the Wizard unlocks the secrets of the Immaterium via the pathway of knowledge and learning.

Priest/Cleric/Monk

Magic comes from the God they worship.

While in definition the same as a Warlock the Clerics powers are often given to them not for their use as their tool in which to effect the material realm. Their powers are given as reward for unyielding faith and loyalty. It is through this unbreakable resolve and faith that a priest may be capable of miracles.

Beastmen

Often confused with Demons as they often take on animal like qualities.

Like the demons there are many species and sub-species from the wolf like lycan to the feline like Catacan.

Lycanthropes

Lycanthropes are wolves given a twisted human form.

Lycanthropes or Lycans are a race of wolf like humanoids. Capable of moving swiftly on all fours or walking on hind legs like a man might. Lycans are universally feared and respected for their martial prowess.

Their heightened senses make them excellent scouts and trackers, their ability to move swiftly over any terrain allowing them to fight in a similar manner to cavalry and raw physical power and speed making them superior fighters.

Lycanthropes have earned themselves a sinister reputation due to the possibility of a lycan becoming addicted to slaughter Lycans with the self-control become berserkers worthy of sagas but hose without go ‘feral’ attacking and killing all they chance upon.

Were - races

All of the ‘Thropic’ (Lycanthropes for example) have the ability to grant power tome humans exclusively through bite and blood transfusion a human can become a were-[parent species]

Were races have greater chance of turning feral if left to their own devices thankfully there is quite some ritual and magic do be done before the transformation.

Were- races appear human unless they wish otherwise in which they explode out of their own skin and take on a form similar to that of their patron thrope albeit with lessened physical powers.

Catacan

Feline in appearance, depending on the sub-species they could have the features of a tiger or those of a house cat.

The Catacan look much like a human, if a human was covered in fur had claws and a felines head and tail.

The Catacan as a race is famed for their abilities as master spies and assassins as well as some of the greatest skirmishers. Their natural balance and agility lending itself to many walks of life.

Demi-humans

The half-breed offspring between a human and Beastmen.

Often appearing human with minor features of their beastman parent such as ears or a tail etc.

Demi-races

The demi races are half breeds.

From the powerful demigods to the common demi-human the demi races are commonplace aren’t always able to be identified at a glance.