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Dark Elves of Zhurag Nur

The Dark Elves of Zhurag-Nar are infamous for their merciless efficiency in finding and neutralizing their enemies. They are organized in a strict matriarchy and only female Dark Elves may employ magic. The male fighters, however, are merely pawns in their fight to conquer Ancaria. Their exclusion from the powers of magic bestowed upon the male Dark Elves the inherent ability to resist magic and even to control and deflect it back onto the caster. Instead of using magic, they rely on poison which they acquire from the numerous giant spiders of Zhurag-Nar. They also count on their Wargh-Wolves since their fangs are also dripping with poison and were strengthened by spells of the female priestesses.

Deamons

The common demon is a being which does not derive from our plane of existence. Demons exist on all four of the elemental levels but the most familiar among them are those coming from the flames of hell. Little is known about these creatures. Apparently, they have auras which enable them to bring part of their demonic level into this dimension in order to link the two dimensions together. There are even assumptions that the word demon does not derive from "Daemoncius" but rather from the change of dimensions and therefore dates back to the ancient Ancarellian "Dimen-Zion". Attempts to conjure demons are rarely successful because dragging them from their dimensions usually ends in violent reactions. There are recommendations for establishing binding areas using pentagrams or hexagrams while attempting to conjure a demon. You can find more literature concerning this subject: Shaddar "The Gods Erred! Introduction to the Conjuration of Lesser Demons"; from the same author "Sakkara-Dimen-Zion " The leading Fire Devils of Hell: An Analysis of Experimental Possibilities" and "Further Errors of the Ancient Gods".

Dracoids

Contrary to popular belief wyverns, dragons and fire lizards do not share a common origin. The wyvern as well as the ice, fire and desert lizards derive from cold-blooded reptiles, whereas true dragons share similar blood fragments with the Seraphim.

Dragons

Dragons are magnificent in their splendor. Among the largest of the native life of Ancaria, they are also among the most feared. Merely a touch of their breath is sufficient to incinerate many of their enemies – humans and elves and all of their ilk being numbered therein.

The dragon prefers to slaughter in close combat, using his powerful claws to quickly sunder flesh from bone. It is never safe by a dragon's side. But keeping a distance is not safety either – for the dragon swiftly turns and expels a noxious mix of fermented gases that quickly ignites into gargantuan flames when mixed with the surrounding air – consuming the unwary in a fiery inferno.

Stay back a bit more, you suggest. Nay, stay back much further, I say. For dancing just outside the dragons breath may be the most dangerous of all. It appears that through their close proximity to evil sorcerers of the past, dragons have acquired some magical skills as well. With a mere shake of her head, little more than a nod, she will cast down a hail of fiery meteors from the heavens, obliterating those that taunt her.

And yet, not all dragons are the enemy of humankind. Loromir of Drakenden has proven a boon.

An analysis of dragon eggs and Seraphim blood showed that both inherit signs of having been present since the Ancient Gods of Creation, and thus are even older than the Elves. So far, there have been reports of three dragons in Ancaria. Loromir of Drakenden instructs Valorian knights near the enclave of the magicians. There are rumors that the people of Alkazaba noc Draco serve a dragon which is guarding a mystical treasure. Latest observations claim that there is an especially fierce and powerful monster in the forests west of Mascarell. There are rumors that the necromancer Shaddar turned a dieing dragon into an undead creature.

Fauna

Fauna The animals of the forest define Ancaria's fauna. There are deer and stags and only nobles and their gamekeepers are allowed to hunt them. Several types of bear and wild boar are also at home in these lands. These animals, along with most types of wolves, are usually less aggressive than people are led to believe. Only the Wargh-Wolves are dangerous and aggressive as they derive from the Dark Elven breeding kennels of Mhurag-Nar. Their aggression is similar to that of rabid wolves and even the usually timid forest wolves of Ancaria will adopt this aggression when the Wargh infest them.

Giant Monsters

Various creatures of Ancaria managed to grow to unnatural sizes due to a contamination with free-floating magic. Several spiders and scorpions boast both unpleasant size and speed. Two species of cave inhabitants grew to unimaginable sizes and they live near the glowing crystal mountains of Gnarlstat. Tatabak, the dwarven guardian of Upper Gnarlstat, reported during the times of Morgast I. that cavefish and giant spiders took refuge in the depths of the mines and within deserted strongholds. The cavefish appear to be a mixture of crab and fish, crushing everything with their giant jaws. Some of the spiders have allegedly reached the size of houses.

Goblinoids

The origin of the goblinoids, such as orcs, goblins and ogres is unknown. There are speculations that they stem from early tribes of humans and dwarves mingling with each other. The ogres are a variation bred from the enslaved orcs of Mhurag-Nar during the occupation of the Dark Elven empire. Similarities between the Dark Elven ?Nar? and the Orcish ?Nur?, both expressions for strongholds, appear to date back to this era of slavery. The heritage of the goblins seems to be even older. These creatures are not truly evil, but rather chaotic. There are speculations here that the orcs evolved from a variation of goblins, which had to develop aggressive behavior patterns in the harsh and hostile environments they used to live in. The rare imps are another derivation from the goblins. They are well known for causing trouble and they always like to join the superior side, hoping to find protection. Therefore, they are frequently found as familiars in the employment of sorcerers.

The Undead

Ghouls and zombies used to be human but their nature was so evil that their rotten souls continue to transform them even in death. Thus their sinister decay continues. They are barely recognizable as humans as their bodies are covered in slime and they are decaying and infested with maggots. The zombies hunger for living flesh, while the ghouls feed on carrion. Beware adventurer! Ghouls and zombies have an predatory intelligence, which makes them hunt their prey. Do not be fooled by their slow movement. Some of them may turn into a nightmare, which is difficult to kill, as they appear to be mightier in death than they were during their lives. The Scribe Sebastianus of Urkenburgh reports that Morgast, second son of Aarnum I., continued to harass the stronghold for seven days as a zombie after his own men had killed him. He did not want give in and his tyranny only ended when Sir Michaelius of Mascarell finally tore the beast to pieces and threw tar over it in order to bind it in death forever. A pure spirit might also be compromised in such manner but that would require the deepest and darkest power of necromancy. Such power has not been known for many years on the plains of Ancaria