384439201-World-Tree

Credits World and Game Design : Bard Bloom and Victoria Borah Bloom Editorial Assistance: John Eisinger, Kim Liu, Toivo Voll Layout: Jeanette Dietrich Playtesting: Maria Bastone, Klyph Bohm, Mark Chu-Carroll, John Eisinger, Scott Gosik, Andrew Hauptman, Gary Kogan, M. C A. Hogarth, Paul Keyser, Kim Liu, Regan Pylman, Amelia Terhune, Sam Weber, Joel Woodman Cover Art: Mike Raabe, Eugene Arenhaus Art Liaison: Maggie C. A. Hogarth Logo Design: Kim Liu Special Thanks to... .. .our families, for good genetics and unconditional support .. .FurryMUCK, for practice wearing other skins ...Athene, Brigid, and the Undine's Cove, for strength, inspiration, and magick ...Mike Alexander, Claire Curtis, Watts Martin, Susan and William Field, John Snead, Liz Connors, the Washington University Anthropology Dept., Wayne Harbert, and Jack Vance .. .and to all the grownups who still know how to play. In loving memory of Lawrence S. Borah. Visit us on the Web at www.world-tree-rpg.com The Padwolf logo and Padwolf Publishing are registered trademarks of Padwolf Publishing Inc. World Tree © 2000 Bard Bloom and Victoria Borah Bloom. World Tree and the World Tree logo are trademarks of Bard Bloom and Victoria Borah Bloom. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any means electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the copyright holders. Players may reproduce the character worksheets for personal use only This is a work of fiction. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons, situations and/or institutions and those of any preexisting person or institution is intended and any similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. I'Miwolf Publishing Inc., 457 Main Street, # 384, Farmingdale, NY, 11715, wwwpadwolf.com. Contributing Artists: Eugene Arenhaus: back cover, 4, 53, 62, 98, 107, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 144, 197 Klyph Bohm: 84, 119 Blair Bryant (Pickalock): 141, 195 Dave Bryant: 21, 64, 156, 160, 221 Brenda DiAntonis: 164 Jeanette Dietrich: borders Tess Garman: 6, 107, 187, 192, 196, 265 Megan Giles: 39 M.CA. Hogarth: 9, 25, 89, 102, 105, 109, 113, 116, 136, 140, 202, 203, 212, 218, 223, 228, 230, 239, 242, 252, 253, 254, 262, 263, 280, 308 S. Kalff: 54, 59, 66, 80, 88, 101, 153, 165, 172, 182, 184 Christine Klunder: 43, 157, 166, 173, 205, 263, 308 Laurelin Lyubov: 246 Cara J. Mitten: 52, 243 Raven Molisee: 268 Laura Pierson: 17, 26, 29, 171 Anna Joy Pieruccini: 70, 147, 238, 297 Mike Raabe: front cover, 14. 19, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 41, 319 David Reiss: 100 Jen Sabado: 45, 256, 266, 269(2), 270, 271(2), 274 (2) Marie Tary: 10, 49, 51,163, 169, 180, 194, 212, 229, 248, 255, 262, 265, 272, 278 Mel. White: 61, 79, 92, 190, 192, 220, 293 T. Wills: 35, 50, 57, 85, 94, 95, 137, 149, 161, 165, 174, 176, 177, 180, 191, 193, 257, 260, 263, 264, 267, 269, 270, 283 Conrad "Lynx" Wong: 13 All art is © the individual artists and used with permission. Padwolf Publishing Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Diane Raetz Vice President: Stuart Weinberg Senior Editor: Marie Perry Creative Director: Neil Peter Second Printing, PAD 1001 ISBN: 1-890096-10-5

Table of Contents Prelude: Into the Verticals. 4 The World Tree 6 The People 12 Interlude: Flokin and the Baker. 54 The Adventuring Life 56 Civilization 66 Ketheria: Birthplace of Civilization 82 Interlude: Azliet's Longhouse 102 "Can We Play Yet?". 104 Creating a Character. 108 Attributes + Skills. 136 Combat. 148 Magic. 172 Spells. 204 Advantages and Disadvantages. 250 Bestiary and Herbal. 266 Gamemastering World Tree 280 Appen dices. 298 Indices 312

Into the Verticals

[As told by the Cani healer Azliet to her family] One of my patients -1 can't tell you who - is a pregnant Cani woman. She's been doing poorly for weeks, and eventually she gave me the story of why. Her puppy's father isn't her husband or her mate. I can't tell you who he is either, but he's not at all the same breed as her or her family. She's worried it'll be obvious when the puppy is born with the father's jowls and browny-black fur. She had talked to the ritual mage Loukhen about a Purebreed Puppy spell. He demanded a grace of Kvarse that her mate had found a few years ago, half as payment and half as blackmail. My patient wouldn't steal it, and certainly couldn't ask her mate for for it, and she was fretting herself raggy and sick. She knows where her mate found the grace, not far away in the Verticals, and thought there'd be another one there now. Somehow I promised her that I'd go and bring it back. Hraff tried to talk me out of it, it's dangerous and I'm no adventurer to just trot out to the Verticals to bring back a bit of treasure that's worth more than my patient could pay. Well, I guess I am. I did. I only told Hrajf and Lantien. I couldn't tell the rest of you. Cani talk to Cani, you have no reason to be loyal to someone you don't even know who she is, and pretty soon her family would hear the story. Hrajf and Lantien both wanted to come help me. I didn't let them. If I was going to get killed by something horrible and spiky, I want them to raise my, our, puppies. Walking off the edge of the world isn't something you do alone, not if you're just a healer. I grabbed Orkozarmon the Terrible, the Rassimel with the very ringy tail who was in all my Corpador classes. He's always said he wanted to go adventuring. So I talked him into doing it, now, with me. He was the only friend who'd come, so I went to the Fox in Flames to find some professional adventurers. There were three likely-looking people there: a Rassimel with a sparky staff leaning against the wall, a Sleeth dozing by the fire, and a Khtsoyis playing darts with a couple scarred-carapaced Herethroy. So I talked to the Rassimel, who introduced himself as Sir Mellona, a High Mage of the order of Crimson Flower Wizards. I told him the story. He scowled like the guttering sun, and said "I have more worthwhile things to do than protect an adulteress from the consequences of her crime. " The Sleeth got up and stretched, she almost tore up a floorboard with her claws. She prowled up to me and licked her huge fangs. "You talk so loud, I happen to overhear. A Cani wants companions to the Verticals. No glory because it is the big secret. No pay because nobody pays. No treasure because it goes to a scoundrel ritual mage. " I was so scared. I just nodded. I was hoping to get out of the Fox in Flames with all my fur on, never mind the Verticals. She turned to look at Sir Mellona. "And no High Mage because he only protects who he wants. Brail I go with youl It is a long time since I see the Verticals. Almost as long a time as I am turned away from Crimson Flower Wizards. Also I think Herobash will come. " The Khtsoyis slithered a tentacle over around the leg of my chair and pulled himself over. "What's my partner ... getting me ... into now?" Sir Mellona snorted and left the inn with his tail curled arrogantly back. The Sleeth grinned. "I am Rrengra, fire mage, good with Fire Flower even if Crimson Flower order does not want a Sleeth. Herobash they do not want either, but he is clever enough not to ask them. He is not so clever other ways, so mostly I talk for both of us. He is good with clubs though. Rrai, you do not pay us for helping you, but maybe you buy us lunch at least?" I bought a huge tureen of pocker soup for her, and a dozen sausages for Herobash and a pot of tea for me. I wasn't hungry. Rrengra said, "You do not pay us in lozens, because there are no lozens on this trip. But always a healer has a way to pay adventurers. " I told her that I can bind spells, and she continued, "Then we will come with you for the right number of bound healing spells. Always we will use them. " We dickered for a bit, and I promised to supply them with fourteen Heal the Awful Wound spells: two days' work, but no money. Five days later the four of us set off, following my patient's directions. You should see the edge of the Flats sometime! It's a horizontal hill, flat-topped as a ruler, going farther than you can see to either side. As you get close, there aren't many trees or bushes. The soil is sparse, and the world-bark is poking through. The hilltop itself is all world-bark. It's so steep, I was panting by the time we got to the ridge. Then I looked off the branch for the first time. The Verticals are, well, almost vertical. They slope out like a very steep hill for a while, then get steeper. Eventually they have to curve back under. I couldn't see that far. The top of the ridge is bare world-bark on both sides, but ten feet down there's moss, the brightest green moss that I've ever seen, running to forever both ways along the world-branch. Ten feet after that the Verticals' trees start. They stick off the World Tree, like the pegs in the coat rack in the hallway. The first ones are scrawny, little things with twisted leaves all cupped upwards to catch the rain. Further down they don't stay little; they're a sideways jungle of monstrous trees and looping vines and brilliant flowers. Rrengra and Herobash and Orkozarmon and I just looked for a few minutes. Then Rrengra jumped straight off the edge of the world! I wasn't expecting it -1 just yelped! Herobash put a tentacle on my muzzle, and grunted, "Don't bark ... if anyone's there ... we don't want ... them to hear." I nodded and he let go of me. By then Rrengra had done a Sleeth twist and spell and landed crouched on a big banchunk tree. She was sniffing around, ears pricked up. Then she waved a paw. Herobash said, "It's safe ... go now ... sit on.... my tents." He made a basket for me out of two tentacles and curled a third one around my shoulder. He waved his two clubs, "Hero-club ... and Bash-club ... keep you safe!"and we drifted down like feathers falling. And then...

T h e Appl e o f Light : A Creatio n Myt h The gods found a sun in an apple in the realm of their birth, and decided to make a world for it to light. The god Virid made a seed and planted it in a sea of becoming, and the World Tree grew to its present size and shape by the night of the first day. The seven Creator Gods thought all night, and the next day each one brought ten thousand kinds of new animals and plants, and hung them upon the World Tree. Five of them dreamed good peaceful dreams, but Gnarn dreamed adventures and Accanax had nightmares; and so it is with the world. Then the creator gods brought their friends to see the world that they had made, and it was much admired. But Birkozon said, "The World Tree is beautiful and vast, and we admire it much. But it is empty of word and song, of thought and poetry. Make people to live upon it, and then we shall admire it twelve times much!" Hren Tzen replied, "How may people live without gods beneath them? Come dwell on the World Tree with us: if you support the Nouns, we shall support the Verbs, and then all may admire the world eighty-four times much!" And Birkozon said, "I shall!", and eleven other gods joined him. Then each of the creator gods went home and thought all night again, and the next day each one brought a new prime species to the world; but Accanax had had nightmares again, and so all he brought were the Khtsoyis. So Reluu helped Accanax that day, and together they made the Gormoror as another prime species. The gods put all the people they had created onto the topmost branch, and let them do what they would. And the people built homes, and cleared the forests, and farmed in the soil, and fenced out the verticals-beasts, and explored strange places, and made wise laws, and did all the things of the world. — Herethroy tradition T h e worl d is a n immens e tree , s o bi g tha t i n thousand s o f years t h e prim e specie s hav e onl y explore d a smal l par t o f its oute r region s an d barel y an y o f its depths. Its mai n trunk s ar e perhap s t w o hundre d mile s i n diamete r an d tall beyon d knowledge ; its greate r branche s ar e ten s o f mile s wid e an d ten s o f thousand s o f mile s long , an d its leave s ar e larg e an d thin ; th e roots, if ther e a r e any , ar e unknown . Commo n lif e dwells o n th e fla t uppe r side s o f th e Worl d Tree's branches. Th e surfac e o f th e Worl d Tre e is bark , covere d wit h a soft soil rich i n humu s an d teemin g wit h plants an d lesse r trees. Seve n god s create d an d populate d th e Worl d Tree . Th e whol e thin g wa s Virid's idea , s o sh e graciousl y mad e lots o f plants an d n o t muc h else . Mircannis an d Relu u followe d suit, makin g all t h e domesticate d beasts an d th e like . Hre n Tze n an d Pararenenz u go t excite d an d create d man y eccentri c things, most o f whic h ha d t o ge t tucke d int o th e corners an d od d place s o f th e Worl d Tree . Fierc e Gna m mad e a collectio n o f monsters. Accanax , wh o wante d t o start th e actio n quickl y an d wa s bore d wit h all th e worldmaking , dawdle d aroun d for a tim e an d the n mad e a hord e o f sloppil y constructe d bu t trul y dreadfu l things. The n eac h o f th e god s mad e a specie s o r tw o o f people , th e prime species, an d se t the m o n th e worl d t o live . Th e prime s ar e t h e focu s o f th e gods' attention , an d o f this book's attentio n a s well . Th e theologists sa y the y kno w wha t th e god s mad e th e worl d for, bu t ther e ar e mor e theologie s tha n leave s o n th e Worl d Tree . Th e god s themselve s sa y nothin g clear. ARBOLOGY Prim e scientists hav e studie d th e Worl d Tre e itself fo r thou ­ sand s o f years, an d kno w a grea t dea l abou t it. T h e Worl d Tre e ha s man y trunks, whic h ar e presume d t o b e connected . Th e cartographers ca n se e hundred s o f trunks, space d ten s o f thousand s o f mile s apart , an d guess a t million s o f trunk s to o distan t o r occlude d t o see . On e trun k is calle d th e mai n trunk : it is th e tallest, it is th e centra l axis o f th e universe ; prime s wer e create d nea r it. Ketheria , th e nin e branche s aroun d t h e to p o f th e mai n trunk , is th e cente r o f prim e civilization . Th e mai n trun k is abou t tw o hundre d mile s i n diameter ; th e others a r e simila r o r smaller. Prime s estimat e tha t th e trunk s ar e betwee n thre e millio n an d si x hundre d millio n mile s long , if the y ar e finite . T h e Worl d Tree's mai n branche s gro w i n clusters: betwee n five an d twelv e branche s growin g i n a ring fro m a trunk . ( A branc h is calle d "main " if it is connecte d t o som e trun k - no t nec ­ essaril y th e mai n trunk.) Th e mai n branche s ar e som e fifty mile s wid e an d ten s o f thousand s long .

Sid e branche s an d twig s sprou t off th e mai n branches, usuall y t w o sid e branche s from th e sam e place , a t roughl y a 60 ° angl e to th e branch . Mai n branche s hav e sid e branche s ever y fe w hun ­ dre d miles. Terrai n is mountainou s an d wil d nea r th e forks, wher e th e Worl d Tree's bar k is rough . Sid e branche s ar e gener ­ all y shorte r an d narrowe r tha n mai n branches. Worl d branche s ar e no t entirel y straight ; th e typica l branc h ha s a gentl e angl e ever y tw o o r thre e thousan d miles. The y ar e usu ­ all y level , o r angle d ver y slightl y up . A fe w branche s ar e no t lik e this: angle d sharpl y u p o r down , twiste d int o spirals, broke n b y som e unimaginabl e force , an d s o o n . Peopl e liv e ther e anyway . T h e Worl d Tree's branche s ar e roughl y semicircula r i n crosssection ; th e top s ar e slightl y concave . Th e edge s o f th e branch ­ e s ar e sometime s cragg y an d mountainous, sometime s hav e a smoot h shallo w ascen t t o a shar p cliffs edge . Th e branche s slop e slightl y dow n toward s th e trunk . Mos t branche s hav e tw o o r thre e rivers flowin g alon g their lengt h toward s th e trunk , fe d b y rainfal l an d springs. Mos t o f th e civilize d parts o f th e worl d live o n th e top s o f th e branches. Th e weathe r a t th e to p o f th e tre e is temperate . Th e soil is a dar k an d fertil e humus . Ther e a r e hig h mountain s an d valleys, ripple s i n th e Worl d Tree's bark , b u t b y i n larg e th e flats ar e reasonabl y flat. T h e Verticals ar e th e trunk s an d side s o f world-branches: cliffs, dozen s o f mile s high , covere d wit h horizonta l spong y trees. The y ar e the wilderness, th e nearl y unconquerabl e fron ­ tier. I n som e place s th e Worl d Tree's bar k is roug h an d ridged , a n d ther e ar e plent y o f nearly-fla t place s for smal l group s o f prime s t o live : bandits, od d cults, solitar y wizard s an d hermits, a n d othe r eccentrics. Th e rest o f th e Verticals ar e mor e vertical : jungle s o f tree s an d vines, wit h fe w prim e inhabitants bu t man y creature s an d monsters. Underneat h th e branches, th e Worl d Tre e is strange , wild , an d dangerous. Som e kind s o f plants gro w there , tenaciou s firmlyroote d thing s tha t devou r th e ver y Worl d Tre e bar k tha t the y han g from, someho w finding way s t o liv e despit e th e lac k o f ligh t an d rain . Th e creature s tha t liv e ther e ar e winged , magical , uncanny , an d dangerous; it is a ba d thin g whe n the y com e u p t o t h e Flats. T h e Worl d Tree's leave s ar e hundred s o f mile s lon g an d dozen s wide , an d ripple d lik e oa k leaves. The y mostl y gro w from smalle r sid e branches, an d eve n ther e the y ar e spars e an d let a grea t dea l o f ligh t throug h th e gaps. The y blo w an d shak e wit h th e winds. Onc e i n a whil e a lea f falls off, tumblin g slow ­ ly dow n hundred s o f mile s t o th e branche s below , th e playthin g o f th e air elementals, o r a bi g jo b fo r th e air- an d plant-mage s o f t h e dwellers o n th e branc h below . Prime s d o no t generall y liv e o n the leaves, no r eve n ventur e ont o them . Indeed , ver y fe w thing s liv e ther e a t all. Prim e civilizatio n doe s no t kno w wha t th e roots o f th e Worl d Tre e ar e like . Perhap s th e Tre e is roote d i n som e large r world , o r i n th e pal m o f Virid's hand . Perhap s ther e is n o bottom , an d t h e Tre e goe s o n forever. Perhap s it is otherwise . PRIME TERRITORIES Mos t o f th e prime-civilize d parts o f th e Worl d Tre e ar e nea r t h e to p o f th e tree , wit h n o mor e tha n fou r o r five branche s betwee n the m an d th e ope n sky . Tw o doze n branche s ar e com ­ pletel y civilize d b y primes; anothe r thirt y o r fort y ar e partiall y civilized . Th e prime s hav e sprea d ten s o f thousand s o f mile s outward s across th e to p o f th e tree , an d starte d colonie s o n th e t o p branche s o f tw o othe r trunks, i n th e sunli t region s lik e th e are a o f their creation . S o fa r the y hav e largel y shunne d th e deep ­ e r region s o f th e tree . Ther e ar e non-prim e civilization s else ­ wher e o n th e tree. T h e nin e topmos t branche s o f the mai n trun k ar e calle d Ketheria : a rich scatterin g o f city-state s an d smal l principalities, groupe d i n a trick y labyrint h o f alliances. Prime s hav e buil t a platfor m all th e wa y aroun d th e mai n trunk , hal f a mil e wide , wit h house s an d building s alon g th e edge . Th e mai n trun k o f the Worl d Tre e is startin g t o sprou t som e ne w branche s a thousan d mile s overhead , whic h wil l shad e Ketheri a a t som e point . T h e nex t fe w layers o f branche s ar e simila r t o Ketheri a i n climate , thoug h less populated . A s yo u descend , th e world-leave s start t o bloc k the sun , an d th e climat e gets cooler. Twent y o r thirt y branche s down , muc h o f th e sk y is hidden , a n d day s ar e fairl y dim . Th e weathe r is cooler, som e importan t plants don' t gro w ver y well , an d there ar e mor e monsters o n the verticals. Ther e are mor e verticals; som e parts o f th e world - branche s gro w a t angles, curve d an d gnarled . Th e lowest prime - civilize d branc h is fou r down ; th e lowest know n branc h wit h a s muc h a s a prim e tow n is sixtee n down . Thirt y o r fort y branche s furthe r down , the Worl d Tre e is muc h different. Th e sk y canno t b e see n directly , sav e throug h occa ­ siona l gap s i n th e Tree's leaves, thoug h ther e is hazy , indirec t ligh t i n th e daytime . Th e air is cold , an d som e branche s ar e cov ­ ere d wit h eterna l ice . Strang e plants an d animals liv e there , grea t fecun d glacier-forests o f plants tha t someho w ar e nour ­ ishe d b y ic e an d gro w i n shadow . Som e ne w geographica l fea ­ ture s arise : grea t rifts i n th e bar k o f th e Worl d Tree , vast can ­ kerou s nodule s o n branches, som e o f them hollo w an d full o f dar k water, fold s an d wave s i n th e bar k tha t hid e immens e cav ­ ern s o f darkness, branche s wher e th e groun d writhe s wit h tin y flames, o r whic h are covere d b y paper-thi n vastworm s te n mile s wide . F e w peopl e hav e explore d deepe r tha n tha t an d com e bac k t o tell the tale . Bu t th e Worl d Tre e goe s o n fo r hundred s o r thou ­ sand s o f branche s further, a t least. ASTRONOM Y T h e sk y ove r th e Worl d Tre e is cluttered . Ther e ar e a lot o f thing s u p there, an d everythin g bu t the stars ca n b e see n eve n durin g th e daytime . Th e sk y is a ver y terrestria l blu e b y day , a ver y dar k blue-gree n b y night . Th e air is perfectl y clear, asid e fro m th e occasiona l cloud , an d th e stars an d othe r celestia l bod ­ i e s ca n b e see n clearly . T h e su n is a rollin g crysta l globe . It circle s th e sk y o n a n invisibl e trac k fa r abov e th e to p o f th e Worl d Tree . It take s exactl y twenty-seve n day s t o g o aroun d th e sky . I n Ketheria , th e sun's trac k is 72 ° fro m vertical , o r 18 ° from horizontal . Eac h morning , a t th e instan t o f dawn , a ripplin g whit e flame starts i n th e botto m o f th e sun . Th e flam e take s th e whol e morn ­ i n g t o fill th e sun : som e day s it spread s quickly , som e day s it straggle s slowly , o r bum s withou t spreadin g for a lon g while , muc h lik e a cloud y mornin g terrestrially , an d suddenl y flare s u p . A t th e tim e w e call noo n - alway s exactl y a thir d o f a da y afte r daw n - th e fire finally fills th e whol e o f th e sun . Sometime s it spills out : flare s tha t lic k u p fou r o r five time s th e sun's height , o r drip s o f burnin g sunfue l tha t pours dow n belo w t h e visibl e horizon . Th e sun's fir e wane s for th e secon d thir d o f t h e day : sometime s dyin g t o ember s b y th e hou r afte r noon , sometime s burnin g brighti v unti l nearl y evening . A t th e instan t

o f sunou t - alway s exactl y two-third s o f a da y afte r daw n - th e sun's fire goe s out . Th e nigh t is th e final third o f th e day ; th e extinguishe d sun-glob e onl y diml y seen , an d the n onl y whe n it catche s the ligh t fro m the othe r celestia l bodies. T h e seve n Creato r God s sit i n the sk y mos t o f th e time , rarel y moving . Relu u appears a s a spik y silve r crown , sometime s wit h a ver y Cani-lookin g fac e o r eye s unde r it. Mircannis appears a s a green-silver y moon , ringe d wit h nin e brigh t rings. Gnar n appears a s a jagged , shiftin g bol t o f lightning ; or, if she's i n a ba d mood , a scowlin g Herethro y i n forma l clothing . Viri d appears a s a spri g o f leave s an d berries, i n brigh t silver y colors. Sh e ofte n h a s nin e brigh t rings, i n th e seve n colors o f the rainbo w an d tw o others, whic h exist nowher e else . Accana x appears a s a clo t o f darkness; if he's i n a goo d mood , whic h is rare , h e is sho t throug h wit h silve r filigree. Hre n Tze n appears a s a Z i R i wit h brigh t scales, surrounde d b y fou r brigh t rings. Pararenenz u ha s n o fixed shape , bu t usuall y somethin g wit h four-wa y radia l sym ­ metry , lik e a four-pointe d sta r o f leave s o r a four-arme d starfish . Vast number s o f stars (ove r eightee n thousan d ar e known ) hav e bee n scattere d ove r th e nigh t sky . The y hav e n o particula r pattern , no r any uniformit y o f color. Mos t appea r a s untwinklin g dots, bu t som e are highl y irregula r i n shap e Ver y fe w o f the m mov e o n their own . The y ar e fa r away , behin d all th e othe r fea ­ ture s o f th e sky , an d are believe d t o b e o n th e insid e surfac e o f t h e Worl d Tree's universe . Prime s hav e neve r visite d them . T h e Hollo w Moon : Di m an d metallic , pock-marke d an d scarred , wit h a hol e tor n throug h th e middle , the toroida l Hollo w Moo n drifts an d tumble s irregularl y i n th e fa r reache s o f th e sky , avoidin g th e othe r celestia l bodie s a s best it can . Som e peopl e s a y that , whe n th e Hollo w Moo n is largest and showin g its open ­ ing , that gate s t o othe r world s are ope n an d the barriers o f th e univers e ar e thin , an d tha t it is a tim e o f dange r an d ill fortune . Others sa y that whe n it is largest , goo d fortun e pours fro m it; a n d whe n it is closed , s o ar e th e gate s o f luck . It move s quick ­ ly fo r a celestia l body ; if yo u watc h it fo r a quarter-hour, yo u will se e tha t it ha s change d position . T h e Silve r Moon : A smal l silve r globe , th e hom e o f th e Time - g o d Kaimiri . It is mad e o f metalli c silver. It is fairl y nea r th e Worl d Tree ; mor e tha n on e sk y pilo t ha s flow n there . T h e Star-Serpent : A glitterin g swirl o f star-mist tha t coils an d slithers aroun d i n th e sky : sometime s faste r tha n th e Hollo w Moon , sometime s no t movin g fo r a month . Th e stars shin e brighte r afte r th e Sta r Serpen t ha s passe d ove r them . Fo r th e last t e n o r twent y years, it ha s seeme d t o chas e th e Hollo w Moo n aroun d th e sky . T h e Fencers: Thre e smal l being s lik e animate d trees, scurryin g aroun d all ove r th e sky , duelin g eac h othe r wit h swords. Occasionall y the y sto p an d mov e a sta r from her e t o there . The y hav e n o obviou s purpose . Most scholars agre e tha t th e visibl e par t o f th e sk y is a dom e ove r th e Worl d Tree . Som e measurement s conclusivel y sa y tha t t h e borde r o f th e univers e is te n millio n mile s awa y fro m Ketheria , an d som e conclusivel y sa y te n millio n time s te n million . Th e scholars don' t agre e o n th e entir e shap e o f th e univers e cither. Som e sa y it is a spher e wit h th e Worl d Tre e roote d a t th e bottom ; som e sa y a spher e wit h th e Worl d Tre e roote d a t th e center; som e sa y a n infinit e paraboli c dome , wit h th e Worl d Tre e goin g dow n forever; an d som e sa y othe r things. Th e god s ar e crypti c abou t thes e matters. DIRECTIONS Ther e ar e thre e sensibl e choice s o f direction s o n th e Worl d Tree . Cartographers an d educate d peopl e prefe r trun k direc ­ tions. Trunkwar d is th e directio n toward s th e mai n trunk . Outwar d is th e opposit e o f trunkward . Rollwar d is perpendicu ­ l a r t o trunkward, in th e directio n tha t th e su n rolls: clockwis e a s see n fro m above . Roll'gains t is th e opposit e o f rollward . Commo n peopl e us e walkin g directions . Trunkwar d ofte n isn't th e directio n tha t you' d start walkin g t o ge t to th e mai n trunk , s o it's ofte n no t a ver y usefu l direction . Yo u coul d b e o n a sid e branch , o r o n a mai n branc h wit h a ben d i n it, o r a branc h connecte d t o a differen t trunk . Th e directio n walkwar d (o r inward ) is th e directio n you' d wal k t o ge t t o you r branch's trunk , a n d walk'gains t (o r outward ) is th e opposit e direction . Walkwar d an d walk'gainst generall y g o alon g th e axis o f th e branch . Th e word s "rollward " an d "roll'gainst " ar e use d fo r th e perpendiculars t o walkwar d an d walk'gainst , a s wel l a s th e perpendiculars t o trunkwar d an d outward ; b e carefu l whe n you'r e gettin g directions. Celestia l direction s ar e determine d b y th e position s o f th e gods, especiall y Relu u an d Hre n Tze n becaus e the y d o no t move . W e translat e th e directio n o f Relu u a s "North" ; it traditionall y goe s at th e to p o f map s writte n in celestia l directions. Sout h is awa y fro m Reluu ; East is t o th e righ t a s yo u fac e Reluu , a n d West is t o th e left. Hre n Tze n is 30 ° nort h o f west . Peopl e onl y us e celestia l direction s whe n the y hav e to ; e.g. whe n the y a r e travelin g betwee n branche s o r describin g th e whol e universe . Fortunately , u p an d dow n ar e th e sam e direction s everywher e i n th e know n universe .

COMMO N MATERIALS Fick up a handful of soil, let it spill through your fingers, stir it with the tip of a claw. What do you see? A thousand flecks of humus: scraps of leaves, roots of moss, arken bark, twigs and chips and less identifiable detritus. A glob of sticky fresh amber the size of a seed. Thirty-eight grains of twinkling sand. The shell of last spring's grub; the fragments of a chick's thighbone where a striewulf crunched it; an egg of a crawling beetle. A shard of blue shell streaked with translucency, erstwhile home to the chatterjay now objecting to you standing there. A scrap of charred wood, all that now remains of the great arken tree struck by lightning a century ago. The prickled, two-pronged seeds of tomorrow's wildflowers. Gleaming off-white scraps of the meng knife blade you broke last week. A living dot of a spider, too small to see you or greet you in the common tongue. The relics of all past days; the garden of all future days; tidbits of all the stories that ever were. —from an essay by Rastomil Wolner Estranou, spiritual naturalist. T h e mos t commo n materials o n th e Worl d Tre e ar e plan t an d animal : wood , paper, amber , cloth ; leather, horn , bone , wool , a n d gut . A myria d specie s ar e used : tescalot e woo d is goo d for shields, meec h is goo d for cups, an d s o on . The y ar e processe d in countless ways , man y o f the m magical . Fo r example , leathe r treate d wit h fireproofing spells is th e basis for mos t cookware . The y hav e a s wid e a rang e a s moder n terrestria l materials, includin g high-tec h plastics, bu t th e styl e an d application s ar e rathe r different. Glass, ceramics, meta l an d stone , ar e rar e o n th e Worl d Tree . T h e strongest chea p materia l is men g nuts: smal l nuts, abou t th e siz e o f a hazelnut , wit h extremel y toug h flesh . Men g nuts shape d int o knive s ca n hol d a n edge , for a whil e a t least; a men g knif e ca n cu t leathe r o r whittl e mos t wood , thoug h it wil l requir e regula r sharpening . Mengworkin g is usuall y don e b y softenin g nuts (magicall y o r b y boilin g i n caustics) t o th e textur e o f soft cheese , sculptin g it, an d lettin g the m harden . Men g is use d for man y thing s tha t iro n is terrestrially , includin g tools and mele e weapons; bu t it is no t a s stron g a s iron . Men g edge d wit h iron , o r magicall y hardene d glass giv e decen t strengt h for a n afford ­ abl e price .

MAGIC Magi c is plentifu l o n th e Worl d Tree . Spontaneou s magic , th e improvisatio n o f simpl e spells, is learne d i n child ­ hoo d a s naturall y an d unre - markabl y a s talkin g o r walking . Patter n magic , whic h prime s lea m a s the y becom e adults, achieve s mor e comple x effects mor e dependably . Ever y adul t h a s hal f a doze n patter n spells an d enoug h cley , magica l force , t o cast them . Som e hav e a grea t dea l more . Th e recen t inventio n o f boun d magic , pre-package d spells whic h g o off unde r fixed conditions, is havin g socia l implication s tha t ar e still echoin g throughou t prim e civilization . Mor e specialize d an d mor e highl y traine d mage s provid e pow ­ erful, elaborat e service s t o thos e wh o ca n pay . Magi c is th e basis for prim e technolog y an d civilization . Spells whir l letters painte d o n leave s fro m cit y t o city, th e fastest mai l servic e availabl e i n most regions. Smith s creat e th e iro n a n d silve r the y forge , ounc e b y ounce . Sentien t wax-sculptin g spells sea l th e hollo w tre e trunk s use d t o suppl y wate r i n cities. Wizard s buil d cit y walls o f rivers o r serpents o r flam e t o war d o ff maraudin g horrors fro m the Verticals. Magi c is everywhere , a s miraculou s an d unremarkabl e a s electricit y o n Earth . TIME Day s ar e groupe d int o month s o f twenty-seve n days: a natura l number , a s it is th e perio d o f th e su n rollin g aroun d its trac k in t h e sky. Week s ar e nin e day s long , exactl y thre e week s t o a month . Years ar e nin e month s long , 24 3 days, followin g th e cycl e o f th e seasons. 1 Thre e years for m a month-of-months, 2 7 months. Month-of-mont h is a n importan t uni t o f time . Peopl e hav e bigge r partie s o n their third , sixth , ninth , etc . birthday s tha n o n th e non-multiple s o f three . T h e nex t largest uni t o f tim e is th e month-of-month-of - months, 2 7 month-of-months, 8 1 years Worl d Tre e o r abou t fifty terrestrial . Mos t peopl e start t o realiz e tha t they'r e gettin g old , o n their month-of-month-of-month s birthday . No t that man y peopl e reac h tw o month-of-month-of-months. This schem e continue s on , i n geometrica l units mainl y use d b y historians. A four-wa y month , a month-of-month-of-month - of-months, is 2,18 7 years Worl d Tree , abou t 1,500 terrestrial . T h e Worl d Tre e is comin g u p o n its secon d four-wa y mont h now . Th e first da y o f prim e creatio n wa s on e four-wa y month , 2 5 month-of-month-of-months , 19 month-of-months , si x months, an d eleve n day s ago , a s o f th e tim e o f writing . That's 1,037,54 0 days: 4,26 0 Worl d Tre e o r 2,85 0 terrestria l years old . This makes the World Tree's year 2/3 as long as a terrestrial year. All years in this book are World Tree years. Scholars ar e sur e o f thos e numbers. B y Kvarse's suggestion , seve n Herethro y familie s kee p carefu l count , an d compar e their book s o f day s eac h year. On e o r anothe r o f the m ha s bee n off b y a da y onl y thirt y time s in all tha t time ; th e familie s tak e th e countin g a s a sacre d trust. Th e Silve r Carapac e family , who m Kvars e first suggeste d th e recordin g too , ha s a chronicl e o f their vie w o f all o f history : a pag e devote d t o eac h day , a t least describin g th e weathe r i n Ketheria . Smalle r units o f tim e continu e th e scheme . Day s ar e divide d int o twenty-seve n equa l parts (translate d "hours" , an d clos e enoug h t o a terrestria l hour) , eac h part int o twenty-seventh s (translate d "minutes " eve n thoug h they'r e abou t tw o terrestria l minute s long) , an d s o on . Dawn , th e first hou r o n Worl d Tre e clock s an d th e officia l beginnin g o f th e Worl d Tre e day , is th e instan t tha t th e su n first catche s fire. Noon , th e tent h hour, is th e tim e tha t th e su n is full o f fire. Sunout , th e nineteent h hour, is t h e instan t whe n th e sun's fire goe s out . T h e nigh t is onl y nin e hours long , hal f a s lon g a s th e day . Midnight , hal f past th e 22n d hou r (tha t is, 22:131/2), is no t marke d b y an y visibl e astronomica l event . It is a cosmological - l y an d magicall y significan t time , a s daw n an d noo n an d sunou t are . Th e momen t o f midnigh t make s som e peopl e nervou s - an d n o t just th e uneducate d an d superstitiou s - an d no t just becaus e it canno t b e represente d evenl y i n hours an d minutes. SEASON S Around the middle of Chirreb every year, I start wishing I could get just one little teeny weather report from the future. Three years ago I guessed right. Bought me a load of heavy wool parkas with ulon-fur around the face. It was a cold Surprise that year, 'n I sold each and every one before three days were out. Next year I tried the same again, but it was a hot Surprise 'n I had to put 'em on sale come true winter to move 'em. Last year I gamble on hot Surprise with three crates of swimming suits 'n a load of beach umbrellas. All I sold was one umbrella. Now here it is, fifth of Lage already, 'n I'm wishin' I knew which way t'jump. Fur hats, or straw hats? - Durmund oa Dijankler, owner of the Dijankler Clothing and Fashion Shop in Treverre W e describ e th e season s a s the y ar e i n th e to p o f th e Worl d Tree , wher e mos t prime s currentl y live . The y ar e differen t else ­ where . Sprin g is th e first tw o month s o f th e year : Trandar y and Hispis. Temperature s ar e cool , averagin g 60°F , an d th e weathe r is usuall y calm . Plants start growin g enthusiastically ; th e first crops, green s an d flowers an d berries, com e i n mid-spring . T h e first da y o f sprin g is Creatio n Day , a holida y commemo ­ ratin g th e creatio n o f th e first primes. It is traditionally celebrate d b y cheerin g an d dancin g aroun d bonfire s i n fields a t dawn , the n a Herethroy-styl e vegetaria n feast a t midday , followe d b y a substantia l arra y o f desserts create d b y magic . Firework s o r illusion-work s a t nigh t ar e a frequen t popula r addition . Summe r is th e thir d an d fourt h mont h o f th e year: Thor y an d Lage . Temperature s ar e warm , averagin g 80°F ; th e weathe r is cal m broke n wit h occasiona l thunderstorms. Plants burgeon . Firs t Autum n is th e fifth mont h o f th e year, calle d Chirreb . Temperature s ar e springlik e o n th e average , thoug h th e weathe r is mor e extreme . This is harvest-time . Surpris e is th e sixt h mont h o f th e year, calle d Oi x o r simpl y Surprise . Sometime s th e entir e mont h is viciousl y ho t (100° F o r mor e b y day) , an d sometime s it is bitterl y col d (0° F o r less).

Weather is unpredictable and unpleasant; anomalous kinds of weather are not rare enough. Smaller plants die or become quiescent; larger ones lose their leaves in cold surprise, or protect themselves in hot surprise. Specialized surprise-plants sprout in hours, bear seeds and fruit in days, and die whe n the month ends. The plants of cold surprise are particularly odd (by terrestrial standards); they live and grow despite being frozen solid. Primes adapt to the season. In hot Surprise, most prime s do what they can to avoid the heat: Orren swim constantly, Rassimel sleep days and work nights, Zi Ri, fire-resistant, are even mor e smug than usual. In cold Surprise, primes avoid the cold. Gormoror wea r short kilts and long pelts and scorn the weather's worst; Cani snuggle up together in their longhouses; Sleeth seek shelter in cities. Secon d Autum n is the seventh and eighth months of the year: Consimbs and Hivvem. Temperatures are cooler then first autumn, and weathe r is usually gentle. The eighth month is often quite pleasant, known as a "Gift-Fall". A few kinds of plants start growing immediately on the end of Surprise, living and dying by the start of winter. Winte r is the ninth and last month of the year: Nivvem. It is cold (about 30°F), and often snowy. Most plants die or lose their leaves. The World Tree itself does not drop its leaves in wintertime. LANGUAGES Everythin g create d o n th e Worl d Tre e know s a commo n lan ­ guage . Th e commo n tongu e is ver y primitive : abou t tw o thou ­ san d words , withou t eve n past an d futur e tense s o f verbs, o r plu ­ rals o f nouns. Nonsentien t creature s kno w th e full commo n tongu e bu t can' t understan d mos t o f it - they'l l loo k mor e intereste d if yo u spea k i n commo n t o them , an d if they'r e obedien t they'l l respon d bette r if yo u shou t "No! " i n commo n tha n in othe r languages. T h e commo n tongu e isn't goo d enoug h fo r a rea l language . Ther e ar e a doze n familie s o f languages, a doze n language s i n eac h family . Th e language s i n a famil y ar e a s differen t a s Frenc h an d Spanis h an d Italian ; language s i n differen t familie s a r e a s differen t a s Englis h an d French . Travellers fa r fro m hom e ma y hav e languag e o r dialec t difficulties. Worl d Tre e lan ­ guage s aren' t a s wildl y differen t a s Englis h an d Mandari n an d Xhosa , becaus e they'r e all base d o n th e innat e commo n languag e a n d hav e a commo n origi n fou r thousan d years ago . Ketherian , a n y o f th e thre e closel y relate d language s spoke n i n Ketheria , is t h e highest-statu s languag e throughou t prim e civilization . Worl d Tre e language s kee p man y feature s o f th e commo n lan ­ guage . The y rarel y hav e plurals: all word s ar e lik e "sheep " i n English . Whe n the numbe r o f thing s matters, the y us e a n auxiliar y word : "on e Cani" , "severa l Cani" , "tw o Cani" , an d s o on . Tense s ar e usuall y forme d wit h auxiliarie s a s well : "I di d run" , instea d o f th e inflecte d " I ran. " Ther e ar e som e other, unrelate d language s i n (minor ) us e o n t h e Worl d Tree . Sleet h hav e a n elaborat e silen t languag e o f gestures, n o mor e detaile d a s th e commo n languag e excep t i n mat ­ ters o f hunting ; othe r specie s ca n lear n t o understan d it, bu t onl y peopl e i n Sleet h shap e ca n spea k it. Khtsoyis hav e a simila r bu t simple r an d rude r languag e o f gestures. Certai n non-prim e specie s hav e their ow n language s no t relate d t o th e commo n tongu e a s well . Th e god s spea k a n intricat e languag e lik e noth ­ i n g o n th e Worl d Tre e amon g themselves. Kvars e gav e a prime r o f th e gods' tongu e t o som e scholars i n Ketheria , s o a fe w mor - tals ca n spea k th e gods' tongu e a s well . Pronouns Man y peopl e o n th e Worl d Tre e ar e no t male , female , o r neuter. I n English , w e us e alternativ e pronoun s fo r th e othe r genders. "Zie " is the nominativ e pronoun , lik e "he " o r "she " for someon e wh o is neithe r mal e no r female , o r whos e gende r is unknown . "Zir " is th e possessiv e ("his" , "her" ) an d the objectiv e ("him" , "her"). Neute r peopl e ar e referre d t o a s "it" . Th e pro ­ noun s use d i n actua l Worl d Tre e language s typicall y g o b y specie s rathe r tha n gender. Translation W e hav e take n grea t libertie s i n translatin g Worl d Tre e word s int o English . Worl d Tre e mouth s ar e quit e differen t from huma n ones: longer, narrowe r cavity , longe r tongue , less flexible lips, canin e teeth , an d s o on 2 . Som e commo n huma n sound s ("b" , "p" , "v" , "f' ) ar e impossibl e for Worl d Tre e natives. Som e o f their commo n sound s (growls, hisses, clicks, over-resonan t vowels) , human s can' t pronounc e recognizably . I n extrem e cases, lik e "Cani" , we'v e simpl y throw n ou t a n unpronounceabl e wor d an d use d somethin g sensibl e i n English . Sinc e th e transliteratio n is s o poor, w e d o no t worr y abou t th e phonetics. Translate d word s ar e pronounce d a s i n English , o r whateve r languag e they loo k lik e they'r e writte n in. I n othe r places, w e translat e Worl d Tre e concepts int o simila r terrestria l concepts. Th e horse s tha t prime s ride ar e no t terrestria l horses: on e commo n variet y ha s a bea k an d som e feathers. W e coul d cal l them "epory" : a reasonabl e interpretatio n o f th e wor d i n som e Ketheria n dialects, wit h th e sam e vowel-stop - vowel-liquid-vowe l pattern , an d som e resemblanc e t o Indo - Europea n words . W e prefe r t o cal l the m "horses" . W e conside r tha t ther e is plent y o f Worl d Tre e vocabular y already , an d tha t word s tha t ca n b e directl y translate d int o Englis h withou t losin g much , shoul d be . -The different species' organs of articulation are somewhat different. Rassimel and Orren voices are hard to tell apart, but the other species are generally easy.

We had quite nearly gotten out of the city gate when I saw the telltale gleam in Lady Brithefila's eye. Many people might be satisfied with the first two hundred magical knick-knacks, but the passion of a Rassimel with a collection burns as hot as a Cani's love for family or an Orren's love for whatever it is this week. "Oh, but this seems particularly fine, Lejathrazha!" she said to me, turning to look at a peddler's wares, and somehow avoiding spilling a drop of consimmon juice. I didn't care much for the look of the peddler: a lazy river-bum of an Orren just barely urbane enough to pick the pondweed out of his fur, most likely, selling a few odds and ends his wives and husbands had fished out of Lake Laicrane. I caressed the fringed silken summer breeze with my wings, gliding further on. "I would like this matter finished sooner, Thefi." "Ah, honored Rassimel, great ZiRi, behold, behold!", chirped the Orren. "Many wonders do I have which you must buy!" He sounded foreign, which pleased me even less. "Oh, don't be so dour, Lejathrazha! Count Rupercon can wait an extra hour to get his loan. Your spellweave will take us to the last guttering flame of today's sun. 'Tis we are doing him the favor, and he the nobleman who flouts us and flouts us 'til the day he needs us so bitterly. I'm in not such a rush as to ruffle my tail one bit for him, and you have all the time on the Tree." There was no denying any of that, nor any hurrying her along. I hissed, "Only one wonder or two, Thefi, if it please you." My wings half-cupped the wind like a lover to be jilted, and I stood on the air over the peddler's shoulder and saw what had caught Brithefila's attention. There, amid the rongon tusks and fishquills and saltshakers was a talisman as bright as an ember of fire to the magic sense. The Orren crouched to pick it up. "Only one wonder, great Zi Ri? Then this must be that wonder!" He opened the flask, and a rich, complex, potent sensation spread across the plaza. I craned my neck. Inside the flask was a small gnarl of wood in the shape of a crude hideous sneering face, three knots for eyes, iridescent fragments of a shattered flower inlaid in a fivefold spiral that carried the fiercest of magics. The talisman had Ruloc and Mutoc, Illusidor, Pyrador and Locador, coiled in twisted patterns redolent with sweet spices, crawling curved sparks as fierce as the gaze of a hunting Sleeth. And beneath that, where only an enchanter could tell, was a low leaden slithering, as aware of me as I of it. "Seven gods staring in the heavens! Where did such a thing as that come from?", I yelped, alarmed ambery flames dancing over my tongue. The Gormoror guards at the gate looked over, sleepy curiosity turning to alarm, and even a few of the wall's snakes seemed to notice. Brithefila came closer to spilling her juice. The Orren turned to me, "Is it not both potent and magnificent, great Zi Ri?" I caught Brithefila's eye. "Poor Count Rupercon will have to wait somewhat longer, I fear, good Lady Brithefila. And I daresay you won't be wanting this one for your collection, until ... unless ... we can somehow tame it to be less than utterly fearsome. " I took a closer look at the spell now curling lazily around us. "And hopefully it won't collect us before we do. " This boo k describe s th e Worl d Tree , an d th e peopl e tha t liv e o n it: their severa l species, their live s an d works , their wishe s a n d deeds, th e magi c the y use , th e creature s wh o oppos e o r assist them , their seven-and-twelv e gods. It is impossibl e t o describ e full y th e rang e o f behavio r fo r an y prim e species. W e giv e th e stereotypes, ideals, an d preferences: tha t Can i ar e socia l an d Sleet h ar e solitary . O f cours e som e Can i a r e loners an d som e Sleet h ar e social , bu t tha t is unconvention ­ a l behavior. F o r comparison , if w e describe d terrestria l human s i n thes e terms, w e woul d coun t all human s a s a singl e specie s - th e phys ­ ica l an d cultura l difference s betwee n a typica l whit e America n m a n an d a typica l !Kun g hunter-gathere r woma n ar e mino r com ­ pare d t o th e difference s betwee n a Herethro y an d a Cani . W e woul d sa y tha t human s ar e social , egotistical , an d rarel y mak e plan s fo r th e lon g term . O n th e whol e this descriptio n is true , b u t ther e ar e plent y o f individua l human s wh o ar e antisocial , no t egotistical , an d onl y concerne d wit h th e lon g term . Don' t expec t t h e Worl d Tre e stereotype s t o b e an y mor e accurat e abou t a n individual . Bu t the y d o pain t a decen t pictur e o f th e species. T h e Prim e Specie s Specie s Creato r Go d Appearanc e % Pop . Can i Relu u Dogfol k 2 4 Gormoro r Relu u & Accana x Bearfol k 0 . 2 Herethro y Vni d Cricketfolk 3 5 Khtsoyis Accana x Floating air-cephalopod s OA Orre n Pararenenz u Otterfol k 19 Rassime l Mircannis Raccoonfol k 2 2 Sleet h Gnar n Non - anthropomorphi c panthers OA ZiR i Hre n Tze n Small dragon s <0.0 1

CANI I'm a Cani woman, of course. My own name is Azliet. I am of the lineage Tharassa; my family is Antorron, and I'm of clan Halyn, auxiliary clans Coryn and Powyn. I know you asked about me and me alone, but more than half my life is bound up with my lovers and family and children and friends. My husband is a sweet spotted man named Hraff Antorron, who often holds affan in the feasts and banquets. My mates are Cheknou and Krae Antorron, and my sister-sister is Lantien Antorron. My older son is Tarkienu, who takes after me. My younger pup, the one over there with white-dappled fur and his head sniffing around for sausages, is Breyf. A Rassimel namedDwaven was my best teacher and sponsor in the Healers' Guild. I am bound by life-debt given and life-debt paid to a Sleeth woman named Rrengra; I call her friend, but never in range of her clever ears. I know many other people, as friend or daughter or nurse or customer or many other things, but you are not Cani and would not sit still for the telling of their lives with mine. When I was seven, my mother Thivie - now dead - called me her wild puppy. I had balanced five bone forks with a spell, one on top of the other, all resting on top of the watch-lizard; I had taken affan in the invention of new songs among the children; I had gotten stuck in a qualm-tree searching for glirries. She was right, though I tried to be as ordinary a person as ever I could after that. I married my eleven dear ones when I was twentyeight. Tarkienu was born a year and a half after that, with my whole class in midwifery at the Healers' Guild attending me. The next year I was anointed as a healer. Two years after that, Breyf was born in a small peaceful room with only Krae and Lantien present, and nobody complaining they couldn't see. But I was still wild. My brother Wreffen was even wilder. He fled from his girlfriend's parents - he pleased her more than he pleased them, or so I understand. When he leapt from the balcony, the roses tore his arm. I could not heal the wound myself by morning, and he did not want mother to know. I forged a note, signing Dwaven's name, which got a bound spell from the Guild's emergency supplies to heal it. I thought I was secret about it; but three days later Dwaven awarded me affan in the writing of prescriptions, which is no Rassimel thing to do. Wildness has followed me more closely since then, as if a god had tied it to my tail. Recently a patient of mine was pregnant with a child outside the permitted degree of her marriage. She had worked hard to conceive it, and played hard too I suppose, and did not wish to lose it. She would have paid for a spell to make sure the baby looked like her, so that her family would not suspect. The ritual mage demanded a precious thing from her that she could not give. Somehow I found myself recruiting a Sleeth - Rrengra - and two other people, and traipsing over the side of the world to find the ritual mage's fee. I have climbed through the sideways trees. I have seen a jack o'hooks hurl my childhood friend off the world; it would have flung me, had Rrengra not been speedy with the conjured flames. I have fought scawn with spear and spell, and when my companions were near dying I somehow persuaded the scawn to spare us and even bring us to the gash where world-sap pours into space. And I returned with the grace-of-Kvarse and saved my patient the fury of her family. And that is how I hold affan in matters of wildness. •• Azliet. a healer in Treverre

Can i ar e ver y social , almost obsessivel y social . The y naturall y for m packs, families, an d nations. Rulers ar e mor e ofte n Can i tha n not , becaus e Can i ten d t o car e abou t politica l powe r mor e tha n th e othe r species. Can i ar e instinctivel y loyal . Whe n a Can i ha s bee n i n som e grou p for a fe w weeks, h e wil l b e loya l t o it. It won' t necessarily overrid e his othe r loyaltie s - Can i ar e b y necessit y experts a t balancin g conflictin g loyaltie s - bu t it is ther e an d it is real . This is on e o f th e essentia l feature s o f th e Can i character; denyin g it o r violatin g it is a s abhorren t t o Can i a s fratricid e an d incest ar e t o humans . Can i ar e particularl y effectiv e i n situation s i n whic h loyalt y is important , includin g battle s an d cooperativ e adven ­ tures. A s adventurers, Can i wor k mor e effectivel y i n stressfu l situa ­ tion s wher e loyalt y is crucial , suc h a s fighting alongsid e a grou p t o whic h th e Can i is loyal . Can i ca n cla w an d bit e somewha t effectively : rarel y a goo d choic e i n battle , bu t sometime s bette r tha n bein g unarmed . Can i hid e is tough , an d counts a s ligh t armor. Can i hav e a n excellen t sens e o f smell , bot h i n precisio n (the y ca n tell tw o brothers o f an y specie s apart , b y smell ) an d acuit y (the y ca n catc h scents tw o o r thre e day s old , whe n weath ­ e r permits) . Mos t importantly , Can i hav e friend s an d relatives, lots o f them , an d ca n usuall y ge t hel p whe n the y nee d it. Appearance Can i ar e dogfolk : fairl y huma n bu t furre d bodies, fairl y canin e heads. Thei r heigh t range s fro m unde r five fee t tall t o wel l ove r six , their siz e fro m scrawn y t o immense . Mos t hav e short fur almost everywhere , longe r aroun d th e nec k an d tail; som e breed s hav e mane s o r lon g head-fu r a s well . Thei r fingers ar e a bi t stubby , an d tippe d wit h blun t non-retractil e claw s tha t th e well-groome d kee p filed t o a half-inch . Thei r leg s an d fee t ar e fairl y human . Ther e ar e roughl y equa l number s o f mal e an d femal e Cani . Th e difference s betwee n the sexe s ar e no t readil y see n b y othe r species, thoug h the y ar e readil y smelle d b y Can i (an d Sleeth , wh o don' t care). Bot h sexe s hav e eigh t breasts: ver y fla t if th e Can i isn't breast-feedin g a chil d tha t month , larg ­ e r bu t still smal l b y huma n standard s if the y ar e bein g used . Can i wea r a wid e variet y o f clothes, alway s carefu l t o kee p their tails uncovere d dow n t o the base . Tail positio n an d sub ­ tletie s o f scen t ar e importan t socia l cue s fo r Cani , an d Can i ar e socia l being s abov e all else . Give n a chance , Can i wea r man y decorations: earrings, fur-ties, bow s an d ribbons, jewelry , spells t o colo r thei r fur i n surprisin g patterns, an d s o on . Style s chang e frequently ; man y Can i follo w th e trend s carefully . Social Structure Can i prefe r t o liv e i n larg e groups. A typica l arrangemen t is a grou p marriage : a doze n o r s o mai n adults, all their children , an d severa l o f their parents an d grandparents, sharin g a longhouse . Can i d o no t nee d o r lik e privacy . Th e hom e wil l hav e fou r o r five larg e room s - gatherin g room , bedroom , kitchen , workroom , plu s smalle r room s fo r storag e an d th e occasiona l require d momen t alone . Th e gatherin g roo m is large , wit h a shallo w poo l o f wate r a t on e en d for bath s an d children's games , a larg e fireplac e a t th e othe r wit h a suppl y o f preserve d mea t nex t t o it for quic k snacks, chairs an d cushion s for sittin g o r lyin g on , a bi g clea r spac e wit h a short wal l aroun d it fo r children , an d a grea t dea l o f light. Can i generall y marr y earl y - excep t man y would-b e adventur ­ ers. Ther e ar e severa l degree s o f marriage , all entere d simulta ­ neously . Fo r example , th e Can i woma n Azlie t ha s Hraf f a s he r husband . H e wil l teac h he r childre n Can i etiquett e an d choofin g (describe d below) , presid e a t their ceremon y o f maturity , an d generall y b e responsibl e fo r raisin g the m eve n if h e wasn' t th e father. Sh e ha s Chekno u an d Kra e a s he r mates ; the y o r Hraff wil l fathe r he r children , an d wil l tak e Hraff s plac e whe n h e is n o t around . Sh e ha s he r childhoo d frien d Lantie n a s he r "sistersister" , specia l femal e frien d an d guarantee d all y i n domesti c disputes. Sh e ha s seve n othe r Can i a s house-parmers; sh e is friendl y wit h all o f them , clos e t o mos t o f them . T h e doze n o f the m wil l liv e togethe r i n a longhouse , an d prob ­ abl y cooperat e o n business an d child-rearin g a s well . Eac h o f th e doze n wil l hav e a simila r constellatio n o f especiall y clos e ties: a spouse , a coupl e o f mates, a sister-siste r o r brother-brothe r o r two . An y tw o peopl e i n th e househol d wil l hav e a t least a mat e i n common . Divorc e - eve n a husban d an d wif e leavin g a long - hous e togethe r - goe s against Can i loyalty , an d is rar e an d amaz ­ ingl y painfu l for everyon e involved . Can i wome n usuall y bea r on e chil d a t a time . Familie s fre ­ quentl y pla n their pregnancie s s o tha t severa l childre n ar e bor n i n th e longhous e a t roughl y th e sam e time . W e translate th e Can i wor d fo r this a s "litter" , eve n thoug h litter-mate s ar e relate d b y marriag e o f their parents, no t b y blood . Can i childre n thriv e best i n litters, havin g a collectio n o f equa l peers fro m birth . Outsid e th e longhouse , Can i find othe r way s t o organiz e them ­ selves. Ther e ar e nin e clan s o f Cani , vast loos e association s whic h spa n world-branches. Cla n membershi p is hereditar y throug h the mother's line . Th e clan s hav e their headquarters i n Ketheria , a t th e to p o f th e Worl d Tree , an d are strongest there . T h e father's cla n is important , an d th e grandparents' clan s ar e a s well . So , eac h Can i is a n auxiliar y membe r o f tw o o r thre e clans. Clan s ar e exogamous : a ma n ma y no t fathe r childre n o n wome n o f his clan . Me n sometime s chang e cla n t o circumven t this restriction , generall y t o their father's o r grandparents' clan s i n whic h the y ar e auxiliar y members . Socia l organization s whic h ar e intermediat e i n siz e includ e cities, extende d families, guil d o r othe r trade organizations, and a variet y o f club s and th e like . Familie s ar e rathe r lik e smal l clans, thoug h the y cu t across cla n boundaries; ther e ar e ten s o f thousand s o f Can i families. Citie s an d guild s aren' t all Cani , thoug h th e peopl e wh o organiz e the m an d run the m ar e frequentl y Cani . T w o Can i wh o mee t fo r th e first tim e an d wan t t o b e friendl y wil l tr y t o find som e socia l connectio n betwee n themselves. Som e connection s ar e easy ; membershi p o r auxiliar y member ­ shi p i n th e sam e cla n is th e first thin g t o check . Othe r connec ­ tions, lik e havin g gon e t o th e sam e schoo l o r sharin g a commo n friend, wor k almost a s well . If tha t fails, the y ca n tr y thing s a s tenuou s a s havin g relative s o r friend s wit h th e sam e name . Connection s base d o n non-socia l matters ar e th e last choice . T w o Can i woul d rathe r justif y their solidarit y o n th e basis o f their mothers bot h bein g friends o f Azlie t (eve n thoug h it's tw o differen t Azliets i n differen t citie s an d bot h kno w it) tha n o n th e fac t tha t they'r e i n th e sam e adventurin g grou p an d their live s depen d o n their absolut e trust i n eac h other. Afte r a fe w week s togethe r th e Can i loyalt y instinc t wil l tak e hold , an d th e fictio n abou t Azlie t ca n b e "discovered " an d laughe d abou t withou t weakenin g the friendship .

Affan and Choofing Can i ar e ver y consciou s o f afran, "situationa l status " - tha t is, w h o is dominan t i n a give n situation . Fo r example , i n a house ­ hol d o f weavers, th e affan-weave r wil l manag e affairs whil e th e famil y is a t wor k weaving . Whe n a custome r come s in , th e affan-bargaine r wil l hav e affa n durin g th e negotiations. Whe n t h e day's weavin g is over, others wil l hav e affa n i n matters o f cooking , chil d care , an d the evening's entertainment . Affa n applie s everywher e from grea t leadershi p t o a handfu l o f childre n walkin g dow n th e street. Cla n leaders an d head s o f Can i nation s hav e affa n i n governmen t - thoug h probabl y no t i n cook ­ i n g i n their ow n homes . Children's concern s ar e simpler, choos ­ i n g wher e th e grou p is goin g an d wha t they'l l sin g o n th e way . Affa n is decide d b y ritualize d contests calle d choofs. Th e urg e t o choo f is instinctive . A n elaborat e se t o f custom s ha s grow n u p aroun d choofing , codifie d i n th e classi c Wreffen's Rules of Choofing. Fo r example , ever y mont h th e affan-coo k ca n b e choofed ; the affan-coo k an d th e challengers eac h mak e som e delicac y chose n b y th e affan-cook , and whoeve r make s it best is affan-coo k afte r that. Choofin g th e greate r office s ca n onl y b e don e rarel y - cla n leaders ca n onl y b e choofe d ever y five years (an d the n onl y b y clos e relatives), leaders o f nation s ever y three . Choofin g i n lesse r matters is continual . Juvenile s wil l choo f eac h othe r ever y wee k abou t fashion , choic e o f song , choic e o f friends, an d a doze n othe r matters, i n a constan t struggl e for prestige . Ther e ar e tw o particularl y Can i emotion s associate d wit h choofing , whic h hav e n o precis e huma n counterparts. Th e win ­ n e r o f a choo f experience s saluffan, a feelin g o f loyalt y an d pro ­ tectorshi p o f th e loser; it preclude s humiliatio n o r injur y o f the lose r fo r a time . Th e lose r experience s th e dua l emotio n o f deffu, a loyalt y t o th e winner , a n acceptanc e o f th e loss, an d sens e tha t t h e loser's prope r plac e ha s bee n determined ; th e lose r eve n ha s a substantia l measur e o f pride , if h e di d wel l i n th e contest . Thes e emotion s fad e afte r a da y o r two , an d th e lose r ma y see k revenge , bu t they ar e quit e stron g a t th e en d o f th e choof. Eve n i n th e mos t bitterl y conteste d choofs, matters o f cla n leadershi p o r fighting ove r a lover, the contestants wil l b e a t peac e an d actuall y happ y wit h th e resul t for tha t time . Occasiona l Can i suppress thes e emotion s an d thereb y ear n th e horro r an d con ­ temp t o f their entir e species. Can i ar e arguabl y the dominan t specie s o n th e Worl d Tree . The y aren' t especiall y powerfu l individually , compare d t o th e might y Gormoro r o r cleve r Rassime l o r ancien t Z i R i -bu t Can i wor k togethe r muc h bette r tha n an y o f th e othe r specie s excep t for th e passiv e Herethroy . A Can i fighting a Gormoro r o f com ­ parabl e trainin g wil l likel y lose . Bu t whe n a trib e o f Gormoro r g e t annoying , th e Can i respon d i n forc e - an d tw o hundre d Can i fighting thirt y Gormoro r wil l wi n resoundingly . If tha t isn't enough , Can i ar e excellen t a t makin g alliance s wit h othe r specie s an d nations. Cani Names and Clans Can i usuall y hav e lots o f names . Fou r name s ar e i n commo n use : a give n o r persona l name , a famil y nam e representin g th e peopl e th e Can i is marrie d to , a lineag e nam e representin g th e mothe r an d he r ancestors, an d a cla n nam e (on e o f th e nin e clans). Persona l name s for me n an d wome n d o no t overlap : llrone , Wreffen , an d Trust ar e men's names , Thiane , Fiarel , Ralie t ar e women' s names , an d n o Can i woul d eve r suspec t oth ­ erwise . Othe r name s ar e mainl y use d withi n smal l socia l circles; e.g., a newly-inducte d tailo r migh t ge t a nam e onl y use d b y Tailors' Guil d member s durin g meetings. Can i give n name s ar e fairl y shor t an d straightforward . Powerfu l people , wizard s i n particular, tak e longer, mor e impressiv e name s base d o n th e original : e.g., whe n Cabi r becam e th e mai n lor d o f Telney , h e rename d himsel f Cabirzon . T h e nin e Can i clan s ar e o f approximatel y equa l siz e an d importance . Eac h cla n ha s its ow n stereotype , a s accurat e a s the huma n stereotyp e tha t red-haire d peopl e ar e volatile . A classi c Reffe n is a pleasan t scoundrel , bu t ther e ar e a s man y classi c Reffe n type s i n Cla n Mnorry n o r Powy n a s Reffen . Som e Can i g e t seriousl y involve d i n cla n politics. Mos t Can i just us e cla n membershi p a s on e o f th e way s t o b e friendl y wit h othe r Cani . T h e nin e clan s wer e chose n o n th e first da y tha t th e Can i wer e created : the y ar e th e name s o f th e nin e familie s int o whic h the first Can i joine d together. Can i Clan s Cla n Nam e Cla n Symbo l Stereotyp e Den n R e d tre e bearin g fruit Cheerfu l companio n Cory n Stylize d Nendra i Worth y follower, whos e presenc e honors th e leade r Haly n Can i hand , fingers sprea d Sympathetic , empatheti c heale r H a m Crosse d dagge r an d feathe r Schola r an d poe t C a m Can i tail hel d high, wreathe d i n flame Eas y to anger, an d fierc e Rera n Thre e candle s hel d i n a Can i han d Seeker; opene r o f th e way s Reffe n Thre e goblets Pleasan t scoundre l Powy n Stylize d bir d wearin g necklac e Nobl e an d honorabl e Mnorry n S u n dis k wit h thre e ring s Commander, genera l Clan s Haly n an d Ca m ar e traditiona l enemies, du e t o a lon g a n d sordi d histor y o f raids, thefts, murders, an d bickerin g tha t starte d i n th e secon d century . Mos t Haly n an d Ca m individuals don' t ge t involve d in th e feu d beyon d th e occasiona l snid e com ­ ment .

Art and Literature Can i literatur e tend s toward s tragedies abou t Can i wit h con ­ flictin g loyalties. Sometime s the y ar e glorious, whe n th e pro ­ tagonist manage s t o resolv e th e conflicts a t som e grea t self-sac ­ rifice ; sometime s the y ar e merel y sad , wher e th e protagonist's greatest efforts ar e unrewarded . Th e writin g is tens e an d repetitive , an d mos t non-Can i find Can i literatur e unendurable . Ar t is n o t a majo r Can i concern , bu t Can i art is eas y t o understand . O n e exceptio n is scent-sculpture , woode n sculpture s infuse d wit h pattern s o f odors; onl y Can i an d Sleet h ca n perceiv e the m a s th e artist intended . Diet Can i ar e omnivores, bu t nee d a fairl y larg e amoun t o f meat . The y prefe r t o ea t tw o o r thre e time s a day : on e o r t w o smal l mornin g o r noo n meals, wit h severa l carefully - prepare d dishe s tha t complemen t eac h othe r well , an d a hug e evenin g mea l o f simpl e food , wher e everyon e eats a s muc h a s the y ca n an d the n goe s t o sleep . Visitors t o Can i household s shoul d tak e warning . Can i hav e n o concep t o f "unpleasan t taste " (o r "unpleasan t smell" , for tha t matter) , an d a t least on e dis h is likel y t o b e fermente d o r spice d beyon d non - Can i endurance . (Would-b e poisoners shoul d no t tak e this a s encouragement . Can i ca n tast e a s wel l a s the y smell ; the y wil l likel y tak e o n e bite , sa y "Delicious, bu t th e fermente d gorri x doe s n't quite cove r the slun - d e r poison." , an d the n th e poisone r wil l hav e a pac k o f upset ; Can i t o dea l with.) Can i als o us e a grea t dea l o f perfume , ofte n blendin g a doze n kind s t o ge t a scen t tha t say s just th e righ t thing . Can i perfume s hav e a considerabl y wide r rang e tha n terrestria l ones, t o pu t it nicely . On e o f th e mos t favore d Can i perfume s is codelieth, whic h h a s a spic y carrio n scen t tha t onl y Can i like . Fortunatel y it's rar e an d ver y expe n sive . Moral Attitudes Can i ar e naturall y loyal . The y ca n b e goo d friend s an d exce l len t allies, nobl e leaders an d reliabl e followers. The y ca n b e ver y helpful , realizin g wha t y o u nee d an d supplyin g it. The y hav e hug e net ­ work s o f relative s an d friend s wh o wil l com e t o their aid . Can i loyalt y ca n ge t perverte d i n severa l ways . Th e worst is grou p reinforcement . A Can i alon e migh t thin k o f som e heinou s crime , an d dismiss th e idea . A Can i amon g a doze n migh t thin k o f th e crime , mentio n it, hav e th e grou p discuss it, an d decid e t o d o it - perhap s splittin g th e blame , perhap s persuadin g eac h othe r tha t it isn't actuall y heinous. Can i hav e a goo d dea l o f contro l ove r th e focu s o f their loyalt y instinct . A Can i nobl e migh t decid e t o b e loya l t o th e entir e realm , dow n t o th e lowliest subject ; suc h a nobl e wil l rule fairl y a n d kindly . Anothe r Can i nobl e migh t wel l decid e t o b e loya l t o a smal l grou p o f famil y an d friends; suc h a nobl e wil l rule unjustl y an d exploi t the real m - an d fee l ever y bi t a s comfortabl e a s th e first abou t it. Can i ten d t o b e ver y possessive , and somewha t territorial . The y are no t quit e a s greed y fo r thing s tha t the y d o no t ow n a s human s - a t least , the y ar e mor e moderat e i n wha t the y wan t a t a give n tim e - b u t the y are ferociou s i n defens e o f wha t the y thin k they own , o r wha t the y think they ough t t o own . Can i familie s feu d fo r generation s ove r a villag e o r a n artifact: onc e eac h ha s hel d it for a fe w years, bot h thin k the y ow n it, a n d neithe r ma y b e willin g t o compromise . Can i lov e an d hat e deepl y a n d passionately . The y ofte n inheri t love s an d hatred s from their parents an d great-grand ­ parents. Alliance s betwee n fami ­ lie s o r countrie s ar e stabl e an d enduring ; feud s are bitte r an d last fo r centuries. Variation Ther e ar e man y breed s o f Cani , includin g analog s o f man y rea l an d possibl e breed s o f terrestrial dogs, foxes, an d wolves . Som e breed s o f Can i hav e mane s o r stripes, a s well . It is a matte r o f som e prid e t o b e o f a distinctiv e name d breed , especiall y on e associate d wit h a n importan t family . Can i familie s wil l occasionall y wor k t o cultivat e their appearance , bein g carefu l abou t wh o sire s childre n o n whom , o r usin g Purebree d Pupp y spells, o r marryin g withi n th e breed . Cani Opinions of Other Species Cani : Can i lik e themselve s best o f all the species. The y com ­ municat e best amon g themselves, signalin g wit h scen t an d tail a n d ears i n way s tha t mos t others canno t sens e o r appreciate . T w o Can i ca n alway s find a reaso n t o lik e eac h othe r (an d usu ­ all y on e t o dislik e eac h othe r a s well) . It mus t alway s b e clea r whic h Can i ha s affa n i n a give n situation , though . Gormoror : Can i admir e Gormoro r herois m an d bravery , bu t conside r the m rude an d vulgar. Herethroy : Can i ar e slightl y friendl y t o Herethroy . Th e tw o

specie s hav e littl e i n common , thoug h Can i admir e Herethro y musi c an d respec t their labor. Khtsoyis : Can i hav e n o particula r respec t fo r Khtsoyis. The y a r e gla d enoug h t o hav e Khtsoyis guards, o r comrade s i n adven ­ ture , bu t the y wil l rarel y hav e the m a s friends. Khtsoyis hench ­ m e n wh o liv e u p t o Can i standard s o f loyalt y ar e rewarded ; thos e wh o d o no t ar e scorned . Orren : Can i lik e Orre n second-best o f all th e primes. Th e Orre n hav e a secre t advantage : Orre n mus k smells goo d t o Cani , wit h a soli d friendl y smell . Eve n withou t that, th e tw o woul d ge t alon g fairl y well . Orre n ca n b e a s sociabl e a s Cani , a t least for a while . Rassimel : Can i respec t Rassimel , an d frequentl y tak e the m a s dea r friends. Can i ar e a bit disturbe d b y th e Rassime l attitude s t o eac h other, an d canno t se e ho w Rassime l endur e th e solitud e tha t t h e Rassime l prefer. Can i happil y liv e i n th e sam e citie s a s Rassimel . Sleeth : Can i generall y d o no t lik e Sleeth , thoug h Can i wh o actuall y kno w Sleet h ma y com e t o respec t the m an d sometime s lov e them . Can i requir e a n affan-holde r i n ever y situation ; Sleet h conside r th e whol e concep t repugnant . Can i childre n must neve r pla y wit h Sleet h children : Can i childre n choo f early , a n d Sleet h childre n lear n t o hun t early , an d whe n a pupp y chal ­ lenge s a kitte n th e pupp y wil l ofte n en d u p maule d o r killed . Sleeth , alon e amon g th e prim e species, ca n perceiv e Can i socia l cues; Can i ar e offende d tha t th e Sleet h ignor e them . Can i are disguste d b y Sleet h self-centeredness. However , a Can i wh o ha s mad e a Sleet h frien d wil l b e impresse d b y th e Sleeth's intensit y o f loyalty . Z i Ri : Can i ar e a littl e awe d b y Zi Ri . Can i wh o tr y t o wor k wit h Zi Ri fo r an y lengt h o f tim e ar e usuall y slightl y annoye d a t t h e Z i Ri's frequen t unwillingness t o accep t leadership , eithe r o f o r b y th e Z i Ri - bu t Can i wil l pu t u p wit h tha t kin d o f behavio r from Z i R i muc h mor e readil y tha n fro m Sleeth . I'm a member of Tangle's Troop, in the city guard ofTreverre. I'm usually partnered with Virend or Candlewave, and when we go by fours it's usually Ancellax and Haniet or Boilerman. Tangle runs the troop, of course. My parents are working out a marriage for me, probably to one of the younger Tomarvarry brothers. That'll be a nice step up for me, and I like 'em both well enough. Virend's gonna be one of my mates. Oh, I'm named Mirrien. I'm not very important in Treverre, not yet. Tangle's Troop does outside-the-gates. We're not the bored people in leather armor, collecting passage-tax and poking in wagons for smuggling, caught sleeping when the cyarr come raiding! We ride the roads near Treverre, and stomp the forests and slog the marshes too. Oh, lots of stories I've got. It's a big danger job, let me tell you! Last week Virend and I heard the Whattellbee farmers talking about goats never coming home and worried danger, so we looked around. Zoof! Right there, a churshash, a venom bear! Standing between two arken trees, blood dripping off its face! We hightailed it out of there, let me tell you, and came back with six of us, heads full of plans and quivers full of arrows with bound Fire Flowers. Even so Boilerman got splashed with some of the blood after the thing was dead, and we had to knock him out before he disemboweled me in the poison-rage. But that's part of the job. I'm as good a swordswoman as you '11 find outside a knighthood, and a fair shot with a bow, and good enough with paralysis and healing spells. I can follow a bonstable's scent three days old, I can scare a Gormoror in a growling contest, I can talk a kyrex out of a tree! I'm a right good member of Tangle's Troop, and proud to be. — Mirrien Id, Town Guard

GORMORO R This isn't about me, it's about my uncle Anamurgin. He was a hero of the Karnaps, but he quarreled with the chieftainess over honors in song, and we left the tribe and moved to Orzonway city. Anamurgin was on the city guard for a while, then in the private guard of the priest Halthlua. By this time he was fairly old, slowing down, and my cousin and I were almost grown up. Then he was cursed with a really nasty rotting transformation in his legs. The priest and the spellweaver tried hard, but the best they could do was stop it from getting worse, and that not every day. All one leg and half the other were a stinking mess, and nothing but a god could keep him alive more than a year more. Well, he was most cast down at dying a weed-death, stinking in bed, with no song to sing of it to his kinsfolk. But about that time Mhennu the ogre-worm had come to plague the caravans around Orzonway. We made treaty with five adventurers to help my uncle fight Mhennu. And a careful treaty it was, too; it takes time and clear words before Cani and Rassimel understand Gormoror glory. So off we went to fight Mhennu. My cousin Tharmiax couldn't bear to watch and not fight, so I went to see the deed and write the song. They rigged my uncle a battle-chair, straps around his waist and shoulders, and one of the mages made it fly. Oh, it was a glorious fight. My song doesn't do it justice. The two Rassimel jumped in and out, leaving spells on Mhennu's hack. The Zi Ri sent fires. The Orren fencer poked little holes in its sides and zipped away when it got annoyed. The Cani mage flew my uncle in. And my uncle - my uncle was as he was at the height of his career, flying chair or none. He set his sword ablaze with the balefires, not caring that they would eat his hands, and he hewed away at Mhennu, and Mhennu spat black lightnings at him and sprayed him with putrid corrosion. He cut Mhennu's left eye off, and it fell into a pond and burned all the water away. Mhennu's stench set the battle-chair on fire. Then Mhennu staggered -1 think the Orren had struck a deathblow, but the Zi Ri healed Mhennu so fast I could never tell - and the Cani mage sent my uncle, the mighty Anamurgin, right to the beast's face, into its very jaws. And my uncle's sword split Mhennu's glutinous skull, and Mhennu's huge jaws closed on my uncle's neck, and they both died. Then we burned my uncle and the beast on the same pyre, and went home to feast Anamurgin, who died a wood-death, who died in bravery and might as he had lived. — Dolminhane, Gormoror warrior

Gormoro r ar e grea t brawn y ursin e barbarians, concerne d wit h glor y an d plunder , fightin g an d feasting . The y wan t t o "jum p u p a n d dow n unti l th e world-branc h shakes" , a s their song s hav e it: t o impress the worl d wit h their heroism , o r di e trying . A s adventurers - an d mos t ar e adventurers no w an d the n - Gormoro r are tough . Whe n the y are i n th e hea t o f battle , the y c a n stan d an d continu e fightin g fo r man y second s wit h wound s that woul d incapacitat e a lesse r warrio r - an d they're consider ­ abl y mor e dangerou s durin g tha t last stand . The y woul d b e har d t o kill eve n withou t that. The y ar e natura l warriors, wit h dan ­ gerou s claw s an d teeth , hide s lik e leathe r armor , an d a n instinc t f o r battle . Whe n a Gormoro r give s his Wor d o f Honor , h e wil l kee p it o r suffe r terribl e an d permanen t consequences . Gormoro r are slightl y resistan t t o min d contro l an d alcohol . Appearance Gormoro r ar e hug e an d shaggy , wit h feature s lik e bears. Thei r hand s ar e halfwa y t o paws , their fingers tippe d wit h larg e claws. The y wea r a s littl e clothin g a s possible ; ofte n a s littl e a s a bead ­ e d loincloth . The y ofte n wea r barbarou s decorations: bone s an d skulls tie d i n their fur, an d sometime s th e ears o r tails o f their slai n opponents. Unlik e th e othe r prim e species, Gormoro r ar e sexuall y dimor ­ phic : me n an d wome n ca n b e tol d apart a t a glance , eve n b y non - Gormoror . Me n ar e talle r (6- 7 feet) an d mor e ursine . Wome n a r e shorte r (5'6 " - 6'6"), mor e enduring , an d hav e mor e huma n features. I n particular, men's muzzle s ar e muc h large r tha n women's , an d me n ar e flat-chested . Th e wome n ten d t o b e eve n toughe r tha n th e men , and hav e breasts lik e huma n women . Th e personalit y difference s ar e smalle r tha n th e physica l ones. Social Structure Gormoro r liv e i n smal l band s o f thirt y t o eight y people . The y prefe r th e freedo m o f th e margin s o f society , ofte n o n th e Verticals, clos e enoug h t o th e Flats t o rai d farm s an d trad e wit h cities. (Th e mor e powerfu l the civilization , th e mor e likel y th e Gormoro r ar e t o trade rathe r than raid.) Eac h ban d ha s a chief, w h o hold s his positio n b y presen t strengt h o r past heroism ; th e positio n is alway s precarious, thoug h fe w leav e th e chiefdo m alive . Gormoro r band s ar e brutal , i n a friendl y way . Mal e Gormoro r fight constantly , i n a viciou s varian t o f Can i choofing , bitin g an d clawin g eac h othe r unti l bloo d flows. Wome n canno t fight this way , lackin g th e larg e muzzle ; the y fight wit h knives. Me n con ­ side r it undignifie d t o b e knifed , thoug h the y hav e n o objectio n t o bitin g women . Th e argumen t abou t whethe r weapon s ca n b e use d o n fello w tribesfol k is a n eterna l gende r constan t for Gormoror , rathe r lik e terrestria l arguments abou t leavin g th e toile t sea t down . Gormoro r romanc e is a s tempestuou s a s possible , full o f dec ­ laration s o f eterna l love , terribl e betrayals, tumultuou s reconcil ­ iations, duels o f honor , and s o on . Afte r a fe w years o f romance , mos t Gormoro r settl e dow n i n heterosexua l couple s an d rais e cubs, an d kee p th e tempests dow n t o tw o o r three a year. Gormoro r wan t t o b e heroes. The y rai d anyon e the y ca n - othe r Gormoro r bands, o r Herethro y villages, o r if the y ar e espe ­ ciall y brave , citie s o f Can i an d Rassimel . The y tr y t o kill a fe w peopl e an d snatc h a lo t o f treasure , an d the n ge t awa y befor e their enemie s arriv e i n force ; this is someho w considere d hero ­ ic . Occasionall y the y fight i n large r fights, goin g afte r th e most nwfu l monsters o r th e greatest Can i knights. Th e fe w tha t surviv e ar e heroe s i n th e eye s o f all th e Gormoro r wh o hear, an d sometime s non-Gormoro r a s well . Relation s betwee n band s ar e base d o n enjoyabl e violence : allowin g plent y o f opportunit y t o ge t glory , an d tryin g t o avoi d actua l hatred . Band s rai d eac h other, o r fight i n organize d serie s o f duels betwee n Gormoro r o f approximatel y equa l strength . T h e band s tha t raide d an d duele d eac h othe r last yea r wil l invit e eac h othe r ove r for hug e feasts an d exchange s o f extravagan t gifts. Gormoro r band s ar e exogamous . A cub's parents shoul d b e married , an d o f differen t bands. This custo m is take n ver y seriously ; violatin g it usuall y results i n bot h th e parents an d th e cu b bein g severel y punished . Gormoror Names Gormoro r typicall y hav e a singl e persona l name , usuall y lon g a n d bombastic : Alsonmerax , Dromerandos , Tallionric . Name s d o no t generall y conve y gende r ("Just loo k a t th e face, " sa y th e Gormoror ) o r othe r socia l information . Whe n tw o Gormoro r i n t h e are a hav e th e sam e name , on e o r bot h wil l ge t a descriptiv e suffix : "Kavanka x o f th e Death-Morks" , "Boryberos, Slaye r o f t h e Gree n Nendrai" , o r less-impressiv e one s lik e "Mjollina x th e Younger " o r "Brimalnio r th e Grey[-Furred]" . Ofte n th e tw o peo ­ p l e wit h th e sam e nam e wil l fight t o se e wh o gets t o us e it unadorned . Gormoro r tribe s hav e name s a s well : th e Death-Morks , th e Barkano , th e Thabian t Storm . Literature and Arts Gormoro r storie s ar e long , bloody , an d heroic . Gormoro r poetr y is richl y textured , wit h comple x rhyth m an d alliteration , bu t n o t usuall y rhyming . Gormoro r arts ar e homemad e crafts o f n o grea t quality . Diet Gormoro r ea t almost anything , an d lots o f it. Thei r cookin g is n o t th e most subtle : mea t roaste d ove r a fire wit h som e hone y sloppe d ove r it, o r stewe d wit h fruit, is abou t th e heigh t o f cuisine . The y ge t grai n an d brea d mainl y b y raiding , an d regar d it a s a delicacy , eve n whe n they'r e i n citie s wher e it's chea p an d readil y available . Psyche and Etiquette Gormoro r tr y t o liv e o n a gran d heroi c scale . The y tr y t o b e generous, eve n t o their enemies. It is ba d for m t o miss a nobl e fight, eve n if it's doomed . I n practice , mos t Gormoro r don' t liv e u p t o thes e ideals. They'l l avoi d awfu l fights, claimin g they'r e no t nobl e enoug h o r tha t th e fight is to o even , o r citin g a promis e t o someon e else . Eac h trib e ha s a fe w authenti c heroes, wh o d o liv e u p t o the ideals - th e chie f ough t t o b e th e most heroic . Th e rest o f th e trib e is just heroi c enoug h t o maintai n their sens e o f honor, most ­ l y b y saf e an d profitabl e heroi c deed s lik e raidin g ever y yea r o r three . / Gormoro r etiquett e is roug h an d demonstrative . Concealin g you r feeling s make s yo u loo k manipulativ e o r dishonorable . I f you'r e offended , the best thin g yo u ca n d ^ is t o challeng e you r offende r t o a fight; yo u probabl y won' t b e (injured to o much , an d you'l l gai n respec t for it. Passio n an d spontaneit y ar e important : violen t acts lik e ripping you r clothe s o r destroyin g you r valu ­ able s in sorrow , o r givin g impressiv e gifts i n joy , o r givin g grea t bear-hug s a t th e ver y least. Composin g imprompt u song s i n th e

Gormoro r style , rhythmi c an d alliterating , wil l ear n yo u respect . Ther e ar e manner s t o b e observe d i n socia l fighting . It's ba d for m t o mai m o r kill you r opponent , an d especiall y ba d for m t o kill beyon d th e skill o f th e loca l healers t o revive . If yo u d o somethin g lik e that , ther e aren' t man y peopl e wh o wil l fight you , which , if yo u ar e Gormoror , wil l rui n you r socia l life . It's goo d manner s t o hav e a n approximatel y eve n fight - whic h m a y mea n takin g off you r armor, o r usin g a poo r weapon . It's insultin g t o giv e u p to o man y advantages, lik e givin g u p bot h armo r an d weapo n whe n givin g u p just on e woul d mak e the fight even . It is goo d manners , whe n you r opponen t is beaten , t o allo w the m t o surrende r withou t dishonor. Ofte n yo u wil l catc h their eye , an d the n thro w dow n you r weapons , hu g you r opponent , exclai m loudl y abou t ho w tha t wa s th e best fight o f you r life , a n d ge t the m a beer. B e sur e you r opponen t is beate n whe n yo u d o this, o f course , o r you'l l ge t stabbe d i n th e gu t an d find your ­ self in clos e comba t - bu t that's wh y it's a n honorabl e wa y t o en d a fight. The Gormoror Word of Honor Fierce falls the foeman's fury, Surely Schranie shall be shielded By my blood and bone and body. I give my word of honor. — Dakanerax s oath to protect Schranie Gormoro r ar e require d t o kee p their wor d o f honor : a require ­ men t enforce d b y a littl e bit o f Gormoro r nature , an d a grea t dea l o f Gormoro r culture . Gormoro r d o no t giv e their wor d o f hono r lightly . Whe n th e wor d o f hono r is given , it is goo d for m t o giv e it a s a n alliterati n g vers e (a s Dakanerax' s oat h t o protec t Schranie , above) , end ­ i n g wit h " I giv e m y wor d o f honor" , bu t i n a pinc h an y phrasin g wil l do . Givin g a wor d o f hono r is no t a n ac t o f magic . Onc e given , th e wor d o f hono r is irrevocabl e an d absolute : n o excuses, n o weaseling , n o tricks o r evasions. If Dakanera x swears t o protec t Schrani e forever, h e mus t protec t Schrani e foreve r o r suffe r th e consequences. Keepin g th e oat h is a matte r o f deeds, no t o f intent . If Dakanera x is kidnapped , drugged , para ­ lyzed , an d tie d up , an d Schrani e is attacked , the n h e ha s broke n t h e oat h an d tha t is that. Changin g circumstance s d o no t chang e t h e oath : Schrani e canno t releas e hi m fro m it. ( A mor e carefu l a n d less heroi c Gormoro r migh t hav e swor n t o protec t Schrani e i n he r quest , o r d o somethin g els e tha t limits th e oath.) If Schrani e tricked Dakanera x int o th e oat h i n the first place , an d is t h e vilest crimina l o n the entir e Worl d Tree , h e is still trapped . Mind-magi c ca n compe l Gormoro r t o swea r bindin g oaths, o r brea k them . If th e wizar d Za r Zen g Za v puts a Mentado r spel l o n Dakanera x an d compel s hi m t o attac k Schranie , the n Dakanera x ha s broke n his word . Relu u an d Accana x di d gran t t h e Gormoro r a certai n degre e o f resistanc e t o Rulo c Mentador , s o th e wizar d wil l hav e a har d tim e gettin g th e spel l t o wor k - bu t if it does, Dakanera x is i n seriou s trouble. Gormoro r hav e n o

specia l resistanc e t o othe r kind s o f Mentado r magic . Za r Zen g Z a v migh t choos e t o mak e Dakanera x forge t abou t his oat h (Destro c Mentador) , o r chang e his memorie s o f exactl y wha t h e swor e (Muto c Mentador) . Unfortunatel y fo r Dakanerax , h e must abid e b y his origina l oat h - eve n if h e doesn' t kno w abou t it, o r misremember s it. Gormoro r hat e an d fea r mind-mage s mor e tha n mos t peopl e do . A Gormoro r wh o ha s neve r broke n a wor d o f hono r is i n th e stat e o f gavm hau. Mos t Gormoro r ar e cautiou s abou t givin g their word s o f honor, an d s o mos t - perhap s 90 % - ar e i n gav m hau . It is cowardl y t o avoi d eve r givin g you r wor d o f honor. Mos t Gormoro r hav e give n it onc e o r twic e b y th e tim e the y ar e adults, usuall y wit h simpl e short-ter m vow s lik e " I shal l she d a n enemy's bloo d b y tomorrow's nightfall! " o n th e evenin g befor e a raid . A Gormoro r i n gav m ha u ma y find himsel f trapped , boun d b y a n oat h t o d o som e awfu l deed , o r boun d b y tw o oath s whic h canno t bot h b e followed . Ther e is on e honorabl e wa y t o ge t ou t o f suc h a mess : gavm hakk teraw, honor-suicide . Th e Gormoro r compose s a poe m i n th e best alliterativ e Gormoro r styl e explain ­ i n g th e trap an d declarin g tha t ther e is n o wa y ou t i n life , an d the n kills himsel f a s best h e can . Eve n if this break s a n oath , th e Gormoror' s reputatio n is considere d unstained . This is a Gormoro r socia l conventio n only . If th e suicide r is brough t bac k t o life , h e wil l b e a n oathbreake r i n all respects. A successful , unresurrecte d gav m hak k tera u is a hero's deed . Gormoro r wh o brea k their wor d o f hono r ar e in th e stat e o f gavmkjorok, marke d b y a psychi c blotch . Th e mar k is subtle : othe r specie s hav e t o loo k closel y t o se e it, althoug h Gormoro r usuall y ca n if the y look . A Gormoro r i n gavmkjoro k ough t t o perfor m a dramati c visibl e penance . A t th e ver y least, th e penanc e require s no t groomin g o r bathin g fo r th e entir e year. Mos t Gormoro r ad d t o th e penance : livin g wit h th e cattle , refusi n g t o ea t meat , doin g th e tribe's foulest jobs. Th e penanc e is humiliatin g an d unpleasant , no t heroic . A Gormoro r in gavmkjoro k is unfit t o b e a hero , an d eve n th e greatest deed s will b e tainted . Ver y fe w Gormoro r ar e i n gavmkjoro k a t an y give n time : perhap s on e in thre e hundred . Sometime s a Gormoro r i n gavmkjoro k wil l refus e t o perfor m t h e penance ; e.g., if h e wa s tricke d int o breakin g th e lette r o f his wor d o f hono r bu t maintaine d th e spirit o f it. Refusin g t o d o penanc e is a dreadfu l act, whic h befouls th e whol e species, an d t h e refuser's kinsfol k wil l clamo r t o b e th e first t o punis h him . Gavmkjoro k lasts abou t a year, afte r whic h th e psychi c blotc h fades. Th e Gormoro r is the n in th e stat e o f gavm fenjosk: less honorabl e tha n before , bu t agai n capabl e o f honor. Ther e is n o visibl e sig n o f bein g i n gav m fenjos k instea d o f gav m hau , bu t most Gormoro r ca n tell: a yea r o f gavmkjorok , lik e a yea r in solitar y confinement , leave s som e traces o n th e personality . Abou t 10 % o f Gormoro r ar e i n gav m fenjosk . I n som e matters, bein g i n gav m fenjos k is alway s inferio r t o bein g i n gav m hau . I n mos t tribe s a Gormoro r i n gav m fenjos k canno t participat e i n matters o f justice , triba l honor, o r makin g treaties. (Also , Gormoro r in gav m fenjos k d o no t hav e th e optio n o f gav m hak k terau , honor-suicide ; their hono r is alread y stained . The y ma y still perfor m th e act, bu t it is considere d a furthe r blotc h o n their honor.) I n mos t othe r matters, gav m fen ­ josk is just a part o f th e Gormoror's story : a grea t her o i n gav m fenjos k migh t wel l outran k a respectabl e warrio r i n gav m hau . Variation Breed s o f Gormoro r includ e analog s o f th e variou s sorts o f terrestria l bears, an d sloth s an d badgers a s well . Gormoro r ca n b e dar k gree n o r green-brown , a s wel l a s mor e familia r ursin e colors. Tribe s ten d t o b e mainl y on e bree d o r another. Gormoror Opinions of Other Species Cani : Gormoro r lik e Can i - the y thin k Can i ar e cute , if a littl e small , an d eve n frequentl y ge t crushe s o n them . The y don' t see m t o min d their frequen t defeats a t th e hand s o f overwhelm ­ i n g armie s o f Cani ; it's part o f th e fu n o f fighting. The y don' t understan d tha t th e Can i tak e it s o seriously . Gormoror : Gormoro r ar e fon d o f eac h other, eve n thoug h the y fight a lot. Th e mor e fighting, th e close r the friendship . Herethroy : Gormoro r thin k tha t Herethro y village s ar e goo d place s t o plunder. The y don' t car e a bi t for Herethro y feeling s o r rights, an d no t muc h mor e fo r Herethro y lives. Khtsoyis : Gormoro r lik e Khtsoyis, too . The y mak e grea t sparrin g parmers . Orren : Gormoro r ar e rarel y impresse d b y Orren : Orre n ar e rarel y heroic . Eve n whe n the y ar e heroi c b y deed , the y ar e no t heroi c i n attitude . Rassimel : Gormoro r thin k Rassime l ar e effet e snobs, an d gen ­ erall y don' t lik e them . If a Rassime l show s som e kin d o f hero ­ ism , the n the Gormoro r wil l suddenl y ge t ver y impresse d an d tr y t o mak e th e Rassime l a frien d for life . Sleeth : Gormoro r lik e Sleeth : goo d huntin g companions , an d goo d allie s against civilization . The y ar e regularl y distresse d whe n Sleet h tur n tail an d run fro m battle . Bu t the y alway s giv e t h e Sleet h mor e chances. Z i Ri : Gormoro r ar e impresse d b y Z i Ri . The y mak e excellen t adversaries, an d goo d guests. ...Then keening came the cyarr cry Through wending wood and winding path "With spears we stab, with snaps we stun Ten thousand warriors in our wrath!" Bremnarra bristled, bearing down Upon the bravesome cyarr band. His warriors, with unswerving will Fast footsteps followed, near at hand. Then swords did slash, and rapiers rang With sanguine songs in terr'ble tunes And hearts-blood poured herzinion-hot And horr'ble howls rose to the moons... --From Bremnarra at the Battle ofJanfiar Wood, composed for Bremnarra by his cousin a few weeks later.

HERETHRO Y I'm Twinwhistle, of Treverre. Sure, I'm an adventurer: grow mushrooms. Don't laugh. These are special mushrooms, vanterelles and oriscas and blue mandaras. Honestly I can't taste the difference from regular black-turbans and trompes-de-miel, but Cani can, and Cani with money most certainly can. Importing them from Zaereia, two branches down, was an adventure by itself. Getting my family to let me have the winecaves was a worse adventure. My family owns spice orchards on the roll'gainst shore of Lake Laicrane. My grandcomother tried to make wine, but it didn't work very well. The caves are still there, with broken barrels, as a monument to my family's foolish experiments, which is why I ultimately got permission to use 'em. I've been growing fancy mushrooms for four years now, and I've got two dozen restaurants and two noble houses who want weekly orders. Plus sales in markets and such. I'm breaking even and a bit more, which is not bad for a specialty vegetable. Planning to export dried mushrooms to Barency next year. Honest truth is, I'm cheating - this year. I took a week here and a week there and went off with some friends of mine, a Zi Ri who wanted to clear out a mine, some people dealing with some criminal who attacked someone at his own wedding. I'm a big strong man, good farm stock, and my carapace is hard as steel, and I know which end of a spear to stab with. This year that covered the difference between profit and loss. Next year I won't need to. — Twinwhistle, Herethroy farmer-adventurer

Herethro y ar e stereotypicall y farmers b y nature : calm , quiet , clos e t o th e soi l an d t o growin g things. The y prefe r t o liv e i n small , quie t villages, workin g the field s i n th e day , singin g in choru s unti l lat e eac h night . Thei r favorit e luxurie s are no t ostentatious: the y lov e fine clot h i n simpl e pattern s an d cal m colors, elegan t pottery , delicat e swee t fruit wines. Mos t othe r specie s conside r the m mildl y friendl y an d a bi t dull . Non e o f this is tru e o f thos e wh o g o adventuring , o f course . T h e fe w wh o choos e t o b e warriors ar e dangerou s foes, fightin g wit h swor d an d spea r an d shiel d o r foa r daggers a t once , an d protecte d b y their ow n chiti n a s wel l a s ordinar y armor. Successfu l Herethro y adventurers hav e gol d tracerie s an d brigh t rubies inlai d int o their chitin , an d ar e impressiv e indeed . Thei r extr a limb s giv e the m advantage s a t man y things, fro m fighting t o running t o climbing . Appearance Herethro y ar e tall (si x t o seve n feet, 12 0 - 18 0 pounds) an d graceful , an d covere d wit h shinin g chitin . Th e fac e is flat, almost huma n excep t fo r th e antennae, an d th e eye s ar e brigh t a n d brown . The y hav e si x limbs: tw o o f the m alway s legs, tw o alway s arms, an d the middl e se t usabl e a s either. Th e true-hand s a r e smal l an d somewha t delicate , covere d i n soft skin , lookin g a s if they'r e wearin g glove s ove r chitin . Th e foot-hand s ar e larg ­ er, th e fingers spreadin g lik e their toes, an d covere d i n soft chitin . Th e bod y is narrow-waisted , s o tha t th e Herethro y stan d u p straigh t o r ben d t o run o n fou r leg s lik e a centaur. Th e abdome n end s i n a short thic k segmente d tail, lik e a strin g o f pearls tha t starts off the siz e o f a basketbal l an d decrease s t o a grapefruit . Th e fee t ar e large , wit h spreadin g hooflik e toes. Herethro y mov e lik e walkin g dee r o r horse : slow , smoot h gestures. The y tal k i n light , liltin g voices, almost singin g eve n whe n they'r e just chatting . The y wea r clothing , a s fine a s the y c a n afford , o r g o nake d t o sho w off th e decoration s o n their cara ­ paces. Herethro y ar e warm-blooded , despit e appearances. The y hav e som e interna l bones, especiall y i n their arm s an d legs. A terrestria l biologist migh t eve n wan t t o call the m vertebrates, sinc e the y hav e spine s an d rib s (albei t fuse d t o th e carapace) . Social Structure Herethro y prefe r t o liv e i n village s tha t ar e to o smal l t o nee d muc h specia l organization : fifty o r a hundre d people . Th e whol e villag e acts lik e a larg e extende d family , sharin g amazin g vege ­ taria n smorgasbord s eac h evening , the n discussin g thing s tha t nee d t o b e discusse d an d singin g togethe r for hal f th e night . Th e adults o f the villag e hav e equa l weigh t i n conversation , thoug h mos t village s hav e a fe w elders wh o hav e earne d extr a respect . T h e evenin g song s ar e th e socia l an d spiritua l cente r o f th e village . Th e evenin g starts wit h a short hym n to Viri d abou t th e glorie s o f growin g things; th e word s ar e th e sam e ever y nigh t a n d everywher e o n th e Worl d Tree , thoug h the y hav e bee n se t t o ever y Worl d Tre e musica l style . The n on e o f th e villag e priests sing s a sectio n o f their Hym n o f Creatio n (ther e ar e a few doze n variation s o n the Hym n o f Creation) ; th e entir e Hym n take s a yea r t o sing , on e sectio n eac h night . Th e rest o f th e evenin g is mostl y secula r music , rangin g fro m epic s tha t tak e month s t o sin g t o shorte r work s compose d o n th e spot . Herethro y hav e thre e (o r arguabl y four) genders: male s (20%) , female s (50%) , co-lovers (30%) , an d both-female s (rare). A co - lovc r is require d t o ge t a mal e an d femal e int o th e appropriat e attitud e an d conditio n t o procreate ; zi e als o form s an d carrie s th e egg . Th e co-love r doe s no t contribut e an y geneti c materia l t o th e offspring , thoug h zi e is considere d th e mai n parent , th e mother. Both-female s ar e abl e t o ac t a s eithe r female s o r co-lovers, thoug h no t a t th e sam e time . Co-lovers ar e considere d th e attractiv e sex . Male s ar e some ­ wha t prize d becaus e the y ar e scarce . Female s ar e considere d stron g an d common , rathe r th e opposit e o f co-lovers; the y ten d to hol d politica l powe r i n most villages. An y tw o o r mor e Herethro y ca n enjo y th e equivalen t o f heav y petting , thoug h group s o f all co-lovers ar e less satisfyin g tha n othe r combina ­ tions. Herethro y regar d two-perso n se x pla y a s harmless, some ­ wha t adolescen t fun . A marrie d Herethro y woma n coul d wel l a s k he r husban d o r co-mat e t o tak e car e o f th e childre n for a n evenin g s o sh e coul d g o pla y wit h anothe r man ; the y migh t teas e h e r a bit, bu t nothin g worse . Th e full tri o o f male , female , an d co-love r is considerabl y mor e intense , sexuall y an d emotionally , a n d almost alway s fertile . Relationship s wit h othe r specie s requir e imaginatio n an d patienc e a s wel l a s affection , an d grea t magi c if childre n ar e desired , bu t the y d o happe n occasionally . A fertilize d Herethro y femal e produce s a singl e egg , whic h is give n t o th e co-love r for final maturation . Th e eg g hatche s five o r si x month s later. Youn g Herethro y requir e an d ge t constan t attention , usuall y fro m th e entir e village . Herethro y rarel y tr y t o bea r childre n outsid e villages. Shoul d a femal e bea r a n eg g i n a plac e wher e it can' t b e properl y tende d whe n it hatches, sh e wil l smas h it wit h a smal l ritual. Visibl e Herethro y gende r difference s ar e unobtrusive . Male s a r e a bit smaller, an d ar e mor e likel y t o hav e straight-stripe d carapaces. Female s ar e th e largest ; frequentl y their stripe s ar e flare d a t on e en d o r th e other. Co-lovers ar e intermediat e i n size , a n d ten d t o hav e wav y stripes. Both-female s ar e har d t o tell fro m female s o r co-lovers . Thes e clue s ar e unreliable ; Herethro y ca n guess eac h other's gende r a s accuratel y a s human s can . Can i an d Sleet h ca n tell b y scent , thoug h both-female s con ­ fus e them . Onl y observan t member s o f othe r specie s ca n tell Herethro y genders. Herethro y familie s ar e entir e villages. Mos t villag e Herethro y a r e sexuall y conservative . Males , b y commo n custom , belon g to t w o breedin g trios; female s t o one ; co-lovers t o on e o r two . Both-female s ar e anomalou s an d uncomfortabl e i n Herethro y society . Toleran t village s trea t the m a s co-lovers - whic h ar e in shorte r suppl y tha n females, an d considere d mor e attractiv e - a n d exil e the m if the y ac t lik e females. ( A disproportionat e num ­ b e r o f Herethro y adventurers ar e both-females. ) Less toleran t village s simpl y kill both-female s a t birth . Names Herethro y tru e name s ar e long , repetitive , meaningless, an d soun d goo d whe n sun g i n th e righ t rhyth m b y Herethroy . Ther e a r e n o commo n Herethro y names ; ther e probabl y aren' t tw o Herethro y wit h th e sam e nam e alive . Herethro y us e nickname s socially ; their tru e name s ar e mainl y for specia l occasions, wed ­ ding s an d funerals an d comings-of-age , an d ar e sun g rathe r tha n spoken . Herethro y nickname s ten d t o b e simple . Man y ar e descriptive : Redspo t probabl y ha s a prominen t re d spo t o n zir carapace . Fo r variety , thes e nickname s ma y b e give n i n differen t Worl d Tre e languages, whic h i n this boo k ar e translate d int o differen t terrestria l languages: Arconegr o (blac k curve) , Mainver t (gree n hand) , Braithd u (speckle d black) . Nondescriptiv e nickname s ten d t o b e

herbal : Treeset , Greenswire , Eyebright . Nickname s ar e no t necessaril y descriptive . Th e famou s bu t reclusiv e crimina l mastermin d Redmas k onc e walke d ou t o f a n iiinbush b y a mo b wh o didn' t realiz e tha t his fac e wa s actuall y pal e green . Th e mas k i n th e nicknam e wa s th e re d scarf ove r his face durin g his first robbery . Literature and Arts Herethro y sing , all kind s o f song s fro m epic s tha t tak e a mont h of evening s t o perform , t o quic k dittie s compose d i n on e moment , sun g th e second , an d forgotte n th e third . Th e substan ­ tial piece s ar e writte n b y whol e villages. Othe r specie s find som e o f th e favorit e subjects tedious: th e full histor y o f a village , wit h eac h house-raisin g an d cro p o f a thousan d years remembered . Diet Herethro y ar e stric t herbivore s b y biology ; the y ca n digest mil k an d eggs, bu t no t mea t o r fish; the y als o canno t digest ra w root vegetables. The y prefe r t o ea t on e hug e mea l a day , i n th e evening , compose d o f a doze n o r s o differen t dishes. Th e universa l Herethro y staple s ar e plue, a stick y spice d porridg e o f groun d hos h grain , an d tarrissy, a sala d o f pungen t leave s i n lon g thi n shreds. Eac h Herethro y villag e ha s its ow n distinctiv e styl e o f plu e an d tarrissy , a ke y sig n o f th e village's identity . Psyche and Etiquette Herethro y ar e usuall y calm , t o th e poin t o f placidity . Whe n the y ar e excited , the y tr y no t t o sho w it. I n villages, the y ar e conservativ e an d collective . The y resist chang e t o th e existin g order, eve n if th e chang e woul d b e for th e better. Fe w villagers ar e willin g t o ac t o n their own , o r eve n express a stron g opinion ; a n y issu e a s mino r a s makin g anothe r chai r for th e villag e must b e brough t ou t for discussio n an d contemplatio n a t th e evenin g gathering . (Cynic s sa y this is becaus e villag e lif e is s o dul l tha t the y hav e t o mak e th e least thin g exciting.) Approva l o r disap ­ prova l is expresse d i n th e mildest o f ways : a Herethro y migh t say, "Th e ide a is good " t o mea n passionat e support , o r "It is a n ide a whic h is good " t o mea n passionat e opposition . Thes e phrase s ar e develope d ove r generations; eve n Herethro y fro m t h e nex t villag e ove r listenin g i n hav e littl e ide a wha t is goin g o n until th e decisio n is announced . Herethro y wh o hav e left th e villag e ar e muc h different. Onc e the y realiz e their freedom , the y ma y reac t wildly . Man y start off extravagantl y willfu l an d obstinate , an d tak e th e mos t ridiculou s risk s casually . Mos t o f the m cal m dow n afte r a fe w misadven ­ tures, thoug h rarel y t o th e poin t o f prope r Herethro y calm . Variation Herethro y feature s resembl e crickets, mantises, o r beetles. Ther e ar e a thousan d Herethro y breeds, differin g i n coloratio n a n d details o f feature . Difference s betwee n breed s ar e mor e extrem e tha n for othe r primes; man y breed s loo k lik e differen t species. Herethro y ma y o r ma y no t car e abou t matters o f breed . Villagers ten d t o b e conservative , preferrin g their ow n bree d to all others. Citydwellers ten d t o b e less concerned . Herethroy Opinions of Other Species Cani : Herethro y ge t alon g wit h Cani , withou t particula r fric ­ tio n o r trouble , if withou t an y grea t affection . Gormoror : Th e peacefu l Herethro y ar e baffle d b y an d fearfu l o f th e warlik e Gormoror . The y hav e littl e i n common . I n som e

place s Gormoro r rai d Herethroy , an d ther e th e Herethro y hat e them ; i n othe r place s the y d o not , and ther e th e Herethro y ar e gla d enoug h t o trad e wit h them . Herethroy : Herethro y lik e their fello w villagers ver y wel l indeed , i n general . The y lea m t o lik e othe r Herethro y fairl y fast. Adventurin g Herethro y mak e the m nervous, though . Khtsoyis : Herethro y don' t lik e Khtsoyis ver y much . Khtsoyis hav e littl e respec t for Herethro y traditions, an d ar e a s likel y t o b e cheatin g o r robbin g th e Herethro y a s helpin g them . Orren : Herethro y an d Orre n hav e amicabl e relation s o n th e whole : Orre n ar e peacefu l enoug h fo r Herethroy . Th e mor e con ­ servativ e Herethro y find th e Orre n enthusias m an d volatilit y rathe r disturbing . Rassimel : Herethro y hav e littl e i n commo n wit h th e city - dwellin g Rassimel . Whe n the y d o meet , it's usuall y commercia l - th e Rassime l trading fo r Herethro y produc e - an d it's usuall y cordia l enough . Whe n the y d o manag e t o find som e basis for a friendship , the y ca n b e quit e close . Sleeth : Herethro y o n th e whol e don' t lik e Sleeth . Sleet h ofte n stea l Herethro y animals, an d hav e a reputatio n (mostl y false ) for huntin g Herethro y people . Sleet h ar e dangerou s predators wit h n o respec t fo r Herethro y rights. Z i Ri : Herethro y admir e an d ar e impresse d b y Z i Ri . Whe n a Z i R i visits a Herethro y village , ther e ar e constan t festivals, an d a grea t dea l o f storytellin g an d feasting . I am Sir^ Bloodslash of Cavamber, knight of the Order of Incandescence, Protector of Upper Snappyham and Lower Snappyham and Green Willow, and almost a thousand of my own species living in those three towns. Two dozen other titles, some of them long and impressive to hear, but those are the ones that matter. I usually fight rapier and shield and quarterstaff a nice conservative style that works beautifully for defense. I've also got a good hand with the Cruel Ice Fairy spell, for a vicious expendable little water elemental by my side - someone to be aggressive when I'm being defensive. I once fought the Gormoror hero Alvorix to a standstill with that combination. Once in a while I use three rapiers and a shield: damned awkward, but with that many points usually something hits. I'm a middle-ranked knight, which is about the limit of my ambition. Another town or two would be just fine. Much beyond that and I'd be into the airy upper realms of the Order of Incandescence, where those long impressive titles start being all that the great knights care about - titles, and how Incandescence defeated Radiant Spire but lost to Red Chitin. Out here, with the edge of the world two miles from Lower Snappyham, with the occasional nrex or ice-bat wandering into my towns'fields needing killing, I can see what really matters. It's the villages I protect that count: farmers and tanners, elders and children, trees and hosh fields and goats and slink-chickens. I keep a thousand Herethroy safe, me and four helpers, and if we charge a high fee for it, well, we're the Order of Incandescence and we're better trained and better armed, more disciplined and more experienced than five adventurers picked out of some tavern in a slimy part of town somewhere. — Sir Bloodslash, Herethroy knight Bloodslash is a co-lover. In zir order, all Herethroy (below the higher ranks) get the same title. There are two other titles, differing only in a vowel sound: one for Cani, one for everyone else. Giving different titles on the basis of species (rather than gender as might be done terrestrially) is fairly common. It may or may not imply any preference or prejudice.

KHTSOYI S I'm Dancing Wow. Wowdle Hempenfroth for real, but only m'aged mother calls me that. Dancing Wow. Best Khtsoyis dancer onna whole branch. I work for Egnoster Chesewick. When I say "work" I don't mean any particular kind of work. I just, well, work. One week I'll be loading crates up with carved little wooden boxes. Next week I'm makin' sure nobody bothers Egnoster. Week after I'm workin' the Gray Goose, drumming a little three-club dance music on the heads of guys had too much to drink. Best story I've got? This crazy Rassimel guy Halamoon, he gets into this big fight with this Cani family. Somehow he gets howly poison, greases up this ugly metal knife real good, enchants it like the dashitzie, and sends it off to Valen Antorron wrapped like a birthday present. But Valen lives, see, and now Halamoon has a thousand Cani choofin' t'see which one can roast his tail up first. So Halamoon holes up in this old place in the Verticals. Brick walls, old traps, solid magic. Hires a bunch of us to guard him. He's one scary Rassimel, y'know? Won't let us drink a thing 'til we're off duty. Got to have all the traps made and all the traps armed, and if you wanna go out get a breath of air it's such a shouting as you've never heard about getting past the traps. So we're in there, bracing for this big fight. Cani get this Zi Rifire wizard t'come, and this big Herethroy guy with a curly magic horn spear, all kinds of scary people. Here we are with mostly these Orren guys, they don't have the best character you've ever seen if you ask me and I should know, and Halamoon, and me. Bracing for this big fight, like we're in some kind of trouble. And y'know what? The Cani 'n Zi Ri, they buy us out. That's right. They buy us out. Five hundred lozens each not to fight a battle. And the Orren get their way paid to go to Barency. So we get our wages for the time we was there from Halamoon, then we go get the five hundred from the Zi Ri, then off we go. I'd've given anything to see the look on Halamoon's face! Anything but the five hundred, yah. -- Wowdle Hempenfroth, Khtsoyis tough

Khtsoyis (pronounce d "Kut-SOY-iss" ) ar e th e mos t monstrou s o f th e prim e species: floatin g heptapods, brutis h an d strong . Thei r passion s are coars e an d violent : a da y spen t drinkin g an d clubbin g peopl e t o deat h is a da y well-spent . The y ar e stupi d b u t tricky . The y ca n hide , quie t an d unseen , changin g their colo r for camouflage ; whe n the y catc h you , the y ca n clu b yo u wit h thre e club s a t once , o r dra g yo u int o th e air an d dro p you . If yo u blast the m wit h a spell , the y wil l hea l themselves. A t th e best , the y ar e good-nature d toughs; the y kno w their plac e - an d their plac e is poundin g you r enemie s flat. A t th e worst , the y ar e low - grad e commo n criminals poundin g yo u flat. The y ar e a t th e bott o m o f civilize d society , an d lik e it tha t way . Mos t Khtsoyis liv e o n th e Flats an d mak e their livin g violently, a s thugs o r gangsters o r guard s o r polic e o r adventurers. A f e w liv e i n th e Verticals an d mak e their livin g a s bandits o r worse . Appearance Khtsoyis are floatin g heptapods: seve n five-foot tentacle s unde r a baglik e egg-shape d body-hea d tw o t o thre e fee t in diam ­ eter. The y hav e five eyes, o n short eyestalk s just abov e th e ten ­ tacles; they ca n se e u p an d down , an d aroun d i n all directions. Khtsoyis hav e tw o mouths . Th e eatin g mout h is a t th e junc ­ tur e o f th e tentacles, wit h seve n bi g roug h beak-teet h coverin g som e smal l disgusting-lookin g tendrils an d organ s insid e whic h a r e use d fo r eating , excretion , an d reproduction . Khtsoyis gen ­ erall y kee p th e eatin g mout h closed . Th e talkin g mout h is lik e a slas h o n th e sid e o f th e bag , use d mainl y fo r talking . Th e tongu e o f th e talkin g mout h ca n tast e an d smell , thoug h badl y eve n b y huma n standards. Khtsoyis ca n bit e a victi m an d insul t hi m a t t h e sam e time . T h e ears ar e smal l an d hidde n o n th e bag . Khtsoyis voice s ar e l o w an d gravely , an d the y paus e for breat h ever y fe w words . Khtsoyis weig h abou t a hundre d pounds , o r woul d if the y weren' t levitating . Thei r ski n is smoot h an d warm , an d a s toug h a s goo d leather. Th e tents hav e conceale d suckers: place s wher e smoot h ski n ca n stretc h t o b e a suctio n cup . The y ma y chang e their ski n colo r a t will , t o an y dul l color. Khtsoyis levitate . Thei r powe r o f levitatio n is no t magical ; it is simpl y a propert y o f livin g Khtsoyis bodies. The y ma y float in plac e indefinitely , eve n i n th e presenc e o f a moderat e wind . The y ma y drift aroun d slowl y (half o f typica l bipe d walkin g speed ) wit h th e sam e minima l effort tha t biped s exert t o walk . The y ca n mov e mor e quickl y wit h moderat e menta l effort, bu t o n their ow n the y ar e usuall y slowe r tha n bipeds. The y ca n pul l themselve s fro m tent-hol d t o tent-hol d a t running speed s whe n t h e terrai n permits. Khtsoyis hav e tw o genders, mal e an d femal e i n equa l num ­ bers. Khtsoyis ca n tell th e gende r o f othe r Khtsoyis b y smal l difference s i n appearanc e an d persona l style , an d Can i an d Sleet h ca n b y scent ; othe r specie s rarel y lea m t o tell. Whe n they ar e playing , the y wea r ridiculous outfits: swath s o f clot h lik e extr a tentacles, belts an d hats o n their body-heads, gaud y ambe r tentacle-rings, an d their ow n color-changin g powe r doin g somethin g bizarr e underneat h it all. Whe n the y ar e huntin g o r adventuring , the y wea r littl e bu t a harness. Social Structure Khtsoyis ar e adaptable . Thei r psyche s ar e a s boneless a s their bodies, an d the y ca n squir m int o the od d corners o f whateve r societ y the y find themselve s in. I n th e wild , the y liv e i n small ­ i s h band s - half a doze n Khtsoyis, plu s a fe w children . Ihe y pre ­ f e r t o liv e i n civilize d places, ofte n i n th e emplo y o f someon e , wh o need s their specia l talents. Khtsoyis hav e n o particula r instincts o r personalit y traits t o mak e the m trustworthy . The y ten d t o b e pett y criminals. However , their creativit y an d ambitio n ar e limited , an d their crime s ten d t o b e spur-of-the-momen t mugging s an d intimida ­ tions. This, b y som e perversit y o f fate , make s the m mor e acceptabl e i n civilizatio n tha n th e Sleeth , wh o ar e considere d intellectuall y an d emotionall y capabl e o f doin g almost anything . S o , Khtsoyis find employmen t wher e strength , violence , stu ­ pidity , an d levitatio n ar e valued . Ric h peopl e an d noble s i n man y place s find it worthwhil e t o hav e a fe w Khtsoyis guards, i n liverie s o f clot h an d ambe r floatin g a t attentio n aroun d their mansions . Bank s an d bars hir e Khtsoyis guards. Khtsoyis wh o wan t t o wor k harde r mak e excellen t stevedores, grabbin g hug e boxe s an d floating the m around . Mos t Khtsoyis ar e reasonabl y loya l t o peopl e wh o pa y an d trea t the m well . Khtsoyis enjo y fighting wit h word s a s muc h a s wit h clubs, an d in th e sam e way . The y shou t crud e insults a t everyone , an d expec t th e sam e i n return . It is har d t o ange r a Khtsoyis b y word s alone . Khtsoyis romanc e is fairl y limite d i n scope . Khtsoyis mak e passe s a t everyone , regardless o f species, gender, o r plausibility ; f e w bu t othe r Khtsoyis respon d favorably . (Eve n if on e is attracte d b y th e embrac e o f man y tentacles, a n affair wit h a Khtsoyis wil l rarel y hel p one's socia l standing.) Khtsoyis usu ­ all y find othe r Khtsoyis mate s eventually ; their marriage s ar e abou t equa l parts mutua l affectio n an d mutua l violence . Khtsoyis ar e bor n singl y an d live , a s tin y cut e one-inc h hep ­ tapod s wit h a propensit y for wavin g toothpicks. Pregnancie s ar e abou t tw o years long , bu t d o no t inconvenienc e th e mother . Names Khtsoyis generall y hav e tw o names , a persona l nam e followe d b y a famil y name : Blawze r Rankscraffle , Squirn s Cratchmenard , Wex-we x Peersmackett . Man y Khtsoyis us e nickname s (Killclub , Whong , Pineapples) , whic h the y chang e if t h e la w starts t o catc h u p t o them . Surprisingly , it occasionall y works. Literature Khtsoyis literature , o n th e whole , consists o f uninspire d exag ­ gerate d storie s o f fighting , mating , plundering , eating , an d drinking . The y sometime s com e u p wit h ver y creativ e name s for their weapons . Intellect Khtsoyis hav e a reputatio n fo r bein g stupid , bu t they're no t a s stupi d a s their reputatio n woul d suggest . The y are , o n th e average , a bit less intelligen t tha n th e othe r prim e species, bu t if on e coul d arrang e a completel y honest test, th e differenc e woul d b e barel y larg e enoug h t o measure . And , o f course , hal f th e Khtsoyis ar e abov e th e Khtsoyis average , an d som e o f the m ar e quit e smar t indeed . Khtsoyis generall y ac t stupide r tha n the y actuall y are . Mos t o f the m wouldn' t ge t an y advantag e i n seemin g smart . Prim e socie t y is alread y uncomfortabl e wit h Khtsoyis around ; if it wa s generall y acknowledge d that Khtsoyis wer e almost a s intelligen t a s Sleeth , tha t woul d just increas e th e prejudice . Actin g stupi d is a kin d o f defense , a menta l protectiv e col-

oratio n analogou s t o Khtsoyis color-shifting . Nobod y bothers callin g i n Khtsoyis witnesses, they'r e dum b an d unreliabl e - an d M) Khtsoyis rarel y hav e t o testif y against eac h other. Nobod y suspects tha t Herobas h ca n mak e an y plans, s o h e doesn' t hav e to - o r h e ca n wor k o n a privat e long-ter m pla n withou t anyon e bein g th e wiser. Diet Khtsoyis ea t almost anything , preferabl y i n hug e quantities: a Khtsoyis ca n ea t twent y pound s o f foo d a t a sitting , barel y sho w it, an d b e bac k a t regula r weigh t b y th e nex t evening . The y drin k eve n mor e than the y eat, foam y bitte r beers an d thic k stick y narcoti c tea . The y ca n g o for week s o n a quarte r o f th e foo d tha t othe r specie s need , an d suffe r n o ill effects. Moral Attitudes Khtsoyis ar e mor e evi l tha n good , bu t no t ver y devote d t o cither. The y ten d t o b e greed y a n d selfish ; the y enjo y fighting, an d man y enjo y tortur e for its ow n sake . The y giv e their loyalt y casually , an d the y usuall y don' t bothe r t o chang e it. The y rarel y hav e an y gran d plans. If Khtsoyis fall amon g reasonabl y goo d companions , the y will b e reasonabl y good ; if the y fall amon g evi l compan ­ ions, the y wil l quit e hap ­ pil y b e evil . Don' t expec t a lo t ou t o f you r averag e Khtsoyis, an d yo u won' t b e disappointed . Variation Khtsoyis ten d t o loo k mor e simila r tha n mos t othe r spe ­ cies. Ther e ar e variation s o f head-shap e an d arrangemen t o f tentacles. Som e Khtsoyis hav e a coverin g o f shor t spike s o n their heads. Khtsoyis d o not, i n general , pa y muc h attentio n t o this. Khtsoyis Opinion of Other Species Cani : Khtsoyis usuall y lik e Cani . No t for a n y goo d reason , excep t mayb e that the y mak e goo d bosses. Gormoror : Khtsoyis lik e Gormoro r the best o f all t h e prim e species: bot h o f the m lov e t o fight. Mai n proble m is, th e Gormoro r car e wh o win s to o much . Herethroy : Khtsoyis thin k Herethro y ar e ugl y an d annoying , an d wis h the y wouldn' t sin g all th e time . Nois y bugs! Khtsoyis : Khtsoyis lik e Khtsoyis prett y well . The y kno w wha t fu n is. Orren : Khtsoyis lik e Orre n fo r abou t thre e days. Orre n kno w h o w t o party . The n th e Orre n g o d o somethin g else . That's a pain . Rassimel : Khtsoyis don' t car e muc h fo r Rassimel . They'r e no t muc h fan . They'l l wor k fo r Rassime l if th e Rassime l pa y well . Sleeth : Khtsoyis ar e a bi t nervou s o f Sleeth . Sleet h ar e alway s sneakin g aroand . They'r e kin d o f lik e Khtsoyis, excep t they'r e smart . Yetch . Z i Ri : Khtsoyis mostl y lik e Z i Ri . They'r e alway s a bit suspiciou s tha t th e Z i R i ar e havin g a jok e a t their expens e though . I run the Thieves' Guild in Treverre. The name is ironic. We are not a guild, though we enjoy a few guild-like perquisites. We do not steal from citizens of Treverre, just from foreigners. Neither do we shit in our own beds. Mainly we steal from foreign merchants who deal miserly with Treverran merchants. The city guard knows us - knows me in particular - and we frequently help foreigners retrieve their lostments, for a modest and reasonable fee. I would say that a third of the professional thieves in Treverre are in my organization. Most of the rest work with Styvie or Amaraxco or Thunt or the Honest Man. The remainder are scum who steal from their neighbors to buy their bread and dried fish; when we find such, we beat them or give them to the city guards. I, personally, started out as a city guard. I resigned before there were any questions about my nighttime activities - which, as it happens, I was not doing. But there is only so far an ambitious Khtsoyis can advance in the city guards. And yes, I c'n bant the cant, y'know, broad as any shoggy onna branch. And I c'n club you down and puskyou up and pancake you out flat as the dashitzie, y'runky little furball, so never lisp or whisper I'm too proud t'be Khtsoyis just 'cause I c'n talk up the fine fancy talk t'th'fine fancy lumperclumpers. — Egnoster Chesewick. Khtsoyis crime lord

ORRE N I'm Dragonlace: an Orren woman every inch of me, and a few inches that aren't part of me anymore. I study at the Academy of the Glorious Sun. This term I'm concentrating on Pyrador and Enchantment. I got interested in Pyrador when I was working a bit with this fire-mage Zi Ri guy. Pyrador is really interesting. Working with fire isn't a bit like working with water (last term I studied Aquador a lot). You might think they were similar because they're both so intangible andfluidly, so un-alive and so forceful, but they're not. Aquador is slow and sleepy. It doesn't want to do anything. It'd really rather just lie there and pour downhill. Just think of some huge old vegetarian anaconda, it's like that. Pyrador, now, that's quick and exciting. And dangerous. It won't sit still. It'll reach out with flickery red arms and catch on you, if you let it and maybe even if you don't. It's sneaky and quick and tricky. They say the fire god is like a cat, 'cause it's so cruel, but I'd say Flokin's a weasel instead, all quick and tricky and sharp. Oh, and the Enchantment. You see I don't have much of a left arm. I lost it at Valen's birthday party. Valen had this enemy, you see, at Hellestew - my enemy too, since I'd made him cry milk for a week - and he sent us this package with a dagger, all poisonous and with a nasty Mentador spell on it. A friend of mine had to cut off my arm to keep me from dying of poison. Much ouch. Anyway, I want to make myself a new arm! Not just some healer's trick to get my old arm back and cost me a year's tuition, but a whole new enchanted arm. Made out of water. I've been thinking of fire, how that'd be a quicker trickier arm, but picking things up is kind of the point of an arm don't you think? Water can be solid enough. And I've got a way to do it so that I could put a live fish inside. Professor Hastrobaldus said it would be too hard for a student to do, but Ifound a sneaky trick and I got a Grace of Merklundum. So I'm doing this arm for my term project next semester. Convenient and original and quite the mark of a sorceress of note. — Dragonlace, Orren sorcery student

Orre n ar e otterfolk , shape-shiftin g water-people . O n land , the y ar e humanoi d otters (o r ferrets, rats, mice , beavers, o r th e like). I n th e water, the y shrink , their limb s shorte n an d their fingers web , an d the y tak e th e actua l shap e o f otters, larg e o r small . Orre n ar e smar t an d enthusiastic . Thei r enthusiasm s ar e a s variabl e a s their shape , o r th e wate r the y love . A n Orre n migh t collec t shells wit h a Rassimel's fanaticis m on e week , trad e th e whol e collectio n for a fe w cantrip s th e nex t week , the n forge t abou t graftin g the m an d joi n som e cul t for a fe w days, the n giv e u p o n th e whol e thin g an d tak e tw o week s off t o g o fishing. That's th e stereotype , a t least. It's certainl y tru e tha t Orre n pic k up ne w thing s ver y quickly , an d mos t switc h interests frequently. They'r e generall y playful , wild , easygoing , an d casual , i n som e combination . Som e ar e mor e easygoin g tha n enthusiastic , spendin g their whol e lif e fishing, sleeping , singing , an d bein g river-bums. Others spen d their whol e lif e i n a ma d rac e fro m interest t o interest , startin g a differen t ne w hobb y eac h week , alway s excite d abou t something . Man y balanc e thes e tenden ­ cies, jugglin g a doze n o r s o majo r hobbies, alway s doin g some ­ thin g differen t fro m last wee k bu t th e sam e a s last year. Orre n ar e fairl y friendl y o n th e whole , i n a casua l way . The y becom e reasonabl y goo d friend s wit h everyon e i n th e are a who's willin g - bu t don' t miss the m to o muc h whe n the y leave . A s adventurers, Orre n hav e a fe w usefu l advantages. Whe n stressed , the y ofte n ente r a wild rush o f freneti c activity , movin g ver y quickl y an d ver y inaccurately . Orre n ca n influenc e shapeshiftin g spells cast upo n them : weakenin g one s the y d o no t want , strengthenin g one s the y d o want . Orre n ar e har d t o hol d (in wrestling) , bu t relativel y eas y t o knoc k out . The y als o mov e a bit faste r tha n mos t othe r bipeds. Appearance T h e Orre n land-for m is otterfolk : fairl y huma n bu t furre d bod ­ ies, otterlik e heads, bi g taperin g tails. The y rang e fro m abou t fou r an d a hal f t o si x fee t tall. The y hav e coars e brow n fur abou t t w o inche s long , touche d wit h th e Orren's natura l oil, whic h usu ­ all y lie s flat o n th e Orren's body . Thei r scen t is musk y an d com ­ fortable . Mos t Orre n hav e a fe w markings, spots o r stripe s o f whit e o r gol d o r black . Thei r fingers ar e lon g an d strong , wit h short blun t claw s a t th e tips. Bot h sexe s hav e workin g nipple s a n d suckl e th e children . Thei r mor e intimat e parts ar e internal , conceale d whe n th e Orre n is nude : a goo d thing , becaus e Orre n ofte n are . A doze n clue s giv e awa y th e Orren's gender : th e shap e o f hip s an d belly , th e tilt o f th e eyes, th e curl o f th e tail. Orre n eye s ar e brigh t an d brown ; their whiskers longe r an d stiffer tha n an y othe r prim e species. Thei r ears ar e smal l an d round , an d ca n b e flattene d a t will . Thei r tails ar e long , reach ­ i n g almost t o th e ground , an d tape r fro m a wid e flat bas e t o a point y tip . A n Orren's wate r for m look s lik e a smaller, aquati c versio n o f t h e lan d form : Orre n wit h ferre t stylin g loo k lik e furr y water - snakes. It's no t a majo r change , excep t i n size . Thei r arm s an d leg s shorten . Thei r hand s an d fee t becom e paws , webbin g betwee n th e toes. The y ge t sleeke r an d mor e streamlined . Thei r oil y fur shed s water, an d their ears li e flat whe n the y swim . Orre n wh o d o no t wis h t o chang e t o land - o r water-for m ca n resist th e chang e easily , wit h onl y a littl e attention . Dumpin g wate r o n Orre n warriors wil l distrac t the m a touc h mor e tha n it woul d non-Orren , bu t the y won' t tur n t o water-for m an d dro p their weapons . Orre n ca n als o chang e partiall y - typicall y takin g a n otte r for m wit h hands, s o the y ca n wor k mor e effectivel y unde r water. Partia l changin g take s mor e attentio n tha n completel y resistin g changing , bu t still isn't ver y hard . Orre n usuall y wea r loose , flowing clothin g tha t flows around the m lik e water : skirts, cloaks, wid e tunics. Tigh t clothes, revealin g th e outline s o f th e body , ar e considere d provocative ; t h e weare r is likel y t o ge t som e mixtur e o f teasin g an d flirting . Whe n they'r e workin g nea r water, the y generall y prefe r clothe s tha t ca n b e take n off quickl y - someon e shouts "Splas h time! " a n d all th e Orre n stri p an d div e int o th e water, an d th e last per ­ s o n i n gets chase d an d tickled . Man y Orre n d o enjo y formalwea r (whe n they'r e awa y fro m th e water) : elegan t elaborat e suits o f fine cloth , complicate d whit e wigs, magica l spark s o n their whiskers, an d s o on . Social Structure Orre n ofte n liv e i n smal l families, clustere d i n smal l villages. Familie s consist o f abou t 2- 4 adults an d 1-5 children . Orre n w h o liv e i n familie s shar e th e unavoidabl e responsibilitie s o f life , takin g car e o f th e children , tendin g t o business, writin g thank-yo u note s - th e thing s tha t migh t b e neglecte d fo r a wee k o r tw o whe n on e individua l gets to o intereste d i n somethin g new . Famil y member s trust eac h othe r deepl y whe n it counts. (Nobod y shoul d trust a n Orre n to o muc h abou t unimportan t things, bu t the y d o wor k a t th e importan t ones.) The y migh t o r migh t no t b e lovers, parents o f th e childre n i n th e family , busi ­ ness partners, o r an y o f th e othe r thing s tha t commonl y g o wit h marriag e elsewhere . Orre n familie s ar e long-term , bu t fluid ; member s ma y com e an d g o ever y fe w years, althoug h man y familie s last a lifetime o r more . Orre n lov e childre n dearly : their own , othe r Orren's, othe r primes' , o r eve n bab y animals. Th e mor e responsibl e one s mak e goo d parents, cautiou s bu t allowin g their childre n t o lea m o r explore . Th e less responsibl e one s mak e goo d craz y aunts an d uncles. T h e archetypa l Orre n villag e is small , a fe w doze n families, sprea d alon g th e edg e o f a lak e o r bot h bank s o f a river. Everyon e fishes: enoug h fish t o eat, enoug h t o trade . Hal f th e Orre n don' t d o muc h bu t fishing , swimmin g fo r fun , lyin g i n th e sun , playin g musi c wit h mor e enthusias m tha n skill, an d bein g river-bums. "N o har m i n that, " th e Orre n say , "s o lon g a s every ­ one's happy. " Th e rest wil l pic k u p od d interests, bits o f magi c a n d craft an d lor e an d whatnot : makin g mor e money , traveling t o othe r parts o f th e world-branch , an d s o on . This kin d o f Orre n villag e doesn' t hav e an y kin d o f forma l leadership . They'l l mee t ever y fe w month s a s necessar y t o organiz e for projects, lik e dredgin g th e river. Orre n livin g i n mixed-specie s citie s ar e a bit sharpe r - becaus e t h e lazie r Orre n wil l usuall y g o liv e i n a river-village , wher e th e fishing is bette r an d th e compan y is all Orren . Cit y Orre n tak e a bi t o f Rassime l style , an d a bit o f Can i style , an d mi x it wit h village-Orre n style . They'l l alway s kee p a fe w interests sim ­ merin g around , they'l l alway s b e th e first t o pic k u p ne w idea s o r style s tha t sho w u p i n th e cit y - bu t they'l l als o b e sur e t o wor k a t their jobs, a t least mos t o f th e time . Orre n ar e considere d th e mos t balance d o f th e prim e species: n o t a s fanatica l a s Rassimel , no t a s influence d b y persona l mat ­ ters a s Cani , mor e activ e tha n Herethroy , mor e honest tha n Khtsoyis, mor e peacefu l tha n Sleet h o r Gormoror , mor e under ­ standabl e tha n Z i Ri . Orre n frequentl y win d u p i n office s wher e balanc e is important : a s judge s an d othe r mino r an d medium -

leve l officials; the y kno w ho w t o balanc e humo r an d seriou s ness, societa l an d persona l needs, merc y an d justice . Names Orre n name s ten d t o b e wil d an d playful . Ther e aren' t man y commo n Orre n names . Man y concer n wate r (Ripple , Wavey , Sanssasplash ) o r activit y (Jig , Chip-Cho p Chimney) , bu t others are simpl y fancifu l (Plentywitty , Frippin , Mabrador) . Orre n ar e reasonabl y likel y t o ge t bore d o f their nam e an d chang e it, usu ­ all y withou t tellin g you . Orre n officiall y hav e famil y name s tha t don' t change , bu t don' t coun t o n the m respondin g t o them . It's usuall y polit e t o ask , "Ar e yo u th e Eelpoo l wh o use d t o b e name d Handrabank?" . Art and Literature Orre n literatur e is th e mos t popula r o n Worl d Tree . If some ­ o n e like s anothe r species' writing , it's probabl y Orre n writing . Ther e isn't a species-specifi c styl e - excep t tha t Orre n ten d t o writ e shor t stories. Mos t Orre n don' t hav e th e psychi c distanc e t o finish writin g a novel . Diet Orre n are omnivores. They'r e perfectl y happ y o n a die t o f fish a n d whateve r fruits an d water-weed s they ca n gather; bu t they'l l e a t anythin g tha t th e othe r prime s eat. Orre n ea t a lot, a thir d o r hal f agai n wha t Can i o r Rassime l need . Orre n aren't tha t partic ­ ula r abou t whe n their meals are ; they'l l usuall y ea t thre e o r fou r time s durin g th e day . Moral Attitudes Orre n sometime s don' t care , an d sometime s car e abou t mino r topic s fanaticall y an d shiftingly . The y ar e rarel y prejudiced , usuall y willin g t o se e all side s o f a matter. The y ar e ofte n willi n g t o dro p wha t they'r e doin g an d hel p ou t fo r a wee k o r tw o in a worth y (o r worthless) cause . They'r e friendl y an d moderatel y helpfu l withou t bein g demanding , o r requirin g som e carefu l argumen t o r elaborat e socia l connection . The y don' t hav e an y innat e activ e mora l issues: nothin g lik e Sleet h cruelt y o r Khtsoyis criminalit y o r Gormoro r violence . B u t they're als o no t ver y committed . Afte r a wee k o r two , they'l l ge t bore d an d sto p helpin g - eve n if th e proble m isn't solved . The y don' t kee p promise s ver y well , especiall y mino r promises. The y ar e errati c correspondents. Variation T h e standar d Orre n is otterlike , bu t ther e ar e breed s tha t cove r a rang e includin g seals, beavers, weasels, an d eve n ferrets. Individuals wit h unusua l stylin g ar e mor e commo n tha n for man y othe r species, wit h surprisin g colors o r stripes. Orre n rarel y worr y abou t breeds. Orren Opinions of Other Species Cani : Orre n lik e Cani , especiall y a t first. Orre n wil l happil y mak e friend s wit h Cani , enjo y visits wit h eac h others' families, pla y wit h eac h others' children . Afte r a while , Orren-Can i friendship s run int o trouble . Th e Can i wil l wan t t o mak e th e friendshi p deeper, som e kin d o f intens e loyalty . Th e Orre n don' t naturall y hav e tha t dept h o f friendship . Eac h pai r o f friend s finds som e wa y t o wor k it ou t - usuall y wit h th e Orre n feelin g a b it pressured , th e Can i a bi t un-loved , and eac h recognizin g th e other's side . Gormoror : Orre n ten d no t t o lik e Gormoror . Gormoro r crav e violenc e an d glory , whic h fe w Orre n car e about . Orre n ten d t o enjo y Gormoro r bards, though . Herethroy : Ther e is n o natura l basis fo r an y stron g relation ­ shi p betwee n Orre n an d Herethroy , neithe r stron g friendshi p no r stron g enmity . Th e Orre n coun t this a s a goo d thing . They'l l b e friendl y wit h Herethro y whe n th e Herethro y ar e around , an d no t worr y abou t it whe n they'r e not . Khtsoyis : Orre n don' t particularl y lik e Khtsoyis. The y don' t hav e muc h i n common . Khtsoyis lik e pickin g o n Orren , espe ­ ciall y th e smal l wea k ones. Orren : Orre n lik e Orre n ver y well . Orre n kno w whe n t o ge t wild , an d whe n t o relax . Rassimel : Orre n generall y lik e Rassimel , bu t thos e friend ­ ship s ar e a bi t mor e trouble d tha n Orren-Can i friendships. Orre n hav e quic k intens e bursts o f interest ; whe n they matc h u p wit h t h e Rassimel's long-ter m intens e obsessions, th e tw o ar e th e closest o f friends. Whe n th e Orren's interests change , th e rela ­ tionshi p ends, o r nearl y - t o b e renewe d whe n th e Orre n gets intereste d i n tha t topi c again , o r a t least is willin g t o tal k abou t it. Sleeth : River-bu m Orre n ge t alon g wit h Sleet h fairl y well ; they'll shar e huntin g an d casua l company , tradin g storie s an d songs, sleepin g i n th e sun . Mor e seriou s Orre n ten d t o distrust Sleeth . Sleet h hav e exaggerate d version s o f all th e worst Orre n personalit y traits, plu s a viciou s strea k tha t scare s th e relativel y peacefu l Orren . Sleet h kitten s sometime s hurt Orre n pups, whic h upsets th e Orre n greatly . Z i Ri : Orre n aren' t a s impresse d wit h th e Z i R i a s most o f th e othe r specie s ar e - or, a t least, Orre n don' t ac t ver y impresse d eve n if the y ar e impressed . The y usuall y trea t Z i Ri wit h th e sam e kin d o f eas y friendshi p and agreeabl e non-respec t tha t the y trea t anyon e else . Som e Zi Ri enjo y this. Som e hat e it. I'm Marika! This is my son Ripple! Right now we're adventurers! I've done all kinds of things before that. I used to bind spells at the fair. I did special packages, like a hairstyling spell and a smell-nice spell and a contraceptive spell. That sold really well! I got bored with working the fairs, so I married Hashmy, and we fished for eels and river-glistens in the lakes around Troutany Tappa, and had my first two children, and were gloriously happy. I had a little catering business, too. When the children were six and eight, I started working on the side, copying spells out for this spellseller in Rare. Then, let's see, I married Frippin, and had Ripple and his older sister Jade, and Hashmy married Arkathia. I worked for a while doing art with Arkathia, but she only wants to do art that nobody can understand, and I think that's silly, so I wound up taking care of her daughter too while she was carving faces in logs and filling their eyes up with feathers and fishbones. Then I got a letter from my grandmother Ilex. She's up in Ketheria, two branches away right at the top of the tree, and she wants to see Ripple for awful secret scary reasons. Oh, and she sent along a magic sword. No chance I'm going to just put my ten-year-old son on a skyboat and tell him to go to Ketheria! Well, Frippin bought me a Cruel Ice Fairy spell as a going-away present, and I strapped that sword on my hip just as if I'd ever used one in my life, and I hooked up with some other people trying to get to Ketheria in a hurry, and off we went! —Marika, Orren adventuress and mother

RASSIMEL I'm Canvidere - Canvidere Olldm, from Treverre. I've got a shop on Old Owl Street, a little place between Nor berry's bakery and the-restaurant-that-changes-every-year-or-two. I'm a taxidermist. I'm most famous for the time I stuffed a venom bear for Countess Shelvida Cannes. More than one famous nobleman had to get dry pants after it got out of its cage, let me tell you! Of course the Countess and I had planned the whole thing. She bought me the spell-of-animation-of-stuffed-animals especially for the occasion. Most of my specimens aren't quite so active as that one. Usually they don't do more than raise their heads and growl at intruders, or cuddle up to you on a cold morning. They're all very good work, and the prices are very reasonable for very good work. Oh, yes, I can supply the specimens as well as stuff them. Not everything! I won't go hunting a nendrai or a jack o'hooks for you! But I did track down a whole remorshka for Garamatio, the grandson of Duke Marnio, over in Ovirucci. Don't think that he had a clawtip in the hunting of that huge-thing-with-theburning-tail between the stairs in his forest lodge! I'm quite proud of that hunt, actually-if-you-must-know. Garamatio offered me a flat fee for the taking and the stuffing, so I just hired one friend and one student from Hellestew Academy. I brought nine stuffed scorpion-dogs and that spell I got from Shelvida. The three of us sat in trees, and tangled the remorshka up in vines and paralyses and honey and all. The dogs fought 'til their stuffing was lying in piles all over the glade, and their hides were burned. Then we had to come down and finish the fight ourselves. Careful so as not to crack the shell beyond repair. It's not every hunter that blunts his sword to take on a remorshka, let me tell you! Oh, but of course I keep the best specimens for myself. Not that there's room for a remorshka in my little-apartment-overthe-bakery-oven, but have you ever seen a blossomary look this realistic in real life? Beautiful, simply beautiful, even-if-I-dosay-so-m'self. Now, what was it you were interested in, again? — Canvidere Olldm, Rassimel taxidermist

Rassime l ar e clever, obsessiv e raccoon-folk . A stereotypica l Rassime l ha s a singl e passio n i n life , an d devote s all availabl e tim e an d effort t o tha t passio n - b e it a s gran d a s explorin g ne w world-branche s o r defendin g a city, o r a s mundan e a s raisin g a famil y o r tendin g a grocer y store , o r a s bizarr e a s collectin g skulls o r visitin g ever y inhabite d world-branch . A s adventurers (o r otherwise) , Rassime l hav e th e fewest innat e advantage s o f th e prim e species. Thei r mai n advantag e is substantial , though : the y lea m muc h faste r tha n anyon e else . Sinc e the y typicall y concentrat e o n on e topic , Rassime l mak e u p mos t o f th e Worl d Tree's experts. Zi Ri , immortal , ca n lear n mor e i n a thousan d years tha n a Rassime l ca n i n a hundred : bu t t h e Z i R i ar e rare , an d Rassime l ar e common . Rassime l als o recove r quickl y fro m poison : no t fast enoug h t o d o anythin g abou t quick-actin g poisons, bu t if a poiso n doesn' t kill the m i n tw o hours they'l l b e fine. Appearance Rassime l are fairl y human , fou r t o five an d a hal f fee t tall, wit h a mixtur e o f raccoon . Thei r muzzle s ar e short an d compact , their ears smal l an d round , their fur short , their tails long . Th e class i c Rassime l is colore d i n blac k an d white , wit h a blac k mas k aroun d their eye s an d ringe d tail. Th e difference s betwee n male s a n d female s ar e roughl y th e sam e a s fo r humans . The y hav e short blun t finger- an d toe-claws. The y hav e n o circadia n rhythms, n o patter n t o whe n the y are awak e o r asleep ; the y ca n sta y awak e fo r a da y o r tw o o r three , unti l the y wan t t o sleep , the n slee p a s lon g a s the y like ; the y ar e a s likel y t o b e awak e i n th e nigh t a s i n the day . The y almost alway s wea r clothe s an d othe r decorations. Man y a r e determinedl y creativ e and individualisti c abou t their attire , concoctin g bizarr e costume s for themselves: vast feathere d turban s an d tail-streamers, spangle d ear-crests, jewele d fur-clips. Others don' t car e ver y much , an d wea r a simpl e kilt o r tuni c withou t jewelry . Social Structure Rassime l ar e ver y civilize d an d ver y urban ; onl y a n eccentri c Rassime l woul d theam o f livin g outsid e a city . The y typicall y liv e i n a loos e association : a doze n o r tw o i n a buildin g wit h man y smal l rooms . A fe w o f the m wil l ten d t o househol d mat ­ ters, cookin g an d cleanin g an d child-rearing , pai d b y th e rest o f t h e peopl e i n the household . Th e stereotypica l Rassimel's roo m is packe d wit h interestin g objects stacke d from floor t o ceiling , all ver y neatly , bu t nobod y bu t th e owne r ca n find anything . Wealthie r Rassime l hav e house s o r mansion s o f their own , wit h a s man y peopl e a s the y ca n affor d a s servants o r clients livin g wit h them . T h e stereotypica l Rassime l is obsesse d wit h something . Practica l Rassime l ar e obsesse d wit h their jobs. A Rassime l greengroce r ha s probabl y personall y checke d eac h cabbag e an d pea r i n his shop , an d ha s probabl y bee n i n th e sho p fo r hours n o matte r whe n yo u ge t there . A Rassime l judg e remember s ever y detai l o f ever y cas e she's eve r tried, an d a hug e amoun t o f relate d law, an d read s ol d case-book s ove r breakfast . Less practica l Rassime l - an d th e stereotypica l Rassime l woul d lik e t o b e less practica l - hav e less practica l obsessions: collectin g rar e se a shells o r anima l skulls o r wines, inventin g eccentri c spells, sendin g expedition s t o far-off world-branches, an d s o on . Ther e a r e som e stereotype s worth y o f note : th e devote d noblema n o r administrato r doin g his best t o rule his territor y perfectly ; th e ric h collecto r wh o sponsors adventurers t o g o t o remot e region s f o r obscur e tasks; th e single-minde d wizar d wh o invents an d casts might y spells ou t o f curiosit y an d devastate s th e country ­ side . Mos t o f th e stree t crazie s o n th e Worl d Tre e ar e Rassime l w h o pursue d their obsession s past practicalit y withou t havin g t h e mean s for it. I n practice , Rassime l ar e no t quit e s o focused . Childre n ar e intereste d i n everything . Youn g adul t Rassime l hav e hal f a doze n interests, includin g th e mundan e one s o f their jobs, an d the y switc h aroun d amon g them , keepin g a n interest in their job , their curren t lover, an d a hobb y o r two . A s the y ge t older, the y ten d t o narro w their circl e o f interests. This is no t t o sa y tha t Rassime l ar e isolate d eccentrics. The y a r e ver y socia l eccentrics. Wher e ther e ar e Rassimel , ther e ar e clubs. Rassime l wit h th e sam e interests wil l mee t t o chatte r abou t their commo n interests, chatterin g abou t th e minuti a o f their shells o r vegetable s unti l all hours o f th e night . It's ver y friendl y an d amusing . Rassime l familie s ar e ver y loose . Couple s ar e togethe r for a whil e - perhap s a fe w years, perhap s a lifetime . Wome n sta y fertil e their entir e lives, an d prefe r t o hav e their childre n severa l years apart , o r a t th e ver y least t o giv e th e childre n t o th e fathers t o rear. Names Rassime l typicall y hav e tw o o r thre e names . Give n name s ten d t o b e many-syllable d words: Albomanthy , Mescherine , Tosquinet , Corycavy . Whe n thes e ar e to o heav y for socia l use , the y ar e abbreviate d t o som e part : Brithefil a migh t b e calle d "Brith " o r "Thefi" . Rassime l give n name s conve y imperfec t hints abou t gende r an d fur color: mos t peopl e name d Melancth e a r e black-furre d women , an d th e rest ha d parents wh o like d th e name . T h e othe r name s migh t indicat e famil y tie s (Jagrato n Vershanc e is probabl y relate d t o Ocient e Vershance) , somethin g abou t the Rassimel's interests (Pariff a k y Argentu m is probabl y a jeweler) , somethin g abou t a famou s ancesto r (Stargentr y o a Shaliu n is probabl y a descendan t o f th e famou s scholar-mag e Shaliun) , o r othe r things. Rassime l generall y onl y chang e their last names , an d tha t onl y a t marriages, comin g o f age , o r othe r importan t life events. Literature and Art Rassime l ten d t o becom e expert in a topi c an d the n writ e abou t it - generall y lon g dr y scholarl y book s full o f minut e details abou t smal l topics. Th e othe r experts i n th e topi c find thes e book s fascinating , bu t then , th e othe r experts ar e usuall y Rassime l themselves. Rassime l art is elaborat e an d finicky; they spen d mor e tim e paintin g a lea f tha n a whol e tree . Diet Rassime l ar e omnivores, thoug h man y don' t ea t muc h mea t othe r tha n crunch y insects. Thei r cuisin e tend s t o b e complicat ­ e d - to o complicated , sa y their Can i guests, wh o ge t confuse d i n t h e dozen s o f flavors Can i ca n tast e an d their Rassime l hosts cannot . If a mea l doesn' t en d wit h fruit - a t least a handfu l o f drie d berrie s - th e Rassime l ar e no t satisfied . The y prefe r t o ea t fou r o r five meals eac h day .

Moral Attitudes Rassime l ca n b e devote d t o a n abstraction , a professio n o r hobb y o r ideal , a s intensel y a s Can i ar e t o a famil y o r socia l group . Sometime s this work s well : a Rassime l administrato r devote d t o super b administration , o r a shop-keepe r t o keepin g a super b shop . Sometime s it work s badly : a wizar d devote d t o finding the mos t destructiv e spel l possible , o r a warrio r t o con ­ querin g a world-branc h wit h n o particula r inten t o f doin g any ­ thin g wit h it afterwards. Variations Raccoon-style d Rassime l ar e th e mos t commo n an d th e classic , bu t abou t a thir d o f Rassime l hav e othe r styling . Squirrel , skunk , lemur, and tarsie r ar e reasonabl y common , a s ar e a doze n othe r arrangemen t o f spots, stripes, an d rings. Som e Rassime l are feline , bu t tha t is considere d ugl y a s it make s the m loo k Sleeth-like . Fu r colo r is als o quit e variable ; pinks, purples, an d eve n metallic s ar e fa r fro m unknown . Som e Rassime l car e a grea t dea l abou t appearances; others d o not . Rassimel Opinions of Other Species Cani : Rassime l generall y lik e Cani . The y ge t a bit frustrate d whe n the Can i refus e t o obsessivel y chatte r abou t matters o f commo n interest afte r a fe w hours, an d the y ge t perplexe d whe n Can i tr y t o includ e them i n Can i famil y matters, bu t o n th e whol e th e tw o specie s enjo y eac h others' compan y an d wor k wel l together. Gormoror : Rassime l don' t car e muc h abou t Gormoror , on e w a y o r the other. Herethroy : Rassimel , a t best , conside r Herethro y t o b e lik e Rassime l wit h a differen t obsession : som e respect , n o persona l contact . The y ar e gla d tha t someon e is willin g t o d o th e farm ­ ing , s o that the Rassime l themselve s don' t hav e t o liv e outsid e t h e cities. A t worst , the y conside r Herethro y t o b e servants, fit onl y fo r orderin g around ; th e fac t tha t Herethro y ofte n obe y th e orders doe s nothin g t o hel p this. Khtsoyis : Rassime l regar d Khtsoyis a s socia l inferiors, muc h t h e wa y Can i do . Orren : Rassime l an d Orre n ca n ge t alon g well . There's a patter n t o their friendships: a n Orre n gets intereste d i n somethin g a Rassime l is intereste d in , an d th e tw o ar e fast friend s for a wee k o r two . The n th e Orre n gets bore d an d goe s o n t o somethin g else . If bot h peopl e expec t this, it's just fine, an d a s soo n a s th e Orre n is intereste d i n tha t thin g agai n th e tw o wil l b e fast friend s again . Rassimel : Rassime l lik e o r hat e othe r Rassime l intensel y a s lon g a s the y hav e som e commo n interest . Withou t that , the y ar e indifferent . Sleeth : Rassime l ar e alway s a bit nervou s around Sleeth . Rassime l ar e perhap s th e least physicall y imposin g o f th e species, an d Sleet h ar e perhap s th e mos t imposing . Sleet h alway s see m t o hav e a Rassimel-styl e obsessio n wit h huntin g a n d killing , an d th e Rassime l kno w wha t they' d d o if they ha d tha t obsession . Z i Ri : Rassime l hav e n o unifor m feeling s abou t Zi Ri . If th e t w o shar e som e interest (or, say , th e Rassime l is intereste d in history), the tw o ma y chatte r fo r a wee k an d becom e dea r friends. Withou t som e suc h tie , th e tw o probabl y wil l ignor e eac h other. I am called Mescherine. I am a research scholar in enchantment at Hellestew Academy: an odd little position, halfway between a senior student and a junior faculty member. When real faculty are sick or busy, I teach classes in this or that. Most of the time, I am free to pursue my research. I'm interested in the state of consciousness of the elemental gods, especially Merklundum, the god of Water. He's asleep, of course, snoring away in a cave somewhere on the main trunk. But what, exactly, does that mean, in terms that a prime can understand? So I've designed an experiment to compare his degree of consciousness with that of Flokin, the god of Fire, who is definitely awake. We work with substances which are strange cases of water or fire: how does a spell work differently on rain or vodka than on pure water, say, or on smoke or light than pure fire. [Several pages of magic theory and experimental design omitted.] Anyway, actually doing the experiments has been more work than it should have been. As you can see, the series of experiments will require the cooperation of one small-to-medium-size elemental from each god. We tried working with a spell-made elemental, but that only got us to complexity-5, the lowest grade, where none of the gods pay any attention. No good, that. We needed two natural, live elementals, one of each. I wound up rounding up a few senior students of applied sorcery and stomping around in the woods and swamps for three weeks, slogging from pool to pool. We turned up half a dozen minor spirits that couldn't help us, and another quarter-dozen that wouldn't. Finally Ghost Face In The Deep Pool (a pond elemental, Rexaquatica troneisi caudasis, and rather a gentleman when he woke up fully) agreed to help us for a bit if we would expel a river-gunch (Vultundia hastrobaldensis, I believe, or maybe cumbledonia) who had decided that his pool made a good mating-puddle. Oof. Three students against a river-gunch. We got away, though, and arranged a trick to lure it halfway to Barency. Dragonlace got a Grace of Merklundum out of that, too, glimmering in a silver bowl. Next month we're going to try for a fire elemental. Trith had heard of one living in an old Gwan cave-fortress. After we've recovered all the way, and dealt with exams, and all that busywork. — Mescherine oa Harrac, scholar mage

SLEETH I am Hengerr, Sleeth as you can see. Thirty, maybe thirty-two years ago I am born in the wildlands outside Barency. I grow up quickly; I learn to hunt and track. Mother buys me the five spells; I leave her and go to wander. Ifollow the flock of wudgeons to Treverre Mene. In the mountains there are many tasty birds and not so many Sleeth, which is good. I do not like very much to share. Oh, I have many stories. For two or three years I often meet Trrhynwy and Nraaha each month or so. We hunt together, I help them maybe have kittens, afterwards we tell stories all night. But you want the true stories, the stories about me. Not so many as all that. One true story about me now I give you. When I am half of now old, I bring two dozen green and white olyx skins to market in Barency. I pass the perfume shops. They smell of spicy carrion. My eyes are clever, and see many lozens traded for the tiny tiny bottles in the Cani shops. My ears are very clever: they hear the word "codelieth". My mind is good too. Early last year I hunt the zestards in the cracked lands. I smell spicy carrion, I see the very ugly plants. Codelieth is there! Half a lifetime later and I cannot forget the special stink of it. Also I do not forget the many lozens for the tiny tiny bottles that Cani pay. Back to Barency I go, back to the Cani perfume shops. Fat Gresh is the perfumer. Only one bottle of codelieth he has any more, and it is old and not so stinking as it once was. I tell him about codelieth plants growing free in the cracked lands. Half a word and I smell him grow musky with greed. The next day I take him there. Also I take Brithefila, who is the very colorful Rassimel cartographer. I am the good guide. Safely I take them on the secret way past the venom bear. I am the very good guide. I hear the swoop of the jaran-jabow, I rush fat Gresh to safety before it strikes. 1 am the quite good guide. I slash the rongon with the claws and the teeth and the other claws while a Cani and a Rassimel fumble with spells. It runs away, I limp away, and I need to sleep the hours in the sun before I can bring them to the codelieth. I am the extremely good guide, but I am good to myselffirst of all. I take them the danger way, the fast way. They see all monsters, they see all canyons and chasms, they see all blood dripping from me as I guard them. Then they see valuable stinking codelieth plants, and collect special perfume of much cost while I look helpful and injured next to them. They pay me more than they say at first, hrdru! — Hengerr, Sleeth hunter and guide

Sleet h ar e independen t predators an d hunters first, an d tha t colors everythin g els e the y do . The y sometime s liv e in civiliza ­ tion , bu t the y ar e no t civilized . The y ar e physicall y dangerous, eve n if the y ar e no t traine d in fighting; they ar e magicall y dan ­ gerous, eve n if the y hav e no t studie d magic . The y ar e ultimate ­ l y savag e an d self-centered . The y aren' t eve n brave ; they'll fle e fro m a battl e if it's goin g against them , an d no t eve n b e ashame d o f it. Tha t stereotyp e is a n exaggeration , bu t ther e is trut h behin d it. Sleet h ar e prou d predators an d hunters; the y are alway s arme d wit h teeth , claws, an d innat e magic . If civilize d societ y rejects them , a s it usuall y does, the y coul d hardl y manag e t o b e civilized . The y ar e no t a s socia l a s th e mor e populou s species, bu t a Sleet h wil l sta y wit h a clos e frien d whe n eve n a loya l Can i migh t flee . Sleet h hav e th e typica l advantage s o f bi g cats. The y hav e dan ­ gerou s claw s an d teeth ; i n clos e combat , the y ca n rak e wit h their powerfu l hin d leg s a s well . Thei r toug h hide s ar e the equivalen t o f ligh t armor. The y ar e excellen t a t climbing , jumping , sneak ­ i n g around , squirmin g int o place s you' d swea r the y couldn' t fit, sprawlin g comfortabl y i n position s tha t loo k lik e torture , an d lookin g cut e an d innocent . The y ca n smel l a s acutel y a s Cani ; a n d hea r bette r tha n an y othe r prim e species. Unlik e terrestria l cats, the y ca n se e i n tota l darkness o r dazzlin g light. The y als o hav e innat e Rulo c Corpado r magic : nothin g power ­ ful, bu t the y ca n levitat e a haunc h o f mea t ove r a fire, o r cush ­ i o n their landing , o r a variet y o f othe r usefu l tricks. The y ca n hea l themselve s b y nappin g i n sunligh t o r brigh t light. The y pa y dearl y for this collectio n o f advantages. The y hav e n o hands, an d canno t manag e ver y wel l i n civilization . Almos t nobod y make s armo r tha t the y ca n use , an d eve n th e best armo r the y ca n us e isn't ver y good ; a well-equippe d Can i o r Rassime l warrio r is mor e tha n a matc h for a Sleeth . Sleet h ar e regarde d a s viciou s killers, t o untrustworth y t o b e wort h muc h a s allies, n o bette r tha n monsters - an d th e specie s a s a whol e ha s earne d tha t reputation , thoug h som e individuals deserv e better. Appearance Sleet h ar e bi g quadrupeda l cats, th e siz e o f larg e panthers: five o r si x fee t fro m nos e t o bas e o f th e tail, anothe r thre e t o five fee t o f tail ; thre e fee t hig h a t th e shoulder, weighin g som e tw o hun ­ dre d pounds . Thei r short , nea t fur is black , dar k blue , o r dar k green , an d ofte n spotte d o r striped . Thei r eye s ar e dee p an d gree n a s emerald s o r oceans. The y hav e n o hands ; jaws , tongue , forepaws, claws, an d tail compensat e t o a smal l degree , a s doe s their innat e magic . The y rarel y wea r clothin g (o r armor) . Som e Sleet h lov e deco ­ ration : earrings, hats, necklaces, fur-dyes, an d othe r thing s tha t d o no t restric t their motion . Innate Magic Sleet h hav e innat e Rulo c Corpado r magic ; the y ca n (withou t usin g cle y o r eve n knowin g th e magica l skills) manipulat e bone , leather, meat , an d othe r anima l products - and , to som e extent , t h e animals themselves. The y ca n paralyz e a smal l animal , pic k it u p wit h magi c an d hol d it ove r a fire t o roast , an d levitat e int o a branc h t o slee p afterwards. Gatherin g woo d for th e fire an d lightin g it wil l b e hard , sinc e woo d is no t Corpado r material . Most Sleet h carr y a fe w bits o f bon e an d leathe r for us e a s tools. Thes e scrap s ar e calle d "prets an d flaps", althoug h nobod y seem s t o kno w whic h ar e prets an d whic h ar e flaps. Social Structure Sleet h mainl y liv e aroun d th e edge s o f civilization , toward s t h e edge s o f th e branche s an d eve n o n th e Verticals. Thei r innat e agilit y an d magi c is goo d enoug h t o le t the m navigat e th e tilte d jungle s o n th e world-trun k a s easil y a s an y flying creature , an d the y lov e t o hun t there . Sleet h ar e mor e gregariou s tha n terrestria l cats, bu t tha t doesn't sa y much . The y liv e i n smal l bands: thre e o r fou r is typical , solitarie s ar e common . Eac h ban d ha s its ow n territory , wit h th e boundarie s marke d b y scent . A n expeditio n t o th e Verticals withou t Can i o r Sleet h ma y find themselve s th e victi m o f a col d emeral d star e an d a fierce scolding , if the y rui n a hun t o r stum ­ b l e o n a nest o f Sleet h kittens. Mos t Sleet h band s suppor t themselve s i n wilderness ways . The y hun t their ow n food . The y gathe r furs, amber , spices, glirrie s an d othe r forest treasures, whe n the y find them , an d com e t o tow n t o trad e the m for jewelr y an d spells an d delicacies. Th e band-member s ar e equals, an d a s friendl y a s Sleet h ca n b e - bu t Sleet h ultimatel y d o no t lik e othe r Sleet h ver y much . Almos t ever y mont h ha s a mock-figh t o r tw o tha t mask s rea l anger, an d end s wit h bloo d drawn . Sleet h wome n com e o n hea t for abou t a wee k ever y month . A s anima l cycle s go , it's quit e mild : th e wome n is fertile , bu t abou t a s intereste d i n matin g a s a Can i o r Rassime l (o r human ) woma n is all th e time . Sleet h mating s ar e nois y an d a s publi c a s possible ; havin g a n audienc e is considere d romantic . A s wit h man y othe r cats, eac h couplin g is quick . Male s tr y t o finish an d dodg e awa y a s quickl y a s possible , makin g u p fo r spee d b y repeate d performance . Female s ar e allowe d t o cla w their partners if the y don' t ge t ou t o f th e wa y quickl y enough . Sleet h hav e earne d a reputatio n fo r bein g sexuall y indiscriminat e an d incon ­ stant , an d unkin d t o their lovers. A fe w Sleet h liv e i n civilize d places, eve n i n th e biggest cities. Forest Sleet h wonde r wh y cit y Sleet h pu t u p wit h th e prejudic e a n d poo r hunting . Eac h cit y Sleet h ha s his ow n answer. Som e Sleet h liv e nea r a clos e frien d o f anothe r species. Som e ar e intereste d i n magi c o r somethin g els e best studie d i n civilization . A n d som e enjo y huntin g trick y dangerou s prey , an d find employmen t a s assassins, bount y hunters, o r detectives. Sleeth Names Sleet h name s ar e purr y an d growly : Prran , Mliaou , Brrarrh . Femal e name s generall y en d i n a vowe l (Arrerr a o r Ngannu) ; mal e name s generall y don' t (Arrerr o r Ngann) , bu t otherwis e ther e is littl e difference . Sleet h rarel y bothe r wit h famil y names : ther e migh t b e a doze n Mhejjrra s i n a hundred-mil e radius, bu t the y won' t giv e yo u muc h hel p tellin g on e from another. Literature and Art Forest Sleet h spen d a lo t o f tim e sittin g around , drowsin g an d thinking . The y tell stories, ofte n lon g an d elaborate , an d man y quit e skillful. Thei r choic e o f topic s an d style s varie s widely ; a goo d Sleet h storytelle r is wel l wort h listenin g to . Sleet h ar e rarel y artists o f note , havin g neithe r hand s no r a lov e o f people . Diet Sleet h ar e carnivores. The y prefe r t o catc h their foo d an d kill it themselves. Eve n city-dwellin g Sleet h wil l g o t o th e market , b u y a smal l animal , tak e it home , an d kill it there. If the y hav e n o t hunte d fo r a while , the y prefe r t o pla y wit h their foo d befor e

killin g it. The y ofte n coo k their food , seasonin g it wit h stron g spice s an d holdin g it ove r a fire b y a Rulo c Corpado r spell , bu t the y als o enjo y ra w food . Sleet h nee d a littl e vegetabl e matter: the y ofte n che w grass, o r stuff their bird s wit h spinach . Sleet h occasionall y find tha t the y hav e t o ea t vegetable s for som e rea ­ son . The y usuall y win d u p vomitin g i n a fe w minutes, bu t tha t doesn' t bothe r Sleet h an y mor e tha n it bothers a terrestria l housecat . Sleet h neve r ea t othe r Sleeth , an d mos t wil l no t ea t member s o f othe r prim e specie s o r othe r intelligen t beings. Bu t som e Sleet h do , an d fe w Sleet h wil l condem n cannibals wit h anythin g stronge r than , " I wouldn' t hav e eate n him. " Psyche and Etiquette Sleet h ar e proud , bu t no t arrogant . The y ar e independen t an d self-reliant , an d the y assum e tha t everyon e els e is too , o r ough t t o be . Thei r prid e is unassailable : the y wil l shru g off a cata ­ strophi c mistak e o r defea t withou t loss o f self-worth , howeve r unhapp y the y ar e abou t the matte r an d howeve r muc h the y tr y n o t t o repea t it. Sleet h prid e concern s feelings, no t action s - Sleet h ar e happ y t o be g for dinner, tolerat e bein g exclude d fro m t h e best guild s becaus e o f their species, rol l o n their back s whe n someon e scritche s their bellies, an d s o on . It nearl y impossibl e t o mak e a Sleet h fee l humiliated . Conversely , Sleet h rarel y tr y t o humiliat e othe r people , largel y becaus e the y don' t understan d t h e concep t ver y well . (If the y lea m it, the y ca n b e merciless abou t it, wit h th e full forc e o f Sleet h cruelty.) Sleet h ten d t o b e quit e direc t wit h their friend s ("Hey , I hav e t h e messag e t o you . Tw o day s ag o you r siste r dies."), an d the y appreciat e th e sam e from othe r people . O n th e othe r paw , the y c a n b e ver y kin d t o th e sam e people , spendin g hours comfortin g t h e on e whos e siste r died . The n again , the y don' t fee l obligate d t o b e kind , an d migh t leav e off comfortin g a t a reall y awkwar d tim e t o ge t a snack . Sleet h all hav e a strea k o f cruelty : a kin d Sleet h is on e wh o is onl y crue l t o enemie s an d smal l animals. Cruelt y t o th e righ t peopl e is considere d a virtu e b y Sleeth ; the y ar e please d whe n their kitten s pla y wit h their food . Cruelt y t o th e wron g peopl e - friends, relatives, an d innocents - is a commo n vic e tha t Sleet h conside r minor. Moral Attitudes Sleet h ar e th e most amora l o f th e prim e species: the y hav e a ver y limite d ide a o f morality , o r a t least a limite d ide a o f wh y the y shoul d b e concerne d wit h it. Th e real m o f peopl e tha t a Sleet h care s abou t is quit e small . Fo r th e most goo d o f th e Sleeth , it wil l includ e family , friends, fello w adventurers, an d a f e w othe r associates. Fo r th e mos t evil , it is th e individua l alone , a n d th e Sleeth's innat e cruelt y prevails unchecked . Sleet h d o no t lov e easily . A Sleet h ma y abando n decades-ol d comrade s i n danger, an d b e surprise d whe n th e comrade s didn' t expec t it. The y hat e wit h th e sam e difficult y tha t the y love . A Sleet h whos e kitten s ar e kille d b y som e mino r monste r ma y mour n for a while , bu t migh t no t bothe r gettin g reveng e o n th e monste r n o matte r ho w eas y it woul d be . Whe n Sleet h d o care , the y car e ferociousl y an d intensely . The y fight t o defen d their friend s wit h a single-minde d intensity: friends ar e rar e an d scarce , an d no t t o b e lost o r wasted . Havin g fe w loyalties, the y rarel y suffe r fro m th e conflictin g loy ­ altie s tha t plagu e Cani . Languages Sleet h usuall y spea k i n th e presen t tens e wheneve r possible , a s if th e presen t momen t is all tha t matters. The y refe r t o th e past almost a s if it wer e the present : "Two months ago, I go to hunt birds in the woods rollward of the city. I climb the big arken tree struck by lightning, and for two-thirds of an hour I crouch and wait. Then two Herethroy come under the tree. The one says that tonight he kills Achitka with a club..." Sleet h als o hav e a silen t languag e o f gestures, mainl y use d for discussion s whil e hunting . It is a smal l language , littl e mor e tha n th e commo n languag e wit h a riche r vocabular y o f prey , cover, scents, an d othe r huntin g matters. Non-Sleet h ca n lea m t o understan d th e silen t language , bu t onl y Sleet h ca n spea k it correctly . Sleet h ca n pur r lik e terrestria l cats. Variation O n e Sleet h look s ver y muc h lik e another. Ther e ar e variation s i n colors, pattern s an d bod y types, bu t muc h smalle r tha n for othe r species. Sleet h rarel y worr y abou t th e matter. Sleeth Opinions of Other Species Cani : Sleet h don' t lik e Can i an y mor e tha n Can i lik e Sleeth , a n d fo r abou t th e sam e reasons. Can i prefe r t o hav e everyon e arrange d nicel y int o leaders an d followers; Sleet h are terribl e followers an d wors e leaders. Sleet h thin k tha t Can i ar e ver y fussy , alway s worryin g abou t all kind s o f irrelevan t details lik e ethic s an d law s an d distan t famil y ties. Gormoror : Sleet h respec t Gormoro r a s warriors. The y d o no t car e muc h abou t Gormoro r heroi c ideals. Gormoro r attac k hug e monsters an d di e gloriously ; Sleet h fle e fro m th e sam e monsters a n d congratulat e themselve s for surviving . Sleet h friendships wit h Gormoro r ar e commo n enough , base d o n brawlin g an d huntin g together. Herethroy : Sleet h regar d mos t Herethro y a s littl e mor e tha n furniture : the y hav e n o respec t for mos t aspects o f Herethro y cultur e o r diet. The y rarel y bothe r t o ge t t o kno w Herethroy , eve n Herethro y adventurin g wit h them . Khtsoyis : Sleet h ar e amuse d b y Khtsoyis. The y respec t Khtsoyis' strengt h an d violence , a n d ar e please d t o tak e advantag e o f thei r meage r intellects The y ar e gla d t o fight alongsid e

Khtsoyis, especiall y whe n bot h wan t th e Khtsoyis t o tak e th e mor e dangerou s position . The y somewha t resen t th e Khtsoyis' low-grad e acceptanc e i n civilization . Orren : Sleet h an d Orre n ca n ge t alon g wel l enough ; neithe r specie s is ver y demandin g o f their associates. If th e Orre n ca n dea l wit h th e Sleet h (whic h isn't alway s th e case) , th e Sleet h ca n dea l wit h th e Orren . Rassimel : Sleet h approv e o f Rassimel . The y understan d th e Rassime l devotio n t o their interests; Sleet h hav e th e sam e kin d o f intens e interest i n whateve r they'r e doing , if no t th e sam e kin d o f sustaine d interest . The y ar e a bi t annoye d tha t th e Rassime l don' t lik e them.. .bu t o f cours e th e Sleet h don' t sho w it. Sleeth : Sleet h aren' t automaticall y fon d o f eac h other. The y regar d eac h othe r a s potentia l competitio n fo r whateve r is desirabl e i n the area : hunting , o r treasure, o r attention . Sleet h some ­ time s gro w t o b e friendl y wit h eac h other, bu t mor e ofte n d o not . Sleet h ar e mor e likel y t o befrien d Z i R i o r Orre n tha n othe r Sleeth . Z i Ri : Sleet h an d Z i R i frequentl y lik e eac h other. The y hav e man y traits i n common : a lov e o f hunting , a sens e o f infinit e self-worth , a n abilit y t o rela x an d enjo y cuddlin g fo r hours. 1 am Trrhynwy. For extra fear the Orren all call me the Witch of the Woods. For most of my life I am living near Dripderrapp, which is the pleasant Orren village on the banks of the Umberdrip. I make it the easy life to live. A long time ago I buy the good spells, I learn the tricks to tie them to the bone buttons and the deers' antlers. Especially I buy shapechanging spells. I am good at Mutoc, as all Sleeth are, and the villagers can use them well, as all Orren can. They come to me to buy the spells for the night ofprettiness, or the few minutes of being stronger, or the growing of armoring scales. Or they buy the see-in-dark spell called Sleeth Eyes direct from the Sleeth. Every time of that the Orren is laughing, rrail When they do not want so many spells I hunt extra deer and trade them for fish. But you want the story about the special day, not the every day. Very well. Three years and summertime ago, I am lying lazy and grooming Vranahh's clean ears. Eelpool comes running from Dripderrapp so fast he does not stop to get out of the way of the trees. "Trrhynwy! Mewellicaps come! You must help!" This is what he squeaks. I look at him and snort. "In the village are many many Orren. Of them the mewellicaps should be scared." I am not Hengerr, Vranahh's father, who fights for fun and sleeps in sunlight often. "No, Trrhynwy! Orren are fleeing to the hills, Orren are swimming in otter-form in the depths of the Umberdrip, old Master Baldicoot is cowering in the root cellar! You are brave and dangerous! Also it is your town as much as ours! You come!" He is even right. I look more scaresome than twenty Orren. And Dripderrapp is my territory, as Sleeth count territory. It is right for me to help. But I do not like to do a thing just because it is right. I say, "Eelpool, three months ago Vranahh is born. I do not leave here." Around and around runs Eelpool. My ears get dizzy following him. He says many words of "responsibility" and all like that, but I am licking Vranahh and I do not hear him. Then he says, "If Dripderrapp is scattered away, then nobody is here to cook herbs for colicky Vranahh!" So I start to hear him again. I always pay attention to my kittens. I make him take care of Vranahh until I am back. I do not like to leave a kitten with someone else at all, but better an Orren than most kinds of someone else. Then I go scare mewellicaps. The Orren get the sorceress Orren from the city, so together we make the plan with the illusions and the eyes growing shut and the vicious ice monster and the darkness and the surprise with Sleeth claws in the darkness. It is not so bad a fight, for us at least. And for as often until Vranahh leaves, there are Orren from Dripderrapp babysitting him whenever I want. -- Trrhynwy, village Sleeth

ZIR I Ah, so kind of you to think of me in the hour of your direst need. Duke Darthomai's bones are not yet picked clean by the funerary ravens on the pillar of his ancestors. For a day and a half three self-satisfied counts have offered themselves most bluntly to succeed him. The nobles and the guilds and the guards and the academies flatter Tumusa, then praise Omdolquesne, (hen honor Isiriat-Chay, then spin about like whirligigs and proclaim the greatness of Tumusa once more, until all are dizzy. You dread this twirling, and impatiently leave your own orbit to seek among the great ones for someone whom all must respect and none can hate. So you come to me. I am a child, as my people count things. I was a child when my allies and I gave Darthomai the dukedom, and I will still be counted a child when your newborn daughter is dying of time. 1 left my parents' tower eighty years ago, to their amusement. None of my own kind live within two days' flight of this place, which is how 1 wish it. My companions are Cani and Herethroy; my lover is an Orren woman who will leave me when she grows bored, which will be long and long before she is old, and her great-granddaughters will come to me to hear stories about her. I was a politician when you grandfather courted your grandmother with novels and copper. In those days I did many things, full of all wisdom and good counsel. Now I study air magic and literature, spellweaving and spellbinding. Not with the fierce passion of a Rassimel weatherworker; not with the rugged insistence of a Cani laboring for family and clan; not with the quick fragmentary fascination of an Orren learning for joy and fun. I study the way a tired Herethroy farmer plants orchards. I know I will see the fruits of these spindly trees I plant - not soon, but eventually, whether I hurry now or tarry now. But this is my heart's work, and rich enough to fill decades. A day and a half of twirling confusion over the dukedom, or a month and a half, will not fill the palm of my hand. Today I watch the sorrows that have grown from my best deeds. Nobles of Beshrane, I have made enough enemies to last me the rest of my eternity. The city must find its own duke without my help. — Ancrantry Yarhaen

Zi R i ar e tin y dragons: nearl y immortal , playful , sensual , ofte n wise . Ol d Z i Ri ar e powerful , wit h th e forc e o f centurie s o f experience . Youn g Z i R i pla n t o achiev e tha t statu s som e day . Zi R i ca n fly, eithe r wit h their wing s o r wit h a mino r innat e levitation . The y ar e somewha t fireproof, an d breath e thi n jets o f fire. The y ar e unusuall y resistan t t o magic , thoug h b y n o mean s immune . The y ca n meditat e i n fires t o regai n magica l forc e quickly . The y aren' t goo d fighters, thoug h the y ar e a t least quic k t o ge t ou t o f th e wa y o f attacks. The y d o no t experienc e agin g o r natura l death . Appearance T h e standar d Zi R i ha s on e o r tw o fee t o f body , anothe r foo t o r tw o o f nec k an d head , a yar d o f tail, an d fou r fee t o f wingspan , weighin g abou t thirt y pounds . Thei r scale s com e in all colors, ofte n thre e o r fou r colors t o a Z i Ri . Th e hea d is adorne d wit h tw o horns, a crest tha t reache s partwa y dow n th e neck , thre e backswep t short spike s a t th e comer s o f th e jaws , a n d backswep t tendrils a t th e comer s o f th e eye s an d th e side s o f th e head . Th e tongu e is forke d an d red . Th e tail simpl y tapers to a point . Al l fou r paw s hav e long , nimbl e fingers tippe d wit h short whit e claws, an d opposabl e thumbs; th e forepaw s ar e perfectl y goo d hands. Th e wing s ar e short bu t ver y strong . Zi Ri are brillian t fliers. The y ca n levitat e withou t movin g a muscle , essentiall y th e sam e wa y tha t Khtsoyis levitate . The y c a n zi p aroun d a s nimbl y a s a hummingbir d wit h a flick o f their wings. The y ar e no t speed y fliers, n o faste r tha n a n Orre n o r Sleeth , bu t the y ar e extremel y agil e i n th e air. Social Structure A s childre n an d juvenile s - i n th e first thre e o r fou r centurie s - Zi R i ca n b e fairl y gregarious, livin g togethe r in constantly - changin g flocks o f a doze n o r two , o r comin g t o citie s t o liv e wit h othe r specie s fo r a decad e o r two . A s the y mature , the y tir e o f constan t change . The y find somewher e tha t the y ca n liv e i n peac e for a lon g time : a Herethro y village , a solitar y cav e o n th e edge s o f th e Verticals, a terrifyin g wizard's towe r i n th e midst o f a city. Hre n Tze n designe d th e Z i Ri excellently . The y liv e fo r cen ­ turie s upo n centuries; a doze n o f th e first-created Z i Ri ar e still alive . The y ar e mad e for pleasure ; scritc h a friendl y Z i Ri alon g t h e centerlin e o f th e neck , o r aroun d th e mouth-spikes, an d zi e wil l pur r lik e a happ y kitten . The y hav e a numbe r o f mor e privat e organ s intende d solel y for wha t amount s t o eroti c purpose s, bu t no t connecte d wit h reproduction . Indeed , Z i R i breedin g is activel y agonizing ; childre n ar e rar e an d intentional . Z i Ri ar e hermaphrodites. Characte r Z i R i are typicall y juveniles, just afte r their school ­ ing , their ag e an d skill comparabl e t o characters o f othe r species. Names Zi Ri pla y game s wit h their names . First o f all, ther e ar e fe w enoug h Zi Ri childre n s o tha t eac h Zi Ri gets zir ow n name , differen t fro m all othe r Z i R i names . Usuall y th e nam e ha s a fe w parts, s o tha t th e Z i R i don' t ru n ou t o f goo d short name s to o fast: "Arzoha z Lombra y Treshtanamirnatou. " Whe n they'r e livin g together, the y refe r t o eac h othe r b y fea ­ ture s ("th e on e wit h thre e re d scale s a t th e en d o f zir secon d win g bone") ; ofte n the y mak e a gam e o f it, an d th e feature s ar e quit e obscur e o r phrase d a s riddles. Olde r Zi R i especiall y ar e rarel y i n a hurry , an d kee p their endless live s interestin g wit h whateve r game s the y ca n find. Whe n the y ar e wit h othe r species, the y usuall y pic k a nick ­ nam e an d stic k wit h it. Z i R i nickname s ar e relate d t o their spe ­ cialty. Trithomerica s Pyrogliste s is a fire mage . Txarantha m Tortuen s is somethin g less pleasant . Literature and Arts Zi Ri ar e no t ofte n artistic . Whe n the y are , the y ar e superb ; the y devot e decade s upo n decade s t o learnin g their art, an d sometime s years upo n years t o individua l works . The y hav e n o species-specifi c style , excep t perhap s a tendenc y toward s th e elaborat e an d intricate . Diet Zi R i ea t mea t an d fruit, i n abou t tha t order, thoug h the y ca n digest mos t foods. The y prefe r t o hav e five smal l meals a day , thoug h the y wil l hav e fewer, large r meals if necessary . Psyche and Etiquette Zi Ri ar e comple x people : prou d an d playful , wit h lon g mem ­ orie s an d distan t goals t o b e achieve d i n n o grea t hurry . The y will surel y b e polit e t o you ; it is best t o b e polit e t o the m a s well . The y ar e frequentl y sensual , almost erotic ; sometime s respond ­ i n g in kin d is polite , sometime s it is not , an d fe w bu t Z i Ri kno w whic h is which . The y ca n switc h fro m friendl y t o remot e in a n instant , an d bac k i n th e next . Perhap s the y ar e capricious; perhap s the y ar e followin g secre t rules. It's har d fo r non-Z i R i t o tell. Elde r Z i R i ar e difficult for younge r peopl e t o understand . Thei r mind s ar e deep . The y mak e reference s t o thing s the y sai d a decad e ago , o r allud e t o mino r events o f a hundre d years before . Zi Ri hav e a kee n appreciatio n - perhap s eve n a hunge r - for beautifu l things. Thei r home s ar e heav y wit h art an d artifice , a n d a ne w wor k ca n awake n eve n th e oldest immortal's heart . Zi R i ar e buil t for immortality , physicall y an d mentall y an d spiritually . Th e oldest Z i R i ar e a s happ y t o b e aliv e a s th e childre n - or, if they ar e not , it is the weigh t o f their deed s rathe r tha n their years tha t drag s the m down . Moral Attitudes Zi Ri , especiall y th e olde r ones, fee l tha t they'r e almost beyon d morality . That's probabl y bad . Z i R i ten d t o wor k wit h othe r specie s for a while , bu t leav e th e others t o their ultimat e fat e alone . The y rarel y rul e anyone , eve n whe n their perspectiv e a n d powe r alon e coul d sav e th e subjects. The y rarel y follo w anyon e a s anythin g bu t a n independen t an d equal , n o matte r h o w stron g o r wea k th e leader. Variations Zi R i var y considerabl y i n appearance . Mos t ar e lizardl y an d draconic , a s above . Som e appea r part avian , rangin g fro m feath ­ ere d legge d serpents t o beaked , scale d firebirds. Onc e in a whil e the y var y eve n mor e - t o gryphons, say , o r lon g sinuou s airlizard s - bu t on e migh t suspec t th e us e o f Muto c Corpado r magi c for bod y art i n thes e cases. Zi R i ar e generall y quit e prou d o f their appearance . Zi Ri Opinion of Other Species Z i Ri hav e tw o opinion s o f th e rest o f th e world . Sometime s the y enjo y goin g amon g the othe r species, learnin g ne w things a n d showin g off, enjoyin g everyon e tha t the y meet ; sometime s

the y retir e from th e world , an d d o no t tak e an y intrusio n kindl y Cani : Zi R i lik e Cani , bu t the y find mos t Can i concern s amus ­ ing . Gormoror : Z i R i trade adventur e storie s wit h Gormoror . Ofte n the y sta r i n them , a s th e villai n o r opponent ; bot h Zi Ri a n d Gormoro r enjo y tellin g thos e storie s whe n the y meet . Herethroy : Z i R i enjo y singin g wit h Herethroy . Herethro y ofte n celebrat e Zi R i presence , whic h amuse s an d please s th e Z i R i . Khtsoyis : Zi R i regar d Khtsoyis a s littl e mor e tha n toys. The y enjo y flyin g circle s aroun d the m an d tradin g insults. Zi R i ar e keenl y awar e tha t Khtsoyis shoul d hav e bee n monsters rathe r tha n a prim e species, an d sometime s treat them a s such . Orren : Z i Ri are , o n th e whole , indifferen t t o Orren . Orre n flicke r fro m this t o that . Z i Ri ar e muc h steadier. Rassimel : Z i R i enjo y talkin g t o Rassimel . Sleeth : Z i R i an d Sleet h ge t alon g ver y well ; se e th e Sleet h opinio n o f Z i Ri . Th e differenc e is tha t Sleet h thin k tha t they'r e equa l friends o f Z i Ri ; Z i R i conside r th e Sleet h t o b e younger , lesse r friends. Z i Ri : Z i R i sometime s crav e eac h others' company , likin g th e stabilit y o f havin g friend s w h o wil l b e aroun d i n a fe w centuries. Sometime s the y find eac h others' prid e annoy ­ ing , an d g o spen d tim e wit h th e mor e ephemer ­ al species. I'm Tabragore. If you want a half-hour-long name, I can give you one. My eight-hundredand-seventy-second birthday is coming up in mid-Chirreb. I make a tolerable living doing this and that, especially with fire magic, and I don't complain if anyone calls me "wizard". You have asked for my most important story, of wizard's matters. I'm sure you're expecting a story of flashes and crashes, gruesome demons marauding, dark ancient sorceries, and gods chatting in my living room. I've got those stories - yes, even the god, and not every Zi Ri can say that - but the story you're getting is my most important one. Sahien is five hundred ten years older than me, and zir scales are violet, and zir flames have quirky blue edges which tickle. Zie wears the power of zir age, but the only gods in zir living room were visiting me, and nobody ever called zir a wizard. Three centuries and change ago, Sahien and I had become mates. Not just lovers, which is a light matter for Zi Ri. We had decided to endure the seven agonies and have a child. Rezirha's scales were like sunlight on rippling water, and zir flame was golden ... but zie showed us an eighth agony when zie was only forty. Zie was killed by an owl-phange, adventuring in the Verticals. So Sorrow came to dwell with us instead of Rezirha. I started a preposterous project, a Museum of Modern Magic, beating my wings against the challenges of teaching bored children about the seven and twelve arts, and all their variations. Sahien mourned in zir own ways. After a time, we had turned apart, or at least no longer regarded each other with the joy we had before and during Rezirha's life. Sorrow is a growing weed that sorcery cannot cut. And one day Sahien was gone. I sought zir in all the ways that wizards know. My spells echoed along the winds and rippled along the rivers; they combed the shining shallows of the sky and the slow-flowing sap beneath Dentheia. But Sahien was gone. Well, there are ways to hide from a wizard, even if one is only of Sahien's power. My friend Ildereck knows them all: he is a Rassimel sorcerer who has spent most of his life - not much shorter than Sahien's - hiding from this creditor or that assassin. I sought out Ildereck (not much easier than finding Sahien, save that it worked in the end), and paid him something worth more than any sum of money, and worked with him for seven weeks, and found nothing at all. I mourned, then, the way enchanters mourn. I built a home for that unwelcome guest Sorrow. In that home there were five rooms, named Despair, Loneliness, Loss, Heartbreak, and Misery, and in each room that emotion flooded you, and you knew it fully. Mind-control magic is a great evil, and the Home of Sorrow will leave a stench on my reputation for ten thousand years, but I do not regret building it. For behind the fireplace in Heartbreak was a secret room, called Hope, and there I left many of my mementos of Sahien. That was the last of my public works. I expect to start another one soon. Ildereck, by the by, was not nearly so gentle. For reasons I never understood nor cared to, he owned a brothel in Charappa; he renamed it "Sahien's", and painted it zir colors, and left it as every way an insult to zir. He thought to winkle zir out of zir hiding by fury, but it did no good. But even sorrow does not last forever. While I was searching, I sought Lizreshtra. Zie was Sahien's dear one for a century or more, well before I met either of them, though they could never live together. Lizreshtra keeps accounts as sharp as any Sleeth's claw. Zie has many virtues, but generosity is none of them. Lizreshtra would give Sahien bills with dessert for each night's dinner, or near enough. They parted with rage after a terrible year, so long before. I thought Lizreshtra might know what happened to Sahien. Zie did not. But I repaired the insult I had given her when we first met. (Somewhat before Rezirha was born, Lizreshtra came to visit us; I offered zir a basket of lozens at the door. Zie was not amused at the time.) I made a new home near Garnet, where Lizreshtra is Countess of Bannyhock, and after some time - most of a century - became Lizreshtra's lover. One month every other year (Lage, in even-numbered years, to be precise) is about all we can stand of each other, but seen from even-numbered midThory we crave it like sweet candy. Don't get lost. You have asked a Zi Rifor a story from zir life, and in a few centuries even the simplest of threads will be knotted beyond hope. I neglect to mention two score primes, the fire god's attempt at romantic advice, a horror from beyond the shell of the universe (which did not, actually, offer romantic advice), and a dozen similar impedimenta, to make the story simpler.

Not long ago, thirty years and a change, I hired a young Sleeth, Ngann, as a ranger on my modest estate. This and that happened, and he wound up keeping my heart - excepting evennumbered Lages. And I his, for all he jokes about leaving me whenever he wants. And last year Sahien came back. In our time of sorrow, zie made plans to either bring us back together, or split us apart cleanly. Zie knew me well; zie wrote the question in the middle of a tangle of mage-puzzles in a pocket universe, and placed zirselfin a longtime sleep beneath the question. The puzzles were a gift, you see: I enjoy such things, but zie does not. But zie is no wizard. The puzzles were fragile things, so zie built them in a pocket universe, and of course wrapped them in veils and darknesses so that I would not find them too soon. There was only one point of contact from here to there, which Sahien left in the room of the Museum of Modern Magics I was working on. But - and here is the flaw -1 never went back to that room. When I woke up on an awful morning, I noticed instantly that Sahien was gone. Zie thought I would not notice, that I would go back to my labors, but 1 had not drifted so far as that away from zir. I never went back to that room. Over the centuries, the sentient spells that watched for me went mad. From time to time they would snatch someone they thought was me from the Museum. The first two groups were lost among puzzles, and died after some time. The third found their way through, and awoke Sahien from a sleep many decades longer than zie'd intended. Together they traced me down. I had made no effort to hide - quite the opposite, in the first couple years, though in recent decades I have been a bit on the reclusive side - but Time had cast its own kind of veiling spell, and many words and beacons were forgotten, lldereck's brothel - which had become a brothel theme restaurant by then - finally did the trick. So the story ends in a knot. For Sahien, we have been apart for a few weeks, but the world and I have spun centuries. Hove zir fondly, and better now without the pain of recent loss. But Lizreshtra circles around Sahien cautiously, unsure whether to strike zir or kiss zir. And Ngann is no longer the strong young Sleeth I once hired; shall we not resent an extra complication in the last few years we will be together? The four of us dine together several times a week. They are happy dinners, on the whole, but no quantity of wizard's wiles could set these matters straight. — Tabragore, Zi Ri wizard

NON-PRIMES Primes are the people who the gods care about. The gods took especially good care and attention making the primes. The other species are made more sloppily and the gods do not care about them very much. Primes all live together very well. Orren and Rassimel and Cani and Herethroy all are together in almost every prime city, which is the important reason that we are civilized. Gormoror and Zi Ri and Sleeth and Khtsoyis can come too. Nonprimes like better to live with only their own species, which makes them crude and gives them a very small opinion and feeling. With many species in one place we have someone to do all the kinds of things. If you need something done very fast because it is important you can get an Orren to do it. If you need something done very right for a long time you can get a Rassimel. If you need lots ofpeople to talk about it and do it you can get Cani. Herethroy plant food and are strong. Prime magic is better than anyone else's magic. We get to use all the Nounds [sic] and Verbs, because the gods like us the best and they come visit us when we are born. Sometimes nonprimes can use all the Nounds [sic] and Verbs, but they have to go to the temples and get priested at to use all of them, like kazorm can do. Lots of non-primes can't ever use all of them no matter what, because Tenmen and Mircannis don't like cyarr so cyarr can't use Durudor or Healoc. Sometimes nonprimes are very good at magic, especially some kind of magic instead of every kind of magic. But the best wizards on the World Tree are always primes. Usually Zi Ri or Rassimel. Because of this our power is bigger than theirs and our lives are better. Anyone who wants can make a stove by making the leather unburnable with Sustenoc and Corpador and Destroc and Pyrador. They could not do this if they were akkamagga or taptet. This means our stoves are better, so we eat our food better and grow up big and strong and healthy. Also it means that our houses do not burn down from the fireproofing on our stoves andfireplaces. Taptet and akkamagga houses always burn down unless everyone is very very careful near the fire always. We in Narthune have some bound spells from all the wizards who live forever up in Ketheria. Even though they never come to Narthune we still have some of their magic spells to use if we ever need to, like if the city is on fire and we want to put it out. Also sometimes people buy spells to learn from there too. Nonprimes also can get sick and die from it. Sometimes we get sick, but always things like sniffles which you do not die from, even if you think you will. — Why It's Best To Be Prime, a gradeschool social studies essay by Nopnorry Eelbefrost, an Orren boy Ther e ar e thousand s o f specie s o f sentien t an d near-sentien t being s o n th e Worl d Tree . The y ar e no t prime . The y ar e calle d non-prime s (th e nice r word) , o r monsters. Th e creato r god s evidentl y don' t thin k tha t they'r e ver y important . The y wer e create d a s opponents o f th e prim e races, o r games, o r foils, o r simpl y for decoration . T h e prim e specie s wer e give n a fe w advantages. Eac h o f th e prim e specie s wa s bette r crafte d tha n most o f th e non-primes. Prime s hav e access t o all th e magica l arts withou t specia l effort. T h e prime s gai n skil l mor e quickl y tha n anyon e else , especiall y whe n the y adventure . Th e prim e specie s wer e tol d t o cooperat e wit h eac h other, an d instructe d i n certai n o f th e arts o f civiliza ­ tion . Whil e the y ar e no t alway s clos e friends, the y ar e usuall y willin g t o wor k togethe r an d shar e thei r complementar y strength s against threatenin g monsters. Th e prime s kno w tha t the y are the mai n focu s o f divin e interest i n th e world ; this give s man y o f the m a sens e o f purpos e tha t th e non-prime s lack . Ther e is on e ke y physica l differenc e betwee n prime s an d non - primes. Ever y Worl d Tre e bein g ha s a n aspec t o f their being , th e magerium, connectin g th e min d t o th e spirit. T o th e magi c sense , a mageriu m look s lik e a tree . Th e mageriu m o f a prim e look s lik e a segmen t o f th e Worl d Tre e itself, wit h branche s flattene d o n to p an d extendin g from the trunk lik e spokes. Th e magerium s o f th e non-prim e specie s loo k lik e lesse r kind s o f trees, wit h roan d branches. Prim e scholars conside r this th e touchston e o f primeness, an d a concret e sig n o f th e primes' importanc e i n th e aniverse. Non-prim e scholars usuall y call it a coincidence , o r grudgingl y admi t tha t their ow n specie s is sec ­ ondary . Relate d t o this is a n importan t magica l difference . Prime s ar e touche d b y eac h o f th e 7+1 2 god s earl y i n life , an d s o hav e access t o all 7+1 2 magica l arts. N o know n non-prim e specie s is automaticall y gifte d b y all th e gods. Plent y o f individua l non - prime s d o hav e all ninetee n arts -bu t thos e individuals ha d t o wor k t o ge t th e connection s t o som e o f th e gods, connection s whic h th e prime s are give n innately . Ther e are a fe w othe r clue s abou t the importanc e o f primes. The y ar e the onl y eigh t specie s give n name s i n th e innat e com ­ m o n languag e wit h whic h all Worl d Tre e creature s ar e built . Anyon e sentient , o n seein g a Can i for the first time , wil l recog ­ niz e hi m a s a Cani . Th e common-tongu e word s fo r othe r kind s o f creature s ar e much , muc h broader, lik e "fish " o r "bird " o r "quadruped " o r "sentien t being" . Prime s ofte n believ e tha t non-prime s ar e unimportant : tha t the y wer e pu t o n th e Worl d Tre e for th e benefi t o f th e primes, a n d the y ca n b e killed , looted , exploited , o r whateve r a s desired . T h e premis e is true : the non-prime s wer e create d a s subsidiar y species. Th e conclusio n is a matte r o f ethics, no t histor y o r science : a thorn y philosophica l issu e tha t confronts adventurers whe n th e enem y scaw n surrende r an d be g for their lives. Som e o f th e non-prime s kno w tha t the y aren' t prime , an d som e o f the m care . Cyar r hop e t o achiev e prim e statu s fo r their species. Scaw n expec t t o b e reincarnate d a s Sleeth . (Prime s

thin k cyar r an d scaw n ar e wrong. ) Othe r non-prime s ar e onl y diml y awar e o f th e existenc e o f th e primes, o r kno w all abou t it a n d don' t care . Th e akkamagga , fo r example , conside r them ­ selve s t o b e th e mora l equa l o f th e Herethroy , an d car e nothin g for th e othe r seve n prim e species. Th e nendra i kno w all abou t t h e prim e races; nendra i ar e gla d t o stea l o r bu y th e luxurie s o f civilizatio n an d don' t giv e a whi t for wh o th e god s regard . T h e worl d is no t a battl e o f th e prime s against th e non-primes, thoug h it sometime s feels tha t way . Eac h species, eac h individ ­ ual , ha s its ow n motivation s an d desires. Ther e is th e full spec ­ tru m o f huma n motivations, fro m lov e t o hat e an d charit y t o gree d - an d als o othe r spectr a o f divergen t motivations, fro m built-i n compulsion s t o shee r alie n thoughts. So , som e specie s a r e usuall y allie d wit h th e primes, som e against them , an d mos t are no t committed . Al l specie s hav e som e individuals wh o don' t follo w th e usua l tren d o f their species. Friendl y non-prime s ofte n shar e th e countrysid e wit h primes, livin g i n neighborin g villages. Wherriwheffl e trad e meat , just a s Herethro y trad e vegetables. A fe w nonprim e species, ofte n includin g mherobum p an d tapte t an d wherriwheffle , ar e allowe d t o settl e i n o r nea r prim e cities. Thes e aren' t welcome d gladl y in prim e cities, bu t yo u ca n probabl y le t on e i n an d no t ge t lynche d for it. GOD S A Scholar's Commentary on The Apple of Light Much of the creation story related in the traditional Herethroy history-song The Apple of Light is clearly false. For instance, the World Tree did not grow to its present size and shape in a single day; indeed, it is still growing, at the rate of about a mile of height on the main trunk each year. There are far more than seventy thousand kinds of animals, and we have reason to believe that Gnarn and Accanax at least are creating still more kinds even now. The conversations between the gods are certainly inaccurate; Birkozon, in his memoirs, clearly states that Virid and Reluu, as well as Hren Tzen, invited him into the world, and that the arrangement was much more elaborate and gave him control of Birknazza. The prime species were created over some five years, with Herethroy and Sleeth being made first and Rassimel and Gormoror being made last. Accanax made the Khtsoyis as a species of monster, and only made them a prime race when he saw the others close to finishing their prime species; they were so inappropriate that Reluu helped him make another prime race. And so on, and so on, and so on. It is irresponsible to promote this bit of fanciful mythology when the history and theology are crystal clear. — Araxomistes Trimantarus Taxonomy I n th e crypti c time s befor e prim e history , th e god s mad e th e Worl d Tre e an d th e peopl e wh o dwel l o n it. Th e personalitie s o f th e god s colo r th e law s o f physics. Thei r desire s shap e th e substanc e o f primes' spirits an d bodie s an d powers. Thei r influ ­ enc e is o n the Worl d Tre e i n a millio n way s a t ever y moment . Withou t the m ther e woul d b e nothing . However , the y ar e to o distan t an d to o reliabl e for mos t prime s t o pa y the m muc h atten ­ tion . Ther e ar e tw o kind s o f god s o n th e Worl d Tree . Th e seve n Creato r God s create d th e world , bu t generall y avoi d persona l contac t wit h it. Th e twelv e Nou n God s wer e invite d i n b y th e Creato r God s t o manag e th e component s o f th e world . Bot h kind s o f god s manag e magic : th e Creato r God s hav e take n the Verb s (th e magica l acts o f creation , destruction , control , an d sta on) , an d th e Nou n God s manag e th e Noun s (water, plants) minds, time , an d s o on) . Whe n th e god s ar e spoke n o f together, their numbe r is conventionall y writte n 7+1 2 rathe r than 19 . Creator Gods T h e creato r god s create d th e worl d an d th e peopl e wh o liv e there . The y manag e th e magica l Verbs, s o mos t peopl e hav e dail y if impersona l contac t wit h them . The y ar e generall y regarde d a s benig n an d essentia l for lif e bu t no t somethin g the y thin k abou t ver y muc h - abou t th e sam e wa y tha t mos t peopl e regar d air o r water. O n th e whole , th e creato r god s avoi d obviou s meddlin g i n morta l affairs. Ther e ar e a fe w historica l instance s o f direc t actio n b y th e creators: a t on e poin t Relu u appeare d o n th e Worl d Tre e a s a lawgive r t o a Can i nation , an d wa s evidentl y scolde d b y th e othe r creators for interfering . Gnar n an d Hre n Tze n d o spen d a grea t dea l o f tim e wit h mortals o n th e Worl d Tree , bu t the y ver y carefull y d o nothin g o f importance . A n evenin g o f huntin g wit h Gnar n o r pleasur e wit h Hre n Tze n is a n evenin g well-spent , bu t if yo u as k question s abou t th e cosmo s o r tr y t o g e t favors, they'l l snarl o r laug h an d g o bac k t o th e business a t hand . T h e creato r god s cooperat e wit h eac h othe r i n mos t respects. T h e Verb s the y comman d combin e peacefull y i n spells, eve n suc h apparen t opposite s a s Destructio n wit h Creation , Healing , a n d Sustaining . Th e specie s the y create d cooperat e o r quarre l wit h littl e regar d for th e gods. Sleet h an d scaw n ar e constan t enemies, thoug h bot h ar e th e creation s o f Gnarn ; Sleet h an d Z i Ri ar e friendly , thoug h eac h specie s is clos e t o its creato r go d a n d th e creators ar e a s muc h oppose d a s an y tw o creators. T h e creato r god s eac h manag e on e magica l Ver b for th e Worl d Tree , bu t their power s g o far beyon d tha t Verb . Theologists hav e vast lists o f thing s tha t th e creators hav e done , o r migh t hav e don e - a list that starts wit h suc h feats a s "creat e 1/7 o f th e world " an d "creat e a prim e species" . Creato r God s G o d Prim e Specie s Ver b Viri d Herethro y Creoc(Creation ) Relu u Cani , Gormoro r Ruloc(Control ) Mircannis Rassime l Healoc(Healing ) Accana x Khtsoyis, Gormoro r Destroc(Destruction ) Gnar n Sleet h Mutoc(Change ) Hre n Tze n Zi Ri Sustenoc(Sustaining ) Pararenenz u Orre n Kennoc ( Understanding )

VlRID (CRLOC ) Viri d is creative , mild , an d somewha t unworldl y eve n for a god . Sh e like s creatio n fo r its ow n sake , usin g it a s a n art form. H e r creation s ten d toward s th e quie t an d unobtrusive ; the y are mostl y plants. Th e Herethro y suit he r well : fairl y cal m an d mild , clos e t o th e land , an d carin g abou t farmin g an d growin g things, musi c an d community . Sh e manage s Creoc , whic h is he r strength : sh e create d th e Worl d Tre e itself. RELUU (RULOC ) Relu u is warm , noble , an d intense . His mood s ar e brigh t an d clean , lik e a nobl e Can i crowne d wit h th e sun . Insofa r a s th e god s hav e a king , it is Reluu . H e love s order, clarity , closeness, a n d honor , an d is wel l matche d t o Ruloc . Th e Can i ar e his prid e a n d joy ; their constantl y changin g affan is ho w h e woul d lik e all thing s run. Indeed , som e scholars sa y tha t it wa s Relu u wh o propose d th e arrangemen t o f Noun s an d Verbs, s o tha t eac h o f t h e god s ha s a spher e o f suprem e influence . Ou t o f hono r an d order, h e helpe d Accana x mak e a prope r prim e specie s afte r th e botcher y o f th e Khtsoyis. Tha t species, th e Gormoror , is honor ­ abl e enoug h t o pleas e Reluu , destructiv e enoug h to pleas e Accanax . Relu u create s terribl e monsters, bu t nobl e ones, lik e monstrou s knights raise d t o oppos e prime-specie s knights. MlRCANNIS (UtALOC ) Mircannis is lik e a poo l o f col d wate r i n th e heart o f a forest. S h e is th e best-like d o f th e creato r gods, wel l matche d t o Healoc ; sh e show s littl e bu t benevolenc e t o th e world . He r know n creation s ar e smal l an d essential : som e healin g herbs, o f course ; honey-bees, spices, animals wit h war m soft pelts. Sh e is no t particularl y Rassime l i n character; sh e acts wit h a broa d b u t diffus e emotion , ver y differen t fro m th e Rassime l intensel y focuse d passion . Th e Rassime l generall y accep t he r existenc e a n d characte r withou t grea t concern . ACCANAX (DMSTROC) Accana x is th e youngest an d darkest o f th e gods. H e is fre ­ quentl y destructive , well-matche d t o his art o f Destroc . His commo n mood s includ e a blac k fo g o f depressio n an d a dull-re d whor l o f undirecte d aggression ; thes e miasma s occasionall y haun t th e dream s o f wizard s stron g in Destroc . Neithe r o f his species, Khtsoyis no r Gormoror , is muc h lik e him ; h e ha s littl e o f th e Khtsoyis' goo d humor , an d nothin g o f th e Gormoro r sens e o f honor. H e is a frenzie d creator-go d at times, makin g a hun ­ dre d ne w kind s o f monsters i n a n afternoo n an d scatterin g the m just outsid e th e borders o f th e prim e species. H e occasionall y appears o n th e Worl d Tre e i n th e guis e o f a thundercloud , an d terrifyin g thing s happe n i n his shadow . H e is Gnarn's younge r brother. GNARN (MUTOC ) Gnar n is col d an d fierce, lik e a deifie d Sleeth . Sh e is Ac - canax's olde r sister, an d his kindre d i n spirit. He r destructiv e tendencie s ar e mor e focused : sh e wil l tormen t a singl e bir d t o deat h wit h th e sam e eagerness tha t Accana x wil l unleas h a hord e o f churshas h o n a peacefu l Herethro y country . He r prim e cre ­ ation , th e Sleeth , ar e ver y muc h lik e he r i n character; sh e ofte n join s the m i n th e hunt . He r othe r creature s ar e if anythin g mor e dangerou s tha n Accanax's ; wher e h e wil l mak e a hundre d slop ­ p y , brutis h monste r species, sh e wil l mak e a single , finely-tuned species, elegan t an d deadly . Sh e is adequatel y matche d t o Mutoc . Destro c woul d hav e mad e mor e sense ; scholars generall y agre e that sh e cede d Destro c t o Accana x s o tha t h e woul d participate . It is a myster y wh y sh e occasionall y appears a s Herethro y i n the sky . S h e frequentl y visits th e Worl d Tre e t o hun t an d mat e wit h a selecte d Sleeth . Sh e rarel y talk s ver y muc h o n thos e visits. HREN TZE N (SUSTENOC) Hre n Tze n is a shiftin g patc h o f brigh t joy , unpredictabl e an d glorious. Zi e visits th e Zi Ri , wearin g their for m an d matchin g their pleasures. Lik e th e Z i Ri , zi e is ofte n distant . Th e centurie s are zir eyelids, th e Z i Ri say , an d th e deed s o f th e da y loo k lik e a n evanescen t wisp . I n a decade , Hre n Tze n migh t creat e a sin ­ g l e ne w thing ; it wil l b e a wor k o f art wel l wort h regarding . Quality , elegance , an d delight : thes e ar e Hre n Tzen's insignia . Trut h an d realit y ar e a t best secondar y concerns. Hre n Tze n is an adequat e matc h t o Sustenoc . Zi e make s ver y little , bu t wha t z i e makes , endures. PARARENENZU (KENNOC ) Pararenenz u is a mi x o f seriousness an d frivolity . Zi r mood s a r e a s ho t an d quick-changin g a s a bonfire's flames. Zi e mad e t h e Orren , wh o ar e zir matc h i n seriousness an d concentration : neithe r go d no r prim e ha s muc h o f either. Pararenenz u ha s a detaile d an d extensiv e sens e o f humor , an d man y o f his cre ­ ation s (thoug h no t ofte n th e Orren ) ar e th e butts o f his jokes. Zi e manage s th e art o f Kennoc , o f detectin g an d information . Zi e doe s no t tak e it a s seriousl y a s mos t o f its practitioners do , wit h t h e resul t tha t detectio n spells fail abou t 5 % o f th e time , an d occasionall y produc e bizarr e fals e results. Noun Gods Of the Noun Gods, there are three kind gods: Kvarse, Lenhirrik, and Iraz Halix. And there are three cruel gods: Flokin, "Here", and Birkozon. And there are three silent gods: Merklundum, Tenmen, and Kaimiri. And there are three mysterious gods: Hressh-Huu, Shax Shay Shaz, and Iraz Varuun. And upon them the creator gods weave the stuff of the world. — Txarantham Tortuens, Triads A triumph of theological exposition. The mysteries of the world are revealed in limpid splendor: all we must do is count to three. — Tsemnomides, reviewing Triads A doze n god s manag e th e magica l Nouns . Thes e god s ar e distinctl y subordinat e t o th e Creato r Gods . Eac h on e ha s a spher e o f influenc e encompassin g som e aspec t o f physica l o r magica l reality : air, water, plants, spirits, time , an d s o on . Th e sphere s overla p extensively ; rai n is covere d b y bot h Airado r an d Aquador , th e Noun s o f air (an d thu s air phenomena ) an d wate r (whic h is wha t raindrop s ar e mad e of). T h e Nou n God s dwel l o n th e Worl d Tree , o r no t fa r away . Man y ar e ver y present . Birkozon , fo r example , rule s his empir e wit h th e full forc e o f his divinity : n o smal l thin g fo r th e go d o f Mentador . Floki n an d "Here " amus e themselve s cruell y b y chasin g offworl d power s away . Hressh-Hu u an d he r merr y gan g o f elementals pla y game s wit h weather . Kvars e an d Lenhirri k hav e eac h founde d orders o f knights an d protector-mages, an d see m t o hav e a competitio n t o se e whic h o f the m ca n b e th e mos t helpfu l t o th e prim e specie s wit h carefull y limite d intervention . Som e o f th e othe r Nou n God s ar e aslee p o r barel y intelligent . T h e Nou n God s ar e a s fundamenta l t o th e realit y o f th e Worl d

Tre e univers e a s th e creato r gods. Withou t Lenhirrik , ther e woul d b e n o plants (excep t perhap s th e Worl d Tre e itself); with ­ o u t Birkozon , n o mind s othe r than thos e o f th e god s an d othe r offworlders. The y ar e extremel y poten t i n their ow n Nouns . Mos t o f the m hav e extensiv e power s o f othe r kind s a s well , an d a r e no t subjects t o th e limits an d convention s o f Worl d Tre e magic . Nou n God s G o d Nou n Kvars e Corpado r (Flesh ) Lenhirri k Herbado r (Plants) Floki n Pyrado r (Fire ) Hressh-Hu u Airado r (Air ) Merklundu m Harnipsundu m th e Do g w h o Kille d a Fis h Aquado r (Water) Tenme n Durudo r (Meta l an d Stone ) Sha x Sha y Sha z Illusido r (Images) "Here " Locado r (Place ) Ira z Varuu n Magiado r (Magic ) Birkozo n Mentado r (Mind ) Ira z Hali x Spirido r (Spirits) Kaimir i Tempado r (Time ) KVARSE (CORPADOR) Kvars e take s man y shapes: Cani , Orren , o r othe r animals o n a Can i fram e ar e perhap s he r favorites. Sh e is femal e a littl e mor e ofte n than male . Sh e dwells i n a vast palac e in Ketheria , most o f whic h is use d a s th e guild-hal l for the Healers' Guild . Sh e love s pom p an d circumstance . Kvars e is a n activ e god . Sh e taugh t th e first Herethro y th e basi c technique s o f medicin e an d anima l husbandry . Sh e found ­ e d the Healers' Guil d in th e secon d yea r o f th e world , an d ha s run it wit h a n imperceptibl e han d sinc e then. Sh e intervene s in t h e worl d severa l time s a week , curin g dreadfu l wound s an d raisin g th e dead . Sh e ha s a fixed price : eac h patien t mus t suppl y h e r seve n years o f a hero's labor. Th e patien t doesn' t hav e t o d o it personally , bu t someon e wh o is willin g t o d o th e wor k must com e wit h th e patient . Usuall y th e seve n years' labo r is fairly ordinar y heroi c activities, lik e protectin g citie s fro m monsters. Quit e a fe w heroe s spen d their tim e workin g for Kvarse ; it's a n honorabl e occupatio n an d a goo d wa y t o clea r a staine d reputa ­ tion . Ther e ar e dozen s o f storie s o f a her o accidentall y killin g a n innocent , takin g th e bod y t o Kvars e t o b e resurrected , an d spendin g th e seve n years. Kvars e is a n elde r siblin g o f Reluu , a clos e frien d o f Gnar n a n d Hre n Tzen . Sh e chos e no t t o b e a creato r go d o f th e Worl d Tree , thoug h sh e ha s evidentl y create d othe r worlds. LENHIRRIK (HERBADOR) Lenhirri k ofte n wears a Herethro y shape , o r th e guis e o f a moving , speakin g tree . Sh e dwells i n a grov e o f arke n tree s in Ketheria , nea r th e cit y Lenkasia , th e headquarters o f th e grea t orders o f Herbado r scholars an d priests. Lenhirri k taugh t th e Herethro y man y thing s abou t plants. Sh e create d the first weapo n o n th e Worl d Tree , a spea r fo r Hrikka k t h e Might y t o us e t o repe l a rongo n whic h attacke d th e first Herethroy , o n th e elevent h da y o f their existence . Th e spea r is n o w i n th e museu m o f th e Re d Chiti n Knights ' Grea t Hall . It is sai d tha t sh e is Virid's siste r o r love r o r both . Lenhirri k use d t o b e a s activ e a s Kvarse : somewha t o f a rival , wit h eac h tryin g t o outd o th e othe r i n their benefi t t o th e prim e species. Lenhirri k doe s no t heal , bu t sh e sponsore d mor e peo ­ p l e an d equippe d them better. He r intervention s wer e usuall y i n t h e for m o f sendin g heroe s t o hel p people , an d he r pric e wa s usuall y helpin g others. However , Lenhirri k ha s wor n th e shap e o f a n unmovin g wood ­ e n statu e o f a Herethro y fo r abou t thirt y years. He r truehand s a r e raise d dramatically , wit h a spea r i n on e o f them ; sh e is stand ­ i n g o n foothand s an d feet. He r fac e is inexpressive . It's hardl y t h e first tim e she's take n a n unmovin g woode n shape , bu t it is t h e first tim e she's don e s o for mor e tha n a da y o r two . Som e scholars thin k she's bee n imprisone d b y som e ominou s Othe r God , or, worse , b y Kvarse . Others thin k she's takin g a nap , o r wearin g anothe r bod y somewher e else . I n an y event , Herbado r magi c is workin g wit h th e sam e perfectio n that it di d whe n sh e w a s active , an d littl e els e is know n b y primes. TLOKIN (PVRADOR) Floki n ofte n wears th e shap e o f a Sleeth , its fur stripe d orang e a n d incandescen t white , its eye s a s gree n an d strip y a s mala ­ chite , its tail fa r to o long . Sometime s it puts tha t bod y o n a vertica l Cani-lik e frame . Sometime s it is a clou d o f flame , a n orang e tre e i n a coppe r tub , a skirl o f yowle d song , o r othe r things. It ha s n o fixed abode . It rarel y ha s a gender. Floki n is friendly , in a stupi d viciou s kin d o f way . It take s deligh t i n teasin g Cani , an d killin g th e horrors fro m outsid e th e Worl d Tree . It is no t ver y smart ; a t least, that's wha t it tells everyone , especiall y afte r it's burne d their han d off b y mistake . T h e othe r gods, eve n th e creators, ar e afrai d o f its ra w destruc ­ tiv e forc e an d Sleeth-lik e cruelty . Ther e ar e severa l apocalypti c cults whic h believ e that, a t th e en d o f time , Floki n wil l gro w to its full size , an d tak e th e Worl d Tre e in its burnin g han d an d thereb y bur n it t o ashes. Someon e aske d Floki n abou t tha t once ; Floki n grinned , gre w t o a hug e size , an d graspe d a n ancien t arke n tre e an d burne d it t o ashes. HRESSH-HUU (AIRADOR) Hressh-Hu u is a spira l win d full o f laughte r an d trouble . He r hom e is th e wid e sky , o r anywher e sh e wishes. Hressh-Hu u is a trickster. Whe n th e worl d wa s young , befor e ther e wer e people , s h e ra n th e weathe r t o suit he r whims : on e wee k wa s a s ho t a s a boilin g kettle , th e nex t wee k th e Worl d Tree's limb s groane d i n tomb s o f ice . Th e creato r god s sa w their creature s die . The y chase d afte r Hressh-Huu . Sh e split int o fourtee n wind s an d whirle d aroun d th e seve n creators, confoundin g the m an d driv ­ i n g the m dizzy . Bu t the y mad e nets o f feathers an d cage s o f spu n glirries, an d se t twinklin g puzzle s i n eac h one . Whe n Hressh-Hu u cam e t o tr y th e puzzles, th e god s entrappe d he r in fourtee n parts. The y constraine d he r t o giv e reasonabl e weath ­ e r most o f th e time , leavin g onl y th e mont h o f Oi x for th e unpre ­ dictabl e extreme s whic h sh e loves. Hressh-Hu u play s smalle r trick s a s well . Wind s o n th e Worl d Tre e ar e mischievous. They'l l flic k you r ha t ou t o f you r han d a n d whir l it ove r you r head . They'l l stea l you r lov e letters an d blo w the m t o you r othe r lovers. They'l l blo w you r sky-ship s far