Chapter III: "Creatures, Constructs, and Clans"
The Treatment of Animals
The island is still a wild place that fights against the expansion of settlements as populations grow and people attempt to expand out around the lands. Whether on the Skull Crags, on the Spires, within the Arelith Forest, or in other regions around the island, we must be aware that we are encroaching onto the wild lands that these creatures have called home for longer than we've been here. Often we press into these lands in an attempt to aid the lands. We wander in order to be able to deal with a creature or person that is living beyond the general laws of nature or to aid the lands after some great disaster or to fight invasive plant or animal species. We must work diligently to avoid leaving our own mark on the land and remember to never blame these wild lands or animals for trying to harm us. These are their lands, no matter how much others may wish to claim the lands are tame or well traveled. We cannot blame the river for making us wet, the rain for making us cold and sick, or the animals for wanting to eat.
Often we can avoid leaving our mark by moving quietly and by being aware of our surroundings. If we need to reveal ourselves in order to complete some task, and this leads to us having to defend ourselves, we should do it swiftly and with as little impact as possible. If someone is not able to travel without drawing the attention of natural predators, and they are unable to pass through these wild lands without leaving their mark, then they should limit their passing through those lands. It's our responsibility to limit our impact, which may require making sacrifices or taking longer trails in order to avoid making an impact. We should never take the easy route then blame the land for our short-comings or laziness.
Wolves
We do not hunt these animals unless we are in need of the gifts of nature. Over the years we have heard many different theories as to why the wolves of the island are so aggressive. We have chosen our current path after a few observations. We have watched over the years as ogres snatch up any food they can find and leave little to nothing left for other predators. The ogres do not fear the wolves as the wolves cannot contend against the strength of the ogres. This forces the wolves to alter their nature to that of scavengers, to wait alongside a gathering of ogres for any scraps that may be left behind. With little left for the many wolf packs to survive on, there is always a fight for food. They fight not just to gather food for themselves but for their cubs that may be starving back in their den. People will contend that these wolves cannot be calmed and, therefore, there must be something unnatural affecting them.
This leads to a desire for these people to kill wolves whenever possible. We find it easy to understand that even the calmest at heart may not be able to distract these creatures from their starvation and desire to tend to their packs and their young. It is for these reasons that we choose to avoid them, lead them away from trails and settlements, and encourage others not to excessively hunt them as if the wolves are evil enemies of all who pass across the lands. We choose not to blame these creatures for their desire to survive. We will continue to fight to see them returned to a peaceful existence.
Worgs
Although similar in appearance and base behavior as wolves, worgs are a different breed of beast entirely. Magical creatures possesed of a higher intelligence, demonic features and an evil disposition, worgs are typically much larger then the wolves they resemble and can be found co-ordinating in small packs or as lone hunters; operating in gloomy forest regions and dark plains. Often found in the company of orcs, kobolds and goblinoids, worgs posses many of the destructive traits shared by other evil monsters and should be hunted and driven back from nature with impunity.
Snakes
It's been said that snakes are not native to the Arelith Island. At this point in time, this information has been restated by enough people for us to begin to believe that it is true. Snakes are creatures that have no natural predators and breed rapidly. This creates a dangerous situation when a species is unnaturally introduced to a new territory. We may never be able to remove the snake species from the island but we will have to remain diligent to cull their numbers and to keep their impact on the land to a minimum.
War Pigs
When the mind of a animal is broken and they are trained to act outside of their own preservation there is little that can be done to permanently quell their anger. These pigs have been caged, beaten, and starved by bugbear tribes as they hope to direct the ferocity and strength of these animals at their enemies. Not all boars of the forest have been tortured in such a way but we hunt for those that have had their connection to nature broken. Much care should be taken to end the lives of these creatures as quickly as possible so that they may at peace and once again rejoin the cycle. It is our hope that we can at least treat their bodies as the gifts of nature that they are and do our best to utilize all that we can from them.
Giant Termites
Termites have their place in nature as any creature does. We hunt the termites of the Arelith forest not out of fear of loss for the forest we live in, but because it has been seen that the breeding and release of these termites may be the result of planned assault by minions of Malar. Deep within the hollowed grounds of the forest, the termites are bred and released. The bugs themselves seem to be acting in self preservation but they must still be hunted as their numbers are unnaturally boosted in order to cause as much destruction as possible.
Malar Panthers
These are panthers that have had the hand of Malar laid upon them. They are imbued with the essence of the Beastlord and their minds are bent toward a thirst for the hunt. They live and act outside the bounds of nature. We take no joy in having to hunt these creatures but their thirst is unquenchable, so they must be put down.
Golems
Golems are unnatural constructs that are given life through magically binding an unwilling earth elemental into a crafted body. These bodies can be made from many different things that are taken from the lands.Some of the most common on this island are stone, iron, and bones. We have three main concerns when it comes to these constructs. These concerns are the forced binding of an elemental spirit, the resources that are taken from the lands to make them, and the destruction that they often cause as they are led about. The destruction they cause is dependent greatly on the lands that they are treading on; for example, a golem stomping within the depths of a cave would not cause any concern for the safety of those lands. Alternatively, a golem being led through the forest would be unacceptable and it should be led out of the forest or destroyed, and its remains hauled off.
The second concern about the materials that are used comes from a belief that this magical animation of the land is a perversion of the blessings of nature. These resources are pulled from the lands, not to aid in the life and cycle of creatures but in order to increase ones power and to be used as devices of war. The final concern is the potential to eternally bind an Earth Elemental spirit. Most care little about this as they view the elemental spirit as they would an animal; that is, as something for them to use and control. From their perspective, this is slavery as they are bound as if in chains within this shell with their master's will imposed upon them.
Ogres
Ogres are greedy monsters that are never satisfied with what they have. They seem to wish to live outside of the laws of nature, and as such, they destroy all that they come across. After the lands of Minmir flooded, the ogres discovered all that could be found in the forest an chose to make it their task to take all that they could find. We now hunt these monsters tirelessly in hopes that some day we may drive them from the forest and end the destruction and waste that follows them in their wake.
Skull Crags Druid Grove
Located North of Guldorand on the Skull Crags Mountain. Inspection of the sacred grounds of this grove will show that the ground has been dug up and that large sacred stones have been overturned. Also, the trees of the mountain have roused themselves in order to aggressively stand in protection against any that would try to press into the lands. Even to the present day, people continue to venture to this sacred ground to break apart any stone that they can find in order to haul back to their cities. These observations have led us to believe that not only are the druids of this land angry but, even beyond that, they may be cursed. It is difficult to know who first pressed into lands that the mountain druids watched over but it is obvious that at some point a group of travelers crossed a line when they defiled the druid's grove.
In the end, the druids failed to protect their sacred land and have fallen into darkness until they are able to heal their lands and bless their grove again. Like the Barbarian of the Spires, these druids may need to be shown resistance to their aggression at times. Perhaps even leading to their numbers being culled. It should always be kept in mind that these druids may not be fully in control over their own thoughts. In regard to this, we do what we feel must be done although we do so with a heavy heart. We continue to keep hope that someday a gathering of druids may come together and stand beside the druids of the mountain in order to help to lift the curse that has befallen them. Additionally, people should be encouraged to not take stone from the lands of their grove.
Barbarians of the Spires Mountains
The Barbarians of the Spires remain diligent in their defense of the land that they call home. They do not claim it so that they can clear it or tame it. They seem to wish to maintain its beauty. This could be respected and their willingness to lay down their lives in defense of it could be admired. However, as more people press into their lands and take up their resources, these barbarians of the mountain, in desperation, turn to others for aid. They have allied themselves with Frost Giants and Champions of Auril's cause. It is for the latter allegiance that they must be watched closely and, if need be, their numbers culled. History has shown us that their boldness increases as their numbers swell. At one point, while feeling that they had the advantage, they worked even more closely with the forces of Auril on the mountain to draw the essence of Auril into a human host in order to cover the island in destruction, cold, and darkness.
In spite of that, it's important to remember that, when you must take one of their lives, you should not do it with anger or hatred in your heart and that their bodies should be respected and allowed to rejoin the cycle.We must keep in mind that each life is a blessing and each man or woman that you kill could be someone else's brother or sister, father or mother.
Original Authors of this work:
Gwen Estelwen and Lucard Cousland