The World of Wyrd

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        Wyrd is the world on which FTLY takes place.  It is a land much like other lands one finds in fantasy novels and role-playing games, with lots of magic and little technology.  Much of the landscape and vegetation resembles medieval Europe, and in some parts ancient Asia.  There are creatures like the ones here on Earth, as well as the standard RPG/fantasy creatures, and a few creatures that nobody's heard of anywhere else.  Wyrd is technically in a parallel universe to Earth, sharing the same space on a slightly different wavelength.  Thus, there are horses and cats and humans on Wyrd just like there are on Earth.  Several different sentient races live on Wyrd, and are for the most part integrated and harmonious among each other.  There are, of course, still conflicts, but these are usually small.  There hasn't been a real war in Wyrd for over 2,000 years. 

Geography:
    Wyrd is divided into seven main continents, like Earth, but these continents look rather different from the ones on Earth. (I'll draw a map eventually... ^_^)

• Liqueur is the smallest continent, comparable in size to Australia, and is shaped roughly like a wine bottle.  Every major city is named after some kind of alcoholic beverage, though the inhabitants don't seem to notice this, since most of those words have different meanings on Wyrd than on Earth.  It's really just a great, cosmic coincidence.  (That, and the artist thought it would be funny. ^_^)  Most of FTLY's action takes place here.  It is the land where both Pader and Tristyn were born and raised.  Liqueur is the homeland of Wood Elves, due to its great numbers of forests and healthy Dryad population.

• Kenaz is one of the largest continents of Wyrd, shaped roughly like a boomerang.  It is the most populous continent, though most of the population is Human.  Dark Elves, Fairies, Sprites, Pixies, and several other species originated from Kenaz.  The landscape is as varied as, say, North America, ranging from plains to deserts to mountains to forests.  

• Perdhro is the second smallest continent, and is the most isolated.  Shaped a little like a question mark.  Landscape is similar to Kenaz, only with more plains.  Thought to be the original homeland of Humans, there are few other species living here.  The continent is isolated because of its great distance from the other lands, and is surrounded by very treacherous waters.  Some of the other species in Wyrd wish that Humans had never migrated from Perdhro...

• Landsedge is another fairly isolated continent, though the inhabitants know of the other lands.  It is shaped somewhat like a cookie with a bite taken out of it.  Mostly Human population (a very sophisticated one at that) with few other species.  The famous Academy of Magic is located here, in the city of Sasaen.  The landscape is mostly high mountains and ancient forests, so a majority of the population lives near the sea.

• Azgarten is the largest of all the continents.  It has no distinctive shape, but is impressively massive.  Humans refuse to live here, surprisingly, because they believe it is where the ancient gods used to live.  They do not believe in this as a religious superstition, but rather as a historical fact.  Relics from this land possess great magical powers, and some are even rumored to have connections from other worlds.  The landscape is largely composed of deserts and mountains.  The only sentient species that still thrives here are the dragons.  

• Haven is a previously uninhabited, mostly forested continent that is shaped like a footprint.  After humans began to migrate to the rest of the world, some species began to migrate elsewhere.  Haven is one such land, named as such for obvious reasons.  Humans are not allowed to set foot here, even to trade, on pain of death.  The population is mainly different varieties of Elves, Fairies, Goblins, Orcs, and so forth.

• Coeli is actually a floating island, hovering about a mile above the ocean.  Nobody is quite sure what holds it up, for the inhabitants do not have that kind of magic.  The perimeter is almost perfectly round, like a flying saucer, though it has a chunk of earth dangling down from the center like the whole island was ripped from the ground at one point—which, in essence, it was.  The bottom of the island is covered in tree roots, which seem to hold all the earth together in one piece.  The top of the island is perfectly flat, has trees all around the rim, and has a single, huge city on it called Cittaziangeli, or "City of the Angels".  Here is where the Serapi live (see Serapi and Angeli in the Species section further below).  The island itself tends to migrate occasionally...

Species/Races:

        Sentient Races:

• Humans on Wyrd are just like the humans on Earth.  They come in the same colors and sizes, and have many of the same qualities and faults.  They are considered by some other races as a "pest" species, particularly for their tendency to rapidly populate and spread through different lands.  Humans are able to use magic, though it is rare to see a full human mage or wizard outside of Landsedge.  Patron gods vary according to location and tribe of human.  

• Elves (or Elders, Edhel [*Elvish]) are a little taller than humans, and generally slimmer on average.  They have long, pointed ears, slightly slanted eyes, and flawless skin and hair.  They are very intelligent (more so than Humans, anyway).  True elves are virtually immortal due to their extremely slow aging process and regenerative abilities, and have been known to live for thousands of years.  Elves can be killed, however.  They can live just about anywhere, but prefer to live close to nature as opposed to busy cities.  In most Elven societies, females and males are equal, though sometimes they lean more towards a matriarchal (female dominated) society.  Elves come in just as many color varieties and sizes as Humans, if not more.  There are also many sub-species of Elves, which are covered below as separate species.  Patron gods vary according to location and sub-species.

• Wood Elves (or Forest Elves, Tauredhel [Elvish]) are one of the most common sub-species of Elves.  They are mainly forest-dwellers, especially in forests populated by Dryads (see further below).  Most Wood Elves have some Dryad lineage, in fact, due to the amount of interbreeding.  Because they are not considered "Pure" Elves, some other Elven clans won't associate with Wood Elves.  Wood Elves come in a variety of colors, though earth tones are predominant, and their skin is usually a dark tan color.  Green hair is not uncommon.  Societies of Wood Elves are largely matriarchal.  The lifespan of a Wood Elf is usually about fifteen times longer than the average human's.  Though they speak Elvish, they are said to have a distinctive dialect, with unique words and names that are not found in usual Elvish speak.  Patron goddess is Pomona, who resembles a green Dryad, and whose symbol is the apple.

• Dark Elves (a.k.a. Drow, Ilythiiri [**Drow], or Mori'edhel [Elvish]) are so called because of their coloring and choice of habitat, though they aren't necessarily evil.  They live underground and in caves for the most part, where lack of sunlight has caused them to evolve fantastic vision in the dark.  Their distinctive coloring and separate language sets them apart from other Elven races, and they are outright shunned by High Elves.  They mine and refine precious stones and metals found in their mountain habitats, and sometimes coexist peacefully with Dwarves.  Eye color ranges from pale blue to violet to red, hair is generally white or bluish-white, and skin color is usually black.  Oftentimes a Drow is born with pure white skin, which seems to be the natural progression to albinism that many creatures attain after living in dark caverns for many generations.  A Drow usually lives twenty times longer than the average human.  They are fairly antisocial, and other species often feel that it's for the best.  Patron god is Ilharn (Patron) and patron goddess is Lolth (the Spider Queen, though she is not worshipped as much these days...).

• High Elves (or Cala'edhel, Taurn'edhel [Elvish]) are like the royalty of the Elven world.  They are the "purebreds", who can trace their unblemished lineage all the way back to the dawn of Elven civilization.  Most High Elves feel superior to other races because of their heritage.  It is thought that if they are not killed, they can live forever.  High Elves are generally fair of skin and hair, though not necessarily in a Caucasian-looking way.  They speak what is considered the purest form of Elvish, without any unusual accents.  Unlike most Elves, High Elves are usually patriarchal.  Patron god:  Varies.

• Fairies are similar to Elves in appearance and intelligence but with a few big differences.  For one thing, Fairies have wings (usually resembling those of insects, but much prettier).  They can also change their size from Full-size (on the same scale as Elves) to Convenient Pocket-size (about six inches tall on average).  In either size, they can retract their wings when it's convenient.  Fairies are so varied in color, size, temperament, and habitat that it would take forever to name them all.  Most Fairies don't even bother to give themselves a specific category, unless they want to feel important.  When Fairies actually organize themselves into a sort of society (which is rare, but not unheard of), they are usually matriarchal.  Their lifespan is usually about ten times longer than a Human's, though some live longer than others.  Fairies speak a variety of languages, including Elven and Common, but have no official language of their own.  Patron gods vary greatly, and some Fairies don't claim a patron god at all.

• Pixies are almost exactly like Fairies, only they're permanently stuck in that Convenient Pocket-size mentioned before.  They are less intelligent than true Fairies, and are usually capricious and mischievous.  Pooks, Leprechauns, Clauricanes, Brownies, and all those other "Little People" fall under the Pixy category.  Some have their own languages and gods, but these are usually never documented.

• Sprites are similar to Fairies, but are three to five feet tall on average and only come in one size.  They have wings and pointed ears like Fairies, and are actually a distant cousin to them.  Most Sprites can turn invisible, and are associated with a particular element of nature, which could be anything from water to stones to flowers.  They are not true Elementals or Nymphs, however, but seem to be distantly related to them as well.  Language is only used to communicate with other beings.  Among themselves, they speak telepathically.  Gods vary, if any.

• Gnomes are rare, intelligent, benevolent beings that are Pixy sized and wingless.  They are a little like tiny, friendly Dwarves.  They're all plump and good-natured, wear pointed caps, and live under trees and boulders.  They're also known as the "Caretakers of Nature", who help animals and plants in need.  Around Humans, however, they are shy and rarely seen.  Though Pixy sized, they are not related to that ilk, and are rather a separate species.  Have their own language, which is never spoken by other creatures.  Do not worship gods of any kind, but have their own spirits and nature forces in which they believe.

• Sylphs are Fairy half-breeds, and can describe any creature with Fairy blood.

• Half-Elves are cross-breeds between Humans and Elves.  They are generally shunned by both races, and are usually loners because of this.  Depending on their birth parents, they will either have more Elven or Human characteristics.  

• Dwarves (or Khazâd [Dwarvish language based on information from this site.

  The information on this page was based loosely on several fantasy sources:

  • D&D 3rd Edition

  • Piers Anthony's Xanth novels

  • Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn

  • Japanese legends and mythology

  • Greek mythology

  • Various other fantasy creature books

  • And my own imagination ^_^

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