Carnac
Carnac, the city of the centaurs, is located deep in the Ha’ashtari Waste. The city lies in a river gorge called the Rift. The Rift had once been a gigantic cavern, with an underground river running through it. At some time in the distant past, there was a great upheaval in the planet’s crust, and a portion of the cavern roof collapsed, forming the canyon. A large mesa rises from the floor of the Rift, its top worn flat by the passing centuries. The river still flows, now called the Stark. It emerges from the mouth of a massive cave at the far end of the Rift and meanders through the canyon until it reaches the mesa, where it splits into two channels, completely encircling the plateau. Once past the mesa, the channels merge again, and the Stark continues its journey into a cave mouth at the opposite end.
Scattered trees cover the valley floor, with an understory of grass and tough shrubs. Any flat ground near the river has been tilled for crops. Thermal activity heats the lower valley, which makes it considerably warmer than the frigid plains above. Patches of mist often occur, formed by the clash of temperatures.
The city of Carnac was constructed on the mesa’s summit, its builders taking advantage of the natural defenses. The city was built of great blocks of reddish sandstone, carved from the surrounding cliffs. A massive wall encircles the summit of the plateau, thick enough for several riders to pass abreast, with squat stone towers spaced evenly along the wall. The city itself, a great mass of monolithic structures, crowds within the protecting walls.
On the downstream end of the mesa, sediments left behind by the river form a large point of land. A lesser wall bounds this area, with a massive gate at the very end. A ramp leads from the lower gate to the mesa summit and the main gate of the city. Two wooden bridges provide access from either side of the river.
The surrounding cliffs are vertical near the summit, with rocky slopes covering the lower elevations, littered with debris fallen from the cliffs above. The hardy vegetation of the Waste has claimed portions of the slopes, brownish green patches dotting the rock fields. The upper cliffs are broken here and there, allowing a descent to the valley. On the opposite side of the Rift, a stone roadway ascends to the plains above.
Carnac is also home to the Academy, a great research and learning center operated by the centaurs and their scholars and students. The centaurs rule the city, although it practically runs itself. The closest thing to a government is the Academy. People are sent to Carnac from all over the world, to be students at the Academy. Royalty usually have a personal tutor. The other students attend classes at the Academy. The libraries and laboratories of Carnac are vast. On rare occasions, a centaur will leave the city on a special assignment, or to teach someone who cannot come to Carnac. The centaurs use those excursions as opportunities to gather more knowledge about the world, and to reclaim artifacts and relics. The museums are full of things they brought back. The centaurs also have agents everywhere, looking for old knowledge or objects of interest.
Poor families also send their children to the city and these children are raised to serve for a time in Carnac’s military or as servants. They are fed and sheltered, trained and educated, in a fashion far beyond the meager means of their own parents. When they reach adulthood, they can leave or choose to stay. Many stay, as Carnac is beautiful and peaceful. The parents can also visit when they want.
Skara Thrae
Skara Thrae is a cluster of islands off the coast of Saarland. The main island is surrounded by cliffs and has no real harbor. The population is divided into five clans: Arran, Barra, Kallan, Traiga, and Rannoch. There was a sixth clan, the Haggas, but they were exiled from the island hundreds of years ago. The Warlord Ryde leads the Thraen Confederacy of the five clans. Ryde is from Clan Kallan. Ryde’s wife is Seressa, and he has two children, Talbot and Celestine. The family has two royal wolfhounds: Cynwulf and Valhund. Their home is Lugershall on the island of Andover, southeast of the big island.
The Thraen government consists of Ryde the Warlord, Usk the Axminster (executioner, enforcer, and sheriff), the Sage Lang Regis, and the Confederacy Council. The Highlanders in the northeastern part of Skara Thrae are not part of the confederacy. They are a loose collection of smaller clans that swear fealty to no central leader.
Thuro, of Clan Traiga, is Ryde’s main rival. Thuro’s home is the castle Tantagnel, at the northwest corner of the main island.
Ryde has maintained an isolationist policy. The island has two exports: the Poma dogs, and horses. The Thraens only rarely import various necessities.
There is a rare form of hybrid gate on the island in the ruins of Draken Cor in Grimthorne Swamp. It is both a Landgate and a Worldgate.
The Dirgelord Molid
Molid was the last of the Mhoul created by the Lucca. Molid, through single-minded ambition and ruthlessness, has risen through the Mhoul ranks to become their leader, the Dirgelord. Although based out of Mogda Thal, Molid coordinated the invasion of Skara Thrae by the Haggas. Molid’s first encounter with Morgan and his companions resulted in the sinking of Molid’s flagship. The Dirgelord has vowed revenge for the initial defeat and devoted considerable Mhoul resources to locating and capturing Morgan.
The Hedonae Malissa
Malissa is a Hedonae, a genetically altered human that feeds on the life force of others. Created by the Yggda as companions for their warriors, the Borrigan, the Hedonae were transported off-planet after the Yggda defeat. Malissa is the only known Hedonae left on Kalnaroag.
The Hedonae are all voluptuous humanoid females with white skin and hair, and black eyes. They are sensitive to light and cold, and always feel cool to the touch. They are capable of secreting an aphrodisiac pheromone that has an overpowering and addictive effect on human males. The Hedonae feeds through physical contact and the transfer of life force peaks during sexual activity. Humans are easily killed by Hedonae feeding and those that survive are hopelessly addicted to the Hedonae touch. There is no known antidote to Hedonae addiction.
Malissa and one of the Yggda remained in Vaeland in stasis until 6006 AF. Malissa was revived and sent out on a mission for the Yggda. She traveled to Saxhaven, killed the Sagess, seduced Llorgau the Sagamore, and essentially took over the city. Antony has been the only one able to oppose her and he is in daily peril.
Maelin
Maelin is the Princess of Saxhaven. She is a short, petite blonde with large green eyes and delicate features. With her pale skin, she looks like a porcelain doll. She has a lively, energetic personality and is normally carefree and exuberant. Despite her giddy, childlike demeanor, Maelin is extremely intelligent and perceptive. She prefers indoor activities over the outdoor life. While growing up, she was always very fond of Antony, but the relationship did not mature as Maelin did. She enjoys teasing Morgan, even though it makes Celeste jealous.
After Malissa came to Saxhaven, Maelin was sent to Carnac for her safety and to find a cure for Llorgau’s addiction to the Hedonae. She took Brutus with her and acquired another dog in Carnac, Clavius dementus.
Llorgau
Llorgau is the Sagamore of Saxhaven, one of the principal cities in the Saar valley. His wife’s name was Llewelyn and his daughter is Maelin. He has no other children or heirs. Llewelyn had a Poma named Brutus.
The Sagamore is a great bear of a man, with wild shaggy locks and a full beard. He has a powerful, vital presence and is a born leader of men. He is usually full of energy, seldom resting, ever active. He is a scholar as well as a warrior and loves the pursuit of knowledge.
In 5972 AF, the mountain savages known as the Targ swept down on Saxhaven. But for the intervention of the Raavs, Saxhaven would have been overwhelmed. After several great battles, the Targ were defeated. Morgan and Max were both involved in the fighting and have been friends with Llorgau ever since. Llewelyn was so grateful to Morgan for his help that she wanted to pledge Maelin to him, but Morgan refused.
Everything changed in the Fall of 6006, when the Hedonae Malissa arrived in Saxhaven.
Antony
Antony is a former Raav who left the mercenaries to become Ambassador of Saxhaven. He is called Glossauric, the GoldenTongue, a tribute to his powerful, melodious voice and command of language. He was a master negotiator with the Raavs and has few equals in court intrigue and espionage. He is also a skilled pharmacologist.
The Ambassador is a slender man of average height with long blond hair and flowing moustaches. His clothing is always impeccable and true to the latest fashion. He carries a snuff box on his arm, and inhales a powder to remedy his chronic sinus problems.
His constant companion is the giant Caestus and he has assembled a bodyguard of women soldiers. Antony is an accomplished swordsman, if his arts of persuasion fail.
Taurus
Taurus, originally from the northern nation of Skorn, is Captain of the warship Windrider. The circumstances of his departure from his homeland are mysterious and he currently makes his living as a trader along the coast of the Sarlassan Sea. Taurus is probably not his real name. Ironically, although a seaman, Taurus cannot swim at all. As with most northerners, he is a casual worshipper of Thaar, the god of war. Most of his crew were criminals purchased at the Gallows Auction in Androssar. Despite their past, the crew greatly respect their Captain and would gladly die for him. This type of devotion is unusual and mostly unexplained.
The Captain is a burly man with a great black beard and “excess in all things” is his motto. He is egotistical, loud, impetuous, reckless, uncouth, absolutely fearless, insanely loyal, of dubious moral character, and favors great quantities of northern mead. His temper is legendary. He fights with an axe and a three-barreled projectile weapon he calls Charon, the Taker to Gaol.
Morgan and Max met Taurus on a exploratory voyage to the western continent of Vaeland. Taurus spent three years with the Raavs and they became close friends.
Prince Talbot of Skara Thrae
Celeste’s brother Talbot, as a prince and heir to his father’s position as Warlord, had grown into a bit of a rogue and a playboy. Talbot is dark and handsome and excelled at fencing, hunting, and riding. Many women were attracted to his dashing good looks and his title, and Talbot accommodated them all. He left many broken hearts when he traveled to Carnac to continue his education. The cosmopolitan wonders of the centaur city fascinated Talbot and he supplemented his studies with considerable wine, women, and song. Talbot’s other main interest was his research into the races of Faerie, especially the elves. After he returned to Skara Thrae, he found the northern isles dark, forbidding, and confining. He also had no interest in the duties of government. His father became impatient with his lack of focus and commitment and they had many arguments. After one particularly heated debate, Talbot left the island and returned to Carnac, where he had spent the best years of his life. But after a while he became bored and restless, and left Carnac for the forests of Aijalon and the cruel fate that awaited him there.
Princess Celestine of Skara Thrae
Celestine is the daughter of Ryde, the Warlord of Skara Thrae, and Seressa his wife. She has an older brother named Talbot. Celestine received her basic education on the island of Skara Thrae, which included weapons handling and riding. As a young woman, Celeste traveled to the centaur city of Carnac, where she studied under the Baron Serenus. Her areas of special emphasis were the Ha’ashtari culture and the ecology of the Waste. After leaving Carnac, she returned to Skara Thrae and remained there until the Haggas invasion. Escaping the Haggas, she fled to Androssar and sought aid from Rulda, the Sagamore of Androssar. After Rulda refused her, she went to the Demented Boar, where she met Morgan and Max.
Celeste is a slim, athletic woman with long brown hair and a regal bearing. She is beautiful, with slightly slanted deep blue eyes that give her an exotic look. Her skin has been bronzed by her love of the outdoors. She is an independent, very intelligent person with her father’s temper. She also has a wicked sense of humor. At court, she had many suitors, but found them boring or too overbearing and dominating. Her father had begun to doubt he would ever find a husband for his fiery daughter. She is a woman of strict morals and has chosen the worship of Iosus over the pagan rites of the Maenor, the ancestral gods of her people.
Morgan and Celeste are attracted to each other and could fall in love, given the time and opportunity. But events have conspired against them and each has obligations they cannot ignore. Will true love ever find a way?
