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The Courant: November 2002
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 November 20, Wednesday |
| Cultural Seminar at Spiritwood UNI - |
This past Monday evening saw yet another fine lecture in our acclaimed
Cultural Seminar program here at the Spiritwood University.
This week we were entranced by a presentation on the history, culture and lore of the Fimir race, as presented by the esteemed Zaragopha, Lore Master of the Order of the Blue Dragon.
The evening was settling upon the land and the flickering torchlight greeted scholars from across the realm as they streamed into the University’s ancient tower campus. We were especially pleased to see a contingent of scholars from the noble town of Valoria lead by the Lady Jordan Dae’jar.
The famed Zaragopha began his presentation with a physical description of the strand Fimir race, stating that they were tall, singled eyed, with skin of varying tone and great tails often ending in fierce natural weaponry. Their apparently frightening faces are beaked and armed with rows of razor-sharp teeth. They have a closely knit society which he compared to a hive-mind culture, with strict controls over all members and a uniformity of purpose and outlook that would seem strained to most sentient races. The Fimir seem to be particularly drawn to water in various natural sources and their settlements are often to be found near by to natural coast lines, swamps, bogs marshlands and other such sodden environs.
Their strongholds appear at first to be crude piles of naturally occurring stone shaped in the form of a castle or other fortress-like construct. Inside they are apparently more elaborate then their external appearance might at first suggest. The Fimir settlements will almost always be shrouded in deep mists and impenetrable fogs as it would seem that they are in fact harmed by exposure to direct sunlight. These dense mists are in fact generated by the Fimir themselves, most likely by the dread Dirach whose mastery of magic is quite comprehensive it seems, encompassing such fields as Aeromancy, Geomancy, Hydromancy and Pyromancy. Through such they have developed a comprehensive range of what they term mist magics: Acid clouds, death fogs and the like.
Theirs is a strict society, differentiated according to a rigid hierarchical based cast system. At its lowest level are the Shearl, the virtual slave cast who are used for the most menial labour and as massed troops in warfare. This societal rank is followed in turn by the Fimm, a warrior cast, the Dirach, fierce deamon-linked spell casters previously mentioned, (who, apparently have the means to bond directly with deamonic beings to form duel hybrids of some mysterious sort), and finally by the extremely rare Meargh, the “Queens” of Fimir society.
These Meargh apparently are the only female specimens of Fimir, and they are held in high reverence by all others being the undisputed leaders of the entire Fimir society. Having said that, they are nevertheless barren it seems and as such the Fimir race is effectively incapable of unassisted reproduction among their own kind.They achieve procreation though a most questionable method it seems, for when a revered Meargh passes away and a tribe of Fimir is in need of a new blood, they set about organizing a raid on human society. Through such deplorable acts, they gain the “assistance” necessary for their reproduction, although Zaragopha was quick to point out that such assistance rarely comes willingly. It seems that the Fimir consider humankind, as well as virtually all other species of sentient beings to be little more than cattle by comparison to themselves, and thus have no qualms about forcing their reproductive proclivities onto uncooperative victims. The products of such mating can vary and there is by no means a guaranteed that a new Meargh will be the result. Indeed, Zaragopha startled all by mentioning that one in a million of such matings will produce a strange mutation, part – Fimir, but in fully human guise, which himself claimed to in fact be!
The human females so exploited through such a reproductive-raid often do not survive the experience long enough to successfully bare offspring. Those that do are most often treated as slave or worse should they survive. This description of such extreme callousness unsettled the audience and they shifted in their seats and eyed Zaragopha with suspicion. Undaunted he continued with his lecture, going on further to say that such attempts at reproduction do not always succeed and indeed, the precious Meargh are very rarely not replaced through such assaults.
In these cases, left leaderless, the tribe in question will effectively disband as a viable community, its members as one taking up the co-called “Death-Quest” in which they fan out into the wider world seeking oblivion through death in combat. Often they will pledge themselves as mercenaries and fight with staggering ferocity for their new employers, fearing not for their own lives. For indeed, a glorious death is what they seek, and through such Death Quests, it is in fact possible to find Fimir mercenaries in the employ of such races as the Drow and even Orcs he claimed. Races that they might otherwise consider as little more than cattle.
Zaragopha then went on to discuss the religious philosophy of the Fimir who apparently all worship a mysterious Daemonic figure they call Balor and whom they all aspire to one day serve. This great being is said to have certain mythic rivals in this realm, included among them the dread Harrower. Thus, the Fimir strive to defeat this and others among the enemies of their great lord Balor, in the hopes of one day being united under the direct rule of His avatar on earth. There is said to be a great Island of Obsidian ruled by Balor, one that on rare occasions is said to rise from the depths of the seas off the coast of the cities of Humans and from which the massed Fimir hoards rage forth. It seems they make little secret of their desire to rule all the races of the world……
As his final words trailed off, a hush fell over the crowd, broken finally when the assembly was asked if they had any questions to put to our guest. Hesitantly at first, the scholars of the realm began to ask their questions. The wise Daminor Kirmegil, a warrior judging by his battle dress asked what the best method of slaying the Fimir might be. Zaragopha smiled gently but seemed to answer sincerely when he repeated that sunlight was harmful to them and added that the Fimir do not use missile weapons and therefore have little defense against such. I myself asked if they were capable of breaking away from their belief system and being redeemed through separation from the Hive-mind that controlled them. Zaragopha again smiled a bit and pointed out that Fimir are quite capable already of independent thought and deed, so separation alone was not the answer.
At last all the questions had been answered and, disturbing though it had been, we all came away with a thorough insight into this strange and unique race. We thanked our guest speaker Zaragopha warmly for so fine a lecture, and then made our way to the nearby Spiritwood Tavern for a well earned ale.
A book on this fascinating race may be found in the Cultures section of the Spiritwood University Library if you wish to learn more about them.
Next Monday, the 25th of November, there will be a lecture presented by Paxicon, magus princeps of the Custodes Fati and tailor extraordinaire, who will be speaking on the Tarathan and Opidian races as well as possible links to the mysterious Khaldun.
As he describes it:
“The lecture is a collection of observations made over the past two years concerning the Tarathan and Ophidian habitats, lives and speech and conclusions draw from this. The lecture will also briefly mention Khal-ankhur and the Khaldun”.
The session will be held once more in the Tower campus of the Spiritwood University in the town of Spiritwood, Trammel. To find Spiritwood, take the ferry from the Skara Brae docks, then travel the road inland a short way to your second turning on the right. Take this road a short way through the local farms lands, heading south and east. The Spiritwood Tavern is a villa found at the end of the road and the University tower is on the eastern end of the town of Spiritwood in a clearing close to the ancient hedge maze of Sosaria.
All who seek knowledge are welcome to attend.
Michael
Chancellor
Spiritwood University
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| November 11, Monday |
| A Festival of Bardic Excellence. - |
Hail to thee!
You are cordially invited to The First Eisteddfod of Europa - A Festival of Bardic Excellence.
Come to the Gaveston Manor north of Cove (44o 33'N, 67o 42'E) on Sunday 17th November, 8pm GMT for the biggest bardic extravaganza that Europa has ever seen! Performing bards from across the lands will gather to perform their finest songs, poems and stories. An open bar will be available for refreshments. Join us for an evening of feasting, drinking and listening to Europa's best creative talent!
The event will start at 20.00 GMT.
If you would like to perform at the Eisteddfod, let me know by e-mail: silvl@aol.com
Thelassa of the Talespinner's League.
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| November 3, Sunday |
| Next week's schedule of the Spiritwood University - |
Monday: Cultural Seminar Program: The Dark Arts of Necromancy uncovered.
This coming Monday the 4th of November, the Spiritwood University is proud to announce the re-launch of its widely acclaimed Cultural Seminar Program. This brand new season of cultural seminars shall begin with a guest seminar by Corwin, scholar of Valoria, who will be presenting the first part of his recent extensive researches into obscure fields of the Arcane Arts beginning with a lecture on the mysteries of Necromancy, the dark art hitherto spoken of only in whispered accounts. All shall be reveled on Monday the 4th starting at 21:00 CET, that’s 8 pm UK time, in the halls of the great Spiritwood University campus tower in Spiritwood, Trammel.
All are welcome to attend.
Tuesday: Advice Clinic in the City of Haven.
Spiritwood University will host another evening of Basic Introductions to the lands of Britannia, held in the Companion’s Hall in the city of Haven on Tuesday the 5th of November, starting at 21:00 CET, that’s 8 pm UK time.
The evening will provide all new arrivals to our realms with a chance to get expert help and advice by members of the University staff, lead by Jirakor Satoth, our head of External Relations. Everyone who seeks support is welcome to meet there, where Jirakor will answer any questions, provide information on the Spiritwood University program, or offer some simple tasks to those who are newly arrived in our lands and seek to learn a bit more about the basics of life in Britannia.
The Companion’s Hall is a white building with a fine patio garden, located in the north west of the City of Haven.
All are welcome to attend, especially newcomers to our lands.
Wednesday: The regular Basic Introduction series.
Spiritwood University will host another evening of its regular Wednesday Evening classes of Basic Introductions to the lands of Britannia, held in the Companion’s Hall in the city of Haven on Wednesday the 6th of November, starting at 21:00 CET, that’s 8 pm UK time. The topic this Wednesday shall be
Hosted by Autumn Willow, scholar of the Spiritwood University.
The Companion’s Hall is a white building with a fine patio garden, located in the north west of the City of Haven.
All are welcome to attend, especially newcomers to our lands.
Thursday: Current Affairs seminar program.
The Spiritwood University invites all scholars and seekers of knowledge from across the realms of Sossaria to attend our regular bi-monthly Current Affairs seminar on Thursday the 7th of November, starting at 21:00 CET in the halls of the University tower in the town of Spiritwood, Trammel. These sessions shall be hosted by the Chancellor of the Spiritwood University, brother Michael, and are a chance for all to come together and discuss news, politics, rumors, strange sightings, recent developments and unfolding quests. The sessions are informal and open to all who seek to further their knowledge of these lands we live in.
To find the town of Spiritwood, take the ferry crossing to the Skara Brae docks right outside town, and take the road inland heading to the east. Take the second road to your right, turning south at the first crossroads. Keep going south until the road turns eastwards, traveling a short way through the local farm lands. Keep following it and you will end up at a villa which is the Spiritwood Tavern. The Spiritwood University tower is located in the east of Spiritwood, in the clearing nearest the ancient hedge maze of Sossaria.
All are welcome.
The Spiritwood University is a guild of established players dedicated to helping newcomers to our lands with advice, training and introductions to our many rich communities. For more information go to: http://university.rper.org
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