The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

The Irda

Basic History Part I


Let’s talk about a lesser-known race of people from the world of Krynn. Krynn (The world of Dragonlance) has many original races and some races whose history is wildly mutated. There are Kender, Gully Dwarves, and Minotaur who are much more intelligent than their Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk counterparts. Today I want to talk about the oldest race on Krynn: That being the High Ogres and what became of them.

Way, way back in the beginning of Krynn the evil gods mainly Takhisis, (We all know she is Tiamat but on Krynn she is Takhisis.) created the High ogres. Now this was very early in Krynn’s making. When the High Ogres were created, they lived among the stars. They were immortal and wielded magic beyond most mortal beings but lesser than the gods. The High Ogres where very wise, beautiful beyond anyone’s dreams and extremely intelligent. At this time, they looked sort of like angels without the wings, and their skin colors were every shade you could imagine. I’m not sure about their eyes but their skin colors were much more varied than the Irda of the cataclysms.

While the High Ogres were doing their frolicking among the stars the good gods of Krynn said Wait just a minute. Why do the evil gods get to create a race and we can’t. Well, they found out they could, so they created the elves. The neutral gods not wanting to be left out. They created humans.

Now the evil gods looked at all these new people on Krynn and said to the High Ogres, “You need to get down there and manage this.” The High Ogres weren’t thrilled. “But it’s so nice up here,” they complained. “Why do you want us to go down and share space with these… dumb savages?” Their gods answered, “Just do it.”

The High Ogres pushed back again. “Fine, but we weren’t built for manual labor. If you want us to run things, we need servants.” The evil gods repeated, “Just do it.”

“…Ah. Ok.”

So, all the High Ogres came down to Krynn and SURPRISE! they became mortal… sort of. Their immortality didn’t vanish completely, but it became conditional. A High Ogre could live for thousands of years, but after about 2,500 years they would start showing signs of age. Most sources imply they could push their lifespan to around 5,000 years if nothing killed them first (like, say, a dragon wanting a shish kabob). I’ve stuck with that estimate for decades, and it’s a solid one.

When the High Ogres arrived, they had no intention of building their own cities or doing any hard labor. They were divine aristocrats, not workers. They wanted servants. Their first attempt was to enslave the elves. That went about as well as trying to train a cat. The elves resisted, escaped, sabotaged, and generally made the whole project impossible. The High Ogres quickly realized, “Yeah… this isn’t going to work.”

They turned their attention to the humans. And voilà — humans were far easier to dominate, organize, and control. With human labor, the High Ogres built vast cities, monuments, and empires, establishing themselves as the ruling class of early Krynn.

As the ogres kept running the show, they grew more evil, complacent, and cold. They treated humans like cattle — sometimes literally. (Human fingers or dwarves were considered delicacies.) Their empire thrived for thousands of years, but eventually something happened that changed everything.

There was a border governor named Igraine. He oversaw a territory full of mines, and during an inspection his daughter was caught in a cave‑in. A human slave led the rescue effort and saved her life. Shocked by human courage, Igraine began treating his human slaves kindly. What happened next was astonishing: productivity skyrocketed. His mines produced more than ever, and Igraine became very, very rich.

Meanwhile, the ogres in the capital had been getting nastier with every passing century: selfish, cruel, and arrogant. When they noticed how wealthy Igraine was becoming, they said, “Well now, what the hell is he doing that we’re not doing?” They sent investigators to his province. When they discovered he was treating his slaves with kindness, all hell broke loose.

There was a lot of back and forth between Igraine and the ogres at the capital. Some ogres even sided with him. The situation eventually became untenable. Igraine was declared a rebel and anyone that sided with him. He fled with a whole bunch of ogres and humans west to find someplace where they could set up free of the empire. There were a few battles. But he and a good portion of his people fled to an island.

One special human was not one of him. The human that saved Igraine’s daughter was captured. He was brought back to the capital. They put him and all the other rebels they captured in a colosseum. They killed everyone by him. They had a very special penalty for him. They drew and quartered the man. The ogres also did something very stupid. The filled the stadium with their own slaves to show what happens to a rebel. The human slaves saw this and immediately, rebelled themselves. Not a single ogre made it out of the stadium and when that was done the non-evil gods tired of all the madness the Ogres had done to the land decided to punish them. That night the ogres of Krynn were transformed into the degenerated giant ogres everyone knows today. There are not one but several exceptions though.

Igraine’s ogres who fled to the island were saved. The good goddess Chislev granted his people the ability to change shape so they could walk among the other races unnoticed. The shape changing is natural, undetectable, and uniquely refined. Most Irda chose not to use it, preferring to remain on their island, but some ventured across Krynn disguised as other races — especially seekers sent to gather information about the world beyond their hidden kingdom.

There was another branch of ogres who escaped the curse. These were the Nzunta. They fled along a similar path as the Irda, but their numbers were far smaller. Their skin tones tend to be much darker than those of the Irda, some are even stark black. Other than that, the Nzunta retain all the racial qualities of their ancestors, the High Ogres who ruled Krynn for thousands of years. They are just as cruel, arrogant, and corrupted as their forebears during the fall of the empire.

The Nzunta hate the Irda, seeing them as traitors to their race, and will kill them on sight if they recognize them. Like the Irda, the Nzunta can shapechange — but their magic is harsher, more aggressive, and fueled by the same dark power that once sustained the High Ogre empire. They also possess extraordinary magical reserves. Not much is written about them after this point; they vanish into the shadows of Krynn’s history, a secretive remnant of ancient evil.

[Winterhawk99]

I will give you what i have written so far: Irda History Part 2:

There are a lot of people that know the story I wrote in the post above. Its part of the lost histories books. The name of the book is The Book of Stars. That happened sometime in the Age of Dreams. And almost everyone that has played or read Dragonlance books knows the Irda broke the Greygem of Gargath. That happen in 383 AC and started the Chaos war. So, what happened in between those many, many thousands of years from the age of dreams and when the Irda broke the Gem. That is what this section is about.

When last we left our very cute not so cuddly good ogres, they had made it to an island so that they might start a new home. They were given shape changing abilities to walk among the other races but most stayed on the island. This island was huge. It may have been the size of Ireland or England. I’m not sure but it had a whole lot of room for the ogres to rebuild their civilization.

A note I only have one source for this section, but it does make sense.

The ogres or (Irda if you will) called their new home Anaiatha. They started to build a new home for themselves. Meanwhile Igraine himself handed over leadership to his daughter and went up into the mountains disappearing for centuries. After all these 100s of years he comes back now very old. The people welcome him back. He dies shortly after; of old age no less.

When he came down the mountain, he brought with him a book that he called the Irdanaiath. This book was supposed to be a book on Philosophy to be debated. It was a book of advice on how to live with love in your heart and to keep learning. However, the Irda considered it sacred much like a bible. They built a temple around it. They treated it very much like a book of commandments.

More centuries pass. The Irda build greater and more opulent cites on the island. Old habits start to creep in. They became prideful and full of arrogance with an air of superiority over the other races. They stopped worshiping the gods with honor but only for tradition.

About a century before the first cataclysm, the dark ogres came to the island. These are the ogres the gods twisted into monsters when Igraine was fleeing the empire. The Irda defended themselves and won the war not once calling for aid from the gods. The Irda high king after winning went to the temple where the Irdanaiath book was. He turned his back and proclaimed that the Irda no longer needed the gods.

They failed the test of the gods and the first cataclysm struck at that moment. There was a thunderous boom. The ground opened up directly below the kings feet and swallowed him up. The island itself was torn apart and became an atoll. The book and the temple that surrounded it sunk into the depths of the sea with the few that were still faithful to the gods.

The survivors of the cataclysm continued their war with the ogres and eventually won. However, it cost them dearly. Many of their people were taken to become slaves in Ansalon or Taladas. The cataclysm and war created a great dysphoria among the Irda and things in the future changed greatly for them.

One group moved to an island called Selasia. They eventually mutated into a new race called the Mischta. Mischta still hold all the racial traits of the Irda but instead of being able to shapechange into different humanoid races (Humans/elves/dwarves), they can take on animal forms.

The Irda themselves the survives were now spread out all over the world but the main faction was still on the remnants of the island of Anaiatha.

Now I’m not sure about this but this is the point where I believe the Elders came together and created the curse of the Valin. The reason is that at this point the Irda have dwindled greatly in number and there had been a forced dysphoria as many Irda became slaves around the world. The curse itself changed their society greatly in that Men and women who before shared rulership now mostly only women were in the leadership roles. And it is why Men started only receiving one syllable names and women received two syllable names while royalty and noble women receive three syllable names.

I will go over the valin in their cultural section.

Some Irda eventually returned to Anaiatha and the society began again but this time more modestly. The Irda had finally learned humility and the cataclysm dampened their pride enough that the gods left them alone until the day they broke the Greygem of Gargath.

With that the second cataclysm came. The whole of the island of Anaiatha was destroyed but by then there were Irda that lived on the astral plane and around the world as single individuals and perhaps in small enclaves but that is only a myth. A myth that I play upon in my own characters Aiauta, Sierra, and Brath.

[Winterhawk99]

Culture of the Irda

Before I start really getting into the culture of the Irda. I need to talk about the Valin. The reason why is that when the Valin is cast upon all the Irda of Krynn by their elders their entire culture completely turns upside down on its head.

Sometime in this intermediary period between the gods turned that big beautiful island into an atoll and when the Irda broke the Greygem of Gargath, the elders of their people cast a great spell. The reason that they cast it was because the Irda turned away from breeding except in very rare cases. I am not sure but believe this spell was cast shortly after the forced dysphoria. The numbers of Irda on the island suddenly became very small along with a good portion of their population was now spread all over Krynn. That and the fact that the Irda were already grand isolationist pretty much seals the deal that the spell was most likely preformed shortly after the dysphoria. This ritual spell completely changed their society.

A lot of you are asking, ‘What is the Valin?’ This is what it is.

After the dysphoria (I think) The elders of the Irda got together and realized, ‘Hey there’s not enough children around. We need to do something about this, or we will go into extinction really fast.’ So, they created a ritual spell to make every Irda male and female to become magically connected to one member of the opposite sex at birth. When they came to maturity, they would feel an irresistible urge to find the other person to them and produce a child. They cast the spell and it worked (worldwide). However, it came with a whole lot of consequences.

The first is once either a male or female come under the valin if they cannot find their bond mate they will waste away and most likely die if they don’t get together. It’s worse for the male than the female. A female can mate with anyone under certain conditions. That condition is eye-contact. Almost anyone if they lock their eyes on a female’s eyes during the valin it will initiate the breeding cycle in her. In the male’s case that doesn’t happen. He has to find the female he’s bonded to so he can finish the valin. If he doesn’t find her. He gets sick and wastes away. Most will die if they don’t find a partner a few very lucky males and females will survive it. And that is why I think that the males will seek out the females before instead of the female seeking out the male. (not exactly canon but logical) There is another thing about Irda when the valin takes hold of them. Their pheromones smell like sweet wildflowers. They can easily be recognized in this state from as far as 20 ft if someone knows the smell.

Also, an Irda can try to resist the Valin, however the above applies. They will most likely waste away and die for attempting to resist it. (Resistance is futile! Go make babies!)

(This is not cannon but my supposition about what goes on because of the end trauma that both go through)

There are a few more consequences. Once the Valen is initiated it becomes a battle. Both Ogres go into an instinctual mode. They revert to ogres much like the old High ogres of the Age of Dreams because they have lost all control of themselves. They become physically stronger. They use raw sorcerous magic against each other to establish dominance. And that is the whole of the game.

The Female will try to dominate the male to get as much of his seed as she can and she will keep it up until she becomes pregnant. She will become much more feral than the male (I believe) The reason is the end will depend upon her becoming pregnant. The male will try to gain dominance because he simply wants to survive.

If the female is much stronger than the male, she will quickly dominate him in magic and use him for her needs until he becomes a husk. Then after she is pregnant, she will most likely totally reject him perhaps even kill him. If the male is strong enough, he will be able to resist her from completely draining his vitality and magic thus surviving the Idea. But remember while he is doing all this he is in the same state as she is so he’s also trying to dominate her with raw magic and his own physic. The pair will pretty much destroy everything around them if left unchecked.

The Third consequence: After all this is done if the male survives the pair will separate and never willingly see each other again. The female raises the child on her own. Now I broke this with Fawn and Randyl as you will see at the end of the section but that was because they were on the astral plane and surrounded by people that loved them. It took them centuries of subjective time to get over the trauma of the Valin, but they did it.

The guilt and the pain of the Valin are so strong as each participant remembers everything that it is almost impossible for the two to be in the same room together for even a moment. That’s the most devastating consequence of the curse. There are often times that Irda will go into a coma or just collapse after the valin for an unspecified time over the ordeal.

With this curse the Irda culture is changed forever. Before the Valin both women and men could rule the people of the Irda. Afterward, women took over because they were cherished more by what they had to go through. Remember Irda the very name means the ‘Gentle ones’ Suddenly going through the valin is completely turning them against their nature for days or weeks.

Naming conventions also changed. Males will always have a one syllable name. Females will always have two syllable names with one exception. If a female is a noble or royal she will have a three-syllable name. Aiauta has a three-syllable name because she is a direct descendant of Igraine. Fawn is her daughter, but Fawn is a name she picked in Anchorome. Her real name is Sierra. Which means Mindbender. Her son Brath has a one syllable name which means farmer.

Which takes me to Irda names. Irda don’t have random names. They are named for the profession that they are. Aiauta means “Royal Transmuter” Sierra meaning “Royal Enchantress/ or mindbender.”

Their native language is called Kolshet and very few people know it except for them. It would be like trying to translate cuneiform and be able to speak it now.

Irda tend to have emotional restraint because of their valin, and a host of other ancestral things already described above their fall from grace not once but twice by their own pride and superiority. They often feel cold and detached from those around them.

After the Breaking of the Greygem of Gargath there were rumors of separate enclaves and individuals that survived whether on the astral plane or Krynn. I use all of this in my characters background stories.

Now I’m going to put this all together and show you what I wrote about Fawn’s two Valins. The first from ‘Children of hell books I and II.’ Next her second Valin in ‘The Life and Times of Lauriella Sithmore’.

[Winterhawk99]

Kioshi backs up from the Iron door which must be at least an inch thick; more likely two inches. Turning to the others he says, “We go outside and wait for them to work their way around. Does anyone have objections?”

They all agree. The group makes its way out to the dunes of the desert. It’s Mid-day they break out their tents and other gear to wait for Seryne and Nangus. Kioshi notices a dust cloud to the west but doesn’t pay much mind being that it looks far enough away.

Randyl and Fawn begin to study their books. Miwa pulls him into their tent. Afterward Miwa lays beside him and asks, “What are we going to do, Sire?”

He touches her belly and feels for anything, knowing full well that it will take most likely another six months before he can feel the baby move. Another six, or eight months before she and Mayumi give birth, “We have everything we need, Madam. The mission must come first because the need is so great. Then we must hunt her down, wait for her to give birth and then justice levels it’s hand.”

“Why would she do something so stupid?”

“I don’t know, Miwa. I warned her more than once, that when chaos seeps into your heart, it becomes a hard path to come back from. I would guess that the ancients tripped the wire when they would not face her. She must have known her shame then. They then told her she would never be samurai. It must have been the blow that finally killed her aspirations.”

“We didn’t see it Kioshi. Maybe something happened in the battle across the street?”

“I don’t trust Fawn but I do trust Randyl and Seryne. Mayumi knew they were there. She must have decided to try to kill all of us and work with the drow. For what reason will probably ever remain a mystery. It wasn’t chance that the Nightsmiths suddenly appear as we finish our mission. It was a calculated plan. It’s too convenient.”

Randyl sticks his head in the tent excited, “Most Honorable, There’s a dust cloud headed right at us. It’s big! Really big!

Kioshi curses as He and Miwa get their armor and weapons together. They come out of the tent with both Fawn and Randyl casting protective spells. Kioshi looks at the cloud gauging the distance and size.
He frowns, “I don’t know maybe three or four hundred.”

Randyl nods, “Way too many for us even with our abilities. Fawn and I will run out of spells before we take out even a quarter depending on what they are.”

Kioshi looks for cover. He finds none but the mine. He estimates the odds. They will go after them. He is about to tell them to go back to the mine, when Randyl shouts out, “Hill Giants, Yaun-ti, Ogre mages, Ogres and what are those things!”

Fawn calls out answering, her hands are shaking and her pupils are becoming the size of large saucers, “They are called Draconians, Baaz and Bozak draconians for sure! We have to get out of here. We have to get out of here now!”

Kioshi instantly orders her to stop spell casting, “Fawn don’t do it. Seryne and Nangus are still in the mine!”

She pays no attention to him: Her eyes locked on the ogres in the left flank of the army.

Miwa tries to tackle her before the spell goes off. She touches Fawn as she speaks the last word. A white light envelops them for a moment. Miwa finds herself with Fawn on a grass plain surrounded by forest. There is a large chateau upon a hill just off to the left. No one else is there.

Miwa instantly turns on her. “What are you doing! Get us back there now!” She instantly regrets what she said. Fawn is shaking, sweat is coming off her brow in streaks running down the side of her cheek. The fear in her eyes is all consuming.”

She’s about to comfort her when something hits her in the back, knocking her over as if she’s a toy. She spins on her back to see a giant feline with a great ruff over five times her size standing over her. It grabs her head with its maw and holds her. She stops all movement knowing the creature could crush her in an instant helm or no helm. She waits patiently for Fawn to come to her senses. When she does she grunts and makes signs to the cat.

It releases its death grip on her and walks away. Again she asks Fawn, “We have to get back. As soon as we can.”

Fawn carefully watches her while she speaks, “We can’t Miwa. I can’t get back without a stone to guide me.”

“We made camp! You would have set one in your tent wouldn’t you! Well did you?”

Fawn nods, “I took it when the army came. I could not chance anyone finding one of my stones and using it to find this place.”

“What is so special about this place.”

Fawn sighs rubbing her temple, “In truth, Miwa, everything on this island is special. We do have one advantage.”

“What is that?”

“Time, time is so slow here you could live years on this place, and go back within a few minutes where we were.”

“Alright then, Fawn what now?”

“I take you to the guest house out in the woods so you can rest.”

“I could use some rest and I am hungry.”

You’re always hungry, Miwa. You can take an antelope. Only one we will leave before you get hungry again. I should figure out how to get back to the right place by then.”

“Are you sure?”

“Perhaps not, you are quite the exception in that department.”

They start to walk across the field, Miwa takes it in with interest. There are deer and several large cats in the field. The cats mingle in one place while the deer graze in a far off corner, wary of the any interest coming from the pride. She feels the whole time like she’s being watched and asks Fawn about her discomfort.

“The cats are not only my family. They are my protectors. I cannot defend myself physically like you. The cats are my own personal guardian samurai so to speak.”

“As soon as I arrived one had me down, I commend their abilities.”

As they approach the border to the forest two people appear. One is Jacquin, the other is a human man with brown hair and eyes. Fawn curses under her breath and starts to walk faster. Miwa keeps pace with her making sure she has support if she trips in her haste.

Fawn infuriated confronts the Ghaele, “I said You, Jacquin! I did not say you and whoever you chose to bring with you! This is completely unacceptable!”

A leopard jumps down from a tree and crouches down into the grass. Other shadows start to mingle along the edge of the forest.

Jacquin knows full well the power, Sierra commands here in her home and takes great pains to calm her before her charge is mauled to death, possessed or turned insane, “I didn’t mean too, Sierra. He’s a refugee from another world. He was dieing. I had to take him with me before he died and nursed him back to health at the guest house. Look even the cats let me pass.”

The man quietly takes note of her name but remains passive with his eyes down. Fawn is now completely infuriated and it shows as more cats show up near the woods.

“What did you call me!”

She turns her rage at the human, “And who are you that invades my privacy!”

Jacquin comes to his defense, “It’s not his fault, Sierra! He was unconscious and burnt when I found him. He was tied to a stake and burning. I saved him from those superstitious curmudgeons and brought him here!”

“I’m not talking to you, Bitch! I’m talking to him! Who are you and is it like she said tell me the truth or I’ll drain it out of you!”

Now with her attention fully focused on him. He actually feels the force of her will. It’s amazing and painful. He knows if he lies to this woman she could crush him with just her thoughts. The man goes down on one knee throwing up his hands in defense, “It’s true, My Lady, please?”

The force lets up to almost bearable before he begins again, “One of the villagers that I lived with saw me wield magic. I cannot cast great spells. I am no danger. Yet on the world I live on magic is considered witchcraft. Parishioners are burned at the stake. They took me and did just that. This Angel saved me.”

“She’s not an Angel not by a long shot! She’s a Ghaele! A conniving spirit that mettles in mortal affairs too often! If you were burned let me see them.”

“I resent that, Sierra!”

“You stop saying my name or by the Gods I will hurt you! I’m still waiting.”

The man pulls up his pant leg to show her the burns. They are bad and still healing.”

Fawn finally softens, “Fine, You two stay at the guest house until you heal. Jacquin, you will stay right beside him until he leaves. My cats will make sure of it.”

“And if I do leave?”

“I’ll call you right back and you will wish you never left!”

“Fine…. Kitten. I will obey.”

Fawn takes Miwa by the arm and practically drags her to the chateau. There is a bowl on a pedestal. She takes Miwa’s hand. Miwa never seeing Fawn this angry complies.

“Do you swear on your sword that you will never reveal anything you see in this house to anyone including Kioshi.”

Miwa perplexed and intrigued answers, “yes.”

“Do you swear on your sword; that if you come back. You will keep the peace within this place, and always be ready to be called to defend it if needed. It is the only way I will let you enter this home.”

“Yes.”

Fawn cuts her across her palm and lets the blood drain from her hand until it fills the small bowl. She speaks in some language while casting some form of spell. The doors to the home open. Miwa becomes the first person other than Fawn to walk into her abode in decades.

As Fawn walks in she comments, “I can’t have you stay at the guesthouse now. You and Jacquin would be at each other’s throats within a few days.”

A week later Miwa sees the man with the Ghaele near the front door of the house. She gets Fawn and they both walk out of the home to meet them.

The man bows, “I am healthy enough to leave and want to thank you. Fawn nods to them. You stayed away until now and haven’t bothered me. You are welcome.”

The man smiles, “Then I have a gift for you, My Lady. My name is Bru. It means walker.”

He lifts his head locking his eyes with hers. It takes her aback a second. Then something strange happens. Fawn almost dazed says, “I am Sierra. It means Mindbender.”

“I know.”

The two suddenly hug one another. Jacquin takes Miwa by the hand, “Have you had a tour of the Island. It’s very big and takes about a week to see all the wonders of the place.”

“What did you do to Fawn?”

The Ghaele giggles, “I simply helped nature take its course. I will explain as we walk.”
Fawn’s life is about to change forever.


Miwa walks into the house after eight days. It’s a complete wreck. Tables and chairs are knocked over. Vases are smashed. It looks like the remnants of a grand fight across the whole of the house. A flower like smell permeates the air. She follows the trail of destruction wishing the Ghaele waiting outside could help her in this task. The angel cannot come into the house without being destroyed. For only those that go through some blood ritual, only Fawn knows, can enter.

The main bedroom doors are open. Miwa silently moves to the threshold while inspecting the room. Both occupants seem to be in a catatonic like state. Fawn in her natural form is sitting on the bed with her back against the Headboard. She stares off into the distance. The smell of flowers almost overpowers her as she makes her way to her friend. Her blue skin looks pale. Her long curly silver hair is in a mass of tangles. Both her silver and yellow eye blink slowly with her shallow breathing.

Knowing Fawn is safe she turns her attention to the male. He is a giant at least 7 inches taller than Fawn, With green skin and, straight black hair. His silver eyes stare straight up to the ceiling. Miwa is not sure if he is breathing at all. She finds a mirror putting it near his mouth. It takes several moments for the mirror to cloud with water vapor and very little. It seems the male is in worse shape.

She rips a curtain off the wall and lays it below the couch. As strong as Miwa is; she doesn’t have the leverage to carry the male ogre that is almost two feet longer than her on her back. She rolls him onto the curtain and drags him out of the home.

Jacquin rushes over to check on him. The Elven angel uses a spell saying, “I have to divine what has happened to figure out what to do.” She goes into a trance. Five minutes’ pass. Tears come from her eyes before coming out of it. She turns to the white scaled Fey’ri, “I’m so sorry Miwa. Kitten enslaved him in the throes of the Valin. When she came out of it; Realizing what she had done she rejected him and herself for that matter. It left him a husk. There is nothing we can do. He fought her but she was too strong.”

Miwa hisses and showing her fangs, “You did this to him and her. You made this happen! What will you do now Ghaele? Because if you don’t do something, I will!”

Jacquin flutters her eyes searching for anything she can do to help him. Finding nothing she turns her eyes to Miwa.

Miwa draws her soul sword, “It looks like you have done quite enough here. Fawn warned me about your kind. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I see I was wrong now. Leave, I have to dispense what justice I can for this lost soul.”

“You can’t do this Miwa. It will be a stain on your soul. It’s evil.”

A tear comes to Miwa’s eye as she makes a single deft cut with her katana, “This isn’t evil. It’s mercy and more than I would give to you, Jacquin. Leave now. I have a mess to clean up.”

Jacquin looks at the bloody sword and Miwa getting ready to attack her. She beats her wings and jumps up taking flight away from the cursed island never to return.

Miwa drags the body to the woods. Several of the large cats follow her. Not knowing how to take care of him, she decides a funeral of her people will have to do. She buries him in a shallow grave then covers it in rocks making a small cairn. creating a small facsimile of a shrine she prays for his soul.

[Winterhawk99]

commentary on Fawn's First Valin:

When an Irda first meets a degenerate ogre (ogre/ogre mage) They go into a panic much like dragon fear. They immediately realize what the ogre is (A degenerate and evil from of themselves) Many become paralyzed in fear. Others try to get away as fast as they can to get away from something they may become if they themselves become evil (That may be a superstition among the Irda or it might be true. Its not so much a fear of death as dragon fear is. It’s a fear of corruption and completely instinctual because they fear becoming ogres themselves. Unless an Irda trains themselves to override the fear they will flee. An Irda can train themselves not to fear ogres and have that kind of reaction but it takes time and practice. Something most would never even think about.

So, Fawn panics in front of the army of ogres, draconians and Yaun-ti she immediately escapes to find the Ghaele and an ogre that has assumed the appearance of a human. Yep, that’s right it’s her bond mate. They eventually lock eyes and it's all over.

As soon as they get into the house both of them go into a feral state and the fun begins. Bru her bond mate never studied magic to such a high degree as she has. He had no chance. He is a run of the mill common Irda while she is a direct descendent of Igraine and has a natural gift for enchantment magic. That is why her name is Sierra. If she had been raised in an enclave her mother and perhaps stepfather would have been preparing her for that role in their society. She quickly in the first few days overwhelmed him and then just used him to death. Remember these two are using raw unadulterated magic. A type of magic that comes natural to the first high ogres on Krynn. It requires no spellcasting. Both also suddenly gaining ogre strength and constitution.

He was completely shattered by the trauma. The aftermath that followed was the typical pattern for what happens after the valin. Because she dominated him so thoroughly, she rejected both him and herself for what she had done to him. That shows just how traumatizing it is to go through the Valin. He on the other hand was completely drained of vitality and thought. This is a textbook example at what happens in a Valin where the female completely overwhelms the male in the process of the Valin.

[Winterhawk99]

Here is Fawn's Second Valin from the novel, "Life and Times of Lauriella Sithmore:

Near the beginning of her third apprenticeship year Fawn takes her down into the practice field early in the morning. There are several drawn out summoning circles there, both generic and complex. “How do you like a real sting lizard instead of the spirit you molded before?”

“Well, I have to feed it more and it seems to get into more trouble.”

“Remember to let her go every other year or to mate and take care of her babies. I don’t know much about sting lizards. I have silk and he has a Mrs. somewhere.”

“You knew there would be sting lizards in that grove, didn’t you?”

Fawn waggles her finger at her, “Too much curiosity, Lauriella. Stick to what I’m willing to teach you.”

“ok”

“That’s better. We’ll be covering conjurations spells this year. As you know there are many conjurations that deal with calling forth energies and not creatures. We will not be focusing on those so much. What we will be focusing is calling forth creatures and getting them to work for you.”

“You mean subduing them, Fawn?”

“That’s exactly what I don’t mean. Lauriella, why did I ask you to get rid of your familiar and lead you to find a real animal?”

Lauriella winces in thought, “Because you think it wrong to trap a spirit in an earthly form?”

“Yes, good observation. Spirits deserve their afterlife whether very small or very big. Just like you deserve to live your life the way you want, so long you stir no trouble for others.”

“Yet you are a necromancer of renown too. You have controlled spirits.”

“For a short time, yes. Then I leave them to their eternal rest. I borrow some of their time but do not subject them for years on end. You see the difference?”

“I think I see. I’ve never really considered that before.”

“The same thing with conjurations. Now for small conjurations you don’t even need circles like what you see on the ground here. Hedge magic to call animals. Their understanding is small and for a piece of bacon a dire wolf or badger will do what you want for a short time. You still need the spell to guide it. But you have no long-term relationship with it and can readily conjure these creatures from the local area.”

“Yes, mistress. I already know this.”

“Good I’m just reminding you of the training. Now greater conjurations including dire bears, Elementals, archaeon, devils, Valkyries, demons and greater undead. For these you always must make a circle for yourself and a circle for the creature itself. There are two ways you need to decide upon to get it to do as you wish. The first that everyone knows is subjugation. If you use this method, you will constantly be fighting its will every time you summon it. There is a better way. You negotiate its service to you. These creatures all of them. They like things as much as you and I do. Some of those things are very different. If you can acquire them on a regular basis, you will have a lifetime servant as long as you are respectful of their time. In other words, don’t make a habit of calling them all the time.

The bad thing is the further away a creature’s world view is the more likely you will have to subjugate it. I had to break all my elemental servants, but my higher planes servants I negotiate a contract with each and every one of them.”

Lauriella purses her lips, “But how do you do that?”

Fawn smiles, “I’m glad you asked.” She takes a clear glass vial with some hair in it and shakes it. A light comes down from the heavens blinding the two women for a moment. When they can see again there is a hound archaeon in front of them. Lauriella feels funny for a second. The hairs on her arms stand up for a moment then the feeling dissipates. The heavenly warrior walks over and sits down beside them, “I see that you are keeping good company for once in your life, mistress. I am called Skylark young lady.”

Wide eyed and gawking Lauriella stammers, “Your Mistress Fawn’s servant?”

“No, I am Mistress Fawn’s partner. We have made a contract. She may call upon me in certain times of need. For this service I receive a small vial filled with the tears of a nymph every fifth summoning.”

Fawn smiles, “He accepted my service even though my willed failed the first time I summoned him. Skylark, this is my apprentice. Lauriella.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

Lauriella thinks, “You two never have a difference of opinion? You always do as she wishes.”

Skylark laughs, “We always have differences in opinions, But, while I am here unless her wishes are egregious in my eyes or beyond my abilities, I will obey her. She’s my employer so to speak. I do give her much council about what is right and wrong and try to tamp down her insane individuality.” The hound shrugs, “But you can only do so much.”

Fawn laughs, “I’m afraid that point will probably never be settled. Ok, you probably would like to get back to your duties. I release you.” Skylark disappears. Fawn sets her to task making circles like the ones she drew out earlier. She explains what each one does: if protective, how it protects the mage. If summoning what creatures and what safety precautions must be used.

As they work Randyl walks across the field in leather armor, heater shield, and long sword. He looks sweaty from a hard work out. Lauriella thinks that he will pass by them without a word, but he stops and turns to them, “Fawn do I smell wildflowers?”

“I’m hot and sweaty too, Randyl. I’ve been working with Lauriella, and we have been making many trips to the forest lately.”

“I’m smelling wildflowers from 20 feet away. Turn around and look at me.”

“Randyl! I am teaching my apprentice. Go home and change.”

“You’ve been away quite a bit lately. Turn around and look at me. I just want to make sure everything is fine.”

“Everything IS fine Randyl. Now go home before your spoil our conjurations.”

“As soon as you look straight into my eyes.”

Fawn looks at her. Lauriella sees her eyes move as if she is calculating something. Before Lauriella can figure out what she is doing Fawn takes off on a run, away from Randyl passing her. She starts to pull components out of her robes. Randyl even in armor quickly outpaces and tackles her. Knocking the components out of her hands.

Fawns on her belly screaming, “I’m not going to do this with you Randyl! I love you too much!”

“My choice honey. This is my duty. Lauriella pick up those components and give them to me!”

“NO Lauriella! He doesn’t know what I will do with him! I’ll kill or enslave him, even if he survives, I’ll leave him. Don’t do it!”

“No, you won’t! I’ve trained twenty years for this just in case. Turn around and look into my eyes, Damn it!”

Lauriella picks them up but doesn’t know what to do. She waivers between the two of them. Randyl yells at her, “Lauriella if you don’t give me those components you will never see her again!”

She exclaims, “I don’t even know what the two of you are struggling about!”

“Don’t do This! I will find another!”

“Not good enough honey! Our love will survive this and this time only one of us will be caught up in the insanity. I’m and archmage gods damn it! I am a hell of a lot stronger than he was!”

Lauriella makes her decision and gives the components to Randyl. He roughly flips Fawn over on her back. She kicks and scratches him turning her head to the side. Randyl grabs the sides of her head and forces them face to face and forces her lids open with his thumbs. Randyl quickly throws the astral spell as Fawn is punching him in the face. Just before they leave, he turns to her, “Get Shaia quickly! When we are gone!”

As they disappear Lauriella notices that Fawn seems to strain in pain. She seems to get taller or longer. The silver strip of hair starts to widen taking over her red hair. They disappear before she can see anything else.


Lauriella rushes to Shaia’s office. Shaia stands up, “What’s wrong?”

“Something with Randyl and Fawn. Randyl tackled her. She tired fighting him off, but he forced her eyes to stare into his then they disappeared.”

Shaia slams her hand into the desk, “I hoped this wouldn’t happen, but figured Fawn would be the one in a hundred it happens to twice. We have fifteen minutes or so to get Miwa here and go after them. You’re coming with us.”

Shaia casts a spell. Lauriella exclaims, “Me! I’m not ready for anything like this, whatever it is!”

“Ludwig! Teleport Miwa over to the gate right now. Fawn’s curse is back.”

She looks at Lauriella, “She trusts you now. You must come with us. Between you and Miwa the two of you will be able to bring her back.”

“Bring her back! From what? I don’t even…………” Lauriella stops in her speech as the smell of hot ash and melted rock assault her nose. She turns around. Walking up to them is a being she only knows from Lapis Port legends. She has never seen one before.

The woman has a slight elven figure. The white scales that are showing on her arms and legs show old cuts and wounds making her looks slightly disfigured. The scales themselves are twice the size of a dragon disciples. Her eyes are a deep watery blue. Her white hair has red coloring mixed into it and her face is painted with body paints in an elven pattern. There are large black claw marks tattooed across the left side of her face. She has great white wings like a dragon disciple. Her eye teeth are extended into fangs, meant for taking down game. The woman is wearing a robe of some foreign design. Still there is a katana belted to it while another belt wrapped round her waist holds a mithral fighting fan.

For the first time in her life Lauriella knows she is standing in front of an Elder Fey’ri. The creature stops and ignores her, “Where is she Shaia?”

“Randyl took her to the island, Honorable.”

“Are you stupid. How in Avernus did this happen? She’ll kill him. And who is this student?”

“She’s not a student. She’s Fawns apprentice. We may need her too.”

“Miwa turns her eyes to her, “What’s your name?”

“Lauriella Sithmore, Ma’am.”

“It is not Ma’am. Shaia do you not teach your apprentices honorifics? By the way how did a Sithmore become an apprentice here?” She turns her eyes back to Lauriella, “I am Honorable Miwa Duskmere of house Yuki. If you want to address me properly it is Honorable.”

Shaia responds, “Miwa we don’t have time for this. Seconds count and you know why. Do you have Fawn’s hair?”

“I do. Randyl gave it to Seryne some years ago.”

“Ok, I can track her. Both of you touch me. We’re going for a ride.”

Suddenly Lauriella finds herself on a prairie. Within seconds giant cave lions surround them. Miwa goes into action. She steps out from the group making strange body movements, chirps, clicks and growls. The lions back off and disappear into the bush. Lauriella looks to Shaia, “She learned the animal language here on this island while taking care of Fawn when she was sick. Those scars on her face tell the lions that she is part of their clan.”

Miwa comes back, “I assume that neither of you have been here before. The house is trapped. You’re not allowed into the Vails home until you do a blood sacrifice. There’s a guest house in the woods ringing the island. I’ll take you there.”

They follow the elder fey’ri to a mansion in the woods with room for at least a dozen people to live in comfortably. As they walk in Miwa starts speaking a different language. Again, Lauriella looks to Shaia.

“It’s infernal, Miwa’s milk language. She was born in Avernus. We all know it except for you because of our dealings with Kenshinville or with Ammothrawen the founder of the Golden Katana.”

A woman’s voice answers her. As they walk into a grand study, they see a human woman in blue and white robes. A pendant of stars with an eye in the middle is hanging round her neck. She is a priestess of Selune. On the couch covered in a blanket is Randyl. His hair as turn prematurely grey.

Shaia spurts out, “Could we all speak the common language please. Lauriella doesn’t speak infernal.”

The priestess asks, “Who is the young lady, and does she know the extent of the knowledge of being here?”

Shaia comments, “This is Lauriella Sithmore. Fawn’s apprentice. Fawn has some trust in her and Lauriella knows she is an astral being. She does not know everything else so let us not lose our tongues.”

The woman smiles, “I see you worship lady Moonbow. Tell me how a Sithmore gained Fawn’s trust?”

“She tested me, priestess. Afterward she went from hateful to pleasant toward me. I don’t know why but I am grateful for it.”

“How did she test you, Lauriella?”

“She made me fight her in a battle of possession.”

The priestess smiles, “And you lost. There is your answer.”

“I don’t understand. It’s not like she could read my mind.”

“No, she couldn’t but if she did possess you; she was able to read both the memories that you cherish and the memories of your worst dishevelment’s. Do you know why a demon who possesses someone takes some time to take full possession?”

“No Fawn hasn’t taught me necromancy yet.”

“You see when someone possesses another, they cannot help but see the very worse and/or best experiences of the one that is possessed. A demon will possess a soul and sit there for weeks, months, even years until they can interpret all the memories they see. Then they will fully take over the body until it burns itself out. They need time to figure out how to either subvert the individual or mentally destroy them.”

Shaia goes up to Randyl, pulls up a chair and holds his hand, “Randyl are you awake?”

He opens his eyes, “I’m awake.”

“How do you feel.”

“Like I was tortured for a week and a half, how do you think I feel, Shaia.”

“Your alive and well. She didn’t kill you and she didn’t enslave you. How badly did she hurt you?”

“I’m not talking about this. Leave me alone.”

Shaia purses her lips, “Is Fawn alright?”

“Far as I know she’s in one of her commas. It will take a few thousand years to bring her out of it.”

“Can you let Lauriella in to tend to her with Miwa?”

“Fuck them both Shaia. Fawn can stay there for all I care.”

“Shaia rubs her head then looks at them, “Come with me, you two.”

She takes them outside on the porch. Helena the priestess Lauriella learned from the conversation and her take chairs. Shaia sits down on a high stool, “I didn’t figure the curse would effect Randyl. He was sane. The question is how do we get them back together? Is their love broken forever over this? And where is Brath?”

Helena speaks, “I sent Brath to our main chapter in Sigil. He can play with all his aunts and uncles there.”

Helena’s words stir something in Lauriella, “Sigil?”

Helena squints while weighing her words, “It’s an island much like this except its vast, miles and miles of city stretch out from its center. You need a key to get there. It’s a type of passport if you will. Now as far as getting these two love birds back together. Non-of us knows or will probably never know what exactly takes place during the curse. The people the curse comes under are really, secretive as we know. The thing is we do have time. What is the most time we can stay here Shaia before the everyone needs to return?”

“A week at most. I must return tomorrow morning so I can compensate for the loss of two teachers.”

“Ok well; Fawn may wake up in a few centuries though I doubt it. I doubt it will be more than five days, or I think that’s how long she took last time.

Shaia, you and I will work on Randyl for the next few centuries, He’s human like me. In time we can turn him around. Lauriella and Miwa will have to work on Fawn. She’ll feel such strong morose and guilt over Randyl but she will know Randyl himself most likely did not hurt her back so she should be easier to bring along.”

Lauriella asks, “What am I to do for thousands of years until Mistress Fawn wakes up?”

Helena laughs, “Have you seen the gasthaus library?”

Shaia perks up, “Helena. I think for security purposes Lauriella should only read Torilian manuscripts.”

Helena nods, “That would be proper.”

For several centuries Lauriella studies Torilian lore, geography, customs of nations and all sorts of subjects. She tries to keep it all in but somehow keeping everything in her head is hard to do. Just when she really gets bored Shaia and Helena bring Randyl out of his stupor. He performs a blood ceremony on her in front of the house and she is allowed in so long is someone is right next to her. The funny thing is the same rules apply to Shaia as she is considered also a guest that should be watched carefully.
One day Randyl comes out while Lauriella is picking fruits out of the backyard garden/orchard. She asks, “have you seen her yet?”

“No. She won’t be around me when she wakes for a while……. maybe never.”

Lauriella shrugs because she knows going any further questions would create a sharp rebuke. “I’ve been tending to her. I don’t understand the comma she’s in?”

Randyl looks out at the two alien craft behind the yard by a waterfall, “When she comes under too much stress or uses too much magic she goes into a comma for a few days, week. I think it’s a healing process. She knows how to slowly heal her own mind being her high skill in enchantments. It’s normal Lauriella.”

She points to the machines, “What are those?”

Randyl smiles, “Those are our spelljammers. The big one is called a wasp. That was her parents craft before they died. The little one is a damselfly. It’s new a wedding gift to us. She used to have another one that she crashed, before we got married. The new one has more armor than the first. It’s harder to maneuver but virtually impregnable now. Custom made for us purchased by friends we saved.”

Miwa comes out with two cups of coffee. She has a plate of raw organs and some wine too. Lauriella winces as she sits down with them at the table on the porch. Sliding the coffee to them she pours a glass of wine and starts gorging herself on the liver and gall bladder of whatever she killed. Lauriella must turn away watching the antelope on the prairie.

She hears the other sigh, “Grow some scales, Lauriella. We can’t eat cooked meat, or grass like you elves and humans can.”

Randyl chides her, “You know sis. You could have eaten somewhere else?”

“I wanted some company. The cats’ language is too basic.”

“Wait! She’s your sister?”

Randyl laughs, “No her name is Miwa not Seryne. She’s, my sister-in-law.”

Lauriella tries but fails to figure it out. Randyl watching her laughs again, “Elder fey’ri men are polygamous. My sister is married to Most honorable Kioshi Fellmirr. So is Miwa.”

Lauriella gets a look of total disgust which makes Randyl laugh even harder.

Miwa points her chopsticks; That’s the look my sister gave me when I said we had to join after Kioshi joins with her. Said it would never happen in her lifetime. The bitch kept her promise too. She may be sixty now, but she can still beat the shit out of him and wear him out under the sheets too……………. I’m jealous.”

Randyl laughs so hard he falls backwards off his chair, exclaiming, “I think I’m finally back.”

Miwa shows her fangs smiling, “I knew that would do it.”

When Fawn wakes up it takes centuries to calm her from her guilt and grief; Another few centuries until she’s ready to meet her husband again. In the end Helena and Lauriella watch them holding hands in a small glade with a statue in the middle of it at the west end of the island.

Helena turns to her, “The curse is broken forever now. It’s time for us to go. Thank you Lauriella. If you continue perhaps one day all will be revealed to you. Keep this place a secret. Keep it close to your heart.”

The rest of the year goes rather well until the end. Fawn gets bitchy. For some reason she can no longer eat any meat. She throws it up as soon as it goes down which in turn makes her more unreasonable than she usually is. Lauriella does the best she can to help her mistress. The year ends with Lauriella hoping that Fawn will have her back for the final year.

[Winterhawk99]

Ok. As you read Fawn’s second valin you immediately see I broke the rules. Fawn and Randyl get back together: eventually. I did this for a reason. But first lets look at why the general outcome changed and why things were different.

The first Difference is Randyl himself. Randy found out about her race in Children of Hell Book I. His grandfather Rokiri gave him a book on the races of Krynn. So, he knows that though few female Irda have a second Valin he was betting that if anyone did Fawn would be one of the. His reasoning was he found out Fawn was a direct descendant of Igraine. As soon as he married her, he was already trying to figure out ways of how to survive this himself.

The second difference is Randyl is an archmage himself. He is no slouch when it comes to magic especially evocation, and with marrying Fawn a known mind mage, he was sure to study ways to protect himself from her natural enchantment gifts.

Third. Randyl was not completely insane like Fawn was. He is not Irda so the curse had no affect upon his own person other than Fawn trying to ravage and dominate him in any way she could.

Fawn ended up in the exact same place as her first Valin. In her home as Randyl moved them into the astral plane straight to there. She still became basically a force of nature and Randyl had to resist her dominating him while this whole thing was going on. It traumatized him so badly his hair turned grey and afterward he didn’t want anything to do with her. Fawn again went into a comma of rejection not so much against Randyl because he survived but because of all the things she did to him. Guilt is a powerful thing.

So far everything has played out as a normal Valin with the male surviving. It is what happened afterward that changes things and breaks the part of the curse where they never see each other again.

The first thing is that they are already married and the pair truly love each other. Love can break the bonds of any magic if strong enough, however love could not break it alone. Not in their case.

The second thing they had: was a support system of friends surrounding them that loved them too. Lauriella, Miwa, Helena, and Shaia. As most Valins are done in quiet secluded places the pair separate both completely traumatized and never get time to heal together. The male leaves as quickly as he can and the female may be in a comma for some time or wander around dazed for weeks until she recovers her facilities. Even if she avoids this, she will leave too in any direction other than the male. Here on the island, there is really nowhere to go as long as he is being watched over by friends.

The third thing they had was the astral plane itself where 1 day in the prime = 1,000 years in the astral. They both had centuries/millennia to heal. So ultimately, it was both love of each other and love of their friends that broke that part of the curse.

After all this the last thing I want to say about the Valin is that after it is over a female can have further children about every 50 years or so. These children are born naturally but are rare. In these cases where the Irda female finds a partner, perhaps part of an enclave. The stepfather helps the mother raise both his own and her valin child. This of course most likely won’t happen outside of the enclave for single Irda mothers because they (as a people are so rare) Encountering another is extremely difficult. And as you can read in the forums Aiauta (Fawn’s mother) took a human mate after her valin. Fawn herself chose Randyl who is human also though he does have a tiny bit of dragon blood.

[Winterhawk99]

Culture continued with Irda society (where it exists at all)

There is almost no references to Irda society. I’m not going to review what came before the breaking of the Greygem of Gargath. Instead, I’ll talk about what any surviving society would look like and again I will give examples I created. So, this is not canon. It is however a logical summation that I have created for my own characters.

Of the Irda that survived the second cataclysm there are two types. The first are the ones that live alone either in Krynn, another crystal sphere or in the astral. Of these Irda most I believe would live on the astral and Krynn. The others that live on other crystal spheres would be few and far between. The wildcard here would be Sigil. There may be quite a number that fled to Sigil if they had the power to do so.

Of these ogres since they live in isolation. Mothers would raise their sons and daughters alone and give them all they need to survive if they wind up stuck with the lesser races somewhere. Again, the Valin takes somewhat of a precedence here because each Irda is born with a bond mate and each has to procreate and find the other when they reach maturity.

The second type of Ogre would live in one of these Enclaves. Almost all would be on Krynn but there may bey one secretly in Sigil. So, let’s go through how to set up something like that.

An enclave would have about 20-40 individuals. Most may see each other but will not associate with each other for perhaps decades unless there is a threat to the whole of the community. This part is canon. Just before the breaking of the Greygem of Gargath the leader on the main island was talking to an advisor and mentions that she had gone seeking for 20 years around Ansalon to gain information about the lesser races. Her advisor commented that he didn’t even know she was gone for that time.

As far as what a seeker is: A seeker is an Irda sent out by the community every so often to view the greater world and report back after anywhere from a decade to 50 years or so that the community knows what is going on in the world of men and draconians. This is also canon.

So, you have a community that keeps to themselves and rarely visits neighbors. They really don’t need to there is no murder, thievery, arguments they rarely even talk to each other. They are all vegetarians and all grow their own food.

Because of the Valin a woman is the head of any family. The male will be the stepfather of her first child and any other children conceive through natural mating will be both of theirs. Women are highly cherished in Irda society because of the valin, and they are the head of household because their first born will not have his or her natural father around.

Because of the first cataclysm Irda primarily now pursue the doctrine of Igraine they try to adhere to being good people and gaining knowledge. Perhaps they trade books with neighbors every few decades while borrowing a cup of sugar.

They will have one elder female leader of the enclave. She will be from a line of ancient ogre nobility. If she has a husband, his name is usually counsel. She will be the one that sees the most people in the enclave, maybe even visit a family and individual once every few years to make sure they are alright and see to their concerns.

Irda do not worship the gods. They have no religion. So, there are not shamans or priests. They do have those that can fight.

As I said before, names reflect what place an Irda has in society. Aiauta means royal transmuter, Fawn means Royal enchantress. I never gave their grandmother’s Irda name, but it means royal Diviner. Her husbands name means Council. Brath’s, farmer, Bru’s walker. So, their names are what they are meant to do in life although they can circumvent this as Aiauta and Fawn did.

On the rare occasions, they talk to each other and say their names, it seems very formal, but it isn’t necessarily because their names sound like titles. You have to use their body language to deduce whether it is indeed a formal setting or not.

Irda enclaves use any means they have available to disguise themselves. Usually as small, unimportant communities. Sometimes they seem like a small nomadic tribes. At others a small farming village or even savages as we saw with the main island when the Knights of Takhisis came just before they broke the gem. They will also use illusions or other magic to hide or mislead travelers that they are not even there. Often their enclaves will be hidden in a canyon, remote valley, magically concealed oasis, or deep within a cliff maze.

As far as Irda themselves many have never see other races like Humans, elves or Dwarves. They only have theoretical knowledge of beings other than themselves. When they do meet other races they often avoid direct eye contact and suppress emotional response. Attraction, admiration or curiosity are considered dangerous distractions, especially before the Valin.

Enclaves will occasionally send out seekers to learn knowledge of the greater world. A seeker is somewhat of a spy. They will shapechange into another race through their knowledge of them in books and portraits and go out among outer civilization for 20 or 50 years. When they come back they will report all that they experience among the lesser people. Seekers are essential for any enclave. These Seekers are chosen by the enclave leader. Their duty will end when the Valin activates hopefully they will be closer to their bond mate than the enclave is.

Irda speech sounds always formal but that’s not always the case. It is still ceremonial and precise. Greetings are ritualized and emotional language is avoided. Even casual conversation seems to carry an undertone of restraint.

Irda society when no one is around is not merely an isolated community. They are highly ritualized societies built on discipline, concealment and tradition. Scenes, I will show you involving Aiauta and after Fawn demonstrate several cultural practices defining enclave life.

Irda will rarely reveal their true forms except within an enclave where they remain undisguised. Outsiders will always see a façade because the Irda will shapechange before an outsider can see them. They drop this disguise only when verifying identity, during ritual, when confronting threats, or interacting with their own kind. Revealing one’s true form is a sign of trust, authority or necessity.

A community leader will always be in charge of naming children, performing rituals, choosing seekers, maintaining illusions and protections, and mediating disputes. Her authority is absolute but tempered by tradition and the doctrine of Igraine.

Irda are deeply suspicious and xenophobic. Upon arrival, outsiders are confronted immediately. They are evaluated for threat and escorted under guard. Hospitality is offered only after identity is confirmed. Even then the guests are watched, weapons are monitored, vegetarian customs are enforced. Outsiders must respect enclave taboos if they do not, they are immediately thrown out.

Irda do not kill animals for food. Each individual will grow their own crops. Each household is self-sufficient in itself. The sight of meat-eating is considered distasteful and barbaric. Guests are expected to eat on their own ships or bring their own provisions. If that includes meat they will be told to eat outside the sight of the enclave. Each home is a farm: unto itself. Water sources are protected. Some enclaves even maintain spelljammer pads, suggesting ancient or secretive contact with other worlds.

The Irda fear of degenerates.

Irda have a deep cultural fee of the “degenerate ogres” Their corrupted descendants. This fear is both historical and psychological. Shaping their isolation and their prejudice. Overcoming this fear is considered a test of maturity and character. (This paragraph is canon)

Now that you have this. I will show you how I wrote it with Aiauta and then with Fawn.

[Winterhawk99]

This is Aiauta's post when her mother decides she is to be a seeker:

Deep within the Plains of Dust Lies a small hidden Fertile oasis. The badlands surrounding the small valley are so inhospitable that the people of the oasis have rarely if ever seen another people. On the rare occasion one would come they would see a small village of desert nomads of no import to the world in which they live. Thus, they are mostly forgotten, which in turn pleases the nomads to no end for their lives are a simple existence free from the politics of Krynn.

As Aiauta approaches her parents' she becomes wary. There is an odd smell in the air. When she knocks on the door they answer. She is unsure what may come even though she has lived in the same village; it has been thirty years since the last time she has been called. As her father opens the door she bobs her head slightly, "Diviner, Mother greetings. Counsel, Father greetings."

Her mother answers, "Aiauta, always a pleasure. We have a guest. Do not be afraid. He will be leaving very shortly."
Aiauta sees the strain on her mother's face and wonders what could upset the leader of the village so.

They step back as she steps in the door. She sees the human and averts her eyes immediately. Then timidly looks to him again but not directly into his eyes. He has a short beard and seems very young, yet his eyes show both a knowledge and understanding well beyond a youth's. He stares at her in an admiration that makes her feel somehow unclean.

She then looks to her parents questioning for they have not changed to hide their nature to this human stranger. She thinks to herself, 'This must be a seeker come home and has not yet altered himself.'

Counsel speaks up, "It is no trick, Aiauta. This is Mu'awiyah a nomad from a tribe far away from this place therefore he is not abject to our nature. He sought us out with dire news. His time is done here. Isn't it, Sir."

Mu'awiyah comes up to mother. They clasp arms: hands to forearms in the desert style of both greeting and farewell. He bobs his head to her and her father, "I am ever at your debt and your service Diviner. I will await what is foretold." He appreciates Aiauta's grace one last time before making his way out and away from the village. As he does Aiauta does the same for she has never felt those warm feelings before; something she has no words for.

Her father closes the door frowning, "I had hoped for the human to leave before you Aiauta. Remember you are bound to another and until that time some fifty years or so from now you should be careful. Humans, elves, and others they are higher than beasts of the field, but they are not near to our standards. Put any thoughts away about such things."
Aiauta nods to him, "I have never seen a human. They look surprisingly......Sturdy."

Her mother speaks up, the stress in her voice apparent, "I have called you here Aiauta for a reason not to get all glassy eyed over a barbarian." She pauses a moment in thought then continues, "Mu'awiah's visit has shown us that we have been detached from the greater world for far too long. We need to send a seeker among the races once again to find out how much has changed since last we sent someone. Counsel and I are sending you, our daughter. We feel that with your extended learning you would be best to go out among the world to be our eyes. We wish that you would seek for some time, perhaps until you feel your bond take hold. If you are still seeking when this happens do not worry for, he will come for you in any event. It is the nature of the bond."

Her father smiles, "None of us wish to seek, Aiauta. You must remember; You are destined to run this village one day. You are the next in line if something befalls us. Being a seeker for a period of time will help you know the other races if your time comes and we have visitors again. You must learn to deal with these others although they have their deficiencies."

Aiauta is still not pleased by these revelations but says, "I will seek if only for the knowledge that I need to know, but how will I walk among the other races?"

[Winterhawk99]

This is when Fawn meets the diviner (her grandmother centuries later) In children of Hell II:


The landscape below changes so quickly. At first there is only water below, then a great forest stretches out to the horizon. A few minutes later another narrow sea forms to the east: The direction they seem to be traveling.

Miwa starts picking up an odd sensation of foreboding. It’s as if the very world does not like her and wants to expel her from its boundaries. She looks back at Fawn. Her eyes are fixed ahead in a resolute and indignant countenance.

“Fawn this place! It doesn’t feel right! It’s as if the very air wishes to expel me from its embrace. Let’s go back, please! Do you even know where we are?”

They pass another seashore, Mountains come into view before Fawn replies, “I believe we are on the world of Krynn. It is a savage land of my forbearers. From what I have read on spell jamming the gods of this place frown upon interloping races from other worlds such as yours. That must be why you feel the way you do. I had similar sensations when I visited Avernus as a child.”

Miwa takes note of the admission and turns her head back to one of the great glass portals. They pass by swamp and come to an endless scorched and barren land. Fawn turns her head slightly and with it they dive southeast for endless miles of desert and barren hills of some form of badlands. Miwa picks out a few outposts and a castle then nothing for a long while, until an odd set of standing cliffs appear.

Fawn slows the ship down. The ship points into the maze of dry cliffs that are seemingly scorched by some form of siege engine or dragon fire. They look both impenetrable and ominous from the ground, however from where they fly Miwa can plainly see a hidden valley of green in the middle of the desert canyon complex. A waterfall ushers out of the rock, mid cliff on the west end of the valley. The torrent descents into a hole on the east end. A wide shallow river runs between with homes, each a farm unto itself, stretched out over three square miles of land.

In the northeast corner of the valley Miwa views a platform. Pointing to it she asks Fawn, “What is that?”

In surprise Fawn explains, “That’s a jammer pad! One large enough for a huge ship to occupy.”

Miwa snickers, “Perhaps they are not as savage as you have led me to believe.”

Fawn ignores her as she maneuvers the ship to the pad and lands. Miwa changes to her riding leathers. Fawn opens a large panel and brings out a curious staff. Miwa looks at her questioningly.

“A staff from the world of Thedas. It works with the weave differently than what you are use too. It takes my latent magic energy and transforms it into magical bolts. Therefore, I’m not completely defenseless.”

They walk out of the ship and down the narrow path into the central area of the oasis. As they pass by houses a few nomads working their gardens clutch their staves protectively and stare at the companions. They look to be human people that cloth themselves much like Bedouins of other worlds with flowing robes and hats suited to keep one cool and shaded in an arid climate. Fawn seems to follow her ears, Down the pathway and across the shallow river over a foot bridge. Here near what seems to be a central square a man stands confronting them.

The man states flatly, “Who are you and why do you bring a spawn of Takhisis with you? She is unwelcomed here.” Two others join him One a man the other a woman both carrying magical staves. They walk up beside him defensively.
Fawn puts her staff in front of her, “I am Fawn of Toril. I came here because of my name. A name that no one should know is whispering on the wind. I followed it to this place.”

“Then you are The Sierra? Prove it! Show me your face.”

Miwa watches Fawn while taking her left hand and slowly placing it upon her fighting fan. Partly in defense of her and her companion and partly in fear. For if these people can wield magic like her they are sorely outmatched. Fawn looks as if she is undecided on whether she should show herself. This may be the moment that decides their fates for she sees several figures in the background showing interest; all carry some form of staff. They are woefully outnumbered by several mage or sorcerers. Fawn has no spells being that she was piloting the ship. The best that Miwa can think of is to throw a cloud of fog upon the ground, grab fawn and make a retreat, back to the damselfly.

Just as she’s about to pull her fan and sword, she sees Fawn strain. Her body changes. Her skin turns blue and her locks change from red to Silver and curl tightly to match the silver stripe that is normally borne upon her head.

The others also transform their skin turns shades of blue or green. Their hair silver, red or black. All of their eyes turn the same silvery hue that Fawn’s are in their natural state.

The speaker looks to Miwa with distrust, “I am counsel. I will take you to your grandmother. The dragon spawn stays here.”

Fawn thrusts out her chin, “She is not dragon spawn. She is Lady Miwa Duskmere of house Yuki. I will go nowhere she is not welcome.”

The Irda looks to them in disappointment, “Bah! As insolent as your mother, Sierra.” He whistles. A large iguana comes lumbering to him from the side of the road. He concentrates upon the it. It runs off behind him. As they wait, the two parties examine one another. Miwa watches how gracefully the Irda move and wonders why Fawn never learned to walk as they. She then realizes that if she were in a community like this one, she probably would have.

The lizard comes back. Counsel leans down and places his hand on the ground letting the Iguana crawl up to his ear. With an exasperated gasp he motions his hand down the path. To a house far on the other side. Fawn and Miwa walk to the home surrounded by several of the men and woman of sharp eye. Miwa moves her hands far away from her weapons now without making it impolite or obvious. The door opens upon their arrival. A tall Green Irda with black hair opens the door. She looks almost as young as Fawn, yet her eyes betray an age much, much older.

“Come in Sierra and Miwa. I’ve been waiting several weeks and am glad to meet my granddaughter for the first time since I pulled her from her mother’s womb. Counsel, please make some tea for our guests. And you two sit down at the table while I get my things.”

Fawn and her both sit down at the large table in the main room. The woman gets out a crystal ball and several other small spell ingredients, “You may not know this. I do not know how much Aiauta taught you about our people. I am Diviner the leader of this settlement. There are several others that survive hidden by illusion like ours. And your full name my girl is Igraine Sierra.

You would have been trained to lead one of the villages when you came of age except for the hand of fate and my wayward daughter’s decision to run off with a barbarian human.”

As the male places down tea in front of them, Fawn stoically asks, “Why am I here, and why have you called me?”

Diviner sighs and leans back in her chair contemplating Fawn and how to proceed with her. When she speaks, she takes measure with her words, “You are here, Sierra because you are pregnant. Your son or daughter needs a name. It is the duty of the Diviner to name all Irda children by what I see in their probable futures. I named you when you were but a few days old. Just before he took her.”

Fawn looks the Diviner dead in her eyes and asks, “And just how well did your visions of my future turn out when you named me?”

Again, the Diviner sighs, “Judging from what I see before me? All too accurately I’m afraid my, dear.”
Fawn’s eyes shift to the side in indecision. Miwa can tell there is some form of conflict going on within her friend’s mind. Even knowing her probably best of all her short list of friends, Miwa cannot fathom what those thoughts might be.

“Fine, if this is how it must be done then I will acquis. I don’t like this, and I don’t know you. I do know you are sincere.”

The Diviner smiles and looks to Miwa, “One of the natural traits of the Sierra is an empathic nature. She cannot help but feel others’ thoughts sometimes. Unfortunately, she has never been trained to shut out the emotions of others. She trained herself it seems. Most likely in the worst of ways. I will need some of your blood, Sierra.”

Fawn puts out her arm. Her Grandmother pricks it balancing a drop of blood upon it. She puts the needle and droplet in a glass, putting that on top of the crystal ball. As she says the incantation the droplet leaves the needle and slides down the glass seemingly disappearing on the surface of the scrying device. Her silver eyes pick up a slight soft white glow. She stares at the ball seemingly losing herself within its depths.

When she comes out of her trance, her eye’s glow dissolves. She looks to the roof as if questioning what she saw, “Your son’s name will be Brath. It means Farmer in our language.”

Miwa speaks for the first time, “You seem confused, Diviner?”

She looks over to her, “Yes, you see Brath is a very old name that has not been used in several millennia. All our people prefer solitude. Each grows their own food. There has not been a use for the name since the times we subjugated the lower races. It is strange but that is what I see.

It is of no matter. Sierra, your son will be named Brath. Now would the two of you like to see possible futures. I must tell you if you choose to, I will have to see your past before I use the divining spell on you.
Also know that the future I tell you about is only one of an infinite possibilities based on the choices that you and those around you make.”

Fawn looks surprised replying, “Fortune telling. Really. Is this what the Irdarian race has come too. I had thought that you could do better. For all my years I have never heard of a spell that could accurately predict any semblance of a major future. For in truth fate doesn’t apply. It is only in the choices we make that our destiny is revealed. The rest is only show and hocus pocus based on what past you pick up from us.”

Miwa raises and eyebrow at Fawn hoping that they both won’t be incinerated over the next few seconds, but the Diviner just laughs, “Ah, Sierra. You do not know Irdarian magic. Perhaps a spell or two but nothing like we that live in this valley know. You have much to learn.” Her eyes twinkle for a moment then continue, “If you are so sure that my readings are just fantasy then there is no harm in participating or are you just afraid for me to see your past.”

“My past isn’t clean, but I am unafraid of you or your divining magics.”

“No one’s past is clean, Sierra, and you should be.”

“Alright then, Show me.”

The Diviner turns to her, “What do you say, Lady Duskmere?”

Miwa considers the proposition then responds, “You know I was born and raised in hell. It’s not a place or a life that you would find comforting. Whatever Sierra has done in her life to give her reservation it does not compare at all to the things I’ve done in my own life.”

The Diviner looks slightly confused. Fawn answers her unsaid question, “Some would call this place Baator.”

“Ah, to us this is part of the Abyss. A place where Takhisis makes her home.”

Again, Fawn speaks up, “Takhisis is this worlds Tiamat.”

Miwa smiles at her, “You do not think that those that grew in her shadow do not know all her names Fawn? I would like to see this possible future.”

Diviner smiles, “Then come with me.” She gets up and leads them out back. There in the middle of a
garden of fruits, vegetables and grains is a raised circular pool a full ten meters in diameter of pure water. There is a one-meter platform in the very center made of black granite. Three two-meter mirrors hang above the pedestal of granite at an angle equal-distant from each other facing slightly down. Held by poles that curve from the base of the pool structure to five meters over the polished stone. Diviner waves her hand saying a small incantation. The edge of the pool rotates. Panels grow from the outside radius covering the pool they seem to weld themselves together when they reach the middle to form another perfect mirror.

She motions to Miwa with her hand, “Go ahead Lady Duskmere. You first.”

Miwa walks to the pool and steps up to the edge. She gingerly places her foot on the mirror and steadily puts weight on it. The cover holds. She walks to the pedestal and stands upon it.

Fawn’s grandmother asks, “Look around you. What do you see?”

Miwa looks down and then up in wonder, “I see……. I see infinite reflections of myself worming their way around the pool like sections of giant centipedes.” She waves her hand above her watching in fascination of all her other images one behind the other in row after row waving back.”

Diviner looks amused by her reaction, “There is reason for this Lady Duskmere. Now are you ready to feel Irdarian magic?”

Miwa smiles and nods to her silently.

“Open up your mind. Mediate, and relax your body.” Diviner makes a complicated and exacting set of incantations. The air around her body starts to softly glow red. Her eyes lose their focus. She goes into a trance for over an hour.

Miwa deep in meditation does not even flinch. The Diviner comes out of her trance and immediately starts another lengthy spell combined with hand jesters. Again, her eyes lose their focus but this time the air around her shimmers in a blue like aura. She comes out of this trance in just after the time it takes to sip a full cup of tea.

Coming out of her meditation, she helps Miwa off the pedestal. Turning to Fawn she exclaims, “Now it is your turn, my Granddaughter.”

The process is repeated but this time it takes very little time for the Diviner to see her subject’s past and much longer to see her future. After which she brings them back into the main room. There is more tea waiting for them. All three sit down at the table. Counsel is nowhere to be found.

Diviner looks a bit flustered. Turning to Fawn she gives her granddaughter her reading first, “No matter the path you take. The next week will try you more than you have ever been tried before. You must face and put away your greatest fear. The fear of the degenerates that all of us loath and dread.

If you can accomplish this there is a chance that you may not only help Miwa’s race to come back from extinction; You may be able to bring our race, the Irda, back from near extinction. For all of this to happen you must put away certain prejudices and accept help when it is offered.

If you survive the next week and accept someone’s offer, it will set you upon the path to not only become more than what you are. It will start a cascade to rectify many misdeeds between our people and others.”

Fawn sighs, “More pointed than I would expect. Still, it’s vague and generalized is that all you can come up with after so much time.”

“Young lady, you will have to learn to start trusting and appreciating others for what they come to the table with. You may not understand how interactions work. The gods know we are not the best people to teach you, but you need to learn to be open to what others have to say. Not even Irda can live in total isolation. Learn to value others for their insights. Just as my advice, which is vague so that ultimately, you must make your own choices on the path to which I have shown you.

Now leave us. I wish to be alone with your friend for her reading.”

Fawn gets out and strolls out of the home and into the community at large, angered for what reason Miwa does not know. The Diviner turns her attention to her, “My apologies Lady Duskmere for my granddaughter and for the way the community treated you upon your arrival. We are a suspicious people because we are hunted both for our magical abilities and from ignorance.”

“Apology accepted Diviner and you may call me Miwa. What did you see?”

“I saw much. Your background is nothing like I have ever experienced before in my readings. I must say your transformation is magnificent. You are already underway to be a beacon for your people. You have already accomplished much but what you have written down in your papers is only a small part of the answer you seek.

A greater part of the answer you perceived while being Fawn’s guest. The true answer you are looking for is only partially revealed to you however even with your new insights. There is another that may be able to fit the last piece of the puzzle into place. Something that you would not recognize until it is unveiled by this soul.

Be watchful of this revelation and I am sure you will be able to combine all into the solutions you seek.”
“You are a rarity among your race, Miwa. You are someone that can take limited knowledge and understand how to make that knowledge work. It is a blessing that you of all your people were sent to the prime to do this research. Learn to use your gifts to help others and you will be rewarded. The last thing I have for you is a boon, if I may?”

“What boon do you ask?”

“Watch over my granddaughter. There are a few others that may take her place but at this time she is the hope of my people. Try to help her make good choices instead of bad ones. She trusts you more now than any other she knows. Even if she doesn’t show it. She will need your help in the future.”

“How could I not accept a boon such as this, Diviner. If not for Fawn, I would be lost on another path.
She has helped me so much in the past. It will be a pleasure to watch over her.”

“Thank you. The journey you must make if you use your machine in the great flows will take months. I will plot a course for the two of you to go back to the Astral to a portal directly to Toril. You will be back in that world in a few days if you follow my directions.

I must ask however that you stay the night with us. Rest. Walk the valley and find your center. Eat on the ship, for killing for the purposes of food is not our way. We are vegetarians and distain the sight of those eating flesh.”

“Thank you for your advice, Diviner. Peace be to you and your people. I’ll notify Fawn of your intent.
When I find her of course and thank you for the hospitality.”

Miwa gets up and bows to the Diviner. She recognizes her. She finds Fawn. They sleep at the family home. In the morning they set off once again to find their destiny.