Category Archives: Game Mechanics

Elyrian Anthropology Survey – Hrothi


Written by Anders Anderson and Grandmaster Anthon Taelysziq of Arkyn

With arable land surrounding the steppes of the Hrothi, stocks from diverse crops and wild and tamed animals help create stability within settlements. These food stocks which lie outside the shelter of the mountains are exposed, and dependence on them during times of war, famine or natural calamity could cause collapse. However, depending on the abundance of protected cave fungi even collapses of external food stocks could be thwarted. This coupled with the potential of utilizing cool cavern areas, and clay pottery to store food stocks leaves the Hrothi with a rank of four out of five in Sustained Food.

Outside their natural environmental along the montane steppe, trees are the main energy source for the Hrothi. This reliance on external energy sources forces the Hrothi to venture past settlements, and into the wilderness. When, if ever, discovered, the Hrothi show an enduring gratitude for coal in the midst of their continual tunnels and caverns. However, these sources of energy are for cooking and smithing, rather then heating and light. This is due to their darkvision, and near constant temperature of the caves. However, in Access to Energy the Hrothi have a rank of three out of five due to the perils, and access to trees.

As one of the most physically fit, and vertically challenged tribes. The Hrothi use traditional metal and leather for weaponry, which will be abundant due to the constant expansion underground, animal husbandry and hunting on the surface. The sheer mass and continuation of tunneling causes the Hrothi to have five out of five in Materials of Weaponry in their natural biome.

In the caverns, unique floral and fauna flourish accompanied by mineral wealth. On the plains, with the capabilities of animal husbandry and agriculture foodstocks the Hrothi will have diverse materials, that nearby tribes such as the Brudvir and Neran will require. Coupled with their expertise in stone crafting and researching, the Hrothi have a ranking in Material Wealth of four out of five.

In the labyrinths of the mountains, the Hrothi are protected; emerged in the natural, stone walls of the caverns. The diminutive size of the tunnels, allows only a single other tribe the ability to traverse the Hrothi underground homeland which are the Kypiqs. Coupled with the their research and crafting capabilities for stone materials, internal and external settlements are profoundly protected. The main vulnerability being the durability of external settlements, as their collapse may cause disasters due to the loss of food stocks, and energy source forcing the Hrothi to be entombed, and leaving the Hrothi with a rank of four out of five in Defense.

The Hrothi, as with the Brudvir and Neran, have no disadvantages in regards to leaving their native biome. This coupled with understanding Denhørt and Proto-Neran dialect, and the diffusion of Proto-Neran dialects throughout the realms allows the Hrothi to travel quite freely. The economic turmoil of Dras, Waerd and Erishé, as well as the stature rivalry of the Kypiq impact the travelling abilities of the Hrothi. Coupled with their limited use of larger mounts and slower walking pace impacts travelling.Leaving the Hrothi to have a rank of three out of five in Travel.

With knowing Proto-Neran dialects and friendliness with Neran, the Hrothi have potential trade relations and proxy trade with some of the tribes. However, their disdain for their economic rivals will impact their trade capabilities; coupled with mount limitations; and potential distance of montane steppe from water access.Their savior could be tunnelling, creating the potential to have underground highways protected from all, but the Kypiq. The centuries of highway projects would be a marvel within Elyria. For now the Hrothi are left with a rank of three out of five in Trade.

The Hrothi are a strong, enduring which is exemplified in Defense. The monolithic fortresses of the Hrothi stand above all else, their fortifications endearing their mountainous landscape. The Hrothi entombed within their mountains, serve to have the potential to control dynamic resources and warfare through Material Wealth and Materials of Weaponry. However, their Defences and Sustained Food could turn to be weaknesses. With the encirclement of their settlements, it could be possible to force the Hrothi back within their caverns, who would solely be surviving off of fungi and foodstocks. It would be with prayers and hope that the besiegers run out of food first. Unlikely, to be able to move all their citizens and livestock into the caverns losses would surely be felt. However, utilizing tunnels and cover of night, all foes can be turned to rout.

Their stature, and want for economic supremacy is their downfall with Trade and Travel. Irritating their economic rivals, and revoking the expansion of trade wealth with the Kypiq, Waerd, Dras and Erishé; a third of all tribes. The Hrothi will be the master masons and smiths throughout the Kingdoms of Elyria, imploring their native wit to defend and protect their new homes. At siege, and on the battlefield be weary of the Hrothi. With no biome-based disadvantages and linguistics; these men and women will be the leaders in siege engineering, and lance warfare.

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Elyrian Anthropology Survey – Brudvir

Written by Anders Anderson and Grandmaster Anthon Taelysziq of Arkyn


Brudvir are predominantly primitive hunter and gathers, with reliance on animal husbandry for dairy products. However, due to the absence of agricultural, cold and acidic soil environment, as well as the natural- and player-cycles of hunting. These forces leave the Brudvir in a perilous state for food, potentially relying on trade or agriculture outside of their native habitat, leaving the Brudvir in Sustained Food with a ranking of one out of five.

Living in the Alpine Forest, the Brudvir are constantly surrounded by conifers which is used throughout their culture and society, such as: heating, cooking and housing. The ampleness of the forests allows, if sustainably harvested, a near constant supply of trees. Which will help with those frigid nights, and carving competitions, leaving the Brudvir in Access to Energy a ranking of four of of five.

Although, one of the largest and physical tribes, the Brudvir primarily use bone and wood for tools and weapons which are abundant due to the constant need of hunting and surrounded by forests in their native habitat. Metal is present, but the availability causes it to be a secondary material. The rareness of these metals and mundane materials of bone and wood causes the Brudvir to have a three out of five in Materials of Weaponry.

Living in the Alpine Forest causes biological diversity to drop, this drop occurs with available materials as well. The Brudvir have an absence of unique materials in their native biome, and the materials that are present most tribes have access too. Being specialists in woodworking, and the durability and size of their conifers will, likely, help the Brudvir in trade and material wealth leaving with with a ranking in Material Wealth of two out of five.

The Alpine Forest serves as protection for its altitude and impenetrable evergreen forests, but compared to other tribes these forests only slow a marching army. A foe with the knowledge of permafrost preservation and ample food could remain in Brudvir biome till their food stock or armies collapse. Coupled with small population centers of town or villages, and wood the primary material for housing. Sieges and fires could destroy cities and forests leaving these small settlements dependent on their neighbors at times of war, leaving the Brudvir with a rank of two out of five in Defense.

The Brudvir, as with the Neran, have no disadvantages in regards to leaving their native biome. This coupled with understanding both Denhørt and Proto-Neran dialect, and the diffusion of Proto-Neran throughout the realms allows the Brudvir to travel quite freely, except for visiting their fellow Faedins the Kypiq. Allowing the Brudvir to have a rank of four out of five in Travel.

Due to knowing Proto-Neran dialect, friendliness with the Hrothi and Neran the Brudvir have potential trade and relation access through proxies with most of the tribes. The limitations to the Brudvir’s trade capacity, as well as material import and export is through distance and logistics causing the Brudvir to have a rank of four out of five in Trade.  

The visual appearance of the Brudvir, along with their chiseled landscape of the Alpine forest and mountains leaves the impression of dominance in war and of nature. However, the current known weakness of the Brudvir is their biome. Materials of Weaponry and Defense could be worked on through trade. As long as a sufficient amount of metal weapons and armor, stone walls are designed and developed, trade can cease with minimal interruption to Brudvir armies and defenses. However, Sustained Food, relying on hunting and gathering leaves the Brudvir vulnerable during war and insufficient hunting seasons; even while using livestock, and permafrost as a preservation method. This is due to the potential of overhunting and eco-destruction during war, and ability to sustain livestock in an environment unable to cultivate.

The strength of the Brudvir is exemplified in Trade and Travel. With no biome-based disadvantages, linguistics and physicality the Brudvir can travel, trade and battle in all realms. Compelled with their pack society expect Brudvir traders, mercenaries, raiders and guards seeking riches throughout the Kingdoms of Elyria.

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