Peoples of the Savage North, Part 2

Following on from part 1, this excerpt from Swords of the Savage North looks at the options for non player character non humans, and the enemy peoples, the Blood Races who still worship the Blood Gods and are a constant threat in the Savage North.

As a Swords and Sorcery setting, the Savage North is extremely human centric. Non Humans are rarely encountered and have their own aims rooted in their ancient history, which are not always in the best interests of humanity.

• Dwarfs of the Crystal Citadel live beyond Dragon’s Glacier in the icy wastes of Further North. These Dwarfs are reclusive, and their aims are unclear. Folklore paints them as capacious individuals, whose offer of arms and armour usually comes with a hidden cost.
• Elves of the Forest of Twilight in Nortland. The majority of them are currently asleep in Twilight Forest, guarded by Giant Spiders! Their Drakar neighbours are thankful for this, for their tales are full of their mischief and pranking of an evil variety.
• Spiderkin. They say the Spiderkin were once humans who were overwhelmed by the mysterious Spider Queen who emerged from the Underworld at the at the end of the Age of Blood. They were changed by her magic, brought into her web of life, and now they each exhibit arachnid features, gathering in the remote places of the Savage North, occasionally trading spider silk with their neighbours.

The following Blood Races are considered Enemies by all right thinking people as they are worshipers of the foul Blood Gods and from the tyrannical reigns of the Vampire Lords of the Age of Blood. Although diminished and scattered today, they remain a threat to anyone who encounters them.

• The Enslavers are descended from the Slavers who were responsible for providing slaves to the Cities of the Vampire Lords and a constant stream of sacrifices to Silvron the Blood Son. They carry on this practice to this day, appearing out of nowhere, raiding settlements and carrying off captives to their hidden villages.
• Wodefolk are descended from the people of Vampire Lords’ city states, who never gave up their insane devotion to the Lords of the Outer Dark. Traditionally, they live in the wind-swept plains east of the Savage North, occasionally forming warbands to raid the Drakar and Bogdan, bringing havoc and devastation in their wake.
• Orges are descended from human cannibals who ate other humans,  the remains of the sacrifices to the Blood Gods, during the Age of Blood.  This has given them inhuman strength and cruelty. Their human appearance allows them to blend in and often live in the communities of their victims.

From the upcoming Swords of the Savage North.