Tales of Walden: Peoples
Nuri Fidele – the “Light Faithful” or the elves. They are the oldest race in Walden, being the first to be created by Chaimvin. They dwelt with him in the Western Isles until Walden proper was created. Then he led them there in boats, and they settled there. They are, along with the fairies, the most devoted to Chaimvin and are the keepers of the recorded law he gave them to teach all the peoples who would come after them. While they once spread over Walden, as the land became more populated, they built more permanent strongholds in the Forest of Light, including their capital Panphedra (“All Light”). Their numbers dwindled after the Great War and the betrayal of those who became the Dark Elves. They remain mostly in their strongholds now, devoting themselves to study and other arts.
Men – the human race in Walden. They were created later than the Nuri Fidele, around the same time as the Irvin (dwarves). They were formed by Chaimvin using a combination of soil from his country and soil from Walden. He made them not as beautiful or wise or skilled as the Nuri Fidele, for he knew that evil would come and that men would be particularly weak to it, so he desired that they might depend on him more even with their weaker state. It was to the race of men that Chaimvin made the promise that a savior would come.
Irvin – the “Sea Friends” or the dwarves. They were created around the same time as men and with the same soil, but their creation also involved gold and precious stones and was done underground. This was done so that they might have hearts of gold but be tough enough to endure, and also so that they would be well-suited for mining. They once lived on the plains west of the Forest of Light, but they were driven off these lands by the greed of the men on whose borders they lived. Some escaped and went to live with the elves, but a remnant followed the dwarf Linus to the seashore, where they were well-received by the sea-people and given shelter with them. This remnant later began to intermarry with the sea-people and to live in their underwater caves; hence they were called the Irvin from then on. They are very willing to help those who are wronged or who are fleeing trouble, since they were once in that position themselves.
Dwelves – the descendants of the dwarf Hirion and the elf maiden Estelle, who fell in love and married at the time of the Great War. Further dwelves were born from the dwarf-elf relations that occurred when some of the dwarves sought shelter in the Forest of Light. After many generations, the dwelves began to spread out onto the plains east of the Forest of Light, where they founded many villages. They are known for producing many fine merchants and tradesmen. Also, because dwelves are a union of two races, each dwelf is given a choice at the age of decision (50 in dwelf years) to decide which race they would like to be. They can become elves or dwarves, or they can choose to remain a dwelf if they so choose. Whichever they choose, once the choice is made, there is no turning back. Most of those who choose to become elves or dwarves still maintain contact with their dwelven kindred; however, there have been some who found their dwelven life full of trouble and choose to become fully a new person at this time, with a new life and new memories; the younger daughter of Hirion and Estelle was one of these.
Sea-people – a large category that includes all those who dwell in the sea or inland waters. This includes merpeople, water sprites, naiads, and the like. The sea-people were born when Chaimvin was crossing the Great Western Ocean with the Nuri Fidele; he touched the wake of the boats and bid them to come to life. They are mortal, but live at least twice as long as men. Usually, they remain in the sea, but they are sometimes seen on rocky outcroppings of the sea, on the seashore, or inland when they go to visit their kindred there. They have keen eyesight and can see very far. Their hair, if found, is good for the skin due to the sea salt in it; but if one eats one and finds it palatable, one is linked forever with the owner of the hair, until the eater and the owner are brought together. The sea-people have a universal language, Marisian, but each group also has their own tongue.
Fairies – called by many names in Walden, including the “Winged Ones of the West,” the fairies live on the Island of Sparkle, an isle far out in the Western Ocean, which magically increases and decreases bit by bit as fairies are born and die and also sparkles at night for a reason yet unknown, even to them. The fairies used to live in the Forest of Light – in fact the forest was named for the lights of their boats – but they were forced to flee when the Great War happened and they perceived that Marek was after them. When seen by others, they appear to be slightly taller than normal humans, with large angel-like wings (though not made of feathers). But when seen by each other, they are giants in height, with wings to match; some are thought to be at least thirteen feet in height. Though all of them can do general magic, fairies generally specialize in one area. Which area they specialize in is determined by the color of their wings, hair, and lips at the beginning of their training. After training, they are subjected to a grueling four-day test that connects them permanently with their chosen specialty.
Dark Elves – the descendants of those elves who betrayed their own people and chose to serve Marek at the time of the Great War. They are considered evil by others but do not consider themselves so. They have red skin and black hair and dwell in strongholds in the eastern mountains and deserts that are rather Arabian in style. There they plan raids and conduct vile practices, such as what they do with the Kannarah.
Kannarah – the descendants of those peoples captured by the Dark Elves during the Great War – as well as subsequent raids – who were forced by the Dark Elves to breed with animals. They generally have the top part of whatever race their non-animal parent was and the bottom of their animal parent, though with animal-like hair and teeth. They speak some conglomerate language of animal and human and possess some human capabilities, such as speech and reason. In the Tale of Bernelle, it was prophesied to the half-Nuri Fidele, half-lioness Bernelle that a lost princess of her people would come from our world and would free them from their bondage forever. The Kannarah live in hope of that prophecy coming true.
