To add to the story and lore, a character was added at the end of the publication process of book 1. The character has since become an integral part of the story, most of which is yet to be revealed. The character, Associate Professor Lucky Montina, is an anthropologist who was tasked to document a preliminary excursion on Ma-Ural. The following are the notes "found" on Ma-Ural, taking place before the main characters arrived. They are presented here in chronological order, but are not presented that way in the novels as they were placed at the start of chapters and some themes better suited particular chapters. I thought it would be a good idea to present them here in chronological order for clarity. Some of these are in book 1, Into The West, some are in book 2, Into The Fray (not yet released, so a sneak preview!), and what isn't included are yet to be revealed in book 3, Into the Unknown.
Anthropological notes – Associate Professor Lucky Montina
Personal anthropological notes (1 of 18)
I’m going to be taking some personal notes on this journey. I find it therapeutic to get some emotional and individual thoughts written down before diving into the academic writing.
The king of Alitiar, Gareth, has just accepted our requests to publish anthropological findings in our latest journal on the people of Ma-Ural. Never before has anyone had this opportunity. At last, the mysterious far-off land of Ma-Ural can be documented. I never thought I’d be this excited!
I have spent the last two days on the starboard side of this ferry, awaiting the appearance of the islands of Ma-Ural on the horizon. Finally! I will be sketching this area until the sun sets.
The eastern land is much larger than I expected, but it is largely an expansive desert. People have taken up residence in small towns on the coasts, I was able to spy a few as we sailed passed. A local gnome who accompanied me this evening described the largest city in the east, Valoon, as an immense city made of glass that is constantly traversing the desert on powerful stilts that puncture the ground deeply, in hopes of finding treasures long lost in the sands. This will be a must see! I foresee an entire chapter dedicated to this in my upcoming thesis. Smaller islands dot the eastern sea, and the largest of these is Dizstrum, where a colony of dragon-kin—humanoids who resemble dragons save for wings—reside in solitude. The description seems not unlike the mainland dragon-kin.
The western land, where the port town of Cospid (the ferry’s destination) resides, also has the capital city of Alitiar further inland. Alitiar is where the governing body sits and is completely independent of the mainland, I am therefore extremely interested in their politics and social hierarchy. I imagine being so far away from the mainland, being so isolated, helps preserve sovereignty. Apparently, they maintain a monarchy, hence ‘King’ Gareth, but a democratic council has also been established to help with relations, consisting of people of the four groups residing on Ma-Ural (I believe these are the humans, dwarfs, dragon-kin, and the people of Valoon).
—Side note, Valoon was once governed by gnomes but is now extremely multicultural; this will need to be investigated in depth.
The west contains much of the fertile land and rich ore, which fuels much of the economy.
The east and west portions of the main island are joined by a small land bridge to the north of a large bay: Leviathan Bay (Why is it named that?), with Cospid on its western bank.
The ferry has begun docking, so I must be off. An adventure awaits!
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (2 of 18)
The ferry served as a transport ship, taking passengers to and from the isles, but more importantly, it carried the main export to the mainland: mythril-rich ore and a plethora of uncut gemstones, both harvested from the plentiful earth. I managed to get a glimpse of this as I disembarked. Astonishing! Rubies the size of a fist by the barrel!
The main road out of Cospid goes directly west, according to the tavern staff, where the raw ore and gems came from; this road pours directly out into the docks, which sit south of the town proper.
It appears as though Cospid was settled purely for the purpose of transporting the precious ores to the ferries that were collected for export to the mainland. Cospid lies at the feet of the mountain spires right on the coast, where there’s very little land. As Ma-Ural grew in popularity, there was a higher demand for people to man the docks, and so the town of Cospid grew. I suspect this is why Alitiar was built much later on, to house some kind of governing body, as true society could not grow on such a narrow strip of land. I don’t think anyone expected this place to be so rich.
The residences and other buildings of Cospid lie on the northern part of the town, with the southern part being the docks. Although only a small town, it is the third most populous on Ma-Ural. It houses several inns, taverns, and residents, most of whom are either here for work at the docks or live as fishermen, supplying all people of the isles. I look forward to some well-made seafood before heading west in a few days. Though the town is not a thing of beauty, the residents seem to enjoy the simple, steady, and stable work, preferring not to anger any officials or guards. The west seems to be officially run and governed by Alitiar, the residents proudly wearing clothing adorned with a purple rose surrounded by thistles—also displayed as banners above several public areas—which is the sigil of the Kai’sions, the ruling family of Alitiar, whom I hope to meet in the next few days. Every time I mention the Kai’sions, people talk highly of them, referring to them as “down to earth” and “eternally humble.” The people are particularly fond of King Gareth, who has been described to me on several occasions as “what all nobles should strive to be.” I look forward to meeting him in person after our recent correspondence.
More to come.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (3 of 18)
Alitiar’s towers will sit within my mind for a lifetime! They are huge! How such tall and thin structures were built will need a proper investigation. Truly a spectacle that could only be witnessed with the naked eye.
Remarkable.
I will be spending a night under the stars, as the walk took longer than expected. I will admit my stout nature likely slowed my travels, and so I will camp out for the night in the shadow of the wonderful towers.
—Sidenote, I have developed an interesting rash. I believe it to be from the inn in Cospid.
I will not be recommending ‘The Sunken Rat.’
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Personal anthropological notes (4 of 18)
Notes to prepare for my journey north, most gathered from locals who make trips on the main roads. Always trust a local’s advice!
Most of the mountains here are spires, jagged and unclimbable rocky towers that dot the ocean around the southern area of the western land. The mountains continue inland, snaking their way around the western lands to the north, creating a perilous range, like a spine (I believe that is what they call this geographical feature) on the eastern side of the western lands.
Deeper north, these spires continue, and collect to make a raised area. This is the land of the pale dwarfs (reminder: pack warm clothing). Connecting the lower lands of Alitiar to this northern tundra, encased in mountains, is a steep and treacherous path that winds harshly up between two of these spires. It is on this road that all the goods from the ore-rich northern land are transported down and continue to Cospid. The journey from the pale dwarfs’ town of Loft to Alitiar is two full days, a ride to the base of the path followed by a hard-upwards trek for the second day. The pale dwarfs prefer to not use horses (a combination of short stature, cold terrain, and a path that’s terribly dangerous when transporting goods).
The dwarfs have two major mines: One is about two-thirds up the mountain path, and the other, a sacred mine, is near the town (apparently, I won’t be able to visit this one, but I’ll find out for sure later). There are several paths deeper into the permafrost, but these are seldom used. I’ve been to a few mines before, but I am curious about how these may differ to those on the mainland, especially when it comes to mythril.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (5 of 18)
After just a day in Alitiar, I’ve noticed there isn’t any established paladin sect or wizard school. This is apparently true in the east as well. I suspect there are tutors, as some nobles here in Alitiar seem to know rudimentary magic. I have not observed any druids, but the thick forest I passed on the way is likely to house all kinds of fey; any worthwhile druid would happily reside within. (Remember what Mother said, “Don’t accept gifts from fey, no matter what!”) I do not expect to see any sorcerers while I am here, unless they are taking this “pilgrimage.” There’s never been a society to openly accept sorcerers. I doubt Ma-Ural is any different.
Regarding the pilgrimage, since those who are successful, or deemed so, never leave the so-called immortal city of Mysrik, I have my doubts of its authenticity. But the people here welcome all those who commit to it with open arms. Apparently, my barmaid was a convicted murderer on the mainland, but after two years on the pilgrimage (which consisted of wandering the wilderness—more on this soon), she decided to settle in Alitiar. She has three children now and is considered a noble! Is the pilgrimage real? Or is the idea of Mysrik what drives the travellers to these lands for a new beginning? Truly a fascinating practice.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Personal anthropological notes (6 of 18)
I’ve managed to gather some information pertaining to the growth and economics in the western province during my stay in Alitiar.
Several decades before Alitiar was founded, dwarfs, known as the “pale dwarfs” due to their eggshell white skin, found rich ores in the frozen north; they had few resources or connections with trade outside of the isles, as no one was very willing to conduct a venture in an unknown place so far from the mainland. Who knew if the gemstones and ore would run out the next day, or whether the cost to ship it all was actually worth it?
A small human family, the Kai’sions, were young entrepreneurs who took a gamble and set up a post at what was to become Cospid. Soon after that, the magnificent gems and plentiful mythril became the main export, gaining the family riches. The Kai’sions, despite claiming nobility once established on Ma-Ural, were not selfish; they spent much of their wealth on building Cospid, and given the large influx of people desiring work and respite in a faraway land, they decided to build a much larger and grander city, and so they founded the city of Alitiar, named after the mother of the first “noble” born on the isles.
With continued growth, the pale dwarfs of the north abstained from greed, instead adhering to a tribal and rustic lifestyle. Their relatives, the golden dwarfs, who lived in the expansive mountain region to the east, vanished silently in a mysterious and violent earth-shaking event only a year after the Kai’sions arrived, the event resulting in the east becoming a vast desert. No golden dwarf was found—not even their bodies. So, are they dead?
No one knows what happened that could have caused the landscape to change so dramatically. The pale dwarfs hold this event close to their hearts, believing they weren’t able to save their own kin, and hold themselves partly responsible. According to locals, this was when they started to become highly reclusive, barely leaving their northern domain. During this time, the undying city of Mysrik was established. A lone mage (Sheef?) told of its eternal and forgiving nature, instructing all those who returned to the mainland to tell tales of the city of Mysrik.
—Side note: Remember to look up the legends about this.
The isles were originally named the Pale and Golden twins, but this soon changed to Ma-Ural, a combination of the names of the last golden dwarf leader, Mazak, and the pale dwarf leader at the time, Urallious.
The famed city of Mysrik became increasingly popular among magic users as a place of ultimate forgiveness, and the gift of immortality. This was followed by a large influx of magic users taking what is now called the pilgrimage to the eternal city of Mysrik. Many mages don’t make it; they initially escape the mainland but find themselves establishing peaceful lives on Ma-Ural, earning the isles a reputation of being a land of second chances. I suspect this also increased the population during this time. This continued for several generations.
In appreciation to the Kai’sion family and their compassion towards the dwarfs of the land, and their ways, the pale dwarfs erected a magnificent castle in Alitiar for the Kai’sions. To imitate the beauty of the treacherous mountain range, the castle contained several towers standing tall enough that they could be seen from all corners of the western land. The purple-tiled roofs became a beacon of royalty and prosperity and sat as a reminder of the appreciation of the pale dwarfs and their alliance to the royal family. The tallest tower sat several stories above the rest and contained a large open cavity near the top, offering the viewer an almost three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the western lands, save for the columns holding the roof above. The Kai’sions are loved by all those who live in the west.
However, since the golden dwarfs vanished during this unnamed event (I refuse to call them dead for the moment), the east has different feelings towards the Kai’sions.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
I have spent some time with Commander Ryne of the Red Velvet Legion, named so as they reside in the Red Velvet Forest. The forest itself it quite fascinating, it is dense and difficult to navigate to the untrained. You will find some sketches and rubbings of all available and common fauna. The leaves are permanently red and have a leathery texture, to the point they use them in their armour!
Commander Ryne took me around the forested areas and escorted me to several of the towns over the last few days. Many of which are mining towns, finding plentiful veins of copper and iron in the spine, they are quaint and well off. I required an escort as the forest itself, although beautiful, is fearfully dangerous. Undead creatures lurk from the shadow crossing over the aptly named ‘Decay Ridge’. The legion is tasked to protect the people and use it as a sort of ‘boot camp’ for many pilgrims. Almost every member was at some point a pilgrim.
A quick note on Commander Ryne. He is a half elf well beyond his younger years and is incredibly kind and wise. Probably having to handle people from all kinds of backgrounds has grounded him. Doing what he does, fighting the undead, for as long as he has, he must have one well put together mind. I got to see the Velvets in action with a small swarm of zombies and spectres that stumbled close to Madder. They made quick work with their silvered daggers, always an impressive sight to see such well-trained warriors in their elements.
Time was spent circling ‘The Thin Sea’, a large red lake. Apparently, it is so salty that no fish reside within and that the lake itself is too shallow for boats to be used. Strange (is that not a giant puddle?). Upon further probing, Ryne said that the lake is heavily concentrated in soluble minerals, which feed algae in the connecting rivers, they use the minerals in their life cycle and the residents don’t want to disrupt the ecosystem. They believe it to be connected to the plentiful ore of the land. Perhaps this is true, and I must admit I am not well versed enough in the matter to comment. I was lucky enough to be given some algae samples to bring back. I doubt they’ll survive the trip, but it may spark some interest from colleagues. It is important to note that they are considered a delicacy, only being harvested three times a year. They don’t call me Lucky for nothing! They weren’t to my taste, but I participated in their customs regardless.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (8 of 18)
After my eventful visit to the Red Velvet Forest and Commander Ryne, and a brief stop in Alitiar and Palmy as I head north, I have finally made it to Loft.
The pale dwarfs might be the most interesting group I have witnessed (so far). They are both barbaric and culturally driven. They have an interesting greeting where they ‘slap’ their forearms together in a cross in front of them, raising them up and exposing the underside of their arms. I believe this is a show of vulnerability, saying to the other, “Here is the soft tissue of my arms. We are friends. I mean no harm.” I tried greeting them with this but received very little response. I think they see me as an outsider. I will be looking for a way to become accepted into this fascinating little society.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Personal anthropological notes (9 of 18)
Turns out, I can never be accepted by the pale dwarfs. They only let certain individuals outside their kin become ‘accepted’ in their society. These individuals have included members of the Kai’sion family, but even then, it is limited. This saddens me, but it is their culture. I cannot compare my normality to theirs.
Despite this, they have been become very pleasant to talk to. I think I fascinate them as much as they fascinate me. I have far too many sketches of their tattoos to analyse. I even had to top up on parchment! They were happy to let me sketch as many as I wanted. There seems to be a magical component to their ink, as if they have an unforeseen practical use for each design. Some dwarfs have blank areas where previous tattoos are obviously missing. They must get used up somehow?
Several publications could be devoted to the artwork on the skins of these people. I will have to send these off next time I’m in Cospid, as I cannot carry all these sketches while roaming the eastern province.
I will be leaving Loft soon; I have grown a strong dislike for the cold anyway. I fear I will miss it though as I hear the desert of the east is stifling!
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (10 of 18)
Legends, myths, stories, traditions, they all stem from somewhere.
This land has so much rich lore, and in my observations, they all start from some kind of historical fact.
And in my observations, as time goes on, that fact is obscured more and more.
I’ve read all the legends about Sheef, the pilgrimage, the disappearance and destruction of the golden dwarfs, but how much of it is still based on fact? What has changed over the centuries? Is there information that is simply lost to time? I just hope there isn’t something more sinister that has been hidden away.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Personal anthropological notes (11 of 18)
A lonely, and largely uneventful, but visually stunning trip is ahead.
From Cospid, I travel north to ‘Middway’, a sort of final sanctuary for those coming this direction for the pilgrimage. After this, the Golden Sea will be laid out before me. I have more than enough provisions as I don’t expect to see someone for some time, it is a long trip but the sights over Leviathan bay are one to behold.
Update: Alone I will not be! Some pilgrims are going the same direction.
I was cautious at first but our first night by campfire at Middway was pleasant and full of joy. I managed to enquire about what they thought of the pilgrimage. As suspected, many were dubious of it, but all were hopeful. The Archmage, Ivar, has minimal contact with Sheef, the immortal protector of Mysrik, and these pilgrims asked for his guidance. Like many, that involves travelling into the wilderness north of here, for others, it lies elsewhere. One of the comrades from this group has gone to Commander Ryne for example, another was to build a shelter near the Opal twins, how strange these requests are. I have thoroughly documented each and every known pilgrim I came across, perhaps there is some sort of pattern that can be deciphered? Some thoughts for the upcoming travel through the desert.
I will not be venturing north of here and instead will continue my clockwise over the Eastern province. As much as I wish to see if these pilgrims make it, I feel like I would impose on their journey, something many have warned me about and I would not want to be disrespectful. I know Dean Yahn would love to study this himself anyway, best leave that for him, the more I am in his favour, the more likely I am to receive tenure.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Personal anthropological notes (12 of 18)
As I traversed the hamlets and quaint villages of the eastern province, I came across an abandoned and scorched village; this was the aftermath of a dragon raid I had heard about.
It is truly a devastating sight. A local told me that dozens were killed at this particular event, either burnt or eaten on sight. These dragons clearly have no mercy. I am told it doesn’t happen often but still…
These towns don’t deserve this; they are like any other place I have visited on my journey, just people trying to live peacefully.
Despite the legends and the history that say gnomes lived in the east, it is immensely diverse, full of people from all over! It appears that some come this way in search of Mysrik on their pilgrimage and find this warm and beautiful shoreline to be their new home. I could see myself writing my thesis on these shores, but the pages I write on are flammable after all and not dragon proof.
I’ve seen the wings of these beasts tickle the horizon towards Dizstrum, the largest island in the eastern province, and sometimes dozens of them at a time. Clearly the island of Dizstrum is a popular destination for dragons from all over the natural plane. The popularity must attract even the … let’s say, non-sympathetic dragons to these lands, hence the raids. A shame.
Dizstrum has only ever been welcoming to dragon-kin. I wished to see how they lived among such fearsome beasts of the sky, and have tried to get some of the residences along this coast to take me to Dizstrum on their vessels, but all have rejected me (my funding for this trip did not allow for bribes).
I fear my thesis will feel incomplete due to this. King Gareth warned me that I was unlikely to ever visit Dizstrum; the texts Alitiar’s library provided me will have to suffice.
No matter. I head to Valoon in the next few days. The glass city awaits!
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (13 of 18)
Ode to sand:
Golden glimmer, you dance in the air
All around me, it is bear bare
Features, you create none
To the dunes around me, I am done
Oh, how I miss the sight of plants
How are you in my underpants?
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
* * *
Over the horizon it came. The city of Valoon!
Words will never do this city justice. It. Is. Beautiful.
Multitiered, multifaceted, and a masterpiece of design and engineering. Gnomes sure know how to design such magnificent feats! The sun reflected off the glass in a rainbow of patterns. Every direction you observe this city makes it appear different from the colour and just the outrageously asymmetrical appearance.
Elevated high into the sky, the city made of glass from the sands it traverses, walks over the dunes. The powerful stilts it walks on puncture the earth deep. I know, I almost feel into one of their holes before a worker spied me and sent down a lift.
They knew I was coming, thankfully, although it did take some convincing but eventually, I got through customs. I managed to meet one of the ambassadors to this province, Kor-Thiliath. He seemed distracted and didn’t have much to say but he gave me access to almost all areas of the city, saying that the lower levels were not accessible to me. No matter, I got to see the stilts and how they operate. I true highlight of this journey. I took as many notes as possible, I am sure the engineering department back on the mainland will have more than enough information to secure funding for their own journey to witness it.
The glass has been specially made for the city, no other has been used elsewhere and they make it all within the city. The glass they make can, at will, go transparent and opaque, meaning every surface (floor, wall, ceiling etc.) given the right command, can be controlled. They can reorganize an entire quarter easily, as each plane can slide around on rails that they are attached to. They rearrange things for events, or just when the community desires a change. Special pattern-breakers design the new layout of a quarter based on the available rails and size of glass. I have scheduled a full day to discuss this practice, although they aren’t conducting the rearrangement at the time being.
This diverse city has much to offer, I have managed to map out the next week or so with visits to all the main quarters and available levels.
Their water tastes weird.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (15 of 18)
I awoke last night to a terrible noise. The whole city shook with an alarming screech. I held my hands to my ears and buried my head into my pillow, but it was not enough to drown out this horrendous scream. It was deafening and lasted far longer than anything natural could utter. I believe it originated further east (Dizstrum?).
I fear the forces that left Valoon just days ago had something to do with it. Tensions have been high, I heard unsavoury comments about the western province everywhere I went. I feel I am looking over my shoulder everywhere I go. I am an outsider here, but not from the west, yet nowhere feels safe.
There is still much to do while I am here. I will just have to be careful. I am not sure what happened to cause such distress amongst the community.
I will stay in my quarters whenever I can and finish this manuscript.
I have resorted to drinking my own distilled water that I am creating in my quarters using spare glass to focus the sunlight. The taste of the water was just a little… strange, it gave me headaches which have subsided since.
Another glass just finished, here’s to hoping no one was hurt this ‘night of screams’.
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (16 of 18)
[IN BOOK 3]
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (17 of 18)
I never should have come here. Valoon is not what it seems. This was a mistake. If you find this note. LEAVE.
LEAVE!!!
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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Personal anthropological notes (18 of 18)
This is the day I die— [to be continued IN BOOK 3]
~ Associate Professor Lucky Montina
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