The Empire of the Wyrm Friends

The Enigmatic Entity

The mystery of the EWF is vast. It is one of the most clear examples of Minarian Memory Removal (and may be another example of the Samarsh Historical Modification as well, though that is not covered here.) Ruins, some sordid survivors, and some confused tales are all that survive from within the affected area. Foreign records are more widespread, for they were not affected by the removal. The foreigners, bent upon destroying the dragons and allies, did not partake of whatever was removed. However, foreign opinion is biased and unreliable, and will not be addressed here.

Who were they?

In ancient times, approximately from 575 to 1042 lived a people who were friends with dragons and draconic kin. No one before them had done this (except the Theyalans, who were friends with everyone and so did not last too long).

Everyone knows the basic story: Vistikos Left-eye befriended the dragon Orobo, who gave him EWF so that he could defeat the Brain-looters. Then Isgandrang Dragonspeaker enslaved the people, and for a time peace reigned. But Usdaros the Impatient, reportedly the grandson of Isgandrang, began a civil war. Peranal the Protector was the most famous EWF official who liberated people from the hold of the empire, but even he was eaten by dragons at the end, when the dragons betrayed humankind and gathered for a great feeding, called Dragonkill War, from which no human escaped. Since then no one has trusted dragons.

But beyond these bare facts, we are sure of little, including the name by which these folks called themselves. The common title of the Empire of the Wyrms Friends is a relatively late one, constructed out of an icon which was very popular and widespread, and can still be found in many ruins today. The icon looked like illustration 1. A variant is shown in illustration 2. Sometimes it was part of a larger design, shown in illustration 3. (icons removed by web editor)

The meaning of this is, as stated, unknown.

One popular theorist, Banadal of Ger, believes that these are in fact ancient letters similar to our own, and that they spell out the name by which these folks called themselves. He pronounces it as youf or ee-you-ef, depending on whether he wants a one- or three-syllable word. He cites that the Balazarings remember fighting against the Rowf Guards, and that the Only Old One once called them the Garandal Oov, or "near-equal oov" (and oov is untranslatable.) Banadal of Ger feels these are reflections of this ancient name.

Fareneal of Nochet believes that it is a symbol for a dragon, and has presented several variations on how to interpret it. 

Other titles found using this icon include: Empire Without Friends, and Enemies Without Friends.

Cities of Dragon Pass

Source: [This is a segment of a document by Hrestol Arganitis, a second-age traveler who was probably a spy for the God Learners. He traveled through the EWF sometimes during its early or central phase, probably about 700 or so. Copies of this document are in many of the earliest Lhankor Mhy libraries.]

The people of Dragon Pass are divided into two large segments, with the continental watershed running between them. The eastern group is called the Leftside. They are clustered along the Creekstream River, whose culture forms a continuum with the peoples of the buffer state of Kethaela, which I discussed previously, and are best understood in that context.

The people of the west, or Rightside, are gathered about the upper reaches of the Oslir River, a mighty waterway which reportedly travels 500 miles or more to the north to empty into a frozen ocean where troll navies battle each other from galleys which skate across ice.

The Cities of the Creekstream

The Creekstream River empties into the Choralinthor Bay at its northeast corner. The rushing force of the clear river water cuts a fairly stable channel through the marsh littoral around the mouth. Nonetheless, the local pilots insist upon controlling the ship during approach.

The Creekstream here cuts through the Shadowlands, a buffer state between the sea and the Wyrmfriends. It is ruled by the nonhuman race called uz, or in our own tongue, trolls. We westerners find it abhorrent that this hated, monstrous race rules humans, but the ignorant pagans here do not seem to mind, and actually laughed at my concerns.

For much of its length, the river trip is difficult or impossible due to the general lay of the land, which rises in the north. Many smaller cities along the way serve as stop-off spots for weary bargemen, and local markets for the many farmers of the valley. I mention only the most interesting, and largest, cities here. They include, from the mouth heading northward:

Karse, the Decadent, on the left bank of the mouth. This is a place where people of many cultures meet, and also many races, all as equals (unlike Nochet). They say anything is available here: I met a man who said he had sex with an Aldryami, and a woman who said she exchanged gold for

Jisteel, on the right bank, is where the troll guard station is. They stop every boat and barge with a huge chain of unknown metal stretched across the river, and the frightening uz board and question the commander of the vessel. Do not be afraid — if your commander is honest, the uz will never question the passengers.

Anjoralini, on the left bank, sits only a half mile from the Shadow Plateau. In evening, the dark stone wall blocks the sunlight from the city, so that they say "The sun sets early in Anjoralini."
Bonn Karpach, on the right bank, is the first city of the Wyrmfriends. Astonishingly, no military outpost or import authorities wait here. Our boat commander said a huge dragon does that job. It lies underwater, checking for enemies who sail on the river over its head.
The next 100 miles of river are the Leftside Community of the Wyrmfriends. They are not a country, and have no government except the mystical Inner Brotherhood who are sequestered at the Dragon's Eye. I do not know what they are Left of, although the other major riverine population center is called the Rightside.

Voss Varainu, on the right bank, is located at an important ford and portage. Near its southern gate is the famous stitched zoo, where some fascinating experiments are being done to create a new type of being. The results are revealed in the zoo. 

Olorost, on the left bank, is where the Stream joins the River. This bustling city is one of the off-loading points for goods going farther north. The road from here crosses the Dragonspine Hills at Dragon Pass. Here the road passes between the precipitous, and reportedly spectacular, rock formations of this landmark which has lent its name to the whole land.

Orin Jistil, in the shadow of huge Mount Kero Fin, sits on the left bank, close to where The Creek, the second major tributary, joins its current to the River. Because of the constant storm which thunders around the mountain, it is usually more rainy and windy here than elsewhere. It is the off-loading point for the Maran Gor Trail which goes northward, to Rightside.

Salor, on the left bank, sits at the south edge of The Lakes. It is the head of the road which passes over the continental divide, here called the Dinosaur Ridge, on the Intan Trail.

The Lakes are actually picturesque stretches of the river, separated by steep falls and white water. The waters of this immortal current are undiluted here by any source less than the immortal Skyfall Storm itself. Past this point its water is clearer, its denizens more unusual, and its hazards greater. The Dendelle Lake is the last of them, and is a placid ten-mile stretch of The River which is so clear you can see the river bed, even in the center, which is 100 yards deep.

Hannand is a small city on the left bank, at the end of Dendelle Lake. It is the last city along the River, and is also the loading place for goods traded from the local population of mostali, or in our western tongue: dwarfs.

Upriver from Hannand the river is unnavigable by any vessel but small boats. But many human towns measure its fertile banks. Thirty miles upriver from Hannand sits Fort Tikand, a sacred outpost which is set to combat the monsters which live upriver from it. To my astonishment, the humans were aided not only by a draconic advisor, but also a mixture of different krjalki, right out of the Gbaji nightmare! But I was doubly alarmed when I discovered that this fort of krjalki were prepared to fight against some other monsters which frightened even them!

I did not dare to pass further on the river beyond the fort, but the pagans there told me some facts. The valley, called Snakepipe Hollow, is about 25 miles long, and ends at a great steep cliff. The River drops over it in a spectacular waterfall. It is another 25 miles past the waterfall to reach Skyfall Lake. Nonetheless, though it was 50 miles away from Fort Tikand, I could plainly see the roiling black clouds which conceal the hole in the sky where the water drops into this world.

The Divide

A series of hills, ridges, and mountains marks the watershed for the area. They are more or less continuous, running from the southwest to the northeast.

The Skyreach Mountains, a series of very steep and tall crags, are impassable to normal transportation. The watershed begins there. A long series of ridges called the Right Clavandal stretches from there to Kerofin Mountain. Two passes cut through these on a north-south axis. The higher one is most southernmost and goes from the Upper River Vale through very rough ground over the Belastran Pass. After crossing the ridge, more travel along the upper stretches of the Harnda River take the traveler to Polstan, a pleasant though small city, and further to Banjarn, where boats can be taken once again. The easier pass, called Dragon Pass, passes through precipitous valleys close to Kerofin, and also ends at Banjarn.

The Kerofin Mountains are a tall peak in the center of the land. They were once the sacred mountains and home of the gods for the natives. Now it is also a resort for the wealthy, and a lair for those humans who are learning to fly in a draconic manner. Its tallest peak, Wintertop, is about 4000 feet above the sea. It has two other peaks.

The Left Clavandal Ridges stretch from Kerofin in a northerly direction until it reaches the Boar-tusk Forest, where the ridges turn abruptly eastward until they reach the Skyfall Peaks, where the black dragon lives. Along their north-south stretch the ridges are fairly low and even, with two good passes to the south and one dangerous and long one in the north. The first pass goes from Orinjistil to Bon Bolar, then to Banjarn. This is the shortest and easiest route, once the steep trail north of Kerofin has been accomplished. The next one, going north, is the Dendrogi, which goes from Salor to Intan, and then to Banjarn. The northernmost pass is called the Wideway, and it is the easiest route, as long as the monsters from the nearby hollow are restrained by the krjalki in Fort Tikal. It ends at the city of Jeron, and the trail goes onward down the Oslir River to some city where boats can be boarded.

The Western EWF

Banjarn is the southernmost city along the navigable river. It is the off-loading station for goods which are carried overland to Orin Jistil or to Olorost

Kordros City is named after the dominant tribe of the area. It sits at the north end of the Kordros Island.

Ostgetler is the last and northernmost city of the Wyrmfriends. Beyond it lies another buffer state, Saird, and beyond that is Krjalkiland.

This extract is exceprted from King of Sartar (pages 180-184) and is copyright Issaries Inc.
Used with the express and specific permission of Greg Stafford.
No parts of this article may be copied or disseminated