Elephans are primitive humanoids from the wild Elephand lands to the far north of
Viridistan. Their lands are claimed by the
Green Emperor but the only basis for this
is the long-standing treaty between Viridistan and the four most southern tribes.
Many sages classify the Elephans as intelligent beasts rather than human but there seems to
be no reason for this apart from distaste for their uncivilised ways.
Elephans are slightly shorter than most humans but like dwarves they are broad of build and
immensely strong. They have light brown skin and black hair. Their culture favours stone tools
and they will only ever kill animals with stone weapons in a ritualised hunt. Otherwise they
are vegetarians and indeed have much respect for the animal world and a gift for training
animals that other cultures find untrainable. In war they ride mastodons or woolly mammoths
and the devasting effect of these cavalry units is one of the reasons why Viridistan has
maintained its alliance over the centuries. The other reason is that Elephans make
excellent miners and they form the only free labour force on
Gheulost Island where
Carbelium is mined.
The alliance with Viridistan has given the southen tribes access to superior technologies and
each of these tribes now boasts a castle stronghold on their lands which is guarded by
Elephans with iron weapons. Most Elephans, however, seem content with their traditional
ways. A small population of Elephans lives within the City of Spices itself, and they are
accomodated in the caves of the old sea cliffs which now lie within the city walls. Most
of these are miners who are travelling to or from Gheulost Island. Although they prefer to keep
to themselves their uncouth ways frequently cause tension when they wander into the
city.