A few weeks had past, since I came to this continent, although this place is a complete strange and foreign world, yet sometime I still felt it very familiar. Maybe, it's because the folks who call this continent "home". Oh yes, I think it's time for me to introduce the inhabitants of this land. Just like our world, Varlaurea is inhabiting by many difference peoples, ethnics and races, with diverse languages, customs and cultures. But there is one thing that I have discovered is, those who currently call Varlaurea "home" was not originate from here (except a few exceptions that I'll mention at the end of this section). From my study, because of some catastrophic disaster. Their ancestor has to flee and wandering everywhere, crossed thousands after thousands of kilometres through all the treacherous places imaginable in hundreds of years, a period called "the Age of Wandering" and migrated to Varlaurea. I still can't fathom what kind of disaster, in what magnitude, that can cause so many peoples to flee their homeland and wander in such long time like this, all the history book here just simply refers it as "the Great Flood", a terrified flood that drowned everything and that it was caused by the "Old Gods".

Drowned everything? What does that mean? Their old homeland? If so, it's must be a very big flood, the scale like what had been describe in the Old Testament of Jewish mythology, or like the story of the water god Gonggong smack his head and destroyed the pillar that holding the heaven, causing the Milky Way to pour its heavenly water to the mortal world as told in Chinese Mythology. Interesting isn't it? What happened before the time called "the Age of Wandering" had been heavily mythologized throughout time, and gave birth to many interesting tales, I can't wait to read and record all of them in my journal. And if you ask me "what may cause that Great Flood?" then I guess maybe it was... a meteor, like the one had hit the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, and wipe the dinosaurs clean off our world, with smaller scale, of course.

But we're off topic here, now back to this section main topic "the folks that called Varlaurea, 'home'". First I'll talk about the main groups peoples, that I encounter the most.

THE FOLKS I ENCOUNTER THE MOST

THE DOWNERS

As I said above, all the folks of Varlaurea do not originate here, but migrated from elsewhere. The Downers is one of such folks, and also is the first to arrive. In about 5000 years ago, they came from the east with hundreds of difference tribes, and built their first settlements around Kao Ren Lake, then distributed through time to the downstream area of the Great River, follow the river to the western seashore, the islands, archipelago and peninsula. The entire of southern Varlaurea is now their territory. In the common tongue they were called "the people of the downstream", I shortened it as "Downers".

If you, those who reading this words, are Vietnamese like me, or Chinese, Korean, Japanese. Then you'll find the Downers a very familiar. Because they're basically identical to East Asians people in our world. From their appearance, hair colour, their high is 1m68 in general, most of them grew long hair and tie it into many difference style of buns, women have the most styles. About their clothing, they have a kind of cross collard robe similar to what ancient East Asians peoples wear, with various styles and forms depend on each kingdom's tastes, accompanied by a collection of hats with all shapes, size and high. But overall, their clothes are long, covered the wearer from head to toes or middle of the leg, very loose and not skin tight (my kind of clothing) so no matter your fat or thin, they're very comfortable to wear. And they have baggy sleeves, some are so big, you can use it as fan when the weather is hot. Aside from that they wear a lot of layer, 2 is the least, the most inner layer is always white. The colour, pattern and material of the clothes is depending on the wearer's wallet and social status. But some colours are forbidden to the public and reserve for royalty only, which colour is also depending on each kingdom.

In term of belief and faith, they worship a pantheon of gods called Quelas'Airuth and the Five, these are the most revere of the gods, there are also smaller deities worship by the common people.

In term of culture and society, they're value family unity, with tightly knit family, children live with their parents and grant parents under one roof. Society have clear hierarchy.

As of now, I had learned the existence of 6 kingdom of the Downers, they are:

- The Empire of Varlann (dissolved). Its territory used to cover the southwest of the continent's main land, and most of Kao Ren Lake shore. They used to be alliance of the Dragon Folks, and a big player in the Hundreds Years War, a conflict last for a hundred years.

- The Kingdom of Aulacia, who claims to be the direct descendant of Varlann, their territory covered the old southwest territory of Varlann and part of Kao Ren lake's western shore.

- The Empire of Chihan, their territory covered the south-eastern part of the continent mainland, and most of Kao Ren Lake shore.

- The Kingdom of Kogubeak, their territory covered the peninsula south of Chihan.

- The Kingdom of Wamata, their territory covered most of a big archipelago south of the mainland.

- The Kingdom of Lyukyru, their territory lied next to Wamata, covered the western tip of the archipelago.

THE UPPERS

The Uppers people migrated to Varlaurea at the end of the Hundreds Years War, they taller than the Downers, approximately 1m7 on average high, light skin tone, hair colour various from black to pale blonde, eyes colour from dark brown to blue. The Uppers came to Varlaurea from northeast part of the continent, by both land and sea route. After arrival, they dispersed throughout all over the northern part of Varlaurea continent, forming hundreds of tribes with difference langue but mainly concentrate in the upper stream of the Great River, and similar to the Downers, that's also the reason for their name. These various tribes then banded together to formed many independence city states throughout northern Varlaurea, continuously fighting each other for resources and territory. These city states conquered and merge together to form many small kingdoms until a small city state in the Qelas Boot Peninsula rose and conquered throughout northern Varlaurea, and created Rumunus Empire.

In term of clothing, they commonly wear a kind of shirt similar to our world T-shirt, but a little looser, do not stretch (of course), and have variety of length, with half thigh is the minimum length, man also wear long, slightly tight trousers, women wear long dress, slightly tight at the waist. Men prefer clean shave look and cut their hair short, but I found out that this is form the culture influence from Rumunus, before the rise of Rumunus Empire they used to keep they hair quite long and sometime bearded. Women still keep their hair long and tied up in pun, after got marry.

In term of society and culture, they value personal freedom, the children when reach adulthood tend to leave their parent to build, purchased or rent a house of their own, of course there're some exception.

In term of faith and belief, and here is the interesting part, their used to worship a pantheon very similar to the Downers' pantheon, the same Quelas'Airuth and the Five. But there some minor differences in name of the Five and what they represent. But the chief god Quelas'Airuth is the exact same as the Downers chief god, from appearance to gender, and what's that god represent. Even they never met the Downers before they migrated to Varlaurea. This pantheon existed for about 1000-2000 years and then replaced by the church of Qelas.

According to the history book, there're 6 kingdoms that was and is existing. Those are:

- Empire of Rumunus (dissolved), its territory used to cover the entire northern Varlaurea.

- Kingdom of Eastern Rumunus, remain of the old Rumunus Empire located at northeaster Varlaurea.

- Kingdom of Celgealia, located north of Kao Ren Lake and south of old Rumunus Empire, former territory of Rumunus Empire.

- Kingdom of Teuberii, east of Celgealia, just recently regain its independent from a few hundred years being occupied by a religious force, also a former territory of the old Rumunus Empire.

- Kingdom of Bricatia, west of the Dragon Back Mountains, its southern region used to be a colony of Rumunus Empire.

- Kingdom of Hispania, east of the Dragon Back Mountains, also formed territory of Rumunus Empire.

THE ORCS

Like the Uppers and the Downers. The Orcs also are immigrants, they came at the last haft of the Hundreds Years War, and used to be one of the three competitive forces in that conflict. The term "Orc" is a shortened form of what other folks in Varlaurea call them, mean "those tall, green skin men from the western sea.". because according to legend they came to Varlaurea by boat, a giant fleet of hundreds of boats.

They're towering over other folk, with 1m8 on average high, their eyes have a yellow or amber colour, curly black hair, their body is either fit or very muscular build both male and female (I wish I have a body like them), green skin, wide and short nose, thick lips. They also have excellence stamina, an Orc warrior can run for dozens of kilometres, then join the battle immediately without take rest. Their formed from many of difference tribes, about 100 tribes from my rough estimation so far. They live concentrated at an area with many plains, mountains, valleys, and plateaus, located at northwest of Varlaurea, a land they claimed for themselves after the Hundreds Years War, and at that land they settled and build Ubukdin, a kingdom for their own. Their kingdom is a decentralized state with the king, the queen and the Elders Council sharing power. With the 8 most powerful tribes have the most seats in the Elder Council, those tribes are: Mdongo, Bastui, Marachewe, Uktu, Maysai, Zuluk, Chwerakaha, Ngrakwe.

In term of attire, the Orcs wear a kind of very loose shirt, almost look like a big bag made of linen or wool, their shirt usually waist length, but do have knees and ankles length to. Lower haft covers with long skirt or loose pants. Those who is more wealthy will have a big colourful, one-shoulder cloak similar to the Roman's Toga. These are the most generalized description I can provide to you, for each tribe also have very distinctive attire, but very colourful and geometric pattern is seeming to be a common theme. Other than that, they also like makeup, especially face painting, both male and female. The practice of face painting has integrated in their custom and culture, into a form of nonverbal communication. For example, if you saw an Orc with white and cyan colour face paint, that mean their come in peace and wouldn't harm even a strand of hair on you head. On the other hand, if the face paint is red and black, that mean they're come to lop head and drink blood, and you better run as fast as you can.

In term of faith and belief, they have brought many deities from their homeland that, there is many gods and spirit represent the forces of nature, and each tribe also have their own guardian spirit, but the most revere of them all is a group of six gods and the chief god of that group is... you guess it "Quelas'Airuth". A most revere pantheon of five gods with a chief god is name Quelas'Airuth, coincidence???

THE DWARFS

Most of the history of the Dwarfs remain unknown by other folks. Because they mostly living in their semi-opencast cities on the snow covered mountains and craggy sierras dotted throughout the continent, rarely contact the outside world. Until an expedition team of the Elvas, stumbled upon a small semi-opencast city of them on the White Mountain. An event that they called "vlastotniev" meaning "the day of first meet" or "day of first contact", and from that on they're starting to open communicate, establish relationship and trading with the outside world, not only that most of them even allied with the Elvas during the Hundreds Years War. Their cities connected together through a vast maze-like network of tunnels. The biggest of them all is "the Great Gallery of Vostokev" an unbelievable gigantic tunnel system with build-in canal for boat, highway for carriage, and many magnificent arch. There are some legends stated that the Dwarfs is also migrated from elsewhere but those was only legend, and I am no historian or archaeologist to properly investigate those legends.

True to their name, their high is only 1m40 to 1m50 on average, their body short, stocky and they have big bushy beard both men and women. Causing a lot of confusion for other races when trying to tell the two gender apart, and lead to a myth that the Dwarfs do not have women, that they hatched from stone eggs spawn from the earth itself.

In term of society, the Dwarfs society is difference from other folks, they do not have king or queen that I know of. And because of the way they live, each city has its own leader, a person bears the tittle "Zukiaz", I can roughly translate it into "Great Prince" or "Grand Duke" those Zukiaz was elected from the noble families in each city. Each city also connected with each other like a loose confederacy, very rarely these Zukiazs will gather and vote among them to elect a king, to lead all the Dwarfs in case of great threat. Otherwise they do not care much to each other, sometime even at war with each other over trade or territory dispute.

The way they dress is not much difference from the Uppers, aside from the very loose pants, women use to wear a bell shape dress with wide straps. They also love to wear hat like the Downers especially with fur, or pointed top, or tall, or wide brimmed. I was once saw a lady Dwarf wear a gigantic hat, with a big rounded corner triangles cloth board or some sort, attached in front of her hat and had been padded with stiff material so it can stand upright on it was colourful embroider and jewellery. Making her look like a waking giant ace card.

In temp of belief, they also have a pantheon with a most revere small group of deities and on deity act as the king of the gods, and that deity is... you guess it "Quelas'Airuth". If you starting to wonder "why a bunches of peoples that do not have pre-knowledge of each other, all migrated from elsewhere, with difference background, and end up worship the same deity?" That what I also want to know.

THOSE OTHER MORE MYSTERIOUS FOLKS.

In the section above, I have introduced to you the most common folk of this continent. But aside from those folks, there also stories and sometime artefacts which was left behind by, said... more mysterious peoples, drown in myths and legends. So let talk about them.

The lizardman

All the information I had acquired about this race of peoples, only come from folk tales. Those tales spoke of a strange folks called Lizardman, tall creatures they are, approximate 2 metres high, with a flat nose-less face, big mouth and eyes and a snake like neck. Their face and limbs all covered in reptile-like scales, difference from other folks they only have 4 fingers and toes instead of five. The tales also says that they are extremely strong and fierce, and use to be an elite force in service for Varlann empire in the Hundred Years War.

At first, I thought this is just myth of the Valaurea's folks. Until one day, I have a chance to visit a wealthy nobleman and be shown his collection of artefacts. In that big display hall, many of his collection of ancient vases and paintings, contain depiction of long neck tall figure. But I still remain sceptical and think those were just a stylized depiction of human for some ancient artistic preference. Until he shows me a skeleton, although the skeleton is only partially completed of an upper body but it has me intrigue. Now, I'm not a medical student or anything like that, but I still thing I have some knowledge about the human skeleton through books I'd read. And that skeleton's skull, is lack some feature, that is the frontal bone is smooth and the nasal bone is missing. Especially is the neck, human neck only has 7 bones, but the skeleton he shown me have 15. Not only that, the forearm's bone is exceptionally long, almost as long as my arm. An interesting specimen indeed, maybe lizardman is real?

The Dragon folk

Like Lizardman, this is a very mythicized race, and I only known through stories. And the stories don't tell much information about this people, they don't leave behind any monument, ruin, or tomb, temple, neither any writing. Only painting, artistic depiction and literature of other folks about them and the retold of their folktales. But one thing for sure that is the Dragon folk is indigenous people of Varlaurea. The tales says, their appearance is resemblance of the Downers and Uppers except for horns on their head. They also say they're exceptional in magic, some say they're even powerful than the mages of other folks. Their magic ability also allowed them to communicating without open their mouth, so that's why they don't have the need for writing. Especially they excel as true transformation magic, and able to transform into all kind of shapes and size, but they're fond of a shape that resemblance what our world's image of a dragon. Anh the tales also state, that they had a conflict which escalated into a full scale war called "the Hundred Years War" with the Elvas.

The name "Dragon folks" in fact was created by me based on their appearance when transformed.

The Elvas.

All my information about the so call Elvas is just like of the Dragon folks, which it not much, these two are the most mysterious races of this continent, and mysterious of them all is the Elvas. No one knows the Elvas origin, neither their history. Are they also immigrant like the Uppers, Downers and Orc? If so where are they come from? When did they came? No one knows. All of the oldest stories I had found say nothing about their origin, just some simple statement that they have been on Varlaurea for a long, long time.

From the description of legends, they're tall, elegance and beautiful. Always appeared with a long, colourful hair, they lived harmony with nature and in many beautiful cities amid the forest in the northern part of the continent.

I had once visit a site that believe to be the ruin of an Elvas city, at a big forest of Varlaurea, the forest called "the Internal Forest" because the locals said in ancient time, when the Elvas still dwell in the wood, due to their magic, the forest's foliage is always green despite the seasons. Stand among those vine covered ruins I wonder. Who are these peoples? And if they're real, what are they look like? What does their language sound like? And the most importance thing is what kind of story they would tell me? Gaze upon those ruin, all I can says is "it's a shame"

From "A journey to Varlaurea continent" by Chickknight Greenleaf.

Chapter 2 "The folks of Varlaurea".