Welcome to my Dúnamhar campaign setting. If you are unsure, it is pronounced (Doon-uh-vhar).
To learn more about the lands of Dúnamhar, we look to the mysterious Tome of Ages.
We are the watchers eternal, the silent observers of this world. We alone witnessed the birth of this place, standing by as its various races sprang forth into existence. We have watched their steps as they grew, learned, and spread across the lands. We welcome you, dear reader, to the world of Dúnamhar.
The world of Dúnamhar was born of chaos, and so chaos dwelt upon it. The first of the primordial races to emerge were the gigantic Jotuns, the Ogres, and the multitude of the smaller Bòcan (BOH-can). They set about shaping the raw world, but being born of upheaval, chaos remained deeply rooted in their nature. They worked stone and rock, wood and weed.
Then came the elven Shide (Sheed), bearing the gifts of order and harmony. Tall, elegant, and ethereal, they lived in perfect concert with the land, their skin and hair shifting color with the passing seasons. They possessed a longevity that far outlasted the Jotuns and their kin.
Alongside the Shide came the Creidne (CRANE-ya), a diminutive race of unparalleled ingenuity. As they populated Dúnamhar, they claimed the low hills, riverbanks, and deepest mountain caverns. For the Creidne, creation was a sacred, reality-bending rite. This absolute devotion to their trades eventually split them into three distinct cultures: the Dwarves, who carved out lives in the subterranean depths; the Lúchorp (loo-horp), sharp-witted, obsessive master artisans who wove magical alloys; and the Gnomes, the nimble, resilient, and masterfully stealthy keepers of the valleys and hidden hollows.
Then, slowly, the race of the humans stepped forth. Much smaller than the Jotuns, the COgre, or even the Shide, but taller than any of the Creidne. They tended more toward order and harmony, but a streak of chaos still lived within them. They lived shorter lives than that of the Shide or the Creidne, and perhaps because of that, they populated the land quickly. They tended to be intelligent, creative, and industrious, but perhaps not as talented as the Creidne.