Four fantasy characters, including a dwarf warrior, a bearded man with a shield, a man with a feathered hat, and an elf with a staff, standing near an old ruined stone building with a castle in the background.

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Choosing a class typically is more about its capabilities: what will it allow the character to do? But when building your character, theorycrafting on why the character, versus the player, followed that path can play a large role in creating an interesting back story. Some classes are more straightforward, while some are more open-ended. In these Class Theory features we will explore and present ideas to help illustrate the reason a character follows a class path.

Kevin Frank 5/27/24 Kevin Frank 5/27/24

Elven Spring Festival

Like their kin the dwarves, the elves of Taluma have two primary celebrations throughout the year: to celebrate the advancement of the year and to honor their tutelary deities. In the case of elves these are Luna and Stel, the Lady and Lord of the moon and the stars, and the elements of water and air, respectively. They occur in Spring and Autumn. At the Spring festival, the celebrate the winds of Stel blowing away the last cold of winter with warm breezes and the rebirth of plants and other life..

Read More about the spring festival of rebirth.

Kevin Frank 5/17/24 Kevin Frank 5/17/24

Elven Beverages: Tea

Elves seem to eat less but drink more than other races, perhaps because they are children of Moon-Queen Luna, the lady of water. They make teas and infusions, warm and cold, which they drink throughout the day. These beverages often have medicinal purposes in addition to hydration.

Elf Stands

Elves typically live in wooded areas, obscured by the trees and with the resources of the forest at their disposal. They seek to protect and preserve these wildlands as much as they are protected by them. These settlements are called Stands.

Elven Branches

Elves settle in communities called stands, but many elves are itinerant and travel the land, never settling in one place. They travel alone or in small groups, but also in larger groups that often have a familial relation. These are called branches.

New Feat: Hearthzeal

A dwarven runeforger can learn to channel their comradeship with others to bolster their own health. The more allies they are surrounded by in close proximity the heartier they become. This runeforger technique is called Hearthzeal and can be taken as a Feat..

Read More about the Hearthzeal Feat available only to dwarf runeforgers.

Kevin Frank 2/6/24 Kevin Frank 2/6/24

Background: Runeforger

Runeforgers master their mind and body through the pursuit of runic traditions that focus their will. They learn to speak to and understand the very elements, especially earth and fire, and weave that knowledge into runes carved in metal, stone, or wood. .

Read More about the Runeforger Background.

Kevin Frank 1/30/24 Kevin Frank 1/30/24

The Khabba Plant

Khabba is a plant used by the dwarves of Taluma. It is considered a weed by others, but chips of the root are toasted and used to brew a warm beverage that provides energy.

Dwarves & Smoking

Dwarven holds are filled with smoke, and not just from the fires of hearths and forges, torches and candles. A large amount of it comes from the pipes they are fond of smoking.

Sunsreach Peak

Sunsreach is the site of pilgrimages by dwarves who try to reach the peak as it is the closest they can get to the sun which they worship as the celestial manifestation of the element of fire. Due to its height alone it is one of the most difficult climbs, and dwarves who attempt it do so with as little gear as they can to prove their worthiness. Those that make the climb are given the title Soltouched..