The Saurians
Introduction
The Elves refer to the Saurians as the first race, a notable distinction, for, according to their beliefs, when the Elder races (Dwarves, Elves, Orcs) first appeared in Eiddenwerthe, the Saurians were already present. Thus, they are outside the mythology surrounding the Old Gods, which has led some to believe other races lived alongside them, races unknown to the civilized races that now call Eiddenwerthe home.
Little is known of the history of the Saurians, but over the years, a few notable discoveries have shed a little light on this diminutive race.
Physiology
Saurians are small, reptilian humanoids no more than four feet in height and thin of frame. Their legs have an extra joint below the knee, so the lower portion of the leg bends forward, ending in clawed feet. Their skin is various shades of green, with pale green being the most common, and some have a small crest which occupies the back half of the head.
While little is known about the mating habits or life cycle of the Saurians, there is some evidence they reproduce asexually. They subsist on a variety of flora, including watergrass, which they cultivate.
Psychology
Saurians are fearful of those races larger than themselves but will defend their homes with great bravery should it prove necessary. They excel at what others would consider hit-and-run tactics, using the terrain to their advantage whenever possible. Many Saurians, possibly a sub-race, have the ability to create mist at will, using it to obscure the area prior to an attack. It is unknown at this time if this is an innate ability or if it is through the use of magic.
Family
Not much is known about Saurian family life as they keep such things away from the prying eyes of outsiders. Written records in their old capital, Erssa Saka’am, indicate that they have spawning pools where the young are raised, but whether they are hatched or born live is still a mystery.
Magic
Some Saurians have magical abilities, though it has not been determined whether this was through training or inherited from their ancestors, who built magic portals, utilizing the magic of the ley lines to travel great distances. These portals, often referred to as Saurian Temples, were thought to have been places of worship, but in recent years, the Life Mage, Revi Bloom, unlocked the secrets of their temples. Unfortunately, long-term exposure to the magic of these temples was discovered to cause serious illness in Humans and Elves and further research ground to a halt.
Military
The Saurians are expert skirmishers, using their ability to create mist to great effect. Against lightly armoured opponents, they have proved very effective, but their bone-based weapons are largely ineffective against anyone in better armour. They are notable for their use of three-horns as beasts of burden.
Before them stood massive beasts, easily three times the size of a horse. Each had a large, bony head from which protruded two massive horns. Another, smaller horn grew above its mouth, making the entire head rather dangerous. Its thick, flat feet shook the ground as they walked, and their hide reminded Gerald of the skin of Trolls, though here it was green rather than the grey that decorated the Elder Race. Saurians scuttled about, using small sticks to guide them. – Fury of the Crown
History
The history of the Saurians is based on conjecture and hearsay, for until quite recently, the race was thought to be extinct.
The Saurians once led a mighty trading empire, exchanging goods with the Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs by means of their portals. They were known to utilize magic at a time when the other races were only just discovering its existence. The Elves coveted knowledge of all things arcane, eventually leading to a great war, during which the woodland folk came very close to wiping out the Saurians. In order to survive as a people, the Saurians withdrew back to their capital, Erssa Saka’am, becoming reclusive and disappearing from the eyes of others.
It is clear from studying the great temple in their capital that the Saurians now populating this ancient city are of smaller stature than their ancestors, although it is difficult to say with any certainty by how much.
