Fenwomples

Written by the Speaker for the NPCs

Fenwomples: a tall and lanky species, obsessed with knowledge and theories. They have mottled brown, green, or gray skin and move in jerky, birdlike fashion.
Their disposition varies widely from clan to clan, some being affable and obliging to other species and others that are highly cannibalistic and hostile. Interestingly, there are very few recorded examples of fenwomples ever engaging in offensive warfare, as they seem too preoccupied with research to bother.
Fenwomple society is structured similarly to the rural people’s of Ashnuw, with the obvious exception of their hierarchical system. The title of Elder is granted to those who prove their intellectual prowess by challenging and defeating two of the current Elders in the ritual duel of knowledge. This duel requires that the competitors take turns asking questions of general knowledge (not personal details) and giving correct answers in order to advance. The first duelist to fail to answer correctly loses. If a fenwomples successfully defeats two Elders this way then he may take the title of Elder from either one, and donn the traditional fez. A Fenwoot is appointed when an Elder is able to defeat all of the other Elders in this manner.
One of the most striking characteristics of fenwomples is their resistance to iron. They self-heal with incredible speed, and seem not to feel pain if a weapon of iron injures them—indeed, they seem almost to enjoy it. Only if a limb is completely severed from the body will it remain detached, and one of the few ways to kill a fenwomple with iron is to behead it.
Though scattered throughout Ashnuw, there is a rumor that there is an extensive pan-Ashnuw guild of fenwomple researchers. The official name is not known at this time, but there have been sightings of large fenwomple gatherings on the sides of highways, and small, fenwomple-run way stations in large cities. No physical libraries have been found, but somehow fenwomples still manage to consume and learn huge amounts of information. Where does this knowledge come from? Some have speculated that there is an secretive organization that spans Ashnuw and circulates information between the tribes.


(fenwomples have made appearances in nearly all of the games of season 4.)