Raclann - Whisperers in the Woods

Our mother has given us one purpose, and you will find no Raclann who would deny that call. The word of our Progenitor is stronger than whatever magic you can conjure, stunted one.

— Nalchak Tornym to King Orim Ironbrow

Deep within the forests of Dvergar, travellers may hear a veritable concert of whistles and whispers, each an odd combination of beautiful and ominous. Anyone doing so would do well to stay in their camp or the well-maintained roads of the realm. For the whispers signal the presence of the Raclann, and anyone intruding upon their realm may easily find himself an enemy of the horned whisperers.

Protectors of the Forest

by Justin Usher

The Raclann are the children of the Mother Stone, born from a gift she made to another of the Gods. When the Maker of Songs noticed that the wooden realm he had created for his children, the Fay, was cut apart by others hungry for fuel and material, he fell into great despair. To prevent another rift between the Gods, the Mother Stone offered him a deal: the other Children were allowed to use parts of the world's forests for their own purposes and would, in turn, leave another part untouched.
To safeguard this compact, she created another species to serve as agents and protectors of the Faye and their home. She forged them out of the horn of a deer and the root of an oak, making them strong yet somewhat malleable, and permanently ingrained a desire to protect the woods into their souls. Thus, the Raclann were born.

Rough Exterior

A Raclann is far from the most pleasant sight that Dvergar's forests have to offer. Standing over two metres tall, their broad bodies covered in leathery grey-green-brown skin, face completely covered in a white horn mask except for their mouths which open to reveal rows of sharpened teeth, they look more like something born in the Withered Land than a child of the gods. Their strong arms tipped with four claws each, and goat-like legs don't help in making them seem harmless. Their masks and horns are their most prominent features and also serve as a way to distinguish age and ethnic group among them.

Length and Form

The horns never stop growing throughout a Raclann's life. On average, they do so by a centimetre per year, making it rather easy to determine their age. If the horns are straight, that is. Some see their horns twist or branch out, and depending on the rotation and number, one can say wherever the Raclann hails from the forests of Hebara, Catara or Veturis.

Colour and Pattern

Another characteristic is the colour of the horn. While always vaguely white, it will take on different shades depending on a Raclann's diet and home. Age and behaviour may also play a role, as a colourful mask can indicate a longer or more active life. Some tribes observe a tradition of pattern carving, turning their masks into a mixture of art, status symbol and rank signifier.

Sound

Raclann can neither see nor smell on their own. Wherever they even have eyes is a matter of debate. Instead, they mainly rely on their potent ears and have developed an extensive set of whistles and whispers to communicate. In doing so, they use what appears to be a network of tunnels and tiny holes inside their masks to allow even whispers to cross great distances.

Appearances can be deceiving, however, and while the Raclann certainly fit the moniker of "Forest Demon", they can be surprisingly gentle. At least when it comes to the ones they protect. Those from outside the forests, even if they are of their own kind, are less lucky. Raclann are, by nature, fierce. They will do everything to protect what they see as their home and are known to hold grudges.

Symbiosis

by Bartłomiej Galas

The life of the Raclann revolves around the protection and well-being of the Faye. Wherever the semi-spirits move, the Raclann are known to follow. They act as their protectors, for while the Faye are gifted in terms of the magical arts, they lack in most physical aspects.
Raclann march to war whenever the leaders of the Faye call upon them and will fight anyone that threatens the forest's spirits with fanatical bravery. War is not the only job of the Raclann, however. They act as rangers, helping to keep both the forests and their animal populations healthy and balanced.
Most never leave their wooden homes, only doing so when they act as bodyguards for Faye traders and ambassadors. Their relationship is not one-sided, however. Faye act as healers and spiritual guides for the horned beings, keeping disease and stillbirths away. It is therefore, rare for a Raclann to die of any cause other than violence or time.

Let me warn you again. Do not provoke them under any circumstances. They are three hundred pounds of muscle with horns as hard as steel. Believe me you don't want to anger them.

— Velean, Elven Trader

Progenitor:
The Mother Stone

Lifespan

ca. 30 years

Average Height

2.1 - 2.5 metres

Geographic Distribution

• Dvergar - The Land of Stone and Iron

Old Grudges

More than anyone else, it is the Elves, who have clashed with the white-masked whisperers due to their constant need for wood to fuel their civilisation. But even other Raclann may be seen as enemies. Each tribe, usually led by a chief or Nalchak, holds their part of the forest as holy, with each tree and root holding uncounted memories.
That means anyone disturbing this peace will be automatically seen as an enemy. It is not uncommon for blood feuds to erupt between Raclann and those that cut some of their forests down. Many have lasted decades or centuries.

They are more than servants, my lord. They are family. Siblings from another mother.

— Ik, Faye Ambassador

Eyes from Outside
Part of the connection between Raclann and Faye has opened up a sense that the former have seemingly lacked since their birth: sight. Faye are able to connect with the spirits of the Raclann and can give them sight via their own eyes. This has turned out to be a great asset in war, for the Faye can hide themselves in thin air and allow the Raclann insight into events far from their home.
Lesser Children?
The existence of the Raclann, and a number of other races, has caused great controversy among the learned minds of Dvergar. The story on the origin of the world does not mention them in any form, but myths of only slightly younger age do. How this is to be interpreted has been the cause of many a dispute. The High Faith holds that the Gods created one race each at first and added others later, placing the Raclann and others as firmly lesser than, say, the Elves and Dwarves. Others claim that they were created at the beginning of time as well. Others again claim that they are no work of the gods at all, a position used to justify all kinds of atrocities.

by Rebecca Magar