Encyclopedia of Science and History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

HAMMERLINNA (pop. 18,000) is a port city on the northern coast of Syllabus island. Inhabited since the Elvish Uncivil War by the fleeing drow, it has become one of the most important shipping stops in the Southern Hemisphere. Haamerlinna is world famous for its oyster and clam harvests as well as its fantastic University of Haamerlinna.

HAMBURGER is a specialty food of the dwarves. On Tuesdays dwarves put cheese on the hamburgers. It was invented in 10024 by Wendy McArbyhardees, a human, master chef of Roland Roundhead. She named the delicacy after King Burger of the Flamebroilers, the captain of the Roundhead Dragonball team.

HAMMERSKJOLD, DAG (9960-10029) was the representative of the Confederacy of Dun Cess to the League of States and Nations from 10000-10015. Beginning in 10015 he became the Comptroller of the debate floor of that organization, a post he held until his natural death in 10029. He was trained in lenevestic rhetoric and classical acting as a youngster; this prepared him to be the man he was; a strong individual who was admired by his friends and respected by his enemies.

HARKS, JOWTHAN (10016-present)

HASSIMER (9615-9660) Hassimer was a human piano player, who, disgruntled with the lack of attention sorcery had given to the arts, took up magic studies for the express purpose of developing piano-playing related spells. He succeeded in 9652 by formulating the Dexterity spell. Hassimer would be disquieted to learn that his artistic spell has become the magick of choice for muggers and burglars of all backgrounds for the extra ability to pick locks that it gives them. Hassimer's Lichen, the spell component is named after him.

HASSIMER'S LICHEN A greenish/reddish lichen found during the hottest periods of the year on equatorial rocks. It is the component of the Dexterity spell.

HELLEBORE is a poisonous herb of the lily family, from whose bodies a powder/extract can be obtained that acts as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and as an insecticide.

HELMET is method of protecting the head from physical damage by encasing it in a rigid structure. There are three major kinds of helmets, all of which are represented in the various militaries with only slight changes. In general, dwarvish helms and heavier, orcish and elvish helms are lighter. The three kinds are chapels-de-fer (originally elvish infantry helmets) which are little more than a reinforced metal bowl with a metal visor extending several inches outward from the diameter to protecting from falling/poured weapons and missile shots. These are cheap, 20 silver, and weigh about two pounds. Vision is unaffected. The second kind are Spangenhelmen (made popular by the dwarvish military of the ninth millenium) which are complete encasements for the for the top of the head with weaker metal shields extending around the face so that the helmet fits securely around the head. Spangenhelmen cost sixty silver, weigh about five pounds, and moderately restrict vision. Great Helms, used mainly by orcish and human militaries in the beginning, are the heaviest (nine pounds) and most protective of all types of helmets. They consist of thick, reinforced metal that completely covers the head. The cost is about 100 silver. Of all the helmets, only great helms can protect from a direct axe, heavy crossbow, or great sword hit to the head, and then only intermittently.

HELTAIN is the multi-racial God of trickery, thievery, and cowardice. Heltain worshippers are stereotyped as lying, conniving, selfish bastards; little evidence exists to suggest otherwise. Worshippers of Heltain believe their personal nonviolence and dedication to creativity and constant watch will lead to an invidualistic, intellectual nirvana for all who embrace the motto of all Heltainists: "After the fighters disembowel themselves and the wizards blow each other up, the whole place will be ours." No Heltain priest was willing to be quoted for this article.

HEMATITE (pop. 15,900) is the most important dwarvish commerial port. It is located on the southern end of the eastern hook of Allotrope and is the point of primary access to and from the dwarvish island. The population is primarily surface dwarves, but Hematite has the largest (proportionally) population of other races of any dwarvish city. Hematite is also well-known for its Hemitian line of perfumes, exquisite fragrances produced by unknown methods that sell for over a 1,000 silver pieces per vial.

HISTORY, in a technical sense, is all time subsequent to the invention of writing. Informally, it refers to the study of past cultures' actions and character. The invention of writing probably occured about 7,000 years ago in the area of Pavimentum and the Uchebnik peninsula, probably in areas controlled by orcish tribes. Written records are generally scarce over the next 3,000 years, excepting the zenith of Proto-Elvish culture in Gailinia, and the succession of empires in Vyrica. Beginning in the 6200's, a large quantity of information becomes available from the developing orcish empire in Ilico due to an increases in literacy, leisure and paper technology. An historical fog set in following the collapse of the orcish empire in the 6700's and obscures much of the activity in the 400 years previous to the establishment of the Second Orcish Empire in Vyrica. The fall of this institution, again, instigated a period of chaos and study is marred by unavailability of documents. Not until about 8800 do preserved writings again become common and evident.

The dawn of history fell upon a busy West. In 3000, Pavimentum was ringed by small city-states belonging to the various races-- it is not known to what extent the present intraracial divisions existed. It was around this time that the orcish states estended their dominion to the fertile peninsula of Uchebnik. Interracial conflict plays only a minor role in the what documents still exist; the bulk of the documents describe economic considerations, trade agreements and religious events. This unlikely harmony was disturbed in approximately 3200 for unknown reasons; the gnomish city-states (on the north) migrated to the various archipelagoes and islands to the north, simultaneously the elvish population seems to have almost completely disappeared from Pavimentum. Additional records show evidence of strike between humans, orcs and dwarves for the farmland and mineral resources of southern Pavimentum. It is unclear from the record what the final result of the conflict was. Most of this information is known from a luckly find of accidentally fired clay tablets from the orcish palace at Delmaruntha. The recent discovery of a dwarvish stronghold in the Ilion range may hold better-preserved (i.e. written in stone) records of the events of this time period.

Sometime during the next 1,000 years, mass migration ensued. Naval technology come out of its nascency and carried various racial groups to new homes in the East. Very complete records beginning in 4500 show that elves established themselves in Gailinia in about 4200. It is known that kobolds, hobgoblins, sudibin, goblins, gnomes and dwarves all came east and landed at various points on the western coasts of Ilico and Vyrica; various groups stopped and established centers on islands in the middle, but these stepping civilizations tended to not last very long for lack of extended sea faring. The reason for the explosion of and then disappearance of sea travel remains a mystery. Apparently, the human and orcish populations continued to fight over the original land, with the result being that the humans obtained almost all of Pavimentum save present-day Porte Darthur, which belonged to the orcs of the Uchebnik peninsula.

Records for the new civilizations are scanty at best and mainly archaeological. It is known that Vyrica was originally divided amongst goblin, hobgoblin, sudibin and kobold nations which gradually fused their city-states and became kingdoms over the next 1,000 years (until about 5250). Wars were frequent and cultural progress minimal until the rise to dominance of the kobold population leading to the formulation of the Kobold Kingdom (5500-6000) which held sway over large portions of Vyrica until its disintegration in the wake of a great fire which swept through the capitol destroying the religious artifacts of conquered cities brought there for "safe keeping". Obviously a divine message, it was readily interpreted by oppressed peoples as a sign to resist. The Kobold Kingdom lingered on in bits and pieces until approximately 6300 when the last fragments were destroyed by the solidified hobgoblin hegemony.

Of the peoples that landed in Ilico about 4200, even less is known. The gnomes divided into at least three parties, one of which occupied the Aran mountain range, one of which settled in the plains of Iceland, and one of which crossed Ilico, passing near present-day Dun Cess, and settled in the southern sprines. Splinter groups from these three main parties abounded. The dwarves also divided into three groups, two of which crossed the continent and occupie the Trenines and southern Sprines, one of which headed across Iceland and settled in the Northern Sprines. Some scholars contend that a smaller group followed the path of the elves and came to Gailinia as well where the settled in the Gailinian Range. There is some evidence that suggests dwarvish occupation of these mountains, but the chronology is far from conclusive. There are other times in the next 2000 years when dwarves were known to have lived in the range; the markings could belong to them.

When possessed of the entire set of Pavimentum's resources, human populations grew quickly in number, need and greed. Humans and orcs ushered in the Brazen Age together with the discovery that the combination of copper and tin produced a metal well-suited to agriculture, industry and war. Before long both cultures had established colonies in the New World; the humans in the southern sections of Ilcio and the orcs in the northern plains. Orcs also settled on Blendon Island in the south, mercilessly eliminating the goblin population that was there before. The sterility of northern Vyrica kept human-Vyrican contacts to a minimum. It was also during this time period that the great deforestation of Ilico occured as human and orcish population skyrocketed under ideal conditions.

The technology of the Brazen Age spread out slowly; it seems to have gone to the gnomes and dwarves (the humans' and orcs' trading partners) first and from them to the cultures of Vyrica: first the kobolds, then hobgoblins, the sudibin and finally the goblins.

The hobgoblins were in an excellent position owing to their frequent contacts with other civilizations including the gnomes in Ilico and the drow elves on Gailinia. They developed the horse, chariot and bow as weapons of war and improved on the design of armor and shields. They were among the first of the Vyrican residents to smelt iron (learned from the gnomes) and they used every ferric ounce of this knowledge to conquer territory. Their empire reached a zenith in 6500 and declined thereafter as their technological superiority dwindled and their reputation no longer served to protect their lengthy borders. Prolonged attacks by elvish, goblin and human forces, coupled with internal resistance, brought th empire to its effective close in 6600, though it continued on in name until much later.

[To be continued]

HIGH ELVES is a sociological term referring to elves occupying the northern half of the continent of Gailinia. These elves have lived in this area for at least 4,000 years and have developed physical appearances somewhat different from that of other elvish cultures. High elves have blond, almost pale, hair, blue eyes, and white skin. Like other elves they are overwhelmingly right- handed. In general, high elven cultures are peaceful and given to conservatism and tradition. Poetry, literature, math, and rhetoric are emphasized in the education of the rich while science and engineering is taught in many of the vocational schools to the poor and lower middle class. This dichotomy of education has created a serious problem in recent years, as the education of the lower echelons has increased, because corporations are inreasingly saddled with administrators who do not understand the processes involved, due to a poor engineering education, and a stereotyping of administration as weak, unintelligent, molly-coddled rich boys. The most successful elvish corporations over the past twenty years have been those that promoted workers into positions of middle and upper management. Recently (c. 10030-) rich schools have been begun to focus more on practical matters and less on "culture," a move that seems common-sensical to most of the world, but it anathema to the social elders of Gailinia. Well-off high elves are given to travel, but in an isolated, sterile manner that removes an interaction with area and people being toured. The high elves have had good relations with the southerly sea elves over the last few centuries, though their isolationist views have created very little in the way of diplomatic relations or extensive international investment. Most of the foreign involvement in northern Gailinia is done through companies owned or directed by sea elves and their foreign partners.

HOBGOBLINS (slang) See Sudibin.

HOFFER, ERIC (9968-) is a human philosopher from Chaucer. His most well-known book, Frustration and Prosetylization is read by every university's philosophy sections, and has become the bible of the Federation for Agnosticism and Anarchy. It is a lengthy investigation of the forces the create, strengthen, direct, and disband mass movements like racism and religion. In it, he writes: "Self-denial gives one the right to deny things to others."

HOLVERSTON ZOOLOGICAL ENTERPRISES is a new susbsidiary (founded 10037) of the Holverston commercial empire. This project, though, is less of a financial endeavor than the fulfillment of Robert Holverston's long standing dream to construct a facility where researchers and curious people alike can study fantastic and exotic animals under a variety of conditions. Holverston confesses to having always been struck dumb in wonder at the great variety and manner of animals: differing looks, habits, structure and minds. He wishes to locate a suitable island containing a plethora of biomes and adapt it to become the home of animals native to the four corners of the world. As of this printing, construction has not begun. When completed, researchers will be invited from all of the major universities who promise not to conduct any experiments which might in any way further ecological destruction or national military interests. In addition, the island will be open to tourists who will be brought from nearby ports by a specially chartered ferry. Holverston hopes, in particular, to have every schoolchild in Dun Cess visit the zoo at least once so he can see the awe in his or her eyes.

HOMER is the god of wanderers. His followers are primarily, but not exclusively, gypsy elves. Their belief is based on the idea that travel and adventure are the only way to build up the body, the mind, and the soul simultaneously. The jack-of-all-trades is considered the ideal person by members of this religion. Little prayer is required of the Homerist, but in battle or times of urgent need the familiar cry of "Homer, Homer, Homer, Homer!" comes easily to the lips of any devout follower. The main goals of worshipers of Homer are to improve themselves through wandering, to avoid getting stuck in any one place, profession, or mode of living, and to spread their own religion. Most Homerists are at least mildly anti-human because the humans seem to pose the greatest imposition on their life-style. Every century a new pair of people are born in the image of Homer. As was prophecied by the followers of the religion, a pair of twins (one boy and one girl) were born in 10014. These two, Otis and Guyla Ius, have been accepted as the newest role models for followers of Homer. (Encyclopedia article by Ben Jackson)

HOROLOGICAL HARBOR WORKS

HUMANS are the numerically and militarily dominant race of people in the world today. They are the successors of the orcs with regard to technical, magical, and geographical superiority. They number almost 1.4 million in the Confederacy, Iceland, Pieschland, the Republic and their assorted territories alone. The rise of humans has been well documented in such masterpieces as The Rise of Human Civilization (Pierre Mikembe), The Human Settlements of Ilico (Carlton Grouse), and Humans: A Survey of Acadec to Zork (Boris Ivanov). Modern calendars start their year zero as the first appearance of humans on the surface of the world; this approximation is most likely not accurate at all, but tradition mandates its continuation. At any rate, the development of crude, hieroglyphic writing marked the first still-existing record of human existence (c. 3000). Orcs were the dominant race until the end of the 8000's. After a period of mixed alliances and wars ("Potpourri Period", 9000-9400), humans began a series of outward explorations, colonizations, and conquests from Pavimentum. Conducted bloodily, they landed in present-day Iceland in 9395, incorporated in 9522, and spread south from then on. The schools of Micklegarth and Gravesend, as well generally superior military leaders contributed to geographical and technical advances denied the other races. It has been predicted that human civilization is reaching a zenith and descent will soon begin. One such statement follows, taken from The Impetus of Innovation by Averell Nockman:

    Any man who presumes himself to be an intellectual must accept the fact that human civilization cannot last forever. We have made for ourselves an easy life and destroyed our ability to fight. We cannot change ourselves to fit our environments anymore; we must modify the ambient area. Humans are weak with great tools--they have lost the innovation, ability, and motivation to make more. Innovation is necessary for the progress of life. The orcish civilization fell because their great minds deviated from developing methods of power, control, and production that were superior to their resentful enemies. Humans prospered in the last millenium precisely because our spell engineers perfected pyromancy and because the Kridsadas and Pattanadids of the orcs were wasting their brilliance on spells like Read Languages. Humans have lost the edge their jealous ancestors honed while watching orcish wizards and princes parade around in luxury. We have expended the energy of our coiled souls, and now, having reached the apex of our history, will fall again as dust and ashes to the earth. The impact will be hard.

HUMANS FIRST LEAGUE is a racist organization established in 10000 by Adolf Hitler in Malmo. It primarily attacks the role of elves in Confederate life, accusing them of being mobsters, election cheaters, thieves, and immorals. The league's influence has spread quickly and those who opposed it, most notably Sir Gregory Nickel of Malmo's Order of the Rhododendron, were publicly attacked and driven from office. Adolf Hitler disappeared in 10012, leaving his lieutenants, Eichmann, Goebbels, Himmler, and Goering to run the league. His disappearance was blamed on the Union. They organization staged annual rallies in northern Confederate towns between 10013 and 10022, but beginning in 10023 the group faded from the limelight. Since 10030 nothing has been heard at all from them.

HUMIGUS BUSHES are small, paraboloid-shaped dark green bushes that are very resistent to climate changes. They have been found on land neighboring the glaciers, in rain forests, in mountains, on islands, and in polluted urban neighborhoods. It is a common plant, and its availabilty makes the components of endurance (manufactured from its stringy leaves), also available, though the maximum duration ranges about 15 to 20 minutes.

HUMILITY, BRIDGE OF is a famous landmark. It crosses the Yarisuto river just outside of the

HUTTSKO was a large orcish city (of the Second Orcish Empire) located near present-day Neorome. It was estimated to have covered ten square miles and to have housed nearly 45,000 people. The houses, as expected were small and mainly shops frequented by surrounding farming towns. There is evidence, however, that Huttsko was the seat of the orcish financial markets and loan services.

HYPATIA is a province of the Confederacy directly west of the Province of Dun Cess. Its capital is Ryche.

HYSTROPOS, KAZ (9955-) was a human wizard who made one of the biggest developments of biomancy in recent times. A brilliant college student at UIP and later the Biotechnic, he accepted a research job with Northern Whaling. During his researches on cetological magic, he discovered a major improvement in the rejuvenation spell that allowed it to be cast on many more subjects than before and also made the effects more pronounced and all-encompassing. Minor improvements have been made since his time, but the efficacy of the spell is owned almost entirely to Kaz. After his discovery he was offered a new job with an undisclosed corporation which he took--after attempting to destroy all information about his discovery. He almost succeeded, but one copy--a shopping list he sent with a page to the magic store--was forgotten and the spell revealed. Where Kaz Hystropos is today, or is more likely, where he rests today (although it should be kept in mind what his specialty was), is unknown. Northern Whaling attempted to patent the spell but was refused on the grounds that the discovery belonged to Kaz because the research was apparently done on his own time, even though the initial inspiration came during routine cetological research. The court decision was to destroy the formula and wait for Kaz to resurface. A group of doctors and lawyers from Parapanisades were outraged at this withholding of information that could prolong life, hired a group of mercenaries to steal the formula before its destruction. The operation was a success, except that one of mercenaries slew his three comrades and fled with the formula. He was never found, but as luck would have it, a boat company apparently delivered the wrong suitcase to a man in Mickelgarth--a business executive who discovered it contained ninja equipment, magic components, weapons, and a scrawled sheet encased in scroll tube. He revealed the discovery and within a year, all of the major magical organizations were able to produce the potion adequately, though it was prohibitvely expensive (c. 10,000 silver). Kaz's original work has not been fully understood: modern biomancers admit that they are puzzled as to why the formula works. Kaz was awarded the first Thostenson medal for spell engineering in 10005 (in absentia), but public outcry over his deceitfulness forced the comittee to recall the award.