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

WAR OF REPUBLICAN SECESSION (9987-9990) was an armed struggle for the control of the present-day Republic. An ideological revolutionary named Plato, dissatisfied with his career and education, gathered a small group of able and dedicated men and organized a revolution. What was previously Odite province disappeared almost overnight and was replaced with the Republic. Plato organized a stiff defensive and the required Dun Cess beseigement failed because supplies were continuously brought through the Kissing Dragon Pass, which the Dun Cess Navy could not effectively blockade. A peace was signed after an ineffective war in which the Plato recognized the "international importance" of the Kissing Dragon Pass and assured its availability. Starting in 9991, the eccentric, loner Architect, George Na, began construction of the wall that bears his name. Later historians guess that Dun Cess was relatively happy to be rid of Odite province, it having had a myriad of social problems, especially crime, and being of relatively minor worth in terms of taxation.

WARS OF YARMOUTHIAN STRAIT (9650-9653, 9655-9660, 9663-9666) was a series of three wars between viking orcs from Yarmouth and newly settling humans along the western coast of Ilico. They disputed the fishing, sailing, and territorial rights of the water in the Yarmouthian strait. Neither side was victorious, but the war was eventually (unofficially) stopped because neither side had enough population to continue. No offical peace was ever signed and youngsters from both sides periodically swim or sail the strait to raid towns on the other side.

WEST, BENJAMIN CAMBRIDGE (10000-10037) was a noted linguist at Mickelgarth City-State University. He is principally remembered for his work on the linguistic gap between the languages of the First and Second Orcish Empires, though he also did first-rate work on the evolution of modern gnomish from its precursor tongues. Dr. West was murdered by thieves in a small hotel in Dun Cess where he was staying while he visiting his one-time mentor at the University of Dun Cess.

WESTERN CRUISE LINES is a lesiure travel corporation located in Zork. Their favored vacations include the expensive trips to Turin and Ilum Alpha, but they also offer relatively cheap vacations to Crimson Tide, Carthage, Chavis, and Porte Darthur.

WESTHUIZEN, JOHANN (10007 - present) is the current finance minister of the City-State of Mickelgarth. He became the youngest person to ever hold that post in recent history upon his election by its aldermen in 10041. He became prominent through his insisting that Mickelgarth needed stronger controls of on commercial trade and established subsidies designed to increase her merchant marine. He became notorious after the publication of a letter in late 10043 stating his views on the price that the government of the Confederacy should be forced to pay for the support of Mickelgarth's military during the War of Egyebrech. His government repudiated the note as "only one of many considered views," but remained aloof in military matters until the disaster of 10044. It is not known to what degree negotiations between the powers resembled those suggestion by Westhuizen.

WHISPERING FERNS are large green plants found in the tropical forests of Vyrica. They seem to whisper when wind blows across the curious structure of their leaves. It is said that no two whispering ferns have the exact same cycle of pitches. Whispering ferns are popular garden plants of the rich, who trim them to produce exactly the series of tones they want to hear. The marvellous plant is also the material component of the Cure Disease spell. It was once thought that they exclusively appeared in Vyrica, but rumors surfaced on the eastern coast of the Confederacy in 10036 indicating that gigantic (5' long) fronds had been discovered in the Sprinal Tap and one such frond was actually exhibited and then lost. This was never substantiated even though two expeditions financed by various groups, sailed to the area and made extensive checks.

WHITE GOLD is a pale alloy of gold and nickel that resembles platinum in appearance.

"WORKING AND TRAINING" is the title of long poem by Hesiod (surface dwarf, 9422-9495) on the two great virtues of activity: working and training. He argues in verse that a proper and pious life is one that divides itself between working, which improves the body and soul, and training which improves the mind and the soul.

WRAITHS see Necromancy.

WYVERNS are flying reptiles related to dragons, but smaller and more common. Adult wyverns are typically 13 to 17 feet in length (from nose to tail), but unusual specimens of over 20 feet in length have been reported.

Compared to dargons, the limbs of wyverns are relatively uniform in their musculature, but the hind legs are clearly specialized for jumping while the forward limbs have limited manipulative capabilities. They are also differentiated by the presence of a single twisted horn on the tip of their nose. The horns of adult males usually grow to a length of six to nine inches but can extend upward of fourteen inches. Horn length and body size are correlated, but not absolutely. Females are about 20% smaller than males and have horns about 50% shorter. Both sexes appear grey to blue-grey, and are covered in hard scales with a small degree of iridescence.

Wyverns typically appear as fearsome assailants in epic poetry and the history of exploration and this reputation is well-deserved: when in combat they can claw, bite, and tail-whip with great force and agility. In addition, both bites and scratches from their horn can release a poison that generally proves fatal within two to three hours.

Wyverns are known to be intelligent and appear to value both treasure and magic. They live in isolated families with 2-4 young. Most wyverns choose to live in mountain ranges, but they have been known to nest on plains or even in the forest. They live approximately 200 years--far shorter than dragons are thought to--but are much more active. They have superb night vision and are thought to do most of their hunting in the night. They feed on large game like deer, elk, and bison.

Several explorers have reported anecdotal evidence that wyverns appear to have a warrior's sense of honor: even when they are sorely wounded--but could easily escape by leaping or flying--they will choose to fight to the death.

Wyverns are found in the major mountain ranges of the world: the Ilion, Sprines, Trenines, Vyrican, and Gailinian. It is known that at one time they also inhabited the Aran and Grignard Ranges, but they have since been exterminated from those mountains.

It is rumored that the great Craala stone of Abatthor is nothing more than a fossilized wyvern egg, but religious precepts have so far prevented the testing of the hypothesis.