Current Hokhmah: Queen Vaye A'Leur
Current Tax Rate: 10%
Nestled within the Forhekse Forest lies a large cave. Enter and be prepared--this is Erbacam.
A complex system of tunnels and caves, Erbacam has many time in literature been refered to an anthill, and its people, ants.
The people are waify, thin boned with oft-times a black grease-like substance covering their skin--this is what happens once you consume third-rate Essences.
Essences feed the Erbacam, and are gathered in The Pit, the large cavern in the center of their kingdom. Lately, since war has not been abundant, only sickly amounts of Essence are left to collect in The Pit. Once in a while a good Essence will crawl unwittingly over the lip of The Pit, but then it is fought over by the Erbacam people who wait like jungle cats for this precious oppertunity. Most times the Essence escapes back into The Pit. Oh, haven't you guessed? Essences are what leaves a body or organism after its death--not too unlike Overworld souls.
If the Essences of sentients and beasts are not delivered to the Well of Mimir hastily, the Essences are drawn to The Pit like magnets of opposite polarity. During a war, Essences are lost track of and so these are the times that benefit Erbacam. When the slaughter of the Cups convoy in Sotlat Forest happened, there was a feast for the Erbacam . BoneNuns--beings who attend to The Pit, and who have sworn a life without Essences--eat the tar that gathers on the side of The Pit and use it in ceremonies as well. Other Erbacam, who have tried to crawl further down into The Pit are the ones who are greased up with the tar.
Nearer to the entrance of the cave there is a fire where some of the older Erbacam sit, sick of the pitiful scrambling that catching Essences requires. They reminisce about the old days when war and Essences were bountiful. Most visitors do not make it past these few. They either run at their grim sight or are attacked and eaten by these monsters.
Other Erbacam, however, can be kind. In the main city, which appears to be a cemetary, many Erbacam sleep in beds that are graves, hibernating for better times. They will answer the question of a passing visitor quite politely and point out directions or share their wisdom. Just, do not stare at their skeletal faces--for in hibernation, Erbacam return to a basic skeleton form, skin stretched thinly over gaps in the calcium. They are very sensitive when they first wake up.
In the Castle, many well-off Erbacam still put on charades of their importance, stealing the prime Essences from the Queen's private stores. To them, returning to hibernation would be beneath them, and so have decided to live wallowing in an almost psychophantism under the Queen.
The chambers and buildings are obsidian and reflective. It is very beautiful. The sight would be magnificent if the sun could hit it, but there is no light that escapes the day for this place. Besides, many Erbacam would die--the majority of the race have never been outside. The abrasivness would kill them.
Not to mention the fact that the Pit Tar bubbles and gains an acid-like form when the sun's rays hit it. You must completely remove all Tar if you desire to go outside.
Bone Dragons are a small species that run rampant through these abandoned tunnels and less-financial homes--which are built like termite mounds. The Dragons are white, with bone-like spikes protruding their spines, and they enjoy terrorizing fleeting Erbacam with their phosphorescent teeth in the dark. They are only about two feet in length, and travel in packs. They eat anything.
They are a favorite of Queen Vaye--as pets, of course.
Major Areas:
Forhekse Forest,
Fire Circle,
Cemetary of the Living Dead,
Empty Obsidian Homes,
The Obsidian Palace,
The Pit,
Various Tunnels,
Various Abandoned Dirt Homes
