The following piece is a fragment of backstory or world history from an unreleased role-playing game. It was written by Cindy Vanous, copyright Sierra On-Line, 1998.

The Warkaran (Nation: Silvany)

This sentient, nonhuman race was created millennia ago by the Cael sorcerer Mabdigon. Their original name was "Waersherene", meaning Foragers, but the Warkaran themselves have a limited vocal range and cannot pronounce certain consonants, including the "sh", "ch", "j", or soft "g" sounds. Their original name implies the function for which they were created -- foraging for the herbs and roots necessary to Mabdigon's sorcerous arts.

The Warkaran were shaped from a species of mammalian jungle creature with elongated toes and prehensile tail. Despite their elevation to self-awareness, the Warkaran feel a close kinship with their primitive progenitors, and treat them as friends or even family. Both races are omnivorous, and will consume vegetation, insects, small reptiles and mammals, or even carrion. The Warkaran seldom cook their food, usually reserving that process for ceremonial meals, or for the flesh of the Abdabrax lizard, which is nutritious and savory, but mildly poisonous if eaten raw.

Although these nonhumans have no spellcasting skills of their own, they are magical in nature. The arcane manner of their creation has given each Warkaran the seeds of minor sorcery, and they feel a great kinship with it. They revere magic as a power of their god, and regard humans with the talent as messengers of that nebulous deity (possibly a racial memory of the sorcerer who created them). They also believe the forces of nature -- from lightning, wind, and disease to spring growth and rainbows -- to be caused by divine sorcery. Their religion revolves solely around the placation of their god. The Mirabilis, in particular, is a crucial event in their belief system, and their entire race gathers together to celebrate its arrival, beginning their ceremony at the moment the Coronet's Jewels align in the night sky. The Warkaran will remain in their sacred groves for months, working their rituals and awaiting the Mirabilis wave. They believe the arcane event to be a sign that their god is pleased and will allow the world to exist for another thousand years.

The leader of the Warkaran is a unique combination of high priest, arbiter, and diplomat. He speaks the common human language, albeit with some difficulty, and acts as the sole representative of his species when humans come to visit or bargain. His symbol of office is a ceremonial standard -- a crossed staff with tattered rags hanging from the crossbar and a fantastic thousand-faceted jewel at the tip. This stone glows brightly in the presence of true sorcery, and dimly to indicate a lesser power. It is always lit slightly from within, and brightens noticeably during storms, plagues, and other natural events, which has led the Warkaran to believe these events to be magical. In fact, the gem is detecting the natural magic of the Warkaran themselves, which intensifies when a large number of them are simultaneously terrified or joyous.

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