Cheimonian Race

The Cheimonian (k-eye-moe-nian) race is a concept that comes up a lot in both folklore and sholarly debate. According to both legend and several theories on the origin of the races of the world, some or all of the peoples of the world are descended from a single race; the Cheimonians. The name is of Saregnian origin and roughly means "Storm People" and by all accounts the name was accurate.

though different legends and theories interpret them differently, the Cheimonians were agreed to be brash-tempered and violent. Some say they were merely overly passionate, while others believe they were literally place on the earth in order to destroy it.

According to the more popular variation of the legend, a great god of chaos (often Rammak the stormy sea-serpent) desired to destroy the world and so created a race that was mighty, wise, brave, cunning and filled with a desire to spread discord and destruction. This race was well-organised, social, incredibly fertile and by all accounts perfectly designed to take over the world. The various powers and Gods of the world were poised to fight and destroy the Cheimonians. Only at the last minute did an unknown goddess (usually interpretted as the local mother goddess) interject, unable to bear the destruction of an entire race, she split it into two. One half had all the wisdom, bravery, skill and intellect and the other had all the strength, cunning, fertility and passion. These two races are commonly believed to be Humans and Orcs, universal creatures that can be found anywhere, even across the great shadow seas.

Some legends are more forgiving of the Cheimonians. According to Mayhadradan folklore, the Kaimong were a good-hearted but boisterous people who became too angry too quickly. Knowing that her children would harm themselves if they continued, Maya the Earth-mother pulled the evil out of her children and threw it away. Her children rejoiced at becoming safer and calmer, while the evil spirits became jealous and lurked in the jungles and mountains so as to kill Maya's beloved children.

And finally, a story passed to me by a Half-Orc from Taugosia who was raised for much of his life by his orcish family. According to this legend the Ork were once unified and wise, but then the jealous humans cried to their mother, who was a mighty witch. The witch stole wisdom from the Ork and gave it to her children. Since then the Ork have been disunited and cloud-minded, but one day a great war leader will come and take back the unity and wisdom of the Ork from the humans.

This last story is interesting because it not only implies that Orcs are aware of their shortcomings and deficiencies, but trace them back to a Cheimonian past of some sort.