Abstract:
This project is an exploration into the fantasy world of Ledarhig. Within it, humans share a world with many other fantastical races of beings, monsters, and gods that directly interfere with their lives. Twelve distinct regions are explored, each of a particular race or kingdom, each a discussion of its history, society, and some enlightening cultural information. There are also maps included of each region and a few maps of the whole of Ledarhig, as well as some rough conceptual sketches of some of the beings that inhabit it. It is all done in the guise and persona of Perdruin, a leading scholar in the main kingdom of Erhfaelis. Perdruin (PAR-dru-in) was commissioned by the late King Tychold to travel across Ledarhig to chronicle its various races and kingdoms, which took several years. Thus it will read much like an encyclopedia, divided into each of the twelve regions. There is also a beginning introduction to the overall history and religious pantheon of Ledarhig, as well as its races and how they came to be. For the reader's ease, a glossary has been included at the end of Perdruin's encyclopedia, containing the most important names of people, places, and concepts and brief descriptions. It was my intention to give enough of a glimpse into each kingdom so as to be rememorable, but not to give too many details so as to overwhelm the rest of the text. I hope that you will find each kingdom has its own character and personality, and when finished have a good sense of the vast world of Ledarhig.
I have heard before that JRR Tolkien did not write Lord of the Rings to write a story, but to write a new world, to explore its languages and people. Though I am not writing a story with this project, I am trying to create that world that I hope to one day develop into both books and video games. I have included a synopsis of a first book that I have made plans for at the end of Perdruin's discussion. This synopsis includes on overall plot of the book, quick blurbs of its main characters, and description of the four main stories or plots involving those characters in the first book.
