Chapter 5-9
For more insight into the possible origins of dungeon races, reference this humble author’s earlier work, Oddities of the System. While no scientific evidence has emerged to prove – or falsify – the theories presented there, it is fitting to note here that the difficulties faced by various dungeon races in integrating to the majority-human society of Lost Angels is factually relatable to the way races similar to theirs were portrayed in pre-System media.
In the limited works of pre-System fiction that survived the Wasted War, we can see positive portrayals of dwarves and elves, depicted as human allies fighting against hordes of goblins and orcs in books like The Iron Tower Trilogy, which itself is believed to be a retelling of an even older work. Are the rocky, often hostile, relationships between humans and the various orc Clans a natural consequence of orcs being an intrinsically war-loving race, a fallout of pre-existing human prejudices, or even a result of the System overwriting the orcs’ name for their own race with that of a concept that frequently opposes humanity?
No one knows, but the resulting intermittent conflicts between Lost Angels and settlements of various races from orcs to infernals are very real.
- Rufus Veres, Level 37 Verbose Historian, A Brief History of the System
“Well well well, look at this. We seem to have acquired more fresh meat!”
The man who spoke was big but not orc-big, standing probably a few inches over six feet with a muscular build apparent even under his armor. He was wearing blackened steel chainmail and his bare head was shaved. Oh shit, this doesn’t sound good… Identify.
Name: JJ