The Inside Scoop on Gaming

[DISCLAIMER: At the end of this review is the address of 'Tactics', a Perth, Australia based gaming shop that purchased Australian Realms unsold stock. I have no connection with 'Tactics' and the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.]

This review is one of a series of reviews covering the "Unae" generic 'dark' fantasy setting created in Australian Realms magazine.

INTRODUCTION.

"Forwao's Chronicle of Wair-Rae: Unae Book 1" (Henceforth referred to as "Wair-Rae".), was the first and only world book printed for the Australian Realms campaign world of Unae, and was published in August 1996. A second book, to have been titled, "The Journals of Naldrin Three-Fingers: Kalraith" was apparently completed, but not printed at the time of the demise of Australian Realms in early 1997.

"WAIR-RAE", CONTENTS.

"Wair-Rae" details the Elves of Unae, these are not the peaceful forest dwellers of D&D, but rather ruthless conquerors, driven by the Ansilae, a contract between the Elves and their gods which promises paradise in return for the lives of every other race on the world of Unae.

The book is divided into five chapters, they are:

CHAPTER ONE: PAST.

This chapter covers the history of the Elves, from the lost continent of Velsana where the Ansilae promise was made, through the rise and fall of four elven dominions to the present day, the Fifth Dominion and the desire of the current Elven ruler, High King Caemarou to fulfil the terms of the Ansilae and make his people as gods.

CHAPTER TWO: TODAY

The second chapter covers the lands ruled by the Elves. It begins with the island of Wair-Rae which the Fifth Dominion shares with Dwarves and the Elven nation of Kaid-Onor, a state composed of more traditional(D&D 3rd Ed) Elves, ones who have turned their back on the Ansilae. This region and the colonies on the neighbouring island of Kalraith are covered in the most detail. Other regions such as the Southern Colonies and the city-states of Serhaem and Lae Ossard are given a basic outline which a GM can use as the basis for his own ideas.

The most important of the information contained within this chapter is that detailing the relationship between Wair-Rae and the surrounding Human nations, it is a simple one, the Humans desire trade with the Elves, while the Elves seek to keep their true intentions hidden until the last possible moment.

CHAPTER THREE: TOMORROW

One of the shortest chapters in the book, it outlines what would have been the main plot thread in the unfolding "Unae" timeline, the Elven attempt to conquor the whole world and through the unleashing of the power contained in the Naskae, a pearl of magic formed within the body of an elf, sacrifice all the other races of Unae and attain godhood.

CHAPTER FOUR: FAITHS, CABAL & THE SISTERHOOD

Contained in this chapter is an outline of how magic works in the "Unae" world and how this affects Elven civilisation. Also contained within the chapter are descriptions of the seven gods worshipped by the Elves. The five gods to whom the Ansilae was sworn. The Sixth Faith, which involves the worship of an evil entity known to Humans as the Horned God and the First Faith, a nature religion, the followers of which may be the last hope for Elven survival. The last section of the chapter describes several Elven magical artifiacts.

CHAPTER FIVE: SECRETS

The final chapter details the Elves darkest secrets, their genocidal campaign against the Flets and other Humans, the planned war for global domination and that the Gargoyles of Northern Kalraith may have once been Elves, twisted into monsters as a result of their worshipping the Sixth God.

"WAIR-RAE", VERDICT.

I like this book, the contents are well written and the illustrations while somewhat average (with the exception of the atmospheric Shaun Tan cover) do capture the mood of the written material. There are five maps of which two will be of most interest to GMs, the first is a map of Yamere, the Elven capital city on page 30. The second is the map on page 45, which is the only one I've seen showing the whole area covered by the published "Unae" material.

Overall, at $16.50 (Australian) this product is excellent value for money. I give it four out of five for both value and content.

"It is 522EK, it is Summer and the chroniclers are silent..."

People interested in obtaining "Wair-Rae" may do so from 'Tactics'.

The contact details are:

TACTICS Basement, London Court (St Georges Tce End) PERTH WA 6000 Phone: (08) 9325 7081 Fax: (08) 9221 6100 Email: TACTICSWA@aol.com

Forwao's Chronicle of Wair-Rae
Forwao's Chronicle of Wair-Rae Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 29/09/02 Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty) A very different look at Elves. Product: Forwao's Chronicle of Wair-Rae Author: Colin Taber, Lee Sheppard, Adam Spargo & Adam Whitt Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Australian Realms Line: Unae Cost: Page count: 64 Year published: 1996 ISBN: SKU: Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 29/09/02 Genre tags: Fantasy Conspiracy Generic	[DISCLAIMER: At the end of this review is the address of 'Tactics', a Perth, Australia based gaming shop that purchased Australian Realms unsold stock. I have no connection with 'Tactics' and the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.] This review is one of a series of reviews covering the "Unae" generic 'dark' fantasy setting created in Australian Realms magazine. INTRODUCTION. "Forwao's Chronicle of Wair-Rae: Unae Book 1" (Henceforth referred to as "Wair-Rae".), was the first and only world book printed for the Australian Realms campaign world of Unae, and was published in August 1996. A second book, to have been titled, "The Journals of Naldrin Three-Fingers: Kalraith" was apparently completed, but not printed at the time of the demise of Australian Realms in early 1997. "WAIR-RAE", CONTENTS. "Wair-Rae" details the Elves of Unae, these are not the peaceful forest dwellers of D&D, but rather ruthless conquerors, driven by the Ansilae, a contract between the Elves and their gods which promises paradise in return for the lives of every other race on the world of Unae. The book is divided into five chapters, they are: CHAPTER ONE: PAST. This chapter covers the history of the Elves, from the lost continent of Velsana where the Ansilae promise was made, through the rise and fall of four elven dominions to the present day, the Fifth Dominion and the desire of the current Elven ruler, High King Caemarou to fulfil the terms of the Ansilae and make his people as gods. CHAPTER TWO: TODAY The second chapter covers the lands ruled by the Elves. It begins with the island of Wair-Rae which the Fifth Dominion shares with Dwarves and the Elven nation of Kaid-Onor, a state composed of more traditional(D&D 3rd Ed) Elves, ones who have turned their back on the Ansilae. This region and the colonies on the neighbouring island of Kalraith are covered in the most detail. Other regions such as the Southern Colonies and the city-states of Serhaem and Lae Ossard are given a basic outline which a GM can use as the basis for his own ideas. The most important of the information contained within this chapter is that detailing the relationship between Wair-Rae and the surrounding Human nations, it is a simple one, the Humans desire trade with the Elves, while the Elves seek to keep their true intentions hidden until the last possible moment. CHAPTER THREE: TOMORROW One of the shortest chapters in the book, it outlines what would have been the main plot thread in the unfolding "Unae" timeline, the Elven attempt to conquor the whole world and through the unleashing of the power contained in the Naskae, a pearl of magic formed within the body of an elf, sacrifice all the other races of Unae and attain godhood. CHAPTER FOUR: FAITHS, CABAL & THE SISTERHOOD Contained in this chapter is an outline of how magic works in the "Unae" world and how this affects Elven civilisation. Also contained within the chapter are descriptions of the seven gods worshipped by the Elves. The five gods to whom the Ansilae was sworn. The Sixth Faith, which involves the worship of an evil entity known to Humans as the Horned God and the First Faith, a nature religion, the followers of which may be the last hope for Elven survival. The last section of the chapter describes several Elven magical artifiacts. CHAPTER FIVE: SECRETS The final chapter details the Elves darkest secrets, their genocidal campaign against the Flets and other Humans, the planned war for global domination and that the Gargoyles of Northern Kalraith may have once been Elves, twisted into monsters as a result of their worshipping the Sixth God. "WAIR-RAE", VERDICT. I like this book, the contents are well written and the illustrations while somewhat average (with the exception of the atmospheric Shaun Tan cover) do capture the mood of the written material. There are five maps of which two will be of most interest to GMs, the first is a map of Yamere, the Elven capital city on page 30. The second is the map on page 45, which is the only one I've seen showing the whole area covered by the published "Unae" material. Overall, at $16.50 (Australian) this product is excellent value for money. I give it four out of five for both value and content. "It is 522EK, it is Summer and the chroniclers are silent..." People interested in obtaining "Wair-Rae" may do so from 'Tactics'. The contact details are: TACTICS Basement, London Court (St Georges Tce End) PERTH WA 6000 Phone: (08) 9325 7081 Fax: (08) 9221 6100 Email: TACTICSWA@aol.com