Starting from Bruck, nestled in the heart of Isdraia and defying the current of the Elendar, a council of several dozen scholars works tirelessly to gather and document both historical knowledge and contemporary events. Thanks to generous patronage of the mayor, ample resources are available, allowing for an unprecedented scale of archiving. Thus emerges the greatest and most comprehensive repository of knowledge in all of Isdraia. From this endeavor arises an institution that shall henceforth be known as The Omniscient Archive.

On behalf of the chief cartographer, a wide variety of historical writings and travel reports from the past 100 tides have been compiled and researched. The local record is intended to provide a contemporary overview of the peoples, groups and creatures of Isdraia. This chapter focuses on the Fennreich in the south-west of Isdraia. According to current information, there are eight reports from the Fenn Realm, including three travelogues, two minutes of discussions and three other documents. Records dating back several centuries were also used.

In general, the Fenn people are scattered across various locations in Isdraia. Representatives of their people also reside in Bruck. The Fenn who live in the far west of Isdraia, on the Rawrise, call themselves the ‘Fenn of the West’. Their settlement area supposedly begins directly at the Worldridge. It is known that there is a place called Fennspring there. However, the Omniscient Archive has not yet been able to reach it. The records only go as far as Weiler, the most important anchor point for crafts in the Fenn Realm. In addition, there are comprehensive reports on Kuer, the capital of the Fenn. Trade is brisk here, partly with foreigners.

Phenotypically, the Fenn outside of Bruck differ minimally from their local counterparts. Due to their rudimentary lifestyle and comparatively high level of physical labour, they are more muscular. Fenn in general are notable for their disproportionately long and pointed ears, which make them clearly identifiable. In most cases, they are also a good head taller than an adult human. Their complexion is slightly darker than that of the Cupdorian.

Compared to the Fenn here in Bruck, those in the Fenn Realm seem to have some strange characteristics. They are extremely alert, sceptical and even suspicious. They seem to much prefer spending time with a Wolby rather than a stranger. However, this understandable attitude seems to stem not only from a preference for Wolbies but also from an aversion to strangers.

The Fenn are considered traditional and seem to consciously avoid anything new and unfamiliar – especially if it is not in line with the values of their goddess Fendiril. The Fenn see themselves as a complementary part of their flora and fauna and less in a position to want to control and dominate them. Older reports mention ‘mercy oxen’, a practice of releasing draft animals that have come into disuse without slaughtering them as a consequence. In general, the Fenn seem to reject the slaughter and processing of draft animals, but this has not yet been clearly proven. On the one hand, some of the available reports are already dozens of Tides old, and on the other hand, not all areas of the Fenn Realm have been explored. It is not known whether the treatment of mercy oxen is also applied to other species. Contradictory observations have been made regarding Wolbies. On the one hand, the Fenns seem to give Wolbies a kind of choice regarding their owners. On the other hand, they lock the animals in cages in order to sell them. It is possible that this also depends on the respective region within the Fenn Realm.

In general, it can be said that the least is known about the Fenn in the far west of Isdraia. This is largely due to the fact that the Fenn there are the least interested in hospitality. Outsiders travelling through the Fenn Realm will encounter increasing obstacles as they journey westward. And by obstacles, we mean primarily the local Fenn. Finally, it should be noted that in Nethervale, located in the south-west of the Fenn Realm, seems to be a kind of extreme example. There are various as yet unconfirmed rumours, most of which revolve around the eating habits of the locals: allegedly, the Nethervaler eat Wolbies, their own offspring and all kinds of other creatures – preferably raw and alive. Due to the questionable situation in the Nethervale, expeditions there were initially postponed in order to make appropriate preparations.

In older reports, the Fenn are described as ‘backward’, particularly because they know little about the spread of the Dar. They preferred to keep to themselves and continued their system of mutual exchange. Now, though, they seem to be slowly opening up to coin trading. This is especially true in the eastern parts of the Fenn Realm. From Kuer to Weiler, coins are known to be pretty widespread.

In other respects, too, the people were once described as particularly backward-looking. Militarily, the Fenn can hardly compete with the forces of an advanced city like Bruck, let alone the grandiose installations in the Southcrest. However, recent reports show a change, and the people's defence forces are growing: in the cities of Kuer and Weiler, rearmament measures are already visible to the naked eye and have grown at an alarming rate. Also known is the Green Brigade, a kind of scout unit in the eastern Duskwoods. Among them are said to be talented healers, but little else is known about their exact purpose, troop strength or the danger they pose. Most sightings of the Green Brigade are between the Thorn and Kuer.

Deeper expeditions into the Fenn Realm have not yet been successful. The Fenn have proven to be extremely uncooperative. They refuse to recognise the authorities appointed by Bruck, the mayor and Omniscient Archivist. An exploration of the remote settlements in the far west had to be abandoned prematurely. The town guard of Weiler did not allow the appointed archivist to proceed any further.

All these observations raise questions. Are the Fenn preparing for an attack or for being attacked? Rumours are also circulating about secret, powerful weapons in the Fenn Realm. They are said to harbour unimaginable power. However, the credibility of this information is strongly doubted by the chief cartographer of the Omniscient Archive. Calm is more appropriate than panic.