Legend of Ransera

The Hills of Deception are a large area of Alpine Tundra, tucked between the river borders of Lindeberg River, Grackle Run, and Glorgat's Leg. It spans roughly 34,000 square miles in a loosely triangular shape. Being alpine tundra, the massive, rolling and rocky hills are entirely without trees, being too high in elevation for the northern latitude. It is largely covered in grasses, low shrubs and other similar flora.

The Hills of Deception are largely utilized by a tight knit community of shepherds, each of whom maintain their own small village that is largely populated by their families. These shepherds are not ordinary shepherds, however. Each and every single one of these families' bloodlines are Rathari of the animals they keep. Thus there's a family for each species, with herds being split up based on breeds. As such, there's a village for the sheep herds, another for goats, another for highland cattle, one for alpacas, another for llamas, mountain ponies, so on and so forth.

These villages and herdsmen work together to properly rotate their herds around the Hills of Deception and are largely on good terms with one another. When people marry into the families, they are expected to support this way of life and any who don't quickly find themselves exiled. Being centered largely around protecting their herd animals, the herdsmen are vehemently and violently opposed to predators, both animal and Rathari. They usually try to kill or run them off at first discovery. This is especially true for wolves, which are their most problematic of predators. Various livestock guardian dogs (animal and Rathari) are recruited to help protect the animals.

These villages aren't the only denizens of the Hills of Deception, however. They have an alliance with those that live beneath the surface. Within each large, rising hill is a hidden entrance to the large settlement known as Elk Crag. Elk Crag is the largest goblinoid settlement in Karnor, with a heavy majority of it being Grackles, as Goblins and Hobgoblins are more widely accepted in the various city-states.


Aside from the reverence given to the Goblin King, there is no system of governance in Elk Crag, but rather simply one alliance that has been made and is known to be good for the residents. The goblins do not attack, harass, steal from, or otherwise bother the herdsmen of the Hills of Deception, and in exchange, the herdsmen conduct trade with them. They trade meat, dairy products, wools and fabrics, for materials harvest from within the earth. This certainly has not curbed the ways of the anarchist goblins. They regularly venture to Shemashk, Kathiid, and the road between the two, to raid and steal from people. They just know not to bite the hand that feeds.

Without any true system of governance in place, Elk Crag is lawless and scattered. Clans, tribes, and gangs form, carving out their own spaces, and in-fighting is extremely common. Many of these groupings will form temporary alliances to go on raids or to conduct trade with the herdsmen above. While non-goblinoids can gain access into Elk Crag, doing so without protection of a powerful clan, tribe, or gang is typically not recommended. Being able to speak Goblish fluently is also a must down there.

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The Hills of Deception Linkmap

1. Village of Alpacas
2. Village of Highland Cattle
3. Etc