Ruler: None known
Religion: Water magic

The Elhmen are a mountain race found northwest of Ferike, who prefer to keep to themselves and can be most unpleasant to strangers if the mood takes them.

Hardy and fond of a colder climate, the Elhmen are not warlike in nature, but are quick to defend themselves and their privacy. This is usually effected by sending any interloper into an enchanted sleep before moving them to the boundary of their territory. They also guard the entrances to the underground kingdom of Eulalee, home of the Sahale tribe, and sometimes the Sahale and Elhmen interact for religious or magical rites.

The Elhmen live mainly in small communities scattered among the peaks, and have only one city - Shappa - built high in the mountains, a dazzling creation of stone towers and vertiginous streets. They have no overall ruler and their holy hara, who are definitely something more than mere priests (but no-one but the Elhmen know what), are called Esh.

All Elhmen grow their hair very long, and are generally fair in colouring and have ice-blue or cloud-grey eyes. Their faces are ascetic, their expressions dreamy, hinting at a secret smile. It is said their touch is always cold. Whilst they are totally unaffected by the cold conditions and often go naked, clothed only in their magnificent hair, the Elhmen usually prefer to appear before strangers clothed in flimsy, floating robes. As they do not often show themselves, rumours have grown up around them, one of which claims that should a wanderer catch hold of an Elhmen har, he can ask for a wish to be granted. This is, unfortunately, more likely to be a romantic rather than realistic premise.

Travellers with money are usually welcome in Shappa, and it is worth the visit if one is prepared to put up with antisocial treatment on the journey to reach it.

All original artwork remains the property of the artist, Ruby. No image may be taken or reproduced without permission.

The names and likenesses of the Wraeththu characters are used with permission of Storm Constantine, the recognized creator and author of the Wraeththu Chronicles (The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, The Bewitchments of Love and Hate and The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire) and the Wraeththu Histories (The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, The Shades of Time and Memory, and The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence.)