Historia Naturalis: 2nd Edition On The Blemmiyae and Dryadae

Composed by Gaius Plinius Secundus
Transcribed and Translated from Latin into the “Common Language” by Barbara Plinia Silvia

To the  Most This Illustrious yet as of unknown Ruler of this World Realm known as “Volfeart.” Since my our coming to this world, I am informed I have been informed of your great empire country to the south east of this small island, in which I reside currently by with my friends children companions. Most notably, my dear friend and Illustrious Old Man Senator of Roma, Gaius Tullius Capito Pomponianus Plotius Firmus, with whom I serve I had once served alongside with as Commander [both] under The Most Illustrious and [not sure what this word is] Imperator of our world, and dear friend, Caesar Vespasianus Augustus.

Translator’s note, Don’t be fooled by the smaller name this one has a higher rank. "Imperator" translates to 'he who gives orders.'  Apparently he is very powerful, and is even worshipped like a god by some parts of his realm. So for short hand I will refer to him as  king.

Before seeing coming from this world to this world, under commission of the the Queen Goddess and Birthmom Genetrix of this realm, Moai Mardom, [who?] both of us have served for  in matters both military and administrative for Emperor on Behalf of the People of Rome, and it is for this reason that we believe our capabilities are useful will be of use to you and your cities when facing the ominous dangers destined to beset your realm.

Translator’s note: What those threats are? We don’t know. The goddess apparently didn’t say, It’s not my place to say, but I feel like clarity on this would have been helpful. 

Regarding my other companions. Upon my arrival, specifically an island that my calculations deduce is 40 degrees to the North of your world’s equator [center of the world], I have come in contact with a group of orphaned individuals beset by Blemmiye, and living in the trees.

Seeing as they have no house, leadership, or custom, my friend Pompaniuns and I have taken our right as Nobility of Rome to adopt these tribals. They have been given the appropriate gens, and names appropriate for adopted children of a Roman house, and have, since our arrival 3 months ago, received instructed [them] in The Latin [aka Rome] Arts of Language, Agriculture and War.

Translators note: The Latin Arts of War, Agriculture, and Language include avoiding casualties by using shield tactics, Calvary, avoiding starvation by using fertilizer, and avoiding periods by using subordinate clauses.

In addition to this, I, myself, spend have spent extensive time catalogue cataloging, and recording relevant information about the history, physics, and nature of my world: its, animals, plants, and people. This book I sent to my dear friend Vespasian, as I intend to do the same for you. From my current observations, I have found that there is much from my previous experience that is not only applicable in this world, but is as of yet unknown by many in your world, and may be of use in our oncoming campaign.

Evidence That This is A New World

First, while it may sound strange for me to say we come from another world, though I have been told that there has been a previous instance of this according to your ancient traditions.

Translator’s note: He is talking about Tacissius here, the great hero of the past.

When Pompoianus and I first encountered this new world more than two months ago, I believed it to be a new or different world. There are many similarities to our native world, though far away, with creatures like [Blemmyes] and barbarians still existing. I've also been told of other creatures such as scenica falae Cynocephale and Scia pedis Sciapeds.

Translator’s note: people with animal parts and big feet, they lived in his world too. Though he never saw them.

My evidence for the difference between our two worlds are as follows.

First, the stars in the sky are different and the planets are unknown to me.  The Moon moves at a slower pace, taking nearly twice as long to wax and wane, which renders our traditional timekeeping difficult. One could speculate that we are in the Antipodes [opposite side of the equator], as Pliny described, the absence of the great constellations of the zodiac [a group of stars in his world], which would still be visible, clarifies  confirms my suspicion of this being a new world. 

I am surprised to learn that my hosts in the forest have not yet devised names for these constellations and planets. In my folly of studying countless cultures, I had assumed this was a universal cultural practice. [Please read with the sarcasm he said it with] When I inquired, I was shocked to learn they simply hadn't thought of it. 

Our Dryad Companions

This I bring brings me from companions I travel at the time to my current traveling companions. I originally called them humans but they continuously insist they are not, though they share many similarities, save for two. First, they claim to be something else, perhaps dryads. Second, their ears are sharply pointed and considerably longer than human ears.

The Lifestyle of The Dryads

The Dryadae, as I will now call them, live little better than the beasts animals [hey!]  they fight against. When I inquire as to their laws and customs, they tell me they "figure it out." Their arts consist songs by a fire, and half-remembered ancestral memories. Their names are based on their role within the tribe, such as 'Silk Stringer,' now Arachna, who gathered webs from the large spiders in the area to make a durable cord, or 'Hunter,' whom Pompanianus has named "Alexander."

Translators note: Or me, Barbara! I used to be called 'Scout.'

Translators note: I don’t like the Roe, its kind of tangy, but the Basil is good. Also, did you know you can eat bird eggs? They are great! Also if the people of the city see this, please send me one of the leaves so I can win this bet.

The Blemmiyes and the Undoing

It is here that we must come to “The Blemmiyes.” It seems these Blemmiyes, while possessing the tongue, mouth, and eyes of humans, and indeed much of their shape, have no ability to think or reason. Attempts to interrogate them yielded only bestial cries. Thus, it's clear their brains are not sufficient for anything more than brute eating. What they lack in mental faculties, they compensate for in physical ones. The Blemmiye are large, powerful creatures, twice the size of a man, and able to push down small trees with their hands.


Their physical prowess have render the Blemmiye the island's kings [Imperator]. They have enforced their will upon the more intelligent Dryadae by forcing their life habits to be in opposite of theirs. The Dryads perform most of their activity between Dusk and Mornings, as the Blemmiye are most active during the mid afternoon. Their lifestyle in the trees, and even their birthright to their ancestor's camp a concession to these beasts.

Translator's note: Our parents didn't know what to do the day the magic died. Neither did we.

However, since we have been able to have found  have ways to counter them, specifically through the Blemmiye's fear of fire. The Dryadae have become more bold in their expeditions to the ground. With some early farming and animal traps. A small town camp of wild horses has been established, and with them tamed, we have begun to instruct the Dryads on matters of Calvary [horse-riding], and harnessing their power for polyspaton and magna rota.

Translator's note: I don't know the common words for these. But we are building machines to help us build bigger machines. One looks like a bird, the other is a big wheel the animal walks around in a circle in.

While the dryads live in primitive tent like structures, they are not nomadic, or at least are not currently. Above their village remains what they claim to be an abandoned Settlement they say belong to figures they call their “parents” centuries ago. Our recovery expeditions into the Fort Research Camp shows that they had sophisticated, sometimes even wondrously intricate, mechanisms or at least are would be if any were functional. I know your cities have even more of these wondrous machines, and can explain them to us.

The dryads claim origins from your great city on the mainland further west, where their ancestors were workers moved during the "Day the Magic Died." What this "Great Undoing" is, I do not know, nor do they. It seems this event eliminated most advanced societies, though before it, great marvels of engineering and science, far beyond even our noble Vespasian, were built.

Towers and Flight

The island is covered with tall spires of iron and an unidentified metal, and unknown purpose. These incredibly tall towers, which I and my student Barbara have calculated to be about 2643 feet in uniform height. Though shorter than most mountains, these gargantuan structures, claimed to have been built by their ancestors are now climbed by the dryads. Using wings, not dissimilar to the story of Icarus, they fly from point to point across the forest to avoid traveling on foot from the accursed Acephali Blemmiye.

Translator's note: Author was being poetic, I will maintain same use of terms.

 Should I have the time and constitution, I would investigate this further, but our current interest is leaving the island.

We are currently residing in a large, dense forest with no other animals, save for an ever-dwindling population of venison and other grazing animals, mostly consumed by the increasing number of Blemmiye and the decreasing number of dryads with whom I am accommodated.

The dryads claim descent from a founding god hero, a great father with many companions wives, one of whom was a practitioner of great science magic, no doubt an engineer who helped build these wondrous towers.

Life in the Canopy

Most individuals do not dare to leave their encampment, except for those hunting, which is becoming longer and harder, and other desperate acts. Pompanius and I have instructed them in foraging and gathering with better cataloging methods and taught them basics in finding small egg-laying birds like chickens and quails, which we have brought in cages to the forests. They have been incredibly grateful, and the group's diet has improved considerably, giving them strength for the task ahead. But above all our goal has been motivational, encouraging them to escape this timeless void in which they have been living. The introduction of Calendars to their lives has replaced their previous sleepiness lethargy with much needed impatience, and a sense of urgency. Through the method of counting rings of a tree growing in what they call "Their Parent's Camp," I proved to them that what they called "a while back" is more than several hundred years old, which in my mind disproved their longevity claim, but to them seemed to inspire them to urgency.

Translator's note: The sense of urgency came later. When we first heard his description, it was shocking. Some of us friends broke down in tears, Alexander vomited and wouldn't speak for nearly 4 days. I had a hard time focusing on my lessons because my head was spinning. Arachna nearly broke all of her own silk spinning threads before we stopped her. Its been 3 Weeks 4 weeks, and 1 2 3 days since learning that, and many of us have been able to pick back up with a new sense of resolution, but 5-6 centuries is whispered at times like a curse word. I can't look at the tree. I want to burn it.

Curiously they seemed to have taken to a fascination with the tree i used. With some of the boys kicking it when the pass by, and the girls touching the rings as though it was a tomb. Others avoid it entirely.

Hope for the Future

It is our intention now to leave the island and find what remains of the great civilization left behind before the Great Undoing. We are confident that there is at least one Empire to which we can privilege our services. May the gods ever grant us the fortune to do so.