Ok, so I would love some help on this. I'm not 100% sure what to do, so brainstorming here might help, I thought.

Basically, I want my Lamig race to have dwindled to a very small percentage of people. I wanted it so that there are very, very few left. But I need something to have happened during their history to account for this.

During the war many years ago, the Lamig joined the Dwarves in their battle against the Te Warriors and Elves, and they seized most of the spoils from the castles they plundered. Now, I thought that on the journey back to their land, the Dwarves (who are shapeshifters) could have double crossed them, suddenly turning on them and killing most, because they wanted the goods that they had taken. But I'm not sure if that would work, and if it's too far fetched or sounds unrealistic. I'm struggling to sort it out in my mind, and it's frustrating me now.

One of my Accountability partners suggested that a disease could have taken many of men who went to war, and that before the war the Lamig women could have been sent away from the lands, so there are few left now.

I'm not sure what to do, so any new ideas, or suggestions/comments on the above ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you. I hope that all made sense!

I kind of like the idea of disease. (That sounded odd... ) Perhaps they needed help, but the disease was so contagious that no doctor was willing to go and help them and then go back to his country in fear of contaminating everyone else?

Mind if I suggest an idea? What if the dwarves had a disease that they didn't realize they had at the time, then when they double-crossed the Lamig, the disease spread to them. Except the Lamig didn't have a natural immuity to the disease like the dwarves had, so many died.

Just an idea.

That might work, Elly. Kind of like they used to be superstitious about leprosy years ago, no one would help them, would they?



I love ideas, of course you can suggest as many ideas as you like.

The only problem with that is, wouldn't other races also then come in contact with that disease when they meet the Dwarves?

Except you said it was after the battle, and any other races that they came in contact with are dead.

*Nods* Yes, but my Te Warriors, and Elves aren't dead. And they will have been in contact with them, so they'd have to have immunity as well. Unless the Dwarves purposely did something to pass on a disease and kill the Lamig specifically.

The diesease/few women idea sounds like it could work.
(yet) Another idea is that the dwarves had to guide the Lamig through a certain stretch of territory (or maybe a special shortcut the dwarves had carved through a mountain), and then let them get lost, took their spoil and left them to die.

Not sure if that idea fits, but you can use it or a variation if it does. Hope that helps.

What if a huge percent of their race died when a natural disaster occurred and they were caught in the middle of it?

I think the idea of the dwarves purposefully kiling the Lamig isn't unrealistic as long as it fits with the grain of their nature. Do they tend to be treacherous and double-crossing? Would they kill for the goods, such as to steal certain valuables the Lamig had obtained? If so, then I think that's an option. Frankly, I like it a lot. What's better than supposed allies turning unexpectedly on their friends?

How long ago did this battle take place compared to the time when the Lamig are a small people? Did it happen long ago, and their population has been on a steady decline ever since? What is the age of their warriors? Do younger boys go to battle, or would they be around to perhaps boost the population back up?

Just some thoughts.

I agree.

It sounds quite plausible to me. I liked the idea Wolf had, about the dwarves 'losing' the Lamig. XD

My thoughts were very similar to everyone else's. The Lamigs could have a more susceptible immune system. So the dwarves, while working with the Lamigs, are a carrier of some virus that doesn't affect them (just like some people can be strep carriers, but they are immune to strep throat themselves). The Lamigs contract it (their women were not at war, so they didn't), and the virus runs through their numbers with a high fatality rate. This could also cause bad blood between the surviving Lamigs and the dwarves, which would make they have a "double crossed" view of them, even though the dwarves didn't actually double cross them.

I like these ideas. I'm probably going to work off the basis of a disease I think, seems to be where all the replies are leading me to. I also like the dwarves 'losing' the Lamig, Lycan. That's quite a good idea.

My dwarves are a race that changes mood swiftly. So they're not good allies, friends, and can be rather dangerous. So it would work in that sense.

The war took place a long, long time ago. Younger boys don't go to battle, which is why I keep trying to work out something else other than my original idea, as there seemed to be too many confusing elements to it that wouldn't work.





Me too!

I like this idea, Airi. Thanks! I prefer working off the disease idea, I think. But maybe the virus was purposely passed on. Otherwise I'd have to work off the basis that Dwarves just can't meet with Lamig then, wouldn't I, without passing on the virus again. Maybe they sent in a Dwarf they knew carried the virus, as they also knew that the Lamig would easily contract it, and have little medical help on their journey home.

Thanks for the ideas, everyone! Helps me brainstorm.

That sounds good.

What if...(this just came to me as I was reading your post)...

What if the plunder was cursed? Any person that touched the plunder would be given the mark of death. Very few of them escaped with their lives and, through the years, continue to struggle so survive. Say...this curse was a present for the Elves. Even though they were defeated, they left an everlasting effect on their defeaters.

Get my gist?

It's just a thought and it might be useless, but it's a thought nonetheless. You could always mold it around, if you decided to use it.

God Bless,
-Donn Q.

Now THAT is a neat idea. If Elanor doesn't use it, may I?

*Chuckles at Calista*


Donn, that is just a fantastic idea. I really do love it! It would fit in really well as well. I think I'm liking it the most at the moment. Thanks!

I guess this has already been resolved, but I'll throw in my two cents worth.

I was worried about the idea of disease being the cause because it would be hard to explain that in a medievalish world (I don't know if it is a medievalish world or not). A curse was my first thought too, but maybe it could have deeper roots then just their immediate enemies. There could be some deeper power at work in the destruction of the Lamig people. I am reminded of the plans of Sauron in LOTR to wipe out the lines of the kings of men because of something that happened thousands of years ago.

There could also be certain social aspects that could explain their small numbers. For example: a great disaster happened, and since the Lamigs don't have many children, and because of some curse or something, their numbers continued to dwindle.

It always helps me to come up with a few key characters around such an issue. Does someone want them gone, or are they just in the way of someone getting something s/he wants?