A Brief History - The Written Records Of 5201 To The Present Day

The disappearance of the Eldar left many on the continent reeling. The force that had guided civilization for so long had suddenly abandoned its followers. Even those on the isolated isle of Drynd, with their normal intellect and technological advances keeping them ambivalent about the rest of the world, could feel a missing element that no gadget could track. And so the world fell into a period of darkness. Blood poured on a daily basis, as all corners of the world fought to carve out their own section in this new, Eldar-less world. Old feuds that had been kept at bay were renewed, with many surviving to this day. Perhaps the only positive to come out of this period of chaos was the new practice of recording events in writing began to become a widespread phenomenon.

Even as the world fell into a land of warlords and looters, a piece seemed to remain spared from the violence. In the center of the continent, in a land that would become known as Adria, small villages began to blend together into towns. These towns would expand into one another, thanks to the growing population brought by trade from distant lands. This was the beginning of ShadeFell, which now sits at the meeting point of the greatest trade routes in the world. Slaves, jewelry, weapons, food and all other manner of goods passed through the gates on a daily basis. The Adriali, as the people came to be known as, formed a unique system of governance, relying on a series of elected rulers from ShadeFell's most powerful merchants. There was no royalty until the year 6021, where a foreign-supported coup placed the line of Veneki on the new throne. The house is now led by Ulfo Veneki and his sister Maida Venala. However, to keep the people happy, during the international vote that was implemented across the continent, citizens are appointed to the position of Marquis/Marquess and given rulership over the cities of ShadeFell, Marilho, Luzza, and Alebrarri.

Even before the disappearance of the Eldar, records were being kept on the island of Drynd. Archeological discoveries have found basic writings dating from around 4800, showing a history of how the modern Dryn evolved. These isolated peoples had little to no contact with the continent until the disappearance of the Eldar and explorer Siog kaDryn made contact with the Bhadian people in 5196. This triggered an explosion of intellectualism and need for discovery that continues to today. Dryn can be found almost everywhere, annoying many on the continent with their near constant questions. Whether it is the social history of the region, archeological efforts, environmental research or any other type of investigative studies, the Dryn can be sure to be looking into it. Intelligence is highly valued on the island, while the stone-based technology invented there has spread across the continent to help various societies. Almost every behaviour of the Dryn can be traced to a single piece of work: The Works of Scientific Methodology With Reference To Geo-Technical Magma Anomaly And The Computational Heuristic Approach To Potential Phase Alignment WIthin Said Anomalous Magma by Arch Technician Brutti, widely considered the mother of all Dryn.

To the northwest of Adria were two large tribes, each with a distinct culture. To the west were the Momori, an extremely brutal and masculine society. Women were seen as little more than slaves to be used and disposed of, while a series of crime families rose to be the true rulers of the region around 6212. These families still serve as the dominant force in the region today. To the east were the people of Terind, who looked down on - but did not actively attack or fight with - their neighbours to the west. The famous Union of the Peoples occurred in 5775, after a brutal attack from the Adraki left both civilizations reeling. Kutsaz Ja Davrar from the Momori and Obo Jal Azorra from the Terind met and signed the Pact of Kidligo. Thus, the Union of Momind was formed, with a President from each culture being voted in their region every 10 years. While open hostilities between Momind and the Adraki have stopped, spies and agents continue to look for ways to sabotage one another in revenge. Merchants should also be wary travelling through the Momindi lands, as brigands are still known to roam the lands. Despite maps showing a single state, the Union of Momind is still a highly decentralized land, with many groups taking the "law" into their own hands. Bribery and large protective measures are still the two most sure methods to get from city to city safely.

In the tales of the Adraki, it is hard to separate fact from fiction. Even their "historical" records seem to have deeds and elements that have no right to exist in the world of Eotha. That infamous raid carried out on the lands of current Momind is just one example. It was led by a man named Arik Bayensen. Tales are still told and songs still sung of his victories, in which it is said he levelled entire towns with a swing of his axe. Adraki society follows a similar vein, with each young boy and girl seeking to make their own mark on the world. The more fantastic and legendary deeds that one can accomplish, the longer they live in the memories of their descendants. Because of the sea-faring culture that formed along the coasts, there has been a mix of strong trading and piracy to emerge from the frozen wastes. One of the most infamous pirates was finally caught and killed in a last stand off the coast of Ukata in 5862. Sohkatai "The Witch" Midetautr had haunted over 200 different merchants from various nations, finally being caught in a coalition trap of Ternians, Necalli and some of her own Adraki enemies. One of the most outrageous stories to come out of Adrak is also one of the most commonly repeated. In the northernmost inhabited town of Renjai, it is said that the people there stay to watch for and guard against dragons from the icy wastes. These claims are often dismissed by most non-Adraki scholars, as there has been no evidence of such creatures since the emergence of written records.

While these events were happening elsewhere, strange stories began to emerge out of the lands to the south. Tales of humanoid beings with feline ears roaming the vast and inhospitable jungles. It was whispered that these abominations would creep into one's home and leave the entire food supply poisoned for the next half year. Of course, those have now been dismissed as myths, as the Bhadian people were subjected to racist feelings from elsewhere. In reality, due to the hostile conditions, their bodies and culture adapted to their environment. With ears that could hear all movement around them, they studied the jungles, marshes and wetlands around them in order to survive. Societies began to build universities, training medics, herbalists and alchemists to make use of the materials around them. Yet, the most famous of these is not known for medicine, but poison. Founded sometime in 5546 by a Bhadian only referred to as "The Grandmaster", the University of Ómópr has graduated some of the most infamous assassins Eotha has ever seen. On account of this (and the pre-existing racism already mentioned) the Bhadian medics spread far and wide are often accused of spying and subterfuge. The Bhadian climate has also led many to take advantage of the time they have in this world. Bhadian parties are legendary, with the orgies at the Temple Of The Snake in Rúrdö becoming known worldwide for their debauchery- and their relatively high mortality rate.

With the disappearance of the Eldar, women found themselves needing to band together in societies that suddenly turned on them. Many fled to the southeast parts of the continent, widely seen as an empty and useless land. These groups of women found one another, arming themselves against any outside forces. Such are the origins of the Ternians, who carry that feminine dominance and militaristic attitude to this day. Grand Marshall Kipra e Terno was perhaps the greatest leader of this nation, fending off near constant raids and invasions between 6032 and 6096. She also implemented a series of sweeping reforms to the military, civil and administrative codes that still stand to this day. While the open hostility towards men has lessened somewhat, they are still treated as second-class citizens. Women who are fleeing from an abusive husband or otherwise hostile circumstances often flee to Ternia, as they know they shall be welcomed and protected.

Another consequence of the Eldar's disappearance was the widespread exploitation of natural resources. This can be particularly noted in the deserts and dry grasslands of what would become Carialand. While the land was not fertile in regards to various foods, it was blessed with a different type of resource: minerals. Gems, ores, metals and other building materials are found in abundance in these lands. Those who settled in the region to take advantage of these goods in turn developed as some of the most skilled metal specialists in Eotha. Jewelry from Carian makers are the most prized in the land, while Carian weapons are unmatched in their quality. To pass on the skills learned by the original Fathers of Metal, schools were formed. The three largest (and oldest) are located in the capital of Pedro: The College of Jewels was founded in 5622, the College of Steel in 5235 and the College of Tools in 5334. With the Royal Family overseeing these colleges at the Palace Ni Pedro, Carian artisans are sought all over the world.

One of the most interesting societal developments that scholars have tracked after the disappearance of the Eldar comes in the form of what is now the Necalli Empire. While other groups raided, murdered, looted and raped one another, the groups of people residing in the northwest grasslands and forests banded together to form peaceful societies. Some scholars point to the philosopher leader (called an Elder by the Necalli) Tonamina as the leader of this movement. Instead of fighting to unite, these decentralized communities came together to form larger groups without bloodshed. Yet, something kept out foreign invaders from these calm, seemingly undefended peoples. While many Necalli officials and Elders claim that it is simply their philosophy keeping potential enemies at bay, some scholars dispute this claim. Some even claim that there is a secret society of warrior monks and assassins in hidden cities to the north. The fear of these martial Necalli "keeps both enemies and the Necalli themselves as they seek to avoid any sort of conflict with these warriors of Ix and Ix-Ku" according to Dryn scholar Priaz kaHesse. Other scholars dispute this claim, but the mysterious history of the Necalli cannot be denied. In a similar vein, some say that underneath their calm surface, the Necalli are secretly wild in their parties and celebrations. There are those who say they have witnessed wild orgies that even surpass those of the Bhadians. Yet, these claims are widely disputed due to the nature of the Necalli not allowing outsiders to attend such celebrations. Regardless of the truth of these claims, the calm and friendly nature of the Necalli is a welcome change for any travellers who are passing through their lands.

Finally, there is the secretive lands of Bara Bara. It is almost impossible for scholars to have any true or verified information of the lands smashed between Ternia, Carialand and Adria. The people are brown-skinned and rarely seen outside of the borders that have formed over the centuries. Grand Marshall Rila e Tuvio attempted an invasion of the land in 5756, yet nobody knows what happened to the force of 30,000 warriors. Only a few stragglers came back, with none willing to attest as to what happened. After this failed attack, the lands of Bara Bara have been left alone. As for what happens in the vast grasslands beyond the border, rumours spread like wildfire. Some say the people work towards fulfilling a great prophecy, while others claim nothing but ghosts haunt the lands. Some even claim that the Eldar still remain in the lands, hiding from what they have left. Regardless of what is true, the lands of Bara Bara continue to be feared by the vast majority of Eotha.