Humans history

My name is Cabral Anth'Ank, Scribe of the Council of Elders,
Son of Ankel Anth'El, Scribe of the Council of Elders, and these are from records of my family:

Regarding humans:
Little is known about human history at all. The first recorded meeting was with a small group near the Aethyeann Mountains in -149 Sf. A group of elvish rangers encountered a small group of four humans, three male and one female, they claimed to have crossed the Aethyeann Mountains north of Dah'ghel. In poor condition and exhausted, one of the male humans died shortly after, despite the rangers skills with the healing arts. The female died in -89 Sf, the last of the remaining three. Remarkable was their refusal to explain why they had made such a dangerous journey across the mountains or to give any details about their place of origin, always shunning the subject.

The next recorded meeting with the humans was by Godan Tibor in 37 Sf. after crossing the Aethyenn Mountains into the Northlands, at what was later to become known as Godan's Gap. Godan's personal records are the only written accounts of human society in the Northlands. Due to the difficulty of getting dependable information on human behavior, it should be noted that these records are more then 800 years old. Subsequent attempts to obtain information from the few humans left in Amitoune after the Human Wars have been meet with resentment and an unwillingness to supply any information about the Northlands.

An excerpt from Godan Tibor's personal records:

A few days travel into the windswept wilderness of the Northlands, we came across our first human encounter, a large hunting party of the N'kai tribe, led by their first, Carbien of the N'kai. They spoke a tongue unlike any I had heard before, but with the aid of gestures and hand signals we managed to reach a level of understanding. We were welcomed to join them as they made camp for the night. And the following morning we packed up as they did and followed them on their hunt. The party had ventured from the mainstay of their tribe nearly a month before our meeting, setting out from their homes at the white trees of Ori'en, in the shadow of the Aethynn Mountains. The hunting party numbered almost two thousand, one fifth of the entire tribe, children following their elders, and women their men.

Over the course of the years I spent with the N'kai, I had lengthy conversations with Carbien and many others about the ways of their tribe and the ways in the Northlands. They told me about Nookal - the human name for the Northlands - and I told them about Amitoune and the great city of Aelfinn. Especially loved where my stories by the children, the it lush green fields, rich forests, sparkling rivers and lakes, but most of all, they loved the stories about the wonders of Aelfinn.

On a cold winter morning I witnessed one of the older tribe members stripping to his loin cloth and then, with only a spear in hand, he headed out towards the west. As he was walking westwards, there was silence in camp. All over the camp were faces downcast, eyeing the ground, backs turned to the west, and him, as he walked off. My attempts to find an explanation to this were futile for the better part of a year. In that time, I was witness to it happening time and time again, men and women alike, stripping to the loin cloth and heading west. One day, I asked a young girl about it. Her explanation to me was that this was their time, that the white mountain called for them. Later I was to learn what this meant - As the members of the tribe get older, their value in the hunt lessens until they reach the point where they are no longer able to provide help to the tribe. This is when the white mountain calls to them. Leaving their clothes and belongings for the good of the tribe, they travel towards the west, to the white mountains, to their final resting place. It is a last tribute to the leaving members to not watch them leave, but rather to remember their days of glory. I attribute this custom to be the very reason the human tribes always stay well clear of the Whitefang Mountain, and their reluctance to talk about it. It is their inevitable end, unless - of course, they die in the hunt.

I found Carbien, leader of the N'kai, to be a skilful and intelligent man and a strong leader for his tribe, but also to an astonishing degree, a cunning and resourceful man. He had a quiet and calm manner about him, but he also led the tribe with such ease, almost as if he had an innate ability to do so. In the process of overseeing the tribe and directing its travels, he appeared to utter few commands or gestures to indicate that something needed done. However, I know that every person in the tribe performed his or her duties as perfectly as possibly, as quickly possible. While this was being done, I had the overwhelming sense that nothing was done without Carbien's knowledge or consent. From my travels in the Northlands, I can only deduce that it seemed to be a common trait through out the tribes. We encountered few other tribes though Carbien claimed there where more then twenty spread around the northlands. They all seemed to share the same traits, and their leaders to match Carbien in his leadership skills.

Only a few other times have I seen this skill, and then only among a few of the commanders in the War of Three Nations. I remember that Anudin of the Elves had this skill--an uncanny sense of where his men were and what they were doing. Bogloin of the Dwarves was said to have such leadership skills as well. Also the two habelin brothers Soidoc and Soigrin, Captains of the dreaded Habelin spear cavalry.

On a more general note, I would characterize the humans as nomadic in behavior. They show only a basic knowledge of metallurgy and crafts, and no attempts at agriculture, nor any sense of maintaining livestock. Humans appear entirely hunter-gatherers, living only off what they can collect and hunt down. Their lives are spent moving across the great plains of the northlands with what herds of wild animals there are available as the seasons change. This demanding way of life, along with the harsh climate in the Northlands - more often hostile than not - has forced the humans to constantly find new resources, and develop new skills on the move. With their short life span, humans don't have the luxury of experimentation or lengthy teaching, or room for errors. Or as Carbien said when I asked him why they brought their children with them on the hunt: "In Nookal, our children need to learn fast, or they will not learn at all".

If the harshness of the life in Nookal taught me anything, it would be the value of life in Amitoune, the war of the three nations, has long put its chips in our way of life. But the peace, and the founding of Aelfinn has brought new hope for a lasting peace, and Amitoune has already become a better place for it. As I said farewell to Carbien and his clan, I left with them my hopes that they may one day experience this same peace. and the stories I told them of Amitoune, and our ways. Like the rumors of people coming over the mountain had spread, so did those of our homeland, and when the time came that we were to traveled home, Amitoune was already a place of legend, and Aelfinn the heart of that legend.

- Godan Tibor, Aelfinn.

This was some of what Godan "Farstrider" Tibor wrote years after his experiences in the Northlands; it is a summary of his own notes. (The complete notes can be found in Godan Tibor's "Godan Farstrider's Travels", Aelfinn 63 Sf.)

The few reports from the few trading parties that went north after Godan's return in 41 Sf., along with Godan's notes, give a picture of some of the aspects of the human society prior to the Great Winter. There are no accounts from the Northlands during the Great Winter, and only a few things are known prior to the human invasion, and these are mainly rumors and stories told by the humans during the time they held Aelfinn and most of Amitoune. I won't touch on the subject 'the Human wars' here, as it is a chapter in its own, rather I will try to give a clear picture of what happened in the Northlands prior to it, and after. But, it should be noted that these account are based largely on rumors and stories and very little fact that I can fully guarantee as truth. Though, rumors and stories usually carry a grain of truth in them.

  ~

The Great Winter hit the Northlands hard and sudden. There were many losses the first year, and the second, and the third until, eventually, the humans adapted. Weather such as struck the Northlands has not been seen in Amitoune in elven memory -- hailstorms, blizzards, and lightning that would turn night clear as day. Some tribes perished, others merged and together fought the winter. Resources were scarce and eventually the tribes started fighting for what little food could be found. This chaos continued the entire length of the Great Winter -- fighting, war, famine, and a long freezing winter for 800 years. Eventually a number of the tribes spread out, covering different areas of the Northlands. Especially noticeable were the Fal Ruian, Cor Tolst, and Tho Maddar.

The Fal Ruian, once one of the smaller tribes based around Fal Crieff, had been forced into the extremely hostile terrain by the Cor Tolst to the north and the lesser tribe, Far Rhien, in the south. Pinned in between the two larger tribes, the Fal Ruian grew hard; constant war on both sides and an inhospitable environment taught them to survive on little and fight hard on less. In 857 Sf., at only 17 years of age, Thralamir challenged the current leader of the Fal Ruien and was victorious. In the course of 12 years, he led the Fal Ruien to unmatched power, conquering the nearby tribes, and quickly expanding outwards to dominate the whole of the Northlands. In 869 Sf., Tho Maddar, led by Cram, was the last of the tribes to surrender to Thralamir. With no enemies to fight, and the Great Winter receding, Thralamir initiated a wide range of new projects: mining, metallurgy, and various forms of agriculture. All of this was made possible by his control of the still growing Fal Ruien army. For 17 years this continued, and Thralamir's reign changed over time from the iron fist of his Fal Ruien, to the accept of his people.

17 years after Thralamir seized the power in the Northlands, the last of the great winter receded. In high summer of 886 Sf. Godan's Pass was reopened, again allowing passage from the Northlands to Amitoune. Thralamir, being informed of this, quickly mobilized his now well equipped Fal Ruien and headed south. In the summer of 886 Sf. Thralamir descended on an unsuspecting Lamar and sacked it to the ground.

The Human wars have begun...

As previously mentioned, I won't go into detail about the Human Wars here, as it is a chapter on its own, rather I will try to sum up the events from the Battle of Godan's Gap to the present day.

Thralamir died in Aelfinn in 908 Sf. from an unknown ailment. Armin, oldest of Thralamir's three sons, took control after his father's death, and was later faced with the Alliance challenging him for Vedyn Port and Kaemlin, effectively attacking him from two fronts at once. It was a lost cause and eventually Armin found himself forced to retreat. In the final battle at Godan's Gap, the Alliance was superior and Armin was forced to retreat back into the Northlands, whereupon the Alliance raised the great barrier. Armin was defeated, and the remains of his father's once so awesome Fal Ruian warriors crumbled away, the remnants scattering into the Northlands. Armin continued to hold the united leadership of the Northland tribes, yet breakaway fractions were starting to shake his stronghold. The sudden wealth, luxuries and fertile climate available in Amitoune, along with the lack of noticeable enemies to fight, had made the invaders grow careless and fat, while the Fal Ruien was growing soft, the alliance had been getting hard, and ready.

Matas, like his father Thralamir, was raised at Fal Crieff, in the harshest conditions in the Northlands. He reunited the scattered remains of the old "Fal Ruian", and was dedicated to returning them to their former fighting glory. Along with them, he had the remains of an old tribe called the Codob Said, said to be gifted with, and dedicated to, the magical arts. Magic is a skill rare and often ignored in the Northlands. Two years after Armin's defeat at Godan's Gap, Armin was assassinated by his brother Matas, who then took command. Now, almost 50 years later, Matas is still head of the Northland tribes, with the might of a restored Fal Ruien and the Codab Said. Reigning from his seat in Fal Crieff, he is said to be still of an unnaturally young age. Strange things are seen around Fal Crieff and foul things are upon the air. And rumour has it that he is bent upon reclaiming what his brother lost.

- Cabral Anth'Ank, Scribe of the Council of Elders