The Balkoth Tribe. |
||
|
Basics On History Historical Overview On the Clans Penbal On Geography Legal General Navigation |
Historical OverviewThe Balkoth Tribe, circa 1621, is comprised of four clans, who had travelled from a variety of places. Records are fragmentary and incomplete and hint at several other clans or bloodlines that have since been absorbed, destroyed or otherwise erased from history. The tribe trace their kinship through one Balkoth Browncloak, a warrior hero who wrought mighty works alongside Vargast Redhand in his struggles against Lokamayadon. Unlike his chief he survived the Battle of the Verge, though grievously wounded, as he lay hidden beneath his Browncloak from the terrible Iron Vrok. He retired lame and one-eyed to a hidden valley in the Yellow Hills, where he discovered the healing power of Orventili's Tears. The first clan to settle in the Yellow Hills was the Penbal ("Yellow Grass") clan. They came towards the end of the first wave of settlers, around 1330. Their lands are among the richest of the Balkoth lands, although definitely not among the richest in Dragon Pass. These extend into the lowland savannah in the north, adjacent to Swenstown, centre around Enothea's Cut and the Devil's Glove, and are bounded to the south by the Ambush Trial. They were joined shortly after by the Fimburos ("Lost Waters") clan, who left Heortland dissatisfied by the way that King Andrin had become Pharaoh's slave. They made peace with the Penbal and settled in the north-east portion of the Yellow Hills, south and east of the Ambush Trail. The Balkoth tribe proper came into being when the Daldari ("Insight Stone") clan seceded from the Dundealos Tribe to avoid kin-strife sometime around the year 1350. Markalor Ringmaker forged a peace between the Fimburos and their neighbours, helping them to retain their land on the south slopes of the Yellow Hills close to the Dundealos Valley. As the only thrall-holding clan in the area they also have strong connections with the Oasis folk's slave-market at Pimper's Block in Prax. Last to arrive on the scene were the staunch warriors of the Untralos ("Defiant Knife") clan, possibly as late as 1400. They came from central Heortland. When they were offered membership of the Daldari clan they refused and instead carved out for themselves the lands on the very fringes of Dragon Pass, defeating both Praxian tribes and their Fimburos neighbours. They are known among the beast-riders as the "Tail-Takers" after their habit of collecting the tails as trophies of slain Praxian raiders. |
|