Talenta Plains

The halflings of the Talenta Plains have no cities and no industrialized magic, but they do have dinosaurs. The halflings domesticated the dinosaurs of the plains and use these creatures as mounts, livestock, and beasts of burden. A sacred bond exists between a hunter and mount, and few people are prepared to face a raging halfling barbarian riding a furious clawfoot raptor.   Talenta religion reveres spirits, both departed ancestors and natural spirits. Each tribe has a lath - a chieftain who guides the tribe - and shamans who consult the spirits and choose the paths of migration. In the past, the tribes stood alone, but during the Last War, many halflings came together under Lathon Halpum to defend their land. Halpum won recognition for the Plains as one of the Thronehold nations, though it's still unclear what this means beyond increasing passage between the Plains and the outside world.  

Geography

The Talenta Plains stretch out across the mideast of Khorvaire. They span from the eastern Endworld and Ironroot Mountains to the very border of the Dead Gray Mist on the fringe of the Mournland and encompassing Lake Cyre as part of their own territory to the west.   The Talenta Plains is primarily grassland, but also includes the northern portions of the Blade Desert. The grasslands are slowly undergoing desertification, as the Blade Desert is expanding north at a rate of about a mile a year.  

Society

The wandering nomadic halflings form the overwhelming majority of the population in the Talenta Plains. They are organized into tribes, which vary in size from less than a hundred to over a thousand. Each tribe has an appointed lath. The lath is determined through merit and not bloodline as many of Khorvaire's other leaders are. All members of the tribe are treated as equals but the lath determines the movements and settles disputes within the tribe. The lath remains in power until death or until something causes the tribe's confidence in their lath to change. At any time a lath can be replaced by someone else if a significant voice for change is stirred up.   Occasionally a lath is so charismatic they are able to unite many tribes beneath one banner. These leaders are given the title of Lathon and authority to negotiate for the tribes as a whole. The most recent occurrence of this was Lathon Halpum, who united the Tribes at the end of the Last War and represented them at the Treaty of Thronehold, which recognized the Talenta Plains as a sovereign nation from his efforts.   The halfing tribes are traditional hunter-gatherer civilizations moving their domesticated herds of cattle, tribex, and herbivorous dinosaurs across the plains in constant pursuit of food, water and better grazing. The halflings ride either clawfoot or fastieth dinosaur mounts. When the rider captures and domesticates their mount, there is a special bond formed. Halfling riders will wear a hunt-mask which further strengthens their bond.   The two halfling dragonmarked houses, House Jorasco and House Ghallanda also originated in the Talenta Plains, although House Jorasco, the house of healing, has moved its base of operation to Karrnath. House Ghallanda, the House of Hospitality, has remained centered in the Talenta Plains in the single established settlement of the plains, Gatherhold. Though many of Ghallanda blood have spread out to provide their service to the other nations, the base of operations has remained in the Talenta Plains since its founding.  

History

Halflings originated from the Talenta Plains, but their exact origin is unknown, just that they've been wandering eastern Khorvaire since long before the arrival of humans to the continent. As the Five Nations grew, the tribes of the Talenta Plains saw their nomadic lands slowly contract to just the Talenta Plains.  

Origin of Dragonmarks

About 3,200 years ago, halflings began to manifest the Mark of Hospitality. Those who manifested the mark saw this as a divine blessing and formed the Ghallanda tribe, dedicated to helping all those in need. About 200 years later, the Jorasco tribe began to manifest the Mark of Healing. During the conquests of Karrn the Conqueror, the Ghallanda tribe helped assisted human soldiers in need. When they returned to Karrnath with stories of dragonmarked halflings, House Cannith and House Sivis organized an expedition into the Talenta Plains that discovered the two halfling marks, and worked with the halfings to create House Jorasco and House Ghallanda. House Jorasco relocated to Karrnath and gave up being nomads, a move that created some distrust between the Talenta halflings and the house.  

The Last War

During the Last War, both Karrnath and Cyre claimed ownership of the Talenta Plains. Initially the halflings saw no reason to become involved in the conflict beyond serving as mercenaries, but the clashes between Cyre and Karrnath ruined grazing areas and killed the beasts the halflings depend on for survival. The tribes of the Plains joined forces in a way they never had before under Lathon Halpum to present a unified front against the invaders. At the Treaty of Thronehold the tribes sent a delegation and were granted status as a sovereign nation.  

Post-War

Since the end of the Last War, the halflings continue to live their lives as separate nomadic tribes. With the onset of peace Lathon Halpum gave up his title and has returned to leading one tribe, but urges peace and cooperation. However, more foreigners are visiting the plains than any time before. Valenar warbands raid the Plains or trespass through the plains to raid Karrnath, who in turn sends soldiers into the plains to defend their borders. Settlers and bandits travel out of Q'barra, and monstrous creatures appear out of the mists of the Mournland. Some halfings have become xenophobic towards outsiders, and a faction under the shaman Holy Uldra urge a return to war to drive out all outsiders.  

Boneyard

The Boneyard is a valley in the Talenta Plains filled with many skeletons of dragons. The valley lies at the juncture of the Endworld and Ironroot Mountains and the Blade Desert. The halfling clans of the Plains consider the place to be cursed and will not willingly enter it. It is extremely ancient and its origin is unknown. In recent years, dragonborn from Q'barra and a few brave Talenta halflings, including Lathon Halpum, have begun making pilgrimages to the site. They report that it may sit atop some kind of manifest zone.