The Great Human Expansion
"The stars are not enough, nor the mountains, nor the seas. We are not meant to stay in one place. We are meant to reach." – Lord Edris Halewind, 1450 BGW
THE CALL TO EXPLORE
As the grip of Hollow Lake and Goldencliff tightened over their respective domains, humanity did what it had always done best—it spread. The blood of explorers, pioneers, and ambitious rulers pulsed through the veins of every generation, urging them toward the unknown. The lush forests of Shatterbleak, the rolling plains of Nunca, the rugged cliffs, winding rivers, and ancient hills—all of it was waiting, untouched by human hands, whispering "Come and claim us."
From 1900 BGW to 900 BGW, the known world reshaped itself under the march of human feet. Cities rose from the wilderness, roads carved their way through untamed lands, and villages took root in the most unexpected places. Humanity was no longer content to be bound to a handful of great capitals—every man, woman, and child wanted more. More land, more trade, more power, more freedom.
THE FORGE OF CIVILIZATION (1900 BGW – 1600 BGW)
This era was marked by relentless expansion, as human settlements first took shape beyond the initial hubs of Goldencliff, Hollow Lake, and Greendale. Wealth poured into the capitals, fueling grand projects that fortified their dominance, but it also encouraged new settlements to rise along trade routes, rivers, and natural strongholds.
The Rise of Coastal Cities – As shipbuilding flourished, seafarers followed the tides, establishing harbors and fishing towns along the Shrieking Sea. Coastal settlements became crucial points of commerce, linking Hollow Lake and Goldencliff to distant lands.
The River Settlements – Along the Giant Tears River, villages sprang up where the land was fertile, evolving into bustling trade posts. Farmers, merchants, and artisans gathered, creating networks that fed the larger cities.
Frontier Strongholds – In more dangerous and untamed lands, fortified settlements emerged, protecting against the unknown threats of the wilderness. These would later evolve into powerful city-states or strongholds.
It was an age of defiant ambition, where humanity’s resolve to conquer the land drove them ever forward.
THE ERA OF KINGS AND CITIES (1600 BGW – 1200 BGW)
By 1600 BGW, the landscape of Shatterbleak and Nunca was no longer just one of raw frontier towns and scattered hamlets. The rise of noble houses, warlords, and merchant lords saw the birth of true cities, places of power that rivaled even the great capitals.
The Trade Cities of Nunca – Fueled by the success of Hollow Lake, a network of trade-driven settlements blossomed into wealthy city-states. Merchants controlled fleets of wagons and ships, and massive markets filled the streets.
The Fortress-Towns of Shatterbleak – Where wilderness still loomed, great stone citadels were built. These strongholds became bastions of defense against the harsh lands, housing generations of warriors and scholars alike.
The Lumber and Mining Towns – With expansion came the need for materials. Lumber mills and mines carved deep into the land, providing the iron, stone, and timber that built the kingdom’s ever-growing reach.
The nobles of these rising cities swore fealty to the great capitals, but they held their own ambitions. It was no longer just kings who shaped the world—it was the lords of a thousand cities, each vying for power in their own way.
THE AGE OF RIVALRIES & AMBITION (1200 BGW – 900 BGW)
As cities flourished and human influence stretched from the seas to the forests, a new challenge emerged—rivalry.
For centuries, humanity had worked together to expand, but with the land claimed and the cities established, the question was no longer "Where do we go next?" but "Who rules what we have built?"
Noble Houses Rise and Fall – Family names became legendary, shaping the political landscape of the kingdoms. Bloodlines interwove with ambition, and alliances were made and shattered like glass.
Trade Wars and Power Struggles – The control of roads, rivers, and ports became battlegrounds. Where once towns grew in unity, now they clashed for dominance over the flow of gold and grain.
The Strengthening of the Capitals – As the outlying cities thrived, the great capitals—Hollow Lake, Goldencliff, and the rising bastions of the Ashwood rulers—grew ever stronger. Rulers tightened their grip, ensuring no city grew too independent.
Even as rivalries festered, humanity had become unstoppable. Shatterbleak and Nunca were no longer wild lands waiting to be tamed—they were thriving dominions, pulsing with ambition and power.
LEGACY OF THE EXPANSION
By 900 BGW, the map of the known world had been rewritten. What was once wilderness and scattered settlements had become a vast web of cities, strongholds, and thriving towns, all linked under the rule of kings and lords.
Hollow Lake had become an economic powerhouse, dominating trade routes and securing absolute control over Nunca’s commerce.
Goldencliff had fortified its dominance, ensuring the loyalty of the cities that had grown under its banner, standing as the unshakable pillar of human strength in Shatterbleak.
A thousand new settlements now filled the landscape, each with their own laws, leaders, and ambitions, forever reshaping the destiny of the kingdoms.
But this was only the beginning.
As humanity flourished, so too did its hunger for more. The lands beyond the established borders still called—and the explorers, warriors, and rulers of the next age would not ignore their call.
For if there was one thing the past had proven, it was this:
Humanity does not stop. It only reaches further.
