Dinosaurs

During the Sleeping Era, many new creatures and entities ruled over the Mortal Realm in the place of humans. One particular era during this time was ruled by beasts, particularly of reptilian nature called the dinosaurs. These creatures' sizes ranged from tiny to gargantuan, diet swapping between vegetarian and carnivorous, and attitudes ranging from friendly to viscous. This era of the Barren ended due to a large explosion, the origin of which is debated by archeologists.  

History

Discovery

There is little evidence of these creatures ever existing if you just look at the surface, but miners, explorers, and scientists have uncovered fossils from underground escapades. In 44 A.G., mid-summer, the first documented dinosaur fossil was discovered by a ruin scavenger by the name of Ringo Shell who had found it in a weathered-down wall of a dwarven vault. The fossil was the skull of a species of dinosaur later named the Velociraptor.  

Fate's Light

In the first few moments of the year 99 A.G., a false deity by the name of Lady Fate was killed. Though she was, as written, not a goddess, she still was immensely powerful and her corpse let out an explosion of magical light that consumed all of the Barren. This light had many effects on the people, animals, materials, and landscapes, one, in particular, relating to this subject is the resurrection of many species of dinosaurs. Now, these creatures can be found anywhere, though most commonly in highly dense forests/jungles.  

Culture

Cultural Impacts

The discovery of a large group of ancient species inspired people from all around the world with new ideas and even religions. A year after the discovery had been made, poor merchants would sell sour meat claiming it belonged to a dinosaur, and sold it for a hefty price. Another group formed a cult called "Doctors of the Broken God" who believed the fossils to be the remains of an ancient deity who gave them the holy task to rebuild them. The major part of this group disbanded in 56 A.G., but some still practice rites and collect fossils for the same belief.  

Uncovered Truths

A half-elf by the name of Kelly Ruledrake had infiltrated into a tribe of wood elves to study their ways of life, traditions, and otherwise unique culture. One of these discoveries was that wood elves once lived among the dinosaurs and had at one point used their bones as armor (some sets still exist and can be found in museums all over the eastern Great Eethill area).