Egrivalad
The Egrivalad are a Matsamish ethnicity found in southeastern Telgren. Isolated from much of the continent by the Cloriadmen Saltmarshes as well as the Verderé Hills, their main contact with outside civilizations has been limited to the Orentesh, Verderén halflings, and tritons. This has allowed them to largely escape outside influence, and they are the only fully Metsamish group to exist on Telgren in the present day. They look distinct from the other Telgrener ethnicites, sporting extremely dark hair, long beards, and moderately pale skins in general. However, lighter or auburn hair may also be found, which may in many cases be traced back to the Forest People, a fellow Metsamish group.
The Egrivalad are fairly close in their relation to the Forest People and other extinct eastern Metsamish groups. Their relation to the Wainriders (the Metsamish ancestors of the Cloriadmen) was more distant, but as the wainrider civilization collapsed the two groups came into closer contact and there was more intermarriage. Nonetheless, their relationship with the modern Cloriadmen has been strained, with both groups fighting over the mountains and hills which separate them. They also fought extensively against the Verderén halflings during their migration into the hills, as both groups sought to claim the hills, which had been left abandoned following the Fremedhian migrations. This conflict went decisively in the favor of the Verderéns as their birth rates simply overpowered the Egrivalad population of the region.
Much of recent Egrivalad history has been defined not by their conflicts with these other races, but with their fight against the demons and devils of the Cursed Woods. The conflict stems from a religious schism in the Metsamish peoples, who had realized their gods were not listening to them after the arrival of the Orentesh in 1000 BC. The Orentesh were able to crush the Metsamish populations which lived in their path. This led many of the Metsamish believed their gods had abandoned them or questioned whether they'd ever existed at all, and this seemed to be proven correct as out of this schism, only those who continued to follow the gods have been eliminated. Others turned to foreign religions, those of outsiders who did not suffer as much as the Egrivalad. Still, most Egrivalad began following one of two paths: the devils or the heroes. As they believed their gods had abandoned them, many Egrivalad turned to mortal heroes to lead their people. Powerful warriors and mages seemed larger-than life and their stories brought hope to the masses. However, these tales of greatness found their antithesis in those Egrivalad who were drawn to the devils and Auzediganism. The two groups feuded over ideals as much as reality, such as whether the ends justify the means and whether those with power should sacrifice themselves to save their people. This violence ramped up over the years, with more and more Egrivalad fleeing to places like Taytama, and eventually culminated in the Cursing of the Woods. This forest, located within the center of Egrivalad lands, was once a prosperous land, before its Auzedigist rulers sacrificed a huge number of victims and their souls in exchange for eternal life. This created such a massive amount of negative magic that the area became a permanent portal between the mortal plane and the shadow dimension, and was soon warped in the image of the shadow dimension. However, thanks to the efforts of the [tbd, the region was sealed off, halting the spread of the shadow. It is tightly guarded by the remaining Egrivalad, though occasionally demons get out or Auzedigists in.
After the woods were cursed, the remaining Egrivalad were horrified, and quickly came together in an alliance, with all tribes agreeing to work together to prevent this menace from spreading. As the first demons and devils passed through the portal, the greatest mages of the lands were called together and a mighty shield was raised. While the initial project was assisted by mages from other cultures and religions, these demanded great boons from the Egrivalad in exchange for their assistance, which the Egrivalad had to accept, and which weakened their position further. Over time, the organization of mages who guarded the shield would gain more and more power over Egrivalad society, eventually uniting all the tribes into one nation after the fallout from the failed colonization of the Verderé Hills. This union, known as Balenor, did an admirable job in preventing the denizens of the forest from escaping for many years, but eventually they became lax in their defense, and in [tbd] a great horde of demons, led by the devil [tbd], escaped from the shield and devastated the lands. This mighty horde founded the nation of Kazielbon, which exited in the hills between Cloriadme and Orentelar, and devastated the local populace. For many in Cloriadme, this was seen as the failure of their so-called heroes to protect them and proved the final push they needed to fully abandon their old roots and totally embrace the Kosmevair faith (eschewing the Kosmevair-hero syncretism of Tweledism). In Egrivalad, the people clung to their old beliefs, and eventually a combination of the two peoples managed to defeat the demon army while its devil lord was busy elsewhere. As neither knew of the other's role, this helped sour relations, and the Kosmevair founded the Prince-Bishopric of Ostleckt on lands once belonging to the Egrivalad. This holy state has had little to no impact on the shield, which is still maintained entirely by the Egrivalad, though it is seen by most of the Cloriadmen as a powerful bastion against the devils and demons.
This disaster led to the fall of the mage council's authority and a formation of a tribal federation, but this proved problematic in its own right. In recent years, tribes dissatisfied with the machinations of the council have abandoned it for the Tritonic nation of Mak'llanar, ceding their coastline in exchange for support holding up their side of the shield. Both sides of this schism have accused the others of derelict in their duties, and tough times may be ahead if coordination is not achieved once more, as Kazielbon's ruler waits for his chance to once again scour the lands.
The Egrivalad are fairly close in their relation to the Forest People and other extinct eastern Metsamish groups. Their relation to the Wainriders (the Metsamish ancestors of the Cloriadmen) was more distant, but as the wainrider civilization collapsed the two groups came into closer contact and there was more intermarriage. Nonetheless, their relationship with the modern Cloriadmen has been strained, with both groups fighting over the mountains and hills which separate them. They also fought extensively against the Verderén halflings during their migration into the hills, as both groups sought to claim the hills, which had been left abandoned following the Fremedhian migrations. This conflict went decisively in the favor of the Verderéns as their birth rates simply overpowered the Egrivalad population of the region.
Much of recent Egrivalad history has been defined not by their conflicts with these other races, but with their fight against the demons and devils of the Cursed Woods. The conflict stems from a religious schism in the Metsamish peoples, who had realized their gods were not listening to them after the arrival of the Orentesh in 1000 BC. The Orentesh were able to crush the Metsamish populations which lived in their path. This led many of the Metsamish believed their gods had abandoned them or questioned whether they'd ever existed at all, and this seemed to be proven correct as out of this schism, only those who continued to follow the gods have been eliminated. Others turned to foreign religions, those of outsiders who did not suffer as much as the Egrivalad. Still, most Egrivalad began following one of two paths: the devils or the heroes. As they believed their gods had abandoned them, many Egrivalad turned to mortal heroes to lead their people. Powerful warriors and mages seemed larger-than life and their stories brought hope to the masses. However, these tales of greatness found their antithesis in those Egrivalad who were drawn to the devils and Auzediganism. The two groups feuded over ideals as much as reality, such as whether the ends justify the means and whether those with power should sacrifice themselves to save their people. This violence ramped up over the years, with more and more Egrivalad fleeing to places like Taytama, and eventually culminated in the Cursing of the Woods. This forest, located within the center of Egrivalad lands, was once a prosperous land, before its Auzedigist rulers sacrificed a huge number of victims and their souls in exchange for eternal life. This created such a massive amount of negative magic that the area became a permanent portal between the mortal plane and the shadow dimension, and was soon warped in the image of the shadow dimension. However, thanks to the efforts of the [tbd, the region was sealed off, halting the spread of the shadow. It is tightly guarded by the remaining Egrivalad, though occasionally demons get out or Auzedigists in.
After the woods were cursed, the remaining Egrivalad were horrified, and quickly came together in an alliance, with all tribes agreeing to work together to prevent this menace from spreading. As the first demons and devils passed through the portal, the greatest mages of the lands were called together and a mighty shield was raised. While the initial project was assisted by mages from other cultures and religions, these demanded great boons from the Egrivalad in exchange for their assistance, which the Egrivalad had to accept, and which weakened their position further. Over time, the organization of mages who guarded the shield would gain more and more power over Egrivalad society, eventually uniting all the tribes into one nation after the fallout from the failed colonization of the Verderé Hills. This union, known as Balenor, did an admirable job in preventing the denizens of the forest from escaping for many years, but eventually they became lax in their defense, and in [tbd] a great horde of demons, led by the devil [tbd], escaped from the shield and devastated the lands. This mighty horde founded the nation of Kazielbon, which exited in the hills between Cloriadme and Orentelar, and devastated the local populace. For many in Cloriadme, this was seen as the failure of their so-called heroes to protect them and proved the final push they needed to fully abandon their old roots and totally embrace the Kosmevair faith (eschewing the Kosmevair-hero syncretism of Tweledism). In Egrivalad, the people clung to their old beliefs, and eventually a combination of the two peoples managed to defeat the demon army while its devil lord was busy elsewhere. As neither knew of the other's role, this helped sour relations, and the Kosmevair founded the Prince-Bishopric of Ostleckt on lands once belonging to the Egrivalad. This holy state has had little to no impact on the shield, which is still maintained entirely by the Egrivalad, though it is seen by most of the Cloriadmen as a powerful bastion against the devils and demons.
This disaster led to the fall of the mage council's authority and a formation of a tribal federation, but this proved problematic in its own right. In recent years, tribes dissatisfied with the machinations of the council have abandoned it for the Tritonic nation of Mak'llanar, ceding their coastline in exchange for support holding up their side of the shield. Both sides of this schism have accused the others of derelict in their duties, and tough times may be ahead if coordination is not achieved once more, as Kazielbon's ruler waits for his chance to once again scour the lands.
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