Brief History of the World of Tartis

The world is commonly known as Tartis. It is the year 7,556 A.A. (After the Arrival) according to the common calendar (a Dwarven calendar that has eventually been accepted by pretty much everyone).

Over the last 7 millennia there have been rises and falls of many civilizations and cultures. It is believed that 4,000 years ago there was an age of science where magic was all but forgotten, this age is said to have been ended by a great number wars between various peoples. Since that time magic has waxed and wained in levels of acceptance. Currently magic is on the rise again, though still consider a weird discipline and magic-users are still not trusted widely especially in small communities.

About 2,000 years ago the world began going through an ice-age to which is has just within the last 200 years come out of with the glaciers receding.

The common history of the "beginning" of the world is as follows.

In the beginning the world of Tartis was inhabited by only humans and lizardfolk. The humans controled much of the arable land while the lizardfolk lived in the dense forest and remote islands. (Many human scholars discount this idea and believe that lizardfolk showed up as the same time the other races did.) Humans at that time were just beginning to develop culture, agriculture, and metal working. Then in year 0 A.A. it is said that the other races were brought into the world of Tartis.

Most races have various religious beliefs on this and the time before. Many believe that originally they were from paradise worlds of their own and they were brought to this world for various reasons. The dwarves believe it is punishment for some wrong done, the elves believe it is an opportunity to explore other places, the goblinoids blame the dwarves, the orcs blame the elves, the gnomes believe a great catastrophy occured, the halfling just think it was what was suppose to happen.

Legends say that some races were altered by this "new" world. Some folktales tell of stories of trolls that were only as big as orcs, who later grew to the monstrous sizes they are now know to be. Legends also tell that many of the strange monsters in the world are the result of powerful magic-users experimenting on creatures or calling them from distance worlds.

The Kingdom of Glendagild has a rather unremarkable past. It has at times been a backwaters province of more important states, as well as a minor kingdom in its own right (as it is at the present). It's current form has been around for about 300 years, with further expansion into the northern regions within the last 75 years (including the town of Littleton).

Village of Littleton

A small village located on the North-West edge of the Kingdom of Glendagild. Official under the authority of Glendagild, it is remote enough that it is largely autonomous. Occasionally Glendagild officials will visit to draft young males for military service during times of war or to collect taxes during times of need, but neither occurs regularly. The lack of direct oversight is both a good thing and a bad thing. It is good in that it allows the locals to decide much of their own issues, usually through the council of city of elders. It is bad because if danger threatens Glendagild usually fails to send aid in a timely fashion or at all.

The majority of the population of Littleton is halflings (can you guess the origins of the town's name?). Humans make up the next largest group with a scattering of other humanoids. The population of Littleton is primary made up of farmers and ranchers. There are a few other professions in the village proper but these are usually things that cater to the farmers and ranchers (blacksmiths, tavern owners, tailors, etc).

Littleton is located near the meeting of the Troll River and the Weirding Way (river). The Troll river flows out of the Northern regions where it is believed some various monstrous creatures live (hence the name). The Weirding Way flows out of the forest near by. The forest is a strange place where unusual creatures reside. Elves live in the edges of the forest, but the deepest parts are said to be overrun with foul creatures and humanoids (vicious tribes of orcs are said to reside in there for example). The Troll River, the Weirding Way, and the Fey Flow (farther south) join together to form the Seabring River which flows to the Sea.

Saltwater Tribe

A tribe of lizardfolk who live at the mouth of the Seabring River. The village of this tribe is not part of the Kingdom of Glendagild, but borders it. The Saltwater tribe ruled over by the elder females (the females in this tribe are larger and hold most of the power over the males). Females tend to do occupations close to the village, while groups of mated males go on hunts in the local woods or in the ocean.

Unmated adult males tend to live just outside of the tribe hoping to be choosen by a female. Often these males will fight each other in hopes of impressing the females, though females do not always choose the strongest male, sometimes they choose other characteristics (guile, cunning, stealth, etc). Occasionally older unmated males and disillusioned young unmated males may go on raiding parties against other groups of humanoids.

The tribe is protect by several shaman and their giant saltwater crocodile companions. These shaman and their power magics are part of the reason why Glendagild has not tried to claim the village and the area around it.

The tribe occasionally trades with the villages on the Seabring River and its tributaries, though they rarely go farther north than Littleton (it gets too cold for them much farther up the Troll River).

The lizardfolk of the Saltwater tribe rarely offer aid to others, believing that each group should survive as best they can. Though they may occasional trade for services. Individuals that aid the tribe in times of need though are treated with great honor (even males).