Nephling Empire (~900 BC - ~380 BC) Art by Dominik Zdenković When the Ancient Empire that spanned over a majority of the continent ruled over the land, another powerful force remained as a bulwark against them. These people were the forebearers of modern Greatlings, a people who were known as the Nephlings. Ruling the land from the southern peaks of the Amafells to the borders of the Northern Kingdoms from approximately 900 to 380 BC, grand Strongholds remain as a testament to their achievements as a people. The following are excerpts from the Rulanese scholar Anne Threax-Paul’s observations and theories on the Nephlings and their modern descendants. Birth of the Nephlings “... Greatlings are known to be a resilient people largely in part to the lands they inhabit, those lands being largely inhospitable to Nua Sidhe and Arsa Sidhe. This ability for them to flourish where others falter was what led to the grand unification of the Greatling ancestors under the title of Nephlings. The combination of the relentless weather conditions, inhospitable terrain, and the lack of interest in the Amafells by the Ancient Empire was the perfect storm that allowed the Nephling Empire to blossom when and where it did.These masters of the mountains were able to shape the stones of their home to their will. Over the course of hundreds of years the Nephlings created grand mountain halls, known as Strongholds. Many modern Greatling tribes that inhabit the Amafells now reside inside these halls and claim them as their ancestral home.” Strongholds: Anatomy & Culture “... Even to the scale of the average Greatling’s stature, these mountain halls rise high above. What were once speculated to be colorful and bustling places of vibrant culture now exist as nothing more than ruins. From what can be gathered, by means of modern Greatling tribes that allow access into their ancestral grounds, is that no two Strongholds are truly the same. Strongholds, while existing under the same rule of the Nephling Empire, each seemed to cultivate their own traditions and ideologies that are theorized to have a hand in the instability which brought about the fall of the Nephling Empire. While each Stronghold seemed to have differing priorities which led to each one having chambers and districts that accommodated their specific goals and ideologies; it can be noted that each Stronghold found thus far can be recorded to include these key areas. Hall of Moot: The tribal culture that can be found in modern Greatlings seems to be nothing new. As from what has so far been uncovered, Nephling halls and societal structures seemed to always break down into Clans. While it is unclear if these Clans acted as royal families that ruled over the holds or if all Nephlings within a Stronghold belonged to a clan; it has been noted that all Strongholds were ruled by this clan structure. This conclusion is brought about by the fact that every Stronghold has held a grand chamber with numerous seats inside. Across all Strongholds, the head of each seat had a name engraved in it which, thanks to extensive translation efforts, seem to hold naming conventions similar to modern Greatling tribes. Current theories suggest that High Moots were held here to discuss issues of the Stronghold by the heads of each Clan, and therefore scholars have deemed these chambers to be aptly named the Halls of Moot. Market: While each Stronghold’s market takes differing forms, these mountain halls would not exist without a beating heart of trade within them. From markets alone, it can clear up many questions we hold about why a Stronghold’s society developed the way it did. Strongholds with ample iron veins tended to have a more militarized market which led to more militant cultural shifts. Meanwhile, more peaceful Nephling societies were noted to have access to veins of gold and silver. These Strongholds with precious metals were also noted to have access to high concentrations of goods that would have been seen as exotic to the Amafells, leading to speculation that these Strongholds would participate in foreign trade. Deepgate: While Strongholds themselves are impressive, they pale in comparison to what lies beneath them. At the deepest point of every Stronghold is a Deepgate, the point of entry to the Underhalls, a sprawling network of tunnels that are speculated to interconnect every Stronghold. Due to the modern inhabitants of the Underhalls it is difficult to know more about these Deepgates as they are fiercely guarded. These structures are standard across all Strongholds, as without them no Stronghold would have been able to govern itself nor survive the harsh conditions of the Amafells.” Hallhowlers “... Many ask why so little is known in regards to the Strongholds and their ancient Nephling inhabitants. This is due largely in part to the modern inhabitants of the Underhalls, the Hallhowlers. The name of Hallhowler is gained from their warning cries that they let out when a scout of their tribe discovers trespassers within their territory. While sharing the same common Nephling ancestors as the modern Greatlings that live among us today, someone could be easily forgiven for not making the connection between a Greatling and a Hallhowler. Thanks to the resilient anatomy of Greatlings, the Hallhowlers have found a way to cultivate food sources underground through domesticated fungus farms and underground lakes which they are careful not to overfish from. While survivability is possible for them underground, the lifestyle they have adopted has not come without consequence. Due to their limited diet, Hallhowlers are staggeringly short in comparison to other tribes of Greatlings. Most Hallhowlers tend to fall into the range of being anywhere from 5’-7” to a rare 6’-0” in height. Despite this height when standing tall, many Hallhowlers tend to have a slouched posture due to needing to fit through narrow nooks and crannies of the caverns they inhabit. The only other notable physical difference would be their sickly-white skin tone from generations underground, otherwise Hallhowlers are much like Greatlings in how they develop a variety of tusks, horns, and hair. These Hallhowlers are very wary of outsiders and will typically meet any who attempt to enter their territories with open hostility. The only known way to open a direct line of communication with a Hallhowler tribe would be to find a Greatling tribe near the Stronghold that participates in trade with them. Even with the Greatling tribe’s oversight the meeting has an air of tension which hangs over all present. From the various reports of those who have had conversations with Hallhowlers it is apparent that their societal structure is alien to our own. Each tribe is led by a ‘Moulder’, a powerful mage skilled in Tellurgy. These Moulders are highly protected by their tribe due to them being a lifeline to discovering new resources hidden by thick walls of stone. While not unheard of that powerful mages can occasionally lose their vision, from what has been gathered from every account in which a Moulder is inquired about, these powerful Tellurgists always seem to be blinded as a result of their Patron’s magic. Who the Patron who sparks these Moulders is uncertain, but it is doubtful that it is any entity which dwells the surface world with us.”

In the dark of night a poster was pinned to the Notice Board by a Arsa Sidhe with ebony hair.   Spoiler The Currency of Existence Spirits drift in the Nocturne's bliss,Awaiting the release of sleep's calming kiss.A busy day brings about a weary mind,With slumber's embrace their thoughts unwind. Each night that passes bring a new wrinkle, a crease,Each silver-hair reminds of fate's caprice.Upon closing their eyes a wager made,The spirit and flesh barter a trade. Each slumber and waking comes with cost,The stores of one's vigor are bled and lost.When the toll price too costly for their final breathIn the end all do feel the cold bite of death. - The Dirge-Bard    

The Lord of the Hunt Title | The Nameless Patron | Nyx Primary | Ether Anima | 8 |Cantrips| Whisper Fae Path

"I am paid to protect you; not listen to your blathering." Callous and cold, this veteran of Valkia has witnessed enough to justify possessing such a frame of mind. Serving most of his youth on the front between the Northern Kingdoms and Valkia, this Nua Sidhe was renown as a crack-shot Arbalest. Life as a human weapon was all he could conceive and seemed the only future that was promised to him. This bleak disposition seemed to be undeniable until a fateful day in which a young woman captured from a raid on a Northern village. The two became quite infatuated with one another, though their circumstances would not allow for such a relationship between the two. Falk was faced with the decision of service which left him numb, or desertion with a promise of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.  His decision was clear and one made without regret. While years of exposure to the horrors of war left scars upon Falk; a tenderness is exposed when he is off duty with his wife and children. Visual Appearance: A face obscured by a metal plate with tired eyes peering out from underneath; Falk is adorned in a scalemail shirt, thick-leather pants, and a long scarf which is wrapped around his person. What Falk looks like off duty is not known to the public due to how he conceals himself, and he does not care to blur the hard line he has set between his personal life and his professional one. Notable Moments: Assisted a party gathered by Mulrath with an investigation about an individual who had a foreign bounty placed on them.

[!] Whispers spread through the streets of unrest about the arcane world. Former-councilor Rottjarnsmidar seems to be quite vocal about the matter. (If interested in joining a group of arcane watchdogs, then reach out to NOS402 of discord!)