Darim

Legend

“They can blend in, but the observer will notice the large, broad noses, revealing their lineage.”

Skjald Sigurd

 

Description

Amongst the Races are the Darim—a people whose lives are woven into the fabric of the frostlands itself, a testament to the resilience and harmony that can be achieved through symbiosis with nature. With a stature that echoes the rugged terrain from which they hail, the Darim are a beacon of endurance, wisdom, and quiet strength.

Originating from Cromi and Kobold, the Darim bear the marks of their ancestors with their bodies sculpted by the unforgiving embrace of The Rim's and Darin's cold mountains, glaciers, and tundras. Their stocky build is a testament to the triumph of adaptation with harsh environment, as their forms mirror the landscapes that have nurtured their spirits for generations. In their realm, a painted portrait of unity, the Darim stand as a unique brushstroke, each individual a canvas upon which the story of their people is painted.

The Kobold heritage makes them stand taller than most other races at Darin and The Rim, also generally stronger and with superior stamina they could have ruled their lands. Yet they chose a life in harmony with others, living as hunterers, herders, and crafters, they are accepted by everyone.

Nestled within the equatorial mountains, highland plains, and coastal enclaves of southern Darin, the Darim tread the land with reverence and care. A sparsely settled nomadic folk, they embark on seasonal migrations, following the rhythm of the land and the patterns of big game. Their existence, a testament to the harmony they share with nature, mirrors the ancient ways of the land’s first inhabitants.

In isolated communities, the Darim thrive, their lives a symphony of quiet contemplation and symbiotic relationship with the world around them. Their bonds with each other are as strong as the ties they share with nature, a testament to the unity that emerges when harmony is woven into the very essence of existence. Their hushed interactions and gentle gestures reflect the wisdom that comes from a life lived in sync with the world.

Generosity flows within the hearts of the Darim, a reflection of their deep connection to nature’s bounty. Their quiet demeanor is a testament to their reverence for the balance that governs the realm, a tribute to the lessons they’ve learned from their environment. Shy yet steadfast, they embody the resilience that can arise from a life of simplicity and harmony.

In a world where whispers of the past blend with the songs of the present, where the land’s heartbeat resounds in every gust of wind and every rustle of leaves, the Darim step forth—a testament to quiet strength, humility, and an unspoken bond with nature. With each step they take, the land seems to resonate, a reflection of their profound unity with the world around them, for they are the embodiment of endurance, wisdom, and a legacy etched in the very earth.

Skjald Ulrich

 

History

Dark Ages

Considered the 11th oldest of the Indigenous tribes, they are the offspring of mixing Kobold and Cromi. They are a collection of people that prefered the unfriendly climate of the Void's most remote cold tundras and glaciers stretching outwards. At times they ventured towards the lit Void Gardens or followed the humming, vibrating, luring, Mana links, but always felt a certain discomfort close to Mana.

Skjald El Mary

 

First Age

When our World was created they were scattered out across what became southern Darin. Here they spread out along The Rim’s mountains stretching outwards and across the tundras, both north and southwards as back then The Rim did not block the southern world nor was it as cold or frozen as today–it was as anti magic as their preferred locations in the void though, which is why they stayed.

The only place they stayed away from was Mt. Virika in the mountains  separating what would become Khesyl and Dantres. As that mountain held the 2nd echoing cavern, the home of Mulvû Koroztazar and his Dwarves.

Skjald Sejrik

 

Then came the vampires, unique characters whose impact of vampirism influenced Darim society. We know of three Darim, here are some details about each:

Olmok Pukdas, a 6th-generation vampire, is relatively powerful but still maintains a degree of connection to the original source of vampirism. Olmok, a prominent figure among the Darim, a wise elder, was embraced, and his abilities were enhanced by vampirism. Olmok’s motivations were centred around protecting the Darim people and ensuring their survival in the harsh environment of the Rim. But, with the embracement, it turned towards defending the vampiric community against external threats.

Johkum Polum, an 8th-generation vampire, is less powerful than Olmok but still possesses significant vampiric abilities. Johkum was a shaman leader among the Darim, using his vampiric powers to deepen his connection with the spirits and the natural world. Johkum’s motivations revolved around preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Darim, but with room for vampires.

Kafte Grouefta, a 9th-generation vampire, is the youngest and least powerful of the three. Kafte was a tracker, using her vampiric abilities to enhance her skills in navigating the harsh terrain of the Rim and seeking out Ye'Til. Kafte’s motivations include proving herself within the Darim community and ensuring the safety of her people.

Each of these vampires’s enhanced physical abilities and unique powers complemented the Darim’s natural skills as trackers, hunters, and spiritual shamans. Their vampirism could be seen as both a blessing and a curse, providing strength and longevity but also creating internal and external conflicts.

Skjald Vinotis

 

Second Age

To say the 1st Cataclysm didn’t affect the Darim would be an outright omission of the truth. They were in fact some of the most influenced as both the world tilting and the closure of The Rim split their people in two, destroyed hundreds of settlements, and killed thousands of their kin.

Not only dit the Rim cut off their southern kin but two foothill arms shot northwards while raising to mountainous heights litterally splitting the tundras in three parts. The western one the most dominant stretching all the way to Darins northern shores. This was the beginning of Khesyl, Dantres, and Svartland.

Despite the servere impact they stayed as they had come to cherish and love their lands. They had also developed deep bonds to the antimagic and their shamans was exceptionally skilled in Arcane Weaving. Those of Svartland had strong bonds to some Thursar and stood on good terms with some Wickeryadi as they tended several gardens with Combat Herbs.

As those of Dantress sided with vampires they not only took some hard blows from the divines but also saw their Khesyl kin and the Dwarves turn their backs to them and some of the skirmishes in the civil war was quite brutal–some communities still scarred today. But overall the aftermath saw growing populations and increased interactions.

Skjald Valgrif

 

Third Age

Then came the Wanderers and the northwestern shoreland tribes began to grow apart from their south eastern cousins. Influenced by the Wanderers, increased trade with Ljostari, and Markeoy, two new nations slowly grew forth; Surdy on the west side of the mountains, and Ghond on the eastern side.

To preserve their culture, norms, and secure their lands, Dantres rulers began to strengthen their northeastern borderlands with new castles and titles to lesser nobles and heroic characters who dared to fill the roles as settlers and borderguards. Little did they know they planted the seeds that would tear Dantress apart but as the borderkings settled and secured their power –their self confidence grew as well… some say it was Vular whispers and lies that slowly bent and twisted the leaders. Others claim it was the Jomzaar trying to make the people of Surdy more inclined to accepting their shoreline forts as safe heavens in case of inland unrest.

Regardless, the borderland nobles elected their king in 555 and announced the kingdom of Dania. The reactions from Dantres was immediate and massive but to their surprise Danias armies stood side by side with Mawmen, Fautyr, Kobold, and Drakk Alfar. After a few small battles and skirmishes, all agreed that a truce honoring the border nobles with the lands they had secured would be a wise conclusion. Thus did Dantres loose half of its lands.

Skjald El Mary

 

When the news of the events in Dantress spread across Darin, the leaders across Thonds Heights, the rough- and highlands stretching from Svartland up towards the north-northwestern shores, began to advocate for self-government. Within a few centuries, in 820, the leaders announced their freedom. When the armies from Ghond crossed Thonds Heights and descended into Thondoline to crush the rebellion, they faced not only their kin but also contingents of Izir, Ljost Alfar, T'Aurs, Sealkin, Mawmen, Kobold, Fautyr, Drakk Alfar, and more.

Seeing this, the leader of Ghond, Holmtue Loxodal, ordered his staff to stay behind and rode forward alone hoping to meet the leaders of the rebels and their allies. Seeing this, the rebel leader Freyfrantz Birkelun rode to meet him. Freyfrantz later told the Thursar Vûmmû Drôğikaq, that Holmtue had asked him to turn and look at his own forces, but before he managed Holmtue had continued asking if he could see a pattern with his allies, and the Dantress split. It seemed to  Holmtue that the N-Erectus encouraged every split appearing amongst Humans. Holmtue would rather Ghond and Thondoline stayed close and lived in peace with trade and close bonds. In these words Freyfrantz could see nothing but truth and wisdom, and both shook hands and rode back to their staffs.

When they announced the truce and that Thondoline was free, their armies cheered over the prevented bloodshed. The N-Erectus contingents, although relieved due the peace, silently left the battlefield slackshouldered with bewildered looks in their leaders eyes. Vûmmû later told what Freyfrantz had said, and that he befriended Holmtue due the wisdom displayed that day. He even had Holmtue meet a few other Thursar where Holmtue expressed his thoughts and they discussed it.

Skjald Valgrif

 

Thursar and Wickeryadi began keeping an eye on the Humans and N-Erectus of Darin, and they began to notice a pattern in their interactions, where wanderers also played their part. Seemingly they all worked to split and fragment others who stood strong and had solid stable societies. It was as if weak Indigenous was easier to handle, defeat, or trick secrets from. So when Thondolines southern parts in 1138 broke free, into Salmydes it came as no surprise to them. Luckly the rulers followed the wise steps of their ancestors and the parting was non-violent.

Which could not be said about the Saamur split from Khesyl in 1412, here Fautyr, Wanderers, and interests from Ljostari, Markeoy, and Midgard, managed to have it erupt into civil war. But much to their surprise it ended in 1442, where the borderland locals simply had enough of the feud and backed local leaders into the rise of Surdy. In that year a trio of Darim, Mawmen, and Izir leaders managed to grab the reins and get control of the situation. They even banned wanderers and tore down every settlement the foreigners had, making Surdy the only shores free of direct wanderer influence. Some common folk say this was why The Deep Blue took its revenge on shoreland people, which is of course false but has rooted deep in some communities.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Fourth Age

With Ljostaris fall our world shaked and Darin broke down its middle in two long rifts seeing new mountain ranges shoot up. Mostly it stayed above surface except that a large part of Svartland sank or was sucked into the Rim. Everyone busy recovering belongings or lost ones, repairing their homes, and restoring order, suddenly faced something new–the Arisen. This major disturbance of natures order brought everyone together, setting aside every previous feud, although the handling of Arisen soon lead to arguments that split Saamur and in 36 Norien came to be. None had the power to stop it so the split was, once more, a mere naming and cut of ties.

The new mountains and sinkings had birthed natural barriers, that was used skilfully to created differences in human societies, especially a lessening in interactions with Izirs and retraction of Mawmen, gave Darims an upper hand in the numbers of settlements. This led to a shift from Ghonds old ways to Thondolines norms and in 278 the people claimed independence for Trendonia, decimating the reach of Ghonds old nobility and their trade monopolies.

Little did the Darim of Trendonia foresee, that the increased wealth and local power would ignite minds further. So much to their surprise, although not to those of longer lifespans watching things unfold, an urge for wealth and hoarding began to stir within the traders and mayors of key locations realised the real value of their gatelands to Thondoline and Salmydes. Several Mawmen in the southeastern mountains supported them with weapons and Fautyr aided them with combat herbs. Thus, in 346 they made a bold move and seized power across eastern Trendonia and proclaimed the baronies of Azkanü. This did not go as planned though as the barons began to purge traders and mayors, who joined forces and fought back. The chaos grew as everyone began secret negotiations with each other and betrayed deals with no remorses.

Azkanü soon erupted in full scale civil war destroying most Darim settlements and slowly it became known as ‘The Barren Lands’. This period lasted long into the Age of Hordes where a few Hordes emerged or took residence and slowly tamed the lands again meanwhile reestablishing long lost trade routes.

Skjald Vinotis

 

Some of the Darim leaders was in the envoy group visiting the 1st Alliance and the High King in spe. It was the first time since the vampire war, Darims of Trendonia travelled alongside Dwarves of the 2nd tribe. As we all know they ended up declining offers of joining The Realm. Some have claimed it was more due to internal Darin disagreements then about unfair trade and alliance terms on behalf of the realm. Especially Dwarven and Mawmen argumented for a better deal meanwhile Darim, Izir, and the N-erectus as such saw terms satisfactory.

Anyway they went back home and both realms continued to evolve, although wanderers benefitted the most as trade links. When The Great Invasion struck the races of Darin never aided the other isles as they had more than enough dealing with Ye'Til, Aquerian, Mammutan, and Pigryn. Many settlements and communities were destroyed in the fierce defence, and the intense cleanup resulted in them not joining the Cleansing Crusade.

Skjald Ulrich

 

Fifth Age

With as good as all invaders gone and the collapse of the realm, they have begun rebuilding their communities once more. With a even more keen eye on wanderers and n-erectus alike.

Skjald Kazumix