With the Lesser Darkness came the trolls, who founded the Queendom of Halikiv and began encroaching upon hsunchen lands. King Dan of the Basmoli chose instead to expand westward; from his base of power by the shores of Nalar (now known as Felster) Lake, he conquered most of what is now Seshnela.
During the Greater Darkness the region came to be called the Guardian Forest, as it held strong against the forces of Chaos up until the very end, when an army led by Wakboth ravaged it. This weakened the inhabitants enough so that when other cultures began expanding into Ralios in later ages, they were powerless to resist. King Dan was present at I Fought We Won, representing all hsunchen, not just the tribe of Basmol. For his heroism he is remembered in Ralian folktales to this day.
In 375, Nysalor was born. His reign is still somewhat vaguely (the reason for it being forgotten) referred to as the "Good God's time" in eastern Ralios, where only his benevolent side was seen. Further west, however, his prophets showed less restraint. Abuse of the 'dark side' was never as rampant as in the remotest provinces, but it still made a noticeable fraction of the population side with Arkat when he invaded in 410. The battles raged across Ralios for three decades, leaving both armies exhausted and turning Vustria and Karia into the unhealthy places they are today. But Kartolin Pass withstood all attacks and the easternmost tribes successfully contained the trolls of Halikiv. Of course, Arkat won anyway ten years later (through no fault of the Dangans), whereupon he founded the Stygian Alliance (also known as the Dark Empire). This political entity was very friendly towards trolls and showed considerable Western influence in culture and religion.
During this period a number of pet hates were founded: Arkat, Trolls, the West and centralized authority. These attitudes have softened somewhat with time (e g peaceful trading with trolls is now possible), but are still held by much of the population. Eventually, a hero arose from the ranks of the Odayla cult: Aringor walked the dangerous Lightbringer's Path and returned with Narnarra, the Dawn Age heroine who had first introduced Orlanth worship to the Wilds. This strengthened the Orlanthi considerably and made their resistance much more effective. So when, after a long period of squabbling over Tanisor, the Kingdom of Seshnela (by now a part of the Jrusteli Empire) crushed the Stygian Alliance and the Cult that went with it (c 740), they defeated a foe already softened up by barbarian hordes.
But soon after this, the rebellion in central Ralios was (for the time being) put down (c 825), and the God Learner missionaries turned their attention to the East Wilds. Exasperatingly enough, they found the Orlanthi unshakeably true to their newly regained faith. Military conquest was deemed unprofitable (the Wilds are, after all, of only marginal strategic or economic importance), so the pattern of minor conflicts continued as before, with Jrusteli troops substituted for those of the Dark Empire.
Around this time, the Empire of the Wyrm's Friends rose to power in Dragon Pass, and one of their heroes, Ingolf Dragonfriend, originally hailed from Delela. But there was no widespread acceptance of draconic ways in Ralios, and when the EWF tried to invade they were met by Alakoring Thanemaker. Alakoring was already a hero for discovering the Rex aspect of Orlanth, but in the fight against the EWF he gained the new name of Dragonbreaker, by which most Orlanthi across the world remember him.
Having the Jrusteli as a common foe led to more sympathetic feelings between the easterners and the subjugated peoples of the Nalar Lake area. So much so, in fact, that when the Jrusteli Empire was eradicated and Seshnela sunk, they joined together in the rebellion and subsequent pillage of Tanisor (1049).
Despite the increased military activity, Corolaland was mostly troll property until the Hero Retter began throwing them out (from 1327 onwards). His continued successes eventually (in 1367) led to his becoming Duke (or King, according to the Orlanthi) of Delela. Alas, the King (of Jorstland) apparently feared Retter's ambition and popularity, and in 1371 had him assassinated. This proved to be a miscalculation - the East Wilds immediately proclaimed their independence, and even the westernized nobles were disgusted. The Kingdom disintegrated rather quickly, showing how loosely it was patched together in the first place. Instead, central Ralios was for a time ruled by Duke Felster, whose efforts in salvaging as much as possible from the catastrophe was recognized by renaming the lake (and later the whole region) after him. But this was a stopgap measure, and after his death there was no unity in Safelster.
Since then, the clans of the Wilds have continued to lead typically anarchic Orlanthi lives. Events in the outside world (such as the Seshnela-Safelster troubles in the late 1400's) haven't really concerned them. Even the arrival of the first Lunars forty years ago didn't faze them (to be honest, the Etyries merchants are mainly interested in Safelster and don't feel any need to proselytise among the Orlanthi). At first, the traders took heavy losses from raiding, but now they have bribed their way to safe passage from some clans and travel down the Doskior under the River Cult's protection. In 1612 Naskorion, using force and guile alternately, occupied some territory in southwestern Delela that had previously belonged to the Atnakol and Riagos tribes. This did cause some unrest throughout the East Wilds; among other things it is Aruzban Ironarm's foremost excuse for uniting the tribes of Delela once more, under his leadership of course. What the Orlanthi's response to these events will be is uncertain, but one thing is clear: a lot of young warriors are eagerly awaiting opportunities for adventure and glory.
The second, more ambitious, stab at a history only came as far as the first
age.
During the whole period the Basmoli were constantly at war with the Malkioni, a war they were losing step by step. Their cultural and religious identity was also declining during this war and the Basmoli (along with some minor tribes) populating the Safelster region were eventually converted into westerner beliefs (though most of these converts later rebelled against Seshnela again). The Basmoli in Basim, Keanos and southern Saug stuck to their hsunchen ways. Due to the pressure on the Basmoli the Velori succeded in overtaking the lands of Keanos from them. The Galanini and the Telmori lived in relative peace during the first hundred years.
In 104 ST Narnarra the Greater, a Theyalan missionary and Storm Voice arrived in the East Wilds from Maniria. She began a legendary mission that resulted in the conversion of Velori(105), Falani(108), Lothari(112), Damali(119) and Aleci(122) to the orlanthi way of living. Her first success was the most complete: every single Velori converted, leaving none to carry on the old traditions. The Pralori resisted the conversions but were forced to emigrate to Maniria(106-112). Narnarra tried to spread the new way of living to the Galanini, but was slain by Niar the Blessed, the High Horse of Galan.
A collegue of Narnarra, Stolle Muskrat converted all the Bisami people of Naskorion in 117 ST.
Some twenty years after Narnarra the Greater's death a granddaughter of hers, Narnarra the Lesser, converted the entire tribe of Rathori (140) but failed with the Jarvi and was killed by them (146). The Jarvi started a war against the Theyalans, but the Theyalans were led by Sakanim Jarvikiller, a Windlord of great reputation; he was the main reason for the defeat of the Jarvi and their (reputed) extinction some years later (167).
By the end of the second century most hsunchens in East Ralios except the Galanini and a few lesser peoples had adopted the orlanthi culture. The Galanini were able to hold on to some of their old lands, but the others mostly faded away from sight - some, like the Barathori, becoming extinct of natural causes.
In 150 ST the Kivitti, the strange bipedal elephant people of Karia, successfully stopped explorations from Dorastor. The reason for this was that they did not like the way the theyalans treated their opponents, like the Jarvi. Humans were bad news for the elder species.
The main problem for the new orlanthi in East Wilds was farming, they had no specific regional crop to grow. But the great hero Nikur of Blackburn quested for a new grain and returned in 160 with the wheat of Ralia.
Only interrupted by some minor warfare with the trolls of Halikiv, the orlanthi of the East Wilds lived in relative peace during the rest of the century. In 162 the Dangan Confederacy was formed and Sakanim Jarvikiller was appointed High Councillor. 173 Sakanim dissapeared and his nephew Tobis Sheepbraineater was elected new High Councillor; after a few year of power, Tobis appointed himself as King of the Dangans in 176. The Dangan chiefs were not at all happy about this, and the seed of discord was sown. The succesor of Tobis, Othar Loudbreath was killed in 191 by Gogalim Duskmask, a renegade chief of disputed origin. The Dangan confederacy ceased to exist and leadership devolved to lower levels, new tribes instinctively forming on the basis of hsunchen origin. These tribes to a surprisingly large extent resemble the tribes still in existance today.
Despite the antagonism between the tribes, no war broke out, though raiding was frequent. When the High Council of the Land of Genertela in Dorastor (200) was formed, almost all the tribes tried unsuccesfully to get the upper hand over each other by bribing the Council, they didn't know that the Council already had an agreement with the Galanini. In 216 Yalamor the Purple Father, a high ranking leader of the Council, arrived at Karia and managed to bribe his way through the Kivitti's lands. Later the same year he arrived at the Horse King's camp, where he recruited a large horde of Galanini braves. In 218 these braves left the land of their forefathers to fight the Horse barbarians.
In 230 ST the Galanini mercenaries and Prax nomads crushed the Horse barbarians at Argentium Tri'ile. The Galanini where rewarded by landgrants in Peloria and they formed families in their new land. These young braves where overwhelmed by the power and glory of the Solar worship in Dara Happan and adopted that religion and some of its culture. But they made a fatal mistake in supressing their new subjects. Some fifteen years later the Galanini and their Dara Happan wives where forced to leave Peloria due to a peasant rebellion. Again they joined the Council as mercenaries (with their families in the wain) and fought and defeated the Kivitti at Karia in 246.
As now nobody stopped the Council at Kartolin Pass, a large emigration began, and major parts of the Doskior river were settled by Dorasta-worshipping maize-agriculturing peasants. This colonization lasted a decade or so and was accompanied by constant raiding from the local orlanthi.
In 248, the Sun-worshipping Galanini overtook the leadership of the Galanini tribe in Otkorion, South Vustria and northern Safelster, they introduced the Ehilm cult to the whole tribe and the social and religious pattern that still exists today was formed. A few years later they left northern Safelster for settlers from Dorastor, as agreed in a contract established between the former mercenaries and their patrons.
In 259 Kork the Rider of Winds managed to unite several orlanthi tribes in an open war against the Council and their colonizers. The Galanini were reluctant to help either side in this war and the Council hired Dragonewts to act as protectors for the settlers, even some clans of trolls were hired for the job. The troll's bargain was the taxation of the trade route between Kartolin pass and the Doskior river, Istakahixa was their headquarters. In 263 Kork the Rider of Winds recreated the Dangan Confederacy.
Some years after their arrival the dragonewts found the ruins of a Dragoncity in Ormsland and some of them, helped by dragon magic, defeated the Telmori living there.
In 280 the colonisation of Safelster reached its peak with the defeat of the Seshnegi in the southern parts. The Council still craved expansion and the orlanthi and Galanini lands of Otkorion seemed a sound choice.
At the beginning of the fourth century the relationship between the Council in East Ralios and the Dangan Confederacy became more relaxed, but in Otkorion the relations between orlanthi and the Council tensed. In 320 these tensions resulted in a great war. Nobody won, but the expansion of the Council was halted. The same year a treaty between the Dangans and the Council made it possible to end all warfare in the East Wilds. The dragonewts where discharged and retired to Ormsland, the trolls kept the administration of the trade route.
The Ralia cult was reestablished and superseded Dorasta worship, maize cultivation became an obscure curiosity.
In 333 the grandson of Kork, Dorg Walks-on-Water built Sweetweed Castle with the help of the newtling hero Kilwin Stoneheart. The new Dangans decided to found a capital located on the mainland south of Sweetweed Castle. This city was completed in 345 and had over 3000 citizens.
The Dorastor settlers around Felster lake revolted against the Council in 350 and proclaimed their independence, calling themselves the Dari Alliance. The Ralia cult replaced Dorasta worship in these lands too.
In 365 the Council decided to create the ultimate god, this new direction made the trolls and dragonewts leave the Council, leaving a broken council behind. The Halikiv trolls abandoned their presence in east Delela and Saug and left Corolaland, the trade route (including Istakahixa) was deserted. The dragonewts of Ormsland lost contact with their cousins in Dragon Pass and began a slow process of degeneration, eventually becoming the 'barbarian' dragonewts of today.
The Galanini, thrilled by the possibilities of a living god of light, joined the Broken Council.
Weakened by the withdrawal of the trolls and dragonewts the Broken Council's godcreating efforts were reignited by the Dara Happans joining the council, in 370.
With the help of Dorastor, the Dangans decided to build Istakax (370) as an outpost towards the trolls. Istakax became one of the links in the chain of strongholds along the trade route between the heartlands of Ralios and Dorastor. Istakax was planned to be finished in time for the birth of the new god, but this goal was not acheived.
In the year 374 the sun stopped and the Bright One was born. Great festivities where held in Kilwin and the unfinished city of Istakax and all around Delela and Saug. The worship of Nysalor or Osentalka as he was called in Ralios, was rapidly adopted by the Dangans of the East Wilds. Lots of sacred monuments were erected for his glorification and with unnatural speed the orlanthi way of living was forgotten, only the cult of Ralia was untouched by the new religious outlook.
The Dangans lived happily under the reign of Osentalka and did not see his dark sides as the westerners did. They cheered the trollkin curse and enslavement of the treacherous dragonewts, they enjoyed raiding deep into Halikiv and killing many trolls. Some of the unconverted hsunchen resisted the Osentalka worship and became more reclusive. In 378 the Dangans discovered a small surviving population of Jarvi and delightedly slaughtered them even though they were the last of their kind.
In 380 the Dari Alliance was attracted by the power of Nysalor and joined forces with him, they became as staunch worshippers of him as the Dangans. Most of the Telmori people did the same.
Tanisor adopted the Nysalor cult in 385, but was overwhelmed by the dark sides of him, being a perverted people. Tanisor attacked Brithos and the Seshnegi in 400 and defeated them, one of the Brithini soldiers was the young Arkat. Ten years later, in 410, Tanisor was conquered by Arkat, leading an army from Seshnela. Tanisor recieved no help from the rest of the Nysalor-worshipping areas, due to research done by them in 407 where outrageous secrets were revealed about the Tanisor kingdom's corruption.
In 417 Arkat was appointed Grand Marshal of the Seshnelan Grand Crusade against Chaos, and advanced into Ralios. He was helped by orlanthi from Otkorion to conquer the Dari Alliance in 419. But eventually his forces where weakened and exhausted and he was repelled by the Dangans near Kilwin.
In 420 Arkat left his army to heroquest, and returned in 424 with new powers. During that time a status quo was established between his army on one side and the Dangans and Galanini on the other. When he came back, Arkat decided on a lightning attack at Karia from the north. He conquered Karia, leaving a ruined Vustria behind as a result of his efforts, but was stopped at Kartolin Pass He then decided to leave one army in Karia and try another way to Dorastor. Before leaving Ralios in 425 he defeated the Nysalor-converted Telmori, who fled to Fronela. The pure ones withdrew into central Telmoria.
Not all of the former orlanthi were satisfied with the cult of Osentalka. There were those who longed for the stormy old days. In particular, the Berenneth tribe, which had been formed by colonists of the recently troll-free Corolaland, was a hotbed of reactionary feelings. They went so far as too reintroduce Orlanth worship, initiating their young men into the banned mysteries. For this crime, large portions of the tribe were exiled, including a young farmer named Harmast. The remainder of the Berenneth were either absorbed by other tribes or destroyed in the next wave of trollish expansion. Harmast's role in rescuing Arkat, and thus aiding Nysalor's downfall, went unnoticed by the Dangans, who were busy fighting a holding action against the enemy forces left.
A Zorak Zorani force helped by the Arkat army stormed Istakax in 440, and that marks the real beginning of troll dominance in the East Wilds.
In 449 Nysalor died, leaving the East Wilds an empty shell, as the Dangan Confederacy dissolved, easy to conquer by Arkat when he returned a year later, founding his infamous Dark Empire. Arkat donated Guhan to his troll allies in 450 and established a dynasty of his own in the unpopulated land of Lankst. During the rest of the first age Arkat consolidated his domains.