Beru Nomads

The Beru are a people-group native to Abexilas, originary from the region surrounding the Astigar Mountain range, located in the continent of Tanragh (also known as Sinraeda among the continent's natives) in the northeast of Abexilas. 
For the most part, the Beru practice a nomadic lifestyle, centred around one's tight-knit tribal community, who roam the world regardless of national borders, setting up camps of varying degrees of permanence (all across Tanragh, and occasionally beyond) from which they live off the land, following a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This nomadic condition is the source of their own name, Beru, an endonym meaning "Wandering Folk" (from Ber- "Wandering" and -u "folk, people"). This fact notwithstanding, some Beru communities have started to adopt, in recent terms, elements of a more sedentary lifestyle due to increased contact with other (settled) peoples and social and environmental pressures ever since the arrival of the Voyagers and the Comet. 
Despite their nomadic nature, it is in their homelands along the peaks of the Astigar Mountains where one can encounter the largest concentration of Beru people and communities (particularly within the territory of Asren). Beru communities, though smaller, can also be found in Castanor, Sarinzerilin, and Irithel, as well as in distant Tiberia, Talasi, Cathranis, and even Kejafros. 
Beru culture attributes special importance to one's tribal association, which compose the basic social unit of Beru society. Communal ties are strong within one's tribe, with resources being liberally shared between members and the use of communal dwellings and shelters. The Beru tribes are said to make decisions in groups and are for the most part leaderless and egalitarian, with positions of leadership being granted temporarily in exceptional cases by the wish of the collective tribe. Concerning their religious beliefs, scholars considered them to be, for the most part, animistic. They also note that community and roaming druids and shamans take a lead role as religious guides and as keepers of knowledge and the magic-arts. Astrology and haruspicy are commonplace in Beru personal and communal daily life.
The reader should note that the following article utilises the Voyager Era Calendar.
== Pre-Voyager Era History (before 1 VE) ==
=== Commentary on the Pre-Voyager Era ===
The Pre-Voyager Era encompasses the period of Beru history that occurs before the arrival of Iristor Comet to Abexilas and the consequent migration of the Voyagers (Rathnirian and Eldhamite refugees) to the world the Beru are native of. 
It should be made clear to the reader that what is described in this section consists of events that in fact did not take place in-game. Instead, these events should be read in the context of providing additional historical context to the events that have occurred in-game after the server has opened to the public, or to interweave the past of the Beru with the past of other neighbouring or related cultures (such as with Irithel and Rethia) as well as additional worldbuilding the community that plays the Beru found worthwhile to add.
=== Origins, Oral History, Loss ===
The ancient history of the Beru is shrouded in mystery. With the Beru preserving their stories only through word of mouth, their traditions have become either heavily embellished over the years or outright lost to time. It is the hallowed duty of the Beru Story-keepers to speculate over and ascertain the hidden truths of the past, if the truth can be found at all. In the modern days, the story-keepers turn to the oral records of the most ancient surviving tribe: the Stag Tribe.
The history of the Stag Tribe is tied to the land of Tanragh (also known as Sinraeda, among its native cultures). It is thought that the powers that held sway over much of the land were the ancestors of the Irithel and other nameless, forgotten rulers and peoples. Indeed, the written records and traditions of Irithel indicate that some time before the event they call "Morlenna's Calamity," the Beru travelled the land much like their modern-day counterparts, keeping company with the Irithe and whispering knowledge of places past their understanding. By combining the Irithe records with Beru stories, it is now believed that the Beru walked side-by-side with the nomadic Anare and the city dwelling Elluré, as well as others which passed unto time and under the foundations of past and current empires.
Alongside the Elluré, Beru groups would also find themselves in distant shores, accompanying them in expeditions to other continents. Though for much time disputed and considered a myth, it is now know that a group of Beru migrated west along Elluré ships and settling in the northern portions of Talasi. In these southernly lands, they avoided the disaster that stroke their homeland in Tanragh, and evolved a distinct (yet similar) culture from their distant brethren as the Akens civilisation was established and developed.
When the Calamity came, bitter cold brought the city-states of the Elluré to their knees. Along with them went the Beru, forcing their tribes to confront stagnation, starvation, or oblivion. Though the people survived this event, it was followed by dark, fearful times. While the world was being rebuilt, worries arose that another crisis would spell the end of civilization, permanently this time. Those that believed such began to hide themselves away from the other tribes, conquering the mountain and forging a sanctuary out of rock and ice. Those who stayed in the plains and the forests, those who helped rebuild, would (by causes unknown - but widely speculated by Irithe academia and Beru story-keepers) join the fallen as the Stag Tribe became the last standing of their ancient ways. 
In the time before complete records were lost, the Beru also speak of the "Fall of the Heavenly Library." They tell of falling stars bringing strange runes and sigils, the origin of which they could never discern. At first, they seemed nothing more than stars, gliding along unknown paths in the sky; some were said to crash into the mountains and the plains. Curious, the Beru sought them out and gazed upon what would, in time, bring them to their modern form.
== Pioneer Era History (1 VE - 72 VE) ==
=== Commentary on the Pioneer Era ===
Heralded by the arrival of Iristor's Comet, the Pioneer Era is marked by the expansion and spread of the Beru people from the Astigar Mountains across the world. Another important factor is the interaction of the Beru with other more technologically advanced civilisations and how these interactions in turn impact the Beru internally and how their society reacts to the discovery of a much wider and different world beyond the mountains' peaks as well as with the technologies the Beru come across and integrate into their lives.
Unlike the previous Era, the Pioneer Era describes events that did took place in game. The events are described in as truthfully as possible to what did in fact happen in game, with minor modifications for narrative purposes and to accommodate the events of the game in a coherent manner that would make sense in a historical account.
The end of the Pioneer Era is marked by the passage of the last generation to have lived in the period in which the Beru were limited to the Astigar Mountains and the increase relevance of a new generation that was already born in a much vaster and radically changed world that would be unrecognisable at the time of the previous generation's birth.
=== Arrival from the other World ===
As the effects of the Calamity began to recede, the Beru began to observe new visitors in their lands and the lands of others. A strange people, who called themselves the Asrennu, arrived in the southern mountains where the Stag Tribe (led by Just_Shooter and O_Alentejano) resided, preserving the old ways of their people. They welcomed the new arrivals as the industrious Asren began to rise, and they traded prolifically with each other, providing a great boon to both parties and forging a warm friendship. The Beru continued living in the mountains, but thereafter met many other new nations such as the Kingdom of Hauksgrafir (currently known as Kingdom of Akito), who would serve as a means for the tribe to get food in the form of bread.
The Beru were much impressed with the knowledge and ways of the newcomers and so decided that they would begin building monuments and settlements of their own. A collection of adventurous and forward-thinking Beru spearheaded this initiative to study and build in a way uncommon to the Beru.
=== Construction of the Dial and establishment of the Bee-Hole ===
The first Beru settlement to be marked, given its position in the mountains and overlooking its highest peak (which, in the Beru tongue, is referred to as Goat Mountain due to its large population of goats), declared that it would be making a construction to mark the time and to praise the sun and moon. Officially, the camp was formed by the Druid of the Stag Tribe: Senan Wayfarer (Just_Shooter). This came in the form of the Dial, a structure of stone and wood, serving both a purpose in religious and practical matters for the Beru. During this event, Astrupal Sun-chaser (O_Alentejano) was christened with the Spirit of the Goat, due to the strong affinity they shared. Owing to this historic precedent, the most intrepid Beru would later adopt the moniker of the Goats, creating a sister tribe to the Stags known as the Goat tribe.
Some of these Beru (headed by Astrupal Sun-chaser and Ameri), from the first settlement near The Dial, ventured down to the base of the mountain, where a forest and plains lay, and eventually made a new settlement. This settlement would be better-established than the first, and due to both the abundance of bees in the area and the small valley it sat in, it was dubbed the "Bee-hole." Ameri of the Goat Tribe, would set out to live in this new settlement and head the tribesmen that chose to live there.
The Bee-hole would however prove to be short lived, given that years later the forest grove the small settlement was located at would be engulfed by Castanorian colonists who built a castle over it (the Castle of Erissia, named after the Castanorian name given to the local forest). Ameri of the Goat Tribe was never seen again since Castanor occupied the region, her fate is shrouded in mystery.
=== Journey West and the Eye of Stars ===
The Goat tribe, which had for a time settled in the Bee-Hole, could not contain their adventurous spirit and began heading west to a place they heard of by word of mouth; they left only a few notes for the Stag Tribe of the mountains to follow. Details of these journeys now lay in the sagas recorded by each of the tribes. Nonetheless, both tribes made their way separately, Stag following the trails of the the Goat Tribe to what the Stag Tribe christened the "Eye of Stars." The Goat Tribe made contact with the nation of Maecenea upon arriving, while the Stag Tribe itself simply settled along the coast, near the Eye of Stars.
The talks for the establishment of a proper, and formal, Beru settlement at the Eye of Stars suffered from a series setbacks leading to its eventual breakdown. In response to this, the Goat Tribe, which was the Tribe most prominently involved in the negotiations with the Maecenean religious leadership, chose to abandon the site for other pastures. This decision was however not taken the same across the Tribe, with some (following tribal leadership) wishing to return to the Mountains of Asren, while a minority faction desired to go south to Ischanor having heard that the nobility there were looking for mercenaries and bodyguards (particularly in the lands of Cìrion). The Stag Tribe, in contrast, and in their traditionally conservative manner, chose to remain longer in Maecenea. Thus, the Beru host was sundered: the Stags remaining in Tiberia, the Goats returning to Asren, and the newly minted Sheep Tribe (having split from the Goat Tribe) heading south. 
=== Struggle in Ischanor - The Frog Rebellion ===
The Sheep Tribe, having come to be at the service of Luelwyn Relyn (JustAtlas1), the Countess of Marsen, quickly found themselves in the midst of religious turmoil and a full blown rebellion within the Empire. What follows is the Beru account of the Great Frogist Crusade, as well as their (and that of Marsen) involvement in the conflict: 
==== Birth of the Frog Cult and Beru involvement ====
In the town of Selroa, a tense election for a position in the city's upper-senate was underway. Two candidates, Useless and Früg Früginson, contested the recently-made-vacant senatorial position firing up the citizenry at all costs for their political faction's victory, having no qualms in inciting the militancy of their followers in an already polarised and divided city. After the votes were counted, the Monarch of Selroa, Kuro Cattleman, announced the electoral victory of Useless by a extremely short margin. The narrow victory together with the exceptionally short time the votes were counted in galvanised the supporters of Früginson who started to dispute the election's results, calls and pleas for a recount and redoing of elections were made by various pro-Früginson personalities and soon enough the streets of the city were filled with protestors.
In face of this turmoil, Cattleman called for aid from other nobles in the region to intercede as third parties and support in the pacification and restoration of order in the city. Luelwyn Relyn, the Countess of Marsen, answered the call of the monarch and rode east to Selroa together with her Beru Guard as well as with Saegar (kasper01), the famed traveller and adventurer, who having eared of the events in Selroa during his stay in Marsen asked to join the delegation. Other aristocrats were also present and sent their own delegations such as the Duke of Krakenstein and the Archduchess of Beloslavia.
Arriving in Selroa, the delegation saw hundreds if not thousands of citizen marching on the streets, as they expected, but also something more unusual and unexpected sight: instead of following Früginson they now seemed followed a frog, who they claimed, much to the delegation's confusion, to be a god having thrown lightning and performed many other miracles the past night. These claims were quickly dismissed.
The following day, the Beru Guard was tasked to keep an eye on the protesters, now turned Frog-cultists. Saegar joined the Guards in this task, fuelled by his curiosity for this odd-frog and his unquenchable sense of adventure. The day was uneventful for the most, with little to no tumult, until later afternoon, when the Beru witnessed the unbelievable: as the followers of the Frog gathered around the small animal, the frog started to speak in a human voice. The Beru and Saegar were awestruck and in disbelief, Saegar followed by one of the guards hastened towards Luelwyn to inform the Countess of the development. Soon she as well as the other noble and their delegations joined the crowd that had gathered around the speaking frog. 
The Frog continued preaching throughout the afternoon and early evening, as more and more citizens and delegation members cast away their rejection for the now-apparent Frog-god and joined the ranks of its believers, which now counted with a few of the Beru. The next day, the gathering reconvened and the rhetoric of the speaking Frog-god started to change, with calls for spreading the word of the Frog across Ischanor and the continent of Kejafros. At the same time, emboldened by the Frog's words the citizens of the city started lighting fires and erecting barricades. The monarch of Selroa, together with the senate and other governing members of the city, feeling the city to be lost to yet another revolution fled the city towards the nearby fortified settlement of Bachengart, effectively surrendering the city to the Frogists. According to most scholars, this moment is considered to be the starting point of the Frog Rebellion.
==== March to Lisvar ====
Luelwyn having managed to gather the sympathy of the Frogists did not flee with the rest of the governing body of Selroa and the Krakenstein delegation to Bachengart, arguing "it is best to keep an eye and foot on the inside". A similar decision was made by Archduchess Zofia Svletanna Korola of Beloslavia. As the sun rose the next morning, the Followers of Frog had barricaded the city, expecting Cattleman (the monarch of Selroa) to return from Bachengart with an army and snuff out the floundering flame of the Faithful. The Countess and Archduchess, given their status and amicability to both sides, hoped to be able to negotiate a peaceful end to this (so far) bloodless conflict should the city be besieged; and thus also gain more prestige and leverage within the internal politics of the Empire.
This, however, did not occur, and it come to pass that after two days of waiting and fortifying the Frog addressed all those in the city (at around the third hours after sunrise) and urged them to create a group to march towards Lisvar, the biggest city in the region, to hold a ritual and spread the word of the Divine Frog. A group was swiftly organised for this mission and the Marsen delegation chose to follow them and act as mediators if need be.
The Faithfull and the Frog took the mountainous path to the regional capital, an option which made the Beru feel most at home and well prepared to defend the convoy should the need arise. Fortunately, the trek to Lisvar was uneventful. The Frogists crossed the city gates without protest and approached Lisvar Church. There they held the ritual and religious ceremony in which Frog spoke directly to his followers and all others that joined. The Anti-Froggists claim that the city gate was violently opened and skirmishes took place around the town, but no Beru took notice of such event and claim such allegations to be false, at least to their knowledge.
==== Massacre at the temple ====
As the sermon was being held the entrance of the church came to be under the control of forces hostile to the Frogists who started to fortify their position on the entrance to the building with intentions to harm and prevent any of those inside to escape driven by news and exaggerated rumours of what came to pass in neighbouring Selroa, by their zealotry on their Ischanic Faith which they felt had been violated by the Frog Worshipers, and by the nudging and sponsoring of some aristocrats who wished to meddle in the affair for their own gain. When the sermon was drawn to a close, the Anti-Frogists crossed the entrance and started to murder those inside, many of whom completely unarmed, in cold blood. A massacre ensued.
The pleas of the Marsen delegation fell on mute hears as the Anti-Frogists killed indiscriminately. The members of the Beru Guard there present defended the Countess against the extremists, though at the cost of several comrades lives. It was due to the cunning of Saegar that a hidden back exit of the Church was found, allowing for the safe exit of the Countess and many of the surviving Faithfull. 
It is recorded that some noblemen and their retinue took part in the massacre itself. Though many details about the participants are muddled it is known that the Archduke of Louvvres (liege of the Duke of Kalkenstein) took part in the massacre and claims to have slew the physical form of Frog who performed the ritual. Rumour has it that the Emperor of Ischanor himself was also present (with blame for the massacre being also placed on the unpopular sovereign) but this has been highly disputed by scholars and some of the involved. 
==== Retreat and consolidation ====
The surviving Beru Guard was then split in half: Half rode with all haste to Marsen, guarding Luelwyn and Saegar with the goal to raise the banners of the county and bring more forces to the conflict, which from now on would count with the direct involvement from Marsen. The other half of the Beru Guard would join the Faithfull on their retreat to Selroa where a last stand was being planned as per indications of the Divine Frog.
The indiscriminate murder of unarmed people shocked the Countess and above all the attempt on her own life at the hands of a mob rallied by some of her aristocratic rivals made her abandon her previous position of mediator and side with the Frogists, despite not being a believer of the Frog herself, as this religious movement had now become a piece in the power plays and political games of the aristocracy. Luelwy, raised her bannermen and levies, mobilised the rest of the Beru Guard which had remained in the city and marched out with her army to support Selroa once word had reached her that the Frogists would make their stand there together with the Archduchess of Beloslavia who was also swayed to their side. 
Saegar, also shocked by the events in Lisvar, would persuade his retinue and battle-hardened companions (mostly of Akashiran origin) who had chosen to stay in Marsen in the last days to join him and the Host of Luelwyn in the defence of Selroa. These reinforcements would prove decisive in the battles to come.
Luelwy would also find support in her liege, and betrothed to-be-husband Ulrich des Feuers the Duke of Cìrion. He would bolster with his own levies the garrison of Marsen, thus preventing any attack of the Anti-Froggists on her town, all the while maintaining an overall neutral yet biased position during the conflict.
Concerning the the part of the Guard that accompanied the Faithfull back to Selroa, They soon found themselves tailed by a party of Anti-Froggists as the Faithfull marched during day and night in order to reach safety as soon as possible and escape their pursuers. During the night, as their pursuers closed their distance shorter and shorter, part of the Beru Guard decided that the best way to stand their ground. Finding a place where the forest path commanded them the advantageous ground, the thick forest and cliffs on both sides allowed for no flanking, and inspired by their faith in Frog, the Beru stood and marched no more. As the rest of the Faithfull continued their trek to safety the Beru faced off their pursuers. For the astonishment of all involved, no battle ensued: the numerical superior Anti-Froggists started no engagement while the Beru gave no ground. By dawn, when it was certain the Faithfull had arrived at the city a parlay was had between the facing parties in which both departed ways without any killing. As for the Beru's are concerned this stand was a success as it allowed the Faithfull to return to Selroa and a miracle of Frog (who the Beru had interpreted and syncretised as a powerful spirit in their own traditional belief system) for no blood was shed.
==== Defense of Selroa ====
The reinforcements from Beloslavia and Marsen arrived one and two days, respectively, after the arrival of the Faithfull fleeing from Lisvar who had swiftly began on improving the city's fortifications, food and other goods were stockpiled, and an escape route was devised should the city fall. A siege was expected to begin at any time and despite the odds against the Froggists, the spirits and moral were high due to their belief in Frog and the support they had found in part of the aristocracy. Scouting parties were sent to identify the whereabouts of the enemy and forage more food and goods, some small skirmishes with Anti-Froggist scouting parties also took shape in this phase of the conflict. Several days passed until reports by a scouting party lead by Saegar arrived from the east speaking of a large host marching from Bachengart towards Selroa lead by Ludwig von Bachengart. Battle was upon the Faithfull.
Soon, the enemy surrounded the city, resulting in a siege that would last six months. Various attempts at to dislodge the other side by sorties, skirmishes, and assaults leading to inconclusive results. All the while, the walls and improvised fortifications of the Froggists were gradually worn down despite their repairs. By Autumn, despite still having supplies to last a few more months, they were now in a desperate situation as the fortifications could no longer hold the enemy as a final assault was ordered by Ludwig von Bachengart and it seemed that the Anti-Froggist were poised to seize the city. Their fortune was however radically changed when Frog appeared itself to the defenders. Frog rallied the defenders and urged them to trust in it's divine might and charge at the enemy with no fear for no harm would come to them and victory would be had. Emboldened by the appearance and call of their deity the Froggist cheered and charged the enemy through the breach they had made on the wall as lightening cast by Frog fell from the heavens, with Saegar and his companions leading the charge. The Anti-Froggists were routed as the Faithfull expelled the invader from within the city walls and sallied forth from the breach they have had made to penetrate the settlement. Ludwig von Bachengart sounded the retreat and the Anti-Froggist army fortified itself in Bachengart as they prepared for a new offensive in spring.
==== Battles for Bachengart and Lisvar ====
With the siege lifted, the Frogist forces celebrated their hard-won victory. It is then that Frog appeared once again and told them that with the enemy licking their wounds and still unprepared in Bachengart the Faithfull had now the upper hand. With this pronunciation the leadership of the Frogist (Louix Atrien and Louix d'Beaumont) chose to pursue the former besiegers and attack their stronghold of Bachengart. The Frogist army marched west and surrounded the strong-walled settlement. Wanting to take advantage of their recent victory and emboldened by it a general assault was ordered. Though scaling the walls proved little success it gave an opportunity for a section of the Frogist forces (in which the Beru Guard were included) to breach the main gate of the city during late afternoon. Once the defenders noticed the infiltration, they managed to repel the Frogist and recapture and regain control over the gate, from which they released copious amounts of flaming oil which resulted in the death of a few Beru. The Frogist units that managed to enter into town continued fighting for the next hours having made their stand in a small neighbourhood, but isolated from the rest of their comrades outside the now lost gates, they all met their end to the forces of Bachengart. The surviving troops that took part in the assault returned to camp by sunset.
With this initial assault repelled and news of incoming Anti-Frogist reinforcements from Celras and a pledge of direct support from Cirion, the leadership of the Frogist Forces devised a new strategy, one that would strike the enemy where they are weakest bring victory and an end to the war: lift the siege and attack and capture Lisvar, forcing the Emperor and the other nobles to agree to a truce and peace in favour of the Frogists.
On the second week of the siege, the leadership asked the soldiery to pack their belongings, but to leave their tents behind and keep lit their fires-camps, at the same time, horsemen continued to ride and perform exercises and marches (half on horse, half on foot, with their horses inside) around the camp as they had done throughout the week. On the last night of the week, the foot soldiers left under the cover of night and the dust released by the horsemen. At dawn, the horsemen had also left, and the Host of the Frog reached Lisvar not much after Bachengart discovered their siege had been lifted during the night.
Louix Atrien and Louix d'Beaumont were correct in their assessment that the Anti-Frogist troops had been amassed in Bachengart and Lisvar laid ripe for the taking. On their way to the city, the Frogist took control of the Temple of Thrax and made it their base of operations to attack nearby Lisvar. The commanders also made their presence known and that they had retreated from Brachengart in defeat hoping to lure in the city's garrison to attack them in the mountainous temple in hopes to defeat once and for all the shattered rebels. The ploy worked and the garrison's captain sallied out to the trap he thought an easy victory and promotion.
The battle ended after a few hours with the Frogists holding the advantageous and defensible stairway to the temple. With the garrison fleeing and the reinforcements from Bachengart still on their way, the Frogist forces rushed the city and captured it before Ludwig von Bachengart could reinforce the defence. It is said that Frog appeared before the victorious soldiers in the plaza before Lisvar Church where the Massacre of the Frogist had occurred earlier that year and declared "Total Victory" and that they would need to fight no more and that the war had ended. Celebration ensued as a truce agreement was drafted for the Emperor to sign and the Bachengart forces demobilised and returned to their fortress. After one year of war, the Frog Rebellion was over.
==== War's End and Aftermath ====
With the truce agreement signed, the leaders of both sides of the conflict and the Emperor met in Bachengart at the beginning of the next year to discuss peace. All parties agreed to cease all hostilities and fighting and decree of religious freedom was issued throughout the Empire. The Selroan government was restored to Selroa under the condition new and fair elections would be held.
Frogism became a staple religion in the west of Ischanor, being present mainly in the city of Lisvar, Selroa, and among the Beru of the Sheep tribe, who syncretised the new faith with their own traditional folk beliefs, with Frog occupied the role of a powerful spirit that can control thunder and is said to be older than the world itself.
=== Partition of Valreach ===
When Astrupal crossed the Iscava Sea back to Asren and the ancestral lands of the Beru in the Astigar Mountains, he found the region in disarray: Unrest and chaos had overtaken the southerly lands that the recently arrived Valrean colonists had claimed as their own and named New Valreach (after their now-lost homeland in Eldham). This instability, at the time of his arrival, seemed poised to spread across the whole region, and perhaps the continent, as the neighboring colonial powers eyed up the lush valleys and the crumbling polity that occupied them, threatening to plunge Tanragh into war. 
Unlike the other colonisers from beyond-the-world, the Valreans were a highly decentralised people, their lands being divided across several loosely aligned polities with only a inter-city league to bind them together. With time, and as competition over the lands of Tanragh increased, their reduced state capacity made them easy targets for the hungry colonial realms that had established in the continent. Over the six year period of New Valreach's existance, the Valreans found themselves frequently in territorial decline even before the untimely and final dissolution of their League. Most noteworthily, two years prior to the Valrean dissolution, Asren had already taken advantage of Valrean decline by seizing territory to the south of their main monastery, thus gaining full control over the then contested Astigar Pass (also known as Ancestral Pass among the Asrennu). 
==== Flashpoint and rising tensions ====
Closer to the events of the partition, increasingly more frequent raids and border skirmishes from the southern nations of Serenthia and Cesa Rindaun against the Valreans placed additional strain on their already weak league, which was now clearly unable to defend itself. In face of this new reality, some Valrean settlements started to request the protection of their larger neighbors, mainly Castanor and Akari. In a critical moment, the western settlements of New Valreach pledged loyalty to Akari while the eastern ones pledged to Castanor. Castanor, however, having received the submission of the High King of the Valreans, disputed the Akari protectorate over western New Valreach, arguing and recognising the League as a whole to be under it's protection. The dissolution of New Valreach thus became a territorial dispute between the two major power in the continent, one which Asren and the Beru would soon find themselves in the thick of. 
Asren possessed a disputed border with Valreach since their establishment. Upon their arrival, the Asrenu laid claim to the Valley of Flowers south of the Astigar Pass, this was however contested by the later arriving Valreans, who managed to gather support of other colonial powers to force Asren to surrender the whole Valley and most of the Pass to them. With the Valrean position crumbling, the then leader of Asren, Dara Shasra, declared his intent to restore Asren's original claims over the corpse of New Valreach across the Astigars, arguing for the restoration of the old borders and to facilitate easier movement between Asren's coastal and mainland territories (then divided by the hard to traverse Astigars). Astrupal, sensing an opportunity, mobilized his tribe's support on top of the Dara's bid for the Valley, on the condition of a Beru settlement in the Valley, a condition accepted by the Asrennu leader. 
A map laying out Asren's claim, called the White-line Map, was prepared and sent to Castanor and Akari, the two nations disputing Valreach, both of whom Asren happened to be allied to. The claims included the integration of the Valley of Flowers into Asren, the Small Forest, and the remaining section of the Woods of Jazurei that at the time was outside Asren's sovereignty. Given most of Asren's territorial gains came at a cost of Akari's claims, the southern power refused Asren's proposal. Castanor, however, seeking to further their expansionist goal decided to take Asren as an ally in this dispute. Castanor conceded to to all of Asren's claim except to the Small Forest, which they claimed as theirs, in exchange for Asren's support on their own claims. An agreement was reached and a new map was drafted, the Blue-line Map, which was jointly presented to Akari with the backing of Castanor arms. 
==== Resolution ====
The joint Asren-Castanor proposal and it's immediate fallout marked the highest point of tension of the dispute, with Asren's neutral position on the conflict tilting to Castanor's favour. The Akari delegation did not accept or refute the proposal, as negotiations stalled. War seemed certain between Castanor and Akari over the territory, with the participation and status of Asren and the Beru muddled in a complex web of treaties and informal promises. The dispute would however conclude in Akari surrendering all of its claims to Castanor and Asren after some Castanori posturing and sabre-rattling, with the Beru receiving the rights to settle on the Valley of Flowers as they ancestors did before the arrival of the People-from-beyond-the-world. What lead to Akari's acceptance of the proposal and surrender of all claims in New Valreach is hard to pin down by Beru accounts given the incomplete information Astrupal had access to. It is suspected, though not confirmed, that espionage was heavily involved and that a Castanori ultimatum forced the hand of the Akari monarch who wished not to escalate this dispute to a continental war, despite bellicose support at home. Neither Akari nor Castanor have divulged much of what happened during these underhanded negotiations and positioning and backroom deals. 
==== Aftermath - New lands and new seeds ====
Upon the conclusion of the treaty that formalized the new borders, Beru migration to the Valley of Flowers increased drastically. Simultaneously, word reached the Valley of a New Valrean leader who had established a new realm in the north near the lands of the Sarinzerilin, leading to a migration of the local Valreans to this new homeland. As more Beru made camps in the fertile and green highlands, they started to experiment with the sowing of plants which they had barely seen in generations (such as wheat, melons, and pumpkins) in the now abandoned Valrean fields, opening the door for more productive agriculture (which had been limited to berries since the Beru having taken refuge in the Astigar mountains during the Great Plague) and new sources of sustenance to the Beru. 
=== Questions of the Future ===
The settlement near the Eye of Stars, which for a time served as an anchor for the Beru traveling onward from Asren, was pillaged and torn asunder. Accompanied by a lack of food, and in an increasingly settled world little contacts, the Stag Tribe had decided to leave and return to Asren. Another driving factor was that the Goat Tribe had already returned, though only after having given themselves to fight in a war, unbeknownst to the Stag Tribe. 
Upon their return to the old sight of the Dial, it impressed the Stag Tribe of how long their original settlement had stood, compared to their temporary area near Maecenea. But, with their amazement in such things and reuniting with the Goat Tribe, a question would be posed that reached into the very foundation of the Beru. Upon their return to Asren, and even during their journey back, it had been noticed by the Stag Tribe that wildlife, be it sheep or wild pig had begun to dwindle. While the Beru had developed a culture of fishing and picking berries as a food source, it became a source of stress for some, and only was brought further into question. 
While some from the Stag Tribe had showed interest in becoming more reliant on migration, building larger settlements where agriculture could be utilized, particularly to combat the food issue. What had been a particular interest of some tribesman was the brewing of alcohol, particularly those found from strange texts of old recipes. Of course, such things would need farms which the Beru up until this point, had seldom used or like the Goat Tribe established strong relations with other nations. While some in the Stag Tribe had chosen to for the time being stick to the nomadic lifestyle, others began to construct a tent near what Astrupal Sun-chasser (O_Alentejano) dubbed the 'Jumping Goat Tavern.' Overall however this has led to a noticeable shift in the unity of the Stag Tribe. 
=== Of emeralds and potatoes ===
While the commotion and disagreements of the tribe leaders transpired, another event took place directly involving Astrupal Sun-chasser (O_Alentejano), a duel of sorts all spurred on by the sighting of an emerald. Some younger members of the Beru tribes had seen Samuraii of Asren with the shiny rock, and had inquired into trading it with food, even during the food crisis. The deal was denied and for a time, the Beru had chased the citizen of Asren across the mountainside, and even through the borders of neighboring nations. 
Eventually, Astrupal was given a suggestion by Senan Wayfarer to settle the the matter in a potato fight, the spare potatoes being the prize for Samuraii and the emerald for the Beru. They met in an abandoned 'bum pit' as some called, the fight itself going for three rounds, with the Beru involved watching eagerly. Unfortunately, Samuraii won against the Beru Tribes, keeping the emerald and gaining much food from the Beru. Even more so compounding the issue of food for the tribes.
=== Journey to Irithel and settlement of Erda Berin - beneath the northern sky, allies and homes on high ===
Concerned over the food crisis challenging the Beru, the head of the Stag Tribe, Senan Wayfarer, sent scouts to find and locate other food sources. Eventually, tales of what appeared to be an abandoned tower arose, bearing fruits and a small plot of wheat. It took a long trek to reach the place spoken of, but when the Stag Tribe laid eyes on it, they were to witness a strange sight. Past old northern cities lay a mountain, tall and gleaming white, like a beacon against the horizon. 
Yet, atop of the marvellous sight lay their prize, a tower and half constructed walls seeming to protect the berries and wheat. It was a precarious place, where some berries lay in chests within carved mountain holes, the farms were strung in the air by simple supports. Many dared not reach for the berries. The wheat fared little better, half a crop died in the frozen air, the rest were covered by a strange covering of stone and tree stumps. Nonetheless, Senan tasked their tribe with making their stake on the mountain, constructing an igloo for shelter and prepared to add supports in the following morning. The half built walls were torn down, supports added to the wheat field of snow, wood and stone found from the wall. The tower stayed, a still lit campfire serving as a beacon to to those sent out to survey the nearby cities. 
To supplement the loss made by the Goat Tribe some time earlier, the Stag Tribe had temporarily left the mountain settlement, planning to return soon after. When they returned however, they were greeted with signs saying to "STAY OUT", and learned their igloo had been taken. The food which they found stored had been hidden away, meaning the Stag Tribe was now at the peak of a mountain, no shelter and no stored food to speak of.
Word however came of contact with a nearby tower of Sônianong Nolgý, belonging to one Ongsae ri Lestambor (Fantascurdragon), a representative of the crown of Irithel. At this point, it wasn't clear who had dealt the blow to the tribe, unsure if it was the nearby kingdom or some other force. Out of options and to some degree forced into contact with Irithel, Senan explained their situation, and asked for clarification as to who wrought destruction on their settlement. It was explained that it was indeed not Irithel, but one who seemed to still claim the structures, one who Irithel wished to rid themselves of. As a trade, Ongsae offered a payment to the Beru to remove the structures, where as they would simply be rid of the squatters abode. Reinvigorated, the Stag Tribe went to work, sending word to the Goat Tribe to assist, and rid the mountain of the strange tower and farming platforms. With the assistance of the Goat Tribe, the Beru had done so within a few days, and presenting their evidence to Ongsae their payment was made in full.
However, the point was asked by both tribe leaders present, Senan and Astrupal if they may still settle the mountain. In resounding agreement, he gave the full support of Beru settlement, allowing the igloos once again to be built upon the nameless peak. Strangely, the Beru had been visited by a Fortune Giver during their time on the mountain, who lavished the Beru with gifts beyond their knowledge while the igloos were being built. Visits from Asren accompanied the strange but welcome event, perhaps visiting their Beru friends, who told them of their predicament. Though, it was asked what name the mountain peak bore, to which Ongsae answered it had none; the Beru would have that honor. 
The peak which reached to the sky, amongst the highest mountains reaching for the stars, was the peak which they'd been granted to name. Looking to the stars, the moon and the sun above, Senan uttered the words: Erda Berin, Watchtower of Wandering Light. It was not to last however, as the same presence that threatened the camp at Erda Berin returned again, eventually prompting a reaction from both the Beru and Irithel government. 
=== Beru attend Continental Meeting ===
This time would also mark a strange turning point for the Stag Tribe, alongside the Goat Tribe, and newer tribes such as the Giraffe Tribe: all began contributing more to the local international scene. As the situation surrounding Erda Berin came to a slow conclusion, an international meeting within the halls of Irithid was brought to their attention, and an invitation extended to the Beru Tribes to join the first Tanragh International Meeting. While the Beru did not speak much, it was with surprising gratitude they accepted, though Senan of the Stag Tribe was late to show. Before long, they found themselves in the hall with kings, councillors, and other men of power, who held it like the Beru would a staff. As it was an event to be held every so often, the consideration of where to hold the next meeting was discussed, and to the Tribes surprise the Jumping Goat Tavern was brought up as possible venue to host it. 
All the while, the Beru of the Stag Tribe had caught themselves in a particular interest, furthering their own knowledge of masonry and the art of blacksmithing. They were enamored by the sights of foreign lands, the structures and things the people carried with them, and were taken up in the effort to replicate it somehow. While their tents near the tavern would not fit such a venture, nor the igloos of Asren and with the camp at Erda Berin, again decimated another location was selected. Senan later found out about the plan as they arrived from Irithel, and while hesitant to explore the venture of the bumpit's renovation, gave it their blessing if only to itch their own curiosity. The curiosity into blacksmithing was something they remained unsure of.
The location of the bumpit was then looked at by eager members of the Stag Tribe (Just_Shooter), and Astrupal, and thought to be the best location to test their abilities. Before this could occur though, Roya (Samuraii) had committed the act of killing a bunny, and Astrubal took offense to this act. Reconstruction was halted until after the fight, and in a turn of events, the Goat Tribe came out on top. With the act deemed avenged, the Stag Tribe and Goat Tribes went to work on the bumpit.
The bumpit originally had been blocking a natural water way through the mountain, and for any future travel it was deemed necessary that it not be the case. All the while, those interested in blacksmithing kept Astrubal well informed of their achievements, with him being given the first of newly diamond dipped spears. These treasures, gifts from the Fortune Giver and those like him, were now being used to defend an ever growing Beru. Some claimed it to ward off further attacks, a show of force against threats like that around Erda Berin, or simply just as hunting tool like any other spear or stick used by the Beru. Senan was of course gifted a spear, along with the Druid of the Giraffe Tribe (Krip), though both the one gifting Senan and the Druid themselves were hesitant. Some members of the Stag Tribe felt uneasy about such a weapon, though it was similar to that of others they used for hunting, just far more refined and similar to sedentary peoples. 
The reconstruction of the bumpit itself was to some in the Stag Tribe, seen in a similar light, with an uneasy aura about it all the way until its completion. Nonetheless, its construction was finished with all criteria met, the pit was now raised above the water and travel under it made possible. Glowberries which were found in Erda Berin found a new home in the heights of the tunnel, growing their vines and fruit to light the way. The new bumpit itself consisted of pillars in the water, and a crescent platform for spectators, which some thought impossible to make. For some it was seen as a progression into something like the nations that populated the land, to others it showed a certain innovative spirit to the Beru, even if it simply just an arena. To the surprise of Senan, the efforts of the reconstruction was noticed by the bumpits original creator, and praised for its refit.
After the reconstruction, it also came to the attention that to finally rid Erda Berin of its squatters, the peak would have to fall under Irithel's direct control. A treaty was then proposed between the Beru and Irithel, the latter giving the Beru the task of drafting it and presenting it to their government, again an action which Senan saw was far more progressive than they liked. However, the events in the north were not to be the Beru's only focus, for the thoughts of the Sheep Tribe began to peculate among the leadership of the Beru. They had simply not been heard from since the Frogist Crusade, and as the treaty was being drafted, the solving of the Sheep Tribe's whereabouts was delegated to envoys of the Stag, Goat and Giraffe Tribes (Just_Shooter, o_alentejano, and Krip respectively.) Roya accompanied them as they went south to the Sheep Tribe's last heard whereabouts, down south of the continent of Tanragh, and to the lands of the Empire of Ischanor.
=== Traveling south to Ischanor - Fellowship of the South ===
The delegation of the tribes departed from Asren by the invitation of the Shaman of the Giraffe Tribe (who also just so happened to be the Verkhana of Asren). The delegation was composed by one envoy from each of the three tribes (Stag, Goat, and Giraffe), Roya who was also present in Asren at the time chose to accompany the delegation and thus also joined its fellowship.
==== Across Tanragh and Cathramis ====
Traveling south, they eventually reached the ruined settlement of Nomadia, within the lands of Akari. There, they met with its leader, Sleazy, (thunderscore9) among the crumbling mossy walls of what was once the houses of it's denizens. Sleazy told the delegation that when he and his people, who had fled from a disastrous war in in the southwest, arrived at the settlement it was already abandoned by its original inhabitants and overgrown by nature. During their short stay in Nomadia the Beru delegation discovered the local people to be quite proud of their crossbow design, being one of the town's main exports.
Following an overnight stay at Nomadia, the delegation continued south and embarked on a ship in Akari shores towards Maravilla, docking at a small fishing village headed by a man called Trazim, also a refugee from an unknown land called Hopticia. Seeing the poor conditions of the village the delegation choose to leave a small donation in return for their hospitality. Trekking south in Cathramis, the Beru passed through the lands of Mineland and Valdreach. Both these peoples seem to be unknown to the world at last inhabiting lands claimed by Maravilla but which they found to have little control over. In Valdreach and surrounding lands, the Beru found peculiar costumes, they found the Valdreachians to worship a cow called Vitulus, while in the nearby town they have found a giant statue honouring a sort of Pig Spirit.
After many days of travel, the delegation found themselves on the unfamiliar and distant eastern shore of Cathramis, where they made an unexpected discovery: a people who speaks the tongue of the Sarinzerilin. The Stag delegate, who is fluent on the foreign stroke conversation with the locals and was invited to come with them to their island city (VaprimenEstatenne) off the coast, an invitation that was quickly extended to the other members of the delegation. Talking with the locals (Jimos_ and Arsontm), the Beru found that these Sarinzerilin came to live in different lands due to their ships being separated from the rest of the Sarinzerilin fleet when arriving to Abexilas. The delegation excahnged news about the events in the north and the new core lands of the Sarinzerilin and received as a gift several eggs of an unknown six-legged creatured which the locals called Sniffer. Sailing south, the Beru a much larger settlement, called Velarim, inhabited by three strange people that the Beru had never seen before. Having found a common language in Sarinzerilin, the delegation was welcomed with open arms and was offered with a boat to continue their journey to the southern continent.
==== Behold a Pale Bear! ====
Crossing the turbulent sea between Cathramis and Kejafros, the Beru delegation and the Velarim crew came across a weird sight, an underwater city. Intrigued by it, the Beru tried to establish contact with the marine creatures who appeared to be human-sized crabs. Their efforts were however in vain. Regardless of this failure, the Beru named this body of water the Sea of Crabs, in honour if its odd inhabitants and to remember what one may find in it. Shortly after this encounter tragedy stroke as a storm lead to the crash of the ship against a field of icebergs, leaving the Beru stranded on this icy platform and the whole of the Velarim crew dead. The Beru trekked the craggy ice for half a day, looking for shelter and some food, it is then that they made a discovery that would save them: pale bears. Bear riding being a common skill among their folk, the Beru welcomed this encounter and found suitable rides for the whole group with which to cross the waves to Kejafros.
==== Arrival at Kejafros ====
The arrival of the Beru at the southern continent was greeted with mighty cliffs that stretched to the skies, making attempts at climbing fruitless. Heading east, they eventually were able to make landfall and road south following the local roads that guided to the lands of Solassia. Arriving at the city of Athreek, the delegation of the distant northern people in their exotic steeds immediately captured the imagination and the locals of the locals. Quickly they found themselves having a meeting with the local sovereign, King Epicness (EpicNessYT), who explained to the travelers the history of his folk and the ongoing events in this distant land. Before departing, the sovereign of Solassia gave the Beru many gifts: a book containing the story of the Solassians, a piece of the hardest metal known to his people, and a weird trinket he called a "Airpod", moreover he also warned the travellers of the ongoing danger of hostile Beepeck bandit parties who have recently arrived in the region and roam the surrounding forests. 
The Stag delegate chose to stay longer in Athreek in order to make further agreements with the King while the rest of the tribal delegates continued south in order to find out the location of the Sheep tribe and refer it back to Athreek for the Stag delegate. The trek to Ischanor was for the most part eventless, and the once inside the borders of the Empire the delegates quickly found the location of the Sheep tribe to be in Marsen which was quickly relayed back to their companion. The Stag delegate arrived in Marsen two days after the rest of the party to a great celebration held at the camp of the Sheep tribe and the company of the local countess, Luelwyn Relyn.
=== Returning North to Asren - Demonstration of Violence ===
The journey back was far less eventful than the one south. Perhaps it was the lack of bears on their trip north, for they had stayed in Marsen, or that fate had deemed their return to be silent and still, a much needed respite after their adventures to reach Ischanor. Meetings with strangers stood with days between them, though the Beru company brought with them gifts, some of which may had needed the lack of attention. With them of course were provisions for the return, but in addition, a gift from their Sheep Tribe brethren, which the Beru of Tanragh had only heard rumours of beforehand: a thing called gunpowder. 
Given the nomadic nature of the Beru (with the exception of the Sheep Tribe and the Beru Guard of Marsen) gunpowder, and its applications, were something foreign to them in all but speculation. Even then, that speculation was fresh in their minds, the use of this powder in the place of arrow and bow. They heard of, and were told of its power, and in kind they hid it well. When the delegation returned to the camps in Asren, they unveiled their findings and news about the Sheep Tribe, most importantly their unwillingness to now part with the people of Marsen, the events of the Frogist Crusade and the success of the Beru in it as well as the gifts and other cargo they brought from the deep south, which greatly intrigued the Beru.
Despite the news of the Sheep Tribe's willingness to return, most were pleased with the trip's results, but it was the gunpowder that some began to focus on. The Stag Tribe was wary of it, the Goat Tribe was curious, and it was thus decided that there would be a demonstration near one of the Goat camps, within a valley south of the Astagir mountains. An archery range was made in the traditional Beru fashion, crafted out of cobbled stone and nearby wood, all set up for this test of the powder. Of course, the Countess of Marsen also gifted the means by which to harness the power of it, and taught the company how to properly use it. Some believed it a kind of spear or stick, some had not attributed it to be anything of use beyond an helpful pole for old men and women to lean on or walk, but most stayed silent in patience for its use.
Upon its firing, the Beru were subject to the thundering roar, the fire and smoke that bellowed from it. All but the company believed something had gone wrong, and when the smoke cleared and the user of the weapon was revealed, the Beru stood in shock. Not too long ago, the Beru had left the top of the mountains, and began talks with those who now settled around them. Most remembered it, were there to see it, and now they held the power of what they could only describe of as belonging to mythical beasts. The Stags, again, always cautious, urged such measures to only be used in the more dire of circumstances. But, even they in their wary nature saw its power, and were tempted to recreate it.
=== Theft of Horse and Snow ===
[Note: The following text is still WIP and only indicates the most important points without much development]
On a foggy autumn morning the the Goat Mountain camp belonging to the Stag Tribe camp in the Astigar mountains is raided by bandits from Trademark. The Beru debate the course of action. A group of youth from the Goat tribe choose to steal a horse from Traedemark (which happen to belong to the ruler). Kickstarting horse breading in the Beru camp in the Valley of flowers. Fortunately, after talks between an appointed Goat Tribe representative and the leader of Traedmark, no further escalation of conflict occurred.
=== A Lost Spirit ===
[Note: The following text is still WIP and is incomplete]
According to the Beru of the Valley of Flowers, the Goat Tribe was visited by a Spirit - normally referred to among the Beru as the Lost Spirit or the Purple Spirit. The encounter occurred on an exceptionally cold winter afternoon, when Astrupal (of the Goat Tribe) and a visiting Asrenna Joonkeju (of the Zond tribe and the Verkhana of Asren) were tending to the horses and cloaking them up in preparation for the night. According to their accounts, the Spirit appeared before them just as they were about to return to the communal tent.
=== In the Land of Zonds ===
==== The City of the Source ====
In the distant lands of Cathramis, across the roaring waves of the Iscava Sea, lays a place where rain is closer to legend than reality. Called the Lingering Desert by the local, Zonrazeh, people, it consists of a vast expense of sand dunes contained to the north by a mesa of dry argillous soil culminating in a mountain that reaches beyond the heavens themselves, Mount Fedakheen. There, exists an ancient town carved into the roof of the world itself. Its name is Ehl-Radha (meaning "The Source" in the Zonrazeh language), for it is from there that the Sarmooj River, which gives life to what would otherwise be a baren wasteland is born.
Ehl-Radha was once a prosperous oasis of culture, knowledge and storytelling, considered one of the holiest cities in all of the Lingering Desert according to the Dhumari, and in times long gone was the seat of power for the quasi-mythical Seyoh Vasjan Starway. These times are, however, no more; as the Town-of-the-Source, already a decadent shadow of its former-legendary-self, would fall victim to the Third Samujaha and the anger of the spirits that many have forsaken and renounced in those lands as a new faith spread, entrenched, and replaced the old. Subject to the fury of the spirits, the villagers of Ehl-Radha would disappear without a trace, leaving the small town on the outskirts of the baren mesa completely abandoned. The news of such event would only be known across wider Zonrazeh after some time due to the isolated nature of the town high up in the mountain and away from any commercial route.
Fate would have it that the first to come across the corpse of the depopulated city was a group of bandits. There, they would establish a hideout and plan their operations to seize the wealth of unprotect Zonrazeh caravans. Their ploy would not last however, as Kafoosali, a WanderfarerWanderfarer is the name used for Seve'Sdahrsi/Found Gods pilgrims and Vizier of Sahriya, was quick to identify the source of the insecurity and started to prepare a fitting response to the bandit's challenge before they could became a bigger problem to the safety of his people and to liberate the holy site of his dwindling ancient (Dhumari) faith.
Kafoosali would however, came across a problem: ever since the integration of Zonrazeh into Jarazeh (the precursor to Sahriya) , the rights of sub-national armed forces had been curtailed, leaving him only with the militia forces the Zonrazeh Seyohs had at their disposal and could lend him for such an operation. The Seyohs however, proved to be too reluctant to pledge sufficient support to Kafoosali, some concerned with the safety of their own towns and clans should they divert their own militias, others (secretly) concerned with Kafoosali aims to restore what they consider heretical Dhumari rule over the holy site at Mount Fedakheen. The army of Sahryia was also unavailable to the Wanderfarer goals, as it was already stretched too thin given the recent territorial acquisition in Tiberia, to divert resources at that the moment to such a minor issue back at home.
The Wanderfarer had thus only managed to gather an insufficient amount troops and support to dislodge the bandits. Frustrated, he wandered into the desert to find a solution to his woes with the aid of isolation and meditation, and maybe even through communion the spirits. It was then that in his mind shone a wonderful idea; the Beru. He had learned of this group of nomads during his time in Asren, as well as of the involvement of their warriors in the Great Frogist Crusade and in dislodging similar trouble makers from Irithel's mountains. They seemed to be the right choice for the job and Kafoosali was certain they would provide the missing strength needed for a successful operation against the bandits. With the decision made in his mind, he returned to Zondamah and sent messengers forth to Tanragh to request the nomad's aid. 
==== Radhan standoff ====
Four months later, Kafoosali received his reply and the mercenaries came. A group of Goat and Stag tribesmen, who had been captivated by promised reward as well as of the alure of adventure in distant lands, stood before him, their spears and crude hand-canons glistering under Zonrazeh's harsh sun together with their fierce bear-mounts and a few domesticated seals (the seals became quite the curiosity among the local Zonrazeh, who named them Berukogo, meaning dog-of-the-Beru in their language).With his mercenaries and local forces assembled, the Wandererfarer at the head of this host marched north towards the occupied city. A camp was set nearby and siege was initiated. A standoff ensued. What followed was a series of talks which resulted in a peaceful resolution to the conflict, thanks to the efforts of Sahryian envoys and, perhaps the show of force the Beru made with their exotic and unfamiliar weapons and mounts. Regardless, the city was won and the bandits were no more.
As the host of Kafoosali marched through Ehl Radha and order was restored, it was decided that the Beru would come to be the new rulers of the settlement, under the condition, that they would populate and restore the ancient city. The Beru, although reluctant due to the implied radical change in their lifestyle, accepted this new responsibility, and set forth to honour their side of the agreement.
=== Wizard of the Hat ===
==== Arrival of Saegar ====
On a calm summer morning, a mysterious wanderer arrived at the Beru camp in the Valley of Flowers. His name was Saegar, whose fame had already reached those northern reaches of the world before him, carried by the retold stories of the Sheep Tribe about his role during Frog Rebellion which had been widely shared in the Beru homeland of Tanragh ever since the return of the delegates of the Fellowship of the South. 
Saegar was well received among the Goat Tribe, with a feast held in his honour, which also counted with the participation of attendees from the Stag and Giraffe tribes, as well as Maestro Reisul, the young Verkhana of Asren who never misses an opportunity to consume alcohol. During the feast and the subsequent party, Saegar shared with the Beru that he had come to Tanragh in order to map the north-eastern lands of Abexilas and to request the aid of the ever-wandering Beru in this quest. In response to this, three Beru came forward and answered Saegar proposal: Senan Wayfarer (of the Stag Tribe), Astrupal Sun-chaser (of the Goat Tribe), and his son Tamil.
==== Northwards ====
The next morning, as Roya sought to treat Maestro Reisul's massive hangover, the group of four wanderers departed north to map the interior of Tanragh. They trekked across the snowy Astigar Pass passing through Asren's monastery, and into the forests of Castanor. By noon of the third day of travel, the party had come across the Castle of Erissia, situated near the location of the, now abandoned, Bee-hole encampment. Astrupal still vividly remembered those woods from decades ago when he first set foot out of the mountains that had simultaneously protected and incarcerated his people for generations. They were teeming with life, rabbits and bees frolicked among the grass and flowers, such that one could live of the land the whole year without a single worry in their heart. Now, stood in its place an imposed human order in the form of the castle and it's surroundings, even if with it own majestic beauty, it was not the initial natural order he used to know. The mysterious fate of Ameri also hanged over his mind, who had never been seen again since the abandonment and occupation of the Bee-hole by the Castanorians.
As the four travellers approached the castle, they started to hear screams coming from within it's walls. Pleas and demands to leave those lands and one's private property (a concept which confused the Beru) showered from the castle's heights. The Beru stood by the castle, entertained and curious by the occurrence and attempting to greet the voice from beyond the walls, blowing their horns while Saegar (unsuccessfully) looked for recesses on the wall that would allow him to climb it and properly greet the castellan (the brother of the lord of the nearby Castoniarian port of Traedmark) who hid behind the castle's strong closed gates. It was then that the castellan, unphased by the greetings of the Beru and seeing his pleas remained unanswered, he began to threaten the use of violence and the penalty of death to expel the travellers from his lands. The Beru, who paid little care for the threats, seeing that their greetings fell in deaf hears and the walls were unscalable, decided to depart and continue their journey.
The adventurers continued north, across the streets of cosmopolitan Castamir, the woods Lyndell and the Schmak Lorkol mountains, where the party found vast herds of wild goats, until they reached the lands of the Sarinzerlin. Close to the Castanor-Sarinzerlin border they would find an abandoned decaying cottage with an interesting contraption. It was a very small house made with very thin walls, where barely one person could fit. Inside, the floor, if one could call it that, consisted of a few wooden planks which failed to cover a very deep and dark hole from which emanated a foul stench of decaying matter. The small structure intrigued the travellers, with both Tamil and Saegar investigating it in more detail, finding not much more than an inscription in the Sarinzerlin language that might be the name of the structure.
==== A mysterious wizard ====
Continuing north, the party would come across a field of large leafless, cross-shaped structures, many as big as the tallest trees. None of the group's member had ever found such kind of flora (or thing) and left the cross-forest with more questions than answers. Half a day of travel followed until they reached the Bokk Forest, where the four adventurers passed through another isolated cottage (this one showing clear signs of habitation) when they heard a big boom and someone's scream. As it seemed to come from the cottage, the group ran towards it and forced themselves across the doors (already half damaged by the explosion) to find an unconscious man (Zdunke) laying on the floor. The man sported a large golden hat decorated with red-dyed horse hair and dawned a long robe with a red cross-like symbol over the chest, which very much intrigued the Beru after having passed through the mysterious cross-forest.
When the man came back to consciousness he found himself surrounded by the four wanderers, to whom he thanked for the aid offered to him. Introductions and conversation ensued until the Beru questioned Boryevzor (Boryevzor Eyeneharr Talbor Tretobor I) about the symbol in his chest and the resemblance with the nearby cross-forest. Confused and unable to provide an answer, the man followed the Beru back to the cross-forest.
Once back at the forest, the Beru asked Boryevzor if he knew anything about the oddly-shapped trees, to which he said he did not knew about them, nor did he knew of any connection between them and the similar cross-shaped symbol on his vest. Boryevzor then whispered a few unintelligible words and touched with his right hand on the cross-tree, after which he said that not even the odd-tree knew how it came to be.
==== Powerful words ====
The four travellers were awestruck and began to call him a wizard and a magician, nicknaming him "the Wizard of the Hat". Likewise they were curious and asked how did he speak to the tree. After a few minutes of insistence by the part the travellers, the Wizard smiled and invited the four wanderers to follow him to a nearby grassy hill. There, they gathered around a patch of grass and he taught them the magic words for the incantation he had just performed.As he uttered the incantation, he touched with his right hand on the grass and invited the Beru to follow him. Doing so, the Beru came to hear a soft voice coming from that patch of grass and came to know all those that had ever tampered with hat part of the earth. The Beru were awestruck as they now knew how to talk with the spirits of the land directly and intentionally, something which only the greatest of shamans knew how. After this, Boryevzor performed the same incantation and touched the land with his left hand. The Beru followed and came to know all those that had brought land to that location, either by hand or unintentionally in their footsteps. The wanderers looked at each other as they received this illumination from their new found Wizard friend and were overwhelmed with all the knowledge of all that had happened to that piece of land by the its spirit.
==== Light of Volor ====
The Wizard of the Hat, raised to his feet and aided his friends to do the same and pronounced that with this knowledge, anyone can know all that is made in the earth, the woods, and the stones, that all one's actions are remembered by the world itself, and he concluded by advising that one should then perform good deeds so that it may be remembered that way. As he finished saying this, and without even giving time for the Beru to nod, he was struck by sole bolt of lightning from a clear and cloudless sky. 
Despite the power of the bolt, Boryevzor remained unphased and whole, as if nothing had ever hit him. He stood there, frozen, as the four travellers tried to understand if his friend was well or had died to give them this potentially forbidden knowledge. A few second passed until Boryevzor spoke in a calm voice but unsettling voice full of urgency:
After having witnessed lightning, the Beru and Saegar followed their friend towards the north. Despite several attempts the travellers did not manage to find the identity of whoever or whatever spoke to Boryevzor. Tamil, the most insistent of the the four, however came to also hear in the wind the voice of whoever contacted his wizard friend, however, he too also refused to share the mysterious entity's identity to the rest of the group despite the insistence of many during the trip and for many years after. 
Eventually the party would reach a stone circle placed atop a majestic hill. As they took the final steps in their ascent the skies quickly turned grey and it started to rain. Unphased by the weather, the group sat around the circle's centre, as Boryevzor began to chant for the patron deity of his people Volor. The Beru, chose to respect the local deity and joined in the chant. Some minutes passed, as the group became entranced by the chanting, until a group of bats appeared before them and began to circle them in the air seemingly unaffected and undeterred by the heavy rain. Despite, taking notice of their arrival the group continued the ritual until another group of winged creatures appeared before them. According to the description given by the Beru in their accounts, they looked like small grey people with bat-like wings who held a small dagger, and their ill intent was clear to anyone at first sight. Seeing them approach Boryevzor, who was fully concentrated in his prayers, the four travellers raised themselves and surrounded their wizard friend, holding away with their spears and sword the hostile creatures, and eventually slaying. Due to their vexatious nature, the Beru named these odd creatures Vexes, by suggestion of Saegar. Soon after, Boryevzor finished his incantation and the rain ceased.
As the group left the stone circle to resume the mapping of the region (or return home, in the case of Boryevzor), they were intercepted by a party lead by the Korletan (King) of Sarinserlin, who had heard of a great gathering of clouds atop the holy site's hill and the occurrence of odd sightings in the region. Boryevzor explained what had occurred to them, from the lightning strike, the voices, to the ritual and small battle at the stone circle. All this he attributed to Volor. The King was ecstatic, knowing that a a second miracle had occurred in his land just after his own conversion and that of his kingdom, and invited everyone to attend a sermon at the recently consecrated church in his capital. The party agreed.
Saegar and the Beru would arrive to a church full of attendees, from the common folk of the city, to the highest of nobility, notably including king and the young prince, Maestro Reisul, who was clearly drunk once again. The religious proceeding went as expected, with much chanting and hearing a single man speak for hours, a concept which intrigued the Beru. This is, until a blue silhouette appeared in front of all those gathered at the church, which was received to the great admiration of all and screams of "Praise Volor" and "Ria", this later a saying which the Beru suppose to be a Sarinzerlin religious word. After the silhouette disappeared, the event was concluded and the king thanked the four travellers and Boryevzor for their service, all the while most of the faithful remained yet another half an hour praising their new deity, Volor.
After this unexpected series of events, Boryevzor and the four travellers split paths, the first going back to his cottage, while the others continued to explore the remote reaches of Tanragh; returning to their camp not only with a map of the continent, but with great knowledge of magic and, most importantly, many stories to share at the campfire for the days to come.
=== Scuffle in the West ===
==== Sailing West ====
One faithful night, Roya received a vision while meditating and stargazing atop the Holy Mountain of Goats as she so frequently does. Her mind lifted away and saw a setting sun to the west over a shining sea of a thousand islands. When she came back to her self, she saw a great star cutting the heavens to the west, burning brighter than any other while it hovered over the horizon. At that moment she knew she had to pursue it, she had heard the stories of the Great Heavenly Library and the knowledge that has fallen from the sky. She descended carefully from the mountain's heights and into the Beru Camp in the Valley of Flowers seeking companions on this westerly quest.
Her vision was well received among those at the camp, no one doubting the interpretation of the respected Völva. She was quick to find a party of 6 more Beru to follow her, Astrupal and Senan were also interested to join, but they had already committed themselves to take care of young (2 year old) Maestro Reisul who was visiting and having a prolonged stay at the camp (and insisting on trying all alcoholic beverages). Among Roya's companions were Tamil, Aruuto, and four others. 
The trek west was for the most part uneventful, with the Beru party sailing forth from Asren towards the setting sun and anchoring in several friendly ports along the way and even encountering some Beru in far-off lands in Tiberia and Cathramis while docked. Most noteworthily they came to meet with Chadou, a Beru hailing from Avalor (in Tiberia) famed for his strength and dexterity with the sword, who chose to join the party in their quest. While docked in Sahriya, Roya and her seven companions also came to know of the fate of El-Radha and the Beru that lived there, their retreat to Mount Fedakeen, and their eventual return to the low-lands and the city with the dispersal of the Plague, on-goings which were yet unknown in Tanragh.
==== On the Shores of Akrainia ====
Eventually, following Roya's westerly star, the party would come to reach the shores of Akrainia, the largest island of a distant archipelago, much like the one Roya foresaw, though the ultimate will of the spirits was still clouded to her, she knew now she had finally reached her destination. 
They were received by the local ruler, a man named Bug. The reception was, however, not the warm welcome the party had hoped for: at first, Bug was apprehensive of the new arrivals, fearing them to be yet another band of raiders who torment the shores of those distant waters. Roya and the others were quick to reassure the ruler that they were merely travellers following the track of a "fallen-star". Though Bug seemed not to trust much the party, he chose to let them remain in his island during the remainder of the day under the condition that no thievery of any kind was to take place or punishment would be swift. The accounts of Roya and her seven companions also mention that upon, as per Beru tradition, being gifted with a basket of food by the party for his hospitality, Bug unceremoniously threw the food into the ocean, an action that much offended the Beru. It is uncertain if this is part of Akrainian tradition or a display of distrust or bad-faith by Bug, however the events that are to follow seem to indicate the latter.
During the first hours of her stay in Akrainia, Roya took the chance to learn from the locals of any knowledge of the location where the star might have fallen, but to no avail. Though the folk of that sparsely populated island (some 100 people) had seen the star, they knew not of its final location, having not seen it fall and arguing it most likely fell into the sea. 
==== Escalation ====
Event were, however, to take an unexpected turn when a ship from Akronia (the second largest island of the archipelago) docked at the Akrainian docks. Pooley, the leader of the nearby island, strolled to the centre of the dock's markets, flanked by two of his guards, climbed upon a pile of crates and proclaimed Bug to be a criminal and in violation of the Law of the Union. He continued by accusing him of favouring his island over Akronia, a tyrant, and to be compromised by foreign powers, concluding with demanding his destitution and arrest under the threat of the secession of Akronia from the Union. 
The Beru who were at the docks at the time witnessed to this first hand, knew that it would be wise to depart as soon as possible as they sat on top of a brewing powder-keg for conflict. However, before they could make to their ship, they were intercepted by Bug himself (and his guards) who issued a challenge to a duel to Roya, stating that if she won, the Beru may depart. The companions protested as a violation of hospitality, but to their surprise, Roya, confident that the spirits would not let her die, accepted the duel with the condition of it following the "potato-fight" rules. After an explanation of the rules, Bug accepted the offer. The accounts of Roya and her companions theorise that Bug suspected the Beru to be in the pay of Akronia and were there to destabilise the island and support the Akronian rebellion. For this reason, the accounts consider that he believed that if he bested the leader of the Beru band in single-combat we would simultaneously demoralise the enemy and show his strength and thus hope to defuse the conflict that had been brewing in the archipelago long before the arrival of the Beru.
The duel was, however, never to conclude, as Bug was found to be cheating the rules, which lead to an intervention of Pooley, stopping the duel and further confronting the Akrainian leader in front of the populace who had gathered around. This would prove to be the final straw for the eruption of open conflict within the archipelago, as Bug drew his sword against Pooley. Fighting ensued, and the Beru made a beeline for their boat at the docks. However, amidst the fighting, Bug personally slew one of Roya's companions, and those that managed to flee soon found themselves being pursued by an Akrainian vessel. During the struggle, Pooley, though wounded, also managed to reach to his ship together with the surviving Beru - both parties knowing that they were now tangled to fight in this same conflict- either in the name of justice or to avenge their fallen.
==== Akraininan-Akronian War ====
The Akrainian ship pursued the Beru vessel without rest, despite having sailed north during a whole day into the open sea, the Beru found themselves to continue being tailed by an ever shorter distance. At dawn break of the the second day, Chadou successfully argued to turn the ship and face the enemy in battle. A naval battle ensued between the two ships, resulting in the sinking of the Arkainian ship. Emboldened by this victory and wishing to avenge the fallen Beru, the party unanimously chose to return south and join forces with Akronia.
As the Beru ship was arriving in Akronia, they saw approaching Akraininan ships. With this in mind, the Beru chose to beach their ship on the far side of the island and march the main settlement where battle was sure to be held. The six Beru were received with great honours by Pooley as Akarainian soldiers prepared to disembark on the coast facing the larger island. Having received equipment from their unexpected ally, the Beru set forth to defeat the Akrainian army while their were still on the beach. The engagement ended in favour of the Beru-Akronian forces, however at the cost of two Beru and more Akronians, but the Akrainian army was no more, either dead or captured. Their leader having fled back to his island with a token guard force of survivors.
The Beru, together with Pooley, decided to counter-attack while the enemy was still recovering from this defeat and sailed forth to Akrainia the next day. The defenders at the docks were quickly routed and soon the Beru-Akronian forces found themselves besieging Bug's keep. The Akrainian leader refused to surrender despite his perilous situation, believing to be able to wait out his adversaries inside his impregnable keep. This could have been the true outcome of the conflict if not for a sympathiser in the keep who secretly opened the gates, allowing both Beru and Akronians to penetrate the keep, kill the surviving guard and capture Bug, who, seeing the writing on the wall, surrendered rather than dying.
==== Aftermath ====
With Bug in chains and Akrainia under their control, the victors were now free to set their terms. The Beru demanded compensation in gold for those killed by Bug and his forces as well as for the violation of hospitality. Pooley, followed his word and forced Bug to recognise the secession of Akronia from the Union. A peace treaty was drafted between all parties and the gold was placed aboard the Beru ship.
Before departing, Pooley pulled up to Roya and told her that he got word that she was looking for the location of a "fallen star" and that as a show of gratitude he confided to her that one of his fisherman saw a star fall into a small nearby island and that if she wished, he could instruct him to lead her and her companions there. She accepted. Once the party arrived at the island late in the afternoon, they found a crater on what was once the supposed island, with a shallow ring of sand and dirt surrounding a small lake. In its centre was a pink box. Seeing it, Roya jumped from the ship and strode with haste through the shallow water to reach it. Once next to it, it is said that she performed an incantation and managed to open it, revealing its contents: two exquisite blades of a dark and strong material together with a mysterious crystal orb on a pedestal. Her companions were amazed by the finding and intrigued by what it could be. Roya also did not know. Tamil, prompted to help the Völva, and performed the incantation that the Wizard of the Hat had taught him three months ago. Saying the words and touching the pink box with his left hand, he said that it belonged to a certain Anumtekil from a land beyond the world that is well known by the Beru, Najer. Roya looked impressed at the young man's magical knowledge as well as deep in thought on who this person could be.
The day after, already far from the archipelago, Tamil found a mysterious book on top of his bed on the chambers. The book was not there the previous night when they departed from Akronia, and certainly was not from anyone else as he was the only that knew how to read in the party. Intrigued he opened it and saw the same lotus symbol that he had seen in the garments of the wandering scholar with whom he shared and wrote the story of his father's encounter with the Lost Spirit. According to himself, Tamil never figured out how that book came to be on his bed, nor did any of the part members see anyone enter the ship, much less the locked chambers room.
=== Under the Shadow of Cloud-scraping Bones ===
the return of part of the sheep tribe (passing trhough the Beru statue) Stag explorerer finding the bones
goat explorer is captured by Adramis, concern about enemy in war
book about the bones
=== Among the Cold Western Snows ===
Roya and party return east, stopping in Radha, together with Ineru they go northwest, visiting the eye of stars and continuing to Vladistan.
Several cities are visited. Highlight zoo and boat drifting.
=== Heavenly Head ===
After having lost the lordship over Marsen in the aftermath of the resignation of her husband as the Duke of Cirion, Luelwyn Relyn embarked in a multi-year adventure to explore the world. It is during this period that Luelwyn and her accompanying Beru Guard find something most unusual in the skies above the southwestern sees of Abexilas: A flying (wither) skull. 
The former countess was the first one to realise the Head after a flash that seemed to come from the highest poin the in heavens. She pointed it up to the her Guard who soon also came to see a dark grey skull crossing the clouds above, leaving a long tail of black smoke. It was clear that the skull was descending towards Abexials and had a westward trajectory, the same as the ship. Realising this, Luelwyn ordered the sails to be fully lower the sails and promissed double the pay should the ship be able to follow the strange heavenly object. Despite much dificulty the crew managed to fullfil their lady's request and screened the descent of the skull. 
The Skull would end up crashing beneath the waves on the coast near the city Halgrad, in the territory of the Order of Caliban. Luelwyn seeing the location where the Heavenly Head touched the World, she leaped from the ship and swam to the bottom of the sea to collect a fistfull of sand from this now sacred location. Underwater, she also came to realise that the Skull came to shatter into inumerable pieces upon its collision with the sandy seafloor and subsequent explosion. 
With the holy-sand placed on board, the ship proceeded to anchor near an coastal cave hidden by the local jungle's lush folliage. There, the Beru made camp for themselves and Luelwyn and erected a small and humble shrine to the Skull they just witness descend from the heavens, which they dubbed the Heavenly Head. 
The next day the Beru set forth to establish contact with the nearby settlement of Halgrad. The city lays on the coast north of the crash site by the mouth of a wide river. The populace was at first reluctant to speak with the distant wanderers, but as soon as a common language was found, a cordial relationship was established and the holy site was recognised and an agreement to respect and preserve it was reached. As described in "The Periplum of Luelwyn", Halgrad is said to be built in fertile land in which sugar gane and cocoa grows easily bountifully, it is suggested by the same source that these tropical commodities are the main exports drivers of the city's economy. The account of Lakarim of the Sheep Tribe (the Capitain of the Beru Guard) also indicate a very hardworking population as part of the backbone of the city's prosperity, highlighting the dedication of a certain Theron Armeandu (NecronAssassin), with whom Lakarim made acquitance with, in the expansion of the city's docks. The Beru Guard and Luelwy continued to explore the region and came to find the city of Arhausa, a much larger settlment compared to Halgrad. This city made no escuse in showcasing its propsperity and importance with its intricate and sophisticated architecture and urban planning, leaving a strong impression in Luelwy (herself a schollar of engineering and an architect) and outshining the wanderers' impression of nearby Halgrad, which sported a more functional and laconic design. "The Periplum of Luelwyn" also notes the presence of a frog-shapped statue with a "divine shine" attributed to the Frog Spirit within this city, located on the top of a fountain on its eastern quarters. This finding made quite the impression among the Beru, as the rumour and speculation that the Heavenly Head, at the request of the Frog Spirit, guided the group here to these distant shores and that soon their fortunes (and those of the wandering noblewoman they were honourbound to protect) would change for the better in the near future. 
This omen came true in the following week, as news of the whereabouts of the then missing former Duke of Cirion and husband of Luelwyn reached them to great relief and celebration as the group prepared set sail towards Ischanor to reclaim their rights. 
=== Western Lions ===
Having returned from their western adventure in Akronia and Tiberia, Roya and her companions were received with much fanfare at the Goat Camp in the Valley of Flowers. Long and lively were the tales told around the campfire and under stars. Of these stories, one captured the attention of the tribe (and especially of Astrupal Sun-chaser) the most: the rumour that an unknown Beru tribe resides hidden in the far west.
The new tale spread like wildfire among the Goats, and soon enough even the Stags up in their mountains also came to know of it. Two weeks after the arrival of Roya, Astrupal met with his old friend Sennan Wayfarer (of the Stag Tribe) to discuss a venture to find an answer to the mystery that has recently clawed so strongly the mind of all Beru. Long were the days of their youth when together they travelled west to the fabled Eye of Stars. Time marched on inexorably and now they stood in the 8th decade of their lives. Despite the heavy weight of time, thier bodies were still in shape to venture forth, however they know beyond any doubt that this would be their last trekk before weakness overtakes them and joining their ancestors among the spirits. Thus, they decided to go further west than any Beru has ever gone and find, should they trully exist, their long lost bretheren.
A party was quick to form with the enthusiasm surrouding the endevour among the Beru. Roya and Hasdra Bone-Singer pledged themselves to the expedition, joining the Fellowship of the two elder tribesmen. Unexpectadly, young Maestro Reisul, the 8 years old Verkhana of Asren, insisted in also taking part in the trek, perhaps expecting copious amounts of exotic alchoholic drinks to be had in distant lands. He was accompanied by his uncle, Maestro Ondwyn, and they too was accepted into the Fellowship, as were their enticing offer of sturdy ships to the party's quest.
The six adventures sailed west across the Iscava Sea towards the setting sun. Along the way, the ship docked in Lajaka, a Zonrazehan port, to restock and spend the night on land. However, as fate would have it they would find more than just supplies, but a new member for their party as well. Astrupal quickly became friends with a local old Dhumari wandering-sage from Seyoza'jad and a member of the Llama Tribe, Daryo’jas Starfar, with whom he had many well felt discussions about the nature of spirits and the divine over a good bottle of wine at the dock's tavern. Having learned of the party's objective Daryo’jas asked to join the group. A proposal which was received with unanimous support, making him the seventh member of the Fellowship.
The party continued sailing west until they reached the shores of Grand Castell in Talasi. As they docked, they felt confident that their goal was at hand. Venturing across mountains and thick forest, they came across a river they flanked by a high plateau, where the locals Castellans say an odd ancient people called the Aethenes live. The Berus trekked across the savanah following a dirt path, finding odd creatures they never saw before: an odd tusked living boulder with a long tail on its head and clad in crocodile skin as well as a packs of giant cats with great collars of fur. Some of these strange cats attempted their luck by attacking the exploring interlopers, thinking them an easy meal, but Beru spears and Beru muskets made short work of the wild beasts and clarifed to them that the Beru are not to considered food. At last, their track ended when they reached the city of Aethus (Akarnate of Rethia).
As the seven wanderers crossed the walls of Aethus, they knew their quest had ended. Across the city's busy streets flowed the sounds of a language familiar to them yet unknown and hard to decypher, except for few sporadic words that made sense. They were certain, then, that these were the long lost Beru, who must have had wandered off Tanragh shores before Morlenna's Calamity along the boats of the Elluré in time immemorial.
The party stayed there for a few months, learning the local language, and much to their luck, befriending the ruler (Akar) of the Akarnate, Thalisten Rulmuhr IV, who shared much of the history of his people, which confirmed the shared origin of the Aethenes and the Beru. 
The Akar, also offered guided tours around his realm to his esteemed guests and newfound brothers from the east. On one of such trips, the party would come to find a mysterious compass that seemed to glow half barried in a mountain's peak snow. The marker pointed towards the west, with the entincing promisse of the unknown. The eight companions looked at each other with a smile, knowing what awaited them.
=== Eight Nomad's Bliss ===
==== Mysterious Compass' Quest ====
The travellers, now consisting of eight as Thalisten Rulmuhr IV had joined them, set up camp on that same mountain's peak, at which they decided to take a closer look at the engravings on the compass, which it had plenty, where they found out it was labeled as "The Compass of the Quest". They decided to follow the compass westward at sunrise. After getting a good night's rest the party extinguished the campfire that had been burning throughout the night to keep them warm, and proceeded on the planned trip west. 
The travel was not very eventful, although there were multiple sights the wanderers investigated and documented, as well as the occasional threat in the midst of the party. These sights include multiple pillars made out of a black colored stone, where in these stones there was also an abandoned hut with hints revealing the name was "Zephyras". There were also buildings that seemed to be a castle next to a lighthouse, shining its light over the frozen sea. The compass kept pointing them further west, where they needed to travel by boat, luckily Roya took a few of these boats with her on the adventure, thinking they might come in handy. On the sea the party noticed a very big boat with steam coming out of its roof, this boat was sailing towards the town of Korufu, where the Beru docked. The town of Korufu had an unknown building style, but the party found the style to be more on the attractive side than the practical side of building, which they did not deem necessary.
After taking the roads further west, still following the compass, they came across a bridge, which had been blown into pieces by what seemed to be a big explosion. Multiple members of the party tried still crossing the bridge by jumping over it, but to no avail. One of these members was the drunkard Daryo'jas, who fell into the ravine this bridge was meant to cross.
==== Spirit of the Raining Clouds ====
When the rest of the party noticed Daryo'jas was missing, they proceeded to set up camp and sent two travellers to find missing member, while the rest waited on their return so that they could continue their travels at first light. They had merely sat down to eat and discuss the days travels when a spirit made itself known unto them, causing a small sapling to sprout of their campfire, which burst anew with bright blue flames. All present heard a voice asking them to bring a bell. Recognizing the importance of the request, the Beru immediately set to work, setting aside the compass for a time.
The leaders of the party, Senan and Astrupal, decided to split up the group to find the bell much quicker. They proceeded to make three parties, one in search of gold to craft the bell themselves, one in search of a bell the Beru could use, and Roya staying at the camp alone. The groups set off with great haste towards the nearby settlements, leaving Roya to write. It was then that the spirit decided to communicate further with Roya, and a multitude of fiery blue clouds began swirling in the air above the forest. They engulfed the lone Beru, which to her surprise did not hurt at all.
Not long after, the parties returned. They had been able to acquire a bell, but were awestruck by the blue flames still present. Roya urged them to place the bell by the spirit's sapling, and so they did. Rain began falling out of a clear sky, and the bell began smoking furiously. It suddenly rang with a pure tone, and in it, they heard the words "I am the ghost of the raining clouds. Bless this bell with water from the river." The Beru hastened to obey, gathering a bucketful of water and anointing the bell. The water did not extinguish the flames, but instead made them stronger.
The anointing was followed by another message. "By storm and lightning I will listen for the chime." A brief moment passed between the gathered travelers, but they knew what they had to do. The eight rang the bell, one toll each until the spirits were satisfied. The air crackled and heated rapidly in the little campsite before a flurry of lightning rained down, striking the bell, one bolt for each toll that had been sounded. The bell glowed with heat, and the eight nomads saw minute engravings encircling the bell, lines of letters in some script.
Before they could examine it, or even process what had happened, a warm wind swooped down from the sky, insisting and inviting the Beru towards the river. They praised the spirit with a single voice for the miracle they had seen, then followed the wind, which had coalesced into a low-hanging fog, until they had reached the banks of the river. The eight nomads jumped in, some not even bothering to shed their travel-robes, and began swimming. When all had entered the river, the spirit manifested, a dully glowing form that was resplendent against the backdrop of fog. It lifted up a hand, outstretched towards the swimmers. In an instant, the eight joined the winds, their bodies transformed into vapor which mingled with the fog. 
For several minutes, although it felt like hours, the nomads could see the whole land. They saw every city, every person, each animal and plant, and understood them in kind. They saw the world as the spirits saw it, partaking briefly in a divine unity. But as soon as they had it, they lost it, falling back into the river from whence they came.
Their physical bodies regained, the eight managed to drag themselves back onto the banks of the river, the opposite of the one they had entered on. They checked each other for injuries, clearing their minds. The wind and rain lingered with them for a little while longer, letting many salmon leap from the river and hover in the air, one last miracle before the clouds broke and the sun rose, casting a warm light over the damp and astonished travelers. 
Desiring further knowledge, one of their party, the Bone Singer, offered to be taken by the spirits, a sacrifice of sorts. However, the spirit had already departed, so all they could do then was wonder about the message the spirit had shared. The Bone Singer resolved to go and spread the word about the spirit of the Rain, declaring that he would separate from the rest of the party.
The remaining nomads returned to the campsite and retrieved the Bell. After they had gotten some rest, they erected a stone circle marking the site of their experience, carving them with a brief recounting for any who visited the site in the future. Once all had been set in order, the Beru decided on a brief respite before they resumed their investigation of the Compass that had sparked their initial journey.
=== Kamtargaa Calls & Llama Labour ===
==== Call to Kamtargaa ====
Tales exist of a beautiful land well over the horizon, the beauty of her domes and the height of her towers unmatched, her name; Kamtargaa.
And it was just like that a Llama Tribesman by the name of Basrel Lahkkev, a man with ten years left on his clock liberally, heard this over gossip at the Just_Shooter Bar in Seyoza’jad, and, wanting to spend his last years somewhere interesting, packed his llama and left, and thus, the man walked and walked, this was till he stumbled upon a rather large port town by the name of “Itumulo”, marked by its azulean roofs & large towers, though pretty not much caught the old man’s eye, this was, however, t’ill he saw the llamas. These llamas were dressed in shades of brown, red & grey silks, not to be compared with Llama llamas.
But the caravan waits for no one, and Basrel soon had to depart, and thus he went, with a small stop in Beru Shasa’jad before departing over to Kamtargaa finally, the journey lasted a bit over 2 weeks, with nothing of note happening.
This was however t’ill an immense tower, seemingly without end, shone in the distance, it radiated in beauty as much as the sun shone light. This, this felt like home to Lahkkev, here he’d want to live out the rest of his life, then appeared a spirit infront of the tribesman, it had long antlers and acted like a human, even saying she lived in a Caravan, the conversation was fast changed though as so-called Morn Jambluod told the Llama to hop on a goat, to which he did. Now the two were sent flying, climbing high up the clouds, Basel could even see the finite of the  infinite tower, and below him was the whole of Kamtargaa, overstimulated by the sheer beauty, he’d fall from the goat, unable to hold onto the horns and into the river that shielded the island that was the city.
==== Llama Labour ====
The Llama tribe goes on a quest to bring in new llamas to their herds. They find these llamas in the plains of Tanragh. WIP
=== Siege of Miklagard ===
WIP - After a fox being killed, a Beru band attacks the castle of Miklagard and demands compensation from the locals. Verdix, a town representative was forced to sign a treaty with the Beru band, however chose to follow his besiegers and join them as one of their own.
== Second Era History (72 VE - ?) ==
=== Commentary on the Second Era ===
The Second Era is a placeholder name for the new Era of Beru history that has began as the old generation that were born and grew up in a world restricted by the Astigar Mountains, and the coming and rising importance of a new generation of Beru that have grown up in a completely different world. What will mark this new Era of Beru history, is at the time of writing of this article still unclear. However two developments, so far, are to be noted as potential driving forces in this new age: 
* The increasing divergence between the tribes, which pulled by distance, environmental pressures, material conditions, and political ideas and trends start to see themselves increasingly apart from each other. Most notably is the increasing tension between the Stag and Goat Tribes and their divergences in social organisation and on how to integrate or reject aspects of foreign culture and technologies. 
* The role and importance, yet unknown, of the Paxian Prophecy among the Beru, who came to be the first to find the foretold fifth book of prophecy.
The exact start date of this Era is also not set in stone and might be influenced by future events.
=== Gossips of a Messiah ===
The existence of a fifth Book of Paxian Prophecy had long been a subject of speculation among the specialists of the occult. Although heavily disputed, some argued that given the incomplete nature of the Prophecy itself and hints and clues present in the four initial sacred texts, that a fifth and final book would eventually be found, the majority, however, considered the Prophecy to be complete while a fringe minority of scholars (those of the Avalorian School) arguing for the existence a sixth book linked with the coming of a second messiah.
These doubts, however, would be cast aside when in 72 VE a grand comet scared the heavens announcing the arrival of what many considered to be this new set of the long lost prophetic texts of Paxia. To the always stargazing Beru, this comet of magic and lore did not pass unnoticed, nor did the rumours of the prophetic texts and messianic promises suspected to be enclosed within it. Intrigued by the gossip passed on by traders from the Kingdom of Avalor (with whom the Beru have strong commercial relations) and recalling their own folktales and legends about the Heavenly Library, some Beru decided to set out into the world at large and created a Fellowship to find this mystical artifact much in the fashion of their forebearers in times before the Calamity who had done the same to other fragments of the Heavenly Library.
==== Sailing west ====
Four Beru from the region of Astigar came together to form this Fellowship of the Book: Tamil of the Goat Tribe, Hasdra Bone-singer of the Stag Tribe, Aruuto Ghost-friend of the Giraffe Tribe, and Verdix Foreign-born. They climbed the Goat Mountain and made their vows to one-another upon The Dial forming the Fellowship in front of the Spirits. After this, they consulted Roya, the Volva, who with her wisdom and knowledge of the heavens concluded that the comet would fall to the earth towards the west by the Fall of that year. Armed with this knowledge and their determination, the four Beru sailed forth (with a small crew) from Asren towards the west and across ocean.
As the ship sailed along the coast of the Iscava Sea, the Beru sighted a most unusual colour under the water - purple. The group went into frenzy, believe they had already fulfilled their quest just two days after departing from home. They could not be most mistaken. Hasdra leaped from the boat and swam towards the purple curiosity, finding it to be a huge precious crystal, which much disappointed the Beru. They knew not yet, but their journey would be far longer than they ever anticipated.
Journeying by ship for many weeks, and already having embraced the coast of Tiberia, the Fellowship ventured into a land covered in twisting trees and thick mud. Their search there would come to be proven fruitless and without any indication of being closer to the where the comet would make landfall except for being farther west than they where back in the Astigar. Although they found no further clue about the comet's location, they did find another party with the same goal and quest - the the Wyrmma Hunters. 
The Beru attempted to entreat with them and asked if they would be interested in joining their forces , so that they might aid each other and share in the discoveries of the Heavenly Library. The Wyrmma Hunters were much offended, and ignored the request of the Beru and turned them away. The Beru were disappointed and went their own way, perceiving this other group to be full of arrogance and pride in their hearts (an initial perception that would eventually be healed and change) for many desire to find the Book of Prophecy for their own gain and advantage and dominion over others, or so did the Avalorian merchants told them. Feeling disheartened and weary from their journey and the spurning of the Hunters, they considered abandoning their quest.
Some of their number were vocal in their desire to go back home, but the leadership prevailed. A consensus was reached: they would follow the lead of the spirits. The rest of the party agreed, and they made their way to the land of Neutrion, where they learned the history of the people there. Although the residents of Neutrion were kind, the Beru felt the urge to continue on their journey and parted ways.
==== Mystery in Haremas ====
After a month of wandering, the Beru chose to trek south towards Zonrazeh, where they would be able to acquire new supplies in a friendly land, potentially find other Beru interested in joining in the quest, and most importantly to consult the renowned local magic scholars. Reaching Zondamah, the capital of the Emirate of Zonraeh, the party was warmly welcomed by Kafoosali (the local prince and friend of the Beru) with a feast being given in their honour at the palace. During said feast, Kafoosali shared with the Beru, that he would like to show them something special at the Royal Library in Haremas that would certainly help them in their quest.
The group sets fourth to the Sahriyan capital together with Ilahnu'jaz, a distinguished member of the local Llama Tribe and Keeper of the Beru commercial outpost of Seyozajad. The grand city of Haremas unfolded before them, with its mighty towers and resplendent stone buildings, soon they came to the Royal Library, which they found to have the doors closed. Kafoosalli, always prepared, brought with him a set of keys to open the door which unveiled a most shocking revelation: The Library had been sacked.
Most of the books in the library were missing, bookshelves thrown into the ground and lecterns stood empty with nothing but the gathering dust. But most shocking was the forcefully opened entrance into the secret stairway that lead to the underground room where the three original Books of Prophecy were stored. Kafoosalli rushed into the descending corridor, the rest of the party following, just to find empty the pedestals where the books were placed. The price cursed and cried aloud: "Raza'Karah!!"
==== New Guidance ====
Ilahnu'jaz takes the Beru to a cavern and performs a sacrifice. This reveals a much more precise location of the comet's landfall. The Beru make haste towards the south. WIP
==== Heavenly Paxian Library ====
The call of the spirits grew stronger and stronger. As one, the caravan felt strongly that they should go to a cold place. Observing the star-charts and sea-maps made during the adventures of days past, they stuck on a location and began journeying there. Soon, the chief of the Goats, Astrupal Sun-chaser, discovered a stranger crater filled with ice. The energy in the region was palpable- rocks had been shattered and spread asunder. Astrupal and the most able-bodied of the caravan began digging, hoping to find books or some sort of knowledge buried in the ice and stone.
The stone was fragile and gave way easily, and they made quick progress down into the earth. Without warning, the ground beneath their feet collapsed and they fell into a chamber of ice. After regaining their senses, the Beru gazed in awe at the contents of the chambers- rare weapons and relics laid in chests. Much of the interior was derelict, the broken remains of bookshelves and tables scattered around. 
Within a half-buried chest, one of the tribe, Aruuto Ghost-friend, found a book called "Commentaries of the Messias Jagdae." There were several copies, which were given to a few of the other Beru for safekeeping. Soon, however, a flood of people followed them, destroying the library in search of the book. In the confusion, the Beru made a quick exit, digging their way back out of the crater and fleeing back to their ships. Afraid of being hunted by bandits and thieves, they made extreme haste and return to their camps in Tanragh, where they began deciphering the texts they had retrieved. 
=== A Meeting of Minds ===
The Beru visit Ibn Tutta's School of Thought.
==== The Disciple-Sucking Door ====
"IT JUST SUCKED A MAN WHAT IN THE MOTHERFUCKING LOST GODS!" -Ilahnu'jaz ve-Zondlabbeh of the Llama Tribe
Since the Fall of the Library, rumours of numerous concepts and ideas proliferated across Abexillas, among these was one of a divine door in central Talasi.
These tales eventually reached Seyoza'jad, and thus the ears of Ilahnu'jaz, a young man of around 20 years of age and prominent figure in the outpost's community. Naturally, as with most young explorers, this Seyoh would be ecstatic to immediatly go into the party, and so he did, going by Camel all the way to the Source of the Rumours.
Once arrived, he would meet a man he had encountered in the past, Dorinor and his disciple, Archie the Noble, too.
WIP
== Tribes & Political Structure ==
=== Overview ===
The tribe is the most important political unit in Beru social organisation. For the Beru, the tribes are, to compare them to contemporary nation-states, their own political and cultural separate entities, each with their own rules, organisation, particular cultural practices, history, and identity. Though separate political and social entities, tribes are strongly interconnected, bound to each other by a broader culture and Beru identity, which has only intensified with the arrival of the Voyagers to Abexilas. The collection of the Beru tribes compose the Council of Tribes, who meets in times of crisis to represent all tribes and present a united front to outsiders. Collaboration across tribes and joint migrations are not uncommon, particularly between the Stag and Goat tribes, the two main tribes in Tanragh.
The tribes of the Beru are entirely composed of freely willing families and individuals. Though uncommon, one's association to a tribe can be at any point broken by any individual that wishes to pursue any different path. Even rarer, should a tribe find an individual disruptive to their community, the individual may find themself ostracized from said tribe. To join a tribe, however, one needs to be either born into it or be voted favourably for integration by the tribal community. This system ensures the simultaneous fluidity and stability the Beru polities are known for among the settled folk which have organised themselves around states.
=== List of Tribes ===
Despite the existence of a myriad of Beru tribes, six tribes stand as the most prominent among the whole:
==== Stag Tribe ====
The Stag Tribe is the first of the Beru to be present in the Asren records, being described as a relatively small group of nomads who lived on the mountains flanking the village of Asren and with whom trade and friendly relations were developed. Pre-Asren historical notes are rare and mostly kept in stories and oral tradition. It is also said that several stories were lost as the land transitioned from tribal powers to national powers which quickly took the land after the arrival of the Voyagers to Abexilas. Among the Beru, the Stag Tribe are relatively more conservative than their counterparts, and are hesitant of change or to disturbances of what they consider the ancient and natural order. Of the various tribes the Stags are also the ones that are less keen on interacting with outsiders, only doing so if necessary. Some attribute their 'stag' motif to be in correlation to this, being avid in the wilderness, and watchers over the forest, but easy to frighten with anything new. This however, is a fallacy, as the masks do not share a correlation to that of the Tribe's namesake.
==== Goat Tribe ====
Previously part of the Stag Tribe in the ancient days long before the arrival of the Voyagers, the Goats have formed naturally as a coalition of individuals who preferred to live in the lowlands and slopping hills surrounding the Astigar mountain range. Despite their origin and history connecting them to the Stags, not withstanding the strong ties between them to this day and common collaboration between tribes, the Goats exhibit a different mindset to that of the Stags. This difference mainly constitute, beyond their preference for low-lands, on a more open mindset, being more keen to embark on more distant journeys and expeditions as well as not being as reluctant to establish contact with other cultures and taking part in diplomatic negotiations with settled folk. 
==== Sheep Tribe ====
The Sheep Tribe is a relatively new and small tribe, having split from the Goats after the episodes of the "Eye of the Stars" in the lands of Maecenia. Contact between the Sheep and the other tribes is scarce given the great distance of their migration south to Ischanor, where they have sought to integrate in Marsean society, acting mostly as guards to the local Countess and nomadic herders and traders in the region of Cirion. The Sheep Tribe is most known for their involvement in the Great Frogist Crusade, after which they incorporated the worship of the Frog Spirit into their beliefs. In terms of culture they are similar to their parent tribe, being the most open and adventurous of the tribes. Unlike all other tribes they do not take part of the Tribal Council due to their distance from the Beru homeland in Tanragh.
==== Giraffe Tribe or the Ineru of Asren ====
The Giraffe Tribe consists of Beru tribesmen that have moved to Asren setlments and integrated into this new settled society. The tribe also includes those of mixed Asrenu-Beru descent. Given the genesis of this tribe as tge sythesis between these two cultures, their habits and customs also exhibit characteristics of both groups and a considerbale amount of syncretism. Some of the Giraffe Tribe are nomadic, while many others live a "still-life" in Asren settlements, for this reason they have also come to be known as Ineru, a Beru word meaning "Still Folk" (from: Iner- "still", -u "folk, people"). Despite the cultural divergences and brakaway from the traditional ways of the Beru, the Giraffe Tribe is still considered a Beru among the other tribes. Likewise, these Beru have also been well received in Asrenu society, with Asrenna Joonkeju having come to be elected the second Verkhana of Asren.
==== Ineru of Ehl-Radha ====
Another noteworthy group of Beru who have come to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle are the Ineru of Ehl-Radha. This tribe of Beru came to rule over an abandoned ancient setlement in Zonrazeh (Cathramis) after being invited as mercenaries by the local rules to root-out an hostile group who had come to control the region. The group of Beru (a mix of Goat and Stag tribesmen) was rewarded with the wardesnhip of city, the nearby Mount Fedakheen, and surrounding region. The Ineru of Ehl-Radha have started to adopt an urban lifestyle in semblence of their Zonrazeh neighbours as well as other cultural characteristics.
==== Llama Tribe, Camel Tribe, or the Zonrazehru ====
The Llama Tribe, also referred to as the Camel Tribe (both names originating from their vast herd population) or Zonrazehru, are a mixed group of Zonrazeh and Beru inhabiting the Zonrazeh's Lingering Desert (south of Ehl-Radha) through a seminomadic lifestyle with the main outpost being the City of Seyoza'jad, built into a mountain out of some old Najer ruins. They are well known for their blue and yellow robes passed down through generations as well as their perseverance & llamawear trends. The tribe was first formed by Ilhanu'jaz ve-Zondlabbeh (grandson of the Emir of Zonrazeh, Armino'so ve-Zond'Labbeh) and his entourage is formed by both Zonrazeh and Beru, as well as people of mixed Zonrazeh-Beru descent (known as Zonrazehru). This latter group consists of around a third of the tribe and count with Ilhanu'jaz himself among their numbers. 
==== Lion Tribe or the Ineru of Rethia ====
A long lost tribe of Beru who split of from the remaining tribes before the Morlenna's Calamity. They settled in Talasi, and came to establish the ancient civilisation of Akens, whose remnants (such as the city of Aethos) were later integrated into Akranate of Rethia after the Theiosism proselytization. Much of their history is currently being discovered by the Beru of Tanragh. They have named their tribe after the local feline fauna that inhabits their highland savanna.
=== Council of Tribes ===
The Council of Tribes is a loose term used in the dealings with foreign powers. In function it is to act as the voice of the Beru, though to the nomads themselves, the authority or even the existence of the council is often overseen. For its short existence, it has been used as the diplomatic body to kingdoms like Irithel, and in practice has its direction dictated by the Stag and Goat Tribe. The Council is dictated by consensus between the druids of any tribe, who among the Beru are the most well equipped to handle the dealings of the Council, and are already respected among the Beru.
== Ethnography ==
=== Lifestyle and Occupations ===
The Beru (Wandering People) traditionally follow a rather nomadic lifestyle, living in small wandering tribal communities of simple housing, hunting, herding, and trading good and services to upkeep their demands and needs. There are however exceptions to this traditional norm, such as those Beru that have taken a more permanent residence to maintain a tavern, temple, or other site of cultural, religious, or economic importance. It is also of note that some tribes have a dominant sedentary lifestyle such as the Giraffe and Sheep tribes, the former is mostly composed of mixed Asrenu and Beru individuals and taking residence across the several settlements in Asren, while the latter has a substantial share of its members employed as guards to the countess of Marsen in Ischanor. Across all the tribes, even among the more settled ones, mining is a very unusual, if not unheard of, occupation among the Beru. 
Nomadic Beru tribesmen, particularly the youth, are not above looting of abandoned settlements. In fact, Beru parties can often be seen looting abandoned farms or ruins, plundering the resources and returning them to the tribes, something that may lead some among the settled folk to see them as little more than thieves in this regard. The argument made by the Beru in this case is, if it is ever made, that the resources have been forsaken by their previous owners, and rather than let the resources go to waste, these actions allow the resources to be used by the tribes for their own survival, given that the Beru have not developed the same technical expertise in mining or farming as the nation-states of Abexilas. Regardless of justification, food is often left behind, with the Beru only taking a portion (normally half) depending on need and tribe. The reason is behind this curious behaviour is cultural. The Beru say that food, unlike armor other objects of importance, is the main necessity of life. In accordance to this, food is thus left behind for others who might come, or the owners who might return to reclaim it. Not doing this, is said to anger the spirits and bring bad luck to the party and tribe that did not perform the right practice. 
Beru specifically refers to 'The Wandering People' rather than nomad as some might believe, instead the proper term for a nomad who does not belong to the Wandering People, would be the term Anaru (traveling people.) This term is derived from the Anaré of Irithel, of whom the Beru derived the idea of other nomadic peoples from, and adapted to eventually become the word Anar (travel) and given the suffix of 'u' to become Anaru. 
==== The Ineru ====
Those who don't follow the traditional path of a nomadic lifestyle, instead settling and making a more permanent settlement, are refereed to as Ineru (Still People). Ineru, though given a different name by the nomadic groups of the Beru, are not entirely a different entity, instead are a facet of what some might consider the "Beru" culture. The term is mainly used in reference to those who, like those first accounts of written record, were given the support of foreign powers. Those Ineru of the El Radha settlement are the first, which consisted of Beru from the Stag and Goat Tribes, of which were given the support and blessing of the local government to administer the land. The lifestyle of an Ineru in these ways make it for those more conservative of the Beru, a term which is used with caution, though an important indicator of lifestyle and role within the Beru's culture.
Ineru in any case, is not the term used for those beyond the "Beru" as it were, and as previously mentioned is an indicator for the Beru or those who know their ways. 
==== Sagakeepers ====
The Sagakeepers are, as the name suggests, the Beru or Ineru who keep track of each story and or myth the Beru have. Each tribe should have one which cronicles their journey, and who later would share these stories with their counterparts, so that the whole of the Beru will know of their path. Given the nature of their task, they are among those of the Beru who are taught to write and read, resources permitting. Generally, these are long lines of families that hold the title, and are trained to carry the torch so to speak. These stories sometimes are mixed with false facts, particuarly due to the simple nature or oral communication, though at times falcities are made from bad faith. 
Their position is under the druids, as every under Beru is, but more often than not they work closely with the druid of their repsective tribe. While the druid of any given tribe should, and is expected to understand the histories of other tribes, it is the sagakeeper that either confirms or explains such things. To the rest of the tribe, they serve as an important figure, a gateway to the past and to understanding more of the world. If a sagakeeper does not fulfil their role or abuses it, that power is generally taken away and the offender cast out, allowing a whole new line to take up the mantle. 
=== Religion and Beliefs ===
The Beru belief system is dominated by three components: astrology, animism, and druidism. The Beru believe all natural entities to have their own spirit, which must be respected and appeased for boons, both at and individual and collective levels. It is not, thus, unusual to find Beru parties taking care and partaking in restoration of the natural environment around their camp site, normally accompanied in their efforts and lead by a tribal druid. Likewise Beru believe that stars and other astral objects play a role, although not deterministic, in determining the future or happenings in far away lands. For this reason, Beru perceive the pursuit of understanding of the behaviour of the heavens as important and are renowned among the settled folk for their knowledge in astrology, even with limited technical tools.
Religious ceremonies are called forth by a head shaman or druid, usually the leader of a select tribe or group. Religious shrines are made with the purpose of serving some sort of role, such is the case with what the Beru call The Dial, a means of measuring the sun and moon as they rise.
==== Funeral Traditions ====
While any strong ideas of what Beru funeral traditions were before the Stag's time in the mountains were lost, it is recorded by the Sagakeepers that the Stags have a simple yet symbolic tradition when it comes to death. This, given the nature of the Beru, is how most tribes of the Beru practice such events, though given time it is thought this may vary. It is the practice of cremation that is most populuar among the Beru, for when the ashes are then collected, they are cast into the wind, which for the last two hundred years meant being carried of the Astagir mountains. In this way, the remains can be carried and travel where the wind takes them, unlike their living tribemembers who were still trapped in the mountains.
From the perspective of the spirit, it is thought that the spirit of one who may be deemed worthy, may pass on to join in a new adventure with nature. Time and space would not be a constraint for them, and it would lead to a whole new meaning of life, those who were not worth of such things would have a different treatment. Whether it be out of a need for driving their survival, based in mythological or factual findings, that the Beru of at least the Stag tribe believe one might be reincarnated or sent to another realm. This would then be a way to redeem one's self, or in the most extreme cases, a place of punishment. These myths would then be turned into children's stories to ward off any would be rebellious actors.
==== Known Spirits ====
Spirits are important to the Beru culturally, as they explain anomalies which for the most part, the Beru cannot explain themselves. Either these can be derived from other beliefs, or can be found by a tribe, which has in many cases allowed there to be many spirits in the Beru mythos. Some can be believed to be harbingers of worry and fear, some of nature and friendly to the Beru, or wanderers just like them.
===== Maskstealer =====
The Maskstealer is a myth which dates back one to two hundred years before the arrival of the Voyagers. It is believed they are responsable for the disppaearance of Beru who wander too far, a spirit which stole them away and collected their mask, and thus their identity. There are two prevailing theories about the Maskstealer, either they are a servant of Morlenna and haunted the Beru who wandered too far, or were a librarian of the Heavenly Library simply trying to regather their knowledge. It is a story taught to children, a lesson in wandering too far from one's family or tribe, and was often believed by adults as well. The belief of the Maskstealer has been brought into question however, given the Beru's traversing of the world, and for the time being there being no sighting of the spirit.
=== Written and Spoken Language ===
Given the history of the Beru, one might find that they are a composite of culture and as well, their written and spoken language. Throughout history various influences have directed and driven certain adaptations, or additions to what the modern day Beru might speak, or might write.
==== Written Language ====
The Beru of the modern day write in a script mixed between that of the old worlds (Najer, Vraelean, Noxnorric) and Sentulim of Irithel, given their exposure to the "Heavenly Library" and proximity to the languages origin. Originally, these influences might've been from their own creation, however was made obsolete by the use of Sentulim. Strangely enough, Beru historical and religious symbols have striking similarities to that of the Sentulim script, and has led some to believe the two are somehow connected. The most prevailing theory is that of it being the standard language used by the Beru for some time, and thus had been used to indicate items or objects of importance, and though they lost their original meaning the Beru have created new ones.
In common writing, the Beru use a mix of various languages, where symbols have been adapted to suit their needs. Of course, these are only known by a select few, with those chosen individuals having added to the language to suit their needs. For the most part, their commonly written langauge is based on the Vraelean script rather than Sentulim, with aspects of the other three languages weaved into it. The "Fall of the Heavenly Library" might've contributed to this, with importance being placed on Vraelean, as it was the first of the written langauges that came to them from the old worlds.
==== Spoken Language ====
Spoken language has been adapted for the high altitudes of the Astagir mountains, with many sounds being removed from the Beru language, specifially those which require more breath to say. Many of their words then are from the mouth instead of breath, with their being speculation that in the past, this might've not been the case. This is a modified version of what some believe to be a mix of the languages they've come across, with a base in Vraelean, Najer and lesser components of Noxnorric and Sentulim. It's allowed them some communication with nations like Asren and Irithel, which aided in the sucess of peaceful realtions between the tribes of the Beru, and the nation-states that surrounded them.
=== Dress and Grooming ===
Clothes among the Beru are generally adapting to their environment, but generally fall under the category of a sort of robe. In the mountains of the Northeast they are recorded to have worn thick clothing and gloves to keep warm in the harsh climate, while in the lowlands (such as the forests nearby or in Ischanor) it was dropped for something more fitting of the warmer weather though keeping the same robe motif. "Llamas; the loyal, resilient & stubborn companions of the Southern Tribes." Daryo'jas Starway, Tints of Seyoza’jad, Llamawear & the Geomancy behind it Meanwhile in the Llama tribe, though all wear the wandering blue robes, llamas have way more clothing at hand, with manuals being compiled by the small amount of those who can write talking of the traditional meanings & tokens brought by the colours, an example of this being Daryo'jas Starway's Guide in the book «Hundred and One Nights». 
Masks share an important role in the story of a Beru, generally being themed after a special event in one's life, and generally themed around an animal or nature. A person receives their first mask upon reaching adulthood at 16 years old, however it is not uncommon for one to adopt new masks along their lives. Some scholars believe that the tradition of masks was adopted after the event the Beru call in their Sagas as "The Fall of the Heavenly Library" but this is disputed as the Sagas of some tribes kept by the Stags do not link these together. 
=== Diet ===
The culture of the Beru relies heavily on trade with other people groups or nations, generally through trade they get the full variety of their food, so it varies depending on who the trade partner is. However, the Beru made it a tradition to keep dirt and berries within their homes, as a means of supplying themselves. It become a rather important staple of the Beru diet, while bread and steak come in a close second. Some have even gone to the coasts to cast lines into the sea, bringing fish into the diet of the Beru, what was an innovation when it was introduced.
Since the Beru's return to the world, and connections with nations strengthened, food has become far more diverse for the Beru than what it would've been otherwise. Potatoes, wheat, and meats have often enough ended up in the hands of the Beru by chance or gift. This then has given even the most isolated tribes a somewhat steady supply of food, which often enough are of other nationalities in origin.
=== Literature, Art, and Entertainment ===
The history of the Beru is kept mostly in an oral form in a series of songs and poems known as "Sagas", a collection of stories that tell of different agreements, places visited, or events that transpired to a single or collection of tribes. Though the Beru have knowledge of writing, they do prefer to keep such information in oral format for cultural reasons, transcriptions of Beru Sagas are thus mostly done by the hands of outsiders, with very few Beru putting them into paper outside of the Sagakeepers. The Beru, for the most part, reserve writing to use for communications with foreigners and to establish contracts and agreements outside one's tribe. The writing system of the Beru is based on a mixture of the Najer, Noxnorric, Vraelean and Sentulim scripts as mentioned previously, the three former of which they were made acquainted with after the event the Beru call in their Sagas as "The Fall of the Heavenly Library." 
Another relevant component of Beru culture is the practice of ritualistic mock-fights in arenas the Beru call "Bumpits" (a name derived from records of the Silver Coalition among the remanants of the Heaven Library that the Beru recovered). These fights tend to be friendly or used as a form of conflict resolution or decision making wherein the two (or more) parties agree to partake and let the spirits, thought the fight determine the best course of action. These events are most popular among the youths and tend to have the whole (or a majority) of the tribe attending, with the presence of other tribes both within the arena or as spectators not being uncommon. Occasionally the Bumpit fights are conducted with contestants armed with potatoes, these are called "Kinaro Fights" (Kinaro is the Beru word for potato, which is derived from the word Kijaro found among the remanants of the Heaven Library). Kinaro fights are most common among the Llama Tribe and the Ineru of Ehl-Radha, norally being held atop Mount Fedakheen. 
==== Stories and Tales ====
Given the Beru's time in the mountains, and their need for preserving themselves in harsh enviorments (at least in the case of the Stag Tribe), the Beru developed many tales and stories that had some pratical meaning behind them. Generally these are taught as children, sometimes elaborated as adults, and have become held as beliefs inst most of Beru culture. Sometimes they are atributed to spirits, sometimes to animals spotted by the Beru, or in some cases have been even disproven by the Beru themselves. 
===== Fall of the Heavenly Library =====
Perhaps the most famous, or imfamous of the Beru tales is not one about teachings, or anything else to ensure the tribe's prosperity. Ironically and contrary to the information above, it is about an event, one of great importance to the Beru. The event is speculated to take place some five centuries prior to the arrival of the Voyagers and the apperance of the comet, though any true timeframe is more or less heresay, spoken of cautiously between Sagakeepers. As the tale goes, stars seemed to begin falling out of the sky, which for a time had seemed normal. Some had crashed near the Beru and them being curious, they investigated these fallen stars, and fell upon objects which they could not read or explain. Given their beliefs had already been shaped by the moon and the stars by this time, as some believe, it was seen as sacred and the Beru learned all they could of it.
What is believed to be the contents of the actual objects varied, some believed them to be books, some believed them to be personal items or even those belonging to empires. Books, however, seemed to be the most common and so the name came to be. The name for some is beleived to come from Irithel, who at the time would've had libraries for the Beru to base their naming off of, even if they themselves did not have such strucutres. Perhaps then it is there, or in other places that the scripts of these books were uncovered, and the Beru began to learn what was in these foreign languages. Over the years, the Beru began to adapt these scripts and what they depicted, beginning to emulate these "gifts" from the stars, even slowly being inadvertenly changed by kingdoms and empires they'd never go to.
===== Maskstealer =====
Around one to two hundred years prior to the comet and the arrival of the voyagers, stories of Beru going missing in the mountains arose, them and their masks lost forever in the frozen wastes. It's mainly told to children to keep them from wandering, though it has at times been widely believed by adults, given the Beru had not disproven the existence of them. In the story they walked the world looking for lost wanderers, in this case the Beru, and in a literal sense steal the identity of the person they meet (thus stealing the mask of the wanderer, given the Beru's isolation gave them no other frame of reference, and masks being deeply tied to their identity.) 
It's thought this started when some tried venturing outside of the camps, and into the world just after Morlenna's Calamity, some assuming either they had gotten lost or spirits were at work. Eventually, the idea of this 'Maskstealer' started to arise, rumors and whispers that there might truly be malicious spirits at work. The prevailing theory was that of a servant of Morlenna, a name which the Stag Tribehad heard whispers of as the cause of the Calamity. It's believed the Maskstealer was simply a part of that. Other theories suggest them being a collector of knowledge, some believing a librarian of the Heavenly Library, collecting their work of which the Beru held some of. 
Some up and coming Sagakeepers throughout the years believe, or have raised the thought that the first theory was allowed to spread, casting fear of the outside world to the rest of the Beru. While not always taken seriously, there was the concern that it was allowed to create the fear of wandering, and then later taught to the children of those who camped in the mountains. Given the Beru now spread into the modern world, and the threat of the Maskstealer seemed to be gone, it's the belief that they left or ran out of patience waiting for the Beru to descend from the mountain. A new theory had then popped up that the comet, or the Voyagers might have had something to do with their dissaperance, though the Stag Tribe has not unanimously come to a conclusion. There are also some who, even if in small amounts, believe they might not have existed at all.
=== Architecture ===
The Beru are most well known for their igloo dwellings. These are built mainly in mountainous areas with permanent snow cover, where snow is most abundant and other durable materials scarce. The Beru who live in the lowlands and warm places, as one may expect, build a different style of dwelling. Lowland Beru housing is mostly characterised by yurt-like structures for more long lasting encampments or smaller tents for more temporary resting places. In resemblance to their igloos, these are built with white dyed wool and linen.
File:Beru Yurt.png|Beru yurt in Maecenea, near the Eye of Stars
File:Beru tent.png|Beru travelling tent.
File:Beru Iglo.png|Beru igloo in the Astigar mountain range.
== Map o' Beru - Vay'l Kasfar niv Beru ==
== Noteworthy Beru ==
Senan (Wayfarer), of the Stag Tribe 
Hasdra (Bone-Singer), of the Stag Tribe 
Astrupal (Sun-Chaser), of the Goat Tribe
Tamil, of the Goat Tribe
Roya (the Völva), of the Goat Tribe
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DL_TFdmK8kLH2BeGVA0bWMZPUDOJPO7auzzR-r4reCk/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.4fb9c24l5hi0
Ameri, of the Goat Tribe
Aruuto, of the Giraffe Tribe
Asrenna Joonkeju, of the Giraffe Tribe
Ilahnu'jaz, of the Llama Tribe
Basrel Lahkkev, of the Llama Tribe
Daryo'jas Starway, of the Llama Tribe
Lakarim, of the Sheep Tribe, Captain of the Beru Guard
Thalisten Rulmuhr IV, of the Lion Tribe
== Noteworthy Foreigners among the Beru ==
Saegar, the Traveller
Kabusali (Mafaj-She'arso-Ilhanu'jaz Kafoosali Vizier-niv-Najaser nan'Kaf Adahja'Armino'so-faj-Usaj'Enea'so  ve-Zondlabbeh)
Maestro Reisul
Athreek, the Southern King
Luelwyn Relyn, Countess of Marsen
Morimoto Chifu
Ongsae ri Lestambor
== Noteworthy supernatural entities among the Beru ==
The Fortune-giver
Rainy Clouds Spirit
The Purple Spirit
Volor
Hasembeg
Vushasor
== Trivia and OOC Observations ==
The name Beru came from a random conversation with members of the nation called Asren.
The page for the Beru culture group was heavily based on, or directly taken from the Najer Culture Group page, as the players involved were from the group and helped inspire the Beru.
Category:Native civilizations
Category:Nomads
Category:Tanragh
Category:Abexilas
Category:Abexilas Nations
Category:Nations
Category:Cultures