Beldym

The Beldym (sing. Beldam) are a diasporic culture found across the north, from Juhnvechteya to Agan. A multi-ethnic group, they originated somewhere on the western coast of Juhnvechteya, and spread over the last half-millennium along the trade routes.

The Beldym are commonly associated with witches and magic, many folk-tales paint them as fortune-tellers and magicians, who are kind to those who are kind to them, and reap terrible vengeance upon those who injure them. This reputation has resulted in general distrust, and several pograms against them, particularly in Juhnvechteya, where the Order of Hope Reborn holds sway.

The Beldym are a very secretive group, whom will rarely commune with outsiders. They hold their culture as one of the highest secrets in the world, but will commonly adopt children from outside their culture, and teach them their ways. The Beldym may offer their services to various nobles in exchange for protection from the superstitious common folk.

## History and Diaspora

Several centuries ago, the Beldym were a settled group, living along the coast of the Summer Sea, until a great cataclysm destroyed their cities. It is unknown what occurred, but several cultures in the area have legends which imply a meteor touching down in the Summer Sea, and flooding the coastal regions. Almost all records of the Beldym civilisation were destroyed, and the people were forced to flee to the north and east.

During the Kingdom of Grander Joraje, the first beldym made their way into Juhnvechteya, where they came into contact with the local cultures. Some would integrate, others chose to keep separate from the locals, rather they chose to maintain their own culture in isolated groups. This, and their magical abilities, would fuel distrust among the people, and, beginning with the War of Persecution in modern Toradzland, a great number of Pograms against the Beldym would start. Lead by Inquisitors of the Order, the Beldym were forced north into Joraje, and others would flee further afield.

By 400 of the Joran Calendar, the Beldym had become extremely secretive and cloistered, often living in isolated communities in the wilderness. Geralt of Loren, Duke of Joraje, placed all the Beldym in Joraje under his personal protection, making the killing of one a crime punishable by death, causing a large migration of Beldym into the land of the Jorans,

Following the Farar's Crusade, there was a scouring by the Crusaders against the heretical Tomasites, which also targeted other minorities, including the Beldym. Thus, many would follow the Tomasites as they fled, joining them in Agan along the northern coast of Fejuhn-Vechteya. Others left for Predastad, where the people had been relatively accepted for some time.

In the modern day, the Beldym are scattered throughout Juhnvechteya. A large portion of their population is in the north of the region, inhabiting Toradzland, Joraje, Predastad, and Tanderland, while there are far smaller, isolated groups living in Brankony. There is also a large minority in Agan, where they live among the Agansburgers in the harsh cold.

## Populations

Estimated total population: 42,000

* Stribrna Joraje.................18,000
* Zarny..................................5,000
* Tanderland........................4,000
* Toradzland........................3,800
* Brankony...........................4,000
* Amastre.............................1,200
* Agan...................................600