Age of Tribes

***Preceded by:** Age of Myth / **Followed by:** Age of Kingdoms*

The Age of Tribes represents the period of time during which the human species spread across the Continent. The species rose to prominence due to the relatively high rate of reproduction for a humanoid race as well as their absorption of the advancements of other races. The rapid progress of the species and their aggressive behavior led to internal conflicts among other nations. Conflicts which may have contributed to the human race's ability to become the primary social force on the continent. Historians have used this period of expansion and unrest to define the era.

Humans moved quickly through early stone age technologies. There encounters with dwarves and certain elven houses was generally positive and concerned with trade. The early human tribes were generally fierce and nomadic, this gave them the advantages of diverse experiences and interesting trade items. The dwarven kingdoms which mostly remained along the Grey Peaks and bordering mountain regions found humans especially interesting. Being relatively sedentary, humanity provided fresh knowledge and materials. They also were useful allies in conflicts with giants and orc tribes.

Certain elven houses were very curious about this new race. Wood elves in particular developed a fondness for humanity and quickly formed bonds with them. Other houses had deep reservations, the drow in particular believed the species to be a threat to all the fey realms. Giants considered the species to be interesting but simple. Humans were kept as slaves by tribes of giants and it was not unheard of giants that kept them for sexual pleasures. The fey themselves had wildly varying reactions to the new species. Some settled among the tribes and became the first house faeries, others became bogeymen and still other became deities and sacred spirits.

**The Serpent City**

Among historians that believe that "snake men" exist or existed, the Great Ziggurat of Shaboah is pointed to as the greatest proof. Dwarven and elven records refer to the city as a center of a vast empire that stretched through the Jongura, Rafiah and the depths of the Mezorale. It was believed to have trade routes all the coast and cults as far away as Amato. The empire was considered primitive at the time and on a decline due to geological events through the Age of Myth. However, this did not prevent these serpent folk from enslaving large numbers of humans and using them as sacrifices to their ever-hungry god. These cities were eventually destroyed by the various human tribes as the species learned elemental magic and the use of iron.

**Tribe of the Dead Flower**

A particular tribe is pointed to as one of the most influential in early human history. Roughly translated "the Tribe of the Dead Flower" fled from lands controlled by snake men. Early on the tribe encounter a drow mystic, she taught them a great deal about magic as well as Madrian's Children. Archeological evidence indicates the tribe was able to prosper, making alliances with wood elves, hill giants as well as a strange species of humanoid bees. A sainted figure of their tribe even went so far as to challenge the very gods, which is believed to have caused the tribe to be plagued by a terrible dragon and driven into the deserts of Rafiah.

**Beginning of the War of Houses**

The elven houses had a great deal of reservations in regard to the short lived and violent humans. However, the drow were among those that had the greatest animosity to the new species. They believed that the human race would be the downfall of all fey and the ancient ways. They considered the only answer to be the extermination of humans. While some of the drow families disagreed, as a house they brought this before the other elves. What followed was a war of politics, philosophy, art and assassinations.

**The Mines of Vuthabalor**

An aged black dragon named Vuthabalor began to take slaves from human tribes throughout the Jongura and Rafiah. He used them to mine the canyons of a river basin connected to the Great Serpent river. Over several generations these became the richest diamond mines in the world. Also, a place of legendary cruelty and suffering. Some historians believe that this was the same black dragon that plagued the Tribe of the Dead Flower.

**The Priest Kings of Mezorale**

Several human tribes made their way from the Jongura to Mezorale. Archeological evidence indicates that these tribes encountered some deity or deity like entity which granted them magical powers and profane secrets. These tribes came to be a powerful series of city states ruled by Priest Kings that summoned and controlled demons. The empire was extremely war like and needed humanoid sacrifices to appease their patron. Some unknown calamity befell them, and the empire was wiped out. What caused this powerful nation to suddenly die out suddenly is a subject of much debate among scholars.

**Days of the Wild Tribes**

Human tribes spread across the continent at a rate which other mortal races found incredible. Because of their relatively short lives and breeding cycles, humans commonly were able to inhabit areas before the local races even reached a decision about what to do about them. The humans also seemed to have little in the way of uniform behavior or morality when compared to other humanoids. Because of this, results of interracial encounters varied wildly. Some became allies, some enemies and others victims. Their orcish kin spread at a similar rate and both races came into regular conflict. However, both proved to be quite resilient and resourceful, quickly making both a firm presence in the cultural landscape of Madrian.

**The Deep Winter**

Never before had the continent experienced what the humans and orcs had brought. The violence of war spread with both races. Adrianna took notice of the amount of dead coming to her through violence and became enraged by the senselessness of it all. To slow the spread of humanity she plunged much of the continent into winter. From the Sea of Storms all the way east to the Jongura. It would be several human generations before she would relent.

**Journey to the Fertile Lands**

As the supernatural winter continued on much of the continent some human and orc tribes learned to survive and, in some cases, thrive in the harsh conditions. However, many tribes returned to the Jongura. As more and more fled back to their homeland competition for resources and land became fierce. Several tribes headed south as one, led by a single great chieftain. Finding a passage through the mountains, they went to Rafiah and the banks of the Great Serpent there. Other tribes braved the mountains to the east and journeyed across cold steppes to the lands that would become Cao Wu and Amato.