Erkendhal Chiefdoms (Nation)

The Erkendhal Chiefdoms is a coalition made by the Uzbhalic tribes that originate from the North Eastern forests of Idaros. The Uzbhalic Tribes are made up of Ergendir people, A race of Bold warriors and foresters who came from the boreal forests of the Dabya mountain range. The Ergendir are a people named after the chief god of their religion, Erghinism, a religion that put heavy emphasis on the duality of good and evil, as well as the principles of providing for the community and protecting one's family, principles that are echoed throughout the coalition.

## History of the Erkendhal Chiefdoms

### The Beginning of the Tribal Councils

Before the creation of the chiefdoms, the Uzbhal tribes lived in relative peace, with the occasional disputes between bands. Animals were aplenty and produce was bountiful within the Dabya Mountain Range, for generations. That lasted till a great blizzard made a devastating sweep on the homelands of the Uzbhal, killing swaths of the Ergendir race. This blizzard devastated the area so severely, it moved the Uzbhals out of their homeland, forcing them down the mountains into the lowland forests. There, was unfamiliar territory for the Uzbhal People's, forests not explored before and plants yet to have been picked. Had it have not been for the blessings of their god, the race of Erghin would have died in those forests. For it was fire that brought them through those dark days, fire that warmed them during those cold nights and fire that made their food last to the next morning. Although, let us not just speak praises about what fire brought to them in those shadowy places, for it was also fire that brought destruction into the hearts of the tribes.

In those early days, in the unfamiliar forests of the Lowlands, the Ergendir had picked up a dark fiery spirit within them. They had become more desperate in their want to protect their loved ones and decided to do so more proactively, by killing those who may challenge their safety. The tribes had entered a generation of conflict and discourse in those woods, unseen before by their people, fighting for dwindling resources and land that held little value to them. It was truly an age of a dying flame in need of a nurturing hand. Two tribes were dominating those raging battlefields: The Vulogree and the Edorgha. They were only each other's equals, and both tribes knew it. They were unwilling to challenge one another, instead preying on the lesser tribes. The weaker tribes knew their flames were to be snuffed out, so they held an intertribal gathering where the lesser tribes could come together and figure out a solution to the growing threat. The lodge that hosted this banquet was of the old and venerable Bjoldur Tribe, a tribe known for its sage leaders and their powerful council of priests, so respected that even the greater tribes knew better than to attack their lands.

After the customary rituals of hospitality and warding, the chiefs of the lesser tribes held council. Of the hundreds of chieftains, only three could speak of a clear plan on how to deal with the greater tribes. First of those who spoke proposed that they should all unite under one banner of the greater tribes and destroy the other. The Bjoldur tribe chieftain said that would only bring more death, when the Uzbhal people have already spilt enough of their own blood. The second to have spoken brought forward the idea of the lesser tribes all uniting under one clan in order to deter raiding from the greater tribes, with equal power. The Bjoldur tribe chieftain responded that that would only keep the tribes divided, with brother against brother, when they should be united. The third tribal chief to have spoken their mind came from a small family that lived on the border of the forest. This young chief was a recent upstart, an individual that saw flaws in the old ways, this the Bjoldur chief understood when listening to the young one's words. The youth stated that the forest is too small for the people of Erghin, that there is room elsewhere from this cage of rough trees and stone cliffs. While many grumbled at the thought of leaving their home, it is not as if they haven't already. The Bjoldur chieftain understood the youth chief's point, even saying it may be the best solution so far, but he only wonders to where shall they go? And the youth responded, "To the land of Erghin's Conquests". To the place that Erghin smote enemies that threatened the tribe, destroying the trees and leaving naught but grass and beast. The thought of those thundering plains beyond the forest gave the bjoldur chieftain an epiphany, a prophetic vision of what the Ergendir race can be, and an idea to put this dream into motion.

### First Contact with the Aurians (50-100 EF)

Traveling north, some tribes of the Uzbhal have come across another people, those that dont look like Ergendir and act unlike the Uzbhal. From what little has been seen of this people, they look like the stonish Dyrgja,  yet made of flesh like beasts, wielding tools of shining stone and with music that could heal some of the most dire of wounds. Some chiefs of the Uzbhal tribes have preached caution, while others have been preparing for war.  A rare few have taken the bold position to actually communicate with them. The first chiefs to have decided to go talk, brought with them offerings of lumber, furs and Vultund pups as a way to encourage a rapport between the two peoples. After years of tenuous talk, those sage chiefs have found out that this race of fleshy Dyrgja are a people of proficient craftsmen and healers that call themselves the Aurians, after their goddess Auria who changed their stony shells into living bodies. The Uzbhal chiefs have found out that these Smolings, as they call themselves, have much to offer to the Erkendhal, such as tools of great quality and magical trinkets that can heal the sick.

### The Fight against the Death-Hungred Curse (100-150 EF)

A malefic blight has taken hold of the Erkendhal, seeping into every bite and every wound of the land. This horrid pestilence has made the plants wither while the beasts have grown stunted from lack of feed. The chiefs of the tribes have all recognized this blight for what it is, a dark curse made from foul magics. They figured the only way to dispel such malady from the land is through prayer, an entreatment to their god chief Erghin. But the priests knew that this curse goes beyond the realm of Erghin’s powers, that this curse is made from the powers of Death, a force that not even Erghin would be willing to fight alone. And as such, he shall not fight alone, for the priests of Erghin have relics of a foreign goddess, ones that belonged to friends who take to music as much the Ergendir do; The Smolings.

With the assistance of those invigorating instruments, the fierce voices of the Uzbhal people had managed to burn away the influence of the death-hungred curse. But beyond curing that malignant presence, the Ergendir had also managed to have placed their own blessings on those wondrous instruments. The instruments now fill those who hear them with a warmth that only Erghin can provide, while still maintaining the presence of an ever loving goddess.

With the Erkendhal cleansing the plague, there was only one thing left to do; to cleanse it from the lands of the Aurians. Because after all, it was they who aided the Ergendir by giving such glorious gifts.  And after years of further cooperation, the Uzbhalic and the Aurians had managed to wipe out the disease entirely, leaving nothing but the question of where did this death empowered curse even come from?

### The First Great Raid (200-250 EF)

Stories of small and cowardly creatures have made the rounds in the southern parts of the Erkendhal. These tales describe them as hairy little pick wielders who spend most of their time in the dirt. Most thought of them as only tricksy tales made up by the older son's of a kodora as a means of messing with their younger brothers. This thought came to an end after an encounter where a party of lumberjacks fell a tree that collapsed a tunnel full of such critters. As soon as word of this made it to the ears of local chiefs, they called for a council to gather at Gehetnati and to discuss how they should deal with the vermin. Plenty chiefs advocated for another relationship not too different from the one they have currently with the Aurians, citing the boons they gained as a result of it. Many, especially the chiefs from the south, have advocated for raiding the rat-men, showing contempt for their cowardice and saying that's all the reason they'd need to raid them. Ultimately, the room was divided over what exactly to do, so they decided that it should just be up to a chieftain’s own discretion. This was later recognized as an unwise path to follow.

As time has passed, those chiefs in the south have done as they wanted. Most prepared to raid, while some actually interacted with these critters, even converting some of them to following in the lessons of Erghin, who the south recognizes as Ergh. With these interactions, eventually the skaver, as they called themselves, sent envoys. Those they sent spoke on how they were looking for trade of food and stories but were more than willing to fight if we crossed the river that contained the Erkendhal. Many in the south did not appreciate this message, seeing it as a threat to what they claim is theirs. This message has only further strengthened the south's resolve in raiding the skavers, so much so that their rhetoric has reached the ears of those in the north, encouraging them to raid upon those that lived in the Twisted Forests. The Skaver have yet to realize it, but they have caused a chain reaction of conflict with just a simple message.

After a message that was construed as less than friendly, the Erkendhal has gone through an uproar, the voices of thousands of young warriors and priests could be heard all across the plains. With this outrage, came calls to war, for an answer to that question, to which many responded in yes. To the innocent, all they saw were storms, storms of fire and lighting that were haunted by the song of countless dead that yet lived. To those that knew, all they saw was their end.

## Geography

### Regions

This section goes over the different geographical regions that are within the Erkendhal Chiefdoms. From the Boreal forests high up in the Dabya Mountains, to the sprawling plains that many of the Uzbhal now call home, all will get touched upon.

### Cities

This section looks over important cities within the Erkendhal.

#### Gehetnati

The Capital of the Erkendhal Chiefdoms, the city was made as part of the accord between the greater and lesser tribes.

## Politics

### Governing System

This section goes over all the different political systems that the Erkendhal Chiefdoms has taken since its inception. These political systems are usually defined by a reformation on cultural beliefs, changing so drastically to the point where it will require a nationwide change to how things should be governed.

#### Bronze Age: The Tribal Councils

The tribal councils of the Bronze Age were the first sign of unity of the Uzbhal people since the days of Erghin himself.

## Military

### Bronze Age:

#### The Kodora

The way the Uzbhal traditionally teach their youths is in the form of a thing called a Kodora. A Kodora is something of a traveling class, where the youths of a tribe gather under the leadership of several priests of Erghin, who serve as the teachers of the Kodora. Within these Kodoras, the youths are taught the ways of their people by traversing their tribal territories. These youths remain within the Kodora till they get married, remaining a youth until then. This presents the interesting scenario where an adult may be younger than a youth. While one may see these Kodoras as possibly a great step towards education and the betterment of society, more often than not, these Kodora's end up committing violence against those from outside of the Erkendhal, attacking traders and the lone traveler. Because one needs to remember that the Kodora is where the Uzbhalic learn the ways of their people, which includes how one should fight and defend their families, and what better place to test ones skills than the battlefield.