The history of Tariana is one full of intrigue, depression, bloodshed and glory. Analogous to many paths, their beginnings blurred by the onslaught of time, Tarian history is in reality a compilation of many histories, derived from the many clans that once roamed this immense land. It begins with the story of the Taran people, who have dominated the history of Tariana until only the most recent of times. The early stories of the Tarans are told in oral stanzas called Lays.

The Lay of the Tarans--Gizzran and Narix

Hear me, all ye who would know
Of olden times, of lands below
And lands above, of heroes,
And of those who shaped our land.

Earliest times are hid by mist from us
But the tales tell now of breaking.
Of the Sundering, when the gods brought forth
A new land from the old.

On Ariyure, they gathered then, the remnants of our fathers;
They climbed from the seas, while waters tumbled still.
To the mountains they climbed, to beseech the gods
Many wept in fear or cowered.

Far to the south stood Dranal strong
As monsters tortured his village
He waited for night, then to the dragon’s den
This mighty warrior did fight.

Narkinthal the dragon breathed fire in the night
The forests burned around him
But Dranal struck out with sword so sharp
He struck the beast’s head from its body.

Tribes united to stand against the tide of fear;
They crashed together, fighting.
But from these strode a leader born,
Gizzran the bold stood mighty.

The days were long and filled with fear
Greed took the hearts of many
The weak soon trembled as fighters slew and many fell.
Outlaws took from all.

In Adokon did Gizzran dwell
Land of the fertile valley
Strong warriors bred, strong mothers fed
And this land teemed with plenty.

But others saw and lusted then
They clashed with spear and sword
Mothers wept, daughters grieved
The lands ran red with blood.

Then Gizzran brought his warriors bold
Down from the mountain fastness
First Lynelo fell, then Tinew also
And by pledge Gizzran bound them.

So came the valley to be allied
Though each family kept its leader
Tarans stood brave with clansmen strong
Law was learned and peace came to them.

The land still wild surrounded them
But those in Adokon prospered
To east and north were fell strange lands
But the heart of the mountains was guarded.

Full twenty years had Gizzran led
Ten warring and then ten after
Mines were dug deep into the rock
Tall shouldered mountains gave us riches.

In the midst of Gizzran's rule
A miner's wife birthed a daughter
And in the mewling baby cries
None knew the fate the child brought with her.

Narix was the name of the girl
She grew and prospered fully
But as she blossomed to womanhood
Tragedy took both mother and father.

Alone the child, woman now
Traveled away from the land that birthed her
With knowledge gained, she nursed brave men
Who struggled to make their clan stronger.

Then fate stepped in, a story told at night
By a warrior cursed with an awful wound
He'd fight no more, but shared instead
Tales of his travels distant.

In the high passes to the east
Lay sights no one had seen yet
Peaks scraped the sky and caught the clouds
Great fire burned there; gods' beacon.

So to this land would Narix go
And with her companions hardy
A priest they took, to write the words
That would tell the travels of the party.

From Ganxya they climbed, these adventurers,
And in the night they saw it
Bold light shone down from Heaven's forge
Vrol's hand did beckon onward.

The molten rock did roar and hiss
As from Vrol's summit it issued
There on the slope they saw a sign
And all shared in worship humble.

The sign gleamed strong, a sword it was
The sword of Korewyn brave
When to the summit of Vrol’s home he had climbed
He fought with evil minions.

The beasts of Seres he battled long
His sword flashed around him strongly
Foul blood hissed into the blackest rock
As Korewyn slew the monsters.

When the last had fallen, Korewyn stood
With wounds fierce on his body.
Vrol came to him to take him home
But left behind a sign of valor.

This sword did Narix and her party see
Blade cut into the hard rock
Still to this day it gleamed sharply
Though Korewyn had long gone to rest.

Then farther east would Narix fare
She led them down the mountain
To forest deep, with birds and hinds
Where fate again did grip them.

A babbling man with skin most strange
Stumbled to the party of Narix
Blood did spill from fearsome beast
Green marks traced on his visage.

With vision wise they saw a bear had mauled
The body of this strange traveler
Though tended well by Narix's hand
The green-skinned man did perish.

With fire blazing, the clan returned
The man to sky and Maker
The scents of flowers and matted vines
Rose with the smoke from his ashes.

Then deeper in the forest the travelers delved
Their goal to find the creature
But never by them was this beast seen
The mystery seemed only to deepen.

In forest deep they came upon a sight
That filled their eyes with wonder
Face to face, eye to eye
Green skin and Taran met each other.

An arrow flew, a sword did flash
And blood was spilled in plenty
Narix returned to mountain lands
To warn of the green-skinned danger.

So it was for full twenty years
The battles raged most fiercely
Brave Taran warriors protected mountain homes
From treachery of green-skinned skulkers.

The Tarans stood firm, holding mountains high
Clans claiming valleys to hold them
The green-skinned men withdrew e'er long
Though in dark forest biding.

For years on years, full twenty long
Taran clans fought with the green-skins
Until the green-skins faded back
And quiet fell on peak and valley.

The Lay of the Tarans-The Prophets

Two sons fair had Gizzran the bold;
First Ornak birthed, then Sodar.
Warriors strong, when Gizzran died
The clansmen turned to Ornak.

To sunset’s shadow of the holy mount
Did Ornak send his brother
There Sodar walked with warriors brave
Binding one clan to another.

First Hinverril, where Narix dwelt,
The bold adventurers traveled,
Sodar moved over hill and vale
The clans all called him father.

In Baleth lands dwelt Calegan
Chief of the mighty warriors,
When Sodar drew nigh, the arrows did fly
Baleth would follow Calegan and no other.

Warriors fierce from Adokon
Clashed with those of the eastern mountains
Blood ran thick down grassy land
As clansmen fought each other.

Then in the midst of heat and fury
Sodar stood before Calegan
A mighty swing, a blow was struck
First blood, and Calegan shuddered.

Warriors stopped their own feats of arms
To turn and watch the battle
As Sodar struck brave Calegan,
Then Calegan turned his blade on Sodar.

They stood together, breathing harsh
Blood flowed down them to the ground
When with a mighty blow
Sodar struck the head from Calegan.

Silence stretched over the battlefield
Then Sodar turned to the warriors
This man was mighty, but has fallen now
Join with me now as brothers.

And those who fought held out their hands
Clasps were exchanged in friendship
So Baleth was taken by Sodar strong
And from Calegan’s seat he led it.

A man had stood by Calegan’s side
Called sage by those around him
Therrar his name, he offered now
To aid Sodar with his wisdom.

Therrar whispered words to Sodar strong
To join the wild clans together
And soon the eastern warriors held
Sodar their leader, Clan Baleth.

Ornak and Sodar made Tarans strong
Goods went from one to the other
A mighty force in the mountains’ heart
Were Baleth and Adokon.

Far to the north, in Rothon lands,
A viper whispered to a clan chief.
Broin his name, he sought his gain
When words he spoke to Asare.

Broin was held high by Asare
He had oft spoken wisely
And of futures he promised and prophesied
If Asare would take his words rightly.

He said now that Asare must fare southward
And take the richness of the valley
Brave warriors of Rothon did Asare call
With spears and swords gleaming they marched.

Broin walked beside Asare, whispering still
That Rothon would have the riches of Adokon
Asare nodded and plotted his war
Greed drove the man of Rothon southward.

To the spring of Lorian, where the waters rise
Its waters running to the ocean
Came the force of Rothon, warriors strong
And to the south lay their treasure.

A miner there in high valley
Saw shields and swords a plenty
He ran to the south, to warn Adokon
And Ornak rallied his army.

Adokon marched on Kyronn’s shore
To north to meet those of Rothon
To the Vale of Nyda, up hillside Ornak led;
His forces he hid in the treeline.

With Broin talking still of riches many
Asare and his men walked through the valley.
No hint had they, from sun or wind
Of those who waited their passage.

When Rothon’s fighters had passed their lair
Did Ornak’s men sweep down the valley
Cries rang out and swords did flash
And blood stained the Vale of Nyda.

When all of Rothon’s warriors lay cold on ground
Still one moaned through his wounds
Broin quivered there on bloody ground
Words still spilled from his lips.

Ornak lifted his sword and through the breast
Of babbling Broin it plunged.
So ended the words of prophet cruel
Who led Rothon to ruin.

Then Ornak led Adokon clan north
Over the spring of Lorian
To lands of Rothon, leaderless now
Did Ornak and Adokon travel.

Warriors bold were few and far
As Ornak claimed the lands of Rothon
Now Adokon led in northlands wild
From Kyronn to the great ocean.

Ocor, chief of Boern clan,
Sat on bank of Nordurfljot
To his ear the words of Pyth, learned man,
Came soft and full of guile.

Adokon, with Uloe leading,
Warrior strong of Ornak’s choosing
Came east along the ocean’s shore
With spears and swords flashing.

Adokon’s force marched to the east
As Ornak returned to Kyronn
Pyth trembled as warriors neared
And words of woe spoke he to Ocor.

The tides of war would turn, said he
Were sacrifice to Vrol made freely
Full half the warriors they must climb
Mt Vrol and leap to fiery death.

Ocor heeded the words ill formed
And left the bank of Nordurfljot
Warriors strong from Clan Boern
Climbed to the mountain summit.

Vrol’s peak did roar and hiss that day
As fully half of Boern clansmen
Urged on from behind by words of Pyth
Leapt to their fate in lava.

But Pyth did not have Vrol’s council
Nor Boern the blessing of the great one
The warriors leapt, the swords did melt
And those left behind did tremble.

Uloe and Clan Adokon
Found no warriors fighting
They crossed the banks of Nordurfljot
And took the lands of Boern waiting.

Now to the south did Ornak march
Urged on by words of Lorvan.
Over mountains high, to Sudurfljot,
And to the lands of Dranal.

The brave of clan Dranal stood fierce,
But strong of arm was Ornak.
Clan Adokon swept from the north,
And soon the lands were theirs.

Then to the west moved Ornak,
To Issas then to Tinew.
The clansmen of Adokon claimed
The lands over which they strode.

To his home by Kyronn
Ornak then ventured safe
Each valley left with leaders
To hold them safe for Adokon.

In the winter Ornak perished
Tomaloth his son went to grieve
With Lorvan, climbing high the god’s mount
And now the prophet whispered to the son.

The tale was told that Vrol would honor most
Those who gave their lives
Families would prosper, mines produce;
Riches for the living for sacrifice most dear.

So they came, warriors bold, miners strong,
Slaves for their masters, wives for their daughters,
Each with own reason, yet all the same
They plunged into the summit of the mountain of Vrol.

And in the next year’s harvest
Bounty was found upon the land
Mines gave wealth, fish found nets,
And all in the lands of Adokon did prosper.

Now in this time of plenty,
Did Sodar in the east still prosper.
His warriors held the Baleth lands
Against greenmen and those of warring clans.

Both to the south and east
Among the grassy plains
Warriors of Baleth Clan strode
And claimed both land and fame.

In the spring when grasses were high
In the lowlands that Baleth had claimed
Sodar came to his end, and in his stead
Came Rauda, chief of Clan Baleth.

Rauda’s ear was held by Waessan,
Wanderer from desert land
Waessan whispered that riches were fading
And warned of dangers from Adokon.

Between Adokon and Baleth,
Once held by brothers strong
Now came strife and struggle;
Prophets’ tales were in the wrong.

Waessan urged Baleth westward,
Old Lorvan sent Adokon east
The clans met in high passes
And blood ran to the seas.

At Venar both Lorvan and Rauda fell
As many did from both clans.
Baleth surged, held by the words of Waessan
And the guidance of Acel, Rauda’s son.

Acel heeded Waessan’s words
And took each mine in turn
Clan Baleth pushed up mountains
Ever west, and Adokon before them ran.

Down to the valley of Kyronn
Baleth pushed Adokon
Until their backs were at the city
And they could not move on.

Then came the fiercest battle.
Adokon at end stood firm
And Acel drew back Baleth
Though Waessan urged him on.

The ground was soaked with blood.
Each step was mired in gore
Acel bade Baleth climb to the mountains
They moved east, leaving Adokon there.

Clan Baleth claimed each valley
Each hillside and each mine
The day was won, but much was lost
Slain warriors they’d left behind.

In Adokon much wailing
Rent the night as women cried
For husbands and for sons
Whose blood soaked land outside.

Clan Adokon did now
Claim Mordel as their chief
To right the wrong, to regain strength
He sought for counsel long.

To his ears came the words of Eowar,
Crippled legs from mining’s toil
Kept this man from work,
He worked instead with thoughts.

To peace did Eowar put his words
Too much blood lay underfoot
And Mordel listened close to him
For many warriors were hurt.

For many years did Mordel rule
And to the east was Acel.
Clan Baleth traded with greenmen now
And Adokon grew strong in silence.

Among the warriors of Adokon
Came words both strong and fertile
They urged Mordel to fight again
But Eowar spoke of peace.

To show devotion to the gods
Eowar and his disciples
Lashed branches from the tallest oak
Down on their back and ankles.

The warriors laughed and shook their heads
To see the thinkers trifle.
But Eowar knew that Adokon
Was weak still and he said so.

To show the warriors his strong faith
To aid the Clan Adokon
Eowar led his followers high
To the shoulders of Mount Vrol.

Then one by one, singing praises loud
Of Vrol and Adokon
Eowar and his followers leaped
To embrace the fires of Vrol.

All save one, named Anak he,
The last of learned fellows
He stood on lip of Vrol’s great heat
And turned to Mordel now.

He spoke of fear, of punishment,
Of disbelief of Eowar,
Then said to Mordel that he knew
How Adokon could triumph.

To the forge went Adokon
Sharp spears and swords new made
Then Adokon took war with them
To neighbor clans in trade.

They fell again to Adokon
To north and south and west
Now Adokon had strength once more
To strive against its neighbor.

In lands of Baleth, Enwan led
And of his daughter Sula
Praises were sung, and stories told
Of beauty and kindly virtue.

Adokon’s chief had a son of iron
Named Lothar, son of Avudd.
And of his strength in mind and arm
None could deny his glory.

To west rode Enwan, to east Avudd
To speak of son and daughter
A bargain struck for future’s fate
The two clans would be one.

So combined, the clans were strong
And Adokon ruled far.
But in the distance, vipers nest
Each filling clan chiefs ears with venom.

With tremors strong, the ground did shake
And made the wise men grumble.
Bakwere they feared, his name they spoke
Harsh words from many came.

Ardun and Srtal spoke words in plenty
Each had the ear of the chief.
Vrol must be appeased they said in fear;
Sacrifice would turn the danger aside.

So to Mount Vrol climbed the pious and poor
To satisfy the needs of the many.
Into the maw of the god they hurled themselves
And no more did the ground tremble.

The harvest came, both long and large
The sacrifice was accepted.
And Adokon was stronger then
A clan both mighty and bold.

The Lay of the Tarans-The Age of Malok

Now did Gramak, chief of Adokon
Send warriors to the east.
The clansmen brought many to their knees
And the fame of Adokon grew great.

But as they came homeward from far lands,
The warriors bought with them danger.
A creeping cough, a fever and then
Death walked among the Tarans.

The Wasting it was called by them
Men, women and children were taken
Wailing loud from Derys to Litux was heard
As death spread through the valleys.

Then Enos spoke to Heufkel, chief of Adokon
If warriors bold killed swamp men strange,
Perhaps the Wasting would fade.
Could men brave and bold be found?

Those who could walk and hold a sword
Said to Heufkel that they would aid.
So Adokon sent an army forth
To slay the swamp men strange.

To Lowlands cold came the Adokon force
But swamp men spies were waiting
They faded away, then swept behind
And Adokon warriors died bleeding.

So Enos slunk away in time
For his words were false and failing.
No man would speak to this prophet
In the mountains he died cold and alone.

Malok spread his hands over all the land
No Taran clan was safe from suffering.
Weeping grew faint, and wailing quiet
Despair lay over the land.

But still the warriors must defend themselves
So Baleth came to Sawgrass Mire
Swords gird and spears uplifted
They struggled to defeat invading swamp men.

Tanber led, and raised his sword,
But as he did, his men collapsed.
In despair, did Tanber salute, then fall to his knees,
Grieving for his men.

Jilinn was the name of the leader of the men
Who came from the swamp for battle.
Seeing Tanber fall, he sent forth aid,
And Baleth warriors were saved from The Wasting.

Then they clasped hands, Jilinn and Tanber
And the armies parted as friends.
Baleth warriors traveled over mountain and range
Bringing the cure for The Wasting to Tarans.