Three hundred years after the fall of Zebron the nature of the land now known as Halifax had dramatically changed.  Morbreth had merged with the Skaf colonies.  The result not only crossed bloodlines, for they interbred, but it also engendered worship of a pantheon of etheric entities and Earthern gods. This confusing mix sponsored deep fragmentation.
In Zebron the Fuegonites stil lived.  All remaining Ezmeri in Zebron hadlong ago been converted or killed.

There was an uneasy power balance but little affection between these two powerful cultures. The Troc were no more and the orog depended on the Fuegonites, there elemental brothers, for protection. 
Halifax was the name given at birth to a man born in -9,500 who was destined to change the nature of the continent.  A preacher and leader who felt that necromancy was wrong and thought it would only end in disaster.  It would prove prophetic.
Morbrethi Necromancy had flourished in competition with the Energetics of the Fuegonites.  Conjured entities began appearing as servants.  Soon it became unclear as to who was leading whom.  In many cases, the conjured entity would take over their master's domain.  Any central control that the Vatara of Morbreth had over his fragmenting country was rapidly disappearing.  Eventually the Fuegonites threatened war over the increasing threat of rampaging entities.  In a desperate attempt to wrest back control, the Vatara of Morbreth and the Avatar of Fuegon joined forces.  They  went to the region most controlled by the demonic entities and using the Power of the Orb of Fire and the craft of the powerful Necromancer, they attempted to cast a giant Containment to aid in Mass Banishment of the entities.  To say that they were unsuccessful would be stating it lightly.  They both mistrusted each other and were not completely honest about safeguards employed.  They succeeded only in opening a portal allowing even more powerful demonic and diabolic entities to pour in, but at least did contain them to the continent. Quickly realizing that the only power that could banish them lie in the Orb of Fire, the entities sought out that stone.  The Fuegonites quickly whisked it away, taking it off the continent.  Knowing that Skaflos would most likely separate them from their orb, they headed east and ended up on a small island off the west coast of DOM.  When their return to Zebron was eventually deemed a lost cause, the Fuegonites and their orb made the trip to mainland DOM (c.-9,480).

He did not relish another boat journey.  But the news from Zebron was not good.  The great hall of Humak had become a trans-planar demonic dance hall.  His remaining subjects were in hiding.  He would need to send for them.  Why had he trusted the Morbreth?  He vowed never again to involve his people outside of the faith.  He had let Fuegon down.  His orb still contained Necromantic elements that he did not understand, nor did he know how to remove them without removing the Power placed in the Orb by his forefathers.  He would instead place powerful dispels that would take effect if the Necromancy ever surfaced.  He turned to his acolytes.  "It is time to go.  There is no home for us here.  We shall seek the mountains of the mainland and we shall do again as we have done before.  We shall begin again.  And we shall prevail."  He could see the distant mountains on this cold clear morning.  They looked like a larger version of the familiar southern Humak range in Zebron.  "It looks like The Fane Mountains" he said.

Next: Corman, Cedrick and Gottfel.

Two hundred years after their arrival, the expatriated Ezmeri established their "Vatar" (country ruled by an Avatar/leader) in the southwest of Halifax.  Calling it "Zebron" after a similarly outcast relative of the Great God Ezmere, this loose collection of tribal groups was loosely led by Kulana, avatar of Zebron and great grandson of the cleric who first led the Ezmeri to Halifax.   The Zokesh did likewise in the southeast, naming their country "Morbreth" after a patron etheric entity they felt helped them to survive the hardships of establishing a new home.  These two countries were reluctant allies although they shared little in common beside language.  They did share the same lack of memory regarding their treatment at the hands of their home countries, for they eventually aped the same contempt for other religions and even more so with the godless.  The Feugonites, which had increased their numbers dramatically, soon was deemed a threat to Zebron and were eventually expelled.  Seeking refuge in altitude, the Fuegonites left and established a home near the caldera of the Great Hukak Volcano to the north of Zebron and adjacent to the orog lands.  There they remained for centuries.  During this time Avatar of Fuegon made an important discovery.  The Hukak volcano held power.  Being an energeticist as well as a avatar, Alcan discovered that he could place some of his power into the mountain, and retrieve it when he needed it.  This gave him a small reserve of power and enabled him to further explore and hone his spell tome library. 

Kulana of Zebron also being an energeticist, eventually made the same discovery.  Naturally he wanted the territory.  "For essential mining" he explained.  As the Feugonites were not about to relinquish the land, a war broke out. Zebron was unconcerned as they were by far the larger nation and viewed the Fuegonites as mere renegades.

Meanwhile, deep within the great mountain, another discovery even greater than the first was made.  Upon the opening of a new shaft in the mountain a child of earth and fire was unearthed.  The crystal progeny of some ancient magma imprisoned now in a blanket of hardened lava.

This moment took over a year to arrive.  Alcan ordered everyone out of the room. The great stone, now cut with precision and polished to a gleam sat on the deus in the center of the room that had been built just for it.  The torches that dimly lit the room refracted and gleamed upon the surface of the immense ruby that Alcan now slowly circled.  He stopped.  Suddenly he came to a realization.  This WAS the mountain.  This great stone had been the one all along.  The mountain had given Power - their Power - to this sacred offspring.  Generations of their Power.  He started at the stone, thoughts dancing through his brain as he finally spoke:  "Light".  Suddenly the stone blasted forth a glow that rivaled a glance at the sun.  A smile flashed across his face as he quickly turned away.  "This changes everything."

The war between Zebron and the Fuegonites was bloody.  The Zebron did not know that the Fuegonites had allied with the orog.  The orog leader had seen a demonstration of the power of Alcan and thought him a god.  Morbreth was not available to help Zebron.  Now allied with the Skaf colonies those two nations had joined to eradicate the troc threat and were very busy.  After only ten years of struggle, Zebron had a new leader whose name was Alcan, Avatar of Fuegon

Next: the second battle for Halifax.

Halifax dominions c. -9,800.  Note that the Skaf Colonies are represented here by the two main colonies, but there were many Skaf city-states.  Usually competitive and prone to skirmishes, they united against troc aggression.  Joining Morbreth they eventually drove the troc into the sea to a decidedly unfriendly reception by the Sahag.

Halifax c. -10,000 was a verdant land occupied by a mixed population of orogs and trocs who wandered in ten millenia before our story began.  The trocs from the ocean and the Sun-worshiping Hali orog across from DOM via the Niereia peninsula and the Strait of Morbreth.  Also ekeing out an existence were small colonies of forgotten Skaflan immigrants from only five millennia earlier. Long ago deserted by anyone in their homeland, the skaf lived a hard and isolated life.  Soon to be made harder still by the arrival of men.  Some of those men would begin a spiritual journey that would eventually take them to DOM and to the pinnacle of power in that land, and then lead them to destruction and anonymity.

"Fire inspired them, lead them to greatness, and then consumed them"  -Tirian (1851)

Far to the west of those bound for DOM another tide of men fled from Zorbesh.  An unlikely mix of cultures travelled together of necessity.  The Barrens were harsh.  Ezmeri men fleeing Zokesh who long ago had been declared outcast by their home country and thought to seek sanctuary with the other son of Zorbesh.  Now they were chased out again and declared unfit for either land.  Marching beside them were Zokeshi men similarly disposed under the opposite conditions.  Many were thieves and cutthroats thought too unclean to even mar JinKhan, the new prison built to house far worse criminals with better breeding.  Their blood could stain someone else's shores.  Men of various cults and sects belonging to no home country completed their number.  The dregs of Zorbesh.  Small ragtag hordes numbering in the contentious thousands spread out over a thousand miles.  Contending with organized Skaf defenses, the achievement of those previous immigrants occupying the western coastlands of the Great Barrens, the men were driven further and further north.  The cruel desert did not allow sieges and the bands were ill-provisioned.  When they could go no further north, they journeyed back to the east along the northern shore.  There they would seek refuge and begin to construct dwellings.  They would live their for almost a century enduring raids from desert brigands at their backs, Skaflan expatriate raids from their sides and Sahag incursions from the sea before them.  Not bad enough?  The land was not arable.  Only fishing (when the Sahag would let them) preserved them.  It was from a long fishing trip that men first saw Halifax.

And so, over the next century, the inhabitants of the margins once again migrated to a new home.  Long ago they had coalesced into two main groups: Ezmeri expatriots and Zokeshi expatriots.  Neither held any affection for their home countries and did not recognize ancestry as having any cultural importance.  Other sects and rif-raf were split pretty evenly between them.  One small sect that sided with the Ezmeri ex-pats would later make a good deal of history.  They worshipped a god of pure Fire that they called Fuegon.

"We shall travel with you" said Rakis.  "You are of Fire as we are.  Our gods mingle on the planes of Fire, it is right that we also share our lodges."  But Kulana knew in his heart that pure Fire without another tempering element could be dangerous.  Still, this ambitious young man had few converts to his cause.  And it was a new land with new dangers, and all hands were needed.  He turned to look at the eager young Avatar addressing him.  "We shall ride together."  "Then may the wind be at our back" was the excited reply.  "May you always find Water" said the older man.  And he meant it.

Next: The First Battle for Halifax

Map of the burgeoning Grimdun holdings, the Troc and Orog split dominions and the first human migrant settlements in DOM.  Note that the northern Raylan groves were split at this time - but remained in close association and alliance.

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"His Eminence Menzat-The-Anointed, as High Avatar of the Great Zokesh, eldest son of Zorban - the father and King of all of the Gods - declares as God incarnate that henceforth all men in Zorbesh shall be beholding to Zokesh and his Avatar.  Those else not of his favor shall seek refuge elsewhere or feel the just wrath of the faithful."  With these few words the Great Purge began. 

A century earlier the disparate tribes of Zorbeshi had begun to coalesce into religious factions that grew increasingly intolerant of each other.  Ruled by theocracies, the leaders established order through ruthlessness.
Starting with the remaining Jasou and other non-Zorbeshi faiths and then proceeding to followers of Zokesh's sister Khaniza, then his brother Ezmere, the ruler/avatar of Zokesh exacted a terrible price for being outside of the faith.  These heathen were banished from the kingdom, and if they refused, they were killed or sacrificed to dark necromantic entities.  Following suit, Ezmere expelled or murdered any not strictly declaring fealty to Zokesh's brother Ezmere, which they also declared to be the true "eldest son".   This began a bitter civil war between Zokesh and Ezmere that would eventually claim the lives of 10 percent of the population and expel twice that number.  They headed out of Zorbesh into the Great Barrens, stopping only when they found a safe haven.  After the Jasou, the Khaizat were next to leave.  They took up residence in the Khaniz barrens, establishing a home in the City of Neriz .  Other displaced travelers would end up as far away as the continent of Halifax to the northwest and Femeraz to the east.  Many travelled to due north, following the example of the Jasou. 

From the Ancient writings of Kalal Cootas describing his crossing into the DOM region of Gandus:

"We finally leave the Great Barrens.  The Khanizat can keep that land of death.  I am tired to the death of desert dwellers.  The Gods have not protected us.  We are outcast from the Gods.  We are they that have no life in the eyes of the Gods.  So be it.  We shall live Godless.  We shall seek the cold lands for they cannot be as cold as the hearts of men.  Rather I would see the ice at my feet than to succumb to ice in my heart unknowing. We shall live amongst and embrace the barbaric and inhuman races of the north rather than die by the hand of our brothers."

Thousands began the Great Exodus from Zorbesh, but few ultimately survived the trek to arrive in Petros and Isban in DOM.  It was a trail marked in blood at the hands of their countrymen of all denominations, of the cruel desert creatures of the barrens, the Jasou in the Porthan mountains, and finally the Trocs, Rayla and Skafs of DOM.  They arrived weak and defeated.  Cruel winters battered them, and northern diseases decimated them.  Still they would survive to live again in the sun.

Next: Halifax and the Fuegonites

Map of the northen migration of the jasou tribes of Zorbesh  c. - 10,200, followed by the mass exodus of Men c. -10,100

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Across the Great Barrens to the south of DOM lie the Kingdoms of the great god Zorban and his followers, the Zorbeshi.  Legend states that the great god had two sons by The Goddess Yuala (Ezmere and Zokesh and one legitimate daughter Khaniza and one unrecognized illegitimate daughter Jousouka).  None of these sibling got along. The Zorbeshi followers of these children fought amongst themselves contantly.   In Zorbeshi, status and even existence is determined by whom you are born to and each faction asserted their deity to be the elder and therefore natural heir to Zorban , the father god. 

Living mostly in the western jungles the Ezmeri practice austerity and the rudiments of the discipline of Energetics.  In the deserts to the east the opulent and necromantic Zokesh share territory with the Khaniz who live and practice their Energetics and Shamanism in a frugal way on the fringes of the domain controlled mostly by the Zokesh. 

The poor followers of Jousouka were lumped with Jasou and other heathens as the lowest of the low.  The brother gods did not treat their sisters well.

The Jasou were not even regarded as men - being a distant cousin of the Skaf and Orog.  They shared some territory with men who increasingly saw their presence (and worship of the heathen earth god Alak) as an affront.  When the jasou started dying in great numbers at the hand of men, they decided to move.  Many headed south to the native lands of the jasou, but an equal number, now culturally converted to Zorbesh headed north into the Great Desert.  Preferring mountainous regions the northern bound Jasou headed for the Porthan Range at the south of DOM.  Finally settled there the Jasou began construction on The Great Halls of Zenabesh which became their new home.
"We are told that they practice Alaka (Kinesis) in the north.  And they are our brothers."  Said the one.  The other responded "But do they accept the will of Alak.  We have seen how siblings can unite only in war."  A rhetorical conversation at this point as the two elder Jasou, seated atop Hakawfi riding beasts were heading northward across the vast and forbidding desert already marching to an unknown future. They knew there was no going back.  Only death awaited them back there.  But they had seen death regardless.  In the form of Stribish, huge sand stars hiding beneath the sand ready for a hapless wanderer.  In hordes of merciless raca - desert rats driven to aggression in such a harsh climate.  Human brigands and other, worse creatures.  "Alak is watching us.  We must master the earth, and this is our trial" said the older of the two jasou.  His companion fell silent.  "We shall build a great temple to Alak - from nothing at all.  We will coax the earth to give up it's bounty and serve us as we serve Alak."

Next: The Great Exodus

Map of the extent of the above-ground Dominion of Grimdon.  The more important vast undergound holdings are not represented here.

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After their migration to DOM, the Skaf sect known as Grimdon lost no time in establishing themselves.  Within two centuries of their arrival they found the unambitious Orog and Troc to be easy pickings.  The Rayla scared them, but they too seemed not to covet the Grimdon holdings nor to bother them much at all unless they wandered near a Raylan grove.  When they did wander near upon occasion, there were few left to tell the tale - and those were generally too terrified to speak.  The Grimdon simply avoided them.  Coveting the northern Mountains of the Malpedun and the caverns of Kamul they extended themselves northward.  Their advance caught the Troc and Orog by surprise.  The Grimdon were adept tunnelers.  They would barge into crude Trog and Orog tunnels and caverns and seize them.  By the time the original inhabitants knew what hit them, they were displaced.
Various Troc clans of the two Troc faiths eventually banded together to repel advance.  The Orog clans did as well.  The Orog and Troc at one point even attempted a truce between the two of them in spite of their centuries-long hostilities to mutually combat the Grimdon, but in the end any agreements between them were short-lived due to argument and divisiveness.  They were both relieved of a fair amount of their land above, and most of their vast network of caverns below. 

Blaming each other for the loss of Orog holdings, the Orog of Kamul in the west and the Orog of Forb in the east parted company, never to unite again.  The Troc would eventually split into factions as well with the Transmuting Portat heading south and the Enchanting Zimurac staying in the north. 

Despite his venerable age he wanted to make the climb.  His boot finally on firm ground, Truestrike surveyed the lands far below the Tassan peak on which he stood.  Far below, his troops spread out from this point like a spiders web under the surface of the land.  "The vermin cower above ground" he said to his aide.  The day is ours.  We shall construct a dominion greater than any in the old country.  Then we shall speak no more of Sugara and Skaflos.  Let the names be struck from all of our history.  WE ARE GRIMDUN!" He shouted.  "WE ARE GRIMDUN!"   All above and below echoed his chant.  "NO ONE SHALL OPPOSE US" he shouted and pointedly looked toward the Raylan groves.  "NO ONE" they echoed.

The Grimdon would enjoy hegemony over DOM for nearly four thousand years.  And although they would humble the Rayla and take most of their lands, they were never able to destroy a single Raylan grove.

Next: The Arrival of the Jasou

The geography of the Skaflan land mass to the east of DOM is so similar, it could be considered a sister.  But it is native home to only one class of sentient being: the Skaf.  Scholars (other than Skaflan scholars) argue that the Skaflan originally began as an Orog-like class.  But that would have been many millennia earlier.  The average Skaf is four feet tall, and nearly four foot wide.  Men of DOM would later call them "dwarves".  They should not be confused with their smaller southern (distant) cousins the Jasou (which the humans would dub "gnomes" or "hob-men".)  The Skaf are a hardworking and unsentimental lot generally.  They tend to produce strong dictatorial leaders.  With many disparate and competing clans, turf wars were common.  Gods worshipped were many, and of different elemental alignments.  The reign of Gradac, avatar of the goddess Sugara starting at around minus 15,000 was particularly notable for it's ferocity.  Gradac was an exceptional, megalomaniacle figure.  Converting many to his faith, he eventually "purged by fire" those that defied the purity of the fire goddess by simply breathing.  As the various competing clans opposed to Gradac had no organized way to join forces, the vicious leader swallowed them up.  Many clans left the continent.  The Halix clan first arrived on the shores of Halifax at this time.  Halifax was home to primitive humans which had probably emigrated there earlier from the Khaniz barrens to the south.  The Halix had some trouble subjugating them however, losing many of their number.  The rest would die from disease.  Their moniker for the land "Halifax" was their only lasting epitaph.  A larger group, the Grimdon, would journey longest and farthest in their search for a new home.  Dedicated to the Earth God Grimbold, the Grimdon practiced Kinesis.  This would help them in their quest.  They eventually found a home in the mountains of central DOM, but not without cost.  Hunted by Troc and Orog, impeded by the Rayla they lost huge numbers.  Once they installed themselves in the natural caverns of the scenic wonder of "Grimdun" they became strong and defensible.  And as they always did - they got right to work.

Truestrike felt the stone rumble beneath his feet as he entered the opening of the tunnel.  He held his hand up for the others to wait.  All down the line they stopped.  Many in the rear prepared to repel the Troc they thought were coming.  They had seen the range of mountains when they crossed the great river that morning.  They saw it looming above the expanse of plains they crossed all afternoon.  Hundreds of the faithful marching, exposed, waiting for the next attack.  But the beaconing mountains were the only thing that appeared.  They had to be inhabited by Orog.  But there were no tracks, no smell.  "Do not hope too much" thought Truestrike as he looked into the tunnel.  A natural hallway.  A volcanic tube blown out centuries or millennia earlier perhaps.  He closed his eyes and felt the earth.  "There is power here" he said aloud.  The others still waiting outside watching the fields of grass for signs of danger.  Truestrike walked in.  The rumbling grew louder.  Coming upon a larger cavern he saw in a moment the cause.  The mist of the the thundering water crossing his path filled his nostrils.  He could see a path beyond it.  A natural borderline no being could pass.  Unless you could telekinese…  Outside, the others waited anxiously.  The journey had been so long and hard.  Friends and family had died.  Their needs dire.  Finally their leader emerged from the cavern and turned to them.  "We have found our home."

Next: The Rise of the Grimdon

A depiction of the Skaf Migration.

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Somewhere around the year minus 15,000 saw the beginning of great migration to DOM.  Migration that would spark centuries of internal conflict.  In the struggle for new homes and against lost territory new religions would arrive and old ones would be tested and altered.  Alliances would be made and broken, brother would turn against brother and thousands would be slaughtered.  I will not attempt to describe in detail here all of the events that occurred, nor of the daily or even yearly clashes.  Momentous events that they all are, they are but of passing interest in our tale having taken place so long ago.  I will instead hit the highlights which hopefully will help define the struggles that still persist to the present day.  The influx took place in waves.  The first newcomers were the Skaflan seeking new frontiers and relief from the harsh Sugaran regime.  Then at around minus 11,000 the Jasou and men would come seeking relief from class persecution.

Next: The Skaflan: Sugaran, Grimdon and Halifax