[ GOERTHA ]

Peoples

The Aristings

The Aristings descend directly from the first peoples who descended Angerny Eldon and took the trip down the Cliffs of Tereckaning. As such, they have always accorded themselves a special status, and even the Verentians, who conquered them, treated them differently than other subjugated peoples.

The main branches of the Aristings are:

  • Dalings
  • Langings
  • Kolmerlangs
  • Saers

Merglannish

In Merglan the clans have belligerent houses concentrated in the fertile valleys draining into the Sea of Rue from the southeast. They are clannish and self-sufficient, but responsible for providing the backbone of Galfmor's mounted forces.

Saerish

The Saerish folk make up the bulk of the people in Goertha. The Saers are similar to the Dalings, but not quite as heavy and hazel eyes are not as common. There used to be a Kingdom of Saerlon, but that was so long ago no one remembers. There are many legends of Saerlon, however. More recent are the events surrounding the fall of the Sacred Realm of Pallon.

Gorlings

Gorlish clans were once the devout and loyal subjects of the Tassotarn of Pallon, these peoples still center around Mirsach and the nearby valleys. The Gorlish are split between the Mirsachans, who support the old order, and the Grathlanes, who are the open-minded, volatile new order.

The Danthings

The Danthings descended Angerny Eldon but refused to follow Suron-Dur down the Cliffs of Tereckaning. Instead they turned to dwell in the forests of Targelon, godless. Though the Danthings are at least as diverse as the Aristings, in Goertha only the Fards (or Fearths) maintain a strong presence.

Fardic, or Fearthick, peoples live mostly in Fearthlond, a rough country north of Galfmor. Some Fards have come south to fight for one side or another. Fards are tall and heavy, with blond to brown hair, blue-grey to green eyes and fair to average complexions.

Dalings

Dalish folk come from the northern, mountainous country of Gedringale. They tend to be a little heavy, average 1.8 m tall. They have auburn or brown hair, hazel or brown eyes, and fair to average complexions. These people are of Aristing-descent, but Gedringale was sealed by an impenetrable ring of mountains for centuries until only about 6 decades ago, when the Geshirt Pass mysteriously opened. Centuries of isolation produced a unique culture.

Madringals

Madringals are followers of Lady Wake and seek to travel through as many lands outside of Gedringale as they can. They are a superstitious, mystical clan who never remain too close to non-Dale people.

Ralings

Ralings are men of the Dales: the rolling green and pleasant meadows which give Gedringale its name, gedring meaning northwards and rale meaning dales. The Ralings avoid high places and always travel afoot.

Shibberlings

The name of these folks comes from the term "shire-brelane," which means Cliff Walkers. These bold folk live in cave-and-rock towns on the high summits of Gedringale's mountainous borders. The Shibberlings invented a device similar to a hang-glider, which they use to travel across chasms and down cliffs.

Langings

Langings were Aristings of Angorlon who ascended the Valley to dwell by the lake. Descendants of many of the Langings are now rustic peasants who work on the banks of the River Riding, but most fled northward across the Copper Hills and into the forests.

Kolmerlangs

The Kolmerlangs were Langings who became the Chosen Guardians of the Mountain (Angerny Eldon). After the Feard conquered the Balffing Basin, the Kolmerlangs defended Lock-Saghleas from infidels such as they as well as all other hostile trespassers. The Kolmerlang are a strange folk, ruled firmly by a mysterious sorcerer.

Gistlings

Gistlings are men of dark and shrouded Gistlon, between Tamaron (spelled Tamarel on the map) and Galfmor. The Gistlings are a gaunt and sour folk who tend to be avoided by civilized men. They seem content to live a primitive, spartan existence isolated in their cold and bleak land.

Languages

Most of the names found in the descriptions are in Saerish, which is spoken throughout most of Goertha. Occasionally Fearthic and Verentian names also appear. Many Goerthans will speak Verentian, especially those of the nobility and merchants. Fearthic is spoken mainly in Fearthlond. Dalish is spoken in Gedringale, but that language is rapidly being superceded by Saerish.

Note on the Translations

Liberties have been taken with translating Goerthan terms with English ones. In an effort not to alienate players, I try to use English, or English-like terms to describe the familiar. For example, the title `Grand Pontiff' is used instead of the Saerish `Tassotarn,' simply because it better invokes the appropriate air of pomp. Likewise, `Saerish' should really be `Saerich.' I feel players (myself included) should immediately feel comfortable with the setting, rather than struggle with weird terms for ordinary things (which might sound silly if English is not your native language; it's just that it's mine).