Increased trade with the Bicomis and White elves means that their histories and cultlures are beginning to be known throughout Barsaive,
The Bicomis,
The history of the Bicomis begins with their difficult birth from the earth at the end of the age of the scourge. The Bicomis refer to their kaer as the womb of their people. While still in their womb they were assaulted by deadly creatures and only through the strength and courage of their proudest warriors were the Bicomis able to survive the assaults. The monsters attacked the Bicomis in their womb and attacked them in their cradle (the fertile valleys where they first settled) but as time passed the creatures fled southwards until they were no more.
Outsiders are sometimes puzzled by the apparent lack of history of these people prior to the scourge but soon realize that the incursions of horrors into their kaers may have been responsible for the destruction of not only much of their population but of their culture and traditions.
It is during this turbulent time, that the ruling warrior caste was founded. Blessed by Baelious (angel of Lugus, also known as Fortune), three of these rose to rule the Bicomis, their courage, valour and might uncontested amongst the Bicomis. These were Mavyric, Gous and Iysmin. They were the first (and current) triumvirate. Their rule is absolute but largely benevolent. Their government is based on a sort of benevolent military dictatorship.
The Bicomis have lost the typical dwarven affinity for mining and minerals, instead they have become excellent farmers, shepherds and especially ranchers. They are perhaps most famous for their mounts, creatures much like rhinoceros though smaller and leaner, which they use to ranch their sheep and cattle herds. The Bicomis, though not known to work iron or even bronze, use stone and copper tools (and more and more iron tools imported from the Uld’ar) to work the hides of cattle and sheep into some of the finest and most delicately formed leathers available.
Recently the Uld’ar have become a large part of Bicomis society, trading with them and providing protection and gifts, as well as warnings against invasions by other nations. They are also on good terms with the traders of Achatin and Throal. The Taba Ghut they are unsure of and while they will allow their merchants and diplomats, into their lands, they will allow no other. The recent arrival of the Merchants Trading Guild, and the ‘Goldcloth Order’ has opened the world to them that much more. They have recently met traders from the Palitante, Utilican and Scion of Twilight nations though no official diplomatic overtures have been made with these nations.
Finally, although the Bicomis value courage, honor and individual battle, they are at heart peaceful people content to maintain their ranches and raise their children in peace. Roused to war however, an enemy would find them courageous and unbending indeed.
The White Elves (Asgalfar)
The White Elves trace their history to the ‘mists’. They recall only travelling through the mists, lost and unknowing and finally arriving at the isle they now call home. They are fairly recent arrivals to the isle, having only been there for perhaps 70 years. Despite this, the isle itself, in antiquity (ie- before the scourge) had been populated by elves loyal (or at least allied) to the great Elven Court Of Wyrmwood (on the eastern continent). The ruins of their once great cities continue to grace the landscape, though now they are overgrown and sunken into the earth. The white elves accept the ruins without too great of curiosity- certainly they do not link their history to the ruins.
The White Elves lived as nomads upon the land, hunting caribou and reindeer and trapping rabbit, beaver and various birds. They grew used to the great cold and when the great angel of ice arrived from the west and proclaimed itself a divinity, its obvious power and strength were enough to quickly awe the white elves into service. The angel set about attempting to organize the elves into a military order, encouraging the elves to train with javelins and spears. Some amongst the population it took to be its holy servants and taught them the ways of ‘Winter’.
Not long ago the Scions of Twilight trolls arrived from the west. These had a religion very similar to that of the angel and when the Scion scouts were provided with a rare audience with the angel, they knelt to it in devotion and awe. Shortly thereafter the White Elves and the Scions of Twilight became strong allies with the later assisting the former with protection and trade. When the Utilican ‘thieves of summer’ came and the great one punished the elves for their disloyalty, they were quick to exile them from their isle. When the Tabba Ghut arrived some time later, again the lord of winter struck and again the foreigners were exiled.
Today the White Elves (or Asgalfar as the Scions of Twilight call them and as some elves call themselves) are led by their queen, Nesulsun and her son, Prince Thazirut as a traditional monarchy. The priest of the ‘Winter Way’ have no formal political power but their influence over the population and the monarchy is evident and strengthening.
White elves have recently travelled to the Niflheim as missionaries and traders. There they have met traders from Utilica, Nozkam Legon, and Palitante though no official diplomatic contact as yet been made with these nations.