The razing and rebuilding of Rhyd
In the early days of Llyn (one of the Four Regions of Adhonaglamar), centuries ago, various tribes inhabited the Region. The Darhun and the Rhydali were two of those tribes. While the Darhun were nomadic, the Rhydali had set up a settlement on the edge of the plains of Magari, bordering on a vast forest. They called their settlement Rhyd.
The Darhun would pass in that area every year, letting their herds graze on the plains of Magari. The Rhydali also kept cattle, but in pastures they had set up on the plains near their village. It would be the use of those plains for cattle that would nearly raze Rhyd to the ground.
One year, while the Darhun were staying on the plains for a while, they let their cattle roam further than usual. A large part of the herd ended up in the Rhydali's territory. Some say the Darhun actively tore down some of the fencing around the Rhydali's pastures, others claim it had fallen into disrepair and in certain spots sections were completely missing. Regardless, when the Darhun's cattle trampled and ate most of the pastures' grassland, the Rhydali became angry. A conflict ensued and at the end of it several of the Darhun's herdsmen lay dead on the plains.
Not taking this slight lightly, the Darhun planned retaliation.
At the time, groups of Mastodon were also passing through the plains. They usually kept to the forest, but in search of water they would sometimes roam further outside of their usual territory. That summer had been very dry, and a large herd of Mastodons had gathered on the plains in search of water.
The Darhun took advantage of the passing herd. Late at night, they started chasing the Mastodons loudly and corralling them in the direction of Rhyd. A stampede ensued, the large animals heading towards Rhyd in a panic.
At the same time, a small group of Darhun had made their way into the forest on the other side of the settlement. The winds in their favour, they set fire to the trees. Fed by the wind, the flames were soon roaring towards Rhyd as well.
In the settlement, the villagers woke up to a deafening sound. The thundering feet of the Mastodons shook the ground, while the wildfire blazed nearby, sucking in all the air around. Still half asleep, the villagers could do nothing as the beasts rampaged through the fences and huts, levelling everything in their path. Trying to stay clear of the herd, the Rhydali that could ran towards the forest. To their surprise there they were met with the soaring heat of the approaching fire. The Mastodons, nearing the edge of the forest themselves, also became aware of the fire. Fearing fire like all animals, they panicked even more and turned aside, running away in a frenzy until they cleared the settlement.
Soon after, the flames reached the first huts, some of which hadn't been trampled yet. Those huts that were made from wood quickly caught fire. In a matter of minutes the village was dotted with flaming huts, like big campfires in the night.
The fire burnt for hours, until a heavy summer rain came pouring down, dousing the flames in the settlement and the forest. By morning, the Rhydali finally could see what was left of their village, which wasn't much.
More than two-thirds of the huts were either trampled or burnt, or both. Food stores had been trampled and strewn around, the grain now floating in puddles of water. Where the herd had cut through the settlement a large muddy trail had formed, a mix of debris, water, and earth. Many villagers hadn't been able to get out of the way of the charging beasts, getting knocked down and trampled. Some others, afraid of the stampede, had remained in their huts where they were caught by the fire.
It was a devastating event for the Rhydali. That night, Rhyd all but ceased to exist. The Darhun had packed up and moved on overnight, being surprised by the havoc their actions had wrought and fearing retaliation.
Once word of the destruction spread to other nearby tribes, many on good terms with the Rhydali, they sent delegations with food and aid. Together with the Rhydali they slowly began rebuilding the settlement. Huts that could be repaired were fixed up, to cover the basic needs of shelter for the tribe. The scattered cattle of the Rhydali was rounded up and the pastures fixed.
It took a month and a half of hard labour by all involved to clear the debris and rebuild the settlement to its most basic form. It would take the Rhydali half a year more to fully recover from the disaster. But in the end Rhyd survived, its inhabitants resilient but traumatised by the events of that fateful night.
The Darhun would pass in that area every year, letting their herds graze on the plains of Magari. The Rhydali also kept cattle, but in pastures they had set up on the plains near their village. It would be the use of those plains for cattle that would nearly raze Rhyd to the ground.
One year, while the Darhun were staying on the plains for a while, they let their cattle roam further than usual. A large part of the herd ended up in the Rhydali's territory. Some say the Darhun actively tore down some of the fencing around the Rhydali's pastures, others claim it had fallen into disrepair and in certain spots sections were completely missing. Regardless, when the Darhun's cattle trampled and ate most of the pastures' grassland, the Rhydali became angry. A conflict ensued and at the end of it several of the Darhun's herdsmen lay dead on the plains.
Not taking this slight lightly, the Darhun planned retaliation.
At the time, groups of Mastodon were also passing through the plains. They usually kept to the forest, but in search of water they would sometimes roam further outside of their usual territory. That summer had been very dry, and a large herd of Mastodons had gathered on the plains in search of water.
The Darhun took advantage of the passing herd. Late at night, they started chasing the Mastodons loudly and corralling them in the direction of Rhyd. A stampede ensued, the large animals heading towards Rhyd in a panic.
At the same time, a small group of Darhun had made their way into the forest on the other side of the settlement. The winds in their favour, they set fire to the trees. Fed by the wind, the flames were soon roaring towards Rhyd as well.
In the settlement, the villagers woke up to a deafening sound. The thundering feet of the Mastodons shook the ground, while the wildfire blazed nearby, sucking in all the air around. Still half asleep, the villagers could do nothing as the beasts rampaged through the fences and huts, levelling everything in their path. Trying to stay clear of the herd, the Rhydali that could ran towards the forest. To their surprise there they were met with the soaring heat of the approaching fire. The Mastodons, nearing the edge of the forest themselves, also became aware of the fire. Fearing fire like all animals, they panicked even more and turned aside, running away in a frenzy until they cleared the settlement.
Soon after, the flames reached the first huts, some of which hadn't been trampled yet. Those huts that were made from wood quickly caught fire. In a matter of minutes the village was dotted with flaming huts, like big campfires in the night.
The fire burnt for hours, until a heavy summer rain came pouring down, dousing the flames in the settlement and the forest. By morning, the Rhydali finally could see what was left of their village, which wasn't much.
More than two-thirds of the huts were either trampled or burnt, or both. Food stores had been trampled and strewn around, the grain now floating in puddles of water. Where the herd had cut through the settlement a large muddy trail had formed, a mix of debris, water, and earth. Many villagers hadn't been able to get out of the way of the charging beasts, getting knocked down and trampled. Some others, afraid of the stampede, had remained in their huts where they were caught by the fire.
It was a devastating event for the Rhydali. That night, Rhyd all but ceased to exist. The Darhun had packed up and moved on overnight, being surprised by the havoc their actions had wrought and fearing retaliation.
Once word of the destruction spread to other nearby tribes, many on good terms with the Rhydali, they sent delegations with food and aid. Together with the Rhydali they slowly began rebuilding the settlement. Huts that could be repaired were fixed up, to cover the basic needs of shelter for the tribe. The scattered cattle of the Rhydali was rounded up and the pastures fixed.
It took a month and a half of hard labour by all involved to clear the debris and rebuild the settlement to its most basic form. It would take the Rhydali half a year more to fully recover from the disaster. But in the end Rhyd survived, its inhabitants resilient but traumatised by the events of that fateful night.
Type
Village
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You know, the Darhun kind of remind me of children that didn't fully think through the consequences of their actions. They were just like 'OOPS' and left. I could really vividly picture this in my mind from your writing. :)
Thank you Emily. I've noticed a trend in my writing :-D. I do seem to prefer the 'storyteller' style, rather than Wikipedia-style articles. Pondering looking into the master tier because of this, once the new Manuscript section is out of beta.