The Talenta Plains

The Talenta Plains are a vast grassland stretching from the Blade Desert to the borders of Karrnath and the Mournland. It is the home of wandering herds of buffalo-sized dinosaurs and tribal halflings remaining true to their ancient nomadic way of life since the days before humans walked the lands of Khorvaire.

Government

Each halfling tribe follows a tradition that all tribal members are equals. Even so, each tribe selects a leader based on merit and ability, a leader referred to as a lath. The lath directs the activities of his or her tribe, commanding the respect and subservience of the members of the tribe. As equals, all members of the tribe can offer suggestions and voice opinions, but they agree that the final call always falls to their lath. If the lath loses the respect and confidence of his or her tribe, the tribe will select a new lath to lead them. Tribal members are tied by blood and tradition, but even so, some tribes disband and merge at regular intervals, and sometimes a powerful lath might attract a number of tribes to his banner. Such a leader is called a lathon. Over the generations, a few mighty lathons have gathered the tribes together for massive undertakings, such as when Lathon Uldom united the tribes to repel human invaders some two thousand years ago. More recently, Lathon Halpum negotiated to end the Last War and create the sovereign nation of the Talenta Plains. Halpum still carries the grand title, but more as an honorary post than as a ruler—he continues to oversee his own tribe, one of the largest in the Plains, but he doesn’t command the other laths.

Industry & Trade

The halflings of the Plains are hunters and herders. They mostly work to feed themselves and to trade with the other tribes that wander the Plains. Through the connections forged with the dragonmarked houses, they engage in some trade with the outside world. Crafts and native art attracts money from the Five Nations, and House Vadalis has a growing interest in the exotic creatures raised, captured, and hunted by the halfling nomads. Some tribes have also struck deals to provide mercenaries to a few select clients throughout Khorvaire. House Ghallanda, the halfling house that carries the Mark of Hospitality, for example, uses halfling war-monks to protect its most important installations, and House Deneith has been known to hire out halfling battle-riders to nobles and other wealthy patrons since the earliest days of the Last War.

History

Though the origins of the halflings is not entirely known, it is certain that they rode the face of Khorvaire long before humans set foot on its soil. When humans arrived and spread across the face of Khorvaire they slowly pushed back the halfling dinosaur riders from all corners of the open expanse of terrain to the relatively smaller open grasslands of the Talenta Plains. As the Five Nations grew the tribes of the Talenta Plains had to resort to inter-racial skirmishes and battles for control over the finite space they had been allotted by the other nations. Under Galifar: When King Galifar I united the Five Nations under one crown, the Talenta Plains were no exception. Originally the Talenta Plains were divided between ancient Cyre and Karrnath; the Talenta Halflings were allowed to roam freely over their "ancestral lands" so long as they paid tribute to the King.
The Last War: At the onset of the Last War both Karrnath and Cyre claimed ownership of the Talenta Plains. The invasion from two fronts prompted the many varied tribes of the Plains to join forces in a way they never had before. Using their superior knowledge and skills, the Talenta halflings managed to drive back the forces of Karrnath and Cyre simultaneously. However, as the war dragged on the open fields of the Talenta Plains became great staging areas for battles. As the landscape was torn apart by the machines of war, the Talenta halflings wisely withdrew from the conflict. At the Treaty of Thronehold the tribes presented a united front and were given their autonomy.

Geography

The Plains stretch out across the mideast of Khorvaire stretching from the Endworld and Ironroot Mountains to the very border of the Dead Gray Mist on the fringe of the Mournland and encompassing Lake Cyre as part of their own territory. Their southern border with Valenar is tenuous cutting through the largest part of the Blade Desert; the border is less hotly contested than the one to the north with Karrnath which has no natural demarcation. Disputes over the precise location of the border have come up on numerous occasions and talk of constructing stone markers every five miles along the official border have been brought up.

Type

National Territory

Population

400,000 (80% halfling, 10% human, 4% changeling, 4% dwarf, 2% other)