The Dezdu (DEZH-doo)

A Lowlands myth known to peoples north as well, but most common among Lowlanders and traveling storytellers of all sorts.

Summary

The Dezdu are demons or demon-worshippers, depending on the source of the myth. They come from a different continent, far to the east or southeast, and they want to take over the lands (usually implying the Lowlands, but again varies by telling), convert or kill all people there, and generally rain chaos down upon the populace.

Historical Basis

There is evidence of attempts made by people arriving on the coasts of the Lowlands (some even claim as far north as Chigroden) to attack the native peoples. There is zero evidence attackers were anything more (or less) than human, however. Beyond that, there is really only oral history told so long as to be legend at best.

There were historic attackers who sought to claim land, and regularly arrived declaring themselves the overlords in their native tongue, a few syllables of which became the word 'Dezdu'. This term is in no way related to who those people may have been, or where they may have come from, and indeed it's all that remains of them at this point.

Spread

Lowlanders consider the Dezdu as others might a common boogeyman or evil spirit that will "get" bad people or "come" if the common folk take up evil, though usually a far darker tale than something used to keep children from misbehaving. While those further north may have heard the legend, they're unlikely to think of it without being reminded by someone else.

Date of First Recording

recorded from oral history, supposedly

Date of Setting

a time long past

Related Ethnicities