Old Taronians

The Taronians are an old people from the northern shores of the Great Bay. Based mostly on the southern and eastern foothills of mount Rhysk, as well as the riverine forests near those places, the Taronians have scattered records of their settlement dating back a thousand years. A fragmentary people at the best of times, the Taronians have historically shared language and customs, but have rarely been united.

Most of their ancestral lands were taken over by the dragon Thatavor after the dragons flew into the known world from the south, and many Taronians fled their homelands and settled into Kilth or Kant. In recent times, Thatavor's death has allowed many of these Taronians to return, though their lands remain under the control of a dragon.

The politics of Taron have historically been dominated by the squabbling dominions of petty princelings, and rare has been the sort of lord that could unite the Taronians into a cohesive whole. Nevertheless, neighboring peoples have often feared the Taronians, for they are fearsome raiders when spurred into action. Ironically enough, though Thatavor spread death and destruction far afield, his arrival actually made the northern parts of the Great Bay safer to traverse by snuffing out Taronian piracy almost entirely.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

The Taronians value independence and strength above all. Known as a wild people from a hard land, it is said that every Taronian is a raider first and farmer second. The truth of the matter is less dramatic than such sayings, but Taronian piracy and land based raiding has been a persistent problem for both the Kilthians and Kantians, as well as anyone within reach of the Taronian's ships.

The Taronians believe themselves to be in tune with wild nature, and though they practice agriculture, a good Taronian is expected to know their way around the forests. Fairly rural, Taronians have not tended to build large cities, with the exception of Movrava which was long the seat of the mightiest princes of the Taronians.

Common Myths and Legends

Neighboring peoples often refer to the Taronians as bear worshippers, for they believe that their gods take animal guises and their rituals often involve the feeding of predators and other great beasts. They believe in a great variety of nature spirits, the bear chief among them, though specifics vary between particular barony and tribe of Taronian. Their faith is unorganized, and lacks a central authority.