Lost Colonies of the Caleen
When the Shadow Horde poured forth from the north and swept the Great Steppes in 2947 I.R., it was believed that all of the Caleen colonies were destroyed. As a result, the folk of Reme, safe behind the Wizard’s Wall, made no attempts to reach the lost colonies.
Yet when Gtsang traders began exploring up the Tabur River in recent centuries, they discovered intact settlements of folk of mixed Foerdewaith-Shattered Folk ancestry where some of those lost colonies had been. Later, the Conroi Expedition discovered even larger settlements to the east along the Deepfells and the old course of the Tabur, now known as the Ghost River. These settlements had in fact survived the Shadow Horde and continued through the years of isolation since then. The easternmost villages are popularly referred to as the Conroi Settlements, which has given rise to the myth that they were actually founded or delivered from extinction by the arrival of the Conroi Expedition.
History and People
The days of the Great Colonization was a time of great optimism and excitement. Colonists flowed by the thousands through the Crynnomar Gap, expanding northwards into the steppes. The Caleen colonies, named for the Grand Duke Prince Cale who had envisioned the endeavor, would spread throughout the north. Humanoids, monsters and the remnants of the once-great Hundaei Empire would be brushed aside and soon Reme would command vast new territories, rivaling even the ancient Hyperboreans in power. It was not to be.
Starting in 2861 I.R., colonists made their way past the gap, then turned northwest, taking the path of least resistance along the verdant lands surrounding the Tabur River. Small outposts were founded as they went, and some of these outposts such as Fort Relian and Cale’s Hope grew into true settlements. Progress seemed all but inevitable, for at first popular belief was reinforced — the humanoids and human nomads of the region were either entirely absent or weak. The collapse of the Hundaei Empire was so complete that it had all but scoured the land of defenders. The colonists saw this as a sign from Thyr himself that their destiny was manifest, and that The Plains belonged to them and them alone.
The colonies grew and dotted the land as the settlers’ trails diverged, some founding new towns along the coast while others struck directly north past the Everfar Hills, across the Gods’ Ride River, and into the heart of the steppes. Soon it became apparent that their initial optimism was somewhat misplaced, as the farther north they went, the greater resistance from the humanoids and the surviving Hundaei grew. All the same they pressed on, reaching the bleak shores of Lake Hali in 2931 I.R. It was then that disaster struck.
At first, very little news filtered down from the far north. The new colonies were facing resistance, but few expected it to amount to much. But soon the news turned dire. Something greater had stirred, and the humanoids were far more numerous than initially thought. Swarming from lairs in the Lost Mountains they descended on the small northern settlements, wiping them out and sending a wave of refugees fleeing south. The refugees brought even worse tidings, for it seemed that the humanoids were being led by shadowy, demonic creatures that emerged from the realms of the far north that the Hundaei had avoided with such superstitious fervor.
Grimly the colonists prepared to defend themselves.
The Shadow Horde advanced southward, and it soon became clear that their intention was to sweep humanity from the steppes. If that succeeded, there seemed little that could stand before them if they passed the Crynnomar Gap. One after another, the colonies between Lake Hali and the Everfar Hills fell to the advancing horde.
With regular Foerdewaith troops scarce and reinforcements months away, the colonists had no choice but to form their own army, dubbing it the Caleen Legion. The legion managed to hold the humanoids at bay for a time, but in the end even reinforcements from the Northmarches weren’t enough. Grand Duke Cale, who had arrived to personally take command, perished in battle south of the Everfar Hills, and what remained of the Caleen Legion was scattered.
Only the Caleen Colonies along the Tabur River remained. Some fled toward the Crynnomar Gap while others grimly prepared for a last stand. To their shock however, the horde turned aside and marched directly toward the gap, leaving only a small contingent of humanoids to assault the Tabur River settlements.
The fight that followed was fierce, and in the end the Tabur River folk managed, after significant losses, to push back the humanoids. Though they had won a temporary reprieve, the Tabur River folk knew that it was only a matter of time before the horde, having defeated the Foerdewaith in the south, would return to finish the job. Only a miracle could save them.
The miracle came in the form of two ancient wizards who returned seemingly out of the mists of time to work one of the mightiest acts of magic in history — the raising of the Wizard’s Wall that permanently sealed the Crynnomar Gap and caused devastating changes throughout the region. Walls and buildings crumbled. Rivers changed their courses. Lakes appeared where there had been none. But despite the upheaval, the Caleen colonies survived, though now the life-giving Tabur had permanently shifted, leaving them astride a dry riverbed.
But the Shadow Horde was frustrated, not defeated. It could still exterminate the last Foerdewaith survivors. Now a second miracle was delivered by the Shattered Folk and the secret society known as the Asran, who worked another great ritual and vanquished the fearsome Scaedugenga and sent them back to their shadowy homeland. The humanoids fell to bickering and retreated, leaving the battered settlements of the southern steppes in relative peace.
Slowly the settlements rebuilt. Walls were restored, structures repaired. New farming lands were established in the rich soil left behind by the Tabur River’s diversion while irrigation was provided by wells and small streams from the Deepfells. The Caleen, as they now called themselves, formed a rough alliance of independent settlements and reached out to the Campacha nomads who had moved back into their traditional territories. Eventually intermarrying with the local Shattered Folk, the people of the settlements lived for generations, until they were rediscovered by the rest of the world through visits from Gtsang traders and the Conroi Expedition.
Religion
The original colonists came from all across Foere and brought their various faiths with them. Primary among their deities were the traditional religions of Thyr, Muir, Jamboor and a handful of other Hyperborean or Foerdewaith gods. When the Great Colonization collapsed into disaster and the Shadow Horde was on the march, the people of the colonies prayed to all their gods for deliverance. The diversion and eventual banishment of the Scaedugenga seemed to be an answer to these prayers, and the faith of the Caleen was bolstered and increased. As years went by, temples and shrines to their traditional gods were founded, while contacts, migration, and intermarriage with the nearby Caleen also brought the Ethtuwate faith, whose tolerant and inclusive culture allowed it to easily integrate into Caleen society.
Trade and Commerce
For most of their history, the Caleen Colonies have been largely self-reliant, though there has always been some amount of trade within the colony settlements and with the local Campacha. Over time, many of the colonies and farms have come to produce a modest surplus, which provides a solid basis for trade with the Campacha and, more recently, the Remans and Castorhagi. The old riverbeds have been converted to farming and produce oats, wheat, and rye. The Caleen have also cultivated significant fruit plantations where they grow apples, pears, and various nuts.
Loyalties and Diplomacy
Left on their own for centuries, the Caleen colonies have developed a fierce streak of independence, even from each other. While they are entirely capable of banding together in defense of the region, the settlements are all distinctly separate entities, each with its own leaders, government, and way of life.
Of necessity, the Caleen maintain good relations with the Campacha who helped them in the aftermath of the Shadow Horde and continue to aid the Caleen against monsters and humanoid raids. Campacha can ride freely through Caleen territory, and Caleen merchants, farmers, and even adventurers may be found throughout Campacha lands.
Recent years have left the Caleen in a state of flux, for after their rediscovery by the Conroi Expedition and the popular adoption of the term “Conroi Settlements” for the easternmost Caleen cities (a practice that has infuriated most Caleen), the region has become a popular destination for scientists, scholars, adventurers, and merchants. While the new visitors have brought contact with the outside world as well as goods and services long absent from the area, the Caleen have remained standoffish, suspicious of the descendants of those who abandoned them so many years ago.
Government
The Caleen do not have a collective government but instead act as a group of independent settlements that work together as needed for mutual protection, economics, and general welfare. The Caleen themselves are a singularly self-reliant people and the notion of banding together as a confederacy or — worse — a true kingdom is contrary to their independent natures.
Military
After surviving the horrors of the Shadow Horde, the Caleen were forced to see to their own defense. Fortunately, a number of veterans of the Caleen Legion survived the war, along with a small group of Foerdewaith regular soldiers, and these individuals formed the core of the militias who continue to defend the Caleen settlements to this day. Despite the Caleen towns’ independence, they practice mutual defense out of necessity, with commanders selected from among the most accomplished and skilled warriors to command all Caleen troops regardless of their town of origin.
Caleen militia consist primarily of infantry armed mostly with spears and bows and armored with padded cloth or light leather armor. If mounted troops or scouts are needed, the Caleen can call upon the Campacha for assistance, and help is usually given except in very unusual circumstances.
Major Threats
The Caleen have always lived in a land of great peril, even in times of relative peace, surviving invasions, natural disasters, and raids from the humanoids of The Plains and the Deepfells. Storms, floods, extreme winter weather, heat in summer, droughts, blights, and other natural disasters are every bit as perilous as the goblins, gnolls, ogres, and other hostiles who ravage the settlements. Though their greatest threat — the Scaedugenga — are gone, the Caleen do not forget and dread the time when the Shadow may again move on the steppes.
Wilderness and Adventure
The Caleen region is covered by significant wilderness — it is, in fact, almost all wilderness with small settlements dotted here and there. Some of the villages are connected by unpaved roads, but most are separated by wide open grasslands with occasional stands of trees that can provide either shelter or concealment for patient humanoid ambushers. Banditry is, thankfully, less of a hazard in the Caleen colonies than elsewhere due to the relatively low population and limited prosperity of the region.
The area does not contain much in the way of ruins, tombs, or other traditional adventuring sites. However, the presence of significant numbers of hostile species constitutes an opportunity for freelance adventurers. Heroes could end up hunting down raiders, patrolling travel routes, pursuing humanoids, centaurs, or other hostiles who have sacked settlements or taken captives.
The Conroi Expedition
For generations, the lands north of the Wizard’s Wall lay untouched and unexplored (at least by the humans of the south). Many legends and wild tales were circulated about the place, but for the most part The Haunted Steppes remained a cypher. Most believed that they were all but lifeless, possibly inhabited by a handful of humans or humanoids, scoured by the passing of the Shadow Horde and the magical upheavals created by the Wizard’s Wall. Of the old Caleen colonies, nothing was known, and nearly everyone believed them to be extinct, slaughtered by the humanoids and the Scaedugenga.
Still, there were those who felt that there was knowledge to be gained on the steppes. If nothing else, explorers could learn the fate of those left behind and also possibly gauge whether the Shadow Horde still existed and, if so, whether it presented a threat. In 3439 I.R., Professor Ilene Conroi of the Grand Duchy of Reme proposed an expedition north of the Wizard’s Wall. Her goal was to survey The Haunted Steppes and report on the region’s current status — its land, flora and fauna, its people (if any) and, most importantly, the potential for threat to Reme. Obtaining modest financing from the grand duke, Conroi set out to recruit scholars from across Akados. She was joined by several prominent historians, geologists, biologists, and other scientists. Supplies were purchased and sent ahead to await the expedition. Professional caravan guards and adventurers were hired to escort the expedition. By summer, the expedition arrived at Durgam’s Folly and was ready to cross into the unknown north through the mountain passes below the fortress’s dark walls.
The expedition made its first discovery soon after entering The Plains, for the Campacha people of the southern steppes had taken note of the caravan and approached the newcomers. To the surprise of Conroi and her fellow explorers, the Campacha proved to be friendly and helpful.
Guided by Campacha scouts, the Conroi expedition set out into the grasslands. Their perils and adventures are far too numerous to describe, but of note here was their discovery that some of the supposedly lost Caleen colonies had actually survived the ravages of the Shadow Horde. West of Shadowfell Lake, the great body of water that lay at the base of the Wizard’s Wall, several settlements endured, inhabited by the descendants of the old Foerdewaith colonists and the Shattered Folk of the region. They told stories of their founding, many of which had evolved and changed until they barely resembled true events, and by this time they had nearly forgotten the names of their old kingdoms. Here they lived, adapted to the land, tending their herds and farming the harsh soil.
Though Conroi and her expedition made many discoveries in their two years of exploration, the rediscovery of the colonies was its most significant achievement. Upon their return, the expedition members were proclaimed as heroes and their exploits magnified by heroic chronicles, bardic songs, and popular legend. Today, popular belief holds that the eastern Caleen colonies were actually founded by the Conroi Expedition, a false notion that discounts the efforts and resilience of the colonists.
Region
Lost Colonies of the Caleen
Type
Expedition, Colonization
Controlled Territories
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