The Hiltmen

The Hiltmen are primarily nomadic herders or small collective farmers. They live simple lives, and focus on family bonds and good, honest work. The Hiltmen died out around 6300 due to being conquered and assimilated by the encroaching Dometians.

History

1500

The story of the Hiltmen begins at approximately 1500. They organized themselves as three dozen disconnected and tiny groups. These groups were made up of a handful of families each at the largest. The majority were one or two families with generational familiarity.

1750

Two and a half centuries after organizing into their independent groups, the families started banded together into collectives. These collectives formed for protection and resource distribution. At this time, the Hiltmen operated off the basis of good-will and a strong sense of community. Pop-up markets were common all over what would later become the outerskirts of the Dometian homeland. This region would be given the name Hiltlands by Dometia when they came to occupy the territory.

1850

The Hiltmen find themselves needing to organize official militia groups as Satyrs from the city of Tel-Amon begin raiding them for slaves, and the local Human city of Tolash begins trading freely with the Tel-Ammonites to encourage their poaching of the Hiltmen. In response to this circumstance, the Hiltmen begin patrolling the migration routes connecting their established homesteads.

2396-2400

No change came to the region until Dometia arrived. The Hiltmen were quick to ally with the invaders and helped Dometia destroy both Tel-Amon and Tolash. After the war was over, the Dometians honored the Hiltmen's wish to remain independent vassals of Dometia.

2400-6300

As the long years of time roll on, the Hiltmen slowly dissolve into the Dometian empire. They assimilate, and eventually leave their heritage of nomadic farming behind.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

All Hiltmen greatly value good, honest work. They are farmers, herders, and traders. They have an innate desire to travel.

Coming of Age Rites

It is an accepted right of passage for Hiltmen youths to take on a journey to visit the homesteads of their cousins. They will also earn the right to establish their own trade by growing a difficult crop or raising a quarrelsome animal.