Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-27097330-20170624025401

To the far southeast of Near Harad, is an ancient land, fabled among the men of the deserts. The legend goes that this was where the House of Darû, the first of men in Harad, first set foot. Known among traders and missionaries as the Hills of Paradise, the locals still claim direct descendance from the ancient house. In ancient, sprawling cities carved out of stone, they live their lives in peace, for none in Harad wish to spill blood upon the ancient grounds of their forefathers.



Of course, even if they dared to it would be near impossible. For as long as any can remember the Darû have had an ancient agreement with another people, the Kava Das Suru, simply, "Those With Beads." To many they would seem simple Haradic lowlifes, preying among the hills and surrounding desert, armed to the teeth with weapons, chasing down those who threaten them. And yet a few things distinguish them. Their horses, while not the strongest or most majestic of animals, are known to be some of the few bread for centuries to survive in the area, and are proof of the water nearby. Secondly, the long strings of blue and green beads that hand from their hair, generally down past their feeet when they ride.

For centuries they have held a sacred agreement with the Darû. They protect the Hills, and in turn they are provided an excess of food, and water. If one is stopped by the Darû, and one is humble, and turns over valuables or other possessions, they are free to continue, often with the Kava's aid or protection. If they refuse to humble themselves, they must prove they'd are worthy. If they wish to retain their weapons, the traveler must defeat the Kava champion. If they wish to dress in extravagance, they must prove, through wisdom or a great deed that they are worth your of dressing like a king. If they wish to speak down to the Kava, they best dazzle them with wisdom. Success is rare, and failure will end in death.

Fortunately, most hostiles aren't even able to face the Kava Das Suru. To reach the Hills by land, one must travel thousands of miles through scorching desert, no food, no water, marauded by bandits. Even the easier route, by sea, is no walk in the park, as the coast is crushed by unforeseen storms 100% of the year, and cliffs and shoals wreck those ships that get close. Even if one does reach the Darû Shar, to an outsider the sprawling stone cities may seem impressive, but not overly so. Simply ancient. Only two to four weeks of the year do the Hills live up to their name, as rains flush the Hills, green blossoms everywhere, short lived trees flourish, animals arrive from their crevasses, or migrate from afar, and feast on the bounty that gives the Hills their name. (Yes, this is based on real sections of, I believe Oman?)

And every year, thousands make the trip to witness the cities. Some will stay only for a short while, to witness the flowering. Others will stay for years, trying to find themselves. The Darû, they live on in their stone cities, driving their cattle, cared for aptly by use of ancient aqueducts and irrgiation systems. And each year, the Darû find themselves again, alongside hundreds of other looking for a spiritual awakening for the very first time. 