Tryker

History

The Trykers, probably the greatest seafarers of the ancient world, lived in floating villages in the lake lands known as Trykoth. Their principle cities, all ports, included Jeniah and Breneth. They formed a myriad of tribes, with each tribe being headed by a counsel whose duty it was to settle disputes and keep the peace. But their peaceful and idyllic existence became blighted when a great fire, known as the Fire of Coriolis, spread across Atys wastelands to the north so cutting off the water route between desert and lake lands as well as their Fyros protectors. Taking advantage of the calamity in the north to break the Fyro-Tryker alliance, the Matis king, Aniro III, led a lightening campaign to the south invading lake lands and easily reducing surviving Trykers to slavery. But an organized fellowship of rebels led by Loria broke away taking refuge in the depths of Atys.

Traveling underground through the Prime Roots, these Tryker heroes strove to shatter the shackles binding their brothers and led them across the Bark of Atys braving the worst of dangers. At the same time, realizing that without water supplies from the lake lands his empire would crumble, the then aged Abylus the Learned, launched an all out attack on the Matis front in an attempt to re-establish the water route running through Matis territory to the Lake Lands. Matis forces thus engaged in all out warfare were unable to quell the revolt led by the Company of Loria who led their people back to the Lake Lands. Loria masterly divided her people into combat groups, each one led by a member of the Company to exert repeated alternating attacks along the southern front so creating havoc and relieving flagging Fyros forces in the north and west. Faced with Fyro-Tryker pressure, Aniro III eventually took the decision to retreat back to his dominions rather than risk losing them completely.

The water route was open again and, wiser after the battle, the Trykers further developed their newfound guerrilla skills in case of future attack. And indeed, barely two generations later the Matis, taking advantage of a swarming of kitins in the desert regions which decimated Fyros populations, again turned their eyes to the west and south. However, the Trykers were saved from ever feeling the full force of the Matis. Indeed, it was a far greater force that swept the Trykers from their ancient lands. Kitin onslaughts progressed into Matis territory from the north literally devouring Matis battalions from behind before moving into Tryker lake lands and eradicating all traces of hominkind.

Cultural Characteristics

Shorter of stature than the other homin races, the Trykers are wily hedonists forming a federation more than a single people.

The Trykers are the only ones that have retained the sacredness of water. Consequently, since the Great Swarming of kitins that destroyed their island cities in the ancient lands, they have come to settle in the new lake lands where they build their new homes on peninsulas, islands and river ways.

The other races are wary their 'flighty' nature and some see them as nothing more than wayward brigands full of heroes for a day. But Trykers are great travelers and explorers as well as experts in wind technology. Neither is their fighting spirit to be underestimated, they are excellent shots and have learnt to take full advantage of their natural agility.

Aspirations

The Trykers nurture an egalitarian dream of a world without tyranny or intolerance, with neither masters nor slaves. Furthermore, in their penchant for conservationism, which has led them to develop the technique of water purification, they continue to look on water not only for its biological value but seek to use it for energetic ends.

How They See...

The Karavan : The Karavan stand watch over hominkind and assure their security in case the Dragon rises or any other nefarious entity menaces. But since the Great Swarming most Trykers have come to keep their distance feeling that the Karavan have not entirely lived up to their role as Guardians.

The Kamis : These strange and powerful entities are essentially good as they love and take care of the environment. Indeed, it is said that the earliest Trykers were the first favorites of the Kamis. For generations they dawdled in the paradise of Atys at one with the Kamis until the day the Fyros began ravishing the Bark and liberating fire. As a consequence, in need of calm and healing, the Kamis grew closer to the Zora�s.

Elias Tryton : Tryker elders relate how Elias, a man all in white, came down before a chosen few in a great light to guide them to safety through a rainbow. The surviving 'chosen ones' would have Trykers believe that Elias is none other than the husband of Jena, in which case, it would turn out that Elias is the divine father of Atys!

We Trykers live by the virtues of freedom, equality and sharing. We believe all homins are equal and should live and let live. We believe in nurturing the qualities of the individual, and not just the group as a whole. After all, our sweet Goddess Jena makes homins come into life one by one, not in elevens and nines! By favoring individual development and happiness, harmony and solidarity within the group follows on just as naturally as streams will come together to form a single river!

Trykers are great travelers and explorers and well as experts in wind technology. Since the Great Swarming of kitins that destroyed our island cities in the ancient lands, we've made our homes in the new lake lands where we've laid down the foundations of our new Federation.

If you believe in a world without tyranny or intolerance, with neither masters nor slaves, come help us build it!!

You can pop your questions now?

Who am I ?

You're a young homin refugee. You've done well in taking the long and dangerous road from the old lands to join us here where we've set up our new home. Once you've got some training behind you, you'll be able to show us what you're made of and help us build up our federation of Tryker peoples.

Who are my ancestors ?

Your ancestors built the most wonderful island cities in the ancient lands of Trykoth where they lived free as the wind. That was until three generations ago when the kitins came and wrought death and destruction throughout the land. Your grandparents escaped to the hills where your parents and then yourself were brought up in the constant fear of kitin attack. It was a good thing your parents urged you to quit your dead-end life, and risk the great road to join us here in the new promise lands. At last you've found us, your new life can begin.

Who is our chief ?

Still Wyler's the big boss. He's the governor of the Tryker Council. When he speaks, you jump! at least until you've worked your way up to be able to speak to him eye to eye. You make sure you stand by him, young homin, our independence depends on our solidarity! His right-hand homins are his deputies, Denen Toen and Shinder Salan, they are experienced homins and give him counsel. If ever you get the honor of carrying our a mission for the council, make sure you give it your best shot, you never know, our independence could depend on it.

What is our faith ?

Jena is our Goddess, she is the Mother of Creation. Many of our customs are centered around her worship. There's Thanksgiving Day, for example, it falls on the winter solstice to symbolize the return of light after the dark years that followed the Great Swarming. So that it doesn't happen again, we must live by her Law which is handed down to us by her faithful disciples, the Karavan. They watch over us and protect us from Kami possession. Remember, young homin, as long as you do as you're told and don't ruffle 'em, you too will be able to learn to wield their technology. Oh, and by the way, keep it under your bonnet but some say that Elias is none other than the husband of Jena, which makes him the holy Father, but don't mention it to the Karavan!

What we value most ?

To be a true Tryker, you gotta live by the virtues of freedom, equality and sharing :

Freedom : Consider all homins responsible and free of their acts. Any homin violating the freedom of another will be in breach of the Homin Rights Act, which as it happens, was first drawn up by the Tryker Council.
Equality : Every homin has an equal right to walk the land, to obtain instruction, to harvest the natural resources, to choose their own destiny, as long as they don't encroach on other homin rights.
Sharing : We believe that our force lies in our solidarity and that solidarity is borne from sharing. If we could persuade all Jena's children to be like us Trykers the world would be a safer place!

What are our prohibitions ?

You must never make a pact or do a mission for the Kamis. They are evil demons and will possess your soul.
Never breach the Law of Jena.
Never carry out missions for enemy tribes.
If you venture down beneath the surface of Atys, be careful not to wake the dreaded dragon of the apocalypse.
It is forbidden to spread dragon fire over the lands. It makes the land sterile

What are our goals ?

Ever since we resurfaced from the Prime Roots we have been building solid foundations for our future civilization without tyranny or intolerance, where all Jena's children may live in freedom. Now we must :

develop our individual strengths and skills
build strong and closely knit guilds to spread the word of the Karavan and free the infidels of Kami possession
build alliances with the Zora�s
improve our knowledge to make even better tools and weapons. During the Great Swarming, much knowledge was scattered throughout the land. Discovering this knowledge and more will open the doors to the secrets of the past
live the good life.

Who are our friends ?

Since the Peace Treaty signed at Fairhaven in 2515, we have been at peace with the other homin peoples. But that don't stop us having our likes and dislikes.

Matis : Despite past disputes and misunderstandings, the Matis now respect our freedom of thought and our right to build our society as we feel fit. After all, what really counts is that we share a faith in Jena. Thanks to Jena our friendship has never been stronger, especially since the Matis ratified the Homin Rights Act. What's more, to a certain extent the Matis owe us their freedom after the dictatorship of Jinovitch. Not only did the Tryker Council give Yrkanis political asylum in Fairhaven but Still Wyler escorted him back into Matis lands to defeat Jinovitch to accede to the throne.

Fyros : The Fyros were once allies who exploited our need for protection by having us supply Fyros towns with merchandise at low cost. Since we've learnt to fight for ourselves we no longer need the patronizing Fyros protectors, especially with the new feeling of fraternity with the Matis. And besides, the Fyros have gotten closer to the Kamis.

Zora� : The Zora�s are not to be trusted, they openly breach Jena Law by venerating the Kamis. What's more, during the Great Swarming in the old lands, the Zora�s refused to let us through their great wall and let many thousands of Trykers perish in the jaws of the kitins. More recently, it was the Zora�s who first installed slavery in the new lands.

Friendly tribes include : The Frahar Hunters, The Silt Sculptors, The Corsairs, The Beachcombers, The Shadow Runners, The Green Seed, The Slash and Burn, The Ecowarriors, The Oasis Diggers, The Kuilde.

Who are our other enemies ?

The Kamis : They are an evil blight, they try to blow your mind with their magic just to possess you. They ought to be stamped out.
The Kitins : These gigantic insects massacred many thousands of Trykers and devastated our wonderful floating cities in the old lands of Trykoth.
The Dragon : It has never been seen, but we know it's lurking deep down in the bowels of Atys somewhere. There's not much we can do about it though, best put it to the back of the mind.
Enemy tribes include : The Sap Gleaners, The Chlorogoos, The Lawless, The Lagoon Brothers, The Slavers, The Tutors, The Ancient Dryads, The Woven Bridles, The Darkening Sap.
Bandits : Better watch out for outlaws, thieves and cutthroats, they get all over the place.
Animal predators : There are lots of real nasty animals on Atys, make sure you watch your step if you don't wanna end up as their dinner !

How can I help my people ?

Well, it's simple, whether you're a crafter, harvester, magician or a warrior, we need you!

We need warriors to defend our territorial rights and support our need for growth.
We need able crafters to produce everyday objects and weapons; and harvesters to gather the raw materials for food and manufacture.
We need magicians to enchant crafted items, protect harvesters, and heal warriors in combat and keep the enemy in check.

What can I expect of my people ?

Training from our expert trainers.,
Our people is defended by guilds who may come to your aide once you've joined one.
The more you act for the good of our people the more you're brilliant deeds will be rewarded.

What is our new land ?

Our people first made our home in the lake lands in 2483 on our resurfacing from the Prime Roots in the new lands. The lakes are the most magical place on Atys though you gotta be quick cause it certainly ain't no place for weak knees! Since 2487 we've been continually rejoined by refugees having taken the road from the old lands, the very road you have courageously taken, homin.

What can I expect from Atys, our world ?

Atys is a mine of fabulous natural riches, young homin, in time you'll learn how to make a good living out of them. As you become skilled in the ways of the world you will learn how the land lies to be able to move into new grounds.

What they value

Freedom
Equality
Tenacity
Enjoying simple pleasures in life
Sharing

How they see the Karavan

The Trykers consider the Karavan as faithful servants of Jena who stand watch over hominkind and assure their security in case the dragon rises or any other nefarious entity menaces. Over time, however, the common Tryker has come to consider them as lacking that pinch of fantasy to be real guardians from the other world. Consequently, many Trykers treat the Karavan more as overlords not to ruffle than a religious entity. This skepticism came to a head with many a Tryker wondering if they really had anything to do with Jena at all, until in 2506 when Governor Beadley Nimby stepped in line with Matis initiatives to reinforce measures ensuring adherence to Karavan teachings. Today the Trykers remain loyal to the Karavan because they protect them from Kami possession. Moreover, they are the only force on Atys that offers them a clear perspective with Jena, in whom they fervently believe.

How they see Kamis

The Trykers did not initially esteem the Kamis for their spiritual worth but rather took them as bizarre creatures with an eerie aptitude for magic. It is said that the earliest Trykers were the first favorites of the Kamis until the day the Fyros began ravishing the Bark and liberating dragon fire. As a consequence, in need of calm and healing, the Kamis grew closer to the Zora�s. Moreover, the Karavan disciples came to forbid any contact with the creatures labelling them as evil beings. Nowadays, the Tryker authorities officially oppose relations with the Kamis because they are afraid of Trykers becoming 'possessed' by the weird creatures, like the Zora�s and, more recently, the Fyros.

How they see Jena

Many Tryker customs are centered around the worship of Jena which is tinged with superstition. Jena gives them a sense to their lives as the Mother of Creation. They readily give her offerings through her disciples on Atys, the Karavan. Many Trykers firmly believe in the prophecy and the existence of another world from which hominkind came before birth. Trykers generally accept that the Great Swarming was Jena's doing as a punishment for the unlawful things the homins in general had been getting up to, i.e. Fyros excavation and Zora� worship of the Kamis.

How they see Elias Tryton

A number of Tryker elders relate how Elias, a man all in white, appeared before them during the Great Swarming of 2481 to tell them how to guide homins to safety through a rainbow. The surviving 'chosen ones' would have Trykers believe that Elias is none other than the husband of Jena, in which case, it would turn out that Elias is the divine father of Atys! In Elias many Trykers have found a vent for their need for a holy father. For anyone knows it takes two to create a homin life! This notion corresponds to their utopian dream of a life where couples have babies and live happily ever after.

During the years that followed the apparition, some Tryker sages founded the Guild of Elias with homins of other races to keep his memory alive. This guild was later portrayed by the Karavan as a sect opposing the church of Jena and prohibited, though many members were able to operate underground easily in Tryker territory.

Nowadays the Guild of Elias still resides underground on Tryker territory though manages to spread the word of the coming of Elias. The Fairhaven government, following Karavan Law, has banished the guild for peace' sake though in reality they turn a blind eye to be able to leave the door ajar just in case Elias really is the Holy Father!

How they see the Matis

Though allied in their worship of Jena, in the past the Matis have time again tried to impose their vision of society on the Tryker people so creating discord, and sometimes open conflict. Indeed, it was fear of the overbearing character of the Matis that made the Tryker Council breach the Edict of 4 Peoples and sign a preferential Trade Agreement with the Fyros in 2497, which led to hostilities over Lagoons of Loria.

Nowadays however, the Trykers feel they have earned respect from the Matis who seem to have at last come to accept they share not the same notions of social structure. The ratification of the Homin Rights Act by the Matis in 2518 and the Matis relinquishing Tryker territory in Lagoons of Loria have done much to restore a feeling of fraternity around Jena worship. Today the two peoples live in relative harmony.

In fact, to a certain extent the Matis owe the Trykers their freedom after the dictatorship of Jinovitch. Not only did the Tryker Council give Yrkanis political asylum in Fairhaven in 2508 but Still Wyler escorted him back into Matis lands to defeat Jinovitch and accede to the thrown in 2514. But that was over ten years ago and it would seem that the Matis have a short memory. Indeed, they refuse to admit they were helped by Trykers claiming it was they who helped them free Lagoons of Loria.

How they see the Fyros

The Fyros where once allies who gave Trykers protection against the domineering Matis in exchange for water supplies at low cost. But the Trykers learning the art of warfare in their struggle to break the shackles of Matis slavery, thanks to the legendary Company of Loria, soon meant they could negotiate more advantageous trade agreements. Nowadays the Trykers feel they no longer need their condescending Fyros protectors of old, especially with the new feeling of fraternity with the Matis. Furthermore, the Fyros moving closer to the Kamis and the weird Zora�s has widened the gap of religious difference.

How they see the Zora�s

The Trykers distrust the Zora� mystics who openly transgress Jena Law by venerating the Kamis. What is more, during past troubles in the old lands with the Matis, the Zora�s refused to let their forefathers cross the great Zora� wall into the jungle lands to flee Matis swords. A similar thing happened during the Great Swarming when the Zora�s closed their frontiers and let many thousands of Trykers perish in the jaws of the kitins. Although the Zora�s have opened up since the exile in the Prime Roots, the Trykers still bear a grudge against Zora�s' deliberately turning their forefathers away in their time of greatest need. More recently, it was the Zora�s, under Fung-Tun in 2504, who first installed slavery in the new lands, which Trykers strongly oppose.

History In Brief

Traveling from the Canopy to the Prime Roots, these Tryker heroes strove to shatter the shackles binding their brothers and led them across the Bark of Atys braving the worst of dangers. At the same time, realizing that without water supplies from the lake lands his empire would crumble, the then aged Abylus the Learned, launched an all out attack on the Matis front in an attempt to re-establish the water route running through Matis territory to the Lake Lands. Matis forces thus engaged in all out warfare were unable to quell the revolt led by the Company of Loria who led their people back to the Lake Lands. Loria masterly divided her people into combat groups, each one led by a member of the Company to exert repeated alternating attacks along the southern front so creating havoc and relieving flagging Fyros forces in the north and west. Faced with Fyro-Tryker pressure, Aniro III eventually took the decision to retreat back to his former dominions rather than risk losing them completely.