Chapter One: The Continent of Oerik
directing them to the heartlands between
The Keogh and the
Balance of Power
The Oeridian migrations which had long
been focussed east now began to drift
south. The largest group of Oeridians
that turned south from Fals Gap was
an association of several smaller clans
known as the Keogh. Indeed “keogh”
means simply “allies” in their dialect of
Old Oeridian. The clans were the Mearthe,
Mandishehr, Maremehk, Blerkhaven,
and Sedenna. Their power came mostly
from their cavalry, which while only light
cavalry by modern standards, greatly
exceeded that available to anyone in
the valley. Further, their horses were
already of the exceptional quality that
would improve over the centuries into the
famous Keobred warhorses.
After fighting their way through the
chaotic remnants of Vecna’s former center
of power, they crossed the Sheldomar, and
made peaceful contact with the Neheli.
The Neheli gladly allowed them passage,
the Sheldomar and Javan Rivers, hoping
they would weaken some of the minor
migrant Suel Houses there. This they
did, but they also came into contact and
conflict with House Linth, putative allies
of the Neheli, although that was also to
the advantage of the Neheli.
They also came into contact and conflict
with the Rhola, and this was definitely
not to the advantage of the Neheli. As war
loomed, the Neheli organized a meeting in
their capital, the epic Council of Niole Dra
in -342 CY. There, an alliance between
the Keogh and Houses Rhola and Neheli
was formed, and the Kingdom of Keoland
declared.
Rise of the Aerdi
Perhaps the proudest, most warlike, and
powerful of the Oerdian tribes were the
Aerdi, their name meaning “sky people”
in the old tongue. Being the strongest
and largest Oeridian tribe and its leader
bearing the mantle of Herzog, the Aerdy
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