Blackwater Glade

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Blackwater Glade

South of Thenol, at the edge of the known world, lies the seemingly unending swampland known as Blackwater Glade. Since long before the Cataclysm, this vast realm has been home to huge numbers of what Freelanders lazily call the Lizard Men. This ancient race consider themselves to be the direct descendents of Chislev, and believe Blackwater Glade to be the manifestation of Chislev on the material plane.

The Lizard Men are in fact two genetically distinct races, who have been locked in a bitter bloodfeud since time began. There are the Jarak Sinn - mighty warriors of immense strength and fury, but of limited intellect; and there are the Bakali - smaller than the Jarak Sinn but far cleverer and more cunning. Both tribes are ruled by their priests, who in turn answer to their Priest King.

Until the Cataclysm, neither race was able to get much of an upper hand. However, when the priests found that Chislev no longer heard their prayers or granted them magic, it was the Jarak Sinn who benefited. The Bakali had always relied on their superior magical abilities and large number of priests to protect them both from the Jarak Sinn and the many diseases that periodically sweep Blackwater Glade. Without their spells, the Bakali suffered a huge series of heavy defeats in battles with the Jarak Sinn. Disease and falling fertility also took its toll on their numbers.

The Bakali never lost faith in Chislev - quite the opposite: they blamed the Jarak Sinn for their loss of spells, but by the time that priestly magic returned, the Bakali numbered less than the thousand and had lost most of their territory to the Jarak Sinn. Further battles followed, and more blood was shed……[to be concluded]