Metedoron

After abandoning their homeland, over-populated and governed by a monarch with an iron fist, an expedition of humanity finds itself in a new world inhabited by an ancient peoples divided amongst three kingdoms at peace.   To the north, amidst the sweeping deserts, dwell the nomadic clan who call themselves the Helotlao-stheno, though the humans refer to them as the Sand-Folk. A people strong in will and body, the Sand-Folk stand tall in the blazing desert heat with thick, dark skin and protruding foreheads that protect their sunken eyes from the harsh light and worship the land itself. They are the longest lived of the Koregonus, the shared ancestry of the new world's inhabitants, and are known to be intimately linked with the mother of life worshiped by all the peoples of Metedoron. Living in harmony with the ever-changing sands, the Sand-Folk follow the winds of change through the desert, setting up their large tent-city wherever is most favorable and never remaining too long in one place. Always present in their current home is a carefully-created coliseum in which members of the tribes compete for honor and glory, settle disputes, and mete out justice to criminals through shows of strength and aggression. Sand-Folk are known to travel to the neighboring kingdoms, though they do not allow people outside of the tribes from participating in their rituals.   In the southern forests live the Karpogon, often referred to by the humans as the children of the forest, who worship the oneness of all things, a force which they refer to as the Tel'Melo, or song of completion. The song permeates all things and through their ritual chanting, the children of the forest call upon the forest to grow into strange, beautiful forms to create their cities. Despite the grandeur of their architecture, many of the children of the forest choose to live lives of isolation, spending the majority of their time in trance-like states they call Medosoph in small huts sung from the trees. The children of the forest are more friendly than their northern brothers, allowing all to participate in their rituals and celebrations, though they do not divulge the secrets of their songs. Seeing themselves as protectors of the old ways, they jealously guard their knowledge of the ancient language the Great Mother used to name all things that is believed to give them their power to bend nature to their will.   Finally, high in the eastern mountains, the jubilant Laosolos, or Iron Sons, build stone cities dedicated to an expansive pantheon of deities who grant them the ability to create technological marvels. The sons of iron revel in their ability to create and frequently travel from their cavernous kingdom to share their creations with their brothers and sisters to the west. Frequent festivities attract the attention of adventurous travelers from each kingdom who are always welcome to participate. Some travelers even find favor with one or more of the iron pantheon and are invited to live amongst the sons of iron and learn the trades of the mountains.   Yet, the lands remain largely untamed, beasts hide in the untouched shadows and the Agriphios, wild kin, roam the lands between the kingdoms either unable or unwilling to make peace amongst themselves and their neighbors. The creative power of the Great Mother is hard to control and some fall from the path to walk the Hodokak, an ancient tradition of dark magics that is said to bring its wielders great power at the cost of all that they love.   Can humanity find its place amongst the ancient peoples of the new world, filled with a magic they do not understand; or will they threaten the balance the three kingdoms have maintained for centuries and be swept away by the dark forces lurking in the shadows?