Stories from Island #15
Not sure if this works but instead of presenting the individual elements present on my islands i want to present the histories the people there are telling of themselves.
I will also give a very short introduction of how these people are living in the present
I am starting with #15 as thats the islands my players originaly started their journey
Humans #15(dominant history)
Present: Nomadic,mostly hunting game and raiding Halflings and Monkeyfolk for food and victims to be sacrificed to pay their debts to the gods.
History:Once upon a time the people stopped being good and god fearing and started making up new gods and idols. One can still observe these rotten ways when observing the smallfolk. Seeing this deterioration the real gods got enraged and decided upon a punishment. For every island in the ocean a star disappeared from the night sky as they were sent down to us bringing punishment and discipline with them. For the next 13 generations they roamed the lands dishing out horrible torment upon those daring to disrespect them or even worse enjoy themselves. After this time the gods finally started laughing again and decided to recall their children but warned us to keep them entertained unless we wanted to see 13 times 13 generations of their children amongst us. Left alone we did not know what to do and many stopped entertaining the gods greedily only caring for their own enjoyment. The smallfolk even returned to their weak idol gods. But the gods had not left us alone, a young boy chosen for sacrifice was left in the temple and by observing the greatness left behind after 13 years he had grown up to become a god fearing man. The following 13 years he spent subduing clan after clan until he had united all humans and was crowned our king. The next 13 years were the greatest in our human history, debts to the gods were always paid quickly and even among the smallfolk he managed to instill a duty to pay one's debt to the gods. His glories reign was cut short by being sacrificed by his own children who, lacking his greatness failed to keep the kingdom united and quickly humans returned to live in clans. One has to hope another great king emerges once more before all the stars disappear from the sky and we enter 13 times 13 generations of terror.
Humans #15(alternative history)
Present: Seminomadic, bringing food and supplies to ritual sites where the most devoted members torture themselfs to pay the communities debt to the gods
History:The beginning of the story is the same. Differences begin with the king.
When the king reign began 13 years followed that were more violent and viscious than even in the times when the children of the gods walked the land. But in the 13th year his children could no longer bear what there own father brough up own people so they decided to paying the gods with by sacrificing themselfs. Realizing the error of his ways the king could do nothing but follow his childrens example. And so was born a new age where evryone may sacrifice themselfs in part or in hole to pay their debt instead of bringing terror upon others.
Halflings #15
Preesent: mostly settled, living of agriculture suplemented with what they can hunt and catch in the rivers, when there fields are used up they have to burn forest for new fields and resettle
History:At the beginning of time there was no land, only ocean and the night sky was entirely empty except for the moon. Saddened by seeing this emptiness every time they awoke the sun and the moon started crying and the tears of the moon fell down to the sea and the islands arose and the sun's tears were spread far and wide and the gods started populating the night sky. In these chaotic times the gods could not decide what to make of these lands. A group of evil gods started grabbing some of our forebears and stretched them until they were big and strong and the first barbarians were born. Created by suffering they tried to come after their creators and our people suffered terribly. But in our time of need the Boar and the Sow came to our aid. They plowed the land and taught us how to grow crops. And when the barbarians, led by their evil god king, came again both bravely fought the evil god. The fight was such a terrible struggle that the island was broken in two. It seemed all in vain the evil god had overpowered the boar and impaled the sow. But in this moment the Jaguar jumped out of hiding, ripping open the king's throat and ending the fight. Because the god’s flesh tasted evil and foul the Jaguar took the Sow as his prize. He fed us of her flesh and taught us how to hunt and fish ourselves. But the Jaguar liked the flesh so good he forever acquired a taste for boar meat and keeps hunting the boar who equally wishes to avenge his lost wife. While we at first felt once more left helpless to the barbarian attacks we quickly realized that the lessons from the Jaguar and the Boar gave us all we needed to fend for our kind. Therefore we build the temple atop the mountain and will forever be grateful to them.