Dal Rianh

Dal Rianh: The New Kingdom
The New Kingdom, Dal Rianh, was founded only recently in Xeris [rolled-J + erris]; a desolate, dry shrubland territory to the east of the Lysantine Sultanate.

Location
The interlinked canyons that blight the area are known collectively as the Bonoa Scar. It is a series of winding canyons and ravines that carve a disfiguring wound into the landscape. Considered largely inhospitable, with its maze-like structure, lack of surface running water, and regular hazy dust storms, it's habitation has been mostly the reserve of criminal elements fleeing the reach of the law. Although even then, it was usually temporary. That is, until the arrival of a band of fleeing halflings.

History
Members of the Moynagh clan, the band had come here not seeking a New Kingdom, but desperately retreating from local human authorities amidst accusations of fraud, impersonation, and extortion. Having little choice but to flee into the maze of chasms, they soon found themselves lost and stranded. Days of aimless wandering followed, until their arrival at the of a canyon where they discovered what appeared to be a gateway. In spite of what had obviously been eons of weathering, some hieroglyphs could be seen etched into the broad, sandstone-like, arches as well as on the much darker stone slabs they framed.

The instinctive curiosity of the halflings took hold, as Niamh (the leader of the band) gave the order to begin investigating to find a way inside. For the tallfolk, this may have involved and entire excavation, as this ancient blockade had clearly bested time itself to seal away it's secrets. But halflings have keen eyes and a knack for perceiving even the slightest of details. Alongside the compulsive determination of an experienced band, it wasn't long before one of the halflings discovered a small opening in the cliffside near to the archway - assumedly the work of some animal. Peering into it, the a narrow winding passage could be seen. Only the very smallest of their kin, Pudge, would be able to

A halfling druidic prophecy has long circulated among the diaspora about the coming of a new home (a gift from the god Ficha). It was Duran (their medic), rather than Niamh, who first drew the parallel, and it was not long before the idea had grown roots among the band.

Society
The halflings of the New Kingdom are drawn from an array of clans (mostly of the diaspora) who answered the call of Clan Moynagh.

Wulfram
Deep within the mined out caverns beneath to main complex of chambers, exists rich deposits of Wulfram, a key component to the Faun alloy Black Iron.

Slander
Niamh is attacked by the supporters of the High King by citing that the prophecy says it will be led by a new hero, and slanders Niamh as a cutthroat and theif, and asks how she can be a hero, as a the new hero is a key part of the prophecy. For her part, Niamh does not claim to be a hero or to lead Dal Rianh; she accepts stewardship out of necessity.