"Because every settled vale has its own local land goddess, the people
who live there become her children and learn to speak like her. That is
why we Varmandi talk much like the Malani clans *spit*, who infest the
bottom of our vale. We talk a little differently from the Colymar, who
are three days walk away. But we can easily understand them, because
they are good folk who revere the Goddess in all her forms.
"The Culbrea and the Karandoli have just moved into the area. They
still talk like the Heortland goddesses, but their talk will slowly
change as they worship the local goddesses.
"The Hyalorings in Runegate live closer to us, but their Goddess is
married to Elmal instead of Orlanth. This means they talk differently
than we do. They are a strange folk, but they are at least civilized.
We would trade there, except that they hate us because Varmand used to
raid them terribly.
"The horse savages of Jardanroste Polestar are not human. They speak no
human tongue, and have no human customs. They are demons who follow a
son of the Evil Emperor. They are horrific reavers and slavers, worse
by far than Mad Blood Malan.
"But I have heard from the Orindanae that this new King Arim, who claims
to have married Kero Fin herself, calss himself the Sacred King of all
the Land. It must be so, because they say that even Jardanroste fears
this king, and that Arim has power even over these demons...
Theya Two Mothers, Godia of the Varmandi, 1355
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