John's synopsis of Yelmalians across Genertela got me thinking of the Far Placers in Pavis County and how they have come to live in a very different land. I have read most of what resides at Questlines. Is there any other source for these people? If not, I'd love to hear what ideas are floating around out there.
but either way here is my take:
As far as I could tell the Kiertanii at Bluefoot's Mistake have the
most information about them. Looking at the Pavis County map &
Gazetteer (http://www.glorantha.com/new/fan/maps.html) we find the
following for Bluefoot's Mistake:
"A stead founded in 1580 by a family of Tovtaros `bluefoot' clansfolk
fleeing the FIRST Elmal/Yelmalio kinstrife
in their native Far Place... It is home to the Kiertanii bloodline,
contains both Orlanthi and Yelmalian worshippers, and its
residents are notorious for keeping to themselves."
The Farplace Timeline
(http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/chronology.html) has
the first Elmal\Yelmalio kinstrife occurring in 1557. This leaves 23
years between the event that the Kiertanii fled and the founding of
Bluefoot's Mistake. This makes me think 'Exodus' of a similar sort
(but somewhat lesser scale) to the Hebrew's exodus from Egypt.
Finding no other sources for the Kiertanni, I put together an abridged outline of their history and traditions.
The Kiertanii fled Far Point in 1557 when a war of kinstrife erupted between the Elmali and Yelmali factions within the Tovtaros tribe. Kinstrife tore the tribe apart and led to a massacre of the Yelmalion families at Fort Engoli. Many folk tell of how the Priderni clan was extirpated during those years of turmoil and loss. However, the Kiertanii claim to be the sole Priderni survivors from the massacre at Fort Engoli.
Regardless of their ancestry, in 1580 the Kiertanii wandered upon the fertile plains of Pavis County and established a stead, Bluefoot's Mistake, within the ruins of an old empire-era outpost. Finding a thirsty land radically different from their rain-swept homeland, they survived, endured and have now achieved a measure of prosperity.
Heirssoflin Hornblower is the chieftain of the Kiertanii. When Enastar Farwalker left with his thanes to fight the Lunars at the Battle of Boldhome in 1602, Heirssoflin was placed as head of the bloodline. When only one warrior returned from the battle, Heirssoflin was elected family head/chieftain. Soon afterwards he made his first major decision and, for the first time in nearly 50 years, blew the Engoli Horn and established a clan ring in an attempt to bring new families to the thinning Kiertanni bloodline.
He is a Yelmali worshipper and many of the people attribute their farming prosperity to his sun magics. He is also very careful and shelters his people from the would-be influences of the Lunar conquerors. Some warriors say he is too reserved in this area and especially the young thanes press for a stronger stand.
The Kiertanii adhere to many of the traditional Tovtaros rituals, including the rites of adulthood. During which they still tattoo their feet even though the snow walking magic is no longer potent and unnecessary in Pavis County. However, there are several important rituals that are unique to the Kiertanii, such as the Brightwind Ritual and the Defender's Lament.
Where the Kiertanii wandered and what struggles they endured during their 23 years of exodus are not spoken beyond the walls of Bluefoot's Mistake, however, it is these struggles that truly define them. Redressa the Enduring is first among the recent heroes of the family. She was weaponthane to the Priderni chief and was privy to quiet whispers from the forest breeze. She had no mistakes about what calamities were to strike and first led her family upon their pilgrimage from Far Place.
Once safe, she quested and discovered the Brightwind Ritual to solidify the ties between the Orlanthi and Yelmali worshippers of her family and ensured that they would be safe from the tragedy that befell their tribe. This bond is reaffirmed each year on the anniversary of its founding.
The pilgrims fled to the wilds following Redressa's visions of fertile lands and prosperity. Then Redressa fell, the gods turned their back, and the family was plunged into shadow. They walked where only daemons and fae had tread before. They walked through the mist that blends this world and the Otherworld. Under an impenetrable canopy of dark woods where sun had not pierced since before the Dawn, they walked. Past cavern mouths whose depths led to Asrelia's tombs, they walked. For 21 years they faltered through shadow, lost and hopeless - until a candle in the darkness came of age.
Ketti Ketilsdotter was of the generation born in the wilds and was in her 7th day of first blood when, given to curiosity, picked up the lamp that had hung within the chieftain's hall for generations. It was then that the lamp of the Kiertanni resonated with hope and relit after two decades of darkness. Ketti Lampbearer held the lamp of her kin for 7 days and nights without rest to lead her people out of the shadow. She has survived to this day and is wed to Hierssoflin.
Enastar Farwalker was the head of his people when a year later they came southeast upon the plains of Pavis County. He staked out land to settle and began the construction of a stead upon the ruins of an old outpost. It was during this time that what neighbors the Kiertanni might have had, picked up and left, giving the newcomers and their fort a wide berth muttering to themselves that it would be the last of the bluefoot's mistakes.
Soon, Enastar understood for they were beset upon by mournful spirits of Zebra Tribe defenders who were massacred by the troll hoardes of Gerak Kag. Their work was halted and they were forced to suffer their first winter in Prax in makeshifts and lean-tos. Many died.
It was then that a hanger-on whom they found and helped out of the darkness proved a hero of himself. Yuhorl Windrift was a young man when the Kiertanni stumbled upon he and his family lost in the wilds. By the winter of 1580 he was of middle age, and in the tradition of his father's line, had become powerful in the secrets of Kolat.
It was he who negotiated with the melancholy ghosts to allow the Kiertanii to build upon the once sturdy outpost. The defenders resisted, but Yuhorl could see that the ghosts were not evil but forgotten and abandoned. They had fought to the last man and were never buried nor remembered for their bravery. Yuhorl's agreement with the spirits is renewed each year during the Defender's Lament where the deeds and bravery of the fallen soldiers are remembered, recounted and toasted. Yuhorl is nearly 90 years old and is the living source of the songs of the exodus
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