Those Who Lie Beneath

It is unsure what exactly happened a millennia ago, the keepers of the original stone tablets do not have exact details save for the reliefs rendered and the oral stories of Those Who Lie Beneath are complex and sometimes conflicting.

But all of Those Who Lie Beneath agree with the following summary of events:

Origins

There once was a great mountain, big and tall, that held fertile farmlands, lush fauna, and it was rich with precious ores. This mountain attracted many beings due to these properties and was quickly called in the Common tongue, 'The Mountain of Plenty'. Settlements popped up across the Mountain of Plenty, mostly dwarven in nature due to the dwarven desire to dig deep.

And there were 'monsters' too, creatures who desired the wealth of the dwarves and a place safe to rest their heads for the world often looked down upon them for their 'strange' ways or 'odd' appearances. The most common groups in the region were Orcs, Goblins and Kobolds, who formed warring bands to attack and steal from the dwarven settlements.

These two groups hated each other.

Until one day...

One day, the glorious mountain went KABOOM!

The top exploded off the mountain, the skies turned dark and angry. The animals scattered and the farmlands suffered greatly causing crops to die. The falling rocks and avalanches destroyed homes and the ash in the air killed, as it was discovered this great mountain was actually a volcano.  

But that was not the worst of it.

The worst of it was, a whole dwarven settlement known as the Firestones, the dwarves who did not dig the deepest due to an interest in agriculture and animal husbandry sunk into the mountain due to being on a fault line.

And they were not the only ones.

One of these warring bands of monstrous races' settlements, known as the Luthenclaw Clan, also sunk into the earth but being made of mostly scrap wood and found objects, the buildings did not survive...

On both sides many died from the impact of being sucked underground, leaving both sides with a dwindling population, injured and no way out. This is when what is called 'The Great Joke' happened. For both groups ended up in the same cavern space, two enemies that hated each other to no end.

And they were stuck together.

It took time for them to find their common ground, and even longer to realize they were stronger together at one unit than two separate warring groups. It did take mutual learning from both sides to see the value of each other and some people dying, the Firestones recognizing the clever perspectives of the Luthenclaws while the Luthenclaws were impressed by the skill of the Firestones.

Together, they dug out of the Mountain of Plenty, alive.

It was a grueling affair and more did die, but it was not all of them.

When reaching the surface, this united group saw that the skies had cleared and the landscape, though different... was still fertile.

This was when the 'Big Shake' happened, when the groups, despite their differences in appearance, cultures and lived experiences: became one with the new name of 'Those Who Lie Beneath', creating a tiered settlement that existed around the collapsed Firestone settlement and the above ground farmlands, known as Ashen Deep.

Over the centuries, interbreeding between the various original races has caused their descendants to look a mixture of the monstrous and the mundane, confusing to race purists especially since the people of Those Who Lie Beneath is more of united by a set cultural beliefs and code of ethics rather than a singular race.

Born, Raised and Chosen

• Born: Those whose families have been a member of Those Who Lie Beneath for at least two generations.
• Raised: Those whose families have been a member of Those Who Lie Beneath for at least one generation.
• Chosen: Those who are newer to the 'family' but are welcomed as kin and sought after for their livid experiences and knowledges.

Lineages

Anyone can make a lineage of whatever mash-up feels right for them for those Born and Raised in Those Who Lie Beneath, it is noted that there are two primary groups the Grounded and the Travelers. The Grounded usually stay in one location, typically near a mountain, low-land or cave system to aid in supporting the local community while the Travelers travel and explore the word, seeking knowledge to add to the stone libraries of Beneath.

The Attrace Lineage

An enemies to lovers sitauationship between a Snotling and a Dwarf (Khazad) that ended in a blissful marriage and a strong line of descendants who are not afraid to speak their stone hearts, use their clever minds, and ruthlessly hunt down their enemies wherever they be in academia, the battlefield, or their opponents at games; it is no wonder why the Attrace line often lends itself to well-spoken leaders, savvy battle masters, and brilliant arsitans. They follow their hearts and minds, in honor of their dual ancestors, At Wizer and Lynda Moltentrace, who together embody both heart and mind.

Current Members:

• Ash "Treché" Attrace (Born, Traveler)

The Gifts of Three

1. The Offer of Friendship: The first gift is something that takes not too much time to make or find but caries meaning between the Giver and the Outsider. Examples: includes: a smooth shiny rock, a crow's feather, a cool bone, a bracelet, a drawing. This is an offer of welcome and marks the Outsider as 'friendly' to others of Those Who Lie Beneath.
2. The Offer of Guidance
3. The Offer of Might

When the last gift is given it is a signal of acceptance into the rank of the Those Who Lie Beneath, and when the Great Shake is celebrated, they are inducted into the family and called a 'Chosen'. A Chosen may bring others in at this point, but must follow the Tenets of Below or face becoming Exiled and added to the Hunter's List.

The Tenets of Below

• The Cunning of the Opossum: Your life is precious, protect it.
• The Determination of the Mole: Life can be hard, keep going.
• The Heart of the Badger: Be kind and respectful to your local community.
• The Hunger of the Crow: Try and fail, and try again.
• The Mind of the Rat: Keep your wits about you.
• The Thumbs of the Racoon: Be resourceful.

The Exiled

The Exiled are previous members of Those Who Lie Beneath who have been been trialed as unfit for the community and forced out, they are stripped of title and rank and are placed on the Hunter's List.

The Hunter's List

The Hunter's List is a shared list between the vast realms of Belgarth of individuals who break the Tenets of Below in some form. These individuals are considered 'dangerous' typically by those who are born from dirt, rocks and ash: and confronted either in combat, negotiations, or other nuanced ways. Those being 'hunted' can be redeemed however, if the go on the Quest of Treché and Thēsaur and keep their word.