are in residence. Halfling families often focus on agri-
cultural endeavors (aside from the small fungi gardens
many gnomish households maintain in their cellars),
while the area's miners are almost exclusively gnomes.
Both folk work as herders, with halflings favoring
sheep, and gnomes goats, as well as artisans of all
sorts. Each community has a sheriff who maintainspeace and leads defense-a role most often fulfilled
by a halfling, I've found, though gnomes will certainly
rise up in defense of their homes and neighbors when
called upon.
Some of the rural settlements mark the former
locations of mines that have been played out. It isn't
uncommon for halflings to move in where a gnomish
mine have been abandoned, fixing up the surface
entrances into acceptable, comfortable homes, with
built-in tunnels that worm through the settlement.
These passages might be helpful for defense or escape,
but they are most often used when it's raining out to
reach a neighbor's door and borrow a cup of honey, so
as not to get oneself wet or track mud everywhere.
On occasion, a community that sports large dwell-
ing-tunnels, with ample space for larger folk (or
"big'uns," as the local gnomes say), turns its settlement
into an establishment that caters to such clientele. The
inns I know of are the Merry Mine-Lass, the Pipe and
Hearthstone, and the Giants' Respite, my favorite.
Each of these settlements is impressively self-sus-
taining. When official leadership is needed, the eldest
halflings and gnomes are called upon to act in that
capacity, but amity is the heart of community life in
these hills. It is a shameful act among the Trieltans to
refuse to reach a peaceable accord with one's fellows
over some dispute. The folk here enjoy their simple
lives, although I've come across a half-dozen or so
young adventurers who hail from here, seeking out the
newness of the world as a contrast to the familiarity of
their homeland.
Few dangerous creatures lurk in the hills-they are so
densely settled (on and beneath the surface) that there
is little space for monsters to lair. Cruel or ravenous
creatures do occasionally creep into Trielta, mainly
from the Forest of Wyrms, but such incursions don't last
long-after a few sheep (and possibly a shepherd or two)
are eaten, the sheriffs waste no time in forming a posse
to hunt down or chase off the predators before they can
do more harm.
CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH
Now, sad to say, this situation might be changing for
the worse. According to recent letters I have received
from friends in these hills, parties of Najaran raiders
have become more common and numerous. My friends
fear that the threat from the Serpent Kingdom to the
north will force Trieltans to seriously consider putting
up an active defense of their lands for the first time in
generations.UTHGARDT LANDS
When I was newly departed from my homeland and first
found my way to the North, I encountered a band of Uth-gardt nomads on the trail-a part of the Elk tribe, led by
a warrior named Gyrt. It was a tense meeting.
I think the only reason I was not killed on sight is that
I was an elf traveling alone. I think they feared I was a
wizard. Uthgardt hate all magic but that of their sha-
mans and any enchanted weapons and armor they find,
but a wizard willing to walk the wilds alone could be a
powerful one. Traveling as we were on a grassy plain,
we could see one another for some distance. Since I
didn't strike them down with lightning from afar, they
were willing to approach peaceably.
Still, they stopped when they were within bowshot
and seemed to be arguing about whether to shoot me.
I waited as patiently as I could until one who seemed
to be their leader addressed me in heavily accented
Common. I replied a greeting in Bothii, their own
ancient language, which again set the group to argu-
ment. At last, the leader dismounted and approached
me, giving her name as Gyrt. Glad was I then that I took
the time to learn the language from a learned friend
in Evereska!
In anticipation of any demand, I offered Gyrt a fine
dagger from Evereska, as well as a necklace I wore. For
her band I offered a bag of baubles I'd brought for such
an occasion. Pleased with my gifts and assured that I
was no wizard, Gyrt and I sat down to talk. I asked to
share her campfire for the night, and Gyrt made space
for me. That was my first meeting with Gyrt, but it
wouldn't be my last, nor my last encounter with Uth-
gardt. I'm grateful to my friend Gyrt for teaching me so
much about her people, for it has allowed me and many
fellow travelers to see Uthgardt and live to tell the tale.
Over the years, as I earned Gyrt's respect and she
mine, we became friends, and I came to know her three
sons as well. Though Gyrt died some decades ago, I still
visit her children, whom I played with when they were
young. They now have children of their own, and all call
me auntie.
During my time with Gyrt and her kin, the people of
the Elk explained much to me about the workings of
their tribe-their view of the world and their place in
it, their traditions and the laws they live by. I came to
realize, as I came across other Uthgardt tribes in my
travels, that much of what is true for the Elk tribe is true
for other Uthgardt. Though they comport themselves in
seemingly disparate groups honoring different totems,
Uthgardt have much in common. What follows is what
I have learned of the people who call themselves "chil-
dren of Uthgar."