The First People, or Ur-shamesh is one of the a tribe of humans inhabiting the the vast Gloamwood Bog in the Kingdom of Ehb. The small group of living Ur-Shamesh are ruled by the village elder Maru-yatum, a skilled shaman and nature mage. They are also said to have villages far north.
Description[]
The culture of these people is based on the worship of Nagog - an ancient creator god who fell from the heavens long ago. Before his death, he entrusted the First People with his heart - a massive gemstone capable of healing, killing, and even bringing the dead back to life[1].
These people dwell in huts and nests built beneath the towering roots of giant mangrove trees. Their society is governed by shamans who can communicate with the spirits of the dead and even with Nagog himself. The shamans wield the power to summon swamp golems, while their warriors use blowguns and wooden clubs.
Their settlements are marked by grim crosses adorned with dried heads. Interestingly, these heads do not belong to the victims of the First People. Instead, they are usually their deceased kin, whose spirits are bound to these heads after death. The First People believe that merging with the River of Souls is something terrifying – a loss of belonging to their tribe and clan. It is an unwanted unification with hated foreign peoples.
The appearance of these people is unsettling: muscular, hunched bodies, unnaturally pale skin, soft black hair, and numerous tumors across their bodies. Due to their small population and refusal to allow outsiders into their tribe, they all resemble one another, making it difficult for outsiders to distinguish between them[2].
History[]
The origins of these people trace back to the dawn of time, even before the beginning of the First Age. Thousands of years ago, one of the creator gods, Nagog, fell into their home – the Eastern Swamp. The First People began worshipping him, but soon after, Nagog died. His body turned to dust and dissolved into the swamp, becoming the Sacred Mist. According to Maru-yatum, the mist represents "ancient roots, deep waters, and cold fog."
After Nagog's death, the tribe began calling themselves Ur-shamesh and came to believe in an afterlife as spirits. For centuries, they lived hidden lives, avoiding contact with other peoples they despised.
Dungeon Siege III[]
During the events of the third installment, this savage tribe attacked Lord Devonsey’s soldiers who had entered the swamp, capturing several warriors and the scholar Phineas. The descendants of the Legion managed to defeat the tribe’s chief shaman, Maru-yatum, and rescue the captives.
Gallery[]
.png "The First People (Chris Willis Art).png (601 KB)")
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References[]
- ↑ Book: Artifacts of the Creators: Volume IV.
- ↑ Book: Children of the Swamp.