First Age of the Vaikan

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In the Karalian calendar, the First Age of the Vaikan covers the prehistoric era. Historians generally date the beginning to the earliest fossil records of Vaikan which dates about two million years before the Second Age begins.

Earliest evidence

Ucharpli was populated by multiple Vaikan-esque species who are all believed to have descended from cliff dwelling primates who used magnetic resonance to scale cliff sides and to assemble primitive stone structures. These species are believed to have originated from the northern pole where Ucharpli’s magnetic ore deposits were found in the greatest abundance. Great Ice Age Approximately 50,000 years before the Second Age, climate change caused the sea levels to dramatically drop as water became locked into massive glaciers. This forced the Vaikan (known as Muruu-vai at the time) and related species to travel further to acquire food. Some species such as the Muruu-kai never left the poles and were presumed to have gone extinct either through starvation, interbreeding with the Vaikan, or through conquest. However, small tribes living in isolated islands would be later be discovered as far late as the Fifth Age.

Nevertheless, the Vaikan emerged as the most successful of these species as they were the only ones known to have mass migrated to the south to warmer climates. Many anthropologists believe that the Vaikan’s curiosity to explore is what lead them to survive Ucharpli’s hostile climate.

Hunter-Gatherer Era

The Vaikan explored south, spreading across much of the globe. Massive ice sheets bridged many of the continents that were once separated by water. Vaikan generally grouped together in small roving tribes.

Some tribes were much more relaxed, preying on easy catches like the Eletar and relying substantially on gathered plants. Other tribes looked for more exotic, more dangerous prey. It was around this time when archeologists discovered an early culture of hunting for glory.

One of the first difficult creatures to be regularly hunted was the giant lightning snail which was resistant to the Vaikan’s electrical abilities. The lightning snail could also discharge its own electricity to shock any would-be predators. To get around this, the Vaikan would use long poles as prods to push the snails off of cliffs where their shells would break open revealing their fleshy insides. Because of the very gruesome way these creatures were hunted, the custom of covering one's mouth while eating likely arose as a sign of reverence and respect for nature.

For the tribes that remained at the poles, their targets were often even more deadly. The Glaceridon, the planet’s largest herbivore which also goes by the name Ice Behemoth, required great skill and coordination to take down. The Yoltox was also a difficult target in that it was a flying predator that could breathe fire.

While Vaikan were largely inclined to hunt on their own, the cooperative behavior required to take down these large beasts lay the groundwork for Vaikan hunting in small bands. Even so, archeological evidence shows that some cultures still revered individual hunters who could take down big game by themselves. Headdresses and fragments carved Ice Behemoth tusks were discovered to be in ancient burial sites. Agricultural Revolution With the Ice Age at its peak, agriculture was difficult. However, a fertile area of land near the equator in the region of modern day Yallvus proved to be one of the most important settling points for the Vaikan. It is here where the earliest known artificial structures were created known as Toratath Hill.

Toratath Hill remains buried deep below the surface and is only known through sonic readings in the planet’s crust as well as records of previous archeological digs made during the Third Age. The site was believed to be one of great importance to early hunter gatherers as it served as a celebratory feasting site.

Alcohol was also brewed in this area as evidenced from residue in pottery and small wells. Preserved grains were also found nearby indicating that nearby wheat was also farmed to help produce the alcohol. Indirectly, the need to maintain the alcohol led to an agricultural revolution with more and more Vaikan settling down in small villages outside of Toratath Hill.

The domestication of the Eletar soon followed, used both for plowing and for food.

Saskana Meteor

Sometime during the neolithic revolution, a meteor collided with Ucharpli wiping out 70% of all Vaikan and plunging the planet into another ice age. The resulting debris sent ash clouds that blocked the sun and great tsunamis crashed onto the shorelines. The actual crash site of the meteor is located somewhere within the Ocean of Thought.

The Saskana Meteor inspired many myths including the Legend of Nolara from what is today known as Lacad. According to legend, the beast god Saskana became enraged after being “tickled” by the radiant electricity from the Vaikan, and so he decided to silence the Vaikan by destroying them. Krayhan warned a merchant named Nolara of the impending disaster and thus, he brought food, rum and livestock aboard a ship he built with the help of his sons.

The deluge displaced Nolara’s ship to eventually land on a peak known as Mt. Tarara. From here, Nolara released his livestock unto the world and his sons traveled to other parts of the world to begin civilization.

There are similar myths from around all of Ucharpli passed down as oral tales. In any event, recorded history begins almost immediately after. It was around this time that the earliest forms of writing showed up.