Year 133 of the 7th Age (2147)
Nlia
The Dune Sea

"The desert reveals countless secrets to those skilled in their lore."
That was an ancient saying and Ingstar knew for a fact that it was true. The desert was full of secrets and full of stories.

It had been that way for thousands of years all the way back to the Time Before, when people had lived in tiny
nomadic bands that survived mostly by foraging.

The Eastern and Northern Lands had not yet been discovered then. It had been in the Western Land that the Nlian
race had been born and it had been the Golden Sands regions that they had first called home. For over 100,000
years the tiny bands had confined their wanderings there, avoiding the stark Red Mountains in the north and the
vast Dune Sea that dominated the center of the continent and where the sun beat down relentlessly on vast seas
of endless scorching dunes.

But then 30,000 years ago, things had begun to change and the 1st Age, the Age of Wandering had begun.
The tiny bands had slowly grown in number becoming tribes and a few hardy tribes had begun to roam the edges
of the Dune Sea.

It was on one of those edges that Ingstar was on now. His grandparents, Tyegor L/Naym and Lya Voe, had invited
him on one of their archeological expeditions and he had eagerly accepted. Ever since he was a small child he had
loved to accompany them on their trips and since he had begun attending the House of Learning seven years ago,
that interest had increased.

Taegor L'Naym pointed to the large rock outcropping that was the object of their study. "Take a look at these
carvings, Ingstar. What Age would you say it's from?"

Ingstar carefully studied the ancient rock paintings. His grandfather was a skilled researcher and anthropologist
and he had taught him how to recognize many signs. During the Time Before people had made carved tools
and figurines, but during the 1st Age they had begun to make vivid rock paintings.

"I think its 1st Age, Grandfather," he said finally. "It's not quite as stylized as the art from the 2nd Age."

His grandfather smiled. "You're exactly right."

Lya Voe was giving intently at the symbols. "These paintings seem to be telling the story of a hunt…."

She had been born in the nomadic Xinia Clan and had trained to become one of her tribes' Lorekeepers.
She loved stories with a passion, from ancient to modern and never tired of learning new ones.
Learning them and telling them.

"The Nlia of the past only exists now in the marks left in the sands and rocks," she often said.
"In those marks and in the stories told. As long as those stories are cherished and retold, they will they
be remembered. And as long as they are remembered, so will the past live on."

Taegor had his notebook out and was drawing a sketch of the outcropping. A keen record keeer, he always
took volumes of notes everywhere he went and would fill them with colorful illustrations.

Ingstar took his notebook out as well, taking notes both on the paintings and of his grandmother's words
as she described the drawings.

His mind raced. What exact year had the paintings been made? Who had been the artist to draw them?
What had they been thinking and feeling as they painted them? What had that ancient hunt been like?
What had life been like back then so long ago?

The desert was full of ancient stories and he wanted to learn them all. Learn them all and tell them all.


NOTES

200,000-20,000 B.C. (180,000 yrs)
The Time Before/The Most Ancient Days

20,000-12,000 B.C. (8000 years)
The First Age/The Age of Wandering