Halgean Prehistory

Hälgean prehistory is largely defined through the varying struggles of the Hälgean peoples to survive on their northern peninsula against the overarching struggles of harsh winters and poor harvests.

Geographic Context
The Hälgean Peninsula, directly west of the Helmian subcontinent is largely mountainous, with little open spaces for agricultral practices. In addittion, the mountains of the Peninsula serve largely as a windbreak for continuous storms and squalls that rush in from the Sea of Petals, resulting in harsh wind-chill environments and opressive weather cycles in autumnal and winter months.

The rainshadow effect resulting from the prevalence of the Hälgean mountains means that rainfall is unlikely to reach the Hälgean coastline immediately, with rainclouds usually ascending the mountain range and precipitation beginning away from coastal settlements. Resultantly, Hälgean cities rely heavily on freshwater springs and streams resulting from preciptation further north, passing through underground rivers and aquifers which surface when met with the denser mountain rock.

Summer months are largely mild, with pressure deviations occuring sparodically due to various meterological phenomena such as the Helmian Northern Slipstream, an oceanic current of warmer water that runs against the Hälgean coastline periodically, resulting in warmer summers. This creates a rise in fishing industries in summer due to warmer waters attracting migratory fish shoals from the Yularan coastline further north.

In the few mountain meadows discovered within the Hälgean Peninsula, the soil is found to be richly fertile due to unknown geological processces theorised to be related to the formation of the Hälgean mountain range. In addition, prevalence of rainfall in the Hälgean Peninsula allows for easy development of crops within these select regions, resulting in a small but efficeint supply of basic agricultural goods for the local populace.

Early Migrations
Much of the evidence of early Hälgean settlers has remained undiscovered by the region's archeologists. However, presence of unearthed timbers and animal fabrics on the westernmost coastline suggest coastal migration from further north or even transmigration from the nearby island of Yulara.

Utilising accounts from the Yularan mainland, many of the tribal communities from the Dawn of Masonry period do not describe migrations off of the isle, leading to theorising that peoples such as the Northfolk may have journeyed southwards from their home continent of Beauridine.

Others posit that migrations via land-bridge to the Hälgean peninsula from mainland Neiden or Helmia may have resulted in the development of the first Hälgean communities, which is gaining traction as a theory within the areological community. Descoveries of bones dating as far back as 2,400 years ago suggest a similar timescale to the Grain-pharoah period of mainland Yulara, wherein capabilites for trans-oceanic migration were non-existent, further supporting this concept.

Discoveries of small wooden settlements alongside the Hälgean coastline within sedimentary beds from approximately 2400 years ago suggest early settlements to be comprised of primitive lean-to huts, gathered from driftwood and chunks of shuberry alongside the coastline and smaller open regions of the Hälgean Peninsula. Further excavations found bodies with imprints along the tibias and craniums of many skeletons, suggesting that infighting was common during these early days, likely due to food disputes.

Early lifestyles consisted of the hunter-gatherer archetype and the remainder of communities being dedicated to repairing huts and caring for newborn. This evidence is corroborated by the burial of male skeletons with lengthy wooden implements with burnt tips, suggesting use of primitive spears to hunt prey such as shoreline and mountain fish, alongside smaller mammals like Hälgean mountain hares.

Slowly, core Hälgean communities became seperated over time along the coast, likely due to disputes during winter months as food became more scarce. This resulted in proto-tribal communities forming, and different belief systems developing as a result. This period is known as "Tribal Hälge".

Tribal Hälge
Tribal Hälge began as the primitive Hälgeans began organizing themselves into various villages, with very little central authority. Strangely for this time period, it's thought that there was little conflict amongst the villagers on the island as the walls around the villages were never very large. These towns mostly relied on farming, fishing, and later on whaling as sources of sustenance. Gradually over time, these villages would form what was to become the Mekae culture, which shared common religious, cultural, and linguistic roots with one another.

The Mekaeans gradually became more and more advanced and active, building trade routes down to the Dragoonid cultures and east across the sea to Helmia. They created various elaborate cave paintings; initially with berry dye, then with Dragoonid dyes. This growth in trade was known as the Itia (e-shuh) Period.

Following the Itia Period was a time called the Tedina or Tedin Period, a sort of golden age for the Mekaean culture. The Tedin Period saw construction of several great temples and other similar structures, and the beginning of mining operations in the volcano. For mutual defense, there is evidence of a pact being formed between the many villages of the Mekaeans. Following the Tedin Period was the Rakol Period. Almost nothing is known about the Rakol Period, as during this time the scripts on the cave walls begin to become untranslatable, being written in an almost an entirely different language. Most likely it is assumed that these scripts were written by foreigners.

Ancient Hälge - Geographical Overview
Pictured right are the ancient beginnings of Hälge. Some of the earliest official structures built in ancient Hälge can be seen at this time.

Pictured left is Hälge's neighbor, Septrion. This land would later unite under Hälge and become Leiden.