Clifftonic Human

The Clifftonic Peoples are an ethnic group residing in the Cliffton region of the subcontinent of Helmia. While their exact origin is unknown, the oldest historical record mentioning this group of people originates approximately 315 years before the destruction of the Aftonsal.

Early history and migration
The exact geographic origin of the Clifftonic peoples is relatively unknown, though there is some evidence to indicate these people originate from somewhere beyond Khanji, potentially off the map or from Western Plagos. The earliest historical record comes from a Noxist manuscript (315 years before the destruction of the Aftonsal) where one Vriabœrn is mentioned, as the Chieftain of the Clifftonians. Vriabœrn's name is mentioned twice, where he is described as the chief of a barbaric tribe encountered by Noxist explorers North of Khanji. Vriabœrn is again mentioned in the same manuscript as having been in the process of migrating his people southward.

The next-most recent mentioning of the Clifftonic peoples again comes from Noxist historical records dated 245 years before the destruction of the Aftonsal. The Clifftonians were again described as a barbaric tribe who had recently migrated to Helmia, settling in what is now called the Elesgati swamp. Clifftonians at this time developed a culture around raiding nearby Noxist settlements, fishing, and amassing large amounts of gold captured from these raids. The Clifftonians for the next four decades wrecked havoc on nearby Noxist settlements, occasionally raiding some like Bekiw Lor and Synd Lor.

The only real permanent settlement during this time living in the marshes was called Vrialogh Vrocht. Vrialogh Vrocht was later abandoned following the Clifftonese conversion to Noxism, and would fall into ruin before sinking beneath the murky waters.

Conversion to Noxism
It is recorded that 212 years before the destruction of the Aftonsal, the current Chief of the Clifftonians, Fyydir converted to Noxism, officially founding the Gilroch dynasty. Fyydir is recorded to have been a descendent of Vriabœrn. Following this conversion to Noxism by Fyydir, the Clifftonese would in large part follow, abandoning their old ways. It was during this time that the Clifftonese began to migrate out of the Elesgati swamp, into the wide open fields of the province of Cliffton. The Gilrochs for their part were given dominion as Valds of Nildfaeld, Noxist for Cliffton, during this time.

Agriculture flourished during this period, with cultivation of crops like Wheat and Potatoes skyrocketing. Additionally, the breed of horse, the Clifftonese King Stallion was properly employed in herding and ranching during this time.

Kastollian settlement
Following the displacement of the Gilrochs and Astorian Plague, Cliffton became occupied by the powerful Silverhand family hailing from Kastollia. It's during this time where the city of Klerkenshoop was built, and Cliffton Castle was renamed to Silverhill. The Silverhands left a lasting impact on the region, introducing their language and religion to the lands. Miksa Silverhand introduced an estate system which divided the region into separate estates.

Population decline and diaspora
In large part due to the Redgrin Plague, a product of the Helmian Civil War, the Clifftonian population was reduced to nearly a quarter of it's peak size. Other groups like the Elesgati, Hallondians, and Daelyrians also began to encroach on lands formerly inhabited by the Clifftonese, being driven out of the swamp, Synd Lor, Northern Cliffton, and Southern Cliffton. Today, the Clifftonese are a shell of their former selves, and some have even migrated away from Helmia, settling New Cliffton, and becoming a minority in cities in the NoxVyvras.

Language
While exact records regarding naming of the Clifftonic Peoples, words like "Clifftonese", "Clifftonic", and "Clifftonian" are all acceptable when referring to this ethnic group.

Additionally, the Clifftonians speak a small variety of languages, the four most popular being Traveler's Tongue, Noxnorric, Clifftonese Vulgar, and High Clifftonic. Like a good 95% of Ratham's population, most Clifftonians have some knowledge of Traveler's Tongue.

Introduced by Kastollian settlers following the Astorian Plague, Kastollian was a language which came to dominate the region of Cliffton after the destruction of the Aftonsal. Cities like Klerkenshoop and Aeryon trace their naming through to the Kastollian language. Kastollian is primarily spoken within the northern areas of Cliffton, it's knowledge concentrated in those few urban centers.

Noxnorric is widely considered to be the lingua franca of most of northern Helmia. It is a language spoken primarily by those following the Noxist religion, though many non-Noxists in the region also have some basic proficiency in the language.

Spoken by the majority of the Clifftonians, Clifftonese Vulgar is essentially a pygmy language combining the Kastollian and Noxnorric languages with traditional Clifftonic vocabulary.

High Clifftonic is Clifftonic in its purest form, and is mainly found in old literature. A small minority of nobles and scholars know High Clifftonic, its zeal over the mass populace, or what is left of it, fell through centuries ago. Ignoring the aristocracy, maybe 5% of Clifftonians have any real proficiency in the language.