Kytta’erng (lit. "Nest of Men") is a small Santharian farming village in the western part of the former province of Sanguia, in the former kingdom of Eyelia. The settlement, in the more Santharian form, is also often referred to as "Kytterning". Built as a refuge for those Eyelians who preferred the old way of life, it also functions as the Eyelians first point of contact with the Ylfferhim elves. Kytta'erng enjoys a growing economy, though progress is hampered by hefty taxes and the occasional ogre attack.

Image description. Myrna'at Nonewiser Tomo’olokouf, the somewhat-reluctant chief of Kytta'eng. Picture drawn by Bard Judith.

Kytta'erng lies about a two day's ride north of the Quallian, and about a five day’s ride north west of the traditional Eyelian capital, Vezash. It is roughly the same distance away from the Vale of Brownies, but it can be quite hard to translate Brownie riding distances to human measures. After all, a week on ferretback could be a month on horseback, or a day, depending on the terrain. Kytta’erng is inhabited almost exclusively by Eyelians of the Yourth clan (also known as the Eagle clan), though as of late, a few Brownies have been spotted in the general area. Approximately 200 Eyelians live here, and the Brownie population is estimated at around twenty or so.

Description.  Kytta’erng is a beautiful village, located in a hilly, forested area. Merchants and traders from the Rimmerins Ring know it as a crossroads of trade, though most of the town economy comes from farming, and the trade merely passes through, on its way to grander destinations.

Key Locations. Kytta'erng can be described by dividing the village in the following key locations:

• Outside Kytta’erng
  Coming from the east, travelers know they are reaching Kytta’erng by the small guard post to the right of the trail. The guard post is actually a small, clay hut, with a timber roof that has long since fallen into a state of disrepair. The remnants of one of the great Eyelian drums, the ha’hep, lies next to the building. Once, this station was used to warn the farmers and villagers of impending attacks. At one time, the Eyelians had thousands of such guard posts extending throughout the kingdom of Eyelia. However, since the coronation of Santhros to the king over the realms south of the Tandala, and thus the induction of Eyelia into the Santharian kingdom, such defenses have been rendered mainly obsolete.
  
  The road stays fairly unremarkable for several more strals. It is a beautiful walk, all the same. The road continues to wind through the hills of southern Sanguia, and passes over both tiny timber bridges, no more than humps over inconvenient brooks and streams; and mighty wooden bridges stretching for many peds until a valley is passed over.
  
  As you continue traveling eastwards towards the village, one will notice the first functioning guard post, two strals down. This building is more of a tower than a hut, and built of sturdy lumber. It is about five and a half peds in height, though most of that area is hollow. A narrow structure, it serves as mainly as an artificial vantage point, and a beacon for trained gryphs to fly to. The wood has not rotten and has remains strong and unmarred, and the roof is sturdy. The drum is in excellent condition, and the taut skin is generally replaced about once every month or so. The guard post is inhabited by two Eyelians at a time. These two are generally young, able men who fly gryphs to and from Kytta’erng at the end and beginning of their guard duties. One will rarely be stopped at this guard post, or one of the other four or so located increasingly closer together as one reaches the town proper. However, those not manning a caravan, and those particularly suspicious or very exotic will often be stopped, if only for a brief questioning and a lively conversation.
  
  After this first checkpoint is reached, one sees the evidence of a strong agrarian community. Large farms, fenced in with wood from the Quallian (the nearby elven forest), are spaced out, each growing large amounts of several different crops. Few contain livestock, though the cattle and sheep grown here are hardy and happy creatures.
  
  The farms that ring around the town proper are the foundation of Kytta’erng. While much trade occurs on the roads that pass through the town, and with the forest to the south, nearly all of the money gained is reinvested into farming. Not the most profitable choice - but the most sensible one, at least according to a people that have been landkeepers for centuries.

• Village Gates
  The farms continue right up to the city gates. The gates and walls themselves are wooden, though not particularly strong. However, they are being continually reinforced, with the hopes that they will soon provide sufficient protection against an ogre attack.
  
  On either side of the mighty gates, kept open until dusk, are two towers, each with a drum, and each with a gryph-post. These are the beginning and end of the drum towers that serve as communication devices between Kytta’erng and the surrounding farms.

• Inside Kytta’erng
  Kytta’erng is noted for its adherence to ancient Eyelian tradition. Here you will find sweat lodges, tomo’ayels (homes to the Eyelians' Bo’ens, or familiars), and true Eyelian architecture.
  
  The houses, true to Yourth custom, are all made of wood, and do not extend too high into the air. They tend to be only one level, and look like wood and straw tents. The walls on either side are triangles of lumber, and a thatched “roof” extends in a sharp angle to form the front and back walls. Inside, the houses contain only a single room. At one end of the house there are fur-covered beds lining the walls, and a fireplace sits at the opposite end. There is typically a round table in the center, one low enough to the ground that chairs are not required. Oftentimes, there will also be a trapdoor underneath the table - the table can be moved aside, and one can access the roots cellar that many Eyelians use to keep their vegetables fresh.
  
  Besides houses, there are several prominent features inside Kytta’erng. In the center of the village, for instance, lies the chief's home, the administrative center of the village. In typical Eyelian fashion, it is a small, rounded hut. The Yourth version consists of several bowed logs that support a taut animal skin that acts as the wall. Inside here is where the village chief lives, the current one being Myrna'at Nonewiser Tomo'olokouf.
  
  Directly next to the capital sits the ceremonial sweat lodge. Here, the basic Eyelian rites and rituals are observed. It is architecturally identical to the capital house, though the base is mud-hardened, in order to retain as much heat and smoke as possible.
  
  There is no temple in Kytta’erng. While this may seem odd to those used to a more common way of worship, it is perfectly normal when one notes the Eyelian religious tradition. Eyelians do not sit in sermons, attend services, or preach conversion. They are much more private about their religion, and the only public displays of faith are found during the ceremonies an Eyelian celebrates, mostly in the sweat lodge. In this way, the sweat lodge serves as a rough equivalent to a temple, and is decorated with symbols of Grothar and Jeyriall, as are numerous other buildings of importance.

• By the Quallian
  South of the town, there is a small trading post. Here, one will find a gryph tower, as well as a building that seems similar to a chieftain's hut, but with a storage shed nearby. This is the Kytta’erng trading post, a spot where the Ylfferhim and Eyelians meet to trade and negotiate. The trade on the Eyelian half mainly consists of grain, a resource in which the Ylfferhim elves are sorely lacking. With the grain, the Ylfferhim are able to bake various waybreads and other loaves that help complement their diet. The Ylfferhim in return provide emeralds, clay, and marble. Little of these materials stay in Kytta'erng. Much of the marble and gems make their way to Brinsley, while villages of the Quia clan find a use for the clay.
  The trading post is not the Eyelians' sole means of contact with the Ylfferhim elves. Occasionally, when the Eyelians are blessed with the chance to pick fruit from inside the Quallian itself, they will meet at Drwsy, with the scant few others whom the elves have let into the forest.

Location. Kytta’erng is located about two days ride, or one day, as the gryph flies, from the Quallian Forest, on the North edge. It is distant from other towns, but acts as a natural nexus for trade involving Vezash, the forest, the dwarven settlement of Kor Donion, and the Vale of Brownies. It is roughly equidistant from Vezash and Kor Donion, about 400 strals away from both.

To find Kytta’erng on a map, one must first procure a very detailed map. Look to Southern Sarvonia, then Santharia. Inside Santharia, it is located in the Sanguian province, in the far west.

People. Kytta’erng is almost exclusively settled by Eyelians of the Yourth tribe. The original villagers who settled Kytta’erng were mainly farmers, and a few were experts of their trade. Since then, Kytta’erng is known among Eyelians for its population of expert landkeepers, an Eyetharian term for "farmer".

The current Chief of Kytta’erng is Myrna'at Nonewiser Tomo’olokouf. A wizened elder of the Yourth tribe, he is nearly ready to give up power. However, no other villager has yet been found who appears to have been “touched” by the Golden Eagle, and thus fit to rule. In the meantime, the people of Kytta’erng live happily under their chieftain’s benevolent rule.

Kytta’erng is also home to one Nsikigan Rocksilk Yourth, a young Eyelian who currently works for the Compendium in nearby New-Santhala.

Coat of Arms/Sign. A rampant gryph, sable, on a vert background. The gryph is a symbol of the Eyelian people in general, and especially to the Yourth tribe. The green background symbolizes fertility of the land.

Climate. Kytta’erng has a balmy climate. It tends to be warm, and fairly dry. However, its close proximity to the coast brings in much-needed rain for the crops during the spring months. One factor of the climate that has made Kytta’erng so successful is its lack of cold winters. The winter temperature usually hovers around a perik, though it will snow during mid-winter. However, here, as in much of semi-coastal Sanguia, the snow is only a light cover, and is generally not a major threat to crops.

Flora. The most important plants growing around Kytta’erng are obviously the crops. Around the town, one will find farms growing rows upon rows of wheat (a basic staple), ae'lons (of all sorts), carrots (many for the bo’ens!), kail (eat up, little jsals), and of course, doch nuts! [1]

Other plants are prevalent in the area as well. Fruit seeds are often planted inside the city, as well as on the farmland. One may also find taller trees growing on the outskirts, where various forested areas spot the plains.

Fauna. The fauna is plentiful in this Eyelian town, partially because of the sheer amount of Bo’en found here. Tamed animals range from the mundane (dogs and cattle) to the wondrous (gryphs and shingar). However, there are very few animals here not native to the area, as the Kytta’erng Eyelians have little use for travel, though traders occasionally bring exotic animals through, some of which escape. For instance, there is a small population of makaka apes living near the Quallian, and there has been at least one recorded instance of one being tamed as a Bo’en.

Bo’ens are not the only domesticated animals you will find in Kytta’erng. The many farms around the town hold much livestock, including the capricus goat. Normally, an animal of this temperament would not be found on a farm, but the Tamers' reputation is well deserved. However, more mundane cattle and pigs are still the livestock of choice here - despite some claiming the conversation gets boring!

Around the town one may find wild populations of Injèrá eagles, wolves, foxes, and deer. None pose a threat to crops or livestock, however, as the Eyelians seem to have a primitive agreement with the animals. According to Eyelian custom, wheat was planted outside the bounds of any farm (for the deer’s snacking pleasure), and small amounts of livestock are often turned loose as a boon to the wolves. The agreement with the eagles goes deeper - the Injèrá eagle is regarded as semi-sacred by the Eyelians, and is welcomed into any part of the village without question.

Resources. The primary resource in Kytta'erng is food. The Eyelians in Kytta'erng are known throughout the King’s Hollow as prime landkeepers, and the crops they grow are used within the town, and traded to nearby cities, including New-Santhala. Due to the nearby forest, there are large supplies of timber to be had here, as well as various fruits and clay-fired bricks. Indeed, the soil around the Quallian is known to be excellent for making said bricks, and Kytta’erng is one of the few Yourth towns that features brick buildings at all. The Kytta’erng Eyelians are also skilled in amantry, or the crafting of feathers into decoration or cloth - while it is not a big enough business to provide an economic basis, it does contribute to trade.

Trade. Kytta’erng is most commonly approached from the east, as salt, fish, and other goods are transported from the coast and traded for timber, doch nuts, gold, emeralds, various fruits, and clay-fired bricks. Many of these resources come from trading with the Ylfferhim elves in the Quallian Forest. To these elves, the Eyelians trade amantry and various crops, mainly grains and pulses. The town is often left from the west, so the trail of trade can continue to Vezash, or the south, towards the trading post where the Eyelians can trade with the Ylfferhim elves.

Besides the Ylfferhim and humans, the Eyelians of Kytta'erng also enjoy trade with small amounts of Brownies who have been seen in the area - not living here, mind, but merely venturing out of the Vale. To the Eyelians they often give bladeleaf gel and beautifully hand-carved decorations in exchange for various bits of animal and vegetable products. Food is, of course, chief among these, but furs and ferrets are also sometimes traded. The ferret business has given Eyelian children a line of work of their own - many young Eyelians can be found darting through the streets of Kytta’erng searching for the animals.

Recently, dwarves of the Tenthrum clan have also sought to trade with the people of Kytta’erng. Many locals fear that more trade will only lead to growth - generally a positive, but in a town existing primarily as a bastion for Eyelian culture, the concept has put some of the local xenophobes on edge. However, the lure of dwarven gold may be too much for these Eyelians to resist.

TIME TABLE OF THE VILLAGE OF KYTTA'ERNG THE AGE OF CHANGE (YEARS 50 B.S. - 172 A.S.) 0 Eyelia becomes part of the United Kingdom of Santharia    15 The Santhrization of the Eyelians King Santhros begins the "Santhrization" of the Eyelian people. As a unifier, he seeks to bring the Eyelian kingdom into the Santharian fold. Unfortunately for the Eyelians, this creates a dichotomy - enjoy the riches of Santharia, or betray their beliefs? The choice soon turns to compromising their original beliefs, though dissenters still exist.    30 Eyelian Dissent with Santharia And dissent they do. Boycotting all Santharian goods and services, a small group of Yourth clan Eyelians travels to the Quallian, perhaps lured subconsciously by elves, or perhaps by the mysterious force of alsetism.    35 The Foundations of Kytta’erng The thirty or so Eyelians who first come to the land where Kytta’erng would be are joined by a hundred or so pilgrims. These pilgrims and dissenters make up the first generation of Kytta’erngians. A note: The name, chosen by the first Kytta’erng chief, Srvor Goldeye Ja’elpouf, is derived from the Eyelian words "Kytt", or nest, and "Erng", or man. Thus, "Nest of Man", or, less literally, home.    ca. 100 Vezash trades with Kytta’erng The former capital of Eyelia, Vezash, decides to begin sending trade caravans through Kytta’erng. For many years, the Kytta’erng Eyelians trade only with the Eyelian people, though this changes after the next several centuries. THE GOLDEN AGE OF KINGS (YEARS 172 A.S. - 547 A.S.) ca. 200 to 700 The Conflicts of Kytta'erng - Brownies vs. Eyelians After a Brownie comes across an Eyelian with an Injèrá eagle familiar, a minor conflict breaks out. Convinced that a Brownie, too, can tame the notoriously fierce eagle, he captures it, bringing it back to the Vale. The eagle escapes, and in the process, kills several Brownies. Now assured that the entire debacle was an Eyelian ruse, the Brownies attack Kytta’erng. The miffling continues for years, though hostilities soon drop off, and become scattered, individual, rare, events. This unfortunate brush with humans, the first for many in about 3000 years, confirms all the still-lurking fears the Brownies have about humans. Exploring outside the safe Vale all but stops, and the idea of trading with other settlements is squashed. The Brownies turn back to their spirits to try and discover why this eagle spirit allies itself with the humans, but they are not successful. The populations of both Brownies and their animals grow steadily.    ca. 250 Ogre Raids on Kytta’erng An ogre raiding party attacks the village. A beastmaster, Ka'alden, calls forth a convocation of Thar's Bears to fend off the attack. Though several farms are decimated, the walls are never breached, and Ka'alden becomes a local hero.    ca. 500 The Beastmaster Ka'aldens Memorial The face of the heroic Eyelian beastmaster is integrated into the list of faces that appears on Santharian currency. To this day, some sans from the Rimmerins Ring area feature his face. THE ERA OF THE SOUTHERN WARS (YEARS 825 A.S. - 1.062 A.S.) 850 The Eyelian Village of Kytta'erng trades with the Vale The Brownies rediscover Kytta’erng, where they are offered several ferrets as gifts. The Brownies give their hosts some beads, and trade begins. The Brownie/Eyelian conflict officially ends. THE TIME OF REUNION (YEARS 1.540 A.S. - TODAY) 1.615 Birth of Myrna'at Nonewiser Tomo’olokouf The current Chief of Kytta’erng, Myrna'at Nonewiser Tomo’olokouf, is born.    1.638 Kytta’erng Trade with the Ylfferhim Elves The Ylfferhim begin to send envoys from the Quallian. One of these envoys reaches Kytta’erng, where he receives a warm welcome. Upon his return to the forest, he gives a glowing recommendation of the Eyelians. Ever since, the two tribes have held a fast friendship. Symbolizing this friendship is the trading post built near the Quallian. This post is the closest non-elf made structure to the Quallian, and the only place where visitors are received officially.    1.650 Kytta’erng Trade with the Tenthrums The Tenthrum dwarves begin to send envoys to the Eyelian villages around the Rimmerins Ring.

4th Passing Clouds 1668 a.S. Information provided by Nsikigan Yourth