Tengri-Uul and the grass sea Nomads

According to Dworn history, Tengri-Uul has existed since time immemorial, drifting silently across the horizon, carried by unseen winds. Yet, the Dworn, ever practical and grounded, saw no value in exploring what could not be claimed. For centuries, Tengri-Uul remained a mystery, its purpose unknown, until humanity's curiosity led them to pursue it.

The First Karns and the Leap of Faith

The earliest Tengrikhan, then known simply as Karns, were bold explorers, driven by curiosity, ambition, and sheer recklessness. A mix of willpower and sheer luck led them to attempt what no Dworn had ever bothered to do, to reach the drifting island above.

At the time, Tengri-Uul was floating near the Ironcrag Mountains, moving slowly but steadily along unseen wind currents. With rudimentary air magic, the Karns managed to push the island closer to the cliffs, bringing it within reach. What happened next would go down in history as one of the most daring acts of early humanity.

With no guarantee that the island could support their weight, nor any certainty that it would not tip and bob like a piece of wood on water, the first Karns took a leap of faith.

One by one, they hurled themselves from the rocky cliffs onto the floating island below, unsure if they would land on solid ground or plummet to their deaths. To their greatest surprise, Tengri-Uul did not so much as dip under their weight. It remained firm, stable, and unshaken, as though it had always been meant to support life.

Through trial and error, the early settlers of Tengri-Uul came to a stunning realization, the island did not float randomly nor respond to weight as they had expected. Instead, it maintained a constant height above sea level, as if bound to the very world itself by unseen forces.

The Storm That Set the Island Free

For a time, the first Karns remained near the Ironcrags, exploring their newfound home. However, the location posed limitations, the mountainous terrain meant the island had nowhere to go, rendering it of little strategic or practical value. The floating city might have remained a curiosity, an abandoned experiment, if not for what came next.

From the Plain of Bones, a storm of unprecedented size erupted, unlike anything recorded before or since. This was no ordinary tempest, it was a force of nature imbued with arcane fury, a maelstrom of wind and energy that swept across the land, uprooting trees, shattering stone, and sending shockwaves through the mountains.

Caught in the storm’s grip, Tengri-Uul was torn from its resting place, the Karns clinging desperately to whatever they could find as the island was hurled across the sky. The storm carried them far beyond the mountains, flinging them out over the Grass Sea, where the winds finally relented, leaving them adrift over the endless golden plains.

It was here, in the open skies of the Ötgön Tal, that Tengri-Uul found its true home.

A Kingdom in Motion

Now free from the mountain chains that once confined it, Tengri-Uul began to move with the winds, drifting steadily across the Grass Sea. Over time, the Karns mastered the art of guiding the island’s path, learning to influence its course with air magic and natural wind currents.

But it was not enough simply to drift, the island needed a purpose, a means of sustaining its people. As luck would have it, below them lay the Salhichin, the herders of the great beasts of the grass sea, a people as nomadic as the island itself.

A bargain was struck between the sky and the land, the Salhichin would become the lifeblood of Tengri-Uul, tending to the herds that kept the floating city moving. In exchange, the Tengrikhan would offer protection, trade, and guidance. Over generations, the bond between island and steppe became unbreakable, and the kingdom in the sky grew into the great moving empire it is today.

The Movement of Tengri-Uul

In the earliest days of its discovery, Tengri-Uul drifted aimlessly, carried by the ever-changing wind currents. When the skies were calm, the island hung motionless, waiting for the next breeze to stir it to life. But when tempests raged, it became a wild, untamed force, flung violently through the sky with no direction or control.

To truly harness the power of the island, the first Karns and the Salhichin had to find a way to stabilize its course, to ensure Tengri-Uul did not simply wander the skies, but instead moved with purpose across the Ötgön Tal.

The Great Tethers – Anchoring the Sky to the Land

Through years of trial and hardship, a solution was devised: Tether the floating island to the very beasts that roamed the Grass Sea below. The great herd-beasts, the Dalbukh, Mörögnüher, and Büregüher, became the foundation of the island’s movement.

The Three Great Tethers

At three strategic points along the island’s edge, massive tethering stations were constructed, each one securing a vast chain of herd-beasts, binding Tengri-Uul to the land below.

Originally fashioned from woven rope, these tethers proved vulnerable and easily cut by raiders, frayed by time, or snapped by panicked herds. Over time, they were replaced with runed iron chains, forged by the finest smiths and strengthened with enchantments to resist both sabotage and the fury of storms. These chains stretch from the floating island down into the herds below, binding the sky to the land and allowing controlled movement across the Ötgön Tal.

Each tether is anchored to a massive Dalbukh, which serves as the lead beast of each migration chain, guiding the course of Tengri-Uul. The Mörögnüher act as wind-sensing scouts, while the Büregüher are deployed when extra force is needed to redirect the island’s path. The tethered beasts are never static, to prevent exhaustion and overwork, they are constantly rotated out with fresh herd-beasts from the great migrations that follow in the island’s eternal shadow.

Salhichin herders oversee the care, replacement, and health of the tethered animals. A specialized beastmaster caste, known as the Tenger Chagnuud (Sky-Herders), is responsible for ensuring that the right beasts are tethered at the right time, selecting the strongest and most reliable leaders to take the burden of the pull.

Though the herd-beasts are the primary source of movement, air magic is still used to make the journey smoother and more controlled. Wind-callers stationed at the tethering sites subtly influence air currents, reducing drag and turbulence. During strong storms, protective enchantments are activated to prevent the chains from snapping and to ensure Tengri-Uul does not veer off course.

The Everlasting March

With the three great tethers in place, Tengri-Uul moves with purpose, no longer at the mercy of the winds but instead flowing with the great rhythms of the Grass Sea. It is said among the Salhichin that the island is now a part of the herds themselves, not merely floating above them, but moving as one with them, a kingdom bound to the eternal migration of the steppe.

Though the tethering system is strong, time-tested, and reinforced with both magic and steel, it is not without its vulnerabilities. Over the generations, various threats have tested the resilience of the tethers and the skill of those who maintain them.

Dal Mörgöl Infiltrations

The Grass Sea raiders have long sought ways to breach Tengri-Uul’s defenses, not by cutting it loose, but by using the very tethers as pathways into the city. Their strategy is twofold, first, a coordinated strike disrupts the tethered herds, forcing the Salhichin herders and Tenger Chagnuud into a frantic effort to restore order. While the city's attention is focused downward, small teams of climbers try to scale the enchanted chains, make their ascent, inching their way from the herds below to the floating city above.

But the Dal Mörgöl do not act alone. Hidden cults within Tengri-Uul, secretive groups long opposed to the rule of the Tengrikhan, wait in the shadows, ready to strike from within. These factions, composed of discontented Salhichin, outcast nobles, and radical mystics, believe that the Tengrikhan’s rule is corrupt, and that the city should belong to the strong, not the privileged. When the climbers reach the city, these hidden cults move into action, assassinating key figures, sowing confusion, and attempting to seize control before the Sky Riders can react.

Stampedes & Predators

The tethered herds are in constant danger from raptor attacks and natural calamities. Packs of Khar Angir, the velociraptor-like predators of the tall grass, often target the tethered beasts, sensing their vulnerability. If a lead Dalbukh panics and breaks free, the entire tethering system can be thrown into disarray, forcing the Tenger Chagnuud to intervene before the floating city veers off course.

Wild Storms & Wind Shear

While Tengri-Uul no longer drifts aimlessly, it is still heavily influenced by the elements. Sudden tempests rolling over the grass sea have been known to lash the great chains, causing them to twist and snap like whips, injuring both beasts and their handlers. In extreme cases, entire sections of the tethered herds have been lost, crushed by the heavy chains landing on them from above or trampled in the chaos.

Sabotage & Internal Strife

Not all dangers come from external enemies. Within the ranks of Tengri-Uul’s own people, there have been discontented factions, whether dissident Salhichin yearning for independence or Skyborne nobles vying for power, who have deliberately damaged the tethers in moments of political upheaval. Some seek to cut the city free entirely, while others use minor sabotage to force a change in course, ensuring Tengri-Uul travels to more favorable trading grounds.

Each time disaster threatens, it is up to the Tenger Chagnuud, the beastmasters and sky-herders, to restore order, secure the panicked herds, and repair the tethers before Tengri-Uul is lost to the sky forever.

Tengri-Uul is more than just a floating city, it is a kingdom in motion, a marketplace in the sky, and a hub of commerce and diplomacy. Unlike static capitals or walled trading posts, Tengri-Uul moves from settlement to settlement, traveling between inland strongholds, nomadic encampments, and distant coastal ports, bringing with it rare goods, knowledge, and influence. It is the beating heart of trade across the Ötgön Tal, offering merchants and rulers alike the opportunity to buy, sell, and forge alliances, if they can pay the price.

The Goods of Tengri-Uul

The city thrives on both the rare and valuable resources found nowhere else in Tymora and its ability to transport both nobles and dignitaries or vast amounts of goods across the land with relative ease and security.

Some of its most sought-after exports are:

Khökhzurkh (Sky-Iron) –The floating ore, lighter than steel yet unbreakable,it can only be found on Tengri Uul and is jealously hoarded by the Tengrikhan. Shipbuilders from Highwall in Valdenor are its biggest buyers, willing to pay fortunes for even a small shipment.

Exotic Herd-Beasts –The Dalbukh, Mörögnüher, and Büregüher, bred and tamed by the Salhichin, are prized across the continent for their strength, endurance, and adaptability.

Enchanted Wind-Silk –Harvested from rare sky cocoons found on Tengri-Uul, this fabric is light as mist but as strong as chainmail. Nobles and mages alike seek it for robes, banners, and airship sails.

It also transports traders and trade goods from the coastal ports to the inland cities of the ironcrag mountains and other cities and settlements Merchants from every kingdom flock to Tengri-Uul, seeking fortune and opportunity. For some, it is a land of prosperity, where rare goods fetch outrageous prices and lucrative deals are struck in the great market halls.

But with commerce comes corruption. Smugglers, counterfeiters, and spies lurk among the traders, seeking to infiltrate the markets and manipulate Tengri-Uul’s wealth for their own ends. Merchants from rival kingdoms, especially those from Highwall, Starhaven, and the Free Ports, use their access to undermine the Tengrikhan’s authority, gathering intelligence, sowing discord, and even influencing trade routes to weaken their enemies. The market is a battlefield, and every trade agreement is a skirmish.

Though Tengri-Uul rules the skies, it cannot survive without the land below. The Salhichin herds provide food and transport, but without water, the city would wither and die. On the island its self there are plenty of reserves of water with vast wells and storage. However getting that water to the beasts below effectively has always proved a challenge. One that is simplified by just accessing water on the ground.

The Oasis Tribes, scattered across the Ötgön Tal, control the rare freshwater springs that serve as Tengri-Uul’s rest stops. While some have become loyal allies, others see the Tengrikhan as parasites, offering water only in exchange for tribute, gold, or rare goods.

In times of drought, some Oasis Tribes band together to deny Tengri-Uul access to water, using it as a weapon to force negotiations on their terms. Others ally with the Dal Mörgöl, providing safe haven to raiders in exchange for plundered supplies. Every stop at an oasis is a delicate balance of diplomacy, trade, and veiled threats.

As the Tengrikhan expanded their rule over Tengri-Uul, carving palaces and fortresses into the floating rock, they uncovered something extraordinary—a rare metal unlike any found elsewhere in Tymora. Known as Khökhzurkh (Sky-Iron), this remarkable ore is as strong as steel yet incredibly light, appearing almost weightless when struck by the wind. Its discovery transformed Tengri-Uul from a floating trade empire into the most sought-after source of materials in the world. Weapons, armor, and structures forged from Khökhzurkh are exceptionally durable while remaining significantly lighter than traditional metals, making them invaluable to the warriors of Tengri-Uul. The Tengriin Tengrüüdi, the elite pegasi-riding warriors, wield spears and blades of this metal, allowing them to strike with deadly precision without compromising speed or maneuverability.

More than just a weapon, Khökhzurkh has had a profound effect on airship construction, revolutionizing the way ships are built. A small amount incorporated into an airship’s frame drastically reduces its weight, allowing for larger, faster, and more resilient vessels. The shipwrights of Highwall in Valdenor, the foremost airship builders in Tymora, are the largest buyers of Khökhzurkh, offering immense wealth in trade for even a single shipment. This near-exclusive access has given Valdenor’s skyfleet an unmatched advantage, making them dominant in both aerial warfare and commerce. Due to its strategic importance, the Tengrikhan maintain strict control over the supply of Khökhzurkh, ensuring that only a limited amount leaves Tengri-Uul. Unauthorized trade is punishable by death, as the ruling elite fear that should their greatest resource fall into the hands of rivals or would-be conquerors, the balance of power across Tymora could shift dramatically.

With such a valuable resource comes inevitable danger. Smugglers, spies, and raiders are in a constant struggle to seize shipments of Khökhzurkh or uncover the secrets of its refinement. Dal Mörgöl raiders have attempted to intercept ore-laden caravans in the Grass Sea, hoping to sell the metal to the highest bidder, while merchants from Highwall embed spies within Tengri-Uul’s trade networks, seeking to locate the hidden mines. Some whisper that cultists within the city itself seek to claim the mines, believing that control of Khökhzurkh would grant them dominion over the entire floating empire. Yet, the greatest threat does not come from theft but from deception. As demand for Khökhzurkh surged, so too did efforts to forge imitations. In the shadowy corners of black markets, deep within hidden alchemical laboratories, and among factions vying for power, a new deception emerged—False Sky-Iron, also called Gilded Wind.

A group of rogue alchemists and metallurgists, many of them exiled scholars from Valdenor, have developed a way to mimic the properties of Khökhzurkh. At first glance, their counterfeit ore appears identical to the real thing—lightweight, stronger than common steel, and seemingly buoyant. However, only a trained eye or a skilled artificer can detect its flaws. Unlike genuine Sky-Iron, the imitation is prone to fracturing under extreme stress, making airships built with it dangerously unstable. Though it may float slightly, it lacks true weightlessness, reducing its effectiveness in airship construction. Additionally, the alchemically treated ore does not conduct enchantments properly, causing weapons and armor forged from it to lose their potency over time. Despite these flaws, counterfeit Sky-Iron has flooded the black markets, with merchants knowingly or unknowingly passing it off as the real thing.

The deception has already begun to undermine Tengri-Uul’s dominance. Shipbuilders in Highwall have grown suspicious, questioning the reliability of recent shipments, and rumors of failed test flights due to weakened ore have begun to spread. Some Tengrikhan merchants, driven by greed or ignorance, have started mixing counterfeit ore into their real shipments, threatening the city’s most valuable export. Sky-pirates and smugglers have turned the trade of False Sky-Iron into a lucrative business, selling inferior weapons and materials to unsuspecting buyers, while Dal Mörgöl raiders, believing they have acquired genuine Khökhzurkh, have stockpiled counterfeit metal without realizing its diminished power. The threat is more than just economic—if False Sky-Iron continues to circulate, it could destroy Tengri-Uul’s monopoly on the skies.

To combat the growing crisis, the Tengrikhan have established the Eye of the Wind, a specialized division of master artisans and sky-traders trained to detect forgeries and eliminate illicit trade routes. Any merchant caught dealing in False Sky-Iron, whether knowingly or not, faces severe punishment—public disgrace, exile, or worse. To protect their monopoly, all authentic Khökhzurkh is now marked with arcane etchings, only visible under specific enchanted light, making it far more difficult to pass off forgeries. Meanwhile, the Alchemists of the Gilded Wind, the masterminds behind the counterfeit trade, have become high-value targets, with bounties placed on their heads. Both the Tenger Chagnuud and Tengrikhan spies are actively hunting them across the trade routes, seeking to root out their hidden forges before the deception threatens the floating city’s control over the skies.

Despite these efforts, the forgers grow bolder, and their methods improve. Some suspect that traitors within Tengri-Uul itself may be aiding them—rogue Tengrikhan nobles or exiled scholars with grudges against the ruling elite. The battle between genuine and counterfeit Sky-Iron is not just about trade, but about power. If the Alchemists of the Gilded Wind succeed in perfecting their imitation, the Tengrikhan's monopoly over the skies could collapse, shaking the very foundation of Tengri-Uul’s dominion over Tymora.

Dalbukh – The Behemoth Walkers

The Dalbukh are the largest creatures of the Grass Sea, colossal, long-legged, slow-moving grazers that act as both beasts of burden and mobile homes for the Salhichin. They stand over 20 meters tall, with broad, humped backs covered in a thick, shaggy hide that protects them from predators and the elements. Their heads are long and wedge-shaped, with large, sweeping tusks that they use to help push the tall grass towards their enormously long tounge.

The Salhichin use Dalbukh as moving settlements, constructing wooden platforms, tents, and even small structures atop their broad backs. These mobile shelters, known as Chödör-Khot, provide a safe vantage point from predators and a stable home for the nomads as they move with the herds. The oldest Dalbukh often serve as ancestral platforms, housing generations of families who never set foot on the ground except during major gatherings or rites of passage.

Despite their immense size, Dalbukh are gentle, slow-moving creatures, but when provoked, they can trample entire raptor packs underfoot. Though mainly used for transportation and shelter, when one grows too old or weak, its meat is harvested in a sacred ritual, feeding entire clans for weeks.

Mörögnüher – The Wind-Runners

Unlike the lumbering Dalbukh, the Mörögnüher are built for speed, standing 6 to 8 meters tall with long, powerful legs and a lightweight frame. They resemble a cross between an antelope and an ostrich, with a deep chest, long, muscular necks, and a sleek, feathered crest running down their spines. Their keen eyesight and acute sense of wind currents make them the natural scouts of the herds, alerting the Salhichin to approaching danger. Mörögnüher are the primary steeds of the Salhichin, valued for their speed, endurance, and agility. Unlike raptor mounts, which require constant training and control, a Mörögnüher can run tirelessly for days, making them the preferred choice for long-distance travel. They are also capable of leaping great distances, their powerful legs allowing them to vault over rivers, ravines, and predator-infested zones.

When tethered to Tengri-Uul, the lead Mörögnüher serve as wind-sensing guides, helping to steer the floating city toward favorable air currents. If they sense an oncoming storm, the herds shift course, altering the island’s trajectory. While rarely used for food, elderly or injured Mörögnüher are sometimes slaughtered for their lean, flavorful meat.

Büregüher – The Towering Titans

Among the beasts of burden, the Büregüher hold a unique role as heavy lifters and enforcers within the herds. These massive, four-legged beasts stand 12 to 15 meters tall, with thick, armored hides covered in bony protrusions that deter predators. Their long, sinuous necks end in a broad, flat head, and they possess powerful, crushing jaws capable of snapping tree trunks and defending against Khar Angir raptor packs.

Büregüher are used to redirect Tengri-Uul’s course when additional force is needed. Their immense strength allows them to dig their feet into the earth and pull against the tethers, ensuring the city follows the intended path. Their role as beast of burden and defense makes them indispensable to the Salhichin, and many clans paint sacred markings on their armored hides, believing them to be blessed protectors of the migration.

Though their meat is tough and difficult to prepare, older Büregüher that can no longer work are culled, their thick bones used to carve tools, weapons, and ceremonial artifacts.

Örnashuud – The Plains Beasts

The Örnashuud are the most common food source for the Salhichin, similar in size to large buffalo, standing 2 to 3 meters at the shoulder. They have broad, muscular bodies, covered in short, bristly fur, and possess two large, curved horns that they use to fend off smaller predators. Despite their bulk, they are agile and adaptable, thriving in the unforgiving conditions of the Grass Sea.

Örnashuud are herded alongside the larger beasts, their meat and hides supplying daily sustenance, clothing, and materials for the Salhichin. They are also used as sacrificial animals in major Tengri-Uul ceremonies, where their blood is offered to the spirits of the land and sky in exchange for good fortune.

Khölshuud – The Lowland Burrowers

Unlike the large, roaming Örnashuud, the Khölshuud are smaller, burrowing creatures, resembling a hybrid of a wild boar and an armadillo. Their thick, plated hides protect them from raptor attacks, and their powerful digging claws allow them to burrow beneath the surface to escape danger. Though not as commonly herded, Khölshuud are an essential part of Salhichin diet, often hunted in the wild or raised in small enclosures near settlements. Their fatty meat and nutrient-rich organs are highly prized, and their hides are used to make reinforced armor for warriors.

The relationship between the Salhichin and the great beasts of the Grass Sea is one of balance and respect. Each creature serves a role, whether as labor, transport, shelter, or sustenance, and their continued survival is vital to the way of life of the nomads. The Tengrikhan may rule from above, but without the herds below, neither the Salhichin nor Tengri-Uul itself could survive.

The Khar Angir, or Black Fangs, are the apex predators of the Ötgön Tal, striking terror into both herds and herders alike. Unlike the towering beasts they prey upon, the Khar Angir move unseen beneath the cover of the tall grass, their lean, muscular bodies built for speed and ambush tactics. Standing no taller than a Salhichin’s shoulder, they are low, sleek, and nearly invisible until they spring into action, tearing through the grass like a living storm.

Despite their individual size, the Khar Angir’s true strength lies in numbers. They hunt in large, coordinated packs, working together to isolate and take down even the largest beasts of burden. A single pack may range from twenty to fifty raptors, each one capable of bringing down a man on its own but relying on sheer overwhelming force to bring down a Dalbukh or Büregüher.

The Silent Approach – The Art of the Hunt

The Salhichin are constantly wary of the Khar Angir, not by sight, but by sound and movement. From their high vantage points atop their herds, lookouts watch for subtle shifts in the grass, patterns that betray a mass of bodies weaving through the endless fields. The grass ripples unnaturally, bending where there is no wind, forming unnerving waves that roll toward the herds.

More chilling than the sight, however, is the sound. The Khar Angir do not roar or bellow like lesser predators, instead, they click and chirp, their guttural calls like the rustling of leaves, barely distinguishable from the whispers of the wind. A lone scout raptor will call once, a sharp, clicking trill, signaling to the pack that a herd has been spotted. Moments later, dozens of voices respond in kind, the chorus of death growing louder as the attack begins.

When they strike, they do so with brutal precision, using their razor-sharp claws to latch onto a beast’s flanks while others leap for the throat or underbelly. Even a creature as massive as a Dalbukh can be brought down in minutes once it stumbles and the pack piles onto it in a frenzy.

Tactics and Pack Structure

The Khar Angir are not mindless killers, they are clever and calculating, working with a level of coordination rarely seen in beasts. Each pack is led by a dominant matriarch, the largest and strongest of the group, who dictates when and where they hunt. The older, more experienced raptors act as flankers, spreading out to encircle the herd, while the younger and more reckless members serve as chasers, forcing prey to flee in a direction chosen by the matriarch.

Unlike lone predators that test the weak, the Khar Angir do not settle for an easy meal, they aim to cripple a herd, to cause panic and disorder, making it easier to pick off multiple beasts rather than a single kill. If the herd begins to stampede, the raptors will ride the chaos, darting between the fleeing beasts, severing tendons, and driving their prey into exhaustion.

Once a pack grows too large, it will split, with a few females leading a breakaway group to establish a new hunting ground. This constant expansion and division is what makes the Khar Angir so widespread and dangerous, as every region of the Grass Sea harbors at least one well-established pack.

Salhichin Defenses – The Watchers and the Wardens

Though the Khar Angir are a constant threat, the Salhichin have developed methods to combat them over generations. Lookouts stationed on the backs of Dalbukh and Büregüher are the first line of defense, using horn calls and signal flags to alert the herders below. The Talyn Bökh, the raptor-mounted cavalry of the plains, are the primary hunters of the Khar Angir, using their own trained raptors to counter the wild packs. These elite riders work in tight formations, striking at the pack’s matriarch first, knowing that without leadership, the rest will scatter.

However, despite the best defenses, no settlement, no herd, and no caravan can ever truly be safe from the shadowed menace of the Grass Sea. The Khar Angir have roamed these lands longer than the Salhichin themselves, and no matter how many are slain, more are always waiting in the tall grass, clicking, watching, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The Taming of Raptors – The Talyn Bökh and Their Bonded Beasts

The Talyn Bökh, the Steppe Wardens, are the elite raptor-mounted cavalry of the Salhichin, revered as guardians of the herds and protectors of the migration paths. Unlike the wild Khar Angir, which roam the Ötgön Tal in deadly packs, the raptors ridden by the Talyn Bökh are trained from hatchlings, forging a deep bond between rider and beast that lasts a lifetime. The process of taming these creatures is dangerous, requiring strength, patience, and an unbreakable will. To the Salhichin, riding a raptor is more than a skill, it is a sacred duty, and only the most skilled and fearless riders can claim the title of Talyn Bökh.

Not all raptors can be tamed. Unlike horses or Mörögnüher, raptors are intelligent, independent, and naturally resistant to domestication. To find those worthy of training, the Salhichin must steal hatchlings from wild Khar Angir nests, a dangerous undertaking known as the Chasuun Yavakh, or Trial of the Hunt.

This ritual is reserved for young warriors seeking to join the Talyn Bökh. They must venture alone into the wild, track a Khar Angir pack to its nesting ground, and steal a hatchling without being detected. If the pack discovers them, survival is unlikely, and many aspirants never return. Those who succeed bring back one or two hatchlings, marking the start of an arduous training process.

Some Salhichin clans, wary of dwindling raptor populations, have established breeding enclosures, where captured raptors are raised in captivity. However, these raptors are often seen as less fierce, and traditionalists among the Talyn Bökh argue that only a raptor taken from the wild has the true spirit of the steppe.

A newly taken hatchling is not immediately broken like a horse, it must first be bound to its rider through weeks of feeding, trust-building, and dominance rituals. Raptors are fiercely territorial and view humans as either prey or rivals, making early training a battle of wills. A young raptor must recognize its rider as the dominant force, or it will never accept the saddle.

At first, the hatchlings are fed by hand, ensuring they associate their rider with protection and sustenance. The Talyn Bökh spend countless hours with their raptors, speaking to them, mimicking their pack calls, and reinforcing their bond through controlled interactions. At a certain age, the hatchling will begin to test its rider, lunging, snapping, and attempting to assert dominance. This is where many aspiring riders fail, if they show fear or hesitate, the raptor will never submit.

The final stage of taming is the Tösgooch Urdakh, or First Mounting. The rider must climb onto the raptor’s back for the first time without being thrown off. Raptors do not accept riders easily, and the first few attempts are often violent, with broken bones and bruises common among trainees. Only when a raptor accepts its rider without resistance is it truly tamed, and the bond between the two is considered unbreakable.

Training for Battle – The Deadliest Cavalry on the Steppe

Once tamed, the raptors are trained for speed, maneuverability, and combat. Unlike traditional cavalry, which relies on mass charges, the Talyn Bökh fight in loose, fast-moving formations, striking in surgical raids before retreating into the grass. Raptors are far more agile than any horse, able to leap over obstacles, climb rocky outcrops, and weave between herd beasts with ease.

In battle, a Talyn Bökh and their raptor fight as one mind, their movements perfectly synchronized. The Talyn Bökh do not wear heavy armor, favoring light, flowing garments that allow for rapid movement. Their weapons are designed for quick, devastating strikes, including:

Curved Steppe Blades –Designed for slashing attacks while riding at high speeds.

Barbed Spears –Thrown from a distance to cripple enemy mounts or impale fleeing foes.

Recurve Bows –Raptors are fast enough to keep pace with a fleeing target, allowing the rider to fire arrows mid-gallop with deadly accuracy.

When engaging the wild Khar Angir packs, the Talyn Bökh use tactics learned from their own raptors, they circle their prey, isolate the weak, and strike with coordinated precision.

The Bond of Rider and Raptor – A Warrior’s Death

The relationship between a Talyn Bökh and their raptor is not one of master and servant, but of equal warriors bound by blood and battle. If a Talyn Bökh falls in combat, their raptor will often refuse to be ridden by another, either escaping into the wild or fighting to the death beside their fallen rider. For this reason, many Salhichin warriors bury their raptors alongside them, believing their spirits will ride together in the afterlife.

For a raptor to outlive its rider is considered a tragedy, as it means the warrior died before their time. Some old raptors, when their riders pass, wander away from the herds, returning to the wild to live out their final days. Others, unable to live without their bonded human, refuse to eat, dying at their rider’s grave.

Only the strongest warriors of the Salhichin earn the right to ride a raptor, and the bond between them is forged through pain, trust, and years of battle. The Talyn Bökh are not just cavalry, they are the embodiment of the hunter’s spirit, and to ride with them is to be feared across the Grass Sea.

Among the many wonders of Tengri-Uul, none are as feared and revered as the black-winged pegasi, known to the Salhichin as Har Süüld ("Black Tails"). These creatures are not simply beasts of war, they are symbols of the sky itself, living embodiments of freedom, power, and untamed winds. Residing in the Tengriin Tsergüül, the vast caverns beneath the floating city, the Har Süüld are both sacred mounts and deadly weapons, ridden only by the Tengriin Tengrüüdi, the elite Sky Riders of Tengri-Uul.

Unlike their gentle white-winged cousins of other lands, the black pegasi are fiercely independent, difficult to tame, and completely unwilling to serve those they deem unworthy. Even among the Tengrikhan nobility, not all who seek to ride a Har Süüld will succeed, these creatures choose their riders, not the other way.

The Har Süüld are larger, stronger, and more aggressive than common pegasi. They stand a full head taller than the strongest warhorse, with sleek, muscular bodies built for endurance. Their coal-black wings, spanning up to seven meters, are thicker and more angular than those of lesser pegasi, allowing them to navigate the turbulent skies above the Grass Sea with unmatched agility.

Their manes and tails are often long and braided, flowing like storm clouds in the wind, and their eyes glow with an eerie silver light at night, leading some to believe they are descended from celestial beings. Unlike most winged creatures, their feathers absorb light, making them nearly invisible against the night sky, an advantage the Tengriin Tengrüüdi use to great effect when striking from above.

What makes the Har Süüld truly unique, however, is their ability to manipulate air currents. Though not magical in the traditional sense, these creatures possess an innate connection to the wind, allowing them to ride storms, detect changes in the atmosphere, and move with a precision no mortal rider could ever hope to command on their own.

The Bond of Rider and Pegasus – A Trial of Worth

A Har Süüld cannot be tamed in the same way as horses or raptors, they are not trained, they are earned. Each pegasus chooses a rider, and once bonded, the connection lasts for life. The process of selection is ritualistic and brutal, and only the most skilled warriors of the Tengrikhan are even allowed to attempt it.

The rite of choosing, known as the Süüldiin Sorilt (Trial of the Black Tail), takes place within the caverns of the Tengriin Tsergüül. Aspiring riders must descend into the darkness alone, where the pegasi roost in perpetual twilight, their silver eyes watching from the shadows. The warrior may not bring weapons, only a single rope and their wits.

The test is simple but unforgiving: stand among the Har Süüld and wait. Some pegasi will ignore the intruder entirely, while others will test them, snapping at their arms, buffeting them with their wings, or simply driving them out. Many warriors leave the cavern bloodied and broken, rejected by the herd.

But if one of the Har Süüld steps forward and lowers its head, the rider must act instantly, leaping onto its back. The moment this happens, the pegasus takes flight, rising through the caverns at incredible speed, bursting into the open air over Tengri-Uul.

This is the final test,the rider must hold on, guiding the wild creature through a skyward ascent, enduring the sheer force of the wind and the pegasus’ attempts to throw them off. Many fall to their deaths in this moment, failing to prove themselves. But those who succeed return as Tengriin Tengrüüdi, the Sky Riders of Tengri-Uul, forever bonded to their steed.

The Sky Riders of Tengri-Uul – Masters of Aerial Combat

Those who succeed in bonding with a Har Süüld become part of the Tengriin Tengrüüdi, the deadliest aerial warriors in Tymora. Unlike traditional cavalry or archers, the Sky Riders rely on speed, surprise, and pinpoint strikes to devastate their enemies.

Armed with light recurve bows, barbed lances, and enchanted javelins, they are trained to strike enemy leaders, supply lines, and siege engines, crippling their foes before they ever reach the battlefield. Their black-winged pegasi allow them to move unseen at night, striking from the darkness before vanishing into the clouds.

During battle, a Sky Rider and their pegasus move as one, navigating the skies with effortless precision. The Har Süüld respond not just to reins or leg commands but to subtle shifts in body weight, allowing their riders to fight while barely needing to guide them. Some say the bond between a rider and their mount is so strong that they can sense each other’s thoughts, though whether this is true or simply legend is unknown.

The Sky Riders are also responsible for defending Tengri-Uul itself, patrolling the airspace around the floating city and responding to threats from raiders, rival nations, or rogue airships. They are the first and last line of defense, and an attack on Tengri-Uul is not taken lightly, when the Sky Riders descend, they bring death with them.

Legends and Myths – The Celestial Origins of the Har Süüld

The Har Süüld are deeply ingrained in Tengrikhan mythology, with many believing they are not natural creatures, but the descendants of celestial beings. Some say they were once the storm steeds of an ancient sky god, cast down to Tymora for their arrogance, cursed to roam the mortal world until they found warriors worthy of carrying them back into the heavens.

Others claim that Tengri-Uul itself was once carried by a great herd of black-winged pegasi, who guided it across the sky before the herd-beasts of the Grass Sea took their place. Even today, the pegasi never leave the floating island, remaining bound to it as if by fate.

Among the Salhichin, there is a legend of the First Sky Rider, a warrior who bonded with a Har Süüld unlike any before, a pegasus with silver wings, said to have led the Tengrikhan to their rule over the skies. It is said that when Tengri-Uul faces its greatest peril, this winged steed will return, bringing with it a rider who will change the fate of the floating kingdom forever.

The Har Süüld are more than mere mounts, they are brothers and sisters of the sky, warriors in their own right. They cannot be bought, bred, or broken, only earned through skill and respect. If a Sky Rider falls in battle, their pegasus will often return to the Tengriin Tsergüül, mourning their loss, never to accept another rider. Some, consumed by grief, plunge into the clouds below, vanishing into the storm-winds, as if seeking to reunite with their fallen partner beyond the veil of the world.

For those who ride the Har Süüld, the sky is not a battlefield, it is home. The wind is their ally, and the heavens their hunting ground. To be a Sky Rider is to be untouchable, unstoppable, and unseen, striking from the clouds before vanishing like a shadow. And for those below, watching the sky, there is only one certainty, when the black wings descend, death follows.

Büregüher – Towering, armored herd beasts that provide raw strength for tethering Tengri-Uul’s movement.

Chödör-Khot – Wooden platforms and tents built on the backs of Dalbukh, used as mobile homes by the Salhichin.

Dal Mörgöl – Ruthless raiders of the Grass Sea, composed of outcasts, warlords, and exiled warriors who survive through plunder.

Dalbukh – Giant, slow-moving herd beasts used by the Salhichin as mobile settlements and living platforms.

Gilded Wind – A counterfeit version of Sky-Iron, used by smugglers and black-market traders.

Har Süüld – "Black Tails," the legendary black-winged pegasi of Tengri-Uul, ridden by the elite Sky Riders.

Ikh Salhi – "Great Wind," the oral laws of the Salhichin that dictate honor, duty, and survival.

Khar Angir – "Black Fangs," deadly raptor packs that hunt in coordinated groups, threatening herds and travelers.

Khölshuud – Small, burrowing animals similar to armadillos, valued for their meat and armor-like hides.

Khökh Salhi – The "Great Wind," the sacred force that guides the Salhichin, embodying movement, fate, and balance.

Khökh Tengrist – The "Blue Sky," a spiritual force revered by the Tengrikhan, representing divine rule and destiny.

Khökhzurkh – "Sky-Iron," a rare, lightweight yet unbreakable metal found only on Tengri-Uul, vital for airship construction.

Möngke Süü – The "Eternal Shadow," referring to the land directly beneath Tengri-Uul, where the Salhichin migrate with their herds.

Mörögnüher – Fast, ostrich-like herd beasts used as scouts and steeds for long-distance travel.

Örnashuud – Large buffalo-like creatures, the primary livestock of the Salhichin.

Ötgön Tal – The "Grass Sea," a vast expanse of golden plains where the Salhichin and their herds roam.

Salhichin – The "People of the Wind," nomadic herders and warriors who live beneath Tengri-Uul and tend to the great herds.

Talyn Bökh – The elite raptor-mounted cavalry of the Salhichin, tasked with defending the migration routes.

Tenger Chagnuud – "Sky-Herders," the specialized Salhichin beastmasters responsible for managing the tethers.

Tengri-Uul – The "Sky Mountain," a floating city that moves across the Grass Sea, guided by magic and tethered herd-beasts.

Tengriin Khural – The ruling Sky Council of Tengri-Uul, composed of powerful noble families who govern the floating city.

Tengriin Tengrüüdi – The elite Sky Riders of Tengri-Uul, warriors who bond with the Har Süüld pegasi.

Tengriin Tsergüül – The caverns beneath Tengri-Uul where the Har Süüld pegasi are raised and trained.

Tengrikhan – The noble rulers of Tengri-Uul, who govern from the floating city and control trade, politics, and the military.