Before the Pilgish people came from across the Blanket Ocean and settled this land, there were several different peoples living here.
On the Isle of Pilg, and in pockets on the mainland south of the Isle, lived the Sokri, a people who lived closely with nature, much as they do today. They called the Isle simply "The Land".
West of the Isle lived nomadic tribes of the Pquaari. These tribes were more warlike and harsh in their outlook. They were known for their lack of trust of outsiders - much like the Pquaari of today.
East of the Pquaari tribes lived the Drazi, a quieter, less nomadic race. Back then the Drazi were already beginning their ways of practicing the arts. They had no castes, but there were cities, and professions were beginning to flourish.
During this relatively peaceful time here, far to the East, over the Blanket Ocean, other things were happening. Nobody is sure what happened in that far off continent, but the pilgrimage from the Great Devastation on the Eastern continent is believed to have carried with it both a blessing and a curse by the gods.
When the Pilgs escaped the devastation on the Eastern continent, they came in a small group of ten ships. It soon became apparent that the Pilgrims were blessed by the gods, for among the thousand plus on the journey, not one became ill, or died of anything other than accidents. There were several incidences of people being washed overboard but, miraculously, many of those were recovered and surived the journey.
Upon arriving on the Eastern tip of the Isle of Pilg they discovered that their blessing continued. Thus, the Pilg society thrived and grew quickly. The blessing lasted four more generations, by which time the Pilg population had grown to around 50,000 people.
The native Sokri people believed the Pilgs were godlike, partly because of their immunity from diseases and partly because of their magical abilities. The Pilgs could have taken advantage of this position, and indeed they did, moving to areas of the large island where the land was most bountiful. But they did not abuse their influence - the Sokri were not enslaved, tricked or fought against. Treaties were formed that allowed the Sokri and Pilgs to live peacefully - the Pilgs in the plains and the Sokri in the forests.
It is believed that the Pilg's goodwill in this and other events stemmed from the nature of those originally chosen for the pilgrimage; for it seems the chosen ones were all, without exception, pure of heart and free of all evil!
There was, however, a minor curse that accompanied the Pilgs' good fortune. They were unable to relate anything that had befallen them before setting sail across the ocean. It was impossible for any of them to speak, write, or communicate these memories in any way, but they did maintain them.
And thus today, virtually nothing of the devastation is known.