The history of humanity in Bandali is a cycle of divine favor, a fall into darkness, and a long, bloody climb back to dominance.
• The First Inhabitants: In the dawn of the world, the God of Light created the fertile lands of Bandali specifically for humanity. These first humans were the Ishteka, a grand and advanced civilization that built the original star-aligned ziggurats and mastered the early arcane arts.
• The Great Betrayal: At the height of their golden age, the Ishteka were enticed by the Great Serpent. Seeking immortality and cold, perfect logic, the majority of the Ishteka population willingly underwent dark rituals to shed their humanity, becoming the first Yuan-ti.
• The Era of Enslavement: Once the Ishteka transitioned into the Yuan-ti Empire, they turned on those who remained human. The "Pure" human tribes were hunted and enslaved, serving as laborers and sacrifices for centuries under the shadow of the Great Serpent’s banners.
• The Resurgence: When the Great Serpent fell into its eternal slumber, the unified Ishteka Empire began to fracture and decline. Seizing this moment of weakness, the human slaves and surviving tribes rose in rebellion. Over generations, they reclaimed the northern territories, eventually establishing the Kingdom of Aethelgard and the Free Trade Coalition, driving the Yuan-ti back into the jungles and isolated city-states where they remain today.