From the introduction: The origins of the Shoanti people can be traced back over 10,000 years to before Earthfall, specifically to the Thassilonian Empire. The Shoanti are the descendants of Thassilon’s enslaved warrior caste. After Thassilon’s fall, the Shoanti banded together and struggled through the many hardships of the Age of Darkness. In these early centuries, the Shoanti developed a sense of cultural identity and established their most ancient traditions.