For many years the Great Plains were inhabited by the Dervish and the Mastodons. The two lived in perfect harmony for the Dervish were of the Indian Mythos (Demigods & Deities pg. 75) and worshiped the them. Then people from the mountain and the lakes moved onto the plains, the Dervish called the Hoki (Other land people). At first the Dervish where unaffected, but then the Hoki started massacring the Mastodons and their kindred elephants, using there tusks for ornate weapons and jewelry, leaving the carcass behind to wrough. Many small autonomour bands of Dervish began protecting the beasts by slaying the Hoki, attacking their villages and cities, but they were to few and chaotic to stop the exploiting.