Porteek

Porteek /pɑr'tiː/ was a notable traveler and historian who lived in Tarnaria in 1-2 CSR. Known for his analytical style of writing, he authored three volumes of "The Movers of Previous Generations", a historical treatise of Tarnaria, focusing on the histories of Asdoh, Toor, Empire of Barud and Yammoe at the end of the first revolution. The book contains a wealth of data about his contemporaries as well, but he regards that information to be meaningful only if given historical context. He also proceeds to provide commentary on the culture of various nations.

As a traveler, Porteek visited as far south as Yammoe. He has sections in volume II dedicated to Gantolia, but it is not clear whether he has ever been there. Due to his extensive travels, intimate acquaintance with various cultures and proficiency in several forms of asdoh, it is not exactly clear where he was born, but it is generally assumed that he was from somewhere in Asdoh. The spelling of his last name, as well as his ability to travel, gives away his noble background: he was clearly a wealthy individual.

Based on his writing, he is speculated to have died very early in the 2nd CSR, as his last chapters describe events in the end of the 1st CSR, most notably the rule of Gened, and never betray the knowledge of anything beyond 105 SR.

Porteek's writing is noted for careful analysis and his focus on considering several explanations. He clearly had access to a considerable collection of sources, made sure to mention them and comment on their reliability. In this he is usually contrasted with Ludoh, who was a more prolific author of the era, but whose sources are rarely listed and who tends to state hypotheses as fact. None of Porteek's sources have survived, but the list of sources is at the very least helpful to realize the extent of early Tarnarian literature that was lost, most probably due to the spread of Mōroh.

He nonetheless held strong opinions about certain events and people. Specifically, even his dry description of the life of Sopoh Dolysoh betrays his disapproval of both Sopoh's massacre of Meledesians and Bonten's betrayal of Doroh Hun. The latter is interesting, since the story is outlined in the third volume, with the first two volumes describing many betrayals which don't seem to worry Porteek very much. He is also quite dismayed by Gened, which to some suggests that Porteek had a different standard for the founders of states and enjoyed casting a critical eye on their achievements.

Some researchers suggest that Porteek disapproved of rebels who upended the traditional way of life. Founders such as Sopoh and Gened were such rebels, especially Gened. In a similar fashion, Porteek mounts criticism against Oskodon, making a fairly farfetched case that by challenging Opol Dolysoh and ending up being defeated, Oskodon is responsible for the rise of Oaleed and their prolonged conflict with Toor.

Porteek was the last historian of the second revolution to approach history as a strictly academic subject. Mlan, one of the first analytical historians of the third revolution, held Porteek in high regard and named him as an inspiration.