The origins of the Numec are obscure but they have been present in Hepekeria since at least 1500 B.T. According to Numec tradition the first human settlers arrived by boat, though from where is uncertain. Given their coloring and build it is likely that they arrived from somewhere to the north or east, though even this cannot be considered certain. At least one branch of the Daoudim maintain that the first Numec settlers were sailors from the distant west, at which most scholars scoff. What is clear is that they quickly settled the coastal lands and some 500 years later began moving into the deserts. Why anyone would leave the comfortable climate of the coastal regions for the harsh Hepekerian interior is also open to question, though the Daoudim have their own traditions explaining their origins.
According to the Daoudim, a group of farmers on the northern edge of the desert angered a Qrudekh named Mustak when they dug a well and inadvertently diverted the water source of his nearby cave hideaway. Mustak was a fairly tolerant Qrudekh and agreed not to destroy the village on two conditions. One, they had to move their well and restore his water source, and two, they had to give him the prettiest girl in the village as his bride. Having no other choice, the villagers agreed and poor Zedola, only 16 years old, was given to Mustak as a wife.
Unexpectantly Mustak was a doting husband. Zedola found herself fabulously rich, able to travel wherever she wanted (Mustak would turn into a cloud of smoke and whisk her off to exotic places, almost whenever she wished),and she was able to visit her family and village regularly. Oddly, living with Mustak seemed to slow her aging and she lived a very long life.
More than 50 years after her marriage, Zedola bore twin sons, whom she named Daoud and Korlun. The two grew quickly into impressive young men, powerful sorcerers and accomplished warriors. For many years they travelled the wastelands, exploring and adventuring and many tales are told of their exploits.
When the twins were nearing 50 years old a raiding party from a nearby clan attacked Zedola's home village, coincidentally when Zedola was there visiting, and Zedola was killed in the fighting. Mustak was overwhelmed with grief an unable to console himself. He opened his treasure vaults to the Daoud and Korlun and with this wealth they outfitted their relatives, the local village, with the finest weapons and armor. Conquering, and annihilating,the neighboring clan was consequently easy.
The twins found that this revenge did not help their grief and they quickly began to conquer the other nearby clans. With their father's wealth and their own capabilities, they were very successful and quickly built a small empire. Eventually they controlled a large section of northwestern Hepekeria, creating the region's first kingdom. The two ruled jointly for more than 100 years but eventually they had a falling out. Daoud sorely wounded Korlun in a duel but then was assassinated by one of Korlun's followers. Realizing that war was imminent, Korlun ordered all of Daoud's followers and family, the Daoudim, exiled from the kingdom.
With nowhere else to go, the Daoudim moved into the desert, learning to live as nomads, following their goats and cattle, migrating with the changing seasons. Daoud had taught his son Daoud bil'Daoud, all that he knew of the desert, how to survive, where the water was, the names of the Dekhretyen, etc., and with this knowledge the people prospered. Daoud's blood, and the harsh desert lifestyle, made his people strong and fierce. To this day they maintain an enmity with the coastal peoples, especially the Korluim.