At the Dawn, the World Council of Friends (centered on Dragon Pass) united five mortal species, each of roughly equal strength and numbers – humans, trolls (at the time there were no trollkin), dragonewts, aldryami, and mostali. A few remnants of the Golden Age remained, represented by the Golden Wheel Dancers, although few of these survived long into the Dawn Age. The Orlanth cult’s openness towards strangers facilitated this, as did the other Lightbringers.Humans were but one of five main groups, and although their numbers quickly increased faster than the other Elder Races, they never dominated the World Council or its successor the High Council of the Lands of Genertela. Even the Broken Council had so many non-humans that the Malkioni considered the Theyalans to be nonhuman Krjalki.
In the Second Age, humans rose to dominance as the Elder Races tore themselves apart in internecine squabbles, and in many areas they never recovered. In the Lunar Heartlands, most humans have likely never seen one of the Elder Races – certainly not the fearsome dragonewts or trolls, and even elves and dwarfs are rarely seen. Things are different in Dragon Pass and the Holy Country. In the Holy Country, two of the sixths are dominated by Elder Races. Triolini are commonly seen in coastal areas and the trolls still rule their Shadow Plateau and in the Troll Woods. In Dragon Pass, non-humans occupied the region without ANY humans prior to about three centuries ago. Since then, humans have regained their position as the dominant species, but still about a fifth of the population is non-human. Most humans have seen one of the Elder Races, and interaction is frequent. Beastmen, dragonewts, trolls, dwarfs, and elves are commonly seen, certainly along the roads and in the cities, but sometimes even in small villages. Morokanth are seen as often as any other of the Great Tribes, although they are feared (and often despised) as cruel slavers.The Dragon Pass cultures are thus seen by many in the far West or in the Lunar Heartlands as being essentially non-human in some key regards.
We often forget how significant the non-human population of Dragon Pass is, especially when compared to other parts of Genertela
There are a few comparable areas. Vesmonstran is viewed by many Seshnegi as being monster land because it is populated by trolls (Guhan), elves (Ballid), Orlanthi, and werewolves.
And as we all know Maniria, elves are common there.
I think in general we all tend to miss how significant the contact between the triolini and the Holy Country is. Some of this is aesthetic – art with fish, octopuses, and mermaids (especially on coffee cups) is going to be common. Some of this is just great awareness of the Deep and the seas. Not just in Seapolis and the Islands, but throughout the Holy Country. Just as the presence of trolls cannot be ignored there.And this is a new thing, as the triolini – as you observe – were not participants in IFWW or the original Unity Council (or indeed any of the great Councils).