Elder Tribes of the Northern Reaches

"The barbarian clans of the Blight..."

North of The Dullwood, and in the midst of the region of Hariel Majour known as The Blight, live the multitude "barbarian" tribes of men. Not barbarians in the truest sense, these tribes rather consist of battle and element hardened warriors and hunters conditioned over countless generations to brave the hostile northern environs. In fact, these tribes have fully put down stakes and established their own towns along the base of the mountain range. Such towns as Cymber, Tulland, and Urs Aranol dot the landscape between the Dullwood and the Blight range. These towns, though entirely free, are all technically allied with the crown of Wyeth. The peace between the disparate bands and the kingdom was hard won, and only came about after centuries of infighting and raids from the north upon the Freemantle and its various territories. The "Far Northern Peace Accord" provided the framework for today's interactions between the various groups. Originally a moot set to discuss the surrender of the northern tribes, something the crown knew would never work in the long term, shockingly became a much different sort of meeting once the king offered to make the barbarian lands "official." This was roughly 400 years ago. Currently, there is still no love lost between crown and tribe, however they've managed to find a way to essentially work together (when the rare situation calls for it). And the tribes act as major foresters for the crown, providing a significant portion of Wyeth's wood supply.

Structure

Each of the nine tribes that comprise the "northern nations" are ruled by a chief or jarl who is typically advised by a small council of elders. The nine largest tribes, typically named for their first jarl, are as follows (in no particular order)... 1. Grov Matak 2. Urs Aran 3. Sisterhood of the Urso 4. Vaza Resh 5. Dreth Goro ("Fell Dreth") 6. Umber Wren 7. Crimson Moon 8. Frost Breath 9. The Dire Trackless These tribes sometimes, when extreme situations call for it, convene to hold a moot known as The Reckoning. Here, major decisions are often made that effect the course of life for all tribes. Interestingly enough, virtually all the major tribes see no difference in status between their men and women, with both fighting side by side. In fact, some tribes, like the Sisterhood of the Urso, are comprsed entirely of women.

Public Agenda

The northmen serve themselves and only themselves. They tend to be somewhat xenophobic, but maintain the ability to mingle with outsiders if it serves to benefit them. If it weren't for the tribes, the men and women of the north would probably have destroyed each other long ago. So as bad as they may sometimes seem, they're a lot better than the alternative.

Assets

Of the humanoid population in the far north, the barbarian tribes essentially dominate the region. With the Isagorn largely expelled from the Blight after the Sundering, and the Strouts descending ever deeper into their mountain interiors, these humans have taken strong hold and have developed sizable and defendable settlements at the base of the mountain range.

History

The history of the northern tribes is one of conflict and strife. For untold centuries they have battled all around them, not the least of which being themselves. For the entire existence of the kingdom of Wyeth, the tribes have ventured south to raid the civilized lands. It took repeated, massive defeats in battle (threatening their very survival) to finally sway the tribes into any form of peace. Approximately 400 years ago the collected tribes (brought together in a rare show of unity under a strong jarl... Theod Grindal of Urs Aran) "signed" a treaty at a peace accord initiated by King Aran of Wyeth. They still honor this arrangement today, though interpretations may be stretched.

Mythology & Lore

Not a true myth, mind you, but more a legend built up around one of the clans... It is said of the most elusive of all the tribes, the Sisterhood of the Urso, that not one man stands amongst their ranks. That the sisters have found some other means of propagating their ranks. This might have something to do with the other strange rumor that abounds regarding their disposition. Those who've encountered the feared warriors (and lived to tell the tale) swear that every single member they encountered was identical to each other. As if they were poured from the exact same mould. The sisters attempt to "hide" this (or perhaps enhance this illusion) by painting their faces to such a degree that their features are somewhat obscured. However, accounts of these "clone" women are beginning to become fairly widespread. Enough that they cannot truly be ignored. So what does this mean? Is there some form of fell magic involved? Could it have something to do with their rituals involving newborn sisters? Are they all truly and directly related by blood? Who fathers the children of the sisterhood? These are all closely guarded secrets that the sisterhood will kill to protect... But why?

Worship

It is known that the tribes worship a modified pantheon of The Gods of Gothenya, having sometimes different names and identities for the various individual lords of creation. More distressingly, it is rumored that several of the clans still practice barbaric forms of ritualistic sacrifice, though none alive outside the clans have provided a first-hand account of this. What is certain is that some of the religious rites of several tribes involve the spilling of blood, sometimes that of animals, sometimes from themselves. Blood letting rituals are fairly common amongst those "coming of age" within a particular tribe. The Sisters of Urso practice a special rite where a female child born under a particularly auspicious blood moon is placed inside the belly of a slain bear (for an unknown amount of time) in order to absorb its essence.