Sabaran Tribes and Raiders

General

Almost half of the desert continent of Sabara is divided between the four Dominions of the Khuagawa Tetrarchy. But the Tetrarchy is unstable and rife with corruption. It has difficulty just maintaining its borders and there are numerous smaller factions. Some are friendly, but others raid their towns and caravans. Listed below are some of the more important ones.

Cat-Eye Beastkin

The Beastkin raiders came to these lands ages ago, before the Great Calamity even. Nowadays many of them have integrated into other societies, such as that of the Tetrarchy, but some hold proudly to their heritage and keep to themselves. The Cat-Eye Tribes are a grouping of cat-like Beastkin who maintain their own lands in the northwest of Sabara, bordering on both the Dominions of Nigharb and Kitamal. They are relatively peaceful and trade often with the Khuagawans.

Deadclimber Clan

In the Azcal Forest in central Sabara, just below the capital Ja'Tani of the Dominion of Kitamal live the Goblins of the Deadclimber Clan. They are vicious Fae with an almost monkey-like physique that make gratuitous use of necromancy to gain undead minions to harass and rob travelers, delighting in their fear.

Hobgoblin Windcallers

Scattered throughout Sabara, but especially present in the Wilddunes, are Hobgoblin raiders who also call themselves the 'Windcallers' for their proficiency with wind magic. They travel on special sailboats that are propelled by wind magic, allowing them to traverse large distances with ease. The art of wind magic is taught to those who show promise from an early age, and the position of 'Kazebar Madalriyah' or 'He Who Controls Winds' is both coveted and respected. It is an honor that elevates the position of the mage's entire family within the tribe. They both raid the Khuagawans, but also work as mercenaries for them from time to time, but any deals and alliances are tenuous at best.

Tlincalli Tribes

To the south of the Dominion of Nigharb live the tribes of the Tlincalli or scorpion-men. They have several small towns, built on ruined temples, but mostly they live in traveling tribes. They are organized warriors and raiders, who capture travelers alive to be used as slaves in their mines. They are ruled by Sasoramalai, the Queen of Scorpions. Some believe her to be an Archdemon, but that is not true. She was once a human, a noblewoman, but her appetite for blood and murder led to her being exiled and cursed. Over time she became less and less human, both in form and mind, as her long exile turned her former passion for murder into a near-obsession. She resides in a large temple complex that the Tlincalli built for her, near the cold southern coast.

Oka Raiders

Just outside of the territory of the Dominion of Azu'Raq lies a large mountain surrounded by hill land that is inhabited by a tribe of human barbarians known as the Oka Raiders. Formerly they held more territory, but they were pushed back and partially conquered by the the eastern sabarans of the Khuagawa Tetrarchy. Most of the river tribes have assimilated into the Tetrarchy, but the highlanders maintain an open rebellion.
They openly worship the The Breaker of Chains and they believe modern societies to be a curse and an infringement on the freedom that all people should have. They are anarchists and they do not recognize the authority of the Tetrarchy or any other faction for that matter. This lack of organization has also meant that they have never been too big a threat, but the natural terrain advantage has prevented them from being conquered.

Turval Forgebacks

To the southeast, next to the Dominion of Minubi lies an open stretch of uncontested desert land surrounding Lake Dazai. Here, where no one will force their will upon them again, the still independent Turval tribes have made their home. They travel on the Forge-Backs, giant horizon-back turtles that carry their forges and tents. They mostly stay near Lake Dazai but occasionally travel to towns and cities of the Tetrarchy to sell their Bloodsteel weapons and armor in exchange for things like cloth, food and other raw materials they need to sustain their mobile tribe.