Pijari

Traitors to the north, some have called us. Rahya collaborators and defenders of the Remnant. Such slander matters not, for the opinions of the weak are of little importance to us.   We will do what we've always done. These vast fields are our homes and we'll keep them no matter who we must work with and no matter who must face defeat underneath the thunderous hooves of our cavalry.

— Sáráhkká

  The Pijari are a semi-nomadic and pragmatic people who have claimed the vast green fields and forests of Vuonampi, Ougadiai, and Vaijia as their homes. Their people are feared for the hordes of cavalry that they can muster and the frequent raids they conduct on the Aeths of Lointen. Even though many of the other northern cultures see the invasion of Pekkola by the Rahyamin Empire as a great tragedy, the Pijari remain neutral on the topic.  

Appearance

While in many ways a Pijari man or woman may seem similar to a Vakner or Aeth, their eyes give away their heritage. They are the only ethnicity native to Pekkola whose people commonly have epicanthic folds. The only other groups with such eyes might be merchants or travellers from far-away lands to the southwest, but those folk are exceedingly rare.      

Culture

A pragmatic desire to live in peace and to ride along the great grasslands is all that most Pijari desire. They know, however, that to live as they will, they must prepare for war to defend their peace. The Pijari care not for historical rivalries, grudges and alliances. They work with whoever is most capable of helping them achieve their goals and ruthlessly attack their enemies.   Such a pragmatic view on the world has made people weary of allying with them, as they know that a sign of weakness is all the Pijari need to turn on their allies if such an act would bring benefit for their people.    

Them fieldfolk aren’t just all about their horses ya know. I hear them woods of theirs are filled to the brim with power. It must be where they breed them horrific monsters the legends of old mention. How else could you explain their success against the Rahya?

— Lauri of Vaheri

 

Sedentary Communities

Before the invasion of Pekkola and the incorporation of the Vaijia region into the Rahyamin Empire, the Pijari lived a far more nomadic life than they do today. Permanent settlements started forming in recent centuries to serve as centres of trade and power.   The Rahya helped contribute to the development of Pijari lands by building up fortifications in Vaijia, mostly as an attempt to keep the Pijari from retaking their lands. Communities grew around these forts, eventually turning them into large towns.  

Warfare

  The armed forces of the various Pijari warlords focus on swift and deadly lightly armoured cavalry. Most soldiers are trained and equipped with spears and smaller round shields or bows and arrows. A minority of each army is composed of heavily armoured lancer units, the soldiers of which are commonly made up from the wealthy and the powerful. Each soldier has to acquire weapons and armour on their own and the Pijari lack equipment standards for their armies.