Drhokker
Drhokker (estimated population one million) is not
actually a nation, but rather a loose confederation of towns
and villages sworn to a pact of mutual protection and
economic gain. The towns and larger villages occupy the
northern stretches of the Jendasha and Jorakk Rivers, but
smaller villages exist throughout the outlying areas.
The Lands of Drhokker cover the vast area of plains
from the Rokk Woods to the northern tip of the Narrajy
Forest, and From the southern edge of the Rytarr Woods to
Lake Adesh. However, the Lands' actual borders are in
constant dispute. This is because Drhokker's military power
is concentrated along the Jendasha and Jorakk rivers.
Thybaj claims the southern portions of the two rivers and
Skarrna claims much of the Rokk Woods and the southeastern
plains.
Fhokki tribesmen settled Drhokker by pushing all but
one of the previous occupants, Dejy tribes, to the east and
south. The Drhokkers allowed only the Dejy horse clans to
remain. Tired of fighting, they permitted the peaceful Dejy
clansmen to graze their horses on the Fhokki land. The
Drhokkers began to settle the fertile land as farmers and
herders. With the plenitude offish in the mighty Jorakk and
Jendasha rivers, fishing villages began to appear along the
banks.
Narr-Rytarr merchants began sending their goods and
raw materials up the Jendasha to trade with Thybajy
merchants for textiles and precious metals. As a result, the
Drhokker fishing villages along the trade route quickly grew
into larger villages and towns. Many villages were little more
than a collection of warehouses and marketplaces where
people came to trade. The townspeople became the
middlemen and soon charged fees for use of the river, docks
and warehouses.
The fees varied from town to town as each one
competed for the passing business. The competition grew
fierce. Saboteurs destroyed docks and wharves of their rivals
to lessen competition. The destruction escalated into razing
of entire villages.
In an effort to end the madness, a mayor of one small
town, Brottar Tharokken, suggested that all the towns set a
standard price for services and facilities. Most of the towns'
leaders agreed and united under a treaty, the Pact of
Tharokken. The land was finally at peace and the people
prospered greatly. That is, until the Wars of Discord.
While the Dejy horse clans wintered near the Narrajy
Forest, the Minions of Misfortune attacked From within a
blizzard. The Minions drove back the vastly outnumbered
horsemen. Many clans were annihilated entirely. Those that
survived retreated CO the Jorakk and sought alliance and
refuge with the Drhokker. The Pact members agreed to
offer shelter in return for a share of the clansmen's jealously
guarded mounts and the services of the most skilled Dejy
warriors. The Minions besieged the river towns For two
months by calling down blizzards and driving rain. Finally,
with the aid of Skarrna, Thybaj and demi-humans from the
Vrykarrs, the Drhokker defeated the Minions and drove
them back into the Khydoban Desert.
Today, as a result of their alliance with the Dejy
horsemen, Drhokker, with the exception of the horse clans
themselves, has the finest cavalry on Tame. Drhokker
ranchers now sell and trade these horses to their neighbors.
Before each sale, the selling merchant will neuter the horse,
thus allowing Drhokker to remain Tellene's sole source of
heavy war-horses. OF course, the Drhokkeran plains are
home to wild horses of all types and sizes. But those must
be caught and broken, a near-impossible chore, indeed.
A variety of races and religions make their homes in the
Lands of Drhokker. On rare occasions one will encounter a
dwarven caravan From the Vrykarrs, but demi-humans are
not very prevalent. The Temple of Stars, the Face of the
Free, the Thunderer's Temple, Temple of the Patient Arrow,
the Order of Life and the Church of the Life's Fire are
among the favorites oF this diverse population. The Way of
the Berserk and the Temple of Sleepless Nights also have a
sizable number of worshippers within Drhokker.
Drhokker has no one leader and the Pact of Tharokken
remains in force. The Lands of Drhokker also have no
standing army. But the land is not undefended, for, after
approval by the Council of the Pact, Drhokker can muster
approximately 6,200 cavalry and 1,500 hobilar.