Tiger Nomads

Ruled by The Unvanquishable Tiger Lord, Ilkhan Gajtak of the Chakyik Hordes

The wide prairie north of the Yatils, between the Dramidj Ocean and the swift running Fler river, is the territory of the tough and ruthless Tiger Nomads. These herders and hunters roam freely across the steppe south of the Burneal, trading with the folk of Ekbir and Perrenland, as well as the Wolf Nomads to the east, and the Chakji tribes of the northern coast beyond the border of the Black Ice. They are also known to raid their neighbors, particularly their nomad cousins, for livestock and prisoners (who may be either ransomed or enslaved), or simply for sport.
The climate is temperate along the coast, but dense fog often rolls in from the Dramidj, terrifying the nomads. The interior is cool in the summer, and bitingly cold in winter. Ice storms might cover the Yecha Hills and northern Yatils in winter, completely cutting off mining towns and encampments for weeks at a time. Tales of yeti and taer rampages are common from the survivors of these storms, and sightings of the rare and auspicious yellow dire lions of the lower slopes are sometimes claimed as well.
The hill town of Yecha that serves as the capital city of the Tiger nomads is a rather squalid encampment surrounded by earth and timber walls. Here can be purchased silver and gems from the southern mines, along with furs, hides, and horses from the northern steppes. Mercenaries can be hired here as well, though they are not always the most loyal or professional. The warriors of the Tiger Nomads are a fearless cavalry, lightly armored and unmatched as mounted archers. Small numbers of infantry are found in the permanent settlements. Their armies are similar in most respects to the other northern nomads, though women make up a higher proportion of the fighters and fighter-clerics among the Tiger Nomads.

History

The Tiger Nomads were driven from the southern plains by the invading Brazen Horde almost three centuries ago. Thrown together with the Wolf Nomads, and other bands of mixed Oerid and Baklunish refugees from the plains, they arrived in the northern steppes in defeat and disarray. Yet, within a few years, they grew strong enough for their ilkhan to command the whole of the western steppes under the great Kha-Khan Ogobanuk of the Relentless Horde (c. 320 CY). With their cousins, the Wolf Nomads, they were the terror of the north, from the Dramidj coast to the Griff Mountains. When Kha-Khan Ogobanuk made his final journey to the invisible realm in 345 CY, the ilkhan of the Tiger Nomads withdrew from the Relentless Horde, forming his own nation of Chakyik.
They continued to trade with their eastern cousins of course, and war with them as well. In addition they encountered new peoples on their borders. They warred with the Flan tribes of the Burneal, whom they called the Uirtag, as well as the Guryik people from the Land of Black Ice. Some of the nomads even made settlements along the northern coast near the Burneal. Among them was the last remnant of stray Oeridians who had followed the horde to the northern steppes. Together they mixed with the tribes of Burneal and the Land of Black Ice to become a distinct people, the Chakji.
Over the next century, the Tiger Nomads maintained their independence from the Wolf Nomads, but were unable to increase their territory; thus, a certain stability was achieved, despite chronic warfare. Raids into Perrenland and Ekbir continued as well, though the Perrenders became so skilled at negotiating with the nomads that often, raids would turn into exchanges of horses for liquor. Unfortunately, the nomads' consumption of liquor might turn any barter session into an attack, so the maneuver was hardly foolproof—but at least drunken nomads were more easily defeated.
The years preceding the Greyhawk Wars saw increased tension in the north, primarily due to the return of the Old One to his throne in Dorakaa. His agents visited the Tiger Nomads, proposing alliance between the two nations, but Ilkhan Cligir had little tolerance for the demigod's advances. It would seem the ilkhan's judgment was correct, for when the Greyhawk Wars finally came to the Flanaess, it was Iuz who had provoked them.
The end of the Greyhawk Wars brought change for the Tiger Nomads. The old ilkhan died and passed into the invisible realm. His successor, Ilkhan Gajtak, who supported the proposed alliance with Iuz, welcomes all manner of evil to his court in his tent-city on the Irum peninsula. The administrative functions of government, such as they are, are still carried out from Yecha. Nevertheless, power belongs to the ilkhan, and his khans are aware that Gajtak is even more dangerous than his predecessor.

Government: Numerous nomad clans loosely ruled by the most powerful noble of the royal clan
Capital: Yecha
Major Towns: Yecha (pop. 4,100)
Provinces: None
Resources: Furs and hides, silver, gems (I)
Coinage: None; barter used exclusively except in cities and towns, where foreign currency is sometimes used
Population: 104,000—Human 96% (B), Halfling 2%, Elf 1%, Other 1%
Languages: Ordai, Ancient Baklunish, Common
Alignments: CN*, CE, N
Religions: Istus, Incabulos, Geshtai, nomad ancestors
Allies: None, but some possible in the future (see later)
Enemies: Wolf Nomads (sometimes), Perrenland (sometimes), Ekbir (sometimes)

  Location in the Flanaess