Southern Houress

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Barbarian Kingdom

Current Political Structure

18 Chieftains and their Carvons (territories)

Cities

* = capitol

The inhabitants of the Barbarian Kingdom are a conglomerate of 18 tribes ruled by a barbarian king with blood ties to the beginning of organization of the savages eons ago. They are ancient descendants of tribes that numbered in the hundreds that filled the lands known today as Regdon, Maharool, Criskrad and Gorth. The two races left are called the Yahzun and the Varkasi. The Gragets and the ocean serve as natural borders that keep the "civilized" world and their ways from interfering with the tribes' sacred beliefs. The tribes worship the great serpent, an ancient dragon that saved the embattled barbarians from the expansion of the Regdonites centuries ago before mysteriously disappearing into the mountains never again to be seen.

The barbarians are very ritualistic and revere nature and animals as sacred. Hunting, fishing, rites of passage, and honor are among the beliefs that are strong within the barbarians. They have a healthy fear and hatred of magic and will lynch any wizards who are unfortunate to stray into their territory. They are also suspicious of any outsiders, whether they use magic or not. The chieftains of the tribes are very strict about limiting excursions out of their kingdom, for they fear the corruption that awaits their people beyond their borders. They look at people of Gorth as distant cousins who have strayed from their beliefs, but they still regard them as allies and trade with them often.

Points of Interest

Dren Wood

A dense forest that is rich with animal life, the Dren Wood is a place where young barbarians hoping to make names for themselves in hunting strange beasts will come. There are scant few elves or other humanoids living here, having been chased off by the barbarians centuries ago.

Furly River

This river flows from the southern tip of the Graget Mountains to the Aquantis Ocean. The Furly acts as a border between Maharool and the Barbarian Kingdom.

Graget Mountains

These ancient spires split Maharool and the Barbarian Kingdom and acts as a natural barrier that keeps the two nations apart. The mountains are occupied by a few dwarves and a great many humanoids, such as goblins, ogres, hobgoblins, etc.

Somewhere deep within the Gragets is believed to be the hallowed resting place of the Great Serpent. Rumors and suspicions abound within the tribes as to whether the god is actually alive and sleeping or long dead. Many warriors believe there is a treasure beyond the dreams of mortals lying within the mountain, yet none have found the courage to go there an look for themselves.

Iron Falls River

The Iron Falls River flows from the western slope of the Graget Mountains. This grand river cuts the upper quarter of the kingdom in two and flows straight through to the Aquantis Ocean. It is intersected by the Meccar River.

Isle of Woe

About 40 miles off the western coast of the kingdom is a small island called the Isle of Woe, where a fallen god is believed to dwell. Little is known as fact, but there is rampant speculation about which god it could be. Great chieftains have journeyed to the island to plunder its riches and raise their status by claiming to have slain the god, but none have returned.

It is rumored that the first barbarian king, Rumash the Grizzled, sailed to the island to slay the god. He never returned. It is widely accepted by all barbarians that anyone who goes to the Isle of Woe, slays the god, and then returns with Rumash's blessed whitewood club (called Dragonfist) will become the next king.

Kali River

Flowing from the eastern part of Dren Wood, the Kali snakes westward before emptying into the Aquantis Ocean.

Meccar River

The mighty Meccar flows off the western slope of the Graget Mountains. It winds north and then west before intersecting with the Iron Falls River on its way to the Aquantis Ocean.

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Significant Events/Holidays/Etc.

Harvest Rite

Date: Day 18 of the Month of Spring's Waning

This is a day of thanks recognized across the Barbarian Kingdom in which they burn grain in sacrifice to their pagan gods in hopes of gaining a better harvest.

The Hunt

Date: Day 29 of the Month of Autunm's Waning

The barbarians gather all of the males together near the sea in Wanholm. They all set out to stalk and kill a drake from the nearby mountains to prove their manhood.

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