How to Tell the Barbarians Apart

by Mike Dickison, David Dunham, and Jeff Richard

The "Barbarian Belt" (also known as the Orlanthi or Theyalan culture) includes Maniria, southwestern Peloria, eastern and northern Ralios, southern Fronela, and even part of Pamaltela. The following table attempts to summarize some of the differences between different Orlanthi cultures.

The Volsaxi are relatively backward Heortlings, the Delelans are from East Ralios and the rest are Wenelian tribes.
Solanthi Ditali Nimistori Bastisi Delelan Volsaxi
Weapons Axe
Dagger
Sword
Hand Axe
Sword
Shortsword
Axe
Hand Axe
Sword
Craisech
Sword
Spear
Shield Target Target Kite Kite Figure-8 Target
Missile Self Bow Self Bow Composite Bow Thrown Axe Sling Javelin
Clothing Cloaks
Shirts
Cloaks
Jerkins
Trews
Hoods
Hoods
Kilts
Cloaks
Kilts
Trews
Cloaks
Colors G, Y, W B, Y, W P, G, R R, Y, G checks, plaids checks
Music Pipes, Horn Pipes, Harp Horn, Harp Horn, Flute Pipes, Harp, Flute Pipes, Horn
Skill Riding Tracking Boating Climb Drive Chariot Drive Chariot
Famed
for
Poetry
Sagas
Greed
Whistling
Singing
Tracking
Gluttony
Talking
Sagas
Woodcraft
Drinking
Taciturn
War Dances
Storytelling
Laziness
Shouting
Storytelling
Herding
Honor
Boasting & Oaths
Sagas
Heroism
Piety
Honor

Hurrolt is a wealthy and refined Solanthi warrior, rich on Esrolian plunder, with a good horse, a white shirt, and a fine bronze sword. Well spoken and noble, honorable and good with the ladies, and makes his pigs go outside to void. Like most Solanthi, he's somewhat lacking in common sense, but makes up for it in his dedication to the gods.

Harral is a quick and witty Ditali hunter, always bringing home the finest deer for the village feast. Later he'll sing loud heroic songs with the other men of the village, and argue about their last raid on the Esrolians. Has a fine plaited beard reaching almost to his waist, which he keeps meticulously greased to stop anyone grabbing it in battle.

Hirrold, a dark-cloaked riverman, is as proud of his boat as he is of his two gleaming swords. Quick to anger and suspicious of strangers, he is loyal and steadfast to a close friend or captain. Hirrold whittles spirit fetishes in his spare time, and wears his clan cheek tattoos with pride. Like most Nimistori, he consumes great quantities of their foul grain mash liquor.

Hirra is a hearty hillman, woodcutter and village elder. In his youth a feared Bastisi warrior, he is now content to tell stories and play the flute by the fireside, although he can still scale the cliff to the watchcrag as fast as any young blood. His faded red headband, still worn over long greying hair, tells all of his skill in the hatchet toss.

Harall is a prosperous warrior of the Taskenth clan, with a large herd of cattle, a gaily painted chariot, and a team of ponies. He shaves his chin to show off his flowing moustache, which drags in his bowl. Except in cold weather he wears no shirt, to impress everyone with his many fine tattoos. Harall is fond of bagpipe music, and once gave a gold arm band to a piper who inspired him in battle. He was exiled for a year after assaulting a traveller who belittled the Taskenth clan's beer.

Hengall is a fierce and implacable warrior of the Kurtali, whose chariot has bronze-rimmed wheels and is pulled by a team of Hendriki horses. He proudly wears a hauberk of fine chain mail which he took from a follower of Shepelkirt after King Turloch's Last Raid and wields his grandfather's sword. His family has a large herd of cattle, which he and his sons look after. Hengall's long braided hair has turned grey and he shaves his face to show off the scars that he won while raiding the Kitori. Every Storm Season, Hengall and his sons take a cow from their herd to Whitewall and give it to the Storm Voices of the Thunderer.


Copyright ©1998 David Dunham. Last updated 10 Jan 98.

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