North Eastern Savages (Dragon Worshippers)
The region to the north and east of the Successor States is populated by tribes of what the people of the Successor States call savages, these people are the remnant of those humans who served the Dragons before the Higher Wars. During the Higher Wars most of the Dragons left the main continent well before Kaegor’s revolt leaving their servants/slaves behind with no guidance, and some without telling them when or where they were going. These people left to their own devices are wary of other humans or people of the Elder Races, they do trade with the other peoples but most never leave their own lands except to raid into other tribes lands or into the Successor States. Most people think that these savages are similar to each other and form warlike tribes renowned for their ferocity and chaotic lifestyles.
The people of these tribes do sometimes venture into the main society of the world almost always as barbarians but sometimes mages or priests will venture forth to gain knowledge. They seldom talk about their people who they feel are mocked by the outside world.
The truth is that these tribes can be broken down into five groups, the peoples of the following types of Dragons, Red, Green, Black, Bronze and Gold. The tribes to a certain extent take their traits from the Dragons that they used to serve, and most still worship or highly revere those Dragons.
The truth is that the people as a whole are known as the Volscii and where they once worshipped Dragons as gods or the gods of Dragons, many now worship the more common pantheon of gods if under their own names. It is said that especially in the Bronsadur Folk and Raudur Manna worship of the old gods or dragons is only found amongst the noble class or priests
The leaders of the Umhverfis Folk and Raudur Manna still worship the dragons as gods but many of their people have turned from this if not in the presence of their leaders. The lack of tangible results for three hundred years has created this rift between the classes and it seems to widening by the year. However the power of the ruling classes is such that they still sacrifice people to the dragons and their magic (divine or otherwise) enables them to maintain power.
The Raudur Manna live in the south of the area bordering the Orcs, these men are associated with the Red Dragons who once lived in Brennenstadt and are believed to worship these Dragons and even sacrifice prisoners to persuade the Dragons to return to them. They fight continuously against the people of Brennenstadt in the hope that if they free the city their gods will return to them, but their chaotic nature means that they have never united.
The Umhverfis Folk live in the woods on the western borders of the lands and worship the Green Dragons who used to live in the area. They are more organised that the other southern tribes but have large numbers of goblinoids to contend with, they do however raid into the lands of Kaldar on a regular basis. Their priests hold ultimate power over the tribes and revere the site of any Dragons lair which they will defend, against looters with great devotion.They have only however found two lairs so far and still send groups of young men to search for more, these lairs are the home of the tribes religion and their seat of learning for the tribes mages.
The Sverta Manna are the smallest of the tribal groupings living in the marshes along the great river, they worship Black Dragons with religious fear. These men seldom leave the swamps but when they do it is to take prisoners for their gods, these raiders always use poisoned weapons and roam over long distances. Little else is known about these people who routinely kill intruders into their marshes. The Bronsadur Folk live in the hills on the north western coast of the region and by far the most open of all the tribes. trading with outsiders on a regular basis. The tribes do not fight amongst themselves but do attack the Umhverfis Folk from time to time and the goblins of the woods. These tribes were once the servants and friends to Bronze Dragons and are actually fairly well educated producing mages and bards of renown as well as barbarians. They do not worship Dragons as the southern tribes do, but most worship either Bahamut(LG) or Aasterimian (CN) or a few Pelor, they do however revere Dragons and will try to stop any looting of known lairs. Rumours abound amongst these tribes that Bronze Dragons still walk among them in human form, and so strangers are treated well if not without suspicion.
The Gullmana live on the plains of the north of the region and whilst not isolationist they do not welcome strangers, though they do trade with the few merchants who risk the dangers of sailing to their remote coast. Like the Bronsadur Folk they produce mages well versed in magic and worship either Bahamut(LG) or Aasterimian (CN), though most of them prefer Bahamut. They also send men of great good (Paladins) into the world every few years to gain experience and knowledge of the other peoples of the world. The tribes as a whole are fairly peaceful but constant patrol their borders with the southern tribes with skilled horsemen.
Additional Information
The leaders of the Umhverfis Folk and Raudur Manna still worship the dragons as gods but many of their people have turned from this if not in the presence of their leaders. The lack of tangible results for three hundred years has created this rift between the classes and it seems to widening by the year. However the power of the ruling classes is such that they still sacrifice people to the dragons and their magic (divine or otherwise) enables them to maintain power. The names of the gods that they worship are listed below and any mainstream equivalents: -
Tinia Tins– (Heironious ) – god of valour LG. Tinia Tins is maily worshipped by the Gullmana who see him as their Patron god.
Veive – (St Cuthbert ) – god of retribution LN, Veive is worshipped amongst the Gullmana and Umhvertis Folk but with a slightly different focus in the Umhvertis Folk towards vengeance rather than retribution.
Maris - (Boccob) – god of magic N
Vanth - (Wee Jas) – goddess of death and magic LN
Vetis - (Hextor) – god of tyranny. LE, Vetis is mainly worshipped amongst the Umhvertis Folk who find him more to their taste as a god of war than Tinia Tins.
Feronia – (Ehlonna) – goddess of the woodlands NG, Not favourer much amongst the Raudur Manna or Sverta Manna but has worshippers amongst the Bronsadur Folk and Umhvertis Folk.
Usil – (Pelor) – god of the sun NG, Favoured amongst the Gullmana and Bronsadur Folk and gaining strength amongst the Raudur Manna.
Laran –(Kord) – god of strength CG, Laran has found favour in almost all of the peoples except the Sverta Manna, if many of his converts loosely follow some of his precepts.
Fufluns- (Fharlanghn) – god of roads N, Fufluns is quite popular amongst the younger members of the people who feel that contact with the outside world may not be a bad thing.
Selva – (Obad-hai) – god of nature N, Favoured in almost all of the people he has many shrines through the forests and hills.
Nortia – (Olidammara) – god of thieves CN, Not very popular in general but does seem to be gaining some converts amongst the Sverta Manna.
Veltha(F) – (Nerull) – goddess of death NE, Veltha has followers amongst the Raudur Manna and Sverta Manna but few in the other peoples.
Alvas- (Vecna) – god of secrets NE, Alvas has more followers in the Sverta Manna than other peoples but it is said that he is becoming more popular in the Umhvertis Folk and Raudur Manna.
Vetis – (Erythnul) – god of slaughter. CE popular in the Umhvertis Folk and Raudur Manna if not openly in the Umhvertis Folk.
Turms (M)- Zilcus – god of merchants. LN, Turms has only a few worshippers in any of the peoples but does have a small following in the Gullmanna.
There are however a few gods which don’t seem to have equivalents in the main pantheon of gods. Description of these gods can be found elsewhere.
Turan(F) – goddess of love, health and fertility CN
Nortia(F) – goddess of fate & fortune LG
Silenus(M) – god of wild nature CN