Le Marshes (AKA The Barbarian Swamps)
Region of Lahari: East
Leader: Lady Abella 'Moirin' Tariq
Type: Coalition of Clans
Capital: Mire Castle
Largest cities: Mire Castle
Monetary unit: Standard/Bartering
Ethnicity/Race: Primarily Human Barbarians
Language: Common
Religion: Ancestral Reverence, Worship of Nature
Climate: The late spring through early fall is warm, muggy, and humid. Winters are cold and harsh.
Resources: Rice Fields, Exotic Herbs, Iron Deposits, Exotic Wildlife
Flora and Fauna: Thick, green patches of tall grass litter the waterlogged fields of the marsh. With various trees of different breeds making up forested areas within the marshland. Exotic herbs, many useful for healing and poisoning alike can be found here. No one, not even the Malachai Barbarians that dwell within the marshes have cataloged all of the animals within. However, it is known that man eating fish commonly known as piranhas as well as poisonous leeches inhabit the waters within the marshes. Wild boar, and other such large game also exist within, often aiding the nomadic peoples in acquiring food stores throughout the year. Another one of the more pesky dangers comes in the form of tiny flesh-eating-worms. Striking at bare feet or other exposed surfaces, they seek to lay eggs within their victims to incubate during the winter seasons. Thus boots and long sleeved attire is very advisable. Lastly, it should be noted that some of the plants are more dangerous than others, even going so far as to devour single individuals whole. Though most of these exist in the areas that have rarely been touched, even by nomadic clans of barbarians.
Known Dangers: Barbarian Tribes, Exotic Diseases, Quicksand, Exotic Wildlife/Plant life
History: The people of the Marshes have always worshiped both their ancestors, and the forces of nature which hold such a large influence over their lives. It is nature which determines when they may plant crops, when they may stay in any given location of the marsh, and when there are increases in game for hunting. Rain to much, and drowning among other horrid fates may await the nomadic clans. Rain to little, and the only chance for a good crop comes in the form of irrigation. Given the fact the creatures that exist in the waters, this can be almost as much a death sentence as being caught up in a flood.
The legends say that long ago, the marshes were plagued by just such a flood. The people were had to flee for shelter, and wherever they went the carnivorous creatures of the marsh followed. It was then that a woman named Moirin, the wife of the chieftain of the Soineann Clan took action. She traveled out into the raging storm, begging and pleading with nature itself to spare those of her family and those of her clan. No one knows quite what transpired, but when she returned it was with dark intentions in her heart. For the woman soon slew her husband, and dragged their firstborn son out into the rains to draw his blood. When it touched the ground, all the rains stopped, and tranquility returned to the marshes. It is said that her knowledge was passed onto her daughter, who also took the name of Moirin thus founding the Storm Witches tradition. From then on, the greatest of the Witches of the Storm were always named Moirin regardless of what their names might have been before.
Strange, that it is this very practice of blood sacrifice that has made the Malachai people the enemies of the Kingdom. The Kingdom sees the Blood Dance that has become the most widely known tradition of the Storm Witches as being uncivilized and largely superstitious. This clash over beliefs, and the outlawing of this aspect of the Malachai peoples spirituality has lead to many border skirmishes. Often times the Kingdom will seek to push into the marshes in the hopes that they can spread law and order only to find that such goals are impossible. The Malachai know where to go and where not to go, allowing the forces of the kingdom to be weakened by the dangers of the marshes before repulsing them. Likewise, the Malachai have raided the borderlands of the Kingdom, but have never managed to gain a solid foothold due to their lack of unity and organization. Though this is changing, for the Moirin of this age seeks to unify all the clans under one banner. From the secluded location of her fortress, Mire Castle, she plots to bring the Kingdom to it's knees.
Leader: Lady Abella 'Moirin' Tariq
Type: Coalition of Clans
Capital: Mire Castle
Largest cities: Mire Castle
Monetary unit: Standard/Bartering
Ethnicity/Race: Primarily Human Barbarians
Language: Common
Religion: Ancestral Reverence, Worship of Nature
Climate: The late spring through early fall is warm, muggy, and humid. Winters are cold and harsh.
Resources: Rice Fields, Exotic Herbs, Iron Deposits, Exotic Wildlife
Flora and Fauna: Thick, green patches of tall grass litter the waterlogged fields of the marsh. With various trees of different breeds making up forested areas within the marshland. Exotic herbs, many useful for healing and poisoning alike can be found here. No one, not even the Malachai Barbarians that dwell within the marshes have cataloged all of the animals within. However, it is known that man eating fish commonly known as piranhas as well as poisonous leeches inhabit the waters within the marshes. Wild boar, and other such large game also exist within, often aiding the nomadic peoples in acquiring food stores throughout the year. Another one of the more pesky dangers comes in the form of tiny flesh-eating-worms. Striking at bare feet or other exposed surfaces, they seek to lay eggs within their victims to incubate during the winter seasons. Thus boots and long sleeved attire is very advisable. Lastly, it should be noted that some of the plants are more dangerous than others, even going so far as to devour single individuals whole. Though most of these exist in the areas that have rarely been touched, even by nomadic clans of barbarians.
Known Dangers: Barbarian Tribes, Exotic Diseases, Quicksand, Exotic Wildlife/Plant life
History: The people of the Marshes have always worshiped both their ancestors, and the forces of nature which hold such a large influence over their lives. It is nature which determines when they may plant crops, when they may stay in any given location of the marsh, and when there are increases in game for hunting. Rain to much, and drowning among other horrid fates may await the nomadic clans. Rain to little, and the only chance for a good crop comes in the form of irrigation. Given the fact the creatures that exist in the waters, this can be almost as much a death sentence as being caught up in a flood.
The legends say that long ago, the marshes were plagued by just such a flood. The people were had to flee for shelter, and wherever they went the carnivorous creatures of the marsh followed. It was then that a woman named Moirin, the wife of the chieftain of the Soineann Clan took action. She traveled out into the raging storm, begging and pleading with nature itself to spare those of her family and those of her clan. No one knows quite what transpired, but when she returned it was with dark intentions in her heart. For the woman soon slew her husband, and dragged their firstborn son out into the rains to draw his blood. When it touched the ground, all the rains stopped, and tranquility returned to the marshes. It is said that her knowledge was passed onto her daughter, who also took the name of Moirin thus founding the Storm Witches tradition. From then on, the greatest of the Witches of the Storm were always named Moirin regardless of what their names might have been before.
Strange, that it is this very practice of blood sacrifice that has made the Malachai people the enemies of the Kingdom. The Kingdom sees the Blood Dance that has become the most widely known tradition of the Storm Witches as being uncivilized and largely superstitious. This clash over beliefs, and the outlawing of this aspect of the Malachai peoples spirituality has lead to many border skirmishes. Often times the Kingdom will seek to push into the marshes in the hopes that they can spread law and order only to find that such goals are impossible. The Malachai know where to go and where not to go, allowing the forces of the kingdom to be weakened by the dangers of the marshes before repulsing them. Likewise, the Malachai have raided the borderlands of the Kingdom, but have never managed to gain a solid foothold due to their lack of unity and organization. Though this is changing, for the Moirin of this age seeks to unify all the clans under one banner. From the secluded location of her fortress, Mire Castle, she plots to bring the Kingdom to it's knees.
