The Kolari
The Kolar Peninsula is harsh and ruggedly beautiful. The Kolari are the same. They love war and accept any chance to fight. Their history is drenched in the blood of their wars. They are raiders who refuse the advantages of civilization when the cost is their personal freedom and independence.
Population
The Kolari are divided into two major groups. The first spells their tribal name with an "i." The second uses an "o." They are all part of the same cultural stock but, in the recent past, have suffered a cultural schism on religious and political grounds.
The six tribes in the first group (The Kolari) are the Kolavassi (14,000), the Vanaddi (12,000), the Ghavasi (10,000), the Roanni (7,000), the Umeri (7,000) and the Usetti (6,000). They have a total population of 56,000 and 11,000 warriors.
The three tribes of the Kolaro are the Madralo (20,000), the Worro (14,000) and the Covo (12,000). They have a total population of 46,000 and can levy 9,000 warriors.
NOTE - The Kolaro are partially civilized. They have ties to the Fomorians of Xan and Atler. The Kolari resist such ties. The "learned perversions" of the Kolaro and, as the Kolari see it, their fawning over foreigners are two reasons why the Kolari hate the Kolaro.
Economy
A barter system is used by both groups. The most valued commodity is iron weapons and metal armor. The Kolar Peninsula is poor in iron. Both Kolari groups trade "valueless" things like gold and silver, which are plentiful, to get good iron.
Religion
The Kolari believe that god, the King in Iron, lives on White Mountain (a tall peak located in Kolavassi territory). He is a warrior god who takes the souls of honorable warriors to dwell with him after they fall in battle. From that day, they are privileged to spend eternity warring in the clouds against his enemies.
The Kolaro believe that god is the Lady in Red. She dwells at the bottom of Lake Madra in Madralo territory. Those who prove their worth in battle, and their worth as men, spend eternity as her guardsmen and companions. They live an eternal life of combat and pleasure.
This religious schism is the chief reason for the hatred these groups have for each other. Unless it is resolved, they will continue to war on each other.
NOTE - The Kolari have a sodality called the White Mountain Society. It contains 800 warriors with battle-axe, dagger and scalemail. They are the guardians of White Mountain and allow no man to desecrate it and live. The Kolaro Red Warriors number 400. They are outfitted in red leather armor and have sword, dagger and longbow. They defend the lake in the same way that the Kolari sodality defends the mountain.
Personality
The Kolari believe that all a man really needs is a weapon and a place to use it. They enjoy combat above all else. Among their own people they are gentle and kind unless angered. When they are angry, they are murderous. When dealing with strangers, especially non-Kolari, the Kolari allow no margin for error. If the stranger does or says anything not approved by Kolari custom, he courts death. This is especially true if he has items that the warrior in question would like to have, but cannot honorably take.
The Kolaro have the basic tendencies of the Kolari. Their aggressive natures have been tempered by exposure to civilized ways and the gentler nature of their religion. Among the Kolari a man attains heaven by being a great warrior. Among the Kolaro being a great warrior is something to be desired, but a man must be much more if he is to reach the "Lady's Palace."
NOTE - A woman's access to the afterlife varies as well. Among the Kolari she joins her husband as a shield-maiden and companion if his valor entitles him to serve god. The Kolaro believe that any woman who leads a moral life, and is a good wife and mother, becomes a Handmaiden of the goddess when she dies.
Legal System
The Kolari believe in trial by combat. Where one of the participants is helpless (a woman, an injured man or a child) a member of the White Mountain Society serves as champion for the duel. In all cases the winner of the duel is right. The loser, if he does not surrender and accept judgment first, is dead. The only penalty among the Kolari is a weregild. All weregilds are a specified weight of iron that must be paid within one year. Any person who fails to make good this debt is banished.
The Kolaro are more civilized. The Peace Chief of the clan acts as judge in all disputes. His decision is law. The penalties that he can levy are a weregild and death. If the penalty is death, or the weregild is not paid within a year, the felon is banished unarmed into Kolari lands. If, at any time after that, he is found in the lands of the Kolaro he is killed.
Both groups have a dual clan chieftainship. The Peace Chief rules during peace. The War Chief rules during war. In situations where an entire tribe, or group of tribes, is involved a council of the appropriate type of chiefs decides what to do.
NOTE - Among the Kolari a warrior may refuse to accept the decision of his chief and do what he wants (which can lead to duels and other difficulties). Among the Kolari, warriors forfeit this right once they agree to join in a war or communal effort that a chief is leading. They cannot honorably refuse to obey him at this point.
Allies
The Kolaro trade with the Fomorians of Xan and Atler. The Kolari have no allies but are friendly toward Dirllaran traders and Goidanese raiders.
Enemies
The two Kolari groups detest each other. The Kolari hate the Korchi and distrust the Fomorians. The Kolaro kill Climans on sight, but do not go out of their way to find Climans to kill.
Language
| Kolari | |||
| Climan | 0% | (10%) | |
| Fomorian | 5% | (20%) | |
| Goidanese | 10% | (5%) | |
| Korchi | 15% | (5%) |
NOTE - The values in parentheses are used for the Kolaro. Both groups have a 100% chance of speaking Kolari as a native tongue.
Basic Characteristics
| Height | 71" | |
| Weight | 185lbs |
Favored Weapons
Broad Sword, Hammers and Axes
Earth Equivalent
Scot, Welsh, Celts of Brittany
Other Notes
The Kolari use leather armor and scalemail. They always carry a shield in battle if they are not fighting as an archer. Their everyday garments are fur or leather. Among the Kolaro, Fomorian cloth is used extensively.