The Robari
The Robari are hunters and miners who have lived in their mountains for an unknown length of time. (They were there when the Rogizini first found the area. Their calendar dates back more than 6,000 years.) The Robari name for their mountains, Chovani Schis'ta, means "the Pillow of the Dead God." The current year is the 6,319th winter of the Dead God. Their legend states that a great god, sorely wounded by his enemies, laid his head on the mountains when he died. Where his head was caressed by the mountain, a great treasure came into being. Where his blood struck the earth, the Robari were born. If the legend is true, the treasure is yet to be found.
Population
The Robari tribes are the Roban (18,000), the Aravan (14,000), the Khelan (10,000) and the Ullan (8,000). Their total population is 50,000. They can field 10,000 warriors.
Economy
A simple barter system operates in this land.
Religion
The Robari worship the spirits of their mountains and the god Vahagn.
Personality
Personal honor is important to the Robari. They enjoy war but seek peace. They are noted for strong family ties and a total distrust of foreigners.
They despise the Rogizini and never trust a man from that nation for any reason. They are a suspicious people with no capacity to forgive or forget.
Legal System
Robari families are ruled by their elders. They control day - to - day affairs and lead in wartime. Where a man's personal honor is questioned, or assaulted, he is his own judge and does what his honor demands.
The Robari use trial by combat (to first blood only) to resolve minor crimes and trial by fire for major crimes. In trial by combat, the first one cut is guilty. He must pay a weregild or be banished until he can. In trial by fire, the suspect thrusts his hand into a flame and slowly states his innocence.
If he pulls his hand out, or makes a sound other than his declaration, before he is done, he is guilty. The penalty for guilt in these cases is death. (The ritual statement of innocence takes ten seconds to recite. The warrior may choose which hand to thrust into the flame. Politeness requires that it be the right hand. It is considered to be gauche to use the "hand of evil" in this trial.)
NOTE - The statement of innocence is: "By Vahagn, by the dying blood, by the treasure that cannot be seen, I (name), child of the (clan), am as guiltless as the dying god".
Allies
The Robari, especially the Ullan, like Ma'Helans. They are quick to trust people from this nation that are worthy of it.
Enemies
The Robari consider the Rogizini to be swine. They dislike the A'ha'kacili and Fomorians. These enemies rarely survive a journey into Robari lands.
Language
| Robari | |
| Fomorian | 5% |
| Rogizini | 5% |
| Sair'a'cili | 5% |
| Matan | 20% |
Basic Characteristics
| Height | 67" | |
| Weight | 170lbs |
Favored Weapons
Poleaxe, Broadsword and Spear
Earth Equivalent
Arabs of East Africa, non - Berber only
Other Notes
The Robari use leather armor, helmets and shields in war. For common wear, they favor simple robes with full face coverings and cowls.
Calendar (Seasonal)
At the beginning of time, a warrior god was set upon by the demons of the desert and their master Khesek. Though he slew thousands, he could not stand before the black power of Khesek while beset on all sides. In time he fell, mortally wounded. As death sought to claim him, his life's blood percolated into the womb of the earth. From this meeting of earth and divine essence, two great treasures were born; the Robari and another - as yet unknown (but believed to be a place where extreme wealth can be gained). The Robari calendar dates from the death of this god, whose name is not known. It is the 6319th winter of the dying god's death.