Nami

[K Hill-country farmers] Pastoral people. A stout and hardy people, ruddy of skin, with curly hair and dark eyes. Ears slightly pointed. Average 5'7 & 160# male, 5'3 & 140# female.

They live in high-peaked, wood-frame and thatch houses, with a hearth toward the mouth, that have no windows, but at the front is a gate that opens the house wide and is often left open but in the coldest weather, and above a grating that lets in light and air. They are organized by clan, though not warlike. They grow potatoes, keep goats, pigs, and shaggy mountain ponies. The goats are tended by dogs and youngsters. They make mead and a variety of infusions of herbs in potato liquor with potent effect. They make iron tools and simple weapons. Swords (except a leaf-shaped short sword) and armor (save shields) and anything mechanical come from trade or heritage. They also eat venison, goat's meat, cheese and butter.

They love the mountains where they live, and know them well. Through the care of the place, the place cares for them. Their dead are given to the mountain that gave them all-they are placed in caves about the hills. These caves contain the ghosts and may be used for knowledge of the past by those who can see such things. However, they can also be used by the wicked to create demons and demon-power. As such, the caves are protected by the people, and their locations closely held secrets, and for strangers to enter them is utterly taboo and punishable by death.

They dress in leathers and wool. Illustration here.

Favored weapons are knives, axes, spears, bows, clubs, staves, and slings. There are also a fair number of swords and other arms from ancient tradition and purchase. Any can use a sling and staff-these are learned for the protecting of the goats. Even the round and pleasant mother-woman and her eight year-old daughter can sling stones. They have no bullets for their slings, however. Most men and a good portion of women can shoot and fight with weapons. For armor, they may wear heavy leathers of their goats, and carry shields. They also make war masks of boiled leather and fearsome decoration (these are DEF 3, but not from behind).

Many of the Nami are gifted from the mountains. Gifts include Animal speaking, fast-running, far-seeing, talking with ghosts, keen-scenting, and many others.

Morhirrim

[E Plateau Horse people] Black hair, copper skin, long faces, long pointed ears. Tall & thin. 6'4" & 165# male, 6'1" 140# female.

Migrant hunters and warriors. Travel in family bands with clan ties.

Wear antelope skin, furs, and wools from goat people. Trade horses, meat, furs, drink horse milk. Also trade with Salts for their crafts, making them the conduit for many Salts goods. They have many fine weapons from the Salts, and some are said to know their way into the Red Rocks to the hidden countries of the Smiths. They have little armor, except what may be easily carried and often worn, but what they have is of high quality. Men wear horse skull helmets, and women beaten copper helmest styled to look like vulture skulls. They suffer no one to cross the High Plateau but by their leave. They live in tents.

The Morhirrim give their dead to the vultures. Their shaman thus are vulture tamers, and receive gifts from them. They do not guard their dead, trusting that to the High Plateau, but will viciously pursue anyone thought to defile a grave. Apart from their shaman, they have few gifts

Riparian ("River People")

[N River People] Gypsy people. Gray-eyed, fair-skinned, dark-haired, and slender. Ears round. Average 5'10 & 160# male, 5'7 & 140# female.

They ply the Rivers Asalath and Dreams in long boats domed over with rounded roofs. They travel downstream by current and an oar, they travel upstream by a single square sail. They fish some, but mostly they trade. They offer some potions and fortune-telling to the kingdom, including especially a potion that induces pleasant and sometimes prophetic visions (hallucinations).

There are some of the Riparian who have left the Kingdom, traveling up the River of Dreams into Sigilind's Forest. What has become of them is not known, but they don't return.

Their diet consists of fish and bread and whatever else they can trade for with the people. They like pepper and whiskey. They dress in linen and wool. They use oil lamps to keep warm on their boats.

The Riparian are gifted from the river. Gifts include potions and prophecies, and many mystical things. Face-changing, shadow-walking, and long breath-holding.

Sanfirth ("The Kingdom")

[Q "The Kingdom of Asalath"] Fair, brown, gray eyed, round ears. 5' 10 & 170# male, 5' 4 & 140# female.

Stratified society with peasant farmers in villages working on outlying farms for lords, garrisons, and an expansion-oriented royalty. They have cavalry, and thoroughly outfitted armies, making their own weapons and armor. Nobles may have ancient arms of greater quality, but the rest is quite ordinary. They are also sea-going, having a few "roundships" that make trading journeys up and down the coast and to the continent and the Æfyr Island. They carry on active trade with the foreign sea traders (whose ships are more sea-worthy) and are at open war with the Sea Warriors. They build their own castles.

Peasants and lesser nobles dwell in daub and wattle homes, wear linen and wool. Greater nobles live in stone manors or castles, and may wear silks as well. Grow wheat and oats and barley and peas. Cattle, pigs, sheep, fowl. Eat bread, pottage, eggs, cheese, and meat. Nobles get wine by trade and potato-liquor by trade.

They have Temples dedicated to the God of Earth and Water. Priests have some gifts, but no one else does. The dead of peasants are buried in mass open graves guarded by priest-soldiers. The dead of nobles are buried in great stone tombs.

Skarling

[P Foresters] Round, mousy, mossy. Ears layered, eyes gray. 5'4 160# male, 5' 140# female

A gentle, peaceful people. Hospitable to strangers, invisible to enemies. Like music and old things. Make maple syrup. They gather mushrooms, apples, acorns, and forest greens, raid nests, and trap birds and small animals. They trade for metal, but most of their tools are made easily of wood or bone. Their homes are crude log huts. Their clothes are made of a cloth of pounded bark and furs, and are simple in cut.

Some live within the Kingdom and are subject to it, the others prefer to hide.

Their gifts tend to focus around music and song and wilderness.

Arslandings

[U Lion people] Tawny, bristly hair, pointable cat ears, golden cat eyes, cat feet. 6'0 150#male, 5'6 120# female.

An ancient people that range across the southern edge of Erdan. They live with and love panthers. They eat small game. They make their own weapons of fine quality, and travel often, crossing the seas in sailed canoes with outriggers. Some may change form. They are fleet, quiet, and sure of foot. They like knowing things, and they know much.

Salts