Izendorn Barbarian Cultural Packet (JLF)

I. Overview

The Barbarians inside of Izendorn have many similarities to those throughout Tyrra. They are suspicious of sky (Celestial) magics, superstitious, and very driven by clan identity. Loyalty is perhaps the strongest personality quality among the Barbarians of Izendorn. Their clans are usually named for/after animals, animal affectations, or plant affectations (i.e. Bear Tooth, Tiger's Claw, Oak Leaf, etc.)

II. History and Legends:

A. History:

The history of Izendorn is full of clashes between the ruling Elves and Barbarians. The most recent and most destructive war was in the area of the Andorn Ruins. The Barbarians of this area tell many stories of the battles and of the ghosts from both sides that still walk the land.

B. Legends:

Three great legends are shared among the clans of Izendorn.

1. First is the legend of Vagoda, King of the Wise Peoples. Vagoda was fabled to be the first Barbarian in many ways. He was the first to learn how to keep fire. The first to find where the deer sleep. He was also the first to lead the great clans. Leading the great clans had been his life's dream. Before Vagoda, the clans only fought each other. Never did they share knowledge or food. They fended for themselves, which left the Barbarians open to attacks from the other Races. Vagoda taught all Barbarians a common language and how to hunt for food and to defend each other. Soon the clans trusted each other. They would continue to struggle to be over all leader, but the examples set by Vagoda have lead to greater friendship among most of the Barbarian Clans.

2. The second great legend is of the Birth of the Sun and the Moon. Once all of Tyrra was in darkness. Peoples lived in great fear. During this time of the Great Darkness, a nameless Barbarian warrior looked into his fire and wondered why the sky could drop fire on the land but not have it stay in the sky. After three nights of asking the fire he tended why these things were this way, the fire rose up, took the form of a person and sat next to the warrior. He told the warrior that to put fire in the sky would bring unhappiness to the land. If people could see the difference that surrounded them, they would become scared and other bad things would happen. The warrior knew that fire always spoke untruths and was only a tool of those that wanted to cause real harm. When the fire man slid back into the fire, the warrior made a decision: he would return to the sky some of the fire that it had shared with the land. When he woke from his sleep, the warrior took a burning log and began to climb a mountain. When he was halfway up the mountain he stopped to drink from a lake. As he finished drinking, a large snake slid out of the water and asked the warrior where he was heading. The warrior said that he was headed to the peak of the mountain to return some fire to the sky and perhaps bring some light to Tyrra. The snake, a distrustful and tricky creature, feared the fire and was sure that if the warrior reached the peak that all snakes would need to hide under rocks to be able to hunt for food to hide from all the heat and the light that fire gives man. As the warrior slept the snake tried to drag the burning log into the lake. But the warrior was smart and quickly drew his knife and cut off the snake's head. With a dead snake, the warrior now had a second way to ensure he had fire to carry to the peak. So he lit the snakeskin with the fire. Unlike the wood, the skin burn a cool, gray color. But it also sizzled and the warrior could see poison seeping out of the burning skin. So he threw the skin into the air. At that moment the poison ignited and the sky was filled a bright silver flash. Once his eyes adjusted, he saw a large silver disc floating in the air above the lake. The warrior was please and when the silver disc slipped behind the hills he felt sleepy and slept. When the disc came up again the warrior knew that it would never have enough light to bring Tyrra out of the Great Darkness. With his task still unfinished he began climbing towards the peak. The silvery light was helpful, but the warriors fire lead the true way. But since it had been burning for close to three days the log was getting very small and soon it would be gone. The warrior was about to give up when a bird landed in front of him. The bird offered to carry the log into the air and help cast the fire's light in a greater circle so the warrior could find another log. The warrior knew that birds were incapable of lying and trusted that he would help. But the bird refused to carry the log when the sliver disc was in the air. For although many birds eat snakes the opposite could happen as well and the bird feared that the sliver disc could catch him. The warrior agreed to wait and both he and the bird rested while the silver disc raced slowly across the sky. When they woke the disc was gone, but the fire was almost out. Quickly the bird took hold of the remains of the log and flew straight up into the air. As he rose higher and higher, the warrior saw that there was no wood around him. He called up to the bird and asked him to flight higher and to cross over the sky so searching would be easier. The warrior worked very hard, but could not find a piece of wood on the top of the mountain. When he asked the bird to come back down and rest the bird replied that he heard the spirit of the snake coming and promised to return after the silver disc was gone again. The warrior waited and waited. Every time he woke the bird with the bright fire was up in the sky carrying the log, but he would not come down. Always claiming that the snake was right behind him. So the warrior left the mountain, grateful for the Sun and the light of day, and rested when the Moon rose to chase after it. But the bird was wise and kept the snake so very busy, so some nights the snake has to look in different directions to seek the bird. Till this day, the night will follow the day, but the snake has never caught the bird.

3. The last shared legend is known simply by the lesson it taught: Patience. Once upon a time two Barbarians were walking along a road in the rain. It had been raining for many, many day so when they reached a river that they needed to cross the first could not wait, for he wanted to be home from his travels and life on the road. He turned to his traveling companion and told him that brave people like themselves could easily swim across such a river and be home by that evening. The second shook his head and told his friend that the rain was almost over and that if they waited, soon this river would be a stream and they could safely walk home to their families. The first was not able to agree. He yelled at his friend and pleaded with him to try and swim across. It was getting late and they could smell the cook fires of home. The second sat on the bank of the river and again told his friend that he was going to wait. In anger and haste, the first drove into the water. At first he was doing well but then the current grew stronger and he found himself slipping further down stream from his home. He swam as hard as he could. And lost all track of time. For him it was only a very long, wet swim. But he finally made it home. He dragged himself ashore. Once he found his strength again, walked toward his clan's home place. He was sure that since he hadn't waited he had beaten his friend home. But as he came into the clearing of his clan's home he saw his friend, well rested and offering him food. The first took the food and noticed that his friend's beard had grown a great deal and that the food he was now eating did not smell like the food he had smelled just before diving into the water. When their meal was complete the first Barbarian asked the second how he had beaten him home, since he had only swam for a little while. The second Barbarian smiled and told his friend that for two days and nights he waited for the river to fall back into its banks. Then he had simply crossed it. He had expected to find his friend waiting, but did not. For a week he waited and had almost given up all hope. But then his friend walked into the clearing. Time may pass, but like the bonds of friendship; his willingness to take the time and wait, will be rewarded the most.

III. Life

A. Childhood: Much of the childhood of Izendorn barbarians is spent learning to survive in their semi-nomadic lifestyle. The earliest duties are learning how to pack and carry their homes. Later the children how to clean what has been hunted or gathered. Eventually, the talents of the child are learned through this to decide who the hunters, gatherers, healers, etc. will be. To gain adulthood, a journey is undertaken during which the they must complete a task fulfilling the role they will take as adults in the tribe. When they return, the children must tell the story of the journey and the task in order to be recognized as adults.

B. Marriage: Marriage rites vary from tribe to tribe. One of the more common rites involves an exchange of weapons and one or both of the parties proving battle or hunting capabilities. The father must give consent to marriage of daughters in many of the tribes. The number of wives permitted varies according to both the tribe and the rank of the male within it. No one is permitted more wives than the chief, and it is considered an arrogant act to take as many wives of the chief.

C. Government: The largest group of tribes currently lives in and around Andorn. They live in cooperation under the rule of Chief Roc of the Bear Tooth clan. While they are patriarchal, both genders may take lead roles in the tribe as hunters or warriors, or as healers. There are other tribes in Izendorn outside of this group, but they are small.