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The Balazaring culture of Balazar is isolated and
somewhat xenophobic. They are superficially similar to the Votanki tribes
Who Are You?
I am Skaylof Sharp Eye, hunter of the Winter Hawk
tribe. You may call me honored elder or Elder Skaylof
Elder Skaylof, Who Are We?
You belong to my tribe, the Winter Hawk. We are
allied to the Citadel of Dykene. We are the descendants of Votank and
followers of Balazar.
Elder Skaylof, What Makes Us Great?
Our skills at war and the hunt make us great. Our
obedience and loyalty to the teachings of Votank, Balazar, and
Grandmother Earth make us wise.
Elder Skaylof, What is the Difference Between
Men and Women?
The difference between men and women is that men
are the hunters while women are the gatherers. Men are the protectors
of the tribe's safety, while women look after the sacred fires, the
food supplies and bear the children. These paths were determined by
our ancestors for our own good. Both sexes are needed for a tribe to
survive. To be the Great Hunter is the most honored position a
Balazaring can achieve. This status is rarely achieved by women as
they rarely belong to cult of Foundchild.
Elder Skaylof, Where Do We Live?
We live in the land called Balazar near the
Citadel of Dykene..
Elder Skaylof, How Do We Live?Men hunt and
make war while women gather. Some women trade with outlanders like
the Issaries merchant Joh Mith.
Elder Skaylof, What Is Important In My Life?
Living well and being an asset to the tribe during
the hunt and in war. Honoring the gods, the spirits of the land and
our ancestors are also important.
Elder Skaylof, Who Rules Us?
The chief elders of the Winter Hawk makes
suggestions that we usually follow (when they are good ones that is!)
We are allied with Dykene so we pay attention to what King Skilful Heart-piercer
says as well.
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Elder Skaylof, What Makes A Man Great?
Prowess in the hunt and war makes a man great.
Obedience and respect to the ways of our ancestors and respect for
each other also makes one great. The man who wins the title of Master
Hunter of all of the Foundchild cult is great and this is the
greatest honor we can attain.
Elder Skaylof, What is Evil?
Chaos is evil, the horsemen from the north are
evil. Non-humans and outlanders are not automatically evil but they
mustn't be trusted. None of these respect our traditional ways and
all of them can cause evil to befall us.
Elder Skaylof, What Is My Lot In Life?
You are lucky to have been born a Balazaring. We
come from a great tradition and live in a hard but worthy land. Only
here in Balazar can a man find the challenges needed to make life
worth living.
Elder Skaylof, How Do We Deal With Others?
By avoiding them whenever possible. Others can
bring about bad changes like when the Lunars conquered Elkoi and
changed the place forever. If they come to us with friendly words and
an outstretched hand check to see whether their other hand is behind
their back holding a dagger or sword..
Elder Skaylof, Who Are Our Enemies?
Most non-humans are our enemies, especially trolls
and elves. Dwarves are the friends of King Skilful so they are our
friends too. We must always be wary of people from other citadels but
they are not automatically our enemies. The northern horsemen are our
enemies when they raid us but that hasn't happened for many years
(thank Balazar and Yemalio!!).
Elder Skaylof, Who Are Our Gods?
We worship Balazar, Yemalio Foundchild, Brother
Dog, Grandfather Votank, Grandmother Earth, and Fire. We also worship
the spirits of the land.
Elder Skaylof, What Is There To Do Around Here?
Hunt and live well. Learn the traditions of our
tribe and the skills you will need to survive and contribute. Honor
and worship the gods and spirits and be a good tribesman. Enjoy your
moments of leisure and the ceremonies of worship when they occur. |