Adventures in Arcadayn
Desert Men Tribes
By Tim Emrick

Geography: Antelope Tribe is located in southeastern Lowmarch, at the desert's closest approach to the Yangar River.

Military: Antelope tribesmen favor bows, shortswords and small shields.

Nonhumans: Werehorses (very rare; Horse tribe has most of these).

Antelope Tribe uses horses for travel, with some camels. Due to its (mostly) friendly contact with Krith, Mal-Kashahadin is the most commonly known dialect of the Desert Tongue outside of the Sandmarch. Clothing is a mixture of native and Krithian styles (though traveling garb remains tribal). Veils are common only among unmarried women.

The town of Ulidel (a Krithian corruption of "Tel Yuli"), at the eastern end of the "Safemarch," is a joint trading post of the Desert Men and Krith. This town is small (only about 1,000 permanent residents), but has two influential co-governors, one Krithian, one Antelope.

Geography: Camel Tribe is located in the western Highmarch.

Military: Camel tribesmen favor bows, scimitars and bucklers.

Nonhumans: Lizard men (desert).

Camel Tribe uses exclusively camels for transport. The chieftain here is known as the Talik, or Warlord--the Camel are second only to the Horse in warlike tendencies.

This tribe uses heliographs for long-distance communication. (Other tribes are trying to copy this system, with limited success.)

Geography: Cat Tribe is located in the eastern Highmarch, being the first tribe after the "Safemarch" leaves Antelope Tribe.

Military: Cat tribesmen favor slings, shortswords and bucklers. They are usually a peaceful tribe, but their skills at stealth and ambush insure their continued existence.

Nonhumans: Lizard men (desert).

The Cat Tribesmen prefer not to use animals for transport. They keep cats and a few other small animals as pets, and the nobles use caracals (desert lynxes) for hunting.

Kel-Mubik has the strictest modesty taboos of the eight tribes. Women here are always veiled (except for dancers, when performing), and many men favor the custom as well.

Geography: Eagle Tribe is located in the north central Lowmarch.

Military: Eagle tribesmen favor bows, scimitars and medium shields.

Nonhumans: (none?)

Eagle Tribe uses horses for transport. Under the leadership of "Amara" (real name unknown), they are recovering from a disastrous battle with the Horse Tribe about 8 years ago. This tribe has hired many Alasaz to replace the men lost in that war.

Geography: The Horse Tribe are located in the northeastern Lowmarch, near both the Karyan Steppes and the central Yangar River valley.

Military: Horse tribesmen favor slings, scimitars and small shields.

Nonhumans: Werehorses.

Horse Tribe uses no beasts of burden except horses, and revere blood-colored (bay) horses above all others. The tribe is theocratic, dominated by the Horse Duz (who are equivalent to a Bloodletter Cult). Like their priests, the warriors of the Horse are bloodthirsty and savage, and are greatly feared throughout the Sandmarch and Westmarch alike.

Sample Horse customs:

1. The Crown of War: When a new Kafi (chieftain) succeeds to the rulership of Kel-Dakaran, his first act is to declare war on a neighbor (either another tribe, or Krith). The current Kafi, Lafar, came to power 8 years ago, and decimated the Eagle Tribe while wearing the Crown of War.

2. Blood & Milk: The Horse traditionally drink mare's blood mixed with mare's milk in their religious rituals. The Ashas (heads of households) also offer this drink to guests, both as an honor and a test. Those who refuse to drink insult their host; those who fail to stomach the drink merely shame themselves. Roll against HT or Savoir-Faire (Horse Tribe) to swallow the drink without nausea; failure meaning vomiting: stunned for 15 turns, then roll against HT each turn to recover. Horse tribesmen roll at +4; Bloodletters (of any cult) only fail on a critical failure; Strong Will gives a bonus to the HT roll; squeamishness, Nervous Stomach, and Weak Will give penalties.

Geography: Jackal Tribe is located in the central Highmarch, along the "Safemarch."

Military: Jackal tribesmen favor bows, shortswords and small shields.

Nonhumans: Lizard men (desert).

The Jackal Tribe uses both horses and camels. They are very highly skilled warriors, and ever-vigilant, but rarely aggressive without provocation. While the Antelope is the most "mercantile" of the eight tribes, Jackal Tribe produces the master merchants who travel the interior of the desert.

Geography: Lark Tribe is found in the northern Highmarch, near the edge of the plateau, where they build cave dwellings in the cliffs.

Military: Lark tribesmen favor slings, shortswords and bucklers. Lark warriors rarely distinguish themselves among the tribes, but this tribe's choice of remote, hidden dwellings gives them an edge in defense.

Nonhumans: Lizard men (desert).

The Lark Tribe uses both horses and camels.  They are pedocratic, ruled by sages and scholars (many of whom are Duz). The current Mutafa (chieftain) is Fikaril, a woman whose voice and beauty are legendary among the desert tribes.

Except when traveling or working out-of-doors, this tribe favors clothing that would be considered scandalous in any other desert tribe. (Their modesty taboos are far different from those of other tribes, but are strict in their own way.) This tribe is considered to have the most handsome features among the Kelduzi, and the best houris in the eight tribes are trained here.

Geography: The Mantis Tribe lives in the far eastern Lowmarch. The "Safemarch" ends somewhere in this region, but is harder to follow here than elsewhere.

Military: Mantis tribesmen outside their home territory are known to use bows, swords of various kinds, and bucklers.

Very little is known about this tribe. One trademark custom is that the men wear veils and the women do not. These tribesmen are very secretive, and are believed to consort with the much-feared Kaggen (a sentient race of mantis-men). Some speculate that this tribe controls the Alasaz, but others point out that the Alasaz will associate with other tribes, while Mantis tribesmen will not.

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