Northern Wastes The Northern Wastes was an area in the north of Kara - Tur . Geography . Though used by many peoples , the name " Northern Wastes " was misleading , as it was in fact a very diverse and interesting part of Kara - Tur , not to be confused with the Land of the Snow Demons and permafrost further north . The Northern Wastes was a little - known land , at least in its northern parts , but its southern parts were much better known . Often these lands were called the Ama Basin in honor of the great Ama River flowing in these lands . There were also the Koryaz Mountains and plenty of forests and swamps . People . There were several native tribes , such as the Issacortae , the Pazruki , and the Wu - haltai , three of the most powerful and influential . They differed from each other in culture and custom . The Issacortae were the most closely knit tribe , while the Wu - haltai very rarely made inter - clan alliances and remained fairly isolated . There were also many small tribes living in the area . There were also immigrants from the Plain of Horses , the Land of the Snow Demons , and other lands . Some were very undeveloped tribes that still used stone or bronze implements ; their origins were unknown , but some were korobokuru . As all these tribes lacked systems of writing , the history of the Northern Wastes was little known . Hengeyokai . Hengeyokai appeared all over Kara - Tur , but their society flourished in the wild lands of the Ama Basin . They often became defenders of the human tribes . Korobokuru . Quite common in these lands were the korobokuru , with villages scattered around all Ama Basin . Each village was independent but often on friendly terms with its neighbors . Usually , each village was ruled by a leader and two deputies , all elected by the tribal elders . These three leaders declared laws , made judgements , and punished the guilty . The three leaders were in turn controlled by the elders who represented the people . The death penalty was never applied in korobokoru society ; punishments usually involved beating , exile , or psychological pain . Many human outsiders believed that the korobokuru were wild tribes who lived in savage lands . Many korobokuru women tattooed their hands and faces with blue ink , which many outsiders found frightful , particular southerners . Korobokuru life was quite difficult , and they worked hard just to survive . They lived in small villages , and grew vegetables , hunted , and fished . When they had the time , they regaled each other with stories and songs around the campfire , and danced , play games , and drank beer . Most korobokuru were peaceful and did not come into conflict . Favorite weapon of the korobokuru living in the Northern Wastes were the axe , club , knife , spring bow ( a device similar to the light crossbow used for deer hunting ) , and sword . They wore clothing made of animal wool . Maraloi . The Maraloi were a legendary race who once ruled the land around the Ama Basin . This race was very strong and powerful , used bronze weapons and possessed powerful magic . In the Pazruk language , Maraloi meant " ancient lords " . They were known to be special enemies of the oni , ogre magi , and lesser humanoids and they are quite successful in their dominance until iron became common in the Ama Basin . Nothing was known of what happened to this ancient race , but their ruins stood in the Koryaz Mountains . Spirit Folk . In the rivers of the Northern Wastes were often found spirit folk . What they did and their aims , no one could say . However , these spirits were often worshiped by native tribes desiring a good catch or to avert a flood . The most famous of the folk spirit was Lasishal Ama , who lived within the Ama River , the source of her vitality . She aided heroes and was a scourge of those who ruined the land . Foreigners . These lands were a destination of many adventurers and explorers in Kara - Tur , and many exiles and fugitives also fled here , as it was an inhospitable land . Fur traders , merchants , and miners of the Koryaz Mountains made up the rest of the foreign visitors , as well as a few kensai masters and wu jen hermits . Shamanism . In the Northern Wastes , all those who used and understood magic were known as shaman s . Most ordinary people did not distinguish between wu jen from shugenjas : both were able to conjure magic and were therefore shamans , and nothing else mattered . In all the human and humanoid tribes , shamans played a very important role as healers and magicians . The key part of their faith was , the belief in spirits . The followers of this faith believed that all that surrounded them , from stones to the sun had spirit , and in some circumstances they must be worshiped . Shamans thus provided a connection between the spiritual world and the material , between spirits and living beings . Specific beliefs varied ; some tribes worshiped a particular animal , thinking that only this animal had a spirit , while others worshiped many gods of nature . While the customs and rituals of these animists were always different , they had one thing in common , in that they always respected nature . Many animists were very similar to the druid s : they were always in close contact with nature , and always protected it . Korobokuru Shamanism . Korobokuru society did not have priests at all , as all religious services were performed by heads of their households . However , some members of korobokuru society had magical powers like wu jen , although the korobokuru called them tusu . Tusu often fulfilled the role of shamans and were almost all women . Social Customs . The tribes of the Northern Wastelands had a huge number of taboos and superstitions , varying by nation , tribe , clan , or person . For example , in the Wu - haltai believed that if fishermen were to catch an overly large fish , then it should be immediately thrown back , because it belonged to the Lord of the Sea or the Guardians of Rivers . People claimed that the person who broke a taboo would suffer bad luck .