United Barbarian Tribes (The Servant)

The United Barbarian Tribes, also known as the Grand Barbarian Horde, Confederation of Bul-Kathos, or Sonya's Horde is a tribal confederation of the remaining barbarian tribes united and lead by Queen Sonya.
== History ==
=== The Vigil ===
The Barbarian tribes' origins lie in a time before recorded history. It is written in the Scéal Fada that it was Bul-Kathos and Fiacla-Géar who agreed that in order to safeguard the Worldstone, their people would have to devote the entirety of their lives to the task. Their ideas on how to best approach the task differed however, and while Géar took his followers to Scosglen, Bul-Kathos gathered the Barbarian tribes of the Northern Steppes. Tasked with defending the Worldstone, Barbarian culture was built around its defense. To better protect their lands, they adopted a nomadic lifestyle constantly moving around the Northern Steppes and possessing few permanent settlements.
==== Worusk ====
Originally the Barbarians roamed the entire western continent of Sanctuary. During a period of inter-tribal warfare c. -1700 AK, the barbarian Worusk was able to unite them and for a brief time, the barbarians were brought together under a single king, the first Immortal King. The Barbarian kingdom stretched as far to the jungles of the south. Under his reign, the Council of Elders was formed in Harrogath. Even after his death, the Council remained as a governing body, which helped to keep barbarian society generally united under common cause.
==== The Samaurenian Empire ====
Around -651 the Samaurenian Empire was born in the Dry Steppes, under various leaders called paneps. In -642 the Sasmaurenians invaded the Northern Steppes, conquering vast swathes of territory, and establishing a new capital in the region. This brought them into immediate conflict with the barbarian tribes, many of whome the Samaurenians interred into labor camps. However, the Samauren Empire was short-lived. It's last panep, Loren, vowed to conquer the all of the barbarians, but instead an alliance of barbarian tribes headed by the Oxen Tribe struck back. Liberating the labor camps, the Oxen Tribe crushed the Samaurenians at the Battle of the Blood Oak in -593. A year later the barbarians besieged the capital city of the Samaurenians. Although the commander of the Oxen Tribe was slain, the femal warriro Raekor rallied her people and sacked the city, personally killing Loren and effectively ending the Samaurenian Empire.
=== The Coming of Rakkis ===
During the mid-tenth century, a crusade was launched from the East to bring the Zakarum faith to the lands of the West. Battling against the Sons of Rakkis, the Barbarians lost control of much of the West. However, Rakkis's forces could never conquer the Northern Steppes.
=== Vigil Continued ===
The Children of Bul-Kathos kept themselves isolated from the rest of Sanctuary, and while they would permit some trade with the outside world, this would only occur at the border of their territory. All intrusions into the territory surrounding Mount Arreat were forbidden, and warriors from the northern tribes were quick to thwart any incursions from foes. Because of their savagery in battle, the people of the Western Kingdoms frequently called them "barbarians," and regarded them as bloodthirsty invaders. Regardless, the barbarians stood ready, as the Prophecies of the Final Day declared that a time would come when Hell would surge forward, seeking to undo the works of the Ancients in a final conflict.
=== Uileloscadh Mór ===
When news of Diablos re-emergence at Tristram spread, a small number of Barbarian warriors began roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the recent activities of the Prime Evils. One of their number made contact with a group of other heroes, and the Horadric scholar Deckard Cain. The group tracked Diablo from Khanduras to Aranoch, the jungles of Kurast, and even the fires of Hell itself. Diablo and Mephisto were defeated, but Baal, the final Prime Evil, remained unaccounted for. The Lord of Destruction headed north, building an army as he did so, intent on corrupting the Worldstone. The Prophecies of the Final Day had been fulfilled. Uileloschadh Mór had begun.
By all accounts, the Barbarians fought ferociously, living up to their reputation as Sanctuary's hardiest warriors. Yet it was not enough. At Daken-Shar, the Barbarian defenders were eradicated almost to the last man. Sescheron, their capital, was sacked. Eventually, all that stood between Baal and the Arreat Summit was Harrogath and its defenders. In desperation, the town's elders sacrificed themselves as part of a warding spell to create a protective barrier around the settlement. Only Nihlathak survived.
Baal's forces lay siege, and Barbarian defenders suffered for it. The heroes who had slain Baal's brothers arrived however, and did all they could to break the siege. However, their efforts were overshadowed by Nihlathak's actions, who had bartered the Relic of the Ancients to Baal in exchange for Harrogath being spared. With the relic, Baal could scale Mount Arreat unopposed by its guardians.
Both Nihlathak and Baal met their end at the hands of the heroes, but Baal had already corrupted the Worldstone. To save humanity, the archangel Tyrael was forced to destroy it. Through his actions, humanity was spared damnation, and Baal's army destroyed, but the cost to the Barbarian tribes was horrific. The resulting explosion leveled Mount Arreat and devastated the surrounding area. Toxic clouds of ash and arcane dust fell over the Steppes, the damage so horrific that it became known as the Dreadlands.
=== The Aftermath ===
In the years following Arreat's destruction, the peoples of Sanctuary began to understand the long and noble history the Barbarian culture once possessed, and became acknowledged. But with the destruction of the Worldstone and devastation of their homeland, many Barbarians lost faith. Some became aimless, haunted by their past, traveling from place to place without honor or direction. Some Barbarians left Arreat and struck out to battle evil, in atonement for their failed stewardship. Other tribes fell into regression, becoming akin to unreasoning beasts and, in some cases, even cannibals. Some, however, still honor the harsh snows of Arreat's summit and prowl the outskirts of its crater, maintaining enclaves in isolated fortifications. They recall being handed axes and spears at an age when city children were clinging to their toys... and they burn with shame at the failure of their people. These Barbarians strive to find a new purpose for themselves in a changed world, and they will crush any who stand in their way.
A number of scattered barbarian clans remained on the Frozen Tundra, but they were scattered and isolated. They battled against the remnants of Baal's army, but they could either stand united or die divided. It was feared that if these tribes fell, the Army of Destruction would again be able to threaten Sanctuary. 
=== Honor Restored ===
The destruction of Arreat, the sole location the barbarians vowed to defend above all else, nearly destroyed those who survived, unable to bear the shame of their people. The Dreadlands became a demonic-infested blighted land, where crops were hard to grow and demons wandered freely. Many tribes died of starvation or were wiped out, and intertribal conflicts ranked up the death toll. For over 25 years this bloodshed and suffering continued, and if continued unabated, the Children of Bul-Kathos might have been extinguished altogether.
It was Sonya, the daughter of the previous ruler and one of the mighty Nephalem, that finally brought hope to her people. Since 1285 she had already become legendary, thanks to her actions against Diablo, and for five years after she roamed the Dreadlands, fighting demons and any who got in her way. The barbarians grew to revere, but remain distant, from her, a warrior of bitter wrath.
In 1290, however, something changed, and Sonya began appearing before rival tribes, and commanding that they come together once again. Some allied with her, and she defeated the chieftains of those who opposed her. In Harrogath, a great conclave was assembled, and there the tribes were brought together once more to finally retake their capital of Sesheron. In the aftermath, Sonya was crowned as the first Immortal Queen, and the United Barbarian Tribes were born.
== Government ==
=== Administration ===
The barbarians are united almost totally under Sonya, thanks in part to her heritage as the daughter of the previous king, and a master warrior who has successfully defeated and gained fealty of every tribe. The ruler of the entire collective is given the title of Immortal King or Queen, as well as Chief of Chiefs, signifying stewardship over all the other tribal chieftains. Assisting the Chief of Chiefs is the Council of Elders, composed of the most senior and important leaders of the other tribes. Each tribe maintains its own relative independence under their own chieftain, as well as with the key 
Serving a ritualistic but still vital symbolic service among the barbarians is the Keeper of the Flame. The Keeper of the Flame position is given by the ruler of the barbarians to an aged and respected individual, whose purpose is to recount and remember the sacred histories and stories of the barbarian peoples, as well as offer advice and consolidation during meetings.
=== Known Tribes/Clans ===
As of 1285, there are estimated to be 32 Barbarian tribes. Each tribe can trace its ancestry back to Bul-Kathos, and each sang epic sagas of their history. With the destruction of Mount Arreat, entire tribes were wiped out from existence. Each clan paints its warriors in a unique manner.
==== Bear Tribe ====
The Bear Tribe is a barbarian tribe, active prior to the destruction of the Worldstone. Those that hailed from the tribe were masters of the mace, and advocated a close grappling form of combat. This was in contrast to the style of the Crane Tribe (masters of the polearm), which valued distance, grace and the use of a single overwhelming blow in combat. Though the two clans were wary of each other for many generations, not long before the Worldstone's destruction, the nomadic peoples commingled and shared their powerful techniques with all who would learn.
The tribe was among those who fought against Rakkis in his attempted conquest of the Northern Steppes. Rakkis and his forces were eventually beaten back, but at the cost of many lives, including the tribe's chief.
==== Bone Tribe ====
The Bone Tribe, sometimes known as the Bone Clan, is a particularly gruesome and hostile tribe, known for taking the bones of their dead and those they slay and adorning their armor and clothing with it. They carve their runic script into these bones, believing that by carrying onto the remains of their ancestors the spirit of the fallen will strengthen them in battle.
==== Crane Tribe ====
Members of the Crane Tribe value distance, grace and a single overwhelming blow over the close grappling advocated by the Bear Tribe. Though the two clans were wary of each other for many generations, not long before the Worldstone's destruction, the nomadic peoples commingled and shared their powerful techniques with all who would learn. Crane warriors evolved their polearm techniques from dealing with mounted raiders and fighting in shallow river waters found in the Northern Steppes.
==== Henknoc Tribe ====
The Henknoc existed as far back as the days of the original barbarian kingdom (long before the coming of Rakkis), and resided in the jungles found on the southern end of the kingdom. At some point during this period, the Henknoc were in conflict with another tribe. However, when Korlic, leader of the Henknoc, rescued the son of the enemy tribe's chieftain, the conflict between the two tribes abated. Korlic was later summoned to guard the Worldstone, and the boy he saved took his place as tribal chief.
==== Owl Tribe ====
The Owl Tribe are one of the most "peaceful" tribes among the barbarians, namely due to their role as story-keepers and recorders of the ancient myths and legends of their people. The Owls, whenever they meet a new traveler or people, always ask for a new story or lesson or truth, and this is passed down to their elders, who teach it via oral tradition.
==== Oxen Tribe ====
The Oxen Tribe was a Barbarian tribe who fought against the invading Samuren Empire. They were present in the sacking of the empire's capital. A set of spaulders serve as the symbol of the tribe's warmaster.
==== Shadow Wolf Tribe ====
The Shadow Wolves are masters of the axe, and with the weapon, they seek to match the swiping claws and the biting teeth of the wolves that they lived with and fought beside. The first axes were but crude stones mounted on wooden shafts. But after the Barbarians learned the secret of steel and swords from Bul-Kathos, the axe soon fell into disfavor. Not long before the Worldstone's destruction however, warriors and smiths from the steppes perfected the axe as a weapon equal to (or greater than) the sword. The Shadow Wolf Tribe once again taught the swift and terrible power of the axe to those who wish to learn how to cull the weak from the herd and protect their pack from the legions of Hell.
==== Snake Tribe ====
Warriors of the Snake Tribe favor the spear and were known for their cold eyes and sibilant battle chants. Only seasoned warriors could apply to the spear the techniques of the Snake, a reminder that all foes can be defeated in time. These were lessons learned from the many dangerous Pit Vipers that bred among the steppes surrounding Mount Arreat.
==== Stag Tribe ====
A smaller tribe, the Stags have always been quick of action, famed for striking at their foe before retreating back, and thus are able to hamper foes much larger than they. 
==== Targos Tribe ====
The Targos Tribe, sometimes known as the Targos Clan, is a Barbarian clan. Its worships "the purifying virtue of pain." The Targos believe that by undergoing ritualistic suffering and pain, they can better prepare and train for the last battle of their people. Since the devastation of the Northern Steppe, they have grown even more zealous in nature. 
==== Tribe of Thunder ====
Of the barbarian people, the Tribe of Thunder was the first to draw upon the primal forces of the weather. Tornadoes ravaged their plains as summer turned to the harvest season. The shaman of the tribe interpreted the tornadoes as an omen of evil during times of peace, and as a harbringer of great victory during wartime. Observing the strength of the whirlwind, these Barbarians learned to emulate the swirling vortex of the cyclone in their attacks. As time went on and the tribes intermingled, the ability to attack in the manner of the whirlwind was passed down to all of the barbarian people.
==== Other Tribes ====
* Raven Tribe
* Bat Tribe
* Fish Tribe
* Eagle Tribe
* Spider Tribe
Lost Tribes
* Frost Tribe
== Geography ==
== Culture & Society ==
Barbarians eschew the use of magic and technology, as they believe the use of such devices will only weaken their resolve. Barbarians have frequently expressed disdain for magic, and those who wield it. Renowned for their combat prowess and arrogant demeanor, Barbarians appear to be perpetually girt for battle. Through harsh conditioning, Barbarians excel in physical combat and can perform tremendous feats of strength. Their physical strength is further strengthened by the primal energies of the land, which they have learned to harness. Never shying from a brawl, mighty ground stomps, leaping attacks and crushing blows leave enemies dead in their tracks, and survivors cowering in fear. Barbarians revel in the chance to test their might against worthy foes, forging their reputations in the blood of their vanquished enemies.
The Barbarians hunted aurochs, and used their fur as clothing. Some believe that the Barbarians hunted the aurochs to extinction; that the reason for their size and strength is because the Northerners of old fed on aurochs flesh.
Prior to the deeds of Raekor, Barbarian women, while still highly regarded as warriors, were still seen by their male peers as being inferior to men on the field of battle. Raekor's deeds, with her being the first female to gain the coveted title of warmaster, changed this perception. However, even by 1263, Barbarian warriors were primarily male.
During their vigil, Barbarian trials began at childhood; skinning ferocious beasts, climbing windswept cliffs and carrying weapons heavy enough to make a southern soldier weep. They are trained in hand-to-hand combat from a young age. As a result, their combat and survival skills are unparalleled throughout Sanctuary. Exposed to the elements of their homeland, Barbarian skin has been toughened to match the resilience of leather, and can withstand attacks that would slay lesser mortals. Because of the scarcity of food in their homeland, Barbarians are able to consume species of plants that would kill normal men. Likewise, Barbarians regularly scavenged the bodies of their falls, due to the scarcity of materials in their homeland.
Barbarians appear to have a numbering system that is represented by runes. They have their own language. For instance, the Army of Destruction was called "Ahjad-Den."
Barbarians practice marriage, the events being known for their rowdiness.
A Barbarian practice called the Sorrowsong exists. These are apparently composed for those who have deceased or at the least, departed a tribe.
An individual not of Barbarian blood may still be given the honorific of "blood brother," if they have ingratiated themselves with a tribe.
=== Religion ===
Barbarians are a spiritual people, and their faith system is/was based around Bul-Kathos (the "immortal king") and the Ancients, a trio of nephalem spirits who guarded Mount Arreat. Per the tenets of their belief system, every Barbarian in life was expected to defend Mount Arreat. With death, however, they would be free from that duty, and be able to pass beyond. For some Barbarians however, death was not enough to end their vigil, and their spirits remained tied to the mountain, still bound to defend it. Barbarians believe(d) that if they fail(ed) to uphold their duty to Arreat, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.
Barbarians also maintain shamanistic beliefs in animal powers, which are represented through the use of totems. At least some Barbarians believe in animal spirits, and some believe in the existence of the Spirit World.
Few Barbarians worship the Light.
=== Weaponcraft ===
Barbarians are familiar with the art of weaponsmithery, a tradition which harkens back to Bul-Kathos. Barbarians are able to make use of weapons in ways that others simply don’t possess the strength for. Heavily-muscled barbarians can also dual-wield normal weapons like swords and axes, barraging foes with multiple enchantments and weapon types at once.
For a time, the sword was regarded as the pinnacle of Barbarian weaponcraft, though not long before the destruction of Mount Arreat, some Barbarian smiths perfected their axecraft to be the equal (or greater) weapon to that of the sword. Other tribes are dedicated to other types of weapons however, such as the Bear Tribe (the mace), the Snake Tribe (the spear) and the Crane Tribe (the polearm). Barbarians are also capable of using thrown weapons, but few are known for their use of the bow. Each tribe tells tales of their greatest weapons. While these tales differ, each tribe claims a certain blade as their own.
Category:The Servant