Language, the two-headed dragon

A lot of the words that we use, even words we regard as neutral, still tell us a lot about our underlying biases.
Take "bandits". What's are bandits? A small group that raid and rob other groups for supplies, often supplementing their spoils with hunting and gathering. They may operate independently, or as part of a larger group.
So what then is a raiding party? Basically the same, but with orcs or centaurs instead of humans and elves. There's little semantic difference between a bandit and a raider, except for who we apply these words to.
The word "outlaw" is often used to describe a bandit, but not a raider. The implicit idea here is that bandits are people who choose to break the common law, where as raiders are those who don't know or care about the law. This may sound like a minor quibble, but it does highlight some subtle racism, and lead us to probably the most problematic word: Civilisation.
Civilization is generally seen as a good thing (even by the more chaotic elements of the Valley), and is usually associate with cities. The largest city in the Valley is Tsar, with something like 50,000-100,000 residents, depending on the season and how you count. It's certainly very civilized, with its own history and distinct culture. It's close to a True Neutral settlement, and is home to Lawful and Chaotic citizens alike.
Out in the North-West of the Valley near Lycia are massive warbands, with membership totaling something like the population of Tsar. They too have their own history and culture, but are seen as uncivilized and somehow lesser. The demographics are just as diverse, and leadership just as complex. What then is the difference? The lack of large structures and set borders? That art is part of life (painted onto huts, shields and furs) rather than displayed on walls of homes or in galleries? Or is it just because a warband is made up of "monstrous" creatures that are strange and other?
While you journey in Lycia, you're going to hear a lot of two-headed words thrown around, like "civilized", "cultured" and "freedom". It may be worth taking a moment to think about what these words mean, who you apply them to, and why.