Druzi

*"We are the people of ice and tundra. We are not easily frightened."-Boris Grakoff, to an orc bandit.*

*"Some of the finest riders among the humans. Their Winged Lancers in particular can turn the tide of most any battles."-Enandros, Centaur outrider.*

*"The Druzi have stubbornly clung to their independence for far too long. They are ever a thorn in the side of the Dominon and need to be plucked."-Grenvid Fisttaker, Dominion Legionary.*

## Physical Description:

Druzi come in two major physical branches. Firstly are the tall, fair-haired, fair skinned kind whose prescience is immediately recognizable. They speak with thick Druzi accents and are boisterous and proud. Their hair ranges from blonde to red and their eyes are blue, green and other light shades. Many are tall and broad, with even the women being of an above-average height for a human. They dress in furs and long cloaks at home but wear great metal suits into battle. They adorn themselves with various tattoos and long beards or mustaches (for the men). Women grow their hair long and braid it while men tend to keep theirs cropped short. The others are stockier and darker of skin, with dark hair and eyes. They have more slanted features to their faces and often wear lighter furs and hats. These Druzi tend to be steppes nomads but this distinction is not always true. Regardless, both are Druzi in blood, rights and privileges and many of both types are found in Druzi settlements.

## History:

After Latrell defeated the beholders and humans began to settle around Apia, a band of horsemen made the long journey across the Za'icora desert and the Hill-Lands, finally settling in a small patch of land on the other side. This portion of territory was partially composed of icy tundra and partially of windswept steppes. The band, unafraid of a good challenge happily picked it as their new home and vowed that nothing, no matter what it was, would move them from their new home. They named the land Druz, after their leader's favorite horse. Unfortunately for the new people of Druz, they had picked a particularly volatile region of Apia to call their home for the orcs of the Hill-Lands and the Frost Giants of the tundra both despised their new visitors and decided to make war on them. The Druzi rode circles around both, using horse archers, cossacks and the fearsome winged lancers to wear down the enemy and drive them off.

The skill of druzi horsemen, and the winged lancers in particular, was put to the test during the Gray Migration. When the extra-planar gray orcs rampaged across the Great Plains and surrounding territory it was the druzi who led the battle against them, beneath the banner or Tzar Artyom Udvaar III. While VItteodel and Demauric were involved in this campaign, alongside many other forces, it was ultimately the horse lords that broke the back of the grey orc hoards. Once again, mobility proved superior to numbers. They remained on the forefront of the war against the orcs of the Hill-Lands and few tales of orcish defeat lack a druzi protagonist.

These tactics did not serve the Tzar as well during the demonic invasions but it did slow the advancing hoards of demons or devils and many clever tactics were used to lure the two fiendish sides into meeting one another and battling it out. Druz survived the war with most of its border intact but lost a few to penny kings and robber barons and the most northern provinces to the Goblin Dominion. The rise of the Goblin Dominion is of great concern for the Tzar. The current "cold war" status between the two nations is mostly held by their mutual disdain for the orcs. Privately, druzi strategists fear that their hit and run tactics won't match the legions of the Dominion and many fear they will eventually fall to the Goblins.

## Geography:

Druz is not a large land but it has remarkable biodiversity. The steeps are largely flat, cold grasslands with wind swept plains and small hills as far as the eye can see. You can ride for days without seeing a mountain. The other half is the tundras, a frozen region of the world that is permanently covered in frost and snow. Aside from frozen hills and pine forests, nothing breaks up the monotony of the tundra.

## Personality:

Druzi are a boisterous, loud and proud people, often resembling Delorgans in mannerism. They enjoy great bouts of showmanship, especially in feats of riding and archery. They sing, dance and drink a local alcoholic beverage called vodka. Many are accomplished dancers or bards, with music holding a special place in the hearts of most Druzi and you are unlikely to find one who doesn't know all the words to "Angraboda's lament" or "The bear who was a bishop." They are an honest people who give their words very solemnly and don't take kindly to oath breakers. Most are stubborn to a fault, refusing to give up or back down even if the odds are against them. Many love animals deeply, mostly horses and hounds.

## Society:

Druzi society is remarkably regimented. The Tzar or Tzarina rules from Volksgrad, the mighty capital at the edge of the tundra, a walled city that has never fallen. Each region below that is ruled by a boyar and than by a mayor. The Druzi follow orders usually without question and aren't afraid of a regimented way of life, indeed, they thrive upon it. A Druzi will always take the most difficult road, order the largest platter of meat or face the most dangerous foe. Druzi live for challenge. They are an honest people who place great value in the truth and in organization. They could not have survived for as long as they have after all without the organization of their tzars and boyars. Whether in the nomadic bands or the towns, cities and fortresses of Druz, a good warrior will follow the orders of his superior without question. Only traitors question orders.

## Religion:

Dozna is the patron for the nation, beloved by all, from the tzars and great rulers to the peasants in the fields. Kytin, Xoldarr and Remus all have a special places in the hearts of many Druzi. Khan might seem an unusual choice but he has a great following in Druz as well.

## Alignment:

Most Druzi are lawful good, due to their opposition of evil and love of rules. Despite this however many neutral good, chaotic good or even chaotic neutral Druzi are far from uncommon.

## Relations:

Druzi are short of natural allies in their region. They are suspicious of orcs and goblinoids and hold little love for either. Neanderthals are unusually common in Druz and are considered citizens in most regard. Some frost jovians have made their home in Druz but not many. Otherwise they remain a proud, stubborn independent people.

## Language:

Druzi speak Druz, a harsh guttural language with many syllables. It gives their common speech a thick, unmistakable accent.

## Adventurers:

Many Druzi feel the call to wander often in their lives, being nomads already. With a horse, shortbow and saddle, most Druzi make a comfortable living as raiders or scouts. Some Druzi even take the role of barbarian with typical glee. An adventuring party with a Druzi member often does well in a wilderness setting.

### Names:

**Example Male Names:** Altus, Andrei, Boris, Casimer, Danek, Dismas, Ivan, Karol, Lazlo, Nicholai, Rorric, Vladimire.

**Example Female Names:** Chessa, Danica, Dimka, Fania, Katarina, Miesha, Nadya, Vasilisa.

**Example Surnames:** Dulik, Dulka, Hennigar, Kalchik, Kamen, Kaschak, Kobliska, Kriska, Marta, Nemitz, Ourada, Ouradnik, Petska, Sekelsky, Sofka, Spiva, Stefka, Telep, Zubov

## Traits:

The same as humans on page 19 with the following exceptions:

+4 in the following skills, Ride, Survival, Spot. This replaces the free skill points at level one.

Automatic proficiency with shortbows and composite shortbows. No Druzi is complete without these weapons.

Automatic languages: Common, Druz

Favored Classes: Bard, Fighter, Ranger, Barbarian, Cleric