Yoroi Tribelands

**Country Name:** Yoroi Tribelands

**Population:** 90% Yoroi Westrasi Humans, 10% Vashian Westrasi Humans

**Capitals**: Freegate (within Yoroslova territory, pro-Yoroslova faction), Jupita (pro-Vashian faction), various locations (Yeradi De'dun factions)

**Governments:** The Council of Tribes (pro-Vashian faction, dominated by Vashian advisors), the East Yoroi Court (pro-Yoroslova faction, dominated by Yoroslova advisors), in reality most Yoroi tribes are de facto independent governments, only following Vashian laws when and where the Vashians have the leverage to make them do so.

### **Culture**

Similar to the Sarcian Mountain Tribes and the Wyrd Tribes, and to a lesser extent the Voroi and the Uraka, the Yoroi have aggressively resisted any attempts to convert them to a more "civilized form" for the better part of two millennia. Following a string of invasions two centuries ago, the Yoroi have allowed the Vashians to garrison soldiers in their territory, and sign exclusive trade deals with Vashian nobles and merchants in order to provide some protection from Yoroslovan and Araxian raids, not to mention the Vashians themselves. However, there have always been critics to this approach. The Yeradi De'dun political factions has long believed that a unified Yoroi people could take advantage of the political instability of the Westrasi Sea region to maintain true independence, while another (small and recently formed) faction seeks unity with their close cousins, the Yoroslovans, despite the fact that the Yoroi culture has all but died out in that nation.

In areas where they are likely to come in contact with non-Yoroi, most Yoroi grudgingly dress and behave more or less like peasants from other nearby nations, however, in the dry scrub forests that cover most of the Tribelands, the Yoroi ditch their semi-civilized facade in favor of revealing garb made from animal skins and crudely sown plant fibers, garish body paints, and an ancient semi-nomadic way of life revolving around harvesting wood and fruit on a rotational basis.

The political factions collectively known as the Yeradi De'dun is quite powerful in the outlying regions of the Tribelands, particularly near the Araxian border. Some factions of the Yeradi De'dun have allied themselves to the Farisian cause and carry out raids against the Araxians and sabotage operations against Vashians interests inside the Tribelands. Other factions fear that the Farisians will simply become the latest in a long string of conquerors and refuse to work with outsiders. And a few factions are believed to simply be Vashian agents, trying to stir up enough trouble that the Vashian Republic can justify a major war to re-establish their dominance in the Tribelands. Like all Yoroi, the Yeradi De'dun factions tend to fight in an underhand manner against their wealthier and better equipped neighbors. Although quality armor and weaponry is used by those that can afford it, many poorer Yoroi fight in their traditional garb, and use cheaply made weapons like spears, clubs, and short bows. In order to balance the odds, the Yoroi use ambushes, sabotage, poisons, and a peculiar form of druidic magic to keep their opponents off balance.

### **Religion**

The Yoroi officially converted to the Church of Divine Duality several centuries ago in order to take away one of the Yoroslovans favorite reasons for invading them. Needless to say it didn't work. Although a few true believers among the Yoroi say that if more Yoroi genuinely converted to the faith, the Church of Divine Duality would rein in the Yoroslovans, most believe that the Church simply doesn't have the influence to dictate Yoroslovan policy to that extent. Not that many would seriously consider giving up their ancient way of life no matter what the reward.

Despite the fact that on paper almost every Yoroi is a member of the Church of Divine Duality, in reality the Yoroi way of life contradicts almost every Church doctrine except in the few areas where Church doctrine aligns with what they were already doing. It is believed that many Yoroi still practice parts of their traditional pagan faith, though most Yoroi will contest this, saying instead that there is no pagan faith, just a collection of folklore and cultural practices. It is believed that this defensiveness stems from the many times that the Gloria-Etalia Faith has been used as a pretext to occupy or invade their territory.

Vashians who live in the Yoroi Tribelands generally follow the Vashian Chapel, as do some Yoroi who are strongly aligned with them.

### **Organization**

The Yoroi Tribelands are ruled by loosely organized semi-nomadic tribes. The most important tribes have seats on the Council of Tribes, a government set up by the Vashians when they split the Yoroi Tribelands from their core holdings in the Vashian Republic. Although typically seen as just a puppet government that rubber stamps decisions made by the Vashian government, the Council does occasionally wring out concessions from the Vashian Republic, like the increase in trade deals with states other than the Vashian Republic.

Some tribes and individuals have tried to set up alternate governments like the East Yoroi Court based in Freegate in Yoroslova, or various competing Yeradi De'dun tribal councils.

Each tribe generally enforces laws itself, though the large numbers of Vashian soldiers posted in the Tribelands to protect Vashian interests will sometimes enforce laws "on behalf of" the Tribal Council, whether they like it or not.

### **Origin**

The Yoroi Tribes were a loosely connected culture of hunter-gatherers that settled along the Westrasi Sea in ancient times. They practiced a form of agriculture in which the trees and orchards of the area were cultivated around their migrating routes and the Yoroi calendar is still used as the basis of almanacs around the sea.

Despite numerous attempts, they were never fully integrated into the Verani Empire, and instead accepted paying tribute and military occupation in return for being able to continue practicing their traditional way of life. Following the collapse of the Verani Empire, the regain full independence for several centuries, but then lost almost half of their territory to King Yoros almost eight centuries ago. The eastern portion of the Tribelands remained independent, but constantly at war with the Yoroslovans to the west, and the Araxians to the east.

Although they held up well under pressure on two fronts, the Yorai culture was ultimately conquered by a series of invasions from across the sea by Saramese exiles. Over the years these raids would see the Saramese form a unique ethnic identity known as Vashian; they took control of the Yorai lands and declared an independent Vashian Republic, based on the Morloux model but without rights given to the Yoroi or the poor. Recent economic pressures led to a campaign for voting rights for all citizens and to avoid giving control of the government to Yoroi; the majority Yorai areas were spun off into an "independent" reservation known as the Yoroi Tribelands. They are governed by a Consulate headquartered at the border town of Jupita, and the Yoroi are forbidden from entering the republic without written documents.

### **Diplomacy**

The most hated enemy of the Yoroi are the Araxians, who they have warred with since ancient times. Even with the two century long occupation by the Vashians, and frequent invasions by the Yoroslovans, many Yoroi Tribes will fight against the Araxian Kingdom any chance they get, whether it be by direct invasion or by working for the Farisians as mercenaries.

There is also little love lost between the Yoroi and the Yoroslovans. Eight centuries ago, King Yoros conquered over half of what was then Yoroi territory and aggressively converted the area to Gloria-Etalia worship in order to increase his legitimacy in the eyes of the other nations. Since then there have been countless invasions by the Yoroslovan Kingdom. However, recently there has political movement forming among Yoroi who believe their best best is to reunite themselves with their cousins.

The relation with the Vashians is also complicated. Although generally seen as occupiers, many see a peaceful life under the Vashians as better than a violent life of warfare against the Yoroslovans, Araxians, and the Vashians themselves. Like the Verani Empire before them, the Vashians generally permit the Yoroi to continue their way of life in return for tribute, which is likely more than is expected if the Yoroslovans or Araxians manage to conquer parts of the territory.

Some see the Farisian Republic as their best hope for a truly independent Yoroi homeland, and have given them trade deals or launched wars on their behalf. Others worry that the Farisians will simply take the Vashian's place, except with naked greed and environmental exploitation replacing the Vashian's more politically astute form of governance.

### **Geography**

Much of the Yoroi Tribelands are dry forests made up of short, stunted trees, though some groves of drought resistant trees grow surprisingly tall and dense. Patches of farmland exist closer to the border with the Vashians and along major rivers, though some of these are being abandoned as Vashians turn their attentions to safer investments.

### **Economy**

Lumber and fruit from the woods is harvested by underpaid Yoroi then sold to the Republic to be shipped across the sea for mass profit. Some of this is bought from tribes following their traditional way of life, while other material is harvested by Yoroi working in modern orchards and lumber mills owned directly by Vashians. Farms and mines (generally owned by Vashians, but increasingly owned by local Yoroi) also exist.

Despite Vashian dominance of the area for the past two centuries, Farisian merchant companies have been recently establishing their own trade deals with the Yoroi, thanks to the gradual weakening of Vashian control, and their ties to some factions of the Yeradi De'dun movement.

### **Recent Events**

4946 - The Vashians split off the Yoroi Tribelands from their core territory in order to block the increasing influence middle class Yoroi were exerting in the Vashian Commons Seat (legislative chamber made up of representatives elected by those who have sufficient property or wealth). The Council of Tribes is created to continue providing some semblance of democracy, but it takes time for the Council to build up some genuine influence.

4985 - A faction of the Yeradi De'dun invades Araxia. The invasion leader, the warlord Kukata, is killed by the Prince of Euraxia in a now famous skirmish.

4986 - In order to avoid war with Araxia and Euraxia, the Vashian Republic loosens its trade monopolies in the Tribelands in return for political support from the Farisian Republic. Farisians are the main beneficiaries of this, using existing political ties with certain tribes to lock down a number of profitable trade deals.

4996 - Yoroslovia invades parts of the Tribelands but is driven out.

4998 - A faction of the Yeradi De'dun score a notable propaganda victory when they drug an entire unit of Vashian soldiers and leave them bound and naked in a field.

5000 - Yoroslovia invades parts of the Tribelands and is this time able to occupy some land.

### **Player Character Notes**

The Yoroi are a tribal people who still follow primitive druidic practices.  They are fragmented politically between those fighting for a truly independent homeland, and those seeking support and protection from one of the several nearby states with their own agendas.