Tribe of the Rhemoraz
Tribe of the Remorahz
Summary:
They are nomadic for all intensive purposes, but they stay within Icewind Dale and the surrounding lands. They usually follow the herds of elk/deer.
The tribe keeps a few permanent buildings in the Tundra, usually to shelter scouts and hunters on long travels. Woolen hides make up the exterior of their tents and structures. When a encampment is formed a few semi permanent buildings are usually created from the surrounding forests. (Food and wood storage primarily)
The children are raised by their fathers to hunt for food. The men do most of the hunting and gathering in the society. The children are trained from a young age with a barbarian-type weapon of the father's choosing (warhammer, warmace, battle ax, great ax, great sword... - Most of the weapons tend to be larger and two-handed.)
All but the rare members have black hair, blunt stubborn jaws, and short unimpressive noses. Brown eyes are the most common.
The tribes is primarily human though there is some intermingling of orc and (secretly) celestial in it as well. If a mixed blood is born into the tribe and their non human traits take dominance on their form, they are typiclly left to Tempus's mercy in the wilds of the tundra.
The tribe will work with any faction so long as it is to the benefit of the tribe and doesn't have any fundamentaly opposed issues (Undead, kin slaying, orc lovers, etc).
The tribe cling stubbornly to their traditions and lore. Often times this can cause undue racial tension, as black skin is treated as evil (even if its not a elf), and anyone showing magical talent is treated as if they were demon spawn.
Reading and writing skills is rare among the tribe, instead the most intelligent members of the tribe pass along their history and traditions orally.
Origin/History:
The typical diety that is worshipped by this tribe is Tempus Foehammer.
Drow are refered to as Demon elves or the Enslaver's Of Man.
Elves are seen as magical but untrustworthy creatures on the whole.
Dwarves are trustworthy and honorable, and mighty warriors.
Hin and gnomes are fantasy stories and often believed to be only legends, commonly described as being flighty, reckless, and foolish.
Half planar humans (tieflings, genasai, etc) are Called "Dark Ones or less commonly the Eaters of Souls"
Visitors of all races are typiclly treated with a distant caution, for the tribe knows that it cannot burn bridges needlesly and still stay strong when the time comes when it needs allies.
The Tribe of the Remorahz has always named its greatest foes to be Frost Giants who for many years have raided and slaved upon the tribes of Ice Wind dale. In so much, any giant seen by the tribe will immediately provoke a hostile response of some kind.
Base(s) of Operations:
The tribe of the Rhemoraz (Polar Worm) resides in Icewind Dale.
Leadership/People of Note:
The leader of the tribe is a male in the books, but the females hold a measure of power as well. Both genders treat each other with respect and poligamy is frowned upon. They are closely knit too survive in the cold winters of Icewind Dale (or Northern Sundren).
Tribal Elder is advised by the legend tellers (cleric types).
Tribal Elder delegates his wishes to the pathfinders who lead the tribe for him (druid types/ranger types)
Only the elder is allowed to make agreements for the tribe as a whole.
Objectives
Tribal Purity: Arcane Magic is called "The Corrupter" and is taught from child birth to be the brother of greed as such that they both will divide and destroy the tribe should they ever find a foot hold among the people.
The tribe is currently in its gathering and storage season in preperation for the coming winter, which the Shamans have foretold will be darker and colder then can be remembered.
Tribal Strength: The tribe eschews contact with civilized cities as much as is humanly possible. Children are indoctrinated early on to the idea that life in the citys makes a warrior lazy of thought and feet, and will lead to their doom. If travel to a city is necessary, a single tribesman is sent, after a night of spiritual preparation with a shaman to ward their soul from the lush intoxications of the easy life.
Ranks Initiation Process:
In the tribe of the Rhemoraz a teenager/early twenties male must defeat a polar worm with his bare hands and alone. The worm either eats him or he defeats it using his wits and the surrounding terrain. The worm is usually beaten by using its heat-source (a red glowing epidermis along its back) to the warrior's advantage. Once beaten, the new warrior is tattooed with a polar worm on their forehead in an ice-blue hue to show they are adults.
The only way an outsider may join the tribe is to marry into it, which typiclly only happens when a warrior chooses a bride from outside the tribe. These newcomers are welcomed with full priveledge as if they had been born into the tribe.
Rituals/Ceremonies of Note:
The rhemoraz is particularly revered as it the kill needed to obtain adult hood. Other animals are respected for power and strength, along with speed. The barbarians typically do not waste a kill and use all parts of the body for some purpose. The furs of the animal are typically used to keep warm or cover up metal armor that would normally freeze in the harsh winter winds.
Only men that have passed the trial of the worm, may take a woman for a wife, which tends to encourage the warriors to attempt their trials during their later adolesence and weeds out the weak , slow, and stupid at early ages.
Death rituals are handled one of two ways. Should it be an honorable death in battle, the fallen are celebrated by feasting and drinking in their honor. Should a tribesman die in another way, there is mourning and fasting for a day, to apease Tempus for one of his warriors not dying a "honorable" death.
Timeline/Historical Events of Note:
They are from Icewind Dale and could have migrated south (slightly) to the Cold Climb region of Sundren. They are innately distrustful of wizards, sorcerers and bardic magic. They are sometimes suspicious of clerics, but the tribe has it's own shamanistic/clerical backgrounds.
The Keeper of the grove has allowed fishing and hunting in his woods as long as the animals are respected and taken for food not for sport and not over hunted.
The tribe of the Remorahz is one of the smallest tribes of the dales, though its members are considered to be among the strongest, should you ask any other tribe of them.
Recently a giant avalanche in the cold climb obliterated the tribe and ended there long and glorious history in the forgotten realms.