To the far north in the Sunrise Realm lie the highlands of Gorka, a great reach of steppes and taigas. The environment is just as harsh as the pastoral nomads that live here; every day is a fight to survive.
The people of Gorka are no strangers to the prospects of raiding and conquest. Those that are able to are no doubt the toughest and most feared; they are dubbed "barbarians" by the comfortable civilizations to the south. But what many "barbarians" take pride in is freedom. By living by the edge of the world, they concur that they're free from the shackles of monarchy and feudalism. The tribespeople of Gorka choose their own friends, lovers, leaders, and lawgivers.
As pastoral nomads, the tribes all take part in an economy of animal husbandry. To consistently provide the greenest pastures for their herds, the tribes must regularly be on the move. Caravans and mobile tents called yurts are characteristic of the pastoral tribes. Tribespeople do not have currency, and instead make exchanges through bartering.
Other, smaller tribes may not have the privilege. These will maintain primitive hunter-gatherer societies. They may reside in remote, nigh-inhospitable parts of Gorka.
Other Info
- The population of Gorka is approximately 800,000. Many Ryuujin and exiled spirits are fewer in number, but they aren't unwelcomed. The tribespeople of Gorka rarely discriminate by race, so long as the individual can make themselves useful.
- The tribespeople of Gorka are free to worship any deity as long as the nature of worship respects communal harmony.