An arid and inhospitable place, a land of mighty warriors and shrewd merchants, in search of wealth hidden among thousands of dangers. In the Barbaricum, every hot desert rock hides a potential enemy and the prying eye of the informants of the many barbarian tribes that inhabit these places.
In this region devastated by sun, wars and storms, the most disparate kingdoms and civilizations were born and collapsed over the centuries. Zealots of any religion, ambitious generals, warlords and renegade knights lie together among the sands of Barbaricum, where only the Orcs and Goblins, the true natives, can boast of having been here forever.
Although this land appears poor, the hardest metal on the continent is mined only in these places, making its control of great strategic importance for anyone.
The shaman village of Olk-Dhegzug and its “Oracle of the Weary Souls” is notoriously considered a sacred and inviolable place for the entire continent, since every known religion attributes religious importance to it.
Its influence is formally recognized by the Barbarian Kingdoms that arise naturally in the region, where everyone, however, interprets the words of the Oracle in his own way.
For each of these self-proclaimed Tribal Kingdoms of the Barbaricum, their independence and control of territory is important, even if they are all organised differently: from autocratic dictatorship to the rule of a Warlord or a Council of Elders.
Any title can be used in the region, although the roles of “Chieftain” or “Warlord” are the most common. No faction in the region normally initially boasts the title of Empire or Emperor.
Barbaric, Nomadic, Orcish and Goblin cultures are dominant in the region. Individual physical strength or respect for some basic religious value are often found in tribal societies.
Factions in this region are encouraged, but not forced, to give any religion some role in their society.
The most widespread races are the orc and goblin, which can’t be excluded by factions of these regions. Humans can also have a primary role in Barbaricum’s factions.
The numerous kingdoms that have followed one another in the Barbaricum have been very diverse, yet three entities are universally distinguishable as the main models of the region’s factions.
The oldest and most iconic civilization of the Barbaicum is the “Green Horde”, also more simply called “The Horde”. Many tribes, kingdoms or individual warriors have claimed in the past to be part of the “Horde”: an abstract entity to which families of Orcs and Goblins say they belong.
The Horde represents a tribal value system, based on family ties and loyalty to the clan understood as family. Among the values of the horde there is also respect for “sacred roles” such as shamans (more generally magicians of a clan) and ambassadors, and for “sacred rituals”, such as duels or the rites of any religion.
The activity of combat is considered an essential part of life and society for the Horde, as it allows members to show their value.
Examples of popular names are:
male: Gruul, Kharag, Gunaakt, Yar, Glush
female: Snak, Ugak, Bula, Rhagash, Lash
It has happened in the past that Kingdoms founded by Goblins emerged from the underground, extending their hegemony over the Barbaricum. The first of these, often recalled by self-proclaimed “successors”, was the Emerald Legion.
The hostile environment of the dark Barbaricum’s mines and the Goblins’ natural penchant for wit and courtliness made the Legion what it is primarily remembered for. The Legion was a dictatorial regime, manipulated by influential generals in command of armoured legions and the most ruthless and deadly tactics, including poisoning and assassination.
At the base of the Legion, there is military ingenuity, mercantilism and economic independence. Each type of race is indiscriminately regimented within the ranks of the army, of which society is a mere extension, and placed to follow very strict rules of discipline.
Examples of popular names are:
men: Sleaz, Kuz, Freex, Brosix, Chak
female: Crolka, Grax, Roltai, Sregs, Vrish
The Great Khanate was an ancient civilization of the past, ascended and buried in a short time but never forgotten. Although it lasted no more than a mortal lifetime, some important ruins of his, such as the oracle of Olk-Dhezug, are still visible.
Some of the shamans of this region have always shared the dream of complete unification under the sign of a single religion, and those who witnessed the life of the Great Khanate saw that dream come true.
Little is known of the Khan’s Religion, which briefly united fanatics from across the continent into one Khanate. This Empire died with its Prophet-Khan hundreds of years ago, yet some nomadic tribes of the Barbaricum still dream of retracing the rise.
Examples of popular names are:
men: Ember, Alioth, Alkaid, Castor, Sirius.
female; Vega, Rigel, Sidra, Aster, Andromeda.