Barnari

Goblins of northern Niere

The Barnari, or Twilight People, are a Goblin culture centered in the mountains southeast of the Cascade Valley on the continent of Niere . Their distinct culture and language differ substantially from those of their neighbors, though almost all Barnari also speak the languages of others nearby, as well as Common .

Way of Life

Unlike the Asracor , who are primarily hunter-gatherers with some established agriculture, the Barnari are mainly pastoral, basing their economy on herding sheep and goats in the high mountain valleys on the edges of the forests. As such, much of their clothing, and the cloth they export, is made of very fine wool. They also make rich and popular cheeses from the milk of the goats and sheep. Goat and sheep hide is used to make various leather goods, like belts, boots, and pouches, often decorated with sun and moon motifs.

Barnari villages are composed of stone houses, often with thatched roofs, arranged around a central cave in the mountainside used for ritual purposes. Their villages are surrounding by the fields and pastures used for their herds, which due to the geography are very hilly and rough.

Trade and Foreign Relations

The Barnari trade extensively with all their neighbors and are generally on good terms with them, but they are famed for their dislike of wolves, who prey on their herds, and for their skill with slings, used to drive those wolves away. Good terms do not always extend to neighboring Barnari settlements—they have a bit of a culture of raiding other Barnari to make off with sheep and goats, and sometimes do the same with other pastoral peoples nearby (who may return the favor). Even so, the Barnari consider it shameful if anyone gets hurt during one of these raids.

Religion

The Barnari favor Azboran , god of the moon and trickery, as a patron both of the twilight hours they prefer and of their raids to steal sheep and goats from each other, and Idrigoro and Taecant for their associations with mountains and waterfalls.