The Celtic Tribes

The Celtic Tribes are made up of various population groups living in between the Norse to the west and the Kingdom of Albion to the East. Also between the Volklandien People to the north and the Cimmerian Tribes to the South they are truly a people surrounded. The Celts are a forest folk and form small villages and encampments preferring this over developing large towns and cities. The Celtic people also find that people should be at harmony with nature and it is this oneness with nature that has helped them form a close relationship with elves and other creatures of the forest. Many of the most legendary Druids have come from the Celtic people. Given the name Celts by ancient writers, these tribes often migrated and eventually occupied territories from The Dragon Spine Mountains to the Ule Bheist Sea. Although diverse tribes the Celts speak the same language and maintain the same artistic tradition which is characterized by the use of idiosyncratic flowing lines and forms. Finding themselves boxed in in-between four major cultures the Celtic Tribes soon found themselves in direct conflict with the Volklanden People and the Cimmerian Tribes. The Norse Think of the Celts as Brotherin and the peoples freely comingle. The Kingdom of Albian is neutral towards the Celts using them as a barrier between them and the Volklanden.

Celtic armies first came to the attention of historians when a large gathering of tribes, led by their king Louarn, invaded The Volklanden Kingdoms in 680 AC, and again 50 years later when they looted some of the Cimmerian Tribes. The Celts attacked the Volklanden Kingdoms again in 982 AC and were frequent mercenary allies of The Norse during the Herlov Wars. The Celts thus gained a reputation for being fierce warriors and skilled horsemen who also field chariots in battle. They are light, pulled by two horses, and have an open front and back with double hoops at the sides. Containing two men they are used to attack enemy cavalry first by throwing spears and then one man will dismount to fight on foot while the rider moves the chariot to a safe distance to await a retreat if necessary. Bards describe them as driven with great skill and a highly maneuverable weapon of disruption and attack. Celtic warriors are known for their long dark hair and imposing physique. They are depicted in art with their distinctive round or long painted shields and long swords. Celtic warriors prefer to use spears or single handed weapons such as swords and axes with shields. Such was the respect for Celtic warriors that Norse Jords who allied with them during the Herlov Wars gave them the title of soter, meaning ‘saviour’. Although Celtic armies are almost always defeated by more disciplined and better-equipped enemies in single battles, once conquered, they did fight successfully as mercenaries in many armies.