Gnar

A fierce race, the Gnar are feared by most who encounter them. Their usually tribal ways encourage continual war in the limited territories that they occupy. Only in the last few generations have they begun to occupy cities (as part of the Malgrii Empire). Here we shall concern ourselves mostly with the tribes of Gnar, as they are the majority of these people.
These people are to be reckoned with when faced in battle! All Gnaric warriors receive a –1 on their courage check regardless of the situation; they are so ingrained with the concept of death before dishonour. They are strong, quick, and intelligent fighters who often make their fortunes and earn their fame through deeds done during raids, in battle, and on specific daring quests against their enemies (Human, Gnar, Jarai, Ælf, or other).
It is interesting amongst the Gnar that their young males who are of the warrior class (pretty much anyone who isn’t a slave or craftsman) all must complete a hunt or quest to be considered a man. No warrior Gnar is permitted to gather wealth or court a woman until he has completed this quest or hunt! It is always something dangerous, such that the youth is expertly tracked by two (and only two) proven warriors to ensure that he is relatively safe. They are never permitted to interfere in the quest in any manner, even should it mean the death of the youth. They are only along to protect from unforeseen circumstances, such as running into a giant, a neighbouring raiding party, or other such extreme danger.
Marriage amongst the free Gnar is also wrought with ritual and challenge. Once he has begun to gather wealth, a Gnar male may then present himself to the father of his desired woman (or if she has no father, her mother or another relative in authority). They, or the bride-to-be, present the man with a task to accomplish. This is true whatever the male does as a career, whether craftsman, warrior, or shaman. If the marriage is a desirable one, then the task is usually one that is fairly simple, but not insultingly so. If it’s not desired, the task can be so difficult as to be impossible.
Another thing that sometimes happens is if a woman is not wanted, there will be a task set for anyone who wishes to accomplish that it is often so simple and insulting for any man of status to accomplish that only the men of lowest status would even consider it worth their effort.
The Gnar are known to be a raiding people. Most often they raid from other tribes but will also go southwest into the kingdom of Nalkon, over to Malquira, and even into the northern parts of the Malgrii Empire.
While the women may appear to be subservient, do not be quick to judge! They are rulers in their hearths and throughout the tribe. They are their husbands’ first advisors in all things, and only marry through their own choice. They are keenly intelligent, often more so than the men, despite their apparent cultural limitations. Gnar women are never permitted to become warriors (at least in standard society), although they may become wizards.
Ahh, one could write a whole book on these fascinating people. But this is enough to give you a brief understanding of them.
Most races consider the Gnar to be primitive and unfriendly. They are merciless and ferocious fighters, who have been known to eat their enemies. Whether this is a religious thing, whereby they believe they will gain powers of the spirit (strength, courage...) or simply for food is not known outside their own tribes. In truth, it is a little of both. They will not eat other Gnar for food and will usually only eat other intelligent creatures for spiritual reasons, but when really hungry.... Gnar are a tribal people, ruled by one great warrior, who usually has one or two wizards for his advisors. There have been times when the chieftain has also been a wizard, but this is the rare and very powerful clan. The females of these people are much more attractive than the males, and have been used to lure Humans into traps, where the Human is captured into slavery. Very rare is it for a female to lead a clan or fight in battle.
There are nearly twice as many females born to the Gnar as there are male. This has led to a form of polygamy, with the more powerful males having more wives, and some weak males not having any wife. Each gender is limited in what they are permitted to do for a living — women mostly raise children, gather food, and prepare homes and make clothing. On occasion there will be a female healer, shaman or even chieftainess, but these are rare, especially the latter two. In most instances the law forbids the females to learn any fighting or magical skills. Women are trained to be good wives and mothers. Men are forbidden to learn certain crafts, domestic skills, and some husbandry.
When a girl comes of age, there is a ceremony conducted in private (the men do not know what it is) which acknowledges the female as a grown woman, one who may now marry and bear children. The daughters are traded in marriage by their parents to increase family power and status. A beautiful and skilled daughter is worth a lot to her family; therefore, she is likely to be given only to the most powerful of warriors or shaman. A woman who is an excellent leather crafter is worth more than an equally skilled tailor, because the leather crafter will be able to make reasonable clothes but will also be able to repair her husband’s armour. Her leather goods are also then used to trade with other clans and outsiders for metal goods and tools. This is a valued and guarded skill, most will learn some of it, but the best only train those chosen within their household. Few men are good at leather craft.
Gnar dwell mostly in forest and mountain caves or forested villages. They are not often an agricultural society, in that it is rare for them to grow any crops. They are known to keep sheep, goats or cattle however. It is rare for them to keep ponies, and they do not keep horses. They live largely by hunting and raiding nearby tribes and other races. This doesn’t help much with their relations to Humans, Ælfs or Jarai, their usual neighbours. Yet, many Human leaders are eager to hire their warriors as mercenaries, because of their known skill and ferocity. Payment may be in cattle, gold, or other goods which will increase the warrior’s status.
The Gnar shamans are very powerful in their society. They lead all religious activities, advise the chiefs, conduct and allow marriages, supervise manhood ceremonies, and often act as judges in legal disputes. A family can be ruined by a shaman not allowing certain marriages to take place and judging against them in disputes. Yet, if that were the true intention, a shaman could simply pronounce them outcast, and all their properties would be forfeit, and they would be forced to leave the tribe. Females would likely be sold into slavery, and the males would be cast out into the forest with only their clothing to protect them. This is very rare. It is also worth noting that Gnar cannot learn Sorcery.

Lifespan

80 years

Average Height

128 - 134 cm (4' 2" - 4' 5")
Outliers can be as short as 107 cm or as tall as 160 cm.

Average Weight

Males: 88 kg
Females: 64 kg