The Evergreen Tribes
The Evergreen Tribes live in the Bloodwood and Crescent Forests. They live in longhouses, and while each tribe is independent they all see themselves as the same people, in contrast to the others. They are weary of outsiders, but not overtly hostile.
Structure
The tribes of the Bloodwood divide themselves into 7 villages or sub-tribes. The Bleetmoths, the Warpigs, the Shriekbirds, the Nightcallers, the Redhowlers, The Tricklebacks, and the Scalehearts. Each Tribe is made up of small family-based communities called Vantu that live in longhouses, each of whom has a Chief. The Chief has the power to determine all matters of their own longhouse, though those decisions can be appealed up the chain if need be. The eldest of those Chiefs is made the Head Chief of the tribe, and they have the power to settle disputes between families and the tribe as a whole. However, all matters of foreign affairs are dealt with by the Chiefton's Council, a meeting that occurs once a month - or on emergency basis - where all 7 Head Chiefs assemble together and discuss and debate the matters.
Assets
Living in the Bloodwood, they have immense access to wood, fruiting trees and wildgame. They are also known for making the best bows in all of Ludia, and being some of the best at it.
History
The Evergreen Tribes have existed for at least 4,000 years. The exact specifics of their origins are unknown, as most of their history has been pretty quiet. It is known that at some point, some terrible event occurred and the tribes decided to unite as a result. They still see themselves as independent, but adherent to the greater head of the Evergreen Council.
The only other major historical event of note is the disappearance of the Matchback Tribe. Some 400 years ago, the Matchbacks mysteriously disappeared. Scientific theories on the disappearance range from a sudden and very dangerous fire that was quickly quenched to a very bad night with Warpigs assaulting them. There's even a theory that they messed with the nearby ruins and whatever they found killed them all. Whatever actually happened, the Everfolk have their own story about it. According to legend, the Matchbacks failed to attend one of the seasonal soirees, and so a party was dispatched to figure out what had happened. When the scouts got there, they saw a terrifying site. A floating, glowing arrow hovered over the village, and after they moved closer to inspect it, the voice of the High Chief rang forth from it, saying to leave the village, and to never search for the lost tribe, for they would never find it. They left in a panic, and when they returned the next day, they saw the village in the burned ruins its known to be in today.
Demography and Population
The majority of people living within the Evergreen Tribes are Evergreen Folk, with few exceptions. Most of those exceptions are Rwalians and Djezzi.
Military
The Everfolk have no 'standing army,' as most of their people are competent hunters and those skills are also very useful in defending their lands from aggressive incursions. In times of war, the Chieftain or Head Chieftain will call up all able fighters and they will go to work defending their homes. To this day, the Everfolk have never launched an attack on anyone.
Foreign Relations
ON THE WHOLE: The Evergreen Tribes are ambivalent towards outsiders. They don't like them, but they don't hate them. They tend to find them annoying and intrusive, but also understand most of them aren't there for trouble. Politically, they are violently neutral. They have no interest in getting involved with other nations, which has led many people to believe they're reclusive and selfish. Which is untrue - they just don't think taking sides benefits anybody. This often means that when other nations are negotiating difficult treaties, they will do so on Evergreen territory.
THE RWALIA KINGDOM: As the Kingdom of Rwalia was once a tribe of the forest like them, the Evergreen Tribes tend to find them easiest to get along with. They also appreciate them as a bulwark against the aggression of the Ordered Imperium.
However, they tend to see them as lost siblings, damaging the world through industry, and don't appreciate that they have lost harmony with nature.
THE ORDERED IMPERIUM: Once, the Ordered Imperium had a bit of a maniacal leader with a power fetish who tried to invade the Bloodwood, and learned why it is called that. All the might of the Imperium was useless in the forest against hunters who have been raised since birth to rely on stealth and accuracy. While this even was now generations ago, the Everfolk have not forgotten the attempt at incursion and many of them do not like members of the Imperium, seeing them as instigators.
They do, however, appreciate the bullwark against the Polato Raiders that the Imperium has provided by those advancements.
THE MOUNTAIN CONFEDERACY: Like most everyone in the world, the Confederacy's easy access to raw materials is something that the Evergreen Tribes appreciate, but they are probably the one least likely to do trade with them. Most of the resources they need they can find, with the exception of metal, which they don't need in ample supply most of the time. They do keep some around just in case the Imperium decides to attack again, as their usual bone arrows don't pierce Imperial Steel.
THE DJEZZI TRIBES: The Evergreen Tribes appreciate and respect the Djezzi Tribes, and find them the only equals in hunting. They also find them difficult to deal with as they are not upfront about their tribal affiliation.
THE ARTIFICIAL CITY STATE: While the Everfolk hold no direct animosity against the City State, they find very little use for their wares and find their constant drive to study and grow technology - and the destruction of the land they do in the process - as something inherently wrong and disturbing. They try and avoid interacting with them, as the recent interactions have usually ended in flipped tables. They still appreciate their verve for learning and find most of what they create useful.
THE SHENZIK: The Everfolk have had little contact with the Shenzik, and so don't have a collective stance on them.
THE TENMEN TRIBES: The Tenmen are the most important source of trade in all the world, and while the Everfolk probably deal with them the least, they still see them as very important. Tenmen Traders often have special rights of protection while on Tribal lands. They also appreciate their culture and will often share with them. That said, they dislike the amount of time the Tenmen seemingly spend relaxing, finding it lazy.
Founding Date
At least 4,000 years old.
Type
Geopolitical, Tribe
Demonym
Evergreen
Ruling Organization
Government System
Tribalism
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Economic System
Barter system
Major Exports
Being in the forest, the Everfolk have access to unique fruits and game food that they export to others. Their most popular export, however, is bows and crossbows, which they make better then anyone in all of Ludia. The secret is the wood of the Crescent Forest - of all the wood in Ludia, it has the best strength to flexibility ratio.
Major Imports
The Evergreen Tribes import small amounts of metal that they never the less rely on. All other exports are luxury, as the Evergreen Tribes are otherwise entirely self sufficient. They often import artwork from the Tenmen and Confederates.
Legislative Body
The Evergreen Tribes do not write laws, but the rules they abide by are created largely by the Vantu leaders.
Judicial Body
While the Evergreen don't have a judiciary in the traditional sense, those guilty of crimes are brought before their Chief where the fellow members of their own Vantu and the Vantu of person they wronged get together and present evidence for and against what happened, allowing the criminal to argue their defense. They then decide both on the criminal's guilt, and what should be done together. The Chief is less a judge in this process and more a moderator. If the ruling is seen as unfair, it can be appealed. Rulings generally tend to focus on restorative reparations then punishment of the criminal.
Executive Body
The laws are enforced by the citizens themselves, as crime is generally rare enough that a police force is unneeded.
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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