Post by Harkovast on May 30, 2015 18:46:13 GMT
The Bardabor were once an independent nation, controlling the northern part of eastern Jaydia. They were a tribal people, living in semi nomadic groups with a few larger, permanent cities where their government was based.
Unfortunately, the when the Tolpish swore allegiance to the Knarl, the Bardabor would be their first conquest. The organisation and aggression of the Knarl Empire rapidly over whelmed the Bardabor and after a brief war, they were forced to capitulate to avoid the merciless destruction the Scar Warriors would inflict upon any who continued to resist.
The Empire needed resources, but most of all it needed labour; the Knarl lacked the skills or inclination for work, and the Tolpish wanted to free as much of their population as possible for warfare and leadership. The Bardabor were physically strong and would provide an ideal work force.
The Tolpish set about destroying all the vestiges of Bardabor culture. The Bardabor cities were levelled, their works and artefacts destroyed and their culture largely erased. Their families and tribes were broken up, and people shipped all over the Empire, whereever workers were needed. The Bardabor religion had involved pilgrimages to sacred mountains that were said to be the resting places of gods since ancient times. As a sign of their dominance, the Tolpish built great fortresses that would serve as command centres for some of the most powerful Scar Warrior Sects, a lasting reminder of the supremacy of the Empire.
The Bardabor religion was suppressed to the point that most Bardabor are now entirely ignorant of what their forefathers once believed. The only thing that the Tolpish left intact was the elaborate system of roads the Bardabor had built. In order to make their pilgrimages and move their nomadic populations, the Bardabor built some of the most elaborate, well built road systems outside of the White Kingdom. However, the origins of how the roads were built are actively suppressed, like most history relating to before the Knarl Empire, so that most people within the Knarl Empire believe that the Empire built the roads that connect it.
The Bardabor response to their occupation is one of acceptance. Bardabor culture was always based around not rocking boat or causing trouble, keeping one's head down and getting on with your work. Now that they are enslaved they continue in this same way. They cooperate with their masters and follow the instructions they are given. They are not enthusiastic supporters of the Empire, but they trudge on, doing as they are told and making the best of their lot in life.
The Cansaibe view the Bardabor with contempt, considering them cowards and collaborators, but the Bardabor look at the suffering that is inflicted on the Cansaibe in response to their continued futile resistance with horror. Cansaibe ideas of seeking a noble death or seeking glory fighting wars that cannot be won are totally lost on the Bardabor. The Bardabor know they are slaves, and know they have no prospect of regaining their freedom, so they must make the best of their lot as it is. They won't spill their own people's blood to satisfy meaningless pride or codes of honour. Most people in Jaydia consider the Bardabor to be stupid and witless, often little more than beasts of burden. Within the Empire they are considered a reliable but ultimately expendable resource. In fact, Bardabor as just as intelligent as other nations, though most lack any kind of education.
Amongst themselves, the Bardabor are highly cooperative and extremely communal. Polyamorous relationships are the norm amongst the Bardabor, with one Bardabor having various lovers, who in turn may have other lovers, often creating a very complex web of relations. Bardabor treat both genders with great equality and make no objection to same sex relationships.
Bardabor dislike conflict and argument, seeking to solve problems amongst each other through compromise or by appealing to an elder or authority figure. Despite their reputation for passivity, the Bardabor are very protective of their family groups, and it's not uncommon for a Bardabor to being ready to sacrifice themselves to protect their comrades, often by taking the blame and punishment for some transgression that angers their masters. Most Bardabor will glumly accept punishments and cruelty, believing that to do otherwise will only bring more harsh treatment, not just for themselves but for other Bardabor. A Bardabor who fought back or resisted would be seen as a troublemaker by their fellows, making all their lives harder. When treated kindly, Bardabor slaves can actually be surprisingly devoted to their masters. Bardabor household slaves often become extremely devoted in this way. Unfortunately, there is no room for kindness when the Empire needs great works and constructions completed.
Bardabor are sometimes drafted into Knarl armies as sword fodder, receiving very basic training and equipment. Lacking any enthusiasm for the cause being fought over (if they even have any idea what it is), they generally perform poorly, though their masters expect very little of them other than to help tire enemy warriors, provide a distraction or waste enemy arrows.
The closest Bardabor culture gets to resistance is the Mud People. These strange figures are travelling hermits, covering themselves in mud and travelling between Bardabor settlements, telling strange stories of the ancient culture of the Bardabor. Much of the context of the stories is lost on the young Bardabor, who often understand little of what they are told, but are nevertheless fascinated.
The Mud People are said to possess odd magic, turning the ground to mud and swamp to conceal themselves or slow those who try to follow them. The Mud People do not actively preach anything against the Empire, or make any call to insurrection, but the Tolpish still view them as dangerously subversive and seek to exterminate them whenever possible. Mud People generally seem deranged and manic, easily dismissed as crazed lunatics and beggars by people who do not know their significance.
The Bardabor themselves view the Mud People with awe and fascination, and generally do not speak of their encounters with them to their masters, perhaps out of reverence to the Mud People or out of fear that they would be seen as rebellious for speaking with the Mud People and get punished for it. This typifies the Bardabor attitude to their slavery. They simply do as they are told, but don't take active steps to help their oppressors of their own initiative.
Bardabor are forbidden by the Tolpish to actively practice any magic, so whatever talents they once had are largely lost. Their elements are water and stone. Aside from the Mud People, Bardabor sometimes exhibit strange talents, such as their skin becoming hard like stone when struck in battle. These powers tend to be involuntary and poorly understood by the Bardabor using them. Any Bardabor with skills in magic will keep them secret, often even if they are outside the Empire, as the Tolpish would not tolerate their slaves gaining such an advantage.
The Bardabor are stoic people of quiet nobility and dignity, who endure hardship without complaint and are capable of tremendous loyalty and self sacrifice for those they love.
Unfortunately, the when the Tolpish swore allegiance to the Knarl, the Bardabor would be their first conquest. The organisation and aggression of the Knarl Empire rapidly over whelmed the Bardabor and after a brief war, they were forced to capitulate to avoid the merciless destruction the Scar Warriors would inflict upon any who continued to resist.
The Empire needed resources, but most of all it needed labour; the Knarl lacked the skills or inclination for work, and the Tolpish wanted to free as much of their population as possible for warfare and leadership. The Bardabor were physically strong and would provide an ideal work force.
The Tolpish set about destroying all the vestiges of Bardabor culture. The Bardabor cities were levelled, their works and artefacts destroyed and their culture largely erased. Their families and tribes were broken up, and people shipped all over the Empire, whereever workers were needed. The Bardabor religion had involved pilgrimages to sacred mountains that were said to be the resting places of gods since ancient times. As a sign of their dominance, the Tolpish built great fortresses that would serve as command centres for some of the most powerful Scar Warrior Sects, a lasting reminder of the supremacy of the Empire.
The Bardabor religion was suppressed to the point that most Bardabor are now entirely ignorant of what their forefathers once believed. The only thing that the Tolpish left intact was the elaborate system of roads the Bardabor had built. In order to make their pilgrimages and move their nomadic populations, the Bardabor built some of the most elaborate, well built road systems outside of the White Kingdom. However, the origins of how the roads were built are actively suppressed, like most history relating to before the Knarl Empire, so that most people within the Knarl Empire believe that the Empire built the roads that connect it.
The Bardabor response to their occupation is one of acceptance. Bardabor culture was always based around not rocking boat or causing trouble, keeping one's head down and getting on with your work. Now that they are enslaved they continue in this same way. They cooperate with their masters and follow the instructions they are given. They are not enthusiastic supporters of the Empire, but they trudge on, doing as they are told and making the best of their lot in life.
The Cansaibe view the Bardabor with contempt, considering them cowards and collaborators, but the Bardabor look at the suffering that is inflicted on the Cansaibe in response to their continued futile resistance with horror. Cansaibe ideas of seeking a noble death or seeking glory fighting wars that cannot be won are totally lost on the Bardabor. The Bardabor know they are slaves, and know they have no prospect of regaining their freedom, so they must make the best of their lot as it is. They won't spill their own people's blood to satisfy meaningless pride or codes of honour. Most people in Jaydia consider the Bardabor to be stupid and witless, often little more than beasts of burden. Within the Empire they are considered a reliable but ultimately expendable resource. In fact, Bardabor as just as intelligent as other nations, though most lack any kind of education.
Amongst themselves, the Bardabor are highly cooperative and extremely communal. Polyamorous relationships are the norm amongst the Bardabor, with one Bardabor having various lovers, who in turn may have other lovers, often creating a very complex web of relations. Bardabor treat both genders with great equality and make no objection to same sex relationships.
Bardabor dislike conflict and argument, seeking to solve problems amongst each other through compromise or by appealing to an elder or authority figure. Despite their reputation for passivity, the Bardabor are very protective of their family groups, and it's not uncommon for a Bardabor to being ready to sacrifice themselves to protect their comrades, often by taking the blame and punishment for some transgression that angers their masters. Most Bardabor will glumly accept punishments and cruelty, believing that to do otherwise will only bring more harsh treatment, not just for themselves but for other Bardabor. A Bardabor who fought back or resisted would be seen as a troublemaker by their fellows, making all their lives harder. When treated kindly, Bardabor slaves can actually be surprisingly devoted to their masters. Bardabor household slaves often become extremely devoted in this way. Unfortunately, there is no room for kindness when the Empire needs great works and constructions completed.
Bardabor are sometimes drafted into Knarl armies as sword fodder, receiving very basic training and equipment. Lacking any enthusiasm for the cause being fought over (if they even have any idea what it is), they generally perform poorly, though their masters expect very little of them other than to help tire enemy warriors, provide a distraction or waste enemy arrows.
The closest Bardabor culture gets to resistance is the Mud People. These strange figures are travelling hermits, covering themselves in mud and travelling between Bardabor settlements, telling strange stories of the ancient culture of the Bardabor. Much of the context of the stories is lost on the young Bardabor, who often understand little of what they are told, but are nevertheless fascinated.
The Mud People are said to possess odd magic, turning the ground to mud and swamp to conceal themselves or slow those who try to follow them. The Mud People do not actively preach anything against the Empire, or make any call to insurrection, but the Tolpish still view them as dangerously subversive and seek to exterminate them whenever possible. Mud People generally seem deranged and manic, easily dismissed as crazed lunatics and beggars by people who do not know their significance.
The Bardabor themselves view the Mud People with awe and fascination, and generally do not speak of their encounters with them to their masters, perhaps out of reverence to the Mud People or out of fear that they would be seen as rebellious for speaking with the Mud People and get punished for it. This typifies the Bardabor attitude to their slavery. They simply do as they are told, but don't take active steps to help their oppressors of their own initiative.
Bardabor are forbidden by the Tolpish to actively practice any magic, so whatever talents they once had are largely lost. Their elements are water and stone. Aside from the Mud People, Bardabor sometimes exhibit strange talents, such as their skin becoming hard like stone when struck in battle. These powers tend to be involuntary and poorly understood by the Bardabor using them. Any Bardabor with skills in magic will keep them secret, often even if they are outside the Empire, as the Tolpish would not tolerate their slaves gaining such an advantage.
The Bardabor are stoic people of quiet nobility and dignity, who endure hardship without complaint and are capable of tremendous loyalty and self sacrifice for those they love.
