Mountain folk
The mountain folks (or Gèhum)
In the hills and moutains on the Northern borders of the Kingdom of Calam lives a cultural and political independant people. They don't have a unifying name as there society is based on a clan-system. Each fertile hill or moutain(s) has it's own clan of moutain folks. What is generally known about these people is that they live in caves and underground cities. Some 'lesser' clans live on the side of a moutain, or in a valley. Dressed in kilts and furs these people have looks similar to the Barbarian clans of the south, however don't be deceived for their technology is vastly more advanced than that of the barbarians. Their skill in architecture, weaponforging, mining and other crafts is equal to that of the Kingdom of Calam. It is also known that any tresspasser that is found in the mountains or the hills dissappears.
The Gèhum believe that the mountain range is a god, a god that tries to push its way through the crest of the earth. Locations as Ice caves, volcanos, underground lakes, lava streams, gleisjers attract thousands of pilgrims each year. One of the most famous divine locations is 'The Sea of God', this is a huge lake high up in the mountains, but strangly enough the lake isn't filled with fresh water, but it contain saltwater and fish, crabs, jellyfish and other animals that are normally only found at sea.
The most known clans are:
- Thaal-clan: an old and famous clan amongst the Gèhum, which settled near the borders with the Calam Kingdom. The Thaal-clan has many times withstanded Calam invasions in the past. They have claimed the Thaal mountain-region which has rich ore deposits. Their main exportproducts are iron ore and stones. Since a decade they are building up traderelations with neighbouring Calam counties. Another fact about them is that they have held back many Calam invasions in the past.
- Dourgh-clan: settled at the heart of the Dourgh mountain region, this clan has some political authority over the different clans as many of the Divine Locations are in their territory and they don't hesitate to exploit this fact. Altough this gives them some political advantages it also has made them many enemies.
- clannless: thousands of mountainfolks are clanless and live on or inside a deserted moutain, as war amongst the clans is frequent the refugees are even frequent. Most of them are refugees from the countless wars amongst the clans. They try to just survive while others try to get accepted in another clan. Some even take their changes in the Kingdom of Calam.
armor: fur / mixed leather
weapons: claymores, shortbows, rocks, axes and round shields.
