Rovers of the Barrens

in universe
Nofootnotes|date=February 2008

Greyhawk Realm


caption =
name = Arapahi
motto =
region = Empire of Iuz
ruler = Ataman Durishi Great Hound
government = (formerly) Four loosely allied Flan clans, each composed of several nomadic tribes; (now) tribal organization in grave disarray, tribes scattered, technically the lands are claimed by Iuz
established =
capital = None
major towns = None, only temporary camps of up to 5,000 people
provinces = None (the Rovers are not a proper nation but a collection of closely related nomadic tribes, currently holding little defensible land)
resources = Furs, hides, horn, gold nuggets, horses
coinage = None; barter used exclusively
population = 35,000
races = Human 37% (Fb), Orc 20%, Goblin 18%, Hobgoblin 10%, Halfling 7%, Gnome 5%, Half-orc 3%
languages = Flan (several dialects), Common, Orcish, Goblin, Halfling, Gnomish
alignments = CN*, CE, N
religions = Obad-Hai, Beory, Pelor, other Flan gods, Telchur
allies = Sylvan elves of the Fellreev Forest, centaurs of Fellreev and Barrens, Wolf Nomads
enemies = luz (including conquered Bandit Kingdoms), StoneholdIn the "World of Greyhawk" campaign setting for the "Dungeons & Dragons" roleplaying game, the Rovers of the Barrens, also known as the Barrens, and properly known as Arapahi (translated as "People of the Plentiful Huntinglands"), is a political state of the Flanaess. The name also applies to the tribes of nomadic horsemen who dwell within these lands.

History

Geography

The lands of the Rovers of the Barrens are generally located in the central northern portion of the Flanaess. They are bordered by the Fellreev Forest to the south, by the Bluff Hills and the Forlorn Forest to the east, and the Cold Marshes and Opicm River to the west. Though not a physical barrier to expansion, the Barren Wastes to the north of the Rovers' lands are so scarce in resources, that the Rovers do not enter those lands; the Wastes could therefore be considered the Rovers' northern border.

Being a nomadic people, the Rovers have not established any permanent cities or settlements, although temporary camps can reach up to five thousand people in size.

People

The native folk of the Rovers of the Barrens are coppery-toned Flan, although western tribes show the golden hues of the Baklunish due to interbreeding with Wolf Nomad tribes.

Government

Traditionally, the Rovers of the Barrens have been a loose alliance of four Flan clans, each in turn made up of several smaller tribes. The strongest member of each tribe, in terms of leadership and fighting ability, was designated the tribe's chieftain. However, the strongest warriors overall joined the Wardogs, a group noted for their endurance and bravado. The best warrior among all the Wardogs was given a limited authority over all the tribal chieftains; the last such leader so designated was His Mighty Lordship, Ataman of the Standards, Durishi Great Hound, Chief of the Wardogs.

Recently however, the Greyhawk Wars and the events leading up to them have caused the tribal organization to fall into disarray, and tribes have scattered from their traditional hunting grounds.

As the Rovers are a nomadic people with no permanent cities or settlements, there is also no permanent capital.

Heraldry

The Rovers of the Barrens' coat of arms is blazoned thus: "Azure, a horse salient gules".

References

*Gygax, Gary. "The World of Greyhawk" (TSR, 1980).
**Gygax, Gary. "World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting" (TSR, 1983).

*Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. "Living Greyhawk Gazetteer" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).