1. Locations

Grazelands

The Grazeland Pony Breeders call themselves the “Pure Horse People.” They are descendants of the ancient Unknown people who ruled Unknown and Peloria at the Dawn. They exclusively ride and herd horses, and do not plough, craft metal, or practice trades other than warfare and priestly offices.

The Pure Horse People typically have golden-tan skin, with yellow-blonde hair; a minority has black, brown, or reddish-hair. Their eyes are typically blue or grey. Men and women grow their hair long; men usually grow beards and mustaches. They are stereotypically described being of great stature and beauty. Adults are marked with tattoos of their gods, clan, warrior society, personal Runes, and other magical symbols.

The Pure Horse People speak an obscure Pentan language known as “Pure Horse Tongue.” It is spoken only by the Grazelanders as a primary language, but it is very similar to the language of the horse barbarians of northern Peloria. The Pure Horse People use it only among themselves, preferring Tarshite, Esrolian, Sartarite, or Tradetalk with outsiders.

The Pure Horse People claim dominion over the local farmers, who they call vendref. Vendref are of Orlanthi origin, descendants of settlers from Esrolia and Saird enslaved by the Pure Horse People during the resettling of Dragon Pass. They are tied to the land, and work as bonded agriculturalists, artisans, merchants, tradesmen, and scribes. The vendref are not always complacent serfs, and sometimes serve their overlords as warriors or join invading armies, and have even moved en masse to a new location. Many among the vendref are adroit at getting and using wealth, a skill considered to be beneath the attention of the Pure Horse People. The Pure Horse People must be careful how they treat the vendref, and their rule is far lighter than that of a slave and its owner. Vendref cannot be bought or sold, they live in their customary villages or towns, retain half the fruits of their labor, and can and do buy their freedom.

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Stereotype

The Pure Horse People are aloof, traditionalist, arrogant, and contemptuous of “ground people” (farmers and those who herd livestock other than horses). They love their horses above all other things and worship the Feathered Horse Queen as a living goddess.

Common Attitudes

The society of the Pure Horse People is rigid and patriarchal, with everyone’s place determined by age and birth. The tribe is divided into a dozen clans; clan chiefs are elected but few among the populace are eligible. Most Pure Horse People consider themselves innately superior to all “groundsmen.”

Politics

The Feathered Horse Queen is the High Priestess for the Grazelands and is its sovereign ruler. She serves for life, and her successor is chosen from among her daughters. She receives revenues from tolls on passing traders and a percentage from all trade with outlanders. She is guarded by fanatical Humakti from the Hiia Swordsman subcult.

The current Feathered Horse Queen is called Reaches All. She is the daughter of the previous Feathered Horse Queen and a king of Tarsh, making her the half-sister of King Pharandros. She became Feathered Horse Queen upon the death of her predecessor during the Dragonrise.

The Luminous Stallion King is the leader of the Pure Horse People, although he defers to the sovereignty of the Feathered Horse Queen. He serves as the chief Sun priest, warleader, and chief judge for the Pure Horse People. He has far fewer sources of revenue than the Feathered Horse Queen and traditionally relies on raiding, tribute, or mercenary work to reward his followers.

Religion

The Pure Horse People worship an ancient Fire/Sky pantheon headed by Yelm, whom they call Yu-Kargzant the Sun Horse. Unknown the Horse Goddess is beloved by all and Unknown the Rider is revered as the first king of the people at the Dawn.

The Earth goddesses have great authority in the Grazelands. The Feathered Horse Queen incarnates imposing Earth powers for her worshipers and is the embodiment of sovereignty for all Dragon Pass. She is the High Priestess of the Earth for both the Pure Horse People and the vendref, and the Shaker Temple and many other cults throughout Dragon Pass recognize her authority. Her goddess has many names: she is called Ernalda by the Orlanthi and La-ungariant by the Pure Horse People. She is also considered the current incarnation of Unknown, the divine priestess of Kero Fin. The Feathered Horse Queen offers sacrifices to those names and more.

The vendref worship Ernalda and Unknown, as well as Maran Gor. Issaries, often called Kanestal the Counter, is a popular cult in the market towns, and Lhankor Mhy scribes serve the Pure Horse People rulers. A local subcult of Humakt, founded by the hero Unknown, serves as the bodyguards of the Feathered Horse Queen.

Climate

Located in the rain shadow of the Unknown, the Skyreach Mountains, and the Unknown, the Grazelands are the driest region of Dragon Pass, although still significantly wetter than Prax.