The Cisalpine Region

[Wolfezth Severus Deraine]

The Cisalpine Tribes

Official Language: Varies by tribe, but the common tongue shared between all dialects is called Cisal

Official Religion: Druidism


Plains Tribes:

Helvetii- Lanky build, predominantly blonde/red hair, favoring spears and leather armor. Some archers with yew longbows, very little cavalry. Integrated into most Iceni cities, with some groups of nomads

Iceni- Tall and broad shouldered, pale complexion with dark hair. Most "civilized" of the tribes, with a greater proportion of walled towns and hill-forts. Some scale armor and iron weapons, favoring axes and spears. Leaders carry long-swords. Good proportion of archers and cavalry

Lepontii- Smaller than the Iceni, with a darker complexion and black hair. Excellent archers and horsemen, largely nomadic in nature, but with many migrating to the Iceni cities. Mostly archers and cavalry

Morini- Slight in stature with a wiry build and pale hair. River folk, living on the banks of the larger rivers, using coracles and flat-bottomed skiffs to travel around. Least war-like of all the plains tribes, favoring javelins and composite bows, with knives and hatchets for closer work.


Forest Tribes:


Grovii- Short and stocky, with white and blonde hair. Nomadic and highly ritualistic, the most insular of any of the tribes. Unlikely to be found on the front lines. Flint/stone weapons

Vocontii- Similar in build to the Iceni, with fair hair and predominantly green eyes. Small villages and forts built among the trees. Aggressive and fanatical in battle, with little regard for personal protection, some fighting naked, covered only in blue woad. Bronze weapons and shields.

Cantiaci- Heavy-set and stocky, with red and blonde hair. One of the few remaining nomadic tribes, favoring small forest horses for transport. Bronze and iron weapons traded with other tribes, very little armor


Hill-Tribes

Brigantes- Broad and heavy-set, bull chested with long, black hair. Capable of massive strength and endurance. Large towns and forts, lots of trade with other tribes. Favor large shield-walls and chariot formations in battle. Rare occurrences of plate armor and iron weapons.

Oretani- Tall and willowy, quick and agile with dark hair. Small forts and towns, large proportion of mounted nomads in the lower foothills. Hit and run tactics with archers and slingers. Some bronze weapons, but predominantly flint. Little to no armor.


Government and Organization

While each tribe is often left to it's own hereditary or elected leaders, at the turn of every season, those leaders are called to a town or fort within the Cisalpine lands for a moot, where they elect a ruler to unite the tribes should adversity ever strike. They also discuss the tithe of both men and food that each tribe should donate to the reserves and the standing army which guards the borders.


Population:
Total Population: 850,000~

By Region:

Helvetii: 50,000~

Iceni: 300,000~

Lepontii: 70,000~

Moroni: 30,000~

Grovii: 20,000~

Vocontii: 80,000~

Cantiaci: 40,000~

Brigantes: 200,000~

Oretani: 60,000~

Significant Towns/Settlements

Meteon- The largest town in the Cisalpine region, Meteon is situated towards the eastern border, in the upper reaches of the hills. A network of trails and tracks spread out from the sturdy palisades and towers, traveled by migrants and pack-mules. Buildings of thatch and stone comprise most of the lower town, rising to the inner wall which surrounds the long-house. In the spring, the city comes alive with members of every tribe, as the leaders gather in the high hall for the council.

Salona- A smaller settlement on the banks of the Muirgen river, nestled in it's twisted meander, a stretch of palisade protecting the gap. A lone trail ambles out of the gate, to meet with the other tracks stretching from Meteon. The houses are built in the Helvetii style, with low roofing and wattle walls. The land around the settlement has been turned over to farming, with ears of wheat and barley springing from the lush ground.

Scodra- A large town built into the side of the Erlingr mountain range, chisled out by the Brigantes. The surface city consists of a curtain wall of wood and stone, and a few lonely huts, thatched with straw. The interior is a well-lit warren of tunnels and natural caves, bustling with activity. Several tracks curl away from the mountains, down to the Luned and the valleys.

Epicaria- As the Lune spreads it's fan-like waters out into the sea, a number of islands and islets have sprung up, leading to the formation of the spread-out environs of Epicaria. Small huts created from willow-wands and wattle can be found towards the center of the delta, with sturdier long-houses of stone and straw on the banks. Palisades surround the banks, with three log and stone bridges spanning the river.

Rhizon- Constructed amongst the litter of the forest, Rhizon is built around the massive trunks and fallen branches, incredibly well hidden from outsiders. Small huts and long-houses cluster around the larger trees, with watch-posts raised into the heights to gaze out at the distant plain. While it relies on concealment for it's primary source of protection, a small palisade wall rings the town, and the wooden henge at the heart.

Significant Fortifications

The Seat of the Gods- Set into the summit of a massive peak within the heart of the Erlingr mountains, the Seat of the Gods is a place of incredible religious significance for every tribe in the Cisalpine region. A tall tower of granite, capped by a giant horn, said to be torn from the skull of a dragon, stands on the peak, ringed by a thick wall of stone, with the majority of the buildings tunneled out of the mountain. The Seat is guarded by the elite from every tribe, sworn to protect the druids who reside in the tower.

Geographic Regions

The Erlingr Mountains- These grim, steel-faced sentinels mark the northern border of the Cisaplines, their snow-capped peaks always viable from the plains. The foothills are home to the Brigantes and Oretani tribes, who hunt the wild stag across the rolling hills. These tribes believe the upper passes of the mountains are the homes of their God, so distant and remote are they.

The Edurne Forests- Sweeping from the southern borders, to the banks of the Luned in the west, the forests of Edurne are as imposing as the mountains to the north. Gloomy ranks of pine-trees cover the gently sloping ground, merging into majestic deciduous trees, which are home to the Vocontii and Cantiaci tribes.

The Lune Valley- Stretching from the tail end of the Erlingr mountains in the north, to the city of Epicaria in the south, this strip of fertile land follows the bank of the Lune, feeding the small tribes of nomads, it's tributaries meandering out to feed the larger towns of the Iceni.

The Plains of Faelan- Bisected by the Luned valley, the Faelan plains are swathes of rich, fertile pasture and flood-plain, populated by massive herds of wild horses and aurochs, dotted with wooden forts and cities. As the plains spread towards the Cisalpines northern border, larger towns built by the Helvetii and Iceni can be found.

Religion

The Cisalpine tribes believe in a pan-theistic faith, rooted firmly in personifications of nature and battle. Places of worship stretch from clearings in the deep forest, dominated by the Weirwood tree, to ornate temples and stone circles.

Erunnoss- Antlered Chieftain of the Gods, Lord of Battle

Epona- Wife to Erunnoss, Lady of Horses and of the Wild

Rihannon- Lady of the Hunt, Goddess of Nature

Taranis- God of the Smithy, Lord of Fire

Sironas- Lord of the Feast, God of the harvest and plenty

Military and Warfare:

Unlike many civilized nations, the Cisalpine tribes do not have the notion of a standing army or military service. Rather, every man and woman who is physically capable learns to fight. The ways of the spear, sword and bow are necessary for survival in the harsh lands, and even within towns, the clash of iron can be heard as the inhabitants hone their skills.


Total Standing Army: 120,000~

By Region:

Helvetii: 6,000~

Iceni: 45,000~

Lepontii: 9,000~

Moroni: 3,000~

Grovii: 1,500~

Vocontii: 12,000~

Cantiaci: 4,500~

Brigantes: 30,000

Oretani: 9,000~