Barrens

Dominant Race: Cyclops
Apex Predator: Kracken
Wildlife: 
Resources: Coal, Gold, Jade, Nickel, Onyx and Silver
Natural Wonders: Sparkling Rock, The Shallows and Nest Mountain 
Primary Biome: Desolate Wasteland

History

The Barrens stretch east of Kanjin like a wound that never closes. Once rumored to have held fertile plains, the land now lies cratered and hollowed, its rivers diverted, its soil stripped to bone. Here dwell the Cyclops; descendants of the Titans, as ancient in rumor as the gods themselves. Their strength is legendary, their endurance unmatched, and their appetites without limit. They are fierce and callous, destructive even at personal cost, and governed less by law than by impulse. Might commands obedience. Depth commands status. Intellect is not their defining trait and the world often pays the price for that imbalance.

Cyclopean society is chaotic rather than organized. Leadership rises from force, from the largest forge or the deepest excavation. When facing annihilation, the Cyclops as a collective have been known to agree to truces, contracts, even enforced labor. However, individual Cyclops may ignore such agreements without malice or rebellion. It is not defiance; it is nature. Their underground forges, however, are unmatched. Even the gods acknowledge their smithing. In craft, their dullness sharpens; they possess an instinctive magical potency when shaping metal and stone. Structures raised by Cyclopean hands can endure cataclysm, though the builders themselves are so unruly that they are often walled into worksites to prevent collateral destruction. Because of this volatility, and because of their unmatched physical capability, Cyclops make up the largest slave population across the world. A bitter irony for descendants of Titans.

Geographically isolated, the Barrens are bordered by the Arctic Tundra to the north, Nimeus Cove to the east, Qumith Bay to the south, and the guarded mountains of Kanjin to the west. The Cyclops prefer this isolation. It grants them space to dig without interference, to excavate toward whatever buried promise drives them downward. Between them and the Rock Trolls lies a blood feud older than recorded memory — stone against pit, stewardship against appetite. Where Kanjin preserves balance beneath the Heavy Pillar, the Cyclops unravel it in search of something deeper. Whether they seek power, relics of Titan origin, or truths buried before the gods, none can say. But the Barrens continue to widen, and the earth continues to tremble..

Government

• Oligarchy/Anarchy

   Each clan is run by a Bucho who speaks for his people. These Buchos rule with a violent hand and have held their clans together with fear and pain for generations, creating a vicious and hostile people. There are few stable social structures in place as Cyclops are very chaotic. Their leadership titles however do remain static allowing for a more predictable approach to diplomacy.

Mighty Bucho : Leader of the Cyclops, Big Tinker

Bucho : Leader of a Cyclops Tribe

Tribal Territories

     Mighty - Big-tinker

     Water - Sandy-toes

     Rockmuncher - Ruffnek

     Medicine - Star-talk

     Bruiser -  Black-eyed Bonka

   

Head Honcho : Leader of a Cyclops Clan
    Chargers

    Big Talkers

    Smarties

Clan Territories

    Wowsers
    Wetsie
    Runner

    Gritty

    Biter 

    Chompers

    Grinder

    Spooky

    Humming

    Ma'am

    Weirdo

    Quiet
    Heavy Fist

    Yellers

    Rough'n Tumble

    Mountain Kings

    

• Alliances

    Union of Iron: An established treaty between the Draconian, Cyclops, Nephilim and Gnomes.

Military

• Calvary

   Riders : Elite soldiers mounted on hellhounds who protect their Bucho; equipped with Stone hammers.

   Lil' Riders : Mounted soldiers armed with clubs and sticks.

 • Infantry

   Dogs : Armed with clubs and cloth armor.
   Brutes : Armed with stone hammers and metal armor.

• Polemen

   Shaman : Equipped with robes, familiars and staffs.
   Stick Guys : Equipped with leather armor and large poles

• Archers

  Rock Throwers : Girded with leather armor and a pile of rocks.
 

Territories 

• Zoiabo

    The southernmost territory of the Cyclops, Zoiabo is home to the Bruiser Clan which is comprised of four different tribes. They are the Heavy Fist, Yellers, Rough-n-tumble and the Mountain Kings. These tribes are some of the toughest tribes in all of the Barrens.

    Bordering Kanjin, home of their arch enemies the Trolls, the Bruiser clan is constantly battling in the disputed zone of mountain ranges known as the "Fighty Fight Fight Place". Only The Mountain Kings find themselves removed from the chance to bonk some heads as they inhabit the Peninsula of Krar. To keep their skills sharp, the Mountain Kings will swim up the Hagiasmabo River regularly to contribute warriors to the fight.

• Thambam

    Rock Muncher Clan occupy Thambam with a steadfast presence. The tribes Chompers, Gritty, Biters and Grinders make up the Rockmuncher clan. They produce some of the races strongest Cyclops and produce much of the food for their kind. In times of trade they are elevated to a higher social status due to their contributions, but it is quickly forgotten when the food is dispersed.

• Kuklops

    Carefully guarded and patrolled by the Mighty Clan, Kuklops is a central location for trade and negotiation. While the tribe known as the Chargers focus much of their attention on fighting with their neighbors the Trolls, much of the rest of the clan seem to focus their attention inward. Still ferocious and malcontent, the tribes the Big-talkers, Smarties and the Wowsers are quicker to set aside their tempers for short periods of time. 

• Hudor

   Home to the only clan with just three tribes, Water Clan. They are an interesting group of Cyclops. There is the Poochie tribe, who breed and train hellhounds. Then there is the Runner tribe where the members race each other up and down Mount Aretes. Lastly there is the Wetsie Tribe that defy social norms among their kind, playing and bathing in the water of the Colossal Bay.

• Biotais

   Biotais is home to five relatively small tribes making up the mysterious Medicine Clan. There is the tribe called Quiet, who seldomly speak. The Spooky Tribe is dark and foreboding, unsettling even their fellow cyclops brethren. There is also the Ma'am tribe that is comprised of female Cyclops only. The Weirdo tribe has some of the strangest Cyclops known. Finally, there is the Humming Tribe, named after their constant habit of humming when they are working.

WONDERS/ATTRACTIONS

Speaking Rock

There is a ledge on the the borders of the Rockmuncher and Mighty Clans that has been used as a platform for discussion, competitions, battle plans and was the focal point for conflict once. The Mighties use it to make their voices heard, the Rockmunchers use it to display their skill and Bruisers wish to make it theirs anytime they lay eyes on it.

There isn't much in the way of decoration as it isn't really a structure. A large flat rock has been placed near it's most prominent ledge, and there are signs of smoothed over edges from ages of use.

The Shallows

A southern cove on the border of the Rock Muncher and Mighty Clan's border is a local secret. The Cyclops use this area for bathing and recreation. It is believed to have healing properties, a belief that Star-talk balks at.

The cove never reaches a depth of more than seven hands. During the spring season these Shallows are used as mating grounds for leviathans. This mating season is when the inhabitants of the Barrens will hunt the great beasts. Like many others, these great sea creatures are hunted for their skins, meat and other parts.

Sparkling Crack 

There is a fissure that runs down the length of the mountain known as Big Momma. Toxic gases pour from the fissure nonstop, keeping most life at bay, but Cyclops are immortal Titans. To them the gas is nothing more than a stink to be tolerated.

Within this rift are walls studded with so many precious stones that even a Dwarf would be beside their self. The Cyclops believe this is the mountain that gave birth to their people. According to the lore, the Cyclops were inside the womb of the mountain in complete happiness. But one day mother mountain became upset and took their happiness away.

This in turn enraged the Cyclops, and they began to bang and roar. They made such a commotion that mother mountain wanted them out of her womb. With a great Crack that echoed across existence mother mountain ripped open her stomach and birthed the Cyclops people into the Barrens.

But some of the one-eyed people would not leave their mother and refused to ascend into the world. Big Momma spit fire and smoke, she hurled great balls of lava, she blew stinky gas but these cyclops would not obey. Finally, seeing no way to force the errant few from her, she used thousands of shiny colorful stones in the walls to lure them out.

Now many Cyclops will make a pilgrimage to the edge of the crevice once every two years. There they will throw a Pebble into the chasm to remind themselves from which they came. While this practice has been going on for many centuries one can still not here the Pebble hit the bottom.

Nest Mountain

The Mighty Condor is a bird of immense size, striking fear into the hearts of all who see them. While they are enormous in size most never actually catch sight of them. They feed upon the leviathan and rarely venture outside of the Barrens.

Mount Eppes, or "Nest Mountain" is a hollow, dormant volcano where the walls are covered with nests. Should someone be unlucky enough to find themselves within they would likely be food for a fledgling Condor. The nests are often occupied by the aggressive young, who are anxious to get their feathers and freedom. However, adult female Condor also patrol the brood, protecting the young from any would be predators. 

Nest Mountain is used as a landmark by the people of the Barrens. From afar one would think it was an active volcano. It is only upon closer inspection that one would discover that what looks like smoke from a distance is actually droves of Condor guardians. A deadly mistake to make.

Fighty Fight Fight Place

A demilitarized zone of land on the borders of Kanjin and the Barrens where combat rages constantly. In an agreement with the Trolls of Kanjin, the Cyclops promised to never March beyond this area. However, the area that they marked is considered part of Kanjin by the Trolls. As a result there is constant conflict.

Interestingly enough, the constant battling has drawn many warriors craving renown. And so surrounding nations travel to this location to test their mettle. It truly is no wonder why the Cyclops have dubbed it the Fighty Fight Fight Place. Rock Trolls call it the Bone Circus but it is widely known as The Maul.

Kracken's Den

There is an immense cave system on the coast that serves as the lair for the most fearsome creature in all the ocean: the colossal Kracken. This enormous king of the sea slumbers for hundreds of legras. In fact, it sleeps so long that many believe it's existence is just a story meant to scare children from playing near the shores. Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Epimetheus it is as real as the moons and stars.

The beast awakens every few hundred legras and terrorizes the inhabitants of Epimetheus, destroying coastal villages, ships and consuming countless Leviathan. So large is this marine terror that its destruction has gone unchecked for millennia. According to scholars, it's existence is recorded in the oldest historical records, potentially predating all known civilizations.

The caves are teeming with life. There are many rare and dangerous creatures that live within its dark damp walls. Somewhere in these caverns lies the breeding grounds for criten, and millions of these crustaceans pour from its depths annually. More parasites can be found living in the Kracken's Den than anywhere else on Aborlon. 

The Maelstrom 

There is a place off the coast of the Barrens that consumes water and sea-faring vessels alike. This vortex drags anything nearby to the ocean floor, sinking ships, drowning sailors and consuming sea creatures. It is not really known what happens to things caught in the Maelstrom, only that they are never seen again.