The Altanians are the wild semi-nomadic barbarian tribes who were the original human inhabitants of the
Pazidan Peninsula. They are mentioned in the most ancient of records and although the
Dragon Empire seems to have cruelly subjugated
them they had their revenge at that empire's fall. Ancient forts indicate the legendary Empire of Kelnore
also had a presence on the peninsula but what little can be gleaned from surviving records indicates
they had mixed success in their wars with the barbarians.
Some sages suggest that the Altanians are not human as they rarely show any signs of
ageing until they die (although few survive into old age). They also have a copper or reddish
hue to their skins which is not found in other humans. The unkind say this is due to
an ancient mixing of blood with demonbrood from the south although there is no other evidence
for this.
They are divided into tribes with an animal totem e.g. Grizzly Bear, Mountain Lion and
confusingly also have cross-tribal warrior lodges with similar names e.g. Black Eagle. There
is a women's warrior lodge (the Ivory Swan) but most of the tribe's females stay in their
semi-permanent villages. The Protector of the village is generally a female who uses druidic
or other stranger magic. Warriors who marry outside of their tribe are expected to join their
wife's tribe and must pass through the initiation rituals of that tribe.
The recent history of the Altanians is of perpetual raiding and testing of the Warlord's
borders. They seem to have left Zothay alone and in fact appear to have been driven out
of the lands to the north-east of Zothay by the warlike Skandiks and their orc allies. Their
attention in the last decade seems to have been focused on the Traitor Lords to the east
of the mountains, Altanian leaders who have allied themselves with the warlord and
settled in border castles.