The mandalars are a fierce and proud warrior race
that dwell in much of the forests and remote wilderness regions of Qeshir.
Mandalar are tall humanoids, standing 6 to 7 feet tall, with broad shoulders and
thick muscles. Their bodies are covered entirely in short fur which
varies in color. The most common fur color is black mixed with some grey and
green. They have a
mane of long hair, sometimes worn in dreadlocks. A mandalar's head is crowned
with two great horns, making them recognizable at a distance.
They are warriors, rogues and renegades at heart. Mandalar are a fiercely proud race who take their bravery and honor quite seriously. Even the suggestion of cowardice or dishonor is likely to evoke a violent reaction from a mandalar. As a race, mandalar can appear somewhat haughty as they consider themselves superior to most other races. When allied with other races, they will often lord over other races, bullying those smaller and weaker than themselves. Even when working with hurkytes and vothen, mandalar tend to take charge.
Mandalar have limited metal craft, but excel at woodwork, leatherworking, pottery and other basic craft skills. Armor is typically leather or fur. They occasionally wear chain or plate that they have taken from a defeated opponent. They use almost any weapon. The mandalars themselves make crude swords, maces, hammers, axes, bows and clubs. Their metalwork is crude and any fine metal weapons or armor that they may happen to have is likely to taken from a slain opponent.
Mandalar live communally in villages consisting of many small huts, great long halls fashioned from timber and stone and huge stone-ringed central fire pits. Each village is led by the strongest male and he rules over his region like a king. Sometimes several villages will unite under a very strong leader and form a small mandalar nation, though this is rare. The mandalar have been known to take prisoners and do sometimes practice slavery. Mandalar clans are always seeking to expand their territory and this often leads to war with other clans or with other races. Mandalar are excellent hunters and trackers. They typically hunt wolves, bears and elk.
Mandalar tend to be superstitious. They have many taboos and most are afraid of magic, having no sorcerers or shamans of their own.
Some mandalar roam the lands in small groups that prey on whatever they encounter. A few dwell on the borders of civilization, either as hermits, outcasts or members of human villages. Very rarely does a mandalar ever set foot in a civilized city.
This page last updated Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Copyright 1990-2009 David M. Roomes.