HSUNCHEN OF GENERTELA

MAJOR HSUNCHEN PEOPLES

These are the ten most significant Hsunchen cultures of Genertela in population terms. The quoted figures have been derived from Genertela: Crucible of the Hero Wars.

RATHORI - the Bear People

Pop: 1,000,000
Homeland: northern Fronela (Rathorela)

The single most numerous Hsunchen people on the northern continent, and probably across Glorantha as a whole, the Rathori account for around a third of all Genertelan Hsunchen. They were described in Players Book: Genertela.

UNCOLINGS - the Reindeer People

Pop: 300,000
Homeland: northern Fronela (Tastolar)

These foot nomads inhabit the tundra regions just below the edge of Valind's glacier. They subsist almost entirely on their herds, making use of their milk, meat, antlers etc. Their land is sufficiently desolate that nobody else will live there, except the occasional foraging troll. Despite their low technological level, the Uncolings have among the most socially sophisticated of all Hsunchen cultures.

DAMALI - the Deer People

Pop: 250,000
Homelands: Shan Shan, also Ralios

The vast majority of Damali live in the orient, but a smaller number are known to dwell in the eastern wilds of Ralios, where they are frequently confused with the Alekki and Pralori tribes by visiting outsiders. They are generally a peaceful people, and have good relations with most of their neighbours.

LO-FAKS - the Yak People (GL name: Gyani)

Pop: 210,000
Homeland: Shan Shan

The Gyani are much more heavily built than normal humans, although they are not actually non-human as some Kralori claim. They subsist primarily off their animals and their frequent raids of the lowlands. They are a relatively settled non-nomadic people, although not agrarian.

HSA - the Tiger People (GL name: Zuzimi)

Pop: 200,000
Homeland: Shan Shan, Teshnos
What the Tiger-Mother Says

These warlike people are widely distributed across the Shan Shan range and into the jungles of Teshnos. They are rightly feared by neighbouring humans, although they do not appear hostile to the Aldryami of Fethlon. They are very mysterious and secretive and almost universally hostile to outsiders.

QA-YING - the Eagle People (GL name: Vrimaki)

Pop: 190,000
Homeland: Shan Shan

Although they live throughout the Shan Shan range, the Vrimaki are most common in the Hso Shan (northern) region. They remain aloof from the Kralori and Teshnans, are on good terms with the Pentans, and hostile to the people of the Kingdom of Ignorance. They are considered expert archers, and inhabit some of the most rugged parts of the mountains.

MRALOTI - the Boar People

Pop: 90,000
Homeland: Maniria (Ramalia)
Introduction to the Mraloti

The Mraloti were conquered by Malkioni from the west some time ago, and many have now converted to a settled, agrarian lifestyle and given up their hsunchen ways. A little under two-thirds still retain their ancient styles of worship, but even these are becoming bastardised, and many do not consider them to be still counted among the true Hsunchen. Mraloti are generally hostile to outsiders, although now kept in check by their Malkioni overlords.

TELMORI - the Wolf People

Pop: 80,000
Homelands: northern Ralios (Telmoria), also Dorastor and Sartar
Telmori Forest - lots of great material!

One of the most widespread of the Hsunchen races, Telmori can be divided into two types. The Pure Ones are similar to most other Hsunchen, and can be found primarily in Ralios. Forming a minority in Ralios, but the overwhelming bulk of Pelorian and Sartarite Telmori, are the Cursed Ones, former followers of Nysalor who involuntarily shift into wolf-form every Wildday (which also happens to be Full Moon in the Dragon Pass area, but not in Ralios). The Telmori are detailed in Dorastor: Land of Doom.

PUJALEG - the Bat People (GL name: Khiroti)

Pop: 70,000
Homelands: Kralorela and Teshnos

Another enemy race of the Kralori, the Khiroti live in the foothills and jungles surrounding the Shan Shan range rather than in the higher regions. They are pygmies, and lead a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They are generally friendly with the Aldryami.

PRALORI - the Elk People

Pop: 50,000
Homeland: southern Ralios (Pralorela)
Introduction to the Pralori

Pralori use their beasts as riding animals, which distinguishes them from their cousins, the Damali, with whom they are often confused. They are also less secretive than their relatives, and sometimes engage in cautious trade with the caravans that cross their land.

MINOR HSUNCHEN PEOPLES

These are some of the Genertelan Hsunchen races numbering less than 50,000 individuals each. Around 70,000 'minor' Hsunchen live in the Shan Shan and Teshnos, a further 25,000 in Ralios and as many as 100,000 in Fronela, with a smattering elsewhere. (These figures assume no Hsunchen populations in the 'Blank Lands', such as Jarst and Garsting). The listing below is not necessarily intended to be comprehensive.

KLOISARI - the Badger People
Homeland: Fronela

The Kloisari have a reputation for being grouchy and anti-social. They are occasionally found as mercenaries along the Janube, but generally prefer to keep to themselves.

FALANI - the Beaver People
Homeland: Ralios

The Falani dwell in the valleys of the minor rivers of Saug, in eastern Ralios. They are a sedentary people, constructing small villages and even practicing primitive agriculture. None the less, they retain enough of their ancient religion to be counted as true Hsunchen by most scholars.

RINKONI - the Bobcat People
Homeland: Peloria, Fronela

The Bobcat folk live along the eastern fringes of Peloria, and are little known to the civilised Dara Happans further west. To many of their more immediate neighbours, however, they are a known menace, travelling in small war-bands and exacting tribute from the less well-defended settlements of the region. Their reputation for brutality, however, is generally exaggerated.

YAABI - the Fox People
Homeland: Shan Shan

The Yaabi are no longer truly Hsunchen, having adopted many ways of their civilised neighbours.  Some even go as far as to live secretly among the lowlanders. However, they are noted for their cunning and their general disregard for the Kralori traditions of honour and obedience. They are often associated with Trickster, at least by outsiders.

GORD-UN - the Gopher People [1]
Homeland: Pent
The Gopher Cult

Enemies of the Pentan horse nomads, these pygmy folk live in widely scattered burrow complexes beneath the plains. They are little known to outsiders, and only survive because of their subterranean lifestyle. They are named for the greatest cult hero, who they believe will one day return to lead them to victory over the Pentans.

GALANINI - the Horse People
Homeland: Ralios

Nomadic riders of stocky ponies, the Galanini are not strictly Hsunchen, having long ago given up their ancient religion in favour of a pseudo-Yelmic one. They are most common in the Vustria region of eastern Ralios, but have spread into many surrounding lands. The Galanini were described in some detail in Tradetalk #3.

CHUMBARI - the Jungle Cat People
Homeland: Teshnos

Living in the jungles of northern Teshnos and in the foothills of the Hachuan Shan, the Chumbari revere the golden-brown jungle cat, an animal somewhat resembling the wild cats of central and western Genertela. They are very secretive, and have little contact with other races, although they seem to be friendly with the Aldryami. Because of this, very few outsiders have ever encountered a member of this hunter-folk, and many even doubt their existence.

BASMOLI - the Lion People
Homeland: the Wastelands

This race are native to Pamaltela, but travelled into the north in the distant past. Their god was slain by the Praxian animal nomads, a fact which is understandably still regarded with great bitterness. The Sandrya tribe of southern Ralios claim to worship Basmol, but they are a Theyelan people and not usually regarded as true Hsunchen. The Basmoli were described in Tales of the Reaching Moon #15, although this presents them as at least partially non-human, which seems strange to say the least, and may even be non-canonical. A detailed cult write-up is presented in the Book of Drastic Resolutions: Volume Prax.

ALEKKI - the Moose People
Homeland: Ralios

The Alekki are a very minor tribe, now found only in western Delela. They are frequently confused with the much more numerous Pralori, especially as the term 'elk' is often used to refer both to the moose and to the wapiti associated with the larger tribe. The Alekki are generally more peaceful than their cousins, and have a greater contact with Orlanthi 'civilisation'.

CARONI - the Mountain Goat People
Homeland: Ralios

One of the more numerous of the minor Ralian Hsunchen tribes, the Caroni inhabit the forbidding mountains and foothills of the Mislari mountains. They are rarely troubled by outsiders, and are therefore able to maintain a generally peaceful existence. While some ignorant people associate them with Broo, the Caroni have as much distaste for chaos as other sensible Gloranthans do.

UDARI - the Otter People
Homeland: Ralios

These fishermen are now rare, but can be found in small communities along various rivers in eastern Ralios. They are generally peaceful, and only unite in times of trouble.

FLARI - the Owl People
Homeland: Fronela

The Flari are a minor tribe of northern Fronela, although once they lived across a wider area, and were even known in Ralios, where almost everyone now believes them extinct. They are nocturnal hunters, especially noted for their amazing powers of stealth.

NARUDI - the Penguin People
Homeland: White Sea coast

These peculiar people live along the northern and north-eastern shores of the White Sea, in areas rarely, if ever, frequented by the Pentans. They are fishermen, and like their totem, are able to survive in conditions much colder than other humans can. The extreme remoteness of their homelands ensures that they are little known by foreign peoples.

STRICORI - the Porcupine People
Homeland: Teshnos

The Stricori revere the ground-dwelling porcupines of the south-east. They are strict vegetarians, and although generally non-hostile, will aggressively deal with invaders and are deeply suspicious of all outsiders. They deal with Aldryami only reluctantly, and prefer non-elven forests as a result.

ZONATI - the (other) Porcupine People
Homeland: Fronela

The Zonati revere the semi-arboreal porcupines of the north-west, and are quite distinct from their oriental cousins. They are hunter-gatherers, and live alongside the Rathori in deep forests. They are generally friendly with their neighbours, and are a much more peaceful folk than the Stricori, even being willing to trade with foreign merchants on occasion.

LOTARI - the Raccoon People
Homeland: Ralios

The Lotari inhabit the region around Saug, in the Eastern Wilds. They have little respect for their neighbours, although they stop short of outright conflict, instead preferring the occasional theft under cover of darkness. They are masters of concealment, and are renowned as being devious and untrustworthy, although these traits may be exaggerations perceived by outsiders.

AKKARI - the Skunk People
Homeland: Fronela

These primitive hunter-gatherers are avoided by almost everyone, although they present no serious threat and are generally non-hostile. This allows them to live peacefully in isolation, and they have not been substantially affected by the history of most of their neighbours.

CHENGASA - the Snow Leopard People
Homeland: Shan Shan

The Chengasi inhabit some of the highest parts of the Shan Shan range and almost never visit the lowlands, with the result that many Kralori do not even believe they exist. They are known to raid the Gyani and Damali from time to time, in order to steal their livestock. They are clearly stone-age hunters, and seem to hold disdain for all other races.

SOFALS - the Turtle People
Homeland: Teshnos

The Sofali are most numerous in Pamaltela, but a relatively small number also dwell along the Fethlon coast. They are a peaceful people, although skilled at defensive warfare. A short-form of the Sofali cult is described in Gods of Glorantha.

XIONI - the Viper People
Homeland: Shan Shan

These venomous people are known to associate with the Huan To, who they regard as semi-divine. As such they are particular enemies of the Kralori, but fortunately are few in number. They have a well-deserved reputation for cruelty and lack of compassion, at least to outsiders. Various Kralori campaigns to wipe them out have driven them into the more inaccessible regions of their homeland. They are known to be hunters, and strict carnivores.

SABADARI - the Wolverine People
Homeland: Fronela

These renowned warriors are one of the least numerous of the Hsunchen peoples of Fronela, which may be just as well. Fearless berserkers, they raid civilised farms whenever they get the opportunity and show no mercy to their foes. Rumours of cannibalism are probably exaggerated, but even the other hsunchen are known to fear them.

RI-SI - the Woodpecker People
Homeland: Shan Shan

The Risifi are confined to the eastern foothills of the Hsa Shan (central) mountains. They are less hostile than many other Shan Shan peoples, and bear no particular animosity to the Kralori, although they avoid them when they can. They subsist by hunting, trapping and foraging.