Chunni

The Chunni, also known as the Horseborn, are a tribe of Northrim known and feared for their hordes of light cavalry raiders.

History

The Chunni originally came from the Far East, traveling over the Jagged Edge through the Impassable Pass, the location of which only they are said to know. Those who survived the trip began conquering Nordling villages and recruiting the strongest men into their cause, teaching them to join their nomadic raiding lifestyle. As they continued pillaging Northrim, more and more people rallied to their banner, swelling their ranks. For decades, they were known as the Scourge of the North, and many tribes sent them tribute to keep from being their next target.

The Chunni menace was thought to be unstoppable, until an alliance of tribes from central Northrim managed to push them back. This alliance was known as the first Vinatta, and it included the Bjornings, Wulfings, and Freylings. They fought the Chunni to a standstill, forcing them back to the mountains. Eventually, a peace treaty was signed, granting the Chunni a section of territory consisting of the first area they conquered at the foothills of the Jagged Edge. In the midst of the steppes there, they built Ghost Hill, their first permanent settlement. They have lived in relative peace in Northrim ever since - though, in Northrim, 'relative peace' always means the occasional raid or war.

Culture

Originally a nomadic tribe from the distant unknown East, the culture of the Chunni is very different from most Nordling peoples. Those of pure, Eastern Chunni blood - known as the Trueborn or sometimes True Horseborn - are shorter people with elongated eyes and elongated skulls. The latter is sometimes thought to be the result of cranial deformation practiced by their nobility - the binding of every child's skull to produce a distinct look to separate them from those of lower blood. But few know for certain if this is true, due to the extreme secrecy in which the Trueborn Chunni conduct their religious practices. It is known that they have shamans who consult spirits to make prophecies before every battle, but they are relatively unique in that they do not seem to worship any gods. Because of this, some denounce them as heretics and atheists.

The Chunni consider horses, wolves, and birds of prey to be sacred animals. They spend most of their lives on horseback, living with horses as if they were family, drinking horse milk, eating horsemilk cheese, and breeding the finest steeds in the North. Some say they were the first to introduce large horses to Northrim, which gave them a distinct advantage over the smaller mounts of most Nordlings, who have since started breeding larger ones. The Chunni also train falcons and hawks for hunting, but they leave wolves for the wild, rarely training dogs. They are known to eat certain organs of powerful animals in sacred rituals, believed to grant qualities such as strength and wisdom.

Although the Trueborn Chunni try to preserve their mysterious culture, their subject villages are often allowed to continue practicing their own cultures, so long as they do not disrespect or interfere with Chunni laws. Many Nordlings have joined fully in Chunni culture and live in Chunni settlements, but others still live like Nordlings in other regions, worshipping the typical gods of Northrim. But they are still required to train to fight in Chunni armies when called upon, and they regularly send taxes and tribute to Ghost Hill.