Romasai

Legend

“Their long slim gold ringed necks, stunning feminine beauty and gracious moves aside, they are deadly predators skilled in martial arts and weaponry like the greatest of Warriors“.

Skjald Vinotis

 

History

From what little the High Kings alliance have been able to gather, it is known that they origin from northern Outlands. Where they have a great empire with vast grasslands and large cities.

They are the tallest human tribe we have witnessed so far. With a habit of making their female warriors necks grow longer, by adding rings to stretch it. Males have not been seen at Midgard or any of the lesser isles. But, according to Yell'a'Beard the males form their religious orders and try to appear taller by wearing elaborate feathers. Making them both appear around 2,5 meters at a glance.

As we have witnessed their obsession to hunt Aquerian and loot their eggs, we assume their height attempt are somewhat connected to that odd birdrace.

Skjald Ulrich

 

Cartography

Their great empire in northern Outlands, with great steppes and deserts. Hot as only the north can be and filled with wildlife that aren’t hunted but avoided if possible. They praise the Gods as do we, but seemingly they more often have experienced that Gods shape shift, and thus we believe is the reason they wear the masks to honour them.

Skjald El Mary

 

Organization

The knowledge I managed to gather being over there, and the information gained later have allowed us to somewhat piece together their form of life. It seems that the males are the ones doing all the religious labour, and their females the ones doing military service and worldly administration of their empire. We are unclear who are tending their families, if any such exist.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

So far, from casualties examined and the few prisoners that broke being questioned. We think that their soldiers are all between 15 and 75 years old. All start as ordinary warriors and work themselves through sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel. Colonels, only one, being the highest rank we have encountered in The Realm but Yell’a’Beard have mentioned that they have at least 2 ranks above that. Their ranks are easily distinguished by the trained eye, as every rank adds another patterned ribbon to their kilt. Kilts, which we believe are patterned in each separate regiment, clan, tribe, horde, or whatever they call it.

Some of the captured stated that they looked forward to becoming officers, and the capture a mere bump in the continued pursuit. Others was actually sick of hunting eggs, raiding and capturing thralls, and looked forward to the end of The Great Invasion, then cut the hair in shame and go home. Become working militia or low class servants, despite the high social status it is to be in the army.

The few officers younger than 50 we have seen, have been individuals with blown Aquerian eggs at their two Steel-Willow sticks strapped on their backs. So, we assume that it’s quite something for them as well, to track down, get close and actually kill an Aquerian. This hunt, parallel to The Great Invasion are seemingly something they share or coordinated with the Ye'Til. As no notably amount of Romasai has been below the Grimsborg latitude, and no notable amount of Ye’Til has been above.

No captive or corpse, from soldier to colonel have stated themselves older than 75. So we assume that the mentioned ‘other services’ are a form of ‘last period’ working the fields, practicing a craft, or serve the empires officials.

So, we think that girls at 15 are drafted or enter willingly, and serve in their armed forces for 60 years. Either becoming a officer with some exclusive outs when resigning, or as a hardened veteran ending as working homeland militia. A few has told us that some, most often ‘egged ones’, manage become homeland elders, public Sages, or even ‘Oracles’ in their last period, which we assume is until they die.

Skjald Valgrif

 

When I stayed shortly at one of their small towns, almost a nomadic one. I saw thralls of many races doing household work and I suspect, also tend the children. I learned that they have some very large cities, very distinct from the pastoral life rural people live, tending herds and crops. I don’t know if it’s the same in the large cities, but here out back kids and cattle was the measurements of wealth. I never once saw them eat any game or wildlife birds, as if the otherwise brave Romasai where afraid of interfering with nature.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, I also once saw two men being punished. One man got his hair cut off as punishment, as he was seemingly unable to pay the expected fee, and failed giving a proper public formal apology. The other one, beats me, but he was beheaded and his remains ditched outside the village for the scavengers to feast upon. I think it was something about a failed attempt of rustling cattle.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Special

It seems that when girls become warriors they are considered adult, and start to let their hair grow and fill it with braids. Continuing through their service and possible officer time. So, their military experience can be seen at a distance by their hair length -and felt at close range.

Another, more easily seen sign of ranks, are the number of pattern ribbons in their kilts. A soldier has but the patterned kilt, a sergeant 1, lieutenant 2, captain 3, major 4, and colonel, the highest rank we ever caught or killed, 5.

It’s been reported by agents and scouts on several occasions, that they behead those who fail their codex. So, we assume that they use death penalty as punishment in their army.

Skjald Ulrich

 

Yell’a’Beard once told me that he accidentally stumbled into one of their villages… and much to his surprise he was neither killed or captured… from his short stay he learned two things…

The Romasai does not take prisoners for questioning… they use slaves…

They have an odd custom, despite the females being the warring part, the male host offer the house females to guests… normally only with those of their race… but as he’s something special, he say slept with a Romasai female…

Skjald Kazumix

 

For a long time, we wondered why they had pock-marked skin, but eventually we found out that it is something they do when young. To tribute their ancestors surviving the Great Pox killing almost 90% of their population, the descendants mark themselves to honor all the dead. We think their hunt for Aquerian might be tied with this.

Skjald Sejrik