Skara

Skara covers the windswept, rocky north of Alba next to Skye, Aboric and Avalon, a hard country of rough hills and lonely moors. Its people, the Skara, are light-skinned, dark-haired and of ordinary height and build. They were once one nation with the Ska of Skye, but a feud generations ago split them politically and culturally.

They are shepherds and hunters who, unlike their cousins, dislike the sea: they fish only from shore and cannot build ships. They understand fairly advanced farming, but the harsh climate supports only the toughest crops, and hunger plus raids from Skye, Aboric and Cymbri keep their numbers low. Masters of cut slate, they build small but impressive towns with paved streets and good sewers and make polished slate tables, chairs, sinks, bureaus and more. Hardwood is scarce, so nearly every tool is of slate, flint or sheepskin, crafts in which they have few equals.

Scholars suspect Atlantean influence behind their towns, but the Skara remember none, and the settlements' origins are lost. The chief towns are Orka, where the High Druid lives, and Phadrig, each ruled by a druid, with initiates over lesser villages. Their religion centers on Hawwa, with Og also important, and stone circles like Stonehenge stand in several places.

The Skara are no pushovers. They raid Skye, Aboric and even Starr, but for food and livestock, not land or captives, since they are too poor to keep slaves. Their raids are quick strikes that avoid needless fighting. In battle they wield slings, flint daggers and stone maces and wear armor of bearskin or sheepskin; captured metal weapons are treasured as marks of honor.