Pazruki

The Pazruki composed several tribes of humans inhabiting the northern part of the Koryaz Mountains.

Territory
The territory of the Pazruki bordered the lands of the Fankiang and the Issacortae.

Description
The members of these tribes were usually slight and thin. They had straight black hair, but they usually sheared their natural hair off. Instead, the women usually wore wigs, and the men fake beards. The origin of this custom was unknown, but some speculated that it was to deal with infections of lice.

Society
The Pazruki highlanders were specialists in agriculture, animal-handling, bowyery, carpentry, chanting, dancing, fishing, horsemanship, pottery, singing, survival, tanning, tracking, weaponsmithing, and weaving.

Most Pazruki tribe members were shepherds, who grazed horses and sheep. Horses were used for transportation as well as food. Sheep were used for wool and meat, being the major food source for the tribes. Common yaks and goats were also raised and eaten, as were a variety of birds.

Shepherds of these tribes were not nomads, as the hills were fertile and filled with lush grass for animals and livestock. Usually, even in winter, these lands remained untouched by snow.

The Pazruki had only simple agricultural practices.

The Pazruki tribes had a patriarchal society, where inheritances were passed from father to son. Each tribe was divided into clans, where each family was managed by a father who controlled his own territory. Clans enacted mutually beneficial alliances and trade deals. In times of disaster all the clans might unite under one leader referred to as the Great Father, but after the danger had passed the tribe would once again be divided into independent families. Polygamy was a common practice for the survival of each clan.

Pazruki tribes from different regions had different customs and folklore.

Religion
The Pazruki practiced animism and did not have priests or shamans. Any religious ceremonies would be performed by the father of a wealthy family. Occasionally, however, one would feel the call of magic and go into the wilderness to become an ascetic.

Magic
Sorcerers did not exist in Pazruki culture.

Combat
The preferred weapons of the Pazruki barbarians were horsebow, axe, spear, and sword.