Men of the Mountains

The Men of the Mountain is a colloquial term for the various clans of pagan barbarians who are the historical inhabitants of the Blackwall Mountains.

Because of the Mountain Men's strange language, culture, and heathen religion, combined with longtime rivalry with the Tirrenians, little is truly known of them. What is known is that they are physically of shorter stature, averaging about 5' - 5'4''. They are easily identified by being draped in animal furs combined with the warpaint the men wear on their face to denote clan affiliation.

History
The Mountain Men have clashed with the civilization of Tirrenor throughout history, and were largely ousted from the mountains throughout the 300's. Much of Blackwall Hold stands on ground formerly belonging to the mountain clans and the city of Stoneshade was originally a conquered Mountaineer settlement.

Some of the mountain clans decided to move east instead of fighting for their homes, and now inhabit the unorganized territory of The Verge. Others remain in the Blackwalls living a hidden low-key nomadic lifestyle to prevent their discovery and destruction by the Tirrenians.

Some mountain clans played a major role in the Great Blackwall War, having carried out a brutal assassination of Thane Gerald Straton, his children and other members of the Straton family while they were on their way to the capital of Tirren for a royal funeral service. This act of aggression, believed to be in collaboration with the nation of Yuricaz, triggered the Barbarian Uprising of 492. The void of power left behind by the assassination led to the War of the Three Thanes.

Recent Activities (546 ACR)
Recently, reports have surfaced of Mountain Men attacking mines, villages, and encampments sporadically throughout the Blackwall region. In response, Thane Kain Kallistratos II has hired a large mercenary force from The Verge, the Sons of Aquinas, to deal with the issue and prevent another widespread uprising.