Crafters

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Appears in: Slave Pits

The Crafters are one of the four major factions of Calima, in the southeast.

In Slave Pits (2503)

The Crafters are one of the current four major factions in Calima. They control the territories located in the southeast region, including part of the Iron Mountains ranges, rich in ore. They border the Star Worshippers Empire to the west, the Beastmen jungles to the northwest and the Forbidden Lands to the north.

The Crafter territories encompass different regions that have developed differently over time; the oldest settlements, near the mountains, are considered the origin of the Crafter principles; the closer it gets to the Star Worshippers Empire border the more the communities adopt some of their enemies' ways. This is basically due to the fact that most of the territory was under the Empire control for 250 long cycles, until the Crafter uprising, more than 150 long cycles ago, led by their hero-king Konrad.

The original Crafter society is extremely liberal and open: everyone can do what they please... and bear the consequences of it. You can be a warrior if you are strong enough; you can be an artisan if you are skilled enough; you can be a chieftain if you gather enough support. Their political organization is very local, centered around the village, and they are all regarded as free individuals that can cast an equal vote in their councils, if they care to do it.

The concept of family has very little impact compared to the community belonging. Sex is practiced for fun and couple exclusivity is rare (although totally tolerated). Born children are considered a valuable resource for the village in the first place, where they are educated and taken care of. Under this context the Crafter women are totally equal to the men and they can (and they do) occupy any role they are able to claim.

Slavery is not allowed in most parts of the Crafter territories, for it was the main reason for their uprising many long cycles ago. But in the unstable border territories with the Star Worshipper Empire some villages have embraced it.

The Crafters receive their name from their craftsmanship with tools and especially their mastery of iron forging. They claim it comes from Kur, the leader of the old gods that came to Calima from the sky hundreds of long cycles ago and from whom all people descend. The worship of the old gods was barely tolerated by their former conquerors, the Star Worshippers Empire, but has returned in force since the uprising. Their religion is more traditional than organized, based heavily on personal beliefs and usually related to the ability to control the storms and lightning through the geen.