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The Bandalor Tribes represent one of Aethoria's most specialized and dedicated warrior peoples, serving as the continent's primary guardians against magical corruption. With approximately 350,000 individuals distributed across seventeen major tribal groups throughout the Hordratic Lands, they exist not for conquest or expansion but as servants of the natural order, dedicated to eliminating grotesques—creatures twisted by chaotic magic into abominations that threaten ecological balance.
Tracing their origins to the chaotic aftermath of the Third Calamity approximately 1,800 years ago, the Bandalor accepted a sacred mission blessed by Cernun himself during the legendary "Night of Green Fire." Their nomadic lifestyle allows them to range across vast territories in pursuit of corruption, following shamanic visions and reports of grotesque sightings rather than traditional migration patterns. This dedication has shaped every aspect of their society, from combat techniques to social structures.
Major tribal confederations include the Skyreach Confederation (85,000 members) specializing in high-altitude hunting, the Ironhoof Alliance (70,000) coordinating with the Adventurers Guild, the Bloodgrass Riders (55,000) operating in southern badlands, the Moonhunter Clans (45,000) focusing on nocturnal operations, and the Stormrider Brotherhood (40,000) tracking weather-corruption phenomena along coastal plains.
Life as guardians against magical corruption has shaped the Bandalor both physically and culturally. They typically stand 5'8" to 6'2" with lean, wiry builds optimized for mounted combat and long-distance travel, emphasizing endurance and flexibility over raw strength. Generations of grassland life have granted enhanced peripheral vision, improved balance from lifelong horseback riding, calloused hands for weapon handling, enhanced lung capacity, and natural tanning protecting against sun exposure.
Many Bandalor develop heightened sensitivity to magical auras, manifesting as headaches near corruption sources, ability to track grotesques by magical "scent," instinctive recognition of unnatural creatures, and enhanced ability to locate magical disturbances. All adults bear ritual scarification recording their achievements: parallel forearm lines marking grotesque kills, circular shoulder patterns indicating hunt leadership, complex back designs recording shamanic visions, and voluntary facial scars marking survival of dangerous encounters.
Shamanic protective tattoos using blessed inks provide enhanced corruption resistance, improved weapon accuracy, protection during ritual cleansings, and strengthened connections to natural spiritual forces. Practical modifications include pierced ears for communication whistles, reinforced thumbnails for bowstring grip, callused knees from saddle time, and strengthened ankles for high-speed dismounting during combat.
Bandalor society centers around the concept of Thak'mor ("honor through purpose"), holding that individual honor can only be achieved through service to their collective mission of corruption cleansing. Social hierarchy includes War Chiefs (Mor'thak) chosen through combat prowess and shamanic approval, Hunt Leaders (Nal'thak) leading specific operations, Shamans (Seer'thak) providing divine guidance, Warriors (Drak'thak) forming the backbone of society, and Apprentices (Mor'dal) undergoing training.
Sacred traditions include Hunt Blessings (Nallos Mor'thak) before major operations using blessed oils and prayer circles, Corruption Cleansing (Thei Nallos) after destroying grotesques involving ritual burning and purification chants, Vision Seeking (Seer'dalmos) where shamans receive divine guidance through fasting and sacred plant consumption, Coming of Age ceremonies (Mor'thak Dalros) testing courage and dedication, and Memorial Rites (Thak'selos) preserving weapons of fallen warriors in cairns at battle sites.
Family structures balance warrior lifestyle demands with tribal continuity. Partnership ceremonies involve public vows to support each other in tribal mission service, blessed by shamanic rituals. Child-rearing emphasizes gradual training from basic survival skills to combat specialization. Extended kinship groups provide support during dangerous missions and ensure care for orphans. Inter-tribal marriages strengthen alliances, while formal exchange systems with Plainsmen tribes provide additional marriage opportunities and cultural enrichment.
The Bandalor have developed sophisticated combat techniques specifically for fighting corrupted creatures. Primary weapons include Cleansing Sabers (Mor'blade) blessed by shamans and incorporating meteoric iron, Corruption-Piercing Lances (Nal'spear) with sanctified iron points delivering blessed oils, and Truth-Seeking Bows (Seer'bow) capable of penetrating supernatural defenses. Specialized equipment includes blessed arrows disrupting magical corruption, purification kits for field cleansing, corruption sensors providing early warning, and protective amulets offering limited magical protection.
Combat formations include the Cleansing Circle (Nallos Ring) surrounding creatures to prevent escape, Thunder Charge (Mor'strike) for overwhelming larger corruptions, Whisper Hunt (Seer'stalk) for stealth approaches against sensitive targets, Sacrifice Stand (Thak'guard) for defensive protection, and Divine Convergence (Nallos'mor) involving multiple tribes against major corruption sites. They classify grotesques into five categories from simple corruption to divine corruption, each requiring specialized countermeasures.
The Compact with Cernun grants enhanced ability to sense chaotic magical auras, natural resistance to corruption effects, blessing of weapons and rituals against grotesques, and guidance through shamanic visions of corruption sites. Many warriors develop the ability to track corruption traces using blessed powders revealing magical residue, detect emotional states of corrupted creatures, and coordinate silently through horn calls and hand signals adapted for enhanced senses.
According to oral tradition, the Bandalor mission began during the "Time of Twisted Beasts" when shaman Nalara the Far-Seer received visions revealing magical corruption spreading through the wilderness. Her recorded vision stated: "The land itself cries out in pain, where the pure becomes tainted, where the natural becomes abomination. We are chosen not to rule or to build, but to cleanse." This established their fundamental philosophy as servants of natural order rather than seekers of advancement.
The legendary "Night of Green Fire"—a thirteen-day magical aurora during the early post-Calamity period—saw representatives of all Bandalor clans receive simultaneous visions confirming their divine mandate. This Compact with Cernun granted special abilities in exchange for eternal vigilance against corruption spread, accepting nomadic lifestyle allowing them to range across vast territories. The Forest Compact of 2734 PC3 later created formal protocols for human-Bandalor interaction, including procedures for territorial passage and sustainable resource use.
Contemporary Bandalor face evolving corruption patterns showing enhanced intelligence and sophistication, expanded geographic range including urban environments, and magically-enhanced grotesques incorporating artifacts. They've adapted through technological integration (enhanced communication and transportation), diplomatic evolution (formal treaty relationships with kingdoms), cultural preservation programs, and mission expansion into environmental protection and educational roles while maintaining their essential identity as guardians against corruption.
Information compiled by the Imperial Academy of Natural Studies.